FEM-FOCUSSED BODY-HORROR PIC GRAFTED LENSING IN NZ

Production has begun in New Zealand on the new horror feature GRAFTED, the first project for the freshly formed horror and genre label (Yet) Another Monster Company. The production represents the directorial feature debut for Sasha Rainbow (pictured, below) and stars Joyena Sun, Jared Turner, Jess Hong, Eden Hart and Sepiutaruth To’a.

Shot across Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland, the film tells the story of a Chinese student who travels to New Zealand to complete the scientific work of her deceased father, only to find a new way of achieving popularity, one bloody body at a time.

A partnership between Grant Hardie’s ANZ horror distribution specialists Monster Pictures and Phil Hunt's (Yet) Another Distribution Company, (Yet) Another Monster Company incorporates an investment partnership with Head Gear Films with further support from Ginette McDonald and Mark Mitchinson.  (Pictured, right; lead actress Joyena Sun)

 Sasha Rainbow put the industry on notice as director of the short film KAMALI, which was nominated for a BAFTA and long-listed for an Oscar. “When I first read the script, I knew I had to be involved,” said Rainbow. “I am incredibly excited about playing in the body-horror space for such an incredible, surprising, female-lead-project like GRAFTED. I can't wait to unleash it to audiences around the world.” 

GRAFTED is produced by Murray Francis of Propaganda, and Leela Menon and Fraser Brown of FluroBlack and is written by Mia Maramara & Hweiling Ow, and Lee Murray. Monster Pictures previously handled the Australia-New Zealand release for James Ashcroft’s COMING HOME IN THE DARK. (Pictured, left; co-star Jared Turner) 

"We are genuinely thrilled to launch in New Zealand with the announcement of GRAFTED. It is the perfect film for us to be attached to, a completely over-the-top body horror,” says Co-Head of Acquisitions and Development Grant Hardie. “We fully expect that GRAFTED will join an impressive list of world-class modern horror films from New Zealand and make a huge splash on release". 

The film is made with investment from The New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Grant, Traus Holdings, Department of Post and with GAP financing from Head Gear Films. The film will be distributed in New Zealand and Australia by (Yet) Another Monster Company.