# Heavyweight — Acquisition Brief

**Status:** Lead from High Fliers Films (Zach Rothwell) — awaiting follow-up  
**Source email:** Jan 15, 2025 from zach@high-fliers.co.uk  
**Screener:** https://vimeo.com/1045318915 (may require password)  
**Interest level:** Evaluating — MENA digital rights likely available

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## Film Details

| Field | Info |
|-------|------|
| Title | Heavyweight |
| Year | 2025 |
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Sports drama / psychological chamber piece |
| Runtime | ~90 min (implied by story structure) |
| Director | Christopher M. Anthony |
| Writer | Christopher M. Anthony |
| Producers | Blackwater Pictures + Silver Milk Productions |
| Financing | Fully financed by Blackwater Pictures |
| International Sales | High Fliers Films (Zach Rothwell) |
| IMDb | https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20415104/ |

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## Logline

In the 90 minutes before a championship boxing title fight, wild-card contender 'Diamond' Derek Douglas and his team navigate the explosive psychological pressure of the locker room.

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## Cast

| Actor | Role |
|-------|------|
| Jordan Bolger | 'Diamond' Derek Douglas (lead) |
| Jason Isaacs | Freddie Goodson (boxing promoter) |
| Nicholas Pinnock | |
| Sienna Guillory | |
| Jamie Bamber | |
| Osy Ikhile | |
| Nabil Elouahabi | |
| Blake Harrison | |
| Rob Malone, Barry Aird, Joplin Sibtain | supporting |

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## Festival & Distribution

| Event | Detail |
|-------|--------|
| World premiere | Raindance Film Festival (33rd edition, opening film) |
| Award | Best UK Feature — British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) |
| UK/Ireland theatrical | BUFF Studios — January 2026 |
| UK box office | $458 (limited/festival release to date) |
| MENA | **No deal confirmed — likely available** |
| International sales | High Fliers Films |

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## Commercial Assessment

**Why this is interesting:**
- Cast has genuine name value: Jason Isaacs is internationally recognisable (Lucius Malfoy, Harry Potter; various prestige TV)
- Jordan Bolger on the rise — high-energy lead performance drawing critical praise
- Boxing is a pan-regional sport with strong MENA audience appeal (Saudi, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon)
- Single-location chamber drama = low technical risk, high-density performance
- Opening-night Raindance + BUFF Best UK Feature signals genuine critical credibility
- BUFF Studios' UK deal signals commercial appetite — gives us a theatrical anchor to leverage in MENA pitches
- Timing: UK theatrical Jan 2026 gives window to negotiate MENA digital before the theatrical hype cycle peaks

**Comparable titles:** _Creed_ (emotional sports drama), _Whiplash_ (pressure-cooker single-location), _One Night in Miami_ (chamber drama with ensemble)

**MENA angle:**
- Boxing has a growing Gulf audience (Saudi Arabia is aggressively investing in boxing — Anthony Joshua fights, etc.)
- Psychological sports drama crosses well with MENA premium platform acquisitions (Shahid, OSN+, STARZPLAY)
- Subtitling requirement: Arabic subtitles (not currently confirmed available — to be requested)

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## Rights Landscape

| Territory | Status |
|-----------|--------|
| UK / Ireland | BUFF Studios (theatrical, Jan 2026) |
| International | High Fliers Films handles sales |
| MENA digital | **Unsold — likely available** |
| MENA theatrical | Unknown |
| Other international | No public deals confirmed |

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## What We Need From Zach

- [ ] Screener access (Vimeo password if required)
- [ ] Full EPK / press kit / one-sheet
- [ ] Official trailer / teaser
- [ ] Confirmed available territories — specifically MENA (GCC, Levant, North Africa)
- [ ] Rights types being offered: SVOD / TVOD / AVOD / theatrical / pay-TV / free-TV
- [ ] MG expectations and deal structure
- [ ] Runtime (confirmed)
- [ ] Technical delivery specs (DCP, ProRes, subtitles available)
- [ ] Arabic subtitles: available, or is dubbing/subtitling required?
- [ ] Current sales status — any other territory deals closed or in negotiation?
- [ ] Delivery timeline — what's the deliverable schedule post-deal?
- [ ] Any reviews / press coverage pack
- [ ] Box office trajectory after Jan 2026 UK release

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## Our Position / Deal Strategy

CULTSCALE / Cinemoz is interested in **MENA digital rights** (SVOD-first, with TVOD/AVOD potential). Key platform targets for sub-licensing or direct service:
- Shahid (MBC Group) — largest Arabic SVOD, strong sports/drama catalogue
- OSN+ — premium English-language film buyer in GCC
- STARZPLAY — premium tier, Gulf-focused
- Cinemoz direct — for diaspora Arabic audiences

Approach: **acquire MENA digital bundle** (SVOD + TVOD at minimum), negotiate for a reasonable MG against % of digital revenues. Leverage the Jan 2026 UK theatrical window to negotiate before the film's profile peaks.

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## Contact

**Zach Rothwell**  
International Sales, High Fliers Films plc  
Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire SL0 0NH  
Email: zach@high-fliers.co.uk  
Mobile: 07525615551  
Website: www.highfliersfilms.co.uk  

**Relationship:** Ongoing — met at EFM 2024 (lunch at The Ritz, Feb 17). Also pitched Italia Film / Hiway IP project (Jul 2025).  
**Note:** Zach sent the original screener link Jan 15, 2025 — **no reply was ever sent**. This follow-up is ~6 months overdue.

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## Correspondence Log

| Date | Direction | Summary |
|------|-----------|---------|
| Jan 15, 2025 | Inbound (Zach → Maroun) | Sent Vimeo screener link, asked if any interest. No reply sent. |
| _(pending)_ | Outbound | Follow-up expressing interest, requesting deal details |