Following a North American premiere at Fantastic Fest and an award winning festival tour that included screenings at Sitges, Shanghai, Vancouver, and Oldenburg, Film Movement has snapped up North American rights to The Wait (La Espera), from Spanish cult filmmaker F. Javier Gutierrez (Before the Fall, Rings).
The folk horror tragedy stars Victor Clavijo (Before the Fall), Ruth Diaz, Manuel Moron, and Pedro Casablanc (Strange Way of Life). Film Movement is eyeing an autumn digital and cable release.
The Wait is produced by Gutierrez’s Unfiled Films, Nostromo Pictures (Buried, Penny Dreadful), and Spal Films (Before the Fall).
Michael Rosenberg, President of Film Movement, coordinated the deal with Vicente Canales, Managing Director of Film Factory Entertainment for all rights in North America.
With a release set for the fall, Rosenberg shared, “We’re excited to be working with director F. Javier Gutierrez on his latest film. Full of excellent craftsmanship and a haunting performance by Victor Clavijo, The Wait is a haunting thriller we’re sure audiences will be drawn to.”
Deep in the Andalusian countryside, Eladio (Clavijo) works as the groundskeeper of a hunting estate owned by the powerful Don Francisco. After taking a bribe from a veteran hunter, Eladio’s normal life falls apart, plunging him into the depths of guilt, hatred and revenge. From director F. Javier Gutiérrez (Before the Fall), The Wait is a “powerful and devastating” (Fotogramas) folk horror thriller that “takes viewers along on a macabre descent into hell” (Screen Zealots). “Superbly directed” (Horror Fuel), with an “impressive performance” from Victor Clavijo (Starburst), The Wait offers a terrifying vision of loss.
Ahead of the release, Gutierrez enthused, “I’m truly excited to share with American audiences this unsettling story of guilt, loss, revenge, and class divides. Deeply human and rich with symbolism and biblical references, The Wait is my most personal and uncompromising film to date. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Film Movement for making this possible and for their unwavering support and dedication to filmmakers and film lovers around the world.”
