Xlrator Media Sews up U.S. rights to American Mary

XLrator Media has acquired all U.S. rights to the horror sensation, AMERICAN MARY, written and directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska (Dead Hooker in a Trunk). The female-centric surgical horror-thriller will be released on
XLrator Media’s newly announced Screamfest label in Fall 2013.

“AMERICAN MARY is one of the most original, thought-provoking and subversive horror films I’ve ever seen. It has riveted audiences at horror festivals and marks the emergence of the ‘Twisted Twins’ as the most exciting genre directors to come along in years,” said XLrator Media CEO Barry Gordon.

AMERICAN MARY played to highly enthusiastic audiences at LA’s Screamfest Horror Film Festival in October where it won five awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Makeup. “Based on the extraordinary audience response at this year’s festival, we knew we had to have this film on our Screamfest imprint with XLrator. Jen and Sylvia Soska are incredibly talented directors. We are so thrilled to bring this film to genre fans all over the U.S.,” said Screamfest co-founder and festival director Rachel Belofsky.

AMERICAN MARY follows the story of medical student Mary Mason (played by Katharine Isabelle of the Ginger Snaps franchise) as she grows increasingly broke and disenchanted with medical school and the surgeons she once admired. The allure of easy money and notoriety send Mary into the shady world of underground surgery and body modification. The film co-stars Antonio Cupo (“Bomb Girls”), Tristan Risk, David Lovgren and Paula Lindberg.

AMERICAN MARY was produced by IndustryWorks Pictures, Evan Tylor and John Curtis.

“AMERICAN MARY was a risky film to take on, but we believed in the talent and the material and went for it based on the uniqueness of the creative package,” said Evan Tylor, president of IndustryWorks Pictures.

The deal was negotiated by Caterina Scrivano and John Curtis on behalf of Evan Tylor and IndustryWorks Pictures with Gordon and Mike Radiloff on behalf of XLrator Media. Other Screamfest releases include Nazi zombie actioner Outpost: Black Sun and the upcoming Norwegian dark thriller Thale, both of which played at this year’s Screamfest Horror Film Festival.