Cannes-Bound ‘Left-Handed Girl,’ ‘Heads or Tails?’ Producer Cinema Inutile Takes Stake in 1-2 Special

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Alex C. Lo’s Cinema Inutile has taken a stake in distribution banner 1-2 Special.

A NYC and Tokyo-based film production company that’s been consistently creating critically acclaimed projects has officially become one of the founders for the newly established North American distribution company led by Jason Hellerstein, an ex-Sideshow exec who launched this venture back in February.

Cinema Inutile’s program showcases recent festival favorites such as “Stranger Eyes” (Venice Competition 2024), “Happyend” (Venice Orizzonti 2024), and “Viet and Nam” (Cannes Un Certain Regard 2024). Their upcoming projects boast partnerships with acclaimed art-house directors like Ruben Östlund’s “The Entertainment System Is Faulty”, Manuela Martelli’s “The Meltdown”, and Jim Jarmusch’s “Parent, Offspring, Sibling”.

This action signifies a substantial advancement for Cinema Inutile, as it broadens its all-encompassing abilities within the independent sector. Now, the company is strategically placed to oversee projects from conception to theater debut, which is relatively unusual in today’s complex art-house industry.

The announcement arrives at a time when Cinema Inutile is experiencing a successful year on the film festival circuit, with two major productions slated to debut at the Cannes Film Festival: “Left-Handed Girl,” directed by Shih-Ching Tsou and co-written/edited by Sean Baker of “Anora” fame, competing in Critics’ Week, and “Heads or Tails?” by Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis, which will be screened in Un Certain Regard.

1 – The ‘theatrical-first’ approach indicates a positive outlook on conventional cinema screenings, as numerous independent film distributors are shifting towards streaming and simultaneous release strategies.

2 – Specifically, the company plans to launch up to 10 films each year, with Radu Jude’s “Kontinental ’25”, which was premiered at this year’s Berlinale, being its first acquisition.

Partnering with 1-2 Special marks a logical and thrilling progression for Cinema Inutile, according to Lo’s statement to EbMaster. This could also be expressed as ‘The next logical step for us is this partnership with 1-2 Special.’ Regardless of whether it’s ‘The Settlers,’ ‘Girls Will Be Girls,’ or ‘Stranger Eyes,’ we’ve consistently supported films that push boundaries and spark dialogue. Working alongside Jason, who holds a similar enthusiasm for daring cinema, is truly motivating.

Lo stated that we’re equally dedicated to championing movies worth watching in cinemas and providing a platform for directors offering fresh and distinct viewpoints.

Cinema Inutile is represented by Hayden Goldblatt at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.

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2025-05-12 20:00