Nobody Famous

Hard Road of Hope

Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror

“An all-encompassing history of the cinematic sub-genre of Folk Horror, it is, to say the least, a definitive work that has already won multiple awards.” – Mark Hudson, Film Critic.

Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched explores the folk horror phenomenon and its culturally specific manifestations in international horror, from its first wave in the 1970s to today. Clocking in at a whopping 192 minutes, the film has been hailed as “stunning” (Diabolique Magazine), “brilliant” (AV Club) and “mind-blowingly epic” (Film Threat), and stands as perhaps the definitive genre documentary of our time.

From writer/director/co-producer Kier-La Janisse comes “a seductive mega-text” (Indiewire) through the history of folk horror featuring clips from over 200 films and interviews with more than 50 filmmakers, authors and scholars that explore the rural roots, occult creeds and cultural lore that continue to shape international cinema. The film presents this “astounding achievement” (Screen Anarchy) – also featuring an original score by Jim Williams (A Field in England), animation by Ashley Thorpe (Borley Rectory) and collage sequences by Guy Maddin (My Winnipeg) – that Rue Morgue calls “an unprecedented journey into where folk horror has been, where it’s going and ultimately what it says about humanity.”

Among its awards are:

  • SXSW Film Festival: Midnighters Audience Award Winner
  • Winner: Best Documentary at the Chattanooga Film Festival
  • Winner: Gold Audience Award for Best Documentary at Fantasia International Film Festival

“Janisse’s feature debut is a remarkable effort that’s on par with the thoughtful analysis she’s put into horror through other mediums. It’s a wide-ranging probe into a subgenre that offers insight for even the most studied genre academic.” — Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting

Janisse conducted over 50 interviews with filmmakers, actors/actresses and more during the production. Included, but certainly not limited to, are segments including:

  • Kevin Kölsch (Director: Pet Sematary)
  • Dennis Widmyer (Director, Editor, Writer: Starry Eyes)
  • Piers Haggard (Director: Venom)
  • Alice Lowe (Black Mirror: Bandersnatch)
  • Amanda Reyes (Tales of the Uncanny)
  • Kate Ellinger (Writer: The Birth of Hammer Horror)
  • Gail-Nina Anderson (Sleepworking)
  • Mariano Baino (Director: Dark Waters)
  • Richard Blackburn (Writer: Eating Raoul)
  • Lawrence Gordon Clark (Director: The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game)
  • Mattie Do (Director: The Long Walk)
  • Ian Ogilvy (I, Claudius, Wuthering Heights)
  • Winnie Cheung (Digital Image Technician: Scare Package)
  • Chad Crawford Kinkle (Director, Writer: Jug Face)
    • The incredible list of those involved goes on…

“For those aching for the return to the frenzied energy, passionate arguments, and exuberant love of cinema that in-person film festivals casually offer, WOODLANDS DARK & DAYS BEWITCHED is a sensational substitute!” — Kristy Puchko, RogerEbert.com

Documentary / 2021 / 192 minutes / A film by Kier-La Janisse

HOW TO ORDER:

Public Performance and Digital Site Licenses are available through Soundview Media Partners. To inquire or to place an order, write to info@soundviewmediapartners.com or simply choose from the options below:

License Options

For group screening prices, please inquire.

In-home/personal use copies are available on Amazon: DVD https://amzn.to/3KC7fcV and/or Bluray https://amzn.to/3KxbZk2

WATCH THE TRAILER

Tokyo Decadence

SOUMAYA

“Soumaya is a compelling, thought-provoking film that will stay with you long after the powerful final scene.” – Lois Alter Mark, Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ.ORG)

Even if you reclaim your story, can justice be won?

“It is a bold, daring debut requiring nuanced conversations that seldom occur in the social media realm, where one’s beliefs must be crammed into 160 characters or less.” – Film Threat

One day, Soumaya – a woman of color, a practicing Muslim, a mother, and an executive at an airport transportation company in Paris – is fired from her job of fourteen years without explanation or warning. Later that night, while watching TV, she learns that certain media outlets are linking her, through speculation, to jihadist circles. This all occurs only days after Soumaya’s apartment, where she lives with her young daughter, is raided by police.

Shaken but not about to sit by in silence, Soumaya decides to exercise her right of reply in court – where her legal team demonstrates that she was fired only as a result of discrimination.

Based on real events, SOUMAYA shines a light on the devastating repercussions of anti-terrorist policing and Islamophobia in the wake of the November 2015 Paris attacks.

A MULTI-AWARD-WINNING FESTIVAL FAVORITE, Soumaya has received wide critical acclaim. Festival play includes:

  • WINNER, Best Lead Actress, Anatolia International Film Festival (Istanbul)
  • WINNER, Best Actress, Festival International Cinéma et Migrations d’Agadir (Morocco)
  • WINNER, Best Actress, Hollywood International Diversity Film Festival
  • WINNER, Grand Jury Prize, Best Feature, Universe Multicultural Film Festival
  • Official Selection: Lebanese Independent Film Festival
  • Official Selection: Cinemigrante (Argentina)
  • Official Selection: Festival International du Film Panafricain de Cannes
  • Official Selection: Festival Régional et International du Cinéma de Guadeloupe
  • Official Selection: San Diego Arab Film Festival
  • Official Selection: DC Independent Film Festival
  • Official Selection: Rated SR Socially Relevant Film Festival

“An unprecedented look at the state of emergency in France from the viewpoint of the victims, whose experience often goes unacknowledged.” — Middle East Eye

“Fear is the undercurrent that drives this film. The fear of Soumaya’s daughter after the search. The fear of the society that was embodied in the State of Emergency. The fear of neighbors who would call authorities for things like headscarves or praying. Trying to instill fear in a section of the populace. The fear of losing basic rights. The fear of losing our souls for the sake of feeling safe. While this film is about fears in France, it is also very applicable to American society.” – Screen Fish

Features Soraya Hachoumi, Sarah Perriez and Khalid Berkouz.

2019 / 100 minutes / Foreign Drama (French w/English subtitles) / A film by Waheed Khan and Ubaydah Abu-Usayd

HOW TO ORDER:

Public Performance and Digital Site Licenses are available through Soundview Media Partners. To inquire or to place an order, write to info@soundviewmediapartners.com or simply choose from the options below:

License Options

For group screening prices, please inquire.

In-home/personal use copies are available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wGqIod

Watch the trailer…

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