"Two dancing teachers possessing five pounds marijuana -- about $5,000 worth on the retail market -- were arrested today by Miami Beach police who had been trailing them from weeks."
"Members of a Miami Beach church who want to smoke pot in praise of God are still breaking the law. The highest court in the United States has rejected their freedom-of0religion appeal."
Saturday, March 12th - WORLD PREMIERE
9:30pm; Vimeo Theater
Wednesday, March 16th
5:30pm; Rollins Theatre
Thursday, March 17th
4:00pm; Westgate
Friday, March 18th
10:00pm; Vimeo Theater
Magnolia Pictures has picked up worldwide rights to Billy Corben's documentary Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja.
The indie distributor plans a 2011 release that will include a 40-city college tour, a screening at the High Times Medicinal Cannabis Cup in Denver, Co. on April 1 and preview screenings promoted by High Times and NORML.
The acquisition is the second poached from the forthcoming SXSW Film Festival lineup. New Video grabbed rights to competition film Fly Away last week. Both movies will have their world premieres at the Austin-based fest in mid-March.
Square Grouper looks into the pot smuggling scene in 1970s South Florida and its major players: the smuggling Black Tuna Gang, the pot dealing Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church and the tiny fishing village Everglades City. Corben and his producer Alfred Spellman of rakontur are also the filmmakers behind Cocaine Cowboys.
“Billy and Alfred have struck gold again with Square Grouper," said Magnolia's Tom Quinn, who negotiated the deal with Spellman. "They are consistently making some of the most entertaining docs of anyone working today. Fans of Cocaine Cowboys and The U are going to love Square Grouper.”
The first of a first-look deal between rakontur and Magnolia, the film will be brought to the European Film Market in Berlin this week by Magnolia International.
A Wagner/Cuban Company division, Magnolia recently released Casino Jack and All Good Things. The company picked up the documentary Page One: A Year Inside The New York Times and the dark drama I Melt With You at the Sundance Film Festival.
"South Florida law officials say drug smugglers are turning to cocaine and methaqualone for their income as federal agents seize tons of their marijuana crop."
"A ruthless pot-smuggling ring that killed an informant and cut up his body, bribed Miami and Key West police and trafficked a half-million pounds of marijuana has been broken, federal authorities said Wednesday."
"Long-term marijuana smoking by members of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church apparently has not impaired their mental functioning, says a team of psychiatric researchers, but a federal official has criticized their study."
The first reviews of Square Grouper are in:
Miami New Times - Rakontur's Square Grouper Debuts at SXSW Film Festival
"Corben's most impressive effort to date."
Moving Pictures - ‘Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja’
"Corben’s choice of music for each chapter is hilarious, and his formula for finding fun in documentary form is matched by a limited number of filmmakers. While Corben’s continued success with “Cocaine Cowboys” is thoroughly deserved, his follow-up with “Square Grouper” is sure to plant wide smiles on many festival faces."
The Film Stage - (SXSW Review) Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja
B+ "Square Grouper is an engaging counter balance to the frantic action of Cocaine Cowboys, hitting most of the right notes with authentic voices and atmosphere."
Miami Beach 411 - “Square Grouper” Premieres at SXSW