Quiver Distribution has secured the North American rights to “Summer of Violence,” the directorial debut of filmmaker and actress Nicki Micheaux. This coming-of-age love story, set against the backdrop of 1993 Denver, will be showcased at the Black Girls Rock! Film Festival from June 21-23 in Atlanta, GA.
“Summer of Violence” stars Kasey Inez, Jahking Guillory, Madhulika Krishnan, Pedro Correa, and Damon Gupton. Set in 1993, the film follows Naomi, a young poet navigating her path amidst a surge of violent crime known as the summer of violence. Naomi, portrayed by Inez, forgoes law school to pursue poetry, facing familial and societal challenges along the way. Guillory, Correa, and Gupton play key roles as Naomi’s artist friend, boyfriend, and father, respectively.
Expressing her excitement, Micheaux stated, “I’m thrilled to have found the film a home with Quiver. Their passion for the film and belief in its wide appeal is exhilarating. We can’t wait to get this film into the world and in front of audiences.”
Quiver Distribution Co-Presidents Berry Meyerowitz and Jeff Sackman lauded Micheaux’s work, saying, “Nicki has created a poignant character study in her feature-length directorial debut. We are proud to be partnering with such a creative and talented force.”
The film, produced by Micheaux along with Efuru Flowers, Maureen P. Motley, Sean Riggs, Stelio Savante, and Brian Mitchell, features executive producers Johnny Wimbrey, Sonya Marchand, Crystal Wimbrey, Psalms Wimbrey, and Hannah Wimbrey. The deal was brokered by producers Micheaux and Savante, alongside Larry Greenberg representing Quiver. Legal representation for the film was provided by attorney Dimiter Nikolov.
“Summer of Violence” has already garnered critical acclaim, being nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Austin Film Festival. It also screened at several other festivals, including Heartland, Denver, Tallgrass International, and Downtown LA, winning awards such as ‘Best Picture’, ‘Audience Award’, and ‘Outstanding First Feature’.
The film is set for a U.S. theatrical release on August 23, followed by VOD and digital platforms in October.
Nicki Micheaux, repped by Sarah Nezamzadeh at Stride Management and Cynthia Booth at Singular Talent, developed the film from her script during her time with the Sundance Writing Collab. The movie, produced under Three60 Films, captures a young college graduate’s struggle and artistic journey during a turbulent time in Denver’s history.