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

Mister Smith Entertainment has revealed further sales of the body horror feature “Grafted” to multiple territories following this weekend’s Spanish premiere screening at Sitges Film Festival, and the announcement of Shudder’s North America and U.K. and Ireland acquisition of the film.

“Grafted,” the directorial debut of Sasha Rainbow, whose short film “Kamali” was nominated for a BAFTA and long-listed for an Oscar, was acquired by 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.

Related Stories

VIP+

Why the Video Game Industry Can’t Shake Its Struggles

Will Smith and Michael Bay to Reunite for Netflix Action Movie 'Fast and Loose'

“Grafted,” which uses the horror genre to expose and subvert the current obsession with beauty, body image and social acceptance, stars Joyena Sun, Jess Hong, who recently starred in Netflix’s “3 Body Problem,” Jared Turner, Eden Hart and Sepi To’a, with support from Ginette McDonald and Mark Mitchinson. “Grafted” has been generating buzz on the festival circuit as a genre title to watch at the likes of New Zealand Film Festival, Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival, Hawaii Film Festival and upcoming Ramaskrik Film Festival and Molins Horror Film Festival.

“Grafted” follows Chinese scholarship student Wei (Joyena Sun), who travels to New Zealand to pursue medical research at a prestigious university. Shy, introverted and hiding a genetic facial birthmark, Wei is shunned by her social butterfly cousin Angela (Jess Hong) 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, but as her experiments take a dark turn, she becomes more dangerous and unhinged, willing to eliminate anyone who threatens her secret.

Shane Kelly, senior VP, international sales and acquisitions at Mister Smith Entertainment, stated: “As we watch festival audiences savor Sasha’s high-concept and satirical body horror, our buyers are seeing great potential for release in their local markets.”

“Grafted” was written by Mia Maramara, Hweiling Ow, Lee Murray and Rainbow. The film was produced by Murray Francis of Propaganda and Leela Menon of FluroBlack, and executive produced by Fraser Brown of FluroBlack. It is being distributed in New Zealand and Australia by (Yet) Another Monster Company. It was made with financing from the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Rebate, FluroBlack Media, Department of Post and Head Gear Films.