Toronto-based genre film distributor Red Water Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to Anishinaabe filmmaker Jason Brennan’s L’Inhumain.

Red Water parentco Indiecan Entertainment, led by Avi Federgreen, has also acquired international sales rights to the psychological thriller.

L’Inhumain, written, directed and produced by Brennan under his Gatineau, Que.-based production company Nish Media, will be released in English Canada in the second quarter of 2023 through limited theatrical and VOD platforms after its North American festival run is complete, according to a news release.

The deal was negotiated by Brennan for Nish Media and distribution arm Seventh Screen, and Federgreen for Red Water and Indiecan.

The acquisition was announced Monday (Nov. 21), ahead of the film’s Ontario premiere on Tuesday (Nov. 22) at the Blood in the Snow Festival.

The film had its theatrical and VOD release for French Canada earlier this year, which was distributed by Seventh Screen.

L’Inhumain follows an Anishinaabe surgeon who returns back to his community after hearing of his father’s passing, where he becomes the prey of an evil creature. It was financed by Telefilm Canada, the MELS Funds, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Radio-Canada, and the Indigenous Screen Office.

Federgreen said in a statement that Brennan’s work as a writer, director and producer spans many genres in both TV and film, adding that “after seeing L’Inhumain, I knew immediately it was a film I wanted to help get out to as many eyeballs as possible, so they can see this very unique and well-executed take on a genre film.”

Brennan is known for producing short films and features including Le Dep and Rustic Oracle. Most recently, he produced the miniseries Pour toi Flora, which is “the first 100% Indigenous-created drama to be produced in Canada,” according to a news release. The series was awarded a 2022 MIPCOM Diversify TV award in the Representation of Race and Ethnicity – Scripted category.

Indiecan also acquired Jules Arita Koostachin’s drama Broken Angel and her short film MisTik in October and Finnish filmmaker Roope Olenius’ Free Skate in May. Federgreen launched Red Water Entertainment as a genre-focused distribution arm under Indiecan earlier this year, acquiring titles such as Karen Lam’s The Curse of Willow Song.

Image courtesy of Nish Media