IFC Films announced today it has acquired North American and select International rights to the psychological horror STOPMOTION, ahead of its world premiere at Fantastic Fest September, 2023.

IFC Films will release STOPMOTION in theaters in 2024, followed by a streaming debut on Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium service for horror, thriller and the supernatural.

Directed by Robert Morgan, STOPMOTION stars Aisling Franciosi (GOD’S CREATURES, THE NIGHTINGALE) as Ella Blake, a stop-motion animator who is struggling to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother. Suddenly alone in the world, she embarks upon the creation of a macabre new puppet film, which soon becomes the battleground for her sanity. As Ella’s mind starts to fracture, the characters in her animated film take on a terrifying life of their own, and the unleashed power of her imagination threatens to destroy her.

“IFC and Shudder are ecstatic to bring Robert Morgan’s riveting live-action/animation hybrid to audiences everywhere. STOPMOTION is excellent as it weaves together a unique, psychological-horror with unbelievable visuals” said Head of AMC Networks’ Film Group Scott Shooman. “The film joins the ranks of critically acclaimed titles such as Mad God and The Wolf House– breaking ground for how we perceive stop-motion in horror. We are thrilled to distribute Morgan’s first full-length feature for its theatrical release and presence on our streaming platform, Shudder.”

“IFC’s superb back catalogue speaks for itself, and Shudder’s embracing of the weirder and distinctive side of horror cinema means this is the perfect home for my first feature,” said director/co-writter, Robert Morgan. “I’m thrilled to be teaming up with them, and I’m excited to share STOPMOTION with audiences very soon.”

The film is written by Robert Morgan and Robin King, and produced by Alain de la Mata and Christopher Granier-Deferre of BlueLight.

STOPMOTION joins an impressive lineup of AMC Film Group’s titles premiering at this year’s Fantastic Fest, including WHEN EVIL LURKS (IFC/Shudder), INFESTED (Shudder), THE SACRIFICE GAME (Shudder) SUITABLE FLESH (RLJE), V/H/S/85 (Shudder) and the recently announced YOU’LL NEVER FIND ME (Shudder)

The deal was negotiated by Eva Diederix (Head of Sales) and Isabelle Denis (Head of Legal) for Goodfellas and Scott Shooman on behalf of IFC Films.

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The 80’s was a wonderfully weird decade.

The birth of personal tech to the likes of the Walkman, the CD, calculator watches and VCRs.

A short lived fad in the latter part of the 80s was Video Board Games, where a mix of grainy video instructions, live acted would prompt you to move your characters around the game board.

The Shudder exclusive horror film Beyond the Gates takes this several steps further… in to the depths of hell.

Two estranged brothers have the dutiful task of clearing out their father’s retro video store after his mysterious disappearance some months back.

Gordon (Graham Skipper) had moved from the small town and made his life in the city, while his younger brother, John (Chase Williamson) remained in the town and kicked around with some of the local undesirables.

Gordon and his girlfriend stay in the family home while the clean-up process is underway – and it’s where he finds the missing key to his father’s office.

As the two brothers slowly begin to bond all over again after years apart, the two enter the office for the first time. There, in the VCR, is a tape that goes with a board game called ‘Beyond the Gates’.

The two brothers and Gordon’s partner settle down to an evening of retro-fuelled VHS board gaming, only to discover real quick that the game is real and really will take the trio ‘Beyond the Gates’ and closer to the truth of what happened to their father.

A surprise film low budget film. I wasn’t expecting much to be honest. A B-Grade horror flick at best – but my expectations were exceeded beyond an amateur thrill.

Beyond the Gate is a whimsical film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a must watch for those that lived during the 80’s (and played board games like Nightmare), or for those that enjoy a satisfying chill out horror.

The post Beyond the Gates (Shudder) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

BABYTEETH is the powerful, coming-of-age feature debut from Shannon Murphy (“Killing Eve” Season 3).

When seriously ill teenager Milla (Eliza Scanlen) falls madly in love with small-time drug dealer Moses (Toby Wallace), it’s her parents’ (Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn) worst nightmare. But as Milla’s first brush with love brings her a renewed lust for life, traditional morals go out the window, leaving her parents wanting to hold tighter to their little girl. Milla soon teaches everyone in her orbit – her parents, Moses, a sensitive music teacher, a budding child violinist, and a disarmingly honest, pregnant neighbor – how to live like you have nothing to lose.

What might have been a disaster for the Finlay family instead leads to letting go and finding grace in the glorious chaos of life. BABYTEETH joyously explores how good it is to be alive and how far we will go for love. BABYTEETH had its World Premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 where actor Toby Wallace won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor.

Shannon Murphy is an award-winning theatre and TV director who graduated for the Australian Film and Television School in 2013. Her graduating short film, KHARISMA, has screened at festivals including Cannes and TIFF, and was nominated for an AACTA award. Shortly thereafter, she won a Sydney Theatre Award for the Australian premiere of MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE.

Most recently Shannon has directed a number of episodes on Australian hit series including RAKE, LOVE CHILD, OFFSPRING and SISTERS. Shannon was nominated for an Australian Director’s Guild Award for her role as the sole director of the SBS 4-part mini-series ON THE ROPES. Her first feature film, BABYTEETH, produced by Jan Chapman with Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn starring, premiered in main competition at the Venice Film Festival 2019 as one of the two female directed films in competition, and Toby Wallace was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress.

It was then presented in competition at the BFI London Film Festival. The film was sold in a bidding war to IFC in US & Picturehouse in UK. She is currently working on KILLING EVE for BBC America / Sid Gentle. Shannon has been named in Variety’s ’10 Directors to Watch in 2020.

BABYTEETH will be in theaters and on demand June 19th, 2020.

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IFC and UK’s Channel 4 are returning to Victorian London for a second outing of Year of the Rabbit.

The six-episode second season, written by Emmy and WGA Award winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil (Veep, Black Books) and co-written by and starring Matt Berry (Toast of London, What We Do In The Shadows), will once again focus on tough booze-hound Detective Inspector Rabbit (Berry), his hapless partner Strauss (Freddie Fox) and the country’s first female police officer Mabel (Susan Wokoma) as they fight crime in London’s east end. The renewal news comes just days before Year of the Rabbit premieres Wednesday, February 19^th at 10:30pm ET / PT on IFC.

Matt Berry commented, “I’m looking forward to Inspector Rabbit returning back to our screens to fight crime in the past. This time he’ll deal with all sorts of unearthly forces, including the Royal Family! Victorian London is presently very much where it’s at.”

IFC and SundanceTV Executive Director Blake Callaway added, “Ever since he guest starred on Portlandia, we knew we wanted more Matt Berry on IFC. An often-drunk, frequently filthy, and always foul-mouthed Victorian detective hits the perfect ‘slightly off’ spot.”

Fiona McDermott, Head of Comedy at Channel 4, says, “Year of the Rabbit is one of the most glorious, gutsy and audacious comedies on TV, made by a fantastic cast and crew who relish every detail. We’re thrilled to welcome it back. Here’s to more absurd capers in the dark underbelly of Victorian London.”

The series is produced by Objective Fiction out of OMG Scotland along with IFC, with international distribution all3media international. Year of the Rabbit will be directed by Andrew Chaplin and produced by Hannah Mackay. Ben Farrell and Ben Taylor will executive produce for Objective Fiction, along with Toby Stevens for Objective Media Group Scotland.

Year of the Rabbit premiered in the UK to rave reviews, including: “The unexpected comedy delight of 2019” (The Guardian); “The best new comedy of 2019” (Daily Mirror); “A rare bit of hot comedy on toast” (Independent); and “One of the funniest new comedies I’ve seen” (Daily Express).

IFC is the home of offbeat, unexpected comedies. Acclaimed series Documentary Now!, Brockmire, Baroness von Sketch Show, Sherman’s Showcase and the upcoming Year of the Rabbit air alongside fan-favorite movies and comedic cult TV shows. IFC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and available across multiple platforms. IFC is Always On, Slightly Off.

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