(FEBRUARY 7, 2022) IFC Midnight and Shudder announced today that they are closing a multi-territory deal for SHE WILL, the BIFA nominated psychological horror directed by artist and filmmaker Charlotte Colbert. The film stars Alice Krige (THOR, GRETEL & HANSEL, SLEEPWALKERS), Kota Eberhardt (DARK PHOENIX), BAFTA® Award winner Rupert Everett (MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, AN IDEAL HUSBAND), Amy Manson (SPENCER), Jonathan Aris (THE DEATH OF STALIN, ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD) and Malcolm McDowell (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE). The film was produced by Jessica Malik and Bob Last, written by Kitty Percy and Charlotte Colbert and attracted a top-level production team including editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (THE FAVOURITE), composer Clint Mansell (BLACK SWAN) and cinematographer Jamie Ramsay (MOTHERING SUNDAY, LIVING). Ed Pressman, Dario Argento, Sam Pressman, Ed Clarke, Sam Cryer, Hannah Leader, Thorsten Schumacher and Sara Woodhatch were executive producers.
The film won the Golden Leopard for Best First Film at Locarno Film Festival and was in the official selection at the London Film Festival, Sitges, Fantastic Fest and Thessaloniki. IFC Midnight will release the film in theaters and on demand in North America in 2022, with Shudder taking the first streaming window. The film will also release in territories including Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America.
The film, presented by horror legend Dario Argento (SUSPIRIA), has garnered strong reviews; Alfonso Cuarón has said that “it sits in the tradition of great psychological horror films which leaves one questioning long after it is finished” and Variety described it as “A superb, sly horror-drama debut delivering otherworldly feminist vengeance.”
SHE WILL is a gothic fairy tale about Veronica Ghent (Alice Krige) who after a double mastectomy, goes to a healing retreat in rural Scotland with her young nurse Desi (Kota Eberhardt). She discovers that the process of such surgery opens up questions about her very existence, leading her to start to question and confront past traumas. The two develop an unlikely bond as mysterious forces give Veronica the power to enact revenge within her dreams.
Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Films, said, “Charlotte Colbert has brought us an inventive and provocative directorial debut with SHE WILL. The film exudes a timeliness with an evocative feminist critique that singles her out as one of the genre’s exciting new voices to contend with. We are thrilled to welcome her into the IFC Midnight family.”
“I am delighted to be working with IFC, Shudder, Vertigo and all the distribution partners to release the film this year. I hope the coven will come out to see it on the big screen” added director Charlotte Colbert.
Executive Producer Dario Argento adds, “SHE WILL is an excursion into the world of witchery, madness, dreams, which together create an intoxicating atmosphere.”
Craig Engler, GM for Shudder, added, “Charlotte Colbert has crafted an assured and mesmerizing debut feature with SHE WILL, a wickedly smart and socially relevant horror with exceptional performances from its outstanding cast. We can’t wait to share its witchy wonders with Shudder members around the world.”
The deal was negotiated by IFC Films’ President Arianna Bocco and Manager of Acquisitions Adam Koehler with Rocket Science’s Head of Sales, Claire Taylor. Rocket Science also closed deals in UK (Vertigo), France (Alba Films) Spain (Filmin), South Africa (FilmFinity), Portugal (Lusomundo), CIS (Arna Media). Rocket Science is handling worldwide sales at EFM.
Charlotte Colbert is an established artist and an award-winning filmmaker. Her artwork has been shown internationally at prestigious institutions including Somerset House, Saatchi Gallery, Art Basel. Colbert has also written and directed award-winning short films including The Silent Man with Simon Amstell and Sophie Kennedy Clarke and written an array of award-winning screenplays for Olivier Dahan, Eric Cantona, Tony Grisoni, and with Harry Wootliff and Laurence Coriat.
IFC Midnight is home to some of the most exciting new voices in genre film of the last decade, including Natalie Erika James’ RELIC, Dave Franco’s THE RENTAL, Jennifer Kent’s THE BABADOOK, Carlo Mirabella Davis’ SWALLOW, and the latest film from Peter Strickland premiering at the upcoming Berlinale, FLUX GOURMET. Most recently, IFC Midnight brought the critically acclaimed Finnish horror film HATCHING to the 2022 Sundance for its world premiere, directed by first-timer Hanna Bergholm – currently 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and opening in theaters and VOD on April 29th, as well as coming on board for the highly buzzed about 2022 Sundance title directed by Chloe Okuno, WATCHER, starring Maika Monroe (IT FOLLOWS).
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 Ruth Paxton’s A BANQUET, Hannah Bergholm’s Sundance critical hit HATCHING, and Eskil Vogt’s THE INNOCENTS. 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, Natalie Erika James’ RELIC, SWALLOW from Carlo Mirabella Davis 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.
ABOUT SHUDDER
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.