Hulu Acquires Oscar-Contending Short Doc ‘Relighting Candles,’ Executive Produced By Melissa McCarthy And Ben Falcone

EXCLUSIVE: On the opening day of Oscar shortlist voting, Hulu announced it has acquired one of the contenders for short documentary recognition – Relighting Candles: The Tim Sullivan Story, executive produced by Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone.

Zeberiah Newman and Michiel Thomas directed the film, which premiered in July at Outfest and screened in October at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. It played theatrically at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. Hulu plans to debut Relighting Candles on its streaming platform on January 19.

“Relighting Candles: The Tim Sullivan Story is a heartwarming portrait of Tim Sullivan, 83, who offers newly sober men and women a chance to rebuild their lives from his candle shop in West Hollywood during its busiest time of year, Christmas,” Hulu said in a release. “This film looks at the homeless and drug crisis in Los Angeles and the impact made by the charitable and inspiring Sullivan.”

In a statement, McCarthy and Falcone said, “We are so happy to help shine a light on Tim Sullivan and the amazing work he does every day to help others. We are so grateful to Hulu for giving this short documentary a home and the opportunity for so many people to see this beautiful story.”

Co-directors Newman and Thomas added, “We couldn’t be more thrilled and humbled to share our film with the Hulu audience. As fans of the platform, we are excited for people to see the power of a second chance and the magic of a helping hand.”

Sullivan opened his candle shop a quarter century ago. When the Christmas season rolls around, he hires people who have experienced homelessness or are on a journey of sobriety to fill thousands of candle orders. Sullivan himself got sober more than 40 years ago while living in New York.

“I just knew that somehow or other if I had another drink, I would be dead,” he recalled in an interview posted to GLAAD’s website on Tuesday. “And I just wanted to stay away from that half quart to three quarters [quart] of vodka a day… And I just took it one day at a time.”

Newman joined Sullivan for that interview. He explained that he experienced addiction and homelessness but was able to able to turn his life around and become a successful producer and director. For eight years, he served as supervising producer on The Late Late Show with James Corden. It was backstage at that show where he was able to pitch McCarthy and Falcone on the idea for the Relighting Candles documentary.

After looking at some footage shot by Newman and Thomas, the Hollywood couple said they were all in, Newman recalled. “They have been incredible partners,” Newman said. “To have Ben and Melissa on this is so meaningful because they are just such genuine, real people and they’re very proactive.”

McCarthy and Falcone designed limited edition candles for this holiday season, which are for sale through Sullivan’s shop (hers is called “Sweata Weatha” and his is dubbed “Shut Up and Dance”). The release from Hulu said the couple made a “monumental contribution” to the short documentary, through “their creative input on edit, story and production and their expertise in storytelling which crosses genres and scale.”

Relighting Candles: The Tim Sullivan Story is executive produced by Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone under their company On The Day Productions. It is co-produced and co-directed by Zeberiah Newman and Michiel Thomas.