Berlin

Arclight Films’ chairman Gary Hamilton announced today the company has locked French distribution in all media for the critically acclaimed Sundance Official Selection sci-fi thriller Possessor, written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg with The Jokers Films.

Possessor, starring Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Sean Bean, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, was released on October 2nd in the U.S. by Neon Films and became one of the top 10 most successful indie releases of the year. The film also won the Grand Prix in Gerardmer International Fantastic Film Festival in France three weeks ago.

In this pulpy thriller, Tasya Vos (Riseborough), is a corporate agent who uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies, driving them to commit assassinations for the benefit of the company. Her experiences on these jobs have changed her, and in her own life she struggles to suppress violent memories and urges. As her mental strain intensifies, she begins to lose control, and soon finds herself trapped in the mind of a man (Abbott) whose identity threatens to obliterate her own.

“We are thrilled to have The Jokers Films come on board to distribute one of the best films of the year! Since the worldwide premiere at Sundance Film festival last year, critics and audiences have raved about Cronenberg’s impeccable film. Thanks to our new international partner and the amazing marketing and distribution team at The Jokers, the film will reach audiences in France that have long been waiting to appreciate what all the buzz is about,” said Hamilton.

Possessor is produced by Fraser Ash, Niv Fichman, and Kevin Krikst of Rhombus Media (Enemy, Into The Forest) and Andy Starke of Rook Films (Free Fire, Kill List). Arclight’s Gary Hamilton and Ryan Hamilton Executive Produce, alongside Adrian Love of Elevation Pictures, Noah Segal, Dave Bishop, Steven Squillante, Tony Roman, David U. Lee of Leeding Media, Daniel Negret, Simon Williams, Vaishali Mistry Steven Squillante and David U. Lee of Leeding Media, Noah Segal and Adrian Love of Elevation Pictures, and Tony Roman. Possessor is an official Canada-UK co-production, presented by Ingenious Media, and produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates. 

Arclight Films’ current slate of films also includes romantic comedy At Last, starring starring Academy Award® winner Ellen Burstyn and James Caan; musical dramedy Seriously Red starring Rose Byrne; horror-romance Carmilla which premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival; Twist starring Michael Caine, Lena Heady, and Rita Ora; sports drama Streamline with Jason Isaacs and Levi Miller; Venice Film Festival Official Selection The Furnace; magical coming-of-age story Chasing Wonders starring Paz Vega and Edward James Olmos; martial arts film The Foggy Mountain; the warmhearted comedy Butter; and Here Are the Young Men starring Travis Fimmel, Dean-Charles Chapman, Finn Cole, and Anya Taylor-Joy.