EXCLUSIVE: Factory 25 has acquired world rights to Rotterdam competition title The Heirloom from debut filmmaker Ben Petrie.
The company will hand the pic a theatrical release in the U.S. this fall followed by a worldwide digital release in Q1 2025.
Starring Petrie and his frequent collaborator Grace Glowicki (Strawberry Mansion), who also co-produced and shares a story credit, the cast is rounded by Matt Johnson (Blackberry), Andrew Chown (Her Friend Adam), and Leah Doz (Adult Adoption). The film follows a neurotic couple whose relationship is brought to the edge by the arrival of a traumatized rescue dog.
Shot in Toronto, Canada, the film debuted at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam, and most recently screened at Raindance in London and Filmfest München in Munich.
The Heirloom is produced by Petrie, Glowicki, and Justin Elchakieh. Production companies are Cheekdance Spectacular and Cedar Films. Kelly Jeffrey lensed the film. Her credits include Petrie’s short Her Friend Adam, Graham Foy’s The Maiden, Utopia’s 2020 indie Materna, and music videos for The Chainsmokers, Troye Sivan and Kacey Musgraves, Carly Rae Jepsen, and The Weeknd. The film’s original score was composed by Casey Manierka-Quaile (Tito) and was edited by Petrie, Brendan Mills (Swan Song), and Michael Harmon.
Factory 25 was founded in 2009 by Matt Grady. The indie label’s credits include Andrew Bujalski’s Funny Ha Ha, Joe Swanberg’s Art History, and Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story by Steve Sullivan. The company most recently distributed Kit Zauhar’s sophomore feature This Closeness, which debuted at SXSW 2023.