Mistress Dispeller Joins Party Film Sales Roster Before Venice, TIFF

In the run up to its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Elizabeth Lo’s anticipated second feature documentary “Mistress Dispeller” has been taken on by The Party Film Sales.

The Paris-based company has acquired international sales rights to the movie and released a clip. AC Independent and Submarine Entertainment are managing North American sales.

“Mistress Dispeller” will debut in the Horizons section at Venice on September 2 before its North American premiere at Toronto.

“Mistress Dispeller” is set in China, where a new industry focuses on keeping couples married despite infidelity. Wang Zhenxi is part of this growing profession, a “mistress dispeller” hired to preserve marriages and end affairs by any means necessary.

The documentary captures a real case of infidelity as Teacher Wang strives to save a couple on the brink of crisis. Their story includes perspectives from the husband, wife, and mistress, exploring romantic relationships in contemporary China.

“Elizabeth Lo’s ‘Mistress Dispeller’ is a stunning film that completely grabs us from start to finish,” said Estelle De Araujo and Samuel Blanc, co-heads of sales at Party Film Sales.

“Elizabeth’s camera blends seamlessly into the most intimate moments of her protagonists’ lives. The film delves into love, relationships, and family, while also exploring the political dimensions of our interactions and societal expectations,” added the pair.

“Mistress Dispeller” was produced by Marcona Media and After Argos Films, and presented by Anonymous Content and Impact Partners in association with CMP. It was developed in association with The Concordia Studio Fellowship.

Producers are Emma D. Miller and Lo, along with Maggie Li. The film is edited by Charlotte Munch Bengtsen. Executive Producers include Jenny Raskin, Kelsey Koenig, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, David Levine, Dawn Olmstead, Rahdi Taylor, Davis Guggenheim, Steve Cohen, and Paula Froehle. Co-Executive Producers are Lauren Haber and Marni E.J. Grossman.

The Party Film Sales’ Venice lineup includes Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s “Aicha,” premiering in Horizons, the short film “O” by Rúnar Rúnarsson in the Short Competition, and the restoration of “Model” by Frederick Wiseman in Venice Classics.

The French sales company previously handled documentaries like “Four Daughters” by Kaouther Ben Hania, which earned an Oscar nomination.

Lo is best known for her critically acclaimed documentary feature “Stray,” which came out in 2020 and focused on a stray dog in Istanbul.

Source: Variety