Gravitas Ventures has acquired all rights, U.S. and Canada, to “11:55,” which bowed to critical acclaim at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The action/drama was also named the “Audience Favorite Feature” at the Aspen Filmfest. “11:55” is a captivating moral story of vengeance, family, and friendship from first-time feature filmmakers Ari Issler and Ben Snyder and an all-star cast that includes Victor Almanzar (“Empire”), Elizabeth Rodriguez (“Orange is the New Black”), David Zayas (“Dexter”), Julia Stiles (“Jason Bourne”) and featuring John Leguizamo (“John Wick: Chapter 2”).
“11:55” will make its theatrical and on demand debut on June 9.
Victor Almanzar, who also co-wrote the script with Ari Issler and Ben Snyder, stars as U.S. Marine Nelson Sanchez who’s just returned to his neighborhood after serving in the War in Afghanistan. Amid fanfare and celebration honoring his homecoming, word reaches him that Nicky (Mike Carlsen, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), the vengeful brother of a drug dealer Nelson accidentally killed years ago, is due to arrive on the 11:55 bus into town. Suddenly Nelson is faced with a new battle as he struggles to break from the cycles of violence that have previously defined him.
“11:55” draws from the real life experience of lead actor/co-writer Victor Almanzar, a United States Marine Corps Veteran, who served in Kosovo and Iraq, and actually joined the US Armed Forces to get away from the everyday violence he faced as a young man in New York City. Of the unlikely path to redemption that Nelson charts, Almanzar says: “There are so many people out there that I know that have so many good things to offer the world, but they just don’t have the opportunities, they just don’t have the outlets. I think that this is something that a lot of people will see and connect with. This is an American story.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s John DeFore called the film “a satisfying recipe of novelty, action, and compassion” and declared it a “nail-biting debut” from Issler and Snyder.
“Throughout making 11:55, we’ve had pleasure and privilege to collaborate with amazing artists both in front of and behind the camera. We welcome Gravitas Ventures to the family are thrilled to be partnering with them to bring our film into the world,” said Issler and Snyder.
“The classic tale of revenge in the Wild West has long been a part of our cinematic culture and is brilliantly updated to today’s city streets in ’11:55’ with remarkable, authentic performances,” stated Nolan Gallagher, CEO and Founder of Gravitas Ventures.
Alongside Issler and Snyder, Danny Mendoza, Joshua Blum, Gia Walsh, Kara Baker, and Matthew Thurm produced. Co-Producer Matt Ruskin also wrote and directed the 2017 Sundance US Dramatic Competition Audience Award-winner “Crown Heights.”
The deal for “11:55” was negotiated by Nolan Gallagher on behalf of Gravitas and Deborah McIntosh from William Morris Endeavor on behalf of the filmmakers.