Full Breakdown
The Rivals of Amziah King — Release, Production, and Promotion
8/14/2026, 12:17:34 AM
Film Overview and Release Milestones
“The Rivals of Amziah King,” written and directed by Andrew Patterson, follows charismatic beekeeper-musician Amziah King (Matthew McConaughey) as he reunites with his former foster daughter Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass) and confronts threats to their honey business. The movie blends blue-grass music, heist antics, and a revenge thriller set in rural Oklahoma. It premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival and will roll out nationwide through Black Bear.
Production Design and Practical Effects
Seattle art director John Lavin described the film’s hands-on approach. The crew built a full-scale drive-in burger joint modeled on a real Oklahoma roadside eatery. A separate set replicated a school janitor’s closet to contain a swarm of 30,000 bees, allowing safe interaction with a fabricated hive. The team also engineered a functional raft from improvised materials for a river scene, ensuring it could actually support performers.
Cast and Narrative Elements
The ensemble includes Matthew McConaughey, Angelina LookingGlass, Kurt Russell, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, and Cole Sprouse. The story tracks Kateri’s loss of her mother, her return to Amziah’s honey operation, and the escalation of honey thefts that drive the plot into a crime-thriller climax. Patterson cited influences from the Coen brothers, noting tone shifts across three distinct narrative sections.
Upcoming Giveaway and Special Screening
FlickDirect announced a nationwide Fandango-code giveaway tied to the film’s release. Entries must be received by Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Winners will receive promotional codes usable at participating U.S. theaters. FlickDirect is also hosting a special screening in South Florida on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at AMC Aventura, beginning at 7:30 PM and followed by a Q&A with writer-director Andrew Patterson around 9:45 PM. The event is open to legal U.S. residents aged 17 or older, with one entry per person.
Official Statements & Responses
FlickDirect’s promotional materials emphasize that the giveaway and the Miami screening are separate initiatives, each subject to standard redemption restrictions and eligibility rules. The company clarified that the Q&A will be moderated by Allison Rose of FlickDirect. Patterson, speaking about the film’s themes, noted that while he does not write from a predetermined theme, the story emerged as one about protection and community, shaped by collaboration with the cast.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We knew each other for 35 years,” — John Lavin, art director
- “We took a real roadside burger place and then we built the whole drive-up. It was modeled off of a place that (director Andrew Patterson) used to go to in Oklahoma that he loved,” — John Lavin, art director
- “We can’t let 30,000 bees out in a real school, so we have to build a separate thing to be the room of this janitor’s closet at this school,” — John Lavin, art director
- “We had to make it plausible. Per the script, how could they put together a raft out of the things that they had,” — John Lavin, art director
