FilmRise Acquires Rights to Sabrina Carpenter Film

FilmRise has secured the worldwide rights to the critically acclaimed feature narrative The Short History of the Long Road, starring American singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter (Netflix’s Work It and Tall Girl).

The movie also stars Maggie Siff (Push, Billions), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead, Westworld) and Danny Trejo (Machete, Heat, Breaking Bad). The Short History of the Long Road will be released theatrically in select major markets across the U.S. on May 15. This is Carpenter’s first lead role in a feature film.

The Short History of the Long Road, written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy (Days of Gray), follows teenage Nola who grew up living out of a van with her beloved father Clint, two nomads against the world. When tragedy strikes, Nola is confronted by the reality that life as an outsider may not be her only choice. She must engage with others to integrate herself into a society she has never known. As she expands the relationships in her life, she is faced with the decision to get off the road for the first time, or to forge onward—with only her wits and memories as her road map.

The film won the Special Jury Mention Best Screenplay Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, and it was an official selection at several other film festivals, including Chicago Critics Film Festival, SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Calgary Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival.

Danny Fisher, CEO of FilmRise, commented, “We are excited and honored to release Ani’s unique off the grid/coming-of-age narrative feature. Unique award-winning films like The Short History of the Long Road are a welcome addition to our growing indie film slate produced and directed by a new generation of exceptional filmmakers.”