New York, NY December 15, 2011 – IFC Midnight announced today that the company is acquiring U.S. rights to director Padraig Reynolds’ thriller RITES OF SPRING. The film, with a screenplay also by Reynolds, stars A.J. Bowen, Anessa Ramsey, Sonny Marinelli, Katherine Randolf, Marco St. John, Hannah Bryan, Sarah Pachelli, James Bartz, Shanna Forestall, Skylar Burke, and Andrew Breland. Bobby Benton and John Norris served as executive producers while Wes Benton and Eric Thompson produced.
In RITES OF SPRING, a group of kidnappers abduct the daughter of a wealthy socialite and hide out in an abandoned school in the middle of the woods. But feelings of guilt soon overtake the kidnappers, dividing the group and putting their entire plan in jeopardy. The evening further spirals out of control when their poorly chosen hideout becomes a hunting ground for a mysterious creature that requires springtime ritualistic sacrifices.
Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: "We’re thrilled to be working with Padraig Reynolds on his immensely entertaining, genre-bending thriller. He’s a major talent, and it is sure to be one of our most popular IFC Midnight titles next year."
Bowen recently starred in the critically acclaimed YOU’RE NEXT which made its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival where it was acquired by Lionsgate.
The deal for the film was negotiated by Jeff Deutchman, Director of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Nate Bolotin of XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
IFC Midnight is a sister division to IFC Films and Sundance Selects, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
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), Johnnie To’s Hong Kong revenge thriller Vengeance, and James Gunn’s Super starring Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page and Kevin Bacon. Upcoming IFC Midnight releases includeAlexandre Courtes THE INCIDENT and Adrian and Romero Garcia Bogliano’s PENUMBRA. IFC Midnight is a sister division to Sundance Selects and IFC Films, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About XYZ FILMS
XYZ is an LA-based production and sales company founded by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. In addition to handling North American sales at top-tier film festivals, XYZ is also partnered with French international sales outfit, Celluloid Dreams, for international sales. The partnership, launched in May of 2010 as “Celluloid Nightmares,” brings together the pedigree of Celluloid Dreams with the genre savvy of XYZ. XYZ has been a leader in the independent film space since it acquired an ownership stake in leading international film site Twitch (www.twitchfilm.com) and partnered with Twitch founder, Todd Brown, to expand XYZ’s sales initiative.
About Red Planet Entertainment, LLC
Established in 1980 with offices in Ridgeland and Biloxi, Mississippi, Suwanee, Georgia, and Beverly Hills, California. Red Planet Entertainment (RPE) with its sister companies, Red Planet Services (RPS) and GhostRider Entertainment (GRE), provide full services to the film industry. RPE offers services from pre-production through post-production. RPS deals with all aspects of production services, i.e. rolling stock and expendables. GRE produces films for RPE or in conjunction with others. For more information go to www.redplanetentertainment.com