How Votiv Secured Sydney Sweeneys Boxing Film Christy Rights

Votiv’s Big Break with Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Christy’

“Christy,” the highly praised sports drama starring Sydney Sweeney, tells the inspiring story of former boxing champion Christy Martin — a woman who battled through triumph and tragedy inside and outside the ring. For Votiv, the indie studio behind the film, it’s a defining moment that proves their creative vision and perseverance are paying off.

Image source: ig/sydney_sweeney

Balancing Art and Business

Votiv’s founder and CEO Brent Stiefel says the company’s mission has always been about merging art with commerce.

“We founded this business to support artists and let them realize their visions,” he explains. “If we can help with that while running a sustainable business, we’ll be a success.”

The company’s journey with Christy began years ago, when they secured the life rights to Martin’s story — a move that would later bring them into collaboration with major production partners.

Image source: ig/sydney_sweeney

Winning the Life Rights to Christy Martin’s Story

Justin Lothrop, Votiv’s head of film and television, recalls their early belief in the project.

“Christy is an amazing human being and her story is incredible,” says Lothrop. “We knew it would make a compelling movie.”

Martin’s real-life experiences read like a Hollywood script — from holding the WBC female super welterweight title to surviving a murder attempt by her estranged husband and later marrying her former boxing rival, Lisa Holewyne.

Votiv managed to secure the life rights despite competition from other studios, later joining forces with Anonymous Content and Black Bear Pictures, who helped finance and distribute the film.

Image source: ig/sydney_sweeney

Building Stories from the Ground Up

Unlike many studios that chase finished scripts, Votiv prides itself on developing ideas from their earliest stages.

“There aren’t a lot of companies that develop as deeply as we do,” notes Lothrop. “We like to shape stories, not just rewrite them later.”

This hands-on approach has set Votiv apart in the competitive indie film space.

From Music Management to Indie Film Success

Votiv’s roots go back to 2011, when the company started as a music management agency. After Stiefel connected with Lothrop, they pivoted toward filmmaking, producing standout projects like Obvious Child, Between Us, and Alt Right: Age of Rage.

Today, they aim to release three to four films annually, with upcoming titles including Wicker starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, and Patricia Wants to Cuddle, directed by Sophia Takal.

A Victory in Theaters

Sydney Sweeney stars as professional boxer Christy Martin in the first trailer for #Christy.

In theaters on November 7. pic.twitter.com/9Z1V6BqPsb

— Rotten Tomatoes ???? (@RottenTomatoes) September 11, 2025

While many indie productions end up on streaming platforms, Christy will have a theatrical run — a milestone that deeply matters to the team.

“Being creative at heart, we’d love for every one of our films to make it into theaters,” says Stiefel. “That’s not always possible, but it’s our preferred path.”