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AMC's genre streamer Shudder and picked up North American, U.K., Irish, Australian and New Zealand rights to "Fréwaka," billed as the first Irish-language horror.
Written and directed by Aislinn Clarke and starring Clare Monnelly, Bríd Ní Neachtain and Aleksandra Bystrzhitskaya, the film -- which features both the Irish and English language -- recently world premiered at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival, and will have its U.K. premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2024. "Fréwaka" will debut on Shudder in 2025.
"Fréwaka" following home care worker Shoo, who is sent to a remote village to care for an agoraphobic woman who fears the neighbors as much as she fears the Na Sídhe -- sinister entities who she believes abducted her decades before. As the two develop a strangely deep connection, Shoo is consumed by the old woman's paranoia, rituals, and superstitions, eventually confronting the horrors from her own past.
"I've followed Shudder since its inception and have seen it grow to become a world-leading platform for smart, daring, and exciting films, at the very cutting edge of new horror," said Clarke commented. "I am thrilled to work with Shudder in bringing "Fréwaka" to an international audience."
Added Shudder's senior vice president of acquisitions and production Emily Gotto: "After her striking debut 'The Devil's Doorway,' we are thrilled to collaborate with Aislinn Clarke on 'Fréwaka,' an atmospheric and claustrophobic film deeply steeped in Irish folklore. It stands as the first horror film in the Irish language to grace the world's most prestigious film festivals."
"Fréwaka" is produced by Diarmuid Lavery for DoubleBand Films and Patrick O'Neill for Wildcard, and executive produced by Máire Ní Chonláin, Deirbhile Ní Churraighín, Greg Martin and Michael Hewitt. The film was funded through the Cine4 scheme, supported by Screen Ireland, TG4, Coimisiún na Meán, and Section 481. Wildcard will release 'Fréwaka' theatrically in Ireland in 2025.
The deal was negotiated by Jan Naszewski at New Europe Film and Marissa Frobes at CAA on behalf of the filmmakers and Gotto on behalf of Shudder.