Maika Monroe and Troy Kotsur Set to Star in Crime Thriller IN COLD LIGHT

XYZ Films to finance, exec produce and handle world sales.

Maika Monroe and Oscar-winning actor Troy Kotsur have been cast as leads in the crime thriller IN COLD LIGHT directed by Maxime Giroux (FÉLIX ET MEIRA, THE GREAT DARKENED DAYS) in his first English-speaking feature. This will be Kotsur’s first feature role following CODA. The film was written by Patrick Whistler, and is produced by Mike MacMillan (MOBILE HOMES) and Yanick Letourneau (NIGHT OF THE KINGS), with Jean-Yves Roubin (TITANE) co-producing. XYZ Films is executive producing and financing with investment funding coming from IPR.VC, and with the support of Telefilm Canada and SODEC. The film is set to go into production later this year. XYZ Films is handling world rights and will introduce the film to buyers at the upcoming Marché du Film in Cannes.

Ava is trapped. Like a bull in a bucking chute, seconds before exploding onto the rodeo stage. She is hunted. Pursued by those who killed her brother, pursued by her own demons. Ava needs to make a choice. To either save herself and fight another day or to push and become the woman she wishes she could be.

In the film, Monroe will play Kotsur’s daughter.

Monroe had her breakthrough headlining the horror film IT FOLLOWS, which won her several accolades, including an Empire Award nomination. She is recognized for her work in the thriller THE GUEST, the sci-fi thriller TAU and the psychological thriller GRETA. Most recently she starred in WATCHER. She also stars in Oz Perkin’s LONG LEGS, currently in post, starring alongside Nicolas Cage, distributed domestically by Neon.

Kotsur is best known for his supporting role in the film CODA which earned him a number of accolades, making him the first Deaf, male actor to win an Academy Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Critics’ Choice Award, Independent Spirit Award, and more. Previous to CODA, Kotsur was known for his illustrious theater career, including multiple roles in the Tony Award winning “Big River” on Broadway. Previous work includes THE NUMBER 23, WILD PRAIRIE ROSE, and appearances on “Criminal Minds” and “The Mandalorian,” for which he created the Tusken sign language.

Director Maxime Giroux leapt out to critical recognition with his 2014 feature FELIX & MEIRA, Canada’s submission for the best foreign language film Oscar. After years helming in the Quebecois industry, Maxime is now making a conscious move to more commercial work with a clear international focus. FELIX & MEIRA became the Best Canadian Film at the Toronto International Film Festival, also competing at the San Sebastian festival. Competing in 60+ festivals, the film won more than twenty prizes. It was released theatrically in over fifteen territories including France, Canada, and the United States. FELIX & MEIRA was tapped as Canada’s Oscar foreign-language film contender 2016. His subsequent feature, THE GREAT DARKENED DAYS starring Sarah Gadon premiered at TIFF 2018 and went on to win 5 Canadian Screen Awards.

“I am so excited to get this film underway. The cast and filmmaking team, most that I’ve worked with for years, is incredible. After years honing and fine-tuning, we’re to shoot this wild ride,” says director Maxime Giroux.

“This film is going to be stunning. Kinetic,” say producers Yanick Letourneau and Mike MacMillan. “The gritty thriller at the core of the film promises to elevate in the hands of Maxime and this excellent cast. We’re crafting something unique and with a genuine signature. We simply cannot wait to share this one with audiences.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of In Cold Light,” says XYZ’s Todd Brown. “Writer Patrick Whistler has quickly become one of our favorite screenwriters on the planet; director Maxime Giroux is the heir apparent to the filmmaking tradition that has already brought talents like Denis Villeneuve and Jean Marc Vallee to the world; the producing team’s recent credits read like a who’s who of recent Cannes and Venice phenoms; Maika Monroe is quickly developing into one of the truly iconic performers of her generation; and what’s left unsaid about Troy Kotsur coming off his very well deserved Oscar win for CODA? This team is an absolute powerhouse.”

XYZ’s current projects include Berlin competition title BLACKBERRY from director Matt Johnson which stars Glenn Howerton and Jay Baruchel, ASH starring Eiza González and Aaron Paul and to be directed by Flying Lotus, RECKONER starring Christina Hendricks, THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS PAST starring Liev Schrieber, THE LAST BACHELOR starring Seann William Scott, SEVEN VEILS starring Amanda Seyfried and directed by Atom Egoyan, Sundance selection RUN RABBIT RUN directed by Dana Reid and starring Sarah Snook, DANIELA FOREVER to be directed by Nacho Vigalondo and starring Henry Golding and Beatrice Gannò. The XYZ slate also includes Nick Cassavetes’ GOD IS A BULLET starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maika Monroe and Jamie Foxx, NOCEBO directed by Lorcan Finnegan with Eva Green and Mark Strong, and ACCUSED from BAFTA-nominated BOILING POINT director Phillip Barantini. XYZ is in post-production on the Netflix Original HAVOC, directed by Gareth Evans and starring Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker.

Monroe is repped by WMA and Entertainment 360. Kotsur is repped by Verve Talent and Literary Agency and Metric Talent and Literary Management.

About XYZ Films:
XYZ Films is an independent studio whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. As a producer, financier, and distributor, the company is uniquely suited to identify talented filmmakers and bring their stories to life. XYZ recently expanded into talent management, working with a global roster of filmmakers. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. The company’s classic titles include THE RAID franchise, 2017 Sundance winner I DON’T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, Panos Cosmatos’ psychedelic revenge thriller MANDY, and Karyn Kusama’s THE INVITATION.

About Lithium Studios:
Lithium Studios is an independent production company, focused on development, production and financing of genre-agnostic, character-driven feature films. Lithium’s work has screened at TIFF, Berlinale, and Cannes (Quinzaines) including films like WEIRDOS (dir: Bruce McDonald), DON’T TALK TO IRENE (dir: Pat Mills) and MOBILE HOMES (dir: Vladmir de Fontenay). Following production of IN COLD LIGHT, the company has announced their upcoming film ANY OTHER NIGHT (Gillian Jacobs, Marwan Kenzari), and begins production shortly alongside partners Eyesteelfilm on Mila Aung-Thwin’s ambitious hybrid-doc ULTRA.

About Peripheria:
PERIPHERIA is a film production company based in Montreal bringing director driven stories to international audiences. Its films have screened in Venice, Berlinale, Sundance and TIFF. Recent productions include DANCING THE TWIST IN BAMAKO (dir: Robert Guédiguian), NIGHT OF THE KINGS (Oscar shortlisted – dir: Philippe Lacôte), LEMONADE (dir. Ioana Uricaru, lead produced by Cristian Mungiu). The company is currently producing FANON (dir. Jean-Claude Barny) alongside partners at Special Touch Studios in France and completing development on Juan Andres Arango’s first English-language feature, NORTHERN LIGHTS.

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