Independent Film Company has acquired North American rights to “The Plague,” a psychological thriller that earned rave reviews and an 11-minute standing ovation when it premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The film is about a socially awkward teen who has to deal with vicious bullying when he participates in an all-boys water polo camp. “The Plague” is from Charlie Polinger and marks his directorial debut. It premiered at Cannes as part of the Un Certain Regard selection and won an award for best sound creation.
Joel Edgerton stars in the film alongside newcomers Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin and Kenny Rasmussen. It was written by Polinger and produced by Edgerton. The film is set for a limited theatrical release on Dec. 24. It will expand on Jan. 2.
Critics at Cannes embraced the film, praising the performances, the direction and the troubling portrait of adolescence it paints, with some likening it to a body horror thriller. Variety‘s Jessica Kiang called the film “queasily stylish” and wrote, “drawn from experience and benefiting from some standout performances among its well-selected young cast, ‘The Plague‘ has a familiar coming-of-age narrative, but stranger, subtler undercurrents of creeping dismay at the men these boys will become when, at this formative age, cruelty chlorinates the water they swim in.”
Independent Film Company is the studio behind such arthouse hits as “45 Years,” “Boyhood,” “The Babadook,” “The Death of Stalin” and “Late Night With the Devil.” It recently rebranded after being known as IFC Films.
In a statement, Polinger said: “Premiering ‘The Plague’ at Cannes was a dream. I’m thrilled to share it with a wider theatrical audience through Independent Film Company, who’ve championed so many of my favorite films. “
“Independent Film Company is a perfect partner for this incredible first feature debut of Charlie Polinger and I could not be more proud to have my name in the credits of this incredible project,” Edgerton said in a statement. “From script to completion this film has always had a very strong vision. Charlie is a filmmaker with a great future ahead. I’m proud to have been part of his first film along with these incredible producers and companies.”
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Said Head of IFC Entertainment Group Scott Shooman, “’The Plague’s’ hypnotic and captivating psychological dive into sports, competition and adolescence is one of the most riveting debut films we’ve ever seen. The technical craftsmanship and excellent performances captured our attention and solidified our desire to collaborate on the launch of this impressive film from a talented auteur visionary.”
The film is produced by Spooky Pictures, Doublethink, The Space Program, Five Henrys Productions and Image Nation, including Lizzie Shapiro, Lucy McKendrick, Edgerton, Steven Schneider, Roy Lee and Derek Dauchy. Executive producers are Ben Ross, Rami Yasin, Gabi Antal, James Presson, Cory Finley, Cullen Conly, Gus Deardoff, Lexi Tannenholtz and Reuben Walker.
The deal was negotiated by Adam Koehler of Independent Film Company and UTA and Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers. AGC International is handling international sales.
From Variety US