Shudder Snags "GRAFTED" Ahead Of Premiere At Sitges!
Sitges isn’t just a film festival, it is one of the oldest genre film festivals out there and has played host to many of our favorite films and filmmakers. Films like “Possessor”, “When Evil Lurks”, “Oldboy”, and more have played the prestigious Spanish festival and gone on to receive acclaim from critics and genre fans alike. Now in its 57th year, and honoring genre legends like Heather Langenkamp and Mike Flanagan, another notable bit of news is that everyone’s favorite streaming service, Shudder is loose and on an acquiring spree! Check out the press release below to hear about their latest pickup, “Grafted” a satirical body horror film that is about to premiere at the Spanish festival!
From The Press Release
Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today that they have acquired the North American, UK, and Ireland rights to Sasha Rainbow’s feature debut GRAFTED ahead of its Spanish premiere at the 2024 Sitges Film Festival. The film stars Joyena Sun, Jess Hong, and Jared Turner and is written by Mia Maramara, Hweiling Ow, Lee Murray, and Rainbow. GRAFTED will debut on Shudder on January 24, 2025.
GRAFTED follows Chinese scholarship student Wei, who travels to New Zealand to study medical research at a prestigious university. Shy, introverted, and hiding a genetic facial birthmark, Wei is shunned by her social butterfly cousin Angela and her glamorous friends. Determined to change her fate, Wei immerses herself in her late father's research, working on a revolutionary skin grafting procedure that could cure her deformity. As her experiments take a dark turn, she becomes more dangerous and unhinged, willing to eliminate anyone who threatens her secret.
Director Sasha Rainbow commented, “Partnering with Shudder is a dream come true—for those of us who like our dreams dark and full of twists, and there’s no better place to unleash Grafted than with the curators of terror themselves. I can’t wait for their fearless audience to sink their teeth into this one and experience Wei’s wild and bloody pursuit of perfection.”
“Sasha Rainbow’s bold and brave work in her short form and documentary work has transitioned seamlessly into her impressive debut feature,” said Shudder’s SVP of Acquisitions and Production Emily Gotto. “It’s no surprise that GRAFTED is gripping, slicing past a high body count with a highly original take on the body horror subgenre with sharp social commentary that strikes a nerve.”
GRAFTED is produced by Murray Francis and Leela Menon, and executive produced by Fraser Brown. The deal was negotiated by Shane Kelly from Mister Smith Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers and Emily Gotto on behalf of Shudder. Mister Smith Entertainment handles worldwide sales.
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