Exclusive: New Europe Film Sales Acquires Oscar-Qualifying Short Film 'Clout'

New Europe Film Sales has obtained worldwide distribution rights for Clout, an Oscar- and BAFTA-eligible short film by Jordan Murphy Doidge, featuring Archie Yates, known for his role in Jojo Rabbit. The film, written and directed by Doidge, tells the story of 13-year-old Oskar (Yates), whose intense craving for attention takes a dark turn, according to the synopsis.

Characterized as a mix of Black Mirror and Stand by Me, Clout explores themes of identity, vulnerability, and the darker aspects of growing up in the digital age.

New Europes shorts division has a strong track record, having represented over 15 Oscar-shortlisted films, including the 2017 best live-action short winner Sing and 2019 nominee Weekends. Their catalogue also features works by Ruben stlund, Magnus von Horn, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Laura Moss, Hlynur Plmason, Reka Bucsi, Jonas Odell, and others.

Clout premiered at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts festival in Los Angeles and has since embarked on a sold-out U.K. tour in collaboration with Everyman Cinemas. The cast includes Anna Wilson-Jones (Black Mirror), Nadine Marshall (Tatami), Samuel Leakey (Gretel & Hansel), and newcomers Obi Laughton Oleforo and Ashwin Chandrasekaran, alongside Kit Price, a model and actor with over 1 million TikTok followers.

New Europe is thrilled to present Clout to international audiences, said Nela Zieliska, head of shorts at New Europe Film Sales. Doidge has created a film that captures the spirit of our times with emotional nuance and cinematic finesse. We expect it to make a strong impact with festival programmers, streaming platforms, and audiences globally.

Clout is produced by Francis Chapman, a Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner for In the Summers, with co-production by Lindsay Cullen. The filmmakers have partnered with U.K. organizations Family Lives, The Mix, Into Film, and Arts Emergency to host post-screening discussions on youth mental health and online risks.

Author: Sophia Brooks