It sounds like we already have our first great horror movie of 2016. Following its much talked about screenings at Sundance, the Farsi-language horror movie Under The Shadow is set for a worldwide release, thanks to Vertical Entertainment, Netflix, and XYZ Films:
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (January 23, 2016) – Vertical Entertainment and XYZ Films have partnered for global distribution of the Farsi-language horror thriller UNDER THE SHADOW, which will have its world premiere at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival. The companies will coordinate a global day-and-date release on digital and VOD platforms, alongside a targeted theatrical release in select territories. Netflix will release the film worldwide shortly after the theatrical and transactional debut. The release date is still to be announced.
UNDER THE SHADOW is written and directed by British / Iranian Babak Anvari and stars Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi and Bobby Naderi. The film is produced by Lucan Toh, Oliver Roskill and Emily Leo of Wigwam Films. Set in Tehran in 1988 as the Iran-Iraq war rumbles into its eighth year. The bombing campaigns focused on the city, coupled with the country’s bloody revolution, slowly tear a mother and daughter apart. As they struggle to stay together in the midst of these modern terrors, a mysterious evil stalks through their apartment, threatening their grip on reality.
“We’ve once again found ourselves in awe of XYZ’s tastemaker approach to film and are thrilled to be partnering with them on a film we find to be unique not only in the genre itself, but also in its social message,” said Vertical’s Rich Goldberg. “We’re excited to be collaborating with the team at Wigwam Films who have been instrumental in identifying the route to market for this film. UNDER THE SHADOW is a special movie for us to be involved with, and we think audiences across the globe will feel the same.”
“This distribution alliance with Vertical and Netflix will ensure that UNDER THE SHADOW has a chance to be seen by the largest audience worldwide for years to come,” said XYZ Films’ Nate Bolotin. “Babak Anvari is a breakout filmmaking voice and it’s an honor to be a part of this chilling yet harrowing tale with its defiantly strong female performances.”
Vertical has had success with its North American distribution operation and is pushing into the global market with day-and-date releases HE NEVER DIED, which was released in December in collaboration with XYZ, as well as the upcoming TERMINUS, also with XYZ, and FRANK & CINDY. Vertical and XYZ recently announced their collaboration on the global release alongside Japanese studio Nikkatsu on the action film HEADSHOT which is currently in production in Indonesia with the Mo Brothers directing and starring RAID & RAID 2 star Iko Uwais.
XYZ Films is currently producing and handling sales for a number of titles including the international hostage thriller 6 DAYS, starring Jamie Bell, Mark Strong and Abbie Cornish, the action-thriller PILGRIMAGE starring Jon Bernthal, Richard Armitage and Tom Holland and I KILL GIANTS, which is directed by Anders Walter and produced by Chris Columbus, Treehouse Pictures, Man of Action Entertainment and XYZ.
ABOUT XYZ FILMS
XYZ Films is an integrated content company whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. As an independent production company and worldwide sales agency, the company is uniquely suited to identify talented filmmakers and bring their stories to life. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian.
ABOUT VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT
Vertical Entertainment serves a unique role in the industry by operating as one of the leading independent distributors and as a full-service content marketing company dedicated to providing highly effective end-to-end solutions. Vertical has unparalleled relationships in both the content and retailer communities to service a variety of revenue streams throughout North America including theatrical markets, DVD, Blu-ray, digital, electronic sell-through, streaming, VOD, PPV, Pay and Free TV. With the combined distribution, marketing, and sales expertise of Co-President’s Rich Goldberg and Mitch Budin, and VP of Acquisitions & Marketing Peter Jarowey, Vertical offers its content partners a truly dynamic advantage. Recent and current titles include “He Never Died” starring Henry Rollins; “Frank and Cindy” starring Oliver Platt and Rene Russo; “Playing It Cool” starring Chris Evans, Michelle Monaghan, and Anthony Mackie; “The Calling” with Susan Sarandon and Topher Grace; “Home Sweet Hell” starring Katherine Heigl, Patrick Wilson, and Jordana Brewster; and “Into the Grizzly Maze” starring James Marsden, Thomas Jane, Piper Perabo, and Billy Bob Thornton.
ABOUT WIGWAM FILMS
Wigwam Films is a London based production company with a strong background in creative development, financing and production. The Company is committed to developing great stories with universal power to move and entertain. Wigwam Films produced BEFORE I DISAPPEAR, an adaptation of the Academy Award Winning short film CURFEW, which won the 2014 SXSW Audience Award. Wigwam was founded in 2012 by Lucan Toh, Emily Leo and Oliver Roskill, who were recognized by Screen International as ‘Future Leaders’ in 2015.
After spending more than 10 years as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his interest in horror and sci-fi. Since then, it has grown into an online magazine with a staff of writers that provide daily news, reviews, interviews, and special features.
As the Editor-in-Chief of Daily Dead, Jonathan is responsible for bringing the latest horror news to millions of readers from around the world. He is also consulted with as an expert on zombies in entertainment and pop culture, providing analyses of the zombie sub-genre to newspapers, radio stations, and convention attendees.
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