French-U.K. genre-bending Alief sales outfit has sealed multiple deals covering nearly 20 territories on Romas Zabarauskas’ gay neo-noir “The Activist,” ahead of the pic’s international premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)’s Baltic competition.
TLA Releasing has snapped rights for the U.S. and Canada, with the Baltics going to WBD International Content LLC for HBO Max, and French-speaking rights to Optimale.
Elsewhere the leading LGBTQ+ specialised channel and platform OUtv, owner of the brands Cinemien, Pro-Fun and Tongarino Releasing, acquired rights for the U.K., Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Israel, Central and Eastern Europe, German-speaking countries and Latin America.
The deals were brokered by Alief’s president Brett Walker and partner Miguel Govea on behalf of Zabarauskas who also produces with Glenn Elliott and Gabrielè Misevičiūtė.
“We are thrilled to be releasing “The Activist” in North America,” commented Adam Silver of TLA Releasing, distributor of “Zabarauskas’ earlier pics “You Can’t Escape” and “The Lawyer.” “It’s wonderful to be working with Romas again on such an accomplished and important project, and we can’t wait for our audiences to experience this major work in 2026.”
Together with “The Lawyer” and “The Writer” (2023), “The Activist” is part of a trilogy dealing with queer relationships against a political backdrop. Here, the story turns on Andrius a young man who infiltrates a radical neo-Nazi group to find the killer of his LGBT+ activist boyfriend. Headlining the cast are Robertas Petraitis (from “The Southern Chronicles,” Lithuania’s Oscar bet for 2026), Vaslov Goom (“Master of the Air,” “Cry Wolf”) and Teklè Baroti.
Miguel Govea, partner at Alief said: “Romas’ “The Activist” reflects the changing world we are living in, one filled with hope, and our right to push back.”
“I’m humbled by our first sales, proving a real appetite for cinema that dares to be politically provocative,” said Zabarauskas. “The Activist” is a drama-driven detective with a touch of reverse “Cruising,” both in its infiltration plot and its intention to sting. The whole point is to let our queer characters shine as true stars, from heroes to noir-coded villains.”
He added: “My career has always been challenging – in Lithuania, where some people reportedly leave the cinemas after our second sex scene, and in Western arthouse circles, whose expectations I don’t necessarily meet either. Yet my stubbornness to do whatever I want opened other doors, and I’m humbled to have gained both public and private backing for it. With my fifth feature, I only hope that some in the audience do get offended, across the political spectrum!” he said defiantly.
The pic opened at No. 2 at the Lithuanian box office Sept. 2. The international premiere is at Tallinn Nov. 14. It will be followed by a special screening event, out of competition, at Paris’ LGBTQ+ festival Chéries-Chéries Nov. 16.
