Mercury Media sells “Parking Lot,” picks up “Santa”

September 16, 2011 by Adam Benzine

Becoming Santa

London-based documentary distributor Mercury Media has sold comedy doc The Parking Lot Movie into Belgium, and picked up rights for South By Southwest-winning doc Becoming Santa (pictured).

The indie has penned a deal with VRT in Belgium for The Parking Lot Movie, which first aired on PBS’ ‘Independent Lens’ in the U.S. The film previously sold to KBS Korea, Noga Israel and Inflight Productions NZ.

Cathay Pacific Airways has also acquired the film for in-flight, along with another Mercury title, The Invention of Dr. NakaMats.

Adding to its comedy slate, Mercury has picked up distribution rights for Becoming Santa, which follows the adventures of Jack Sanderson as he learns about the culture and character of Father Christmas while attending a school for aspiring Santas.

The documentary won the Audience Award at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival. Mercury CEO Tim Sparke said: “Following on from the success of The Invention of Dr NakaMats and The Parking Lot Movie, we’re hoping Becoming Santa will prove to be another laugh-out-loud international documentary hit.

“Becoming Santa is a life-affirming seasonal treat which will play to excited audiences young and old across the globe. One of Mercury’s strategic aims for 2011 was to acquire happy films celebrating all that is good – it is really good to be delivering on that ambition.”

Tags: Becoming Santa, Mercury Media, SXSW, The Parking Lot Movie