Amanda Kramer’s “Give Me Pity!” Global Rights Secured by Alief

Fast-growing indie sales, distribution and production company Alief has acquired the global sales rights to writer-director Amanda Kramer’s “Give Me Pity!” which will world premiere at the upcoming International Film Festival Rotterdam on Jan. 29 in an honored position as the closing film of the event’s Filmmakers in Focus section.

Following its world premiere, which has just been announced by the Rotterdam Festival, Alief will bring the film to the Berlinale’s European Film Market for its market debut in February.

Kramer’s recognition as one of this year’s Filmmakers in Focus at Rotterdam takes in her feature film “Please, Baby Please,”It stars Demi Moore and Andrea Riseborough. The festival opens on January 20th with the world premiere. Kramer worked for many years as the founder of an underground dance label in Los Angeles, before switching to filmmaking several years ago.

According to Kramer’s festival bio, Kramer “takes inspiration from art, theater, music and fashion to push cinema to its limits.” In total, Rotterdam will screen four Kramer features – including “Paris Window”And “Ladyworld” –And four shorts: “Bark,” “Intervene,” “Request” and “Sin Ultra.”

“’Give Me Pity!’ is an untamed and intimate portrayal of diva culture, female vanity, created persona, and the prisms of fame. I’m elated to be premiering the film at IFFR, where provocation, experimentation, and fine art in cinema is revered,”Kramer said this after the premiere was made public.

In “Give Me Pity!”The filmmaker gives a lively spin to the U.S. institution for variety TV specials. Sophie Von Haselberg (“Irrational Man,” “Pose”Sissy St. Clair, host of an absurd one-woman show, is portrayed by ) Vanity, insecurity and delusions of grandeur tighten their grip around the host’s psyche as she breaks down under the glooming gaze of a masked figure, resulting in a slow-burn public breakdown as the show progresses.

Von Haselberg saw this as an opportunity to show off her wider talents. “If I cooked up my dream project out of thin air, it would look exactly like ‘Give Me Pity!’ Amanda’s extraordinary trust gave me license to take Sissy as far in any direction as I wanted. With that kind of freedom, I know I could relive this experience a hundred times and still find a thousand more facets of this wild, wonderful, tragic woman to explore.”

Kramer produced, directed and wrote the feature in association to Neon Heart Productions. Jacob Agger and Sarah Winshall joined her as producers. Rhianon, Riccardo and Samuel Gursky were the executive producers.

“We are thrilled to represent the latest visionary work of Amanda Kramer. ‘Give Me Pity!’ is a visually theatrical smorgasbord of pure talent, and uniquely entertaining”Brett Walker, president of Alief, spoke out about the acquisition.

“We could not be happier,”Miguel Angel Govea, Alief’s head of distribution, was also added. “’Give Me Pity!’ turns the variety format on its head, with a hilarious outstanding performance by triple threat Sophie Von Haselberg. Move over ONJ, Madonna and Cher, here comes Sissy St. Claire!”