Exclusive: Isabelle Huppert (Elle) and Finn Wittrock (Luckiest Girl Alive) have closed deals to star in Free Radicals, an English-language home invasion thriller based on the same-name short story originally published in The New Yorker by Nobel Prize-winning author Alice Munro.
With psychological twists and a Hitchockian flair, Free Radicals revolves around the harrowing encounter between an ailing woman (Huppert) and a young killer on the run (Wittrock). Xia Magnus (Sanzaru) is set to direct from his script written with Alyssa Polk. Pic’s producers are Academy Award nominee Alexandra Milchan (Tár) and Theo Vieljeux (Monica).
Charades will handle international sales for the film, following its success with a number of other titles from emerging filmmakers, including Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Swallow starring Haley Bennett; Zachary Wigon’s Sanctuary with Christopher Abbott and Margaret Qualley, which Neon will release in the U.S on May 19; Charlotte Regan’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize...
With psychological twists and a Hitchockian flair, Free Radicals revolves around the harrowing encounter between an ailing woman (Huppert) and a young killer on the run (Wittrock). Xia Magnus (Sanzaru) is set to direct from his script written with Alyssa Polk. Pic’s producers are Academy Award nominee Alexandra Milchan (Tár) and Theo Vieljeux (Monica).
Charades will handle international sales for the film, following its success with a number of other titles from emerging filmmakers, including Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Swallow starring Haley Bennett; Zachary Wigon’s Sanctuary with Christopher Abbott and Margaret Qualley, which Neon will release in the U.S on May 19; Charlotte Regan’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize...
- 5/12/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group/Entertainment Studios, has acquired North American VOD rights to the Horror-Thriller Sanzaru. Sanzaru will be available to rent and own on North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms on November 16, 2021 through Freestyle Digital Media. Check out this scary trailer:
Sanzaru is a horror-thriller that tells the story of a nurse hired to care for an elderly woman who uncovers a shocking family secret. Evelyn, a young Filipina nurse, is living on an isolated estate while taking care of Dena, the aging matriarch of a Texas family. As Dena slips deeper into dementia, Evelyn begins to sense something ominous lurking behind the walls. Is the house a conduit for a malevolent supernatural force? Or is she just hearing things? As Evelyn’s paranoia pushes her to uncover her employer’s awful past, she may...
Sanzaru is a horror-thriller that tells the story of a nurse hired to care for an elderly woman who uncovers a shocking family secret. Evelyn, a young Filipina nurse, is living on an isolated estate while taking care of Dena, the aging matriarch of a Texas family. As Dena slips deeper into dementia, Evelyn begins to sense something ominous lurking behind the walls. Is the house a conduit for a malevolent supernatural force? Or is she just hearing things? As Evelyn’s paranoia pushes her to uncover her employer’s awful past, she may...
- 10/26/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Exclusive: Miramax has optioned Free Radicals, a short story by Nobel Prize-winning author Alice Munro, which revolves around the harrowing encounter between a young killer on the run and an ailing widow.
The story will be adapted by writer-director Xia Magnus and producer Alyssa Polk, with Magnus also attached to direct. Polk and Magnus previously teamed up for 2020’s atmospheric horror-thriller Sanzaru, which played at the Slamdance and Fantasia Film Festivals. Sanzaru, a horror thriller, follows a fragile home health aide who begins to question her own sanity as dementia engulfs her employer.
Free Radicals will be produced by Jon Shestack, who brought the package to Miramax.
Shestack says “The story, like so much of Alice Munro’s work, is dark and intelligent. The encounter between the main characters is so unexpected and intense, it feels like it was conceived for the screen.”
Shestack most recently produced Before I Fall...
The story will be adapted by writer-director Xia Magnus and producer Alyssa Polk, with Magnus also attached to direct. Polk and Magnus previously teamed up for 2020’s atmospheric horror-thriller Sanzaru, which played at the Slamdance and Fantasia Film Festivals. Sanzaru, a horror thriller, follows a fragile home health aide who begins to question her own sanity as dementia engulfs her employer.
Free Radicals will be produced by Jon Shestack, who brought the package to Miramax.
Shestack says “The story, like so much of Alice Munro’s work, is dark and intelligent. The encounter between the main characters is so unexpected and intense, it feels like it was conceived for the screen.”
Shestack most recently produced Before I Fall...
- 2/9/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Screamfest is celebrating its 20th anniversary of screening the latest and greatest genre cinema and they've announced their lineup of features and shorts for this year's fest. The drive-in-based edition of the festival will take place from October 6th through October 15th and will open with Books of Blood!
"The 20th annual Screamfest Horror Film Festival today announced their lineup of features and shorts, kicking off with a drive-in screening of Hulu’s Books of Blood. The festival, which will run from October 6-15, 2020, is the largest and longest running horror film festival in the United States. This year the festival will move entirely to drive-in screenings with a lineup of ten back-to-back nights of fright, each showcasing a feature film paired with a number of shorts. Tickets can be purchased here: https://screamfestla.com/
Screamfest LA will kick off on October 6 with the Opening Night screening of Books of Blood,...
"The 20th annual Screamfest Horror Film Festival today announced their lineup of features and shorts, kicking off with a drive-in screening of Hulu’s Books of Blood. The festival, which will run from October 6-15, 2020, is the largest and longest running horror film festival in the United States. This year the festival will move entirely to drive-in screenings with a lineup of ten back-to-back nights of fright, each showcasing a feature film paired with a number of shorts. Tickets can be purchased here: https://screamfestla.com/
Screamfest LA will kick off on October 6 with the Opening Night screening of Books of Blood,...
- 9/22/2020
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Sanzaru marks the debut of director Xia Magnus. The film has garnered quite a bit of buzz on the genre festival circuit as a selection of the Slamdance Film Festival, Wisconsin Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival, and the 2020 Fantasia Film Festival. Sanzaru stars Aina Dumlao, Jayne Taini, Justin Arnold, and Jon Viktor Corpuz.
Evelyn is a young Filipina nurse that has moved with her nephew to a remote Texas estate to care for the aging matriarch of a strange family. As the elderly woman’s symptoms of dementia get worse and her behavior increasingly erratic, Evelyn’s patience begins to fray. To make matters worse, Evelyn is plagued by the strange and threatening sounds coming from the house’s intercom.
I’ll say this for Sanzaru, it has found a grounded place within the subgenre of Southern Gothic horror. The film has this exquisite atmosphere of decay that shows great promise.
Evelyn is a young Filipina nurse that has moved with her nephew to a remote Texas estate to care for the aging matriarch of a strange family. As the elderly woman’s symptoms of dementia get worse and her behavior increasingly erratic, Evelyn’s patience begins to fray. To make matters worse, Evelyn is plagued by the strange and threatening sounds coming from the house’s intercom.
I’ll say this for Sanzaru, it has found a grounded place within the subgenre of Southern Gothic horror. The film has this exquisite atmosphere of decay that shows great promise.
- 8/31/2020
- by Caitlin Kennedy
- DailyDead
Genre film festivals are champions of the weird, and Fantasia is a champion of the highest order. Likewise, independent film is a prime channel for investigating the strangest ideas and themes: small crews can move quickly and easily, and filmmakers can explore the dark depths of the weird without notes or interference from studios which must have marketable moving images for the masses. Sadly, none of us are on the ground at Concordia University for Fantasia 2020, but lucky Canadian residents can stream the newest fever dreams from all over the world right now. One of these brand-new films is Sanzaru, the debut feature from director Xia Magnus. In the middle of Nowhere, Texas, young Filipina nurse Evelyn takes care of the elderly Dena, who seems...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/30/2020
- Screen Anarchy
Canadian festival will run a virtual event from August 20 to September 2.
Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival has revealed a second wave of titles – including eight world premieres - for this year’s virtual ediion which is taking place from August 20 to September 2.
The Montreal-based festival will offer live screenings, a programme library, panels and workshops which will be accessible across Canada and geo-locked to prevent access from elsewhere.
World premieres now set for Fantasia include The Block Island Sound, the latest horror outing from Kevin and Matthew McManus; The Oak Room, a fourth feature from Canadian filmmaker Cody Calahan; and Minor Premise,...
Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival has revealed a second wave of titles – including eight world premieres - for this year’s virtual ediion which is taking place from August 20 to September 2.
The Montreal-based festival will offer live screenings, a programme library, panels and workshops which will be accessible across Canada and geo-locked to prevent access from elsewhere.
World premieres now set for Fantasia include The Block Island Sound, the latest horror outing from Kevin and Matthew McManus; The Oak Room, a fourth feature from Canadian filmmaker Cody Calahan; and Minor Premise,...
- 7/9/2020
- by 31¦John Hazelton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The 26th edition of the Slamdance Film Festival has set its slate for the films in the Narrative and Documentary Feature Film Competition programs as well as the lineup for their Breakouts section. The fest will take place in Park City, Utah January 24-30, 2020.
As the fest “by filmmakers, for filmmakers,” this year’s Slamdance will feature 16 premieres, including 10 world premieres with films from United States, Belarus, Canada Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa. The films in competition are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are also eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year,...
As the fest “by filmmakers, for filmmakers,” this year’s Slamdance will feature 16 premieres, including 10 world premieres with films from United States, Belarus, Canada Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa. The films in competition are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are also eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year,...
- 12/2/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Slamdance Film Festival unveiled its 2020 lineup of microbudget films Monday that will premiere at the Sundance alternative, among of which include projects about Chernobyl, a brainwashing camp, drag queens and a taxidermist looking for Bigfoot.
All films in competition during its weeklong celebration in Park City from Jan. 24-30 have no U.S. distribution and a budget of under $1 million. Films from 10 countries will participate: U.S., Belarus, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year, our artist-led organization brings a lineup full of wonderful risk taking and unique storytelling. That’s the spirit of Slamdance 2020.”
Also Read: 'High Flying Bird' Film Review: Steven Soderbergh...
All films in competition during its weeklong celebration in Park City from Jan. 24-30 have no U.S. distribution and a budget of under $1 million. Films from 10 countries will participate: U.S., Belarus, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa.
“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year, our artist-led organization brings a lineup full of wonderful risk taking and unique storytelling. That’s the spirit of Slamdance 2020.”
Also Read: 'High Flying Bird' Film Review: Steven Soderbergh...
- 12/2/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Slamdance Film Festival has unveiled its 26th anniversary narrative and documentary feature film competition programs, as well as the lineup for its new breakouts section.
The narrative lineup includes director Heather Young’s drama “Murmur.” The movie, which won the Fipresci Discovery Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Shan MacDonald as an older woman who, while performing community service at an animal shelter, begins compulsively adopting pets to ease her loneliness.
The festival, launched in 1995 as an alternative to Sundance, has included showings of such notable titles as Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity.” The fest, which takes place at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 24 to Jan. 30, will screen 23 movies including 10 world premieres, five North American premieres, and one U.S. premiere.
Slamdance alumni include Joe and Anthony Russo, Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, Lena Dunham, Benh Zeitlin, Seth Gordon, and Lynn Shelton.
The narrative lineup includes director Heather Young’s drama “Murmur.” The movie, which won the Fipresci Discovery Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Shan MacDonald as an older woman who, while performing community service at an animal shelter, begins compulsively adopting pets to ease her loneliness.
The festival, launched in 1995 as an alternative to Sundance, has included showings of such notable titles as Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity.” The fest, which takes place at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 24 to Jan. 30, will screen 23 movies including 10 world premieres, five North American premieres, and one U.S. premiere.
Slamdance alumni include Joe and Anthony Russo, Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, Lena Dunham, Benh Zeitlin, Seth Gordon, and Lynn Shelton.
- 12/2/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Selectors considered record 8,231 submissions.
New work from Uruguay, Japan and South Africa are among the 20-strong Slamdance Film Festival feature film competition line-up unveiled on Monday (December 2) alongside the second Breakouts selection.
The 26th edition of the Park City, Utah, festival runs from January 24-30 and across all sections includes 16 premieres, including 10 world, 5 North American, and one Us berths. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets under $1m and without Us distribution. All are eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award, the latter of which is voted upon by filmmakers at the festival.
“Slamdance is...
New work from Uruguay, Japan and South Africa are among the 20-strong Slamdance Film Festival feature film competition line-up unveiled on Monday (December 2) alongside the second Breakouts selection.
The 26th edition of the Park City, Utah, festival runs from January 24-30 and across all sections includes 16 premieres, including 10 world, 5 North American, and one Us berths. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets under $1m and without Us distribution. All are eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award, the latter of which is voted upon by filmmakers at the festival.
“Slamdance is...
- 12/2/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
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