Ivan Kavanagh’s psychological thriller-horror ‘The Canal’ opens in the US today. UK genre specialist Jinga Films has sold the film to multiple territories including to the UK and Ireland through Kaleidoscope.
The feature has screened at a number of festivals including Tribeca, at which the film had its world premiere and where a deal was secured with The Orchard for its North American rights. The Orchard’s horror label, Shock Till You Drop, are releasing the film on twenty screens in the US.
In other deals, the film has gone to Rialto for Australia and New Zealand, Universum for Germany, Austria and Switzerland and Brunchmate for Korea. Deals were previously closed at the Cannes film festival for Singapore (Red Pictures), Malaysia (Yellow Brick), Middle East (Falcon) and Benelux (A-Film).
Rupert Evans, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Hannah Hoekstra, Steve Oram and Calum Heath star in thestory of David Williams and his wife, Alice, who move into a beautiful period house by the canal with their small child, Billy. As David begins to suspect that his wife is cheating on him, he also starts to have nightmarish visions of an evil presence he believes inhabits his home.
Ivan Kavanagh wrote and directed the film which was shot in Dublin and financed by the IFB, FAW, Atlantic Screen Music and Egg Post Production. The feature is produced by AnneMarie Naughton through Park Films
Jinga’s Julian Richards stated: “‘The Canal’ is an extraordinarily well crafted frightener which explores the grey area between psychological and supernatural horror.
“We have a screening scheduled at AFM where we are looking to mop up the remaining territories.”
In additional distribution news, Jessica Chastain starrer ‘Miss Julie’ has sold to Canada through Pacific Northwest Pictures. Announced earlier this week, ‘Miss Julie’ has also been acquired by Wrekin Hill for distribution in North America. Shot in Fermanagh, the film is directed by Liv Ullman and also stars Colin Farrell.
