Body Horror Feature ‘Grafted’ Sold to Further Key International Territories Following Acquisition by Shudder (EXCLUSIVE)

As a movie buff with a passion for international cinema, I can confidently say that “Grafted” is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing films to grace the horror genre in recent years. With its thought-provoking themes and a talented cast, this body horror feature promises to deliver a chilling tale that’s as captivating as it is unsettling.


The entertainment company Mister Smith Entertainment has disclosed that “Grafted,” a body horror movie, has been sold to several regions after its showing at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain over the weekend. Additionally, it was announced that Shudder acquired the film for distribution in North America and the U.K. and Ireland.

Director Sasha Rainbow’s first film, ‘Grafted’, which was nominated for a BAFTA and long-listed for an Oscar with its short film ‘Kamali’, has been bought by various distributors: Twelve Oaks for Spain, Front Row Entertainment for the Middle East, Blitz for Ex-Yugoslavia, Forum Film for Poland, The Film Group for Greece/Cyprus, Active Cinema Group for CIS, Baltic States and Ukraine, Superfine Films for India, and Ricochet Digital Media for Airlines.

The film titled ‘Grafted’ critiques our contemporary fixation on beauty, body image, and social acceptance through the lens of horror. In the lead roles are Joyena Sun, Jess Hong (recently seen in Netflix’s ‘3 Body Problem’), Jared Turner, Eden Hart, and Sepi To’a. Supporting roles are played by Ginette McDonald and Mark Mitchinson. ‘Grafted’ has been creating a stir on the festival circuit, being hailed as a must-watch genre film at events like the New Zealand Film Festival, Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival, Hawaii Film Festival, and forthcoming festivals such as Ramaskrik Film Festival and Molins Horror Film Festival.

The story revolves around Joyena Sun (Wei), a Chinese student pursuing medical research in New Zealand at a renowned university following her scholarship. Wei is reserved, timid, and carries an unusual birthmark on her face, which makes her the subject of ridicule by her cousin Angela (Jess Hong) and her glamorous circle of friends. Desperate to alter her circumstances, Wei throws herself into her deceased father’s research, focusing on a groundbreaking skin grafting technique with potential to cure her affliction. However, as her experiments take a sinister turn, Wei transforms into a more menacing and unbalanced individual, prepared to eliminate anyone who stands in the way of her secret.

Shane Kelly, the senior vice president of international sales and acquisitions at Mister Smith Entertainment, expressed: “We’re observing festival viewers relishing Sasha’s unique blend of conceptual and satirical body horror. Our purchasers see promising prospects for distribution in their respective regions.

The movie titled “Grafted” was penned by Mia Maramara, Hweiling Ow, Lee Murray, and Rainbow. This production was handled by Murray Francis from Propaganda and Leela Menon from FluroBlack, with Fraser Brown of FluroBlack serving as an executive producer. The distribution rights for this film are held by Yet Another Monster Company in New Zealand and Australia. Funding for the project came from the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Rebate, FluroBlack Media, Department of Post, and Head Gear Films.

Read More

2024-10-08 17:47