Stoic, an international sales and distribution company, has officially come aboard to handle worldwide sales for Moses the Black, the Chicago-set crime drama starring Omar Epps, Wiz Khalifa, Quavo, and Chukwudi Iwuji. The news was first reported by Deadline, which revealed that Stoic will take the project to the American Film Market (AFM) as part of its fall slate.
Although the film is set in Chicago, production wrapped this fall in Champaign County, with production offices based at Flyover Studios and principal photography taking place in Champaign, Urbana, and Rantoul. Directed and written by Yelena Popovic and produced by Popovic and Alexandros Potter for Simeon Faith, Moses the Black blends a modern gang-land storyline with themes inspired by the historical life of St. Moses the Black.
According to Deadline, Stoic is overseeing the film’s international launch, including presenting buyers with first-look footage and securing territory-by-territory distribution deals. Bringing Stoic onboard positions the film for a broad commercial rollout, giving this Illinois-shot feature the potential for significant global reach.
The cast is led by Omar Epps, who plays Malik, a Chicago gang leader on a violent collision course with his own past. Wiz Khalifa stars as 2wo-3ree, head of a younger crew, while Quavo plays Straw, Malik’s rival. Chukwudi Iwuji portrays Moses.
Simeon Faith financed the film, along with the Nick Mirkopoulos Cinematic Fund. Simeon Faith, is a recently formed faith-based film fund, launched by former IM Global executive Alexandros Potter and filmmaker Yelena Popovic. The Pissios family of Chicago and the Mirkopoulos family of Toronto co-financed Moses the Black through the newly established Nick Mirkopoulos Cinematic Fund, created to honor the legacy of “Uncle Nick,” founder of Cinespace Studios in Chicago and Toronto.
With production wrapped and sales activity underway, Moses the Black now enters the market phase — one that could determine its festival trajectory, international distribution footprint, and ultimate release schedule. Stoic’s participation signals confidence in the film’s global appeal and its ability to cross both genre and cultural lines.
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