“No Reception” Acquired by Film Distributor IndieRights

John Paul the Great Catholic University (JPCatholic) proudly announces that its feature film No Reception, the second production from its innovative Feature Film Program, has been acquired by film distributor IndieRights, with a streaming release scheduled for this fall on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Google Play. The film is also an Official Selection of the Silicon Beach Film Festival and will play at the historic TCL Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard on Saturday, Sep. 6th, at 12:00pm.

No Reception is a “family revenge comedy” about germaphobe Cody Mullen (Alex Campbell), a San Francisco businessman who returns home after his estranged father's death in hopes of claiming a large inheritance. Stranded in the wilderness, he becomes entangled in a bizarre feud between two eccentric hermits who challenge his understanding of family.

The distribution of the film marks a milestone in JPCatholic’s Feature Film Program, which engages students directly in the storytelling process, from pitch and pre-production to final cut. Shot in just 21 days on an approximately $75,000 budget, the production involved more than 40 students, offering hands-on roles across writing, cinematography, acting, costume design, and additional crew departments.

The film was directed by JPCatholic professor Christopher Riley, a screenwriter with over 25 years of experience including credits with Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Fox television network.

“No Reception is ridiculous fun,” said Riley. “And it's meaty. It's about things that really matter within our families… The production represents a wildly ambitious collaboration between students, faculty, and other industry professionals. Making a feature film is a massively complex project and our students rose to the challenge in every department.”

JPCatholic’s Feature Film Program was launched by Prof. George Simon in 2021 to provide a unique hands-on opportunity where students earn academic credit by collaborating with faculty to write, pitch, create, and distribute full-length movies. The first feature O, Brawling Love! is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, and No Reception will be the second release. This summer, faculty and students finished production on the next feature film, a sports comedy called Pickle for Pickleball, which is expected to premiere in 2026.

To see No Reception at the Silicon Beach Film Festival, purchase tickets here (Block W - Saturday, Sep. 6th, at 12:00pm)

About IndieRights:
Founded in 2000, IndieRights distributes, markets, and produces independent films, documentaries, and series, ensuring wide audience access through streaming platforms, rental, purchase, and theatrical release opportunities. They deliver content to over 100 territories worldwide.

About JPCatholic:
John Paul the Great Catholic University is “the Catholic University for Creative Arts and Business Innovation,” focusing on combining hands-on programs such as film, animation, design, music, acting, and business entrepreneurship with a Catholic liberal arts education in theology, philosophy, and humanities. Launched in 2006 in the Scripps Ranch community of San Diego, JPCatholic relocated to a permanent campus in downtown Escondido in 2013 and has been accredited with WSCUC since 2015. JPCatholic operates on a year-round quarter system, with students earning a bachelor's degree in just three years.