Austin, TEXAS (March 14, 2011) – IFC Midnight announced tonight from the 2011 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival that the company is acquiring North American rights to director Ben Wheatley’s KILL LIST. The film, with a screenplay by Wheatley and Amy Jump, stars Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, and MyAnna Buring and was produced by Claire Jones and Andy Starke. Barry Ryan co-produced the film for Warp X. KILL LIST is a Warp X/Rook Film production for the UK Film Council and Film4 in association with Screen Yorkshire.
KILL LIST is screening at the SXSW Film Festival in the SX Fantastic section, a sidebar programmed by the team behind the Fantastic Fest.
Eight months after a disastrous job in Kiev left him physically and mentally scarred, ex-soldier turned contract killer Jay (Maskell), is pressured by his partner Gal (Smiley), into taking a new assignment. The film follows as they descend into the dark, disturbing world of the contract, Jay begins to unravel once again – his fear and paranoia sending him deep into the heart of darkness.
KILL LIST is Wheatley’s second feature film. His debut, DOWN TERRACE, won numerous awards, including Best Feature at Fantastic Fest, Raindance and Boston.
Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: "Our team was blown away by KILL LIST. It is a relentless, stylish, brilliantly directed journey into darkness that confirms Ben Wheatley as a major director. This is a film that is destined to be discussed for years and we are honored to begin the conversation with audiences across the country. We are happy to be working with our friends at Protagonist, Warp X and Film4 once again."
"It’s an amazing way to end a fantastic festival," said director Wheatley.
Katherine Butler, executive producer of the film for Film4, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be working with IFC on this coruscating film from the wildly talented Ben Wheatley following its hugely successful premiere here in SXSW."
The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Ben Roberts, CEO of Protagonist Pictures on behalf of the filmmakers.
IFC Midnight is a sister division to Sundance Selects and IFC Films, and is owned and operated by Rainbow Media.
About IFC MIDNIGHT
Established in 2010 and based in New York City, IFC Midnight is a leading U.S. distributor of genre entertainment including horror, science-fiction, thrillers, erotic art house, action and more. Its unique distribution model makes independent genre films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on cable’s Video On Demand (VOD) platform, reaching nearly 50 million homes. Some of the company’s successes have included Tom Six’s controversial horror film The Human Centipede (First Sequence) and Johnnie To’s Hong Kong revenge thriller Vengeance. Upcoming IFC Midnight releases include James Gunn’s Super starring Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page and Kevin Bacon; Miguel Angel Vivas’ powerful and shocking home invasion flick Kidnapped and Tom Six’s highly anticipated frightfest The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence). IFC Midnight is a sister division to Sundance Selects and IFC Films, and is owned and operated by Rainbow Media.