AFM 2013: The Returned Find Themselves Distribution

Steve Barton   |  

Nov 11, 2013

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LevelFILM has picked up US rights to zombie thriller The Returned from Spanish genre hub Filmax and director Manuel Carballo (Exorcismus). A US theatrical and day-and-date VOD release is set for February 14, 2014.

From the Press Release
LevelFILM today announced the acquisition of U.S. rights to The Returned, a zombie thriller starring Kris Holden-Reid, Emily Hampshire and Shawn Doyle. Directed by Manuel Carballo and from the producers behind the [REC] franchise, The Returned will be released in U.S. theatres and VOD day-and-date on February 14, 2014.

A Canadian-Spanish co-production between Ramaco Media and Filmax, The Returned recently had its world premiere at Sitges, where it was received as one of the top films in competition at the renowned horror festival, and also played at the Busan, Strasbourg, and Trieste fantastic festivals. With deals also in place for Latin-America, Taiwan, Middle East, Korea, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and Canada, Filmax will continue The Returned’s success on the international market at AFM. The film will screen at AFM on Sunday, November 10th at 1:00pm at the Laemmle Monica 2.

Set in a post-zombie world, a treatment called the “Return Protein” can stop the spread of the virus if injected quickly after infection, but cannot cure it. With daily injections, the “Returned” are able to live relatively normal lives, but with brutal attacks at the hands of Anti-Return groups and rumors that protein stock is running low, the world is again on the brink of chaos. In the midst of this turmoil are Alex (Kris Holden-Reid) and Kate (Emily Hampshire), a young, successful and enviable couple that are hiding a long held secret – Alex is Returned. Suspicious that a government order for all the Returned to report to a secure medical facility ‘for their own safety’, the couple flees, taking with them all the doses of “Return Protein” they have. Now in a race against the clock and few places to turn, they must face their worst fears and come to grips with the reality that if they are neither human nor zombies, who exactly are the Returned?

“The Returned is a smart, slick and suspenseful thriller and we are excited to be working with Manuel Carballo”, commented levelFILM’s David Hudakoc. “Manuel has created a very raw portrayal of survival and we are confident The Returned will continue to showcase how talented he is as a filmmaker.”

“The Returned is getting a cult status after participating at several Fall festivals,” said Ivan Diaz, Head of the International Division at FILMAX, “and we’re thrilled that the movie will get a US theatrical release through levelFILM.”

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