Visit Films has secured worldwide sales rights for “Realm of Satan,” the inaugural feature film directed by seasoned editor Scott Cummings. Set to debut at the Sundance Film Festival, the documentary, centered on Satanists, comes with a cautionary note on the festival’s website for potential viewers: “This film contains graphic sexual content.”
Scott Cummings, known for directing the award-winning short film “Buffalo Juggalos,” has an esteemed background as an editor, having contributed to numerous films premiered at Sundance, including “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Monsters and Men,” “Menashe,” and “Wendy.”
“Realm of Satan” offers an intimate portrayal of Satanists, capturing their ordinary and extraordinary experiences. Described by Visit Films as “a ritualistic documentary,” it seeks to enchant viewers, drawing them into a mystical realm of magic, mystery, and misanthropy.
Cummings collaborated with members of the Church of Satan to craft moments that reflect “the daily lives and joys of modern Satanists.” The documentary focuses on prominent church figures Peter Gilmore, Blanche Barton, and Peggy Nadramia.
Visit Films highlighted, “Cummings’ technique emphasizes the esoteric alongside the mundane, offering an enlightening, subtly humorous, and occasionally somber depiction of a religion often shrouded in secrecy or misrepresented.”
Sundance’s commentary on the film notes Cummings’ distinctive method of collaborating with enigmatic subcultures to create video portraits that reflect their unique existence. Working closely with cinematographer Gerald Kerkletz, each shot in “Realm of Satan” promises to be a multifaceted gem, encompassing elements of fantasy, explicitness, banality, and more. The documentary’s embrace of an unreality embarks on a non-conformist journey through the exploration of identity and image-making, challenging established traditions.
Produced by Caitlin Mae Burke (“Anbessa,” “We Could Be King”) and Pacho Velez (“Searchers,” “Some Kind of Heaven”), the film’s executive producers include Joe Poletto, Sam Roseme, and Cathy Tankosic, representing Asterlight.
Visit Films President Ryan Kampe hailed the documentary as “a captivating depiction of authentic Satanists emerging from the shadows into the limelight.”
Cummings expressed gratitude for Visit Films’ support, emphasizing their instrumental role in finding suitable audiences for films he has edited. He hailed Visit Films as the ideal partner for “Realm of Satan.”
