Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired worldwide rights to Joel Alfonso Vargas’ “Mad Bills to Pay.” The film world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it picked up the NEXT Special Jury Award for ensemble cast, and screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Perspectives Award for best first feature. It was part of this year’s edition of New Directors/New Films. It will next open the New York Latino Film Festival on Tuesday. Oscilloscope Laboratories will partner with Unapologetic Projects for a release in select theaters next year.
The film follows Rico, who spends his summer selling cocktails and chasing girls. When his girlfriend, Destiny, becomes pregnant, she moves in with his family in the Bronx. Juan Collado, Destiny Checho, Yohanna Florentino and Nathaly Navarro lead the cast.
On the festival circuit, “Mad Bills to Pay” (or “Destiny, Dile Que No Soy Malo”) has been praised as “one of the best debuts.” The film marks the first feature of writer-director Vargas, following his acclaimed short “May It Go Beautifully for You, Rico.” The film was produced by Paolo Maria Pedullà. Lexi Kroll serves as associate producer. The film is a production of Killer Films, Perpetuum Film, Watermark Media and Spark Features. Executive producers are Christine Vachon, Gabriel Mayers, Julie Waters, Evan Dyal, Robina Riccitiello, Josh Peters and Liam Francis Quigley.
“The ride for ‘Mad Bills to Pay’ has been wild ever since we touched down at Sundance and Berlin earlier this year and the love has been unreal,” Vargas said. “Now we get to keep the momentum going through a collaboration with Oscilloscope and we couldn’t be more excited to get the film in front of even more audiences via the big screen. Oscilloscope’s roots in New York’s music and film scenes run deep and that quirky green logo has been the opening act for so many of our favorite indie classics of the past decade and a half or so. To partner up with them on a Bronx-set story, born in the birthplace of hip-hop and centered on Latinx New Yorkers just feels meant to be.”
He continued: “We know Dan Berger and the Oscilloscope team will champion the film with the same care they’ve shown countless indie gems. It’s a true New York affair, what more is there to say? Huge thanks as well to Cinetic Media for brokering the deal and to Unapologetic Projects for supporting our release efforts. And of course, mad love and respect to Adam Yauch, Oscilloscope’s co-founder, filmmaker and Beastie Boy forever. We’ll keep a nutcracker cold in your honor.”
Oscilloscope Laboratories VP of acquisitions Aaron Katz added, “‘Mad Bills to Pay’ captures New York summers in a bottle — the hustle, the grind, the vitality, the punch, the liquor. Joel crafted a gorgeous, humanity-filled film from the perspective of a native son. It was one of the biggest standouts for us at Sundance and we are thrilled to be partnering with this excellent team.”
Chris Quintos Cathcart and Tyler Boehm of Unapologetic Projects shared: “We fell in love with ‘Mad Bills to Pay’ at Sundance, where Joel’s direction stood out for both its formal inventiveness and its powerfully humane approach to its characters. We’re proud to help bring this movie to theatrical audiences and particularly excited to bring more Dominican representation to the screen.”
The deal for the film was negotiated by Katz and Isadora Johnson of Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers.
Joel is represented by Entertainment 360 and CAA.