Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, today announced that they have acquired US, UK/Ireland, and Australia/NZ rights to the zombie thriller BLOOD QUANTUM, which debuted for buyers at the Marché du Film at Cannes.
In BLOOD QUANTUM, the dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi’gmaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants who are immune to the zombie plague. Traylor (Michael Greyeyes), the tribal sheriff, must protect his son’s pregnant girlfriend, apocalyptic refugees, and reserve riff raff from the hordes of walking white corpses.
Directed and written by Mi’gmaq filmmaker Jeff Barnaby and featuring an Indigenous cast, the film stars Michael Greyeyes (Fear The Walking Dead, True Detective), 2018 Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship recipient Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (On the Farm) and Forrest Goodluck (The Miseducation of Cameron Post, The Revenant), and was produced by John Christou for Prospector Films and Rob Vroom. Madrona Drive also executive produced the film alongside XYZ Films. The film recently wrapped shooting in Montreal, Canada and the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory as well as Barnaby’s hometown of Listuguj, Quebec.
The deal for US, UK/Ireland, and Australia/NZ was brokered by Nate Bolotin and Tatyana Joffe of XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers, and by Emily Gotto for Shudder. XYZ Films has also sold the film in multiple international territories including Koch Films for Germany, Minerva in Italy, Klockworx in Japan, Lumix in South Korea, Falcon in Indonesia, MovieCloud in Taiwan, MVP in India, Shaw Renters in Singapore, Falcon in the Middle East, and FOX Network Group Asia Pacific – Pan Asia PTV/SVOD.
Director Jeff Barnaby said, “Natives have been on screen for 100 years but have never controlled that image. In the age of representation, Shudder is putting their money where their mouth is and providing an opportunity for a whole new generation of indigenous genre filmmakers. They’re breaking that glass ceiling and opening the books on a whole new perspective. They’re making a genuine difference.”
“We are thrilled to bring Jeff Barnaby’s BLOOD QUANTUM to Shudder,” said Emily Gotto. “Jeff and his bold vision are at the forefront of Shudder’s ethos of original, provocative and stirring genre stories. BLOOD QUANTUM is a new, First Nations perspective on a classic genre, a film that takes zombies in a new direction as it harkens back to the meaningful and politically aware roots of George Romero.”
BLOOD QUANTUM is Barnaby’s sophomore feature film following the critically acclaimed Rhymes for Young Ghouls. Elevation Pictures will distribute the film in Canada, while Entract Films will distribute the film in Quebec. Bell Media’s Crave has the first-window broadcast rights in Canada. Financing for the production was provided by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Canadian Media Fund, and The Harold Greenberg Fund.
ABOUT SHUDDER:
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Germany. To experience Shudder commitment-free for 7 days, visit www.shudder.com.
ABOUT XYZ FILMS:
XYZ Films is an integrated content company whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. As an independent production company and worldwide sales agency, the company is uniquely suited to identify talented filmmakers and bring their stories to life. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. XYZ recently won the 2017 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Macon Blair’s I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore.
ABOUT PROSPECTOR FILMS
Prospector Films is a Montreal-based media company founded by award-winning producer John Christou. Recent films include Jeff Barnaby’s Rhymes for Young Ghouls, Wiebke von Carolsfeld’s The Saver, Juliet Lammers and Lorraine Price’s Inside These Walls and Last Woman Standing. The company is currently developing and producing a diverse slate of fiction, non-fiction and VR projects.
ABOUT ELEVATION PICTURES
Founded in 2013 with finance partner Teddy Schwarzman of Black Bear Pictures, Elevation Pictures has established itself as one of Canada’s leading film and television companies. Elevation’s team of seasoned production and distribution executives are committed to bringing an elevated and robust film and television slate to audiences. Elevation Pictures is known for releasing award-winning films, including Academy Best Screenplay winner The Imitation Gamestarring Benedict Cumberbatch; Academy Best Picture winner, Moonlight; and Academy Best Actress winner Brie Larson for Room.
