The producers of “25 to Life” sued a film distribution company founded by “Selma” director Ava DuVernay Thursday, alleging promises were broken to promote the documentary about a man who kept his HIV virus a secret for 25 years.
25 To Life Films LLC filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, seeking a court finding that the prior agreement between both sides is void and that AAFFRM no longer has the right to distribute the film.
A representative for AAFFRM could not be immediately reached for comment.
According to the complaint, the two companies agreed in 2014 that AAFFRM could distribute the documentary about William Brawner, an HIV sufferer. The lawsuit says the film takes a “fresh look at HIV and AIDS in America and tackles the tough social issues of sex, race and manhood.”
AAFFRM representatives said they were interested in distributing diverse cinema and that the documentary was the type of project that fit with their mission to present “complex storytelling from black filmmakers,” the suit states.
25 To Life insisted that any deal include AAFFRM’s commitment to submit the film to the nominating committees for both the Independent Spirit Awards and the NAACP Image Awards, according to the suit.
However, AAFFRM missed the October 2014 deadlines for both shows, according to the complaint. In contrast, AAFFRM met both deadlines in submitting DuVernay’s film “Selma” for the two award shows, the suit alleges.
25 to Life representatives told AAFFRM representatives in January that the agreement was terminated because of the breaches, but the defendant continues to tell third parties that AAFFRM has distribution rights to the documentary, according to the lawsuit.
— City News Service