VIRTUAL CANNES, FRANCE (June 22, 2020) – IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring North American rights from Wild Bunch International to HATCHING, directed by first time Finnish filmmaker Hanna Bergholm. HATCHING explores themes of control and keeping up appearances in a twisted coming-of-age body horror meets psychological drama, with a screenplay by Ilja Rautsi. The film stars Siiri Solalinna, Sophia Heikkilä, Jani Volanen, Reino Nordin and Oiva Ollila. The film is produced by Mika Ritalahti and Niko Ritalahti from Silva Mysterium. Animatronics Designer, Gustav Hoegen (Star Wars: Episodes VI, VII, & IX, Jurassic World, Prometheus) and two-time Academy Award nominee, SFX Makeup Designer, Conor O’Sullivan (Saving Private Ryan, The Hours, X Men: First Class, The Dark Knight, Game of Thrones) bring the story to life with visceral imagery and skill. HATCHING will have its festival premiere in 2021.
In the film, 12-year-old gymnast Tinja tries desperately to please her mother, a woman obsessed with presenting the image of a perfect family life to the world through her popular blog. Then, one night, Tinja finds a strange egg. She hides it, she keeps it warm. And when it hatches, what emerges is beyond belief.
Director Hanna Bergholm said, “I’m extremely honored that HATCHING has been picked up by an U.S. distributor, and especially by such a prominent label like IFC Midnight. We had an amazing international crew during our production, and I’m very happy that all their work will receive the recognition it deserves. This partnership just further proves to us that the story of ‘HATCHING’ is truly universal.”
Producers Mika Ritalahti and Niko Ritalahti from Silva Mysterium added, “We are extremely happy that Wild Bunch managed to get a distribution deal with IFC Midnight and are very excited that HATCHING will have the opportunity to be released in the U.S.”
IFC Midnight’s THE WRETCHED crossed $1.5 million at the U.S box office this spring due to its innovative drive-in release strategy this Spring. Other critically acclaimed recent releases include Carlo Mirabella Davis’ SWALLOW, Jennifer Reeder’s KNIVES AND SKIN, Malgorzata Szumowska’s THE OTHER LAMB, Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe’s GREENER GRASS. Upcoming releases include Natalie Erika James’ RELIC (July 10), Dave Franco’s THE RENTAL (July 24), and Egor Abramenko’s SPUTNIK (Aug 14).
The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films’ EVP of Acquisitions and Productions Arianna Bocco and Director of Acquisitions Aijah Keith with Eva Diederix of Wild Bunch International and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.
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ABOUT IFC MIDNIGHT
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 digital and cable’s Video On Demand (VOD) platform, reaching nearly 50 million homes.
Upcoming releases include Natalie Erika James’ Sundance hit RELIC and Egor Abramenko’s SPUTNIK. 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, Lucile Hadžihalilović’s EVOLUTION, Johnnie To’s Hong Kong revenge thriller VENGEANCE, Sean Byrne’s THE DEVIL’S CANDY, 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.