NEW YORK, NY (OCTOBER 10, 2019) – IFC Midnight is acquiring North American rights to THE OTHER LAMB directed by Małgorzata Szumowska (BODY, MUG, ELLES) starring Raffey Cassidy (VOX LUX, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER), Michiel Huisman (GAME OF THRONES, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE), and Denise Gough (COLETTE, JULIET NAKED) and is written by award-winning Australian screenwriter Catherine S. McMullen (TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES). The screenplay was featured on the 2017 BLACK LIST, HIT LIST and BLOOD LIST and had its World Premiere as a Special Presentation at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. The film most recently screened at the 2019 Fantastic Fest and is currently in competition at the 2019 BFI London Film Festival. Szumowska has previously won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival 2015 for her film BODY and subsequently the Grand Jury Prize for her film MUG in 2018. IFC Midnight will release the film in 2020.
THE OTHER LAMB is a haunting and nightmarish tale that tells the story of Selah (Raffey Cassidy), a young girl born into an alternative religion known as the Flock. The members of the Flock – all women and female children – live in a rural compound, and are led by one man, known only as Shepherd (Michiel Huisman). Selah, a daughter who is on the cusp of teenage-hood, is an incredibly devoted follower, but begins to bond with Sarah (Denise Gough), an outcast wife who has grown skeptical of Shepherd’s teachings. Selah is given the great honor of participating in the sacred ritual of the birthing of the lambs – upon which they depend for survival – where she has a shocking and transformative experience. She begins to have strange visions that make her question her own reality, and everything the Shepherd has taught her and her sisters.
Arianna Bocco EVP of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films said, “THE OTHER LAMB is the perfect addition to our 2020 slate of boundary-pushing and auteur-driven titles. Malgo’s distinct, original, and commanding approach to the film is completely in line with our goal of broadening the definition of what genre film can be. We unanimously wanted to work with her.”
Director Małgorzata Szumowska added, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with IFC on my English-language debut. Their history of championing auteurs from Europe in North America is incredible, and I’m very happy to join their roster of iconoclastic storytellers.”
The film was produced by Academy Award®-nominee David Lancaster and Stephanie Wilcox of Rumble Films (WHIPLASH, NIGHTCRAWLER, EYE IN THE SKY) together with Aoife O’Sullivan and Tristan Orpen Lynch of Subotica (MISS JULIE, 2014; YOUNG ONES, 2014), Danish producer Marie Gade Denessen of Zentropa (THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, 2018; THE HUNT, 2012) and in co-production with Umedia (MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, 2019; MANDY, 2018). Executive produced by Julia Godzinskaya, Will Norton, and Sophie Vickers of Rooks Nest Entertainment and Jon Shiffman and Andrew Schwartzberg of Rumble Films. The film is made with the participation of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and is an official Irish-Belgian co-production.
The deal was negotiated by EVP of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films Arianna Bocco and Acquisitions Coordinator Adam Koehler with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. International sales are being handled by TrustNordisk.
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Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent 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.
Upcoming releases include Dawn Luebbe and Jocelyn DeBoer’s festival hit GREENER GRASS and Larry Fessenden’s DEPRAVED. Some of the company’s successes have included Andy Nyman’s critical darling GHOST STORIES, André Øvredal’s box-office success THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, Peter Strickland’s modern giallo BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO, Duncan Skiles’ THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER, Lucile Hadžihalilović’s EVOLUTION, Johnnie To’s Hong Kong revenge thriller VENGEANCE, Sean Byrne’s THE DEVIL’S CANDY, John McNaughton’s THE HARVEST, and the award-winning and cultural phenomenon THE BABADOOK. IFC Midnight is a sister label to IFC Films, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.