Drafthouse Films Declares 'War'

Alamo distribution arm pick up Fantastic Fest fave 'I Declare War'

Drafthouse Films Declares 'War'

Get ready to run around the room making machine gun sounds: Drafthouse Films has acquired the US rights to innovative and enthralling 'kids film' I Declare War.

Directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson, I Declare War catches a group of pre- and near-tweens in the hazy days of Summer in an unnamed pastoral idyll. There they play daily games of capture the flag, with sticks for guns and string for bows. But in the warm afternoons, fake injuries are realer than blood, and real injuries reflect inner wounds, and there's a raging battleground of hormones and friendships. Held down solely by a kid cast, it's about wonder without whimsy, and there are endless reasons why it took the audience award at Fantastic Fest 2012. Frankly, this is the movie that would take Moonlight Kingdom out back and kick its ass, and we mean that in a good way.

In a press release, Drafthouse Films CEO/founder/jefe Tim League said, "Not since Stand By Me have we experienced such a poignant and sincere film about kids for adults. Armed with an arsenal of extremely talented child actors and combining shades of Full Metal Jacket and Lord Of The Flies, Jason and Rob have created a one-of-a-kind action film that we couldn't be more excited to handle in the US."

I Declare War will be released later this year. Read Marc Savlov's interview with Wilson here.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Drafthouse Films
Fantastic Fest Wave Three
Fantastic Fest Wave Three
Multiple monsters, sequels, and regulars (and RZA)

Richard Whittaker, Sept. 7, 2016

Fantastic Fest Snags <i>Arrival</i>
Fantastic Fest Snags Arrival
The Handmaiden, Sadako vs. Kayako in wave two

Richard Whittaker, Aug. 25, 2016

More Alamo Drafthouse
Lights, Camera, Camping!
Drafthouse Under the Stars
Alamo heads to the great outdoors for Sleepaway Camp

Marc Savlov, May 11, 2018

Drafthouse in Hot Water Again Over Association With Devin Faraci
Drafthouse in Hot Water Again Over Association With Devin Faraci
Update: Faraci resigns, company to begin employee outreach

Richard Whittaker, Sept. 13, 2017

More by Richard Whittaker
Writer Drew Pearce Rides a Trojan Horse Into <i>The Fall Guy</i>
Writer Drew Pearce Rides a Trojan Horse Into The Fall Guy
How Saturday afternoons and Alex Garland affected the remake

May 9, 2024

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
A young ape dares to question if maybe humans aren't the enemy after all

May 10, 2024

KEYWORDS FOR THIS POST

Drafthouse Films, Alamo Drafthouse, Fantastic Fest, Tim League, I Declare War

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle