MoreThan Films Nabs Global Sales Rights to Toronto Comedy 'Sunburn'
International sales agency MoreThan Films has picked up worldwide distribution rights to Serville Poblete's 'Sunburn' ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows a group of kids in a Toronto high-rise community during a citywide blackout on a record-hot day. Poblete's previous short won the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW this year.
MoreThan Films will manage worldwide sales for the Toronto-set comedy, while Gersh's Julien Levesque represents the Canadian domestic market. The film marks Poblete's feature debut after his short "In The Morning Sun" claimed the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW earlier this year, generating significant industry attention around his emerging voice.
"Sunburn" unfolds within St. James Town, one of Toronto's densest high-rise neighborhoods, as a blackout disables phone networks during extreme heat. The ensemble cast includes Joshua Obra, Dashawn Blackwood, Arianna Shannon, and Milan Deng, all of whom have prior credits in independent and mainstream productions. The film screens in TIFF's Centrepiece program, which typically showcases distinctive international and Canadian cinema.
This acquisition could signal growing commercial interest in stories centered on marginalized urban youth experiences, particularly those blending coming-of-age themes with environmental pressures like extreme heat. The film's Toronto setting and diverse cast may resonate with audiences seeking authentic local narratives, while Poblete's SXSW recognition could help elevate the project's visibility among international distributors and festival programmers looking for fresh directorial talent.