Magnet Releasing Takes U.S. Rights To Karan Kandhari’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Selection ‘Sister Midnight’

EXCLUSIVE: Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has snapped up U.S. rights to Sister Midnight, the sophomore feature of London-based Indian artist and filmmaker Karan Kandhari. The film, which world premiered in Cannes’ Directors Fortnight and most recently won the award for Best Film in the Next Wave section at Fantastic Fest, will next screen at AFI Fest and release in theaters next spring.

Sister Midnight stars Radhika Apte as the newly married Uma, who arrives in Mumbai to find herself totally unsuited to life as a housewife. At odds with her prying neighbors and under the constant oppressive noise and heat of the city, she decides to break free from the shackles of domesticity and follow her own path.

“SISTER MIDNIGHT is just the tonic for film fans looking for something new,” said Magnolia Pictures co-CEO’s Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley. “Director Karan Kandhari has delivered an uproarious mash up of sensibilities and genres that completely defy expectations at every turn.”

Explained Kandhari, “I see this film as a jar of unstable plutonium, and I can’t think of a better team of bandits than Magnolia to help launch it into cinemas for unsuspecting audiences.”

Kandhari directed Sister Midnight from his own script, with Alastair Clark, Anna Griffin, and Alan McAlex producing. David Kimbangi and Ben Coren exec produced for Film4, alongside Natascha Wharton and Louise Ortega for BFI. Co-producers are Wendy Griffin, Sean Wheelan, Kristina Börjeson and Rachel Robey, and Interpol frontman Paul Banks provided an original score, which is his first for a feature.

Pic was financed by Film4 and BFI, with National Lottery funding, and co-produced by Filmgate Films and Film i Väst. Suitable Pictures associate produced, with Protagonist Pictures handling worldwide sales.

Among other upcoming projects for Magnet is the Belgian-French thriller Night Call from Michiel Blanchart. SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden negotiated Sister Midnight‘s deal for Magnolia, with Protagonist Pictures’ Head of Sales Lina Marrone repping the filmmakers.