Sovereign is proud to announce the release of writer/directorRaymund Ribay Gutierrez’s harrowing domestic abuse drama, on 12th March, across streaming services.

Joy and her six-year-old daughter Angel live in Manila, with her husband, Dante, a small-time criminal. As so often in the past, Dante comes home drunk at night and brutally beats Joy. This time, he also hurts Angel. Joy grabs her daughter and flees to the local police station, to finally get him sent to jail. But Joy is to discover that the search for justice comes at a price. Her case, obstructed by corruption, bureaucracy and seemingly indifferent officials. Lacking witnesses to support her case, and her husband released back onto the street, Joy starts to feel that she and her daughter are increasingly under threat.

Verdict was the official Philippine entry to the International Film Category for the Oscars in 2020 and the deserved winner of the prestigious Horizons Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. It is in good company – previous winners include 2015’s Free In Deed, and Court (2014), about the Indian legal system. Verdict is equally compelling, an affecting examination of the dubious notion of ‘justice for all’. 

Filmed in a semi-documentary style, Verdict stars Max Eigenman, who won an Asia Pacific award for her bruised, and bruising, role, and Kristoffer King, who sadly died last year. The timely film casts an unflinching gaze at a difficult subject, too often ignored – the dark heart of male violence and its appalling consequences; and how the law courts seems to favour only the fortunate and connected – with barely a concern for the victims. 

Gutierrez’s remarkably confident debut feature is extremely real, at times, blood-boilingly infuriating, and demands to be seen. 

Greenlit, the UK’s only crowdfunding platform dedicated to supporting film projects, has relaunched with a new global online hub, Greenlit.com (formerly Greenlit.fund).

New projects include Moustache Man (Mark Gatiss, Mandeep Dhillon), Breanna Box’s true crime gangster documentary Turn Around, and a host of others, including the return of previous success story Getting Away With Murder(s).

At only 18 months old, Greenlit.com‘s talent for getting filmmaker’s passion projects off the ground is clear, with 80% of clients realising their funding goals. Some brilliant films that were given a leg up by Greenlit include the SXSW and BIFA shortlisted hit Nike Air Jordan documentary, One Man and His Shoes (currently on BBC iPlayer), Parkinson’s disease comedy-drama Ecstasy, and ground-breaking sex-worker documentary Beyond The Red Light

Greenlit.com now looks ahead to Sean J. Young’s comedy short film, Moustache Man, starring Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Sherlock). The film follows a boy taking care of his grieving mother after the passing of his father. He thinks maybe the best way to make things better is to become his father, so he obviously grows a moustache!After smashing its initial targets in mere hours,the team is expanding their horizons with new fundraising goals. When speaking of Director Sean J. Young, Gatiss said, “He’s a fantastic talent, a very funny guy and a sweet, kind soul.” He says about the film, “It’s a terrific, funny and very moving script.” 

AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO EXCLUSIVELY FROM 26^TH MARCH 2021

Me You Madness is Linton’s first experience of writing and directing. She also stars, playing Catherine Black; a ruthlessly ambitious, intelligent and successful business woman who happens to also be gorgeous. She lives a life of luxury: architectural dream house in Malibu, exclusive designer fashions, fast cars and exquisite jewelry. She has no need for a man except to satisfy her natural serial killer instinct.

When Tyler (Ed Westwick), a petty thief, responds to her online roommate ad, he thinks he’s struck a goldmine. He has no idea after a night of partying and passion that he is really just on the menu as her next victim. Things go according to plan, until Tyler falls for Catherine. For the first time in her life, she also starts to fall for him. Catherine’s life may change until Tyler discovers the freezer filled with the severed heads and limbs of her previous dates. She must decide whether to kill Tyler to protect her secret, or start a new life worth living with a man.