Sundance: IFC Midnight Takes Horror Film 'The Babadook'

The Australian feature from filmmaker Jennifer Kent debuted in the festival's Midnight section.

IFC Midnight has acquired U.S. and Latin American rights to Jennifer Kent’s psychological horror film The Babadook, which had debuted in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival.

The film stars Essie Davis as a single mother with a troubled son who must cope with a shadowy monster that has taken over their home.

It was produced by Kristina Ceyton of Causeway Films and Kristian Moliere, and executive produced by Jonathan Page, Michael Tear, Jan Chapman and Jeff Harrison. Screen Australia, the chief funding body for the Australian screen production industry, is a major investor in the film and supported its promotional efforts in Sundance.

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"This is an extraordinary debut feature from a brilliant Australian filmmaker named Jennifer Kent who has crafted the perfect classic horror film. We were blown away by the two lead performances in the film, and we believe that people will see this film and realize that Jennifer Kent has arrived as one of the great new horror filmmakers," said Jonathan Sehring, president of Sundance Selects/IFC Films.

The deal was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, svp acquisitions and productions at Sundance Selects/IFC Films, with John Sloss for Cinetic Media, on behalf of Harold van Lier and Charlotte Mickie for Entertainment One Films International, and the filmmakers. EOne, which is handling international rights, also sold the film to Wild Bunch for France, Germany and Switzerland.

IFC Midnight is a sister label to IFC Films and Sundance Selects, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.