The Ugly Stepsister International Sales Takeover
Emilie Blichfeldt's "The Ugly Stepsister," a captivating horror reimagining of the classic Cinderella tale, has garnered global acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. Memento International has successfully secured international distribution rights for this highly anticipated cinematic masterpiece.
Pre-Premiere Sales Success
Prior to its world premiere in Park City, "The Ugly Stepsister" had already secured distribution deals in key territories, including North America (Shudder), the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand (Shudder). Mer Film and Scanbox will distribute the film in Scandinavia.
Worldwide Acquisition
Following its festival debut, "The Ugly Stepsister" has now sold to distributors in numerous countries, including:
* ESC Films (France)
* Capelight (Germany and Austria)
* Beta Films (Spain)
* Lev Cinema (Israel)
* ADS (Hungary)
* Cay Films (Romania)
* Cine Canibal (Latin America)
* New Select (Japan)
* House of M (Thailand)
* PT Falcon (Indonesia)
* Estin Film (Baltics)
* Vendetta Filmes (Portugal)
Negotiations are reportedly ongoing in Italy, Greece, and Ukraine, among others.
Film Synopsis
"The Ugly Stepsister" follows the sinister journey of Elvira, who will stop at nothing to win the prince's affection. Set in a kingdom where beauty is a ruthless currency, Elvira battles against the captivating Agnes for the coveted title of "belle of the ball." Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Naess, and Ane Dahl Torp grace the screen with their enigmatic performances.
Production and Support
The film was produced by Maria Ekerhovd for Norway's Mer Film and co-produced by Zentropa Sweden, Lava Films (Poland), Motor (Denmark), Zefyr, and Film i Väst. The production received support from the Norwegian Film Institute, Polish Production Incentive, Polish Film Institute, Swedish Film Institute, Danish Film Institute, Eurimages, DR, and Nordisk Film & Tv Fond.
Festival Premiere and Momentum
"The Ugly Stepsister" will continue its festival journey with a European premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival's Panorama section in February 2025. This international recognition further cements the film's standing as a must-see horror experience.
Memento International's Anniversary Slate
As part of Memento International's 20th-anniversary slate, "The Ugly Stepsister" joins an impressive lineup of critically acclaimed films, including:
* Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner "Atropia"
* Berlin Panorama feature "Dreams in Nightmares"
* Berlinale Special film "Ancestral Visions of the Future"
* Crime thriller "Unidentified" directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour