'River'

Source: TIFF

‘River’

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster are closing a deal for US and select territory rights to Josh Giuliano’s TIFF Midnight Madness entry River that is reportedly upwards of $10m.

The deal is unusual because Independent Film Company and Shudder held US rights to the film at the start of the festival and were immediately courted by buyers following the world premiere last week.

This marks the first significant transaction in what has otherwise been a sleepy opening weekend in Toronto in terms of deal-making and excitement over potential acquisition targets.

That said, late on Monday night Michelle Yeoh action thriller The Surgeon directed by Roshan Sethi was also emerging as a coveted title, with Black Bear understood to be in pursuit of the Centrepiece selection, among several others. WME and 193 represent US and international rights.

River centres on three estranged siblings who encounter a stalker while on a river trip to scatter their father’s ashes. Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, Max Mattern, and Dane Di­Liegro star.

Several other buyers including Sony Pictures were understood to be in the mix after the horror film premiered last Thursday and played again to public and press and market on Friday.

Sam Zimmerman, who leads the Indies slate at Blumhouse Atomic Monster, worked with Giuliano on River during his time at Shudder and will have stoked the acquisitive fire at Jason Blum and James Wan’s company.

Producers are Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, and Steven Schneider; with Roy Lee, Ben Ross, Matt Brodlie, Jonathan Kier, Jeffrey Tinnell, Robert Tinnell, and Blum serving as executive producers. Brodlie and Kier’s Upgrade represents international sales.

The River deal recalls the excitement over last year’s Midnight Madness entry Obsession – on which Blumhouse Productions was among the producers – when Focus Features paid around $15m for what went on to become a $513m global smash this summer.

Blumhouse Atomic Monster, Divide/Conquer and Spooky Pictures have signed on for Giuliano’s next film, Occupant.

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