Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired worldwide rights to Nicolas Pesce’s nightmarish debut “The Eyes of My Mother,” the company announced Friday.
The film, which stars newcomer Kika Magalhaes, fuses classic horror ingredients with gothic black-and-white imagery. Magnet is planning a theatrical release later this year.
“The Eyes of My Mother” stars Magalhaes as Francisca, a young woman who has been unfazed by death from an early age after her mother, a former surgeon, imbued her with a thorough understanding of the human anatomy. When tragedy shatters the family’s idyllic life in the countryside, Francisca’s deep trauma gradually awakens some unique curiosities. As she grows up, her desire to connect with the world around her takes a distinctly dark form.
“Nicolas Pesce has crafted an auspicious and unforgettable debut that immediately establishes him as one of the most exciting genre filmmakers to watch today,” Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles said. “This is the kind of film Magnet was started for.”
“I’m very excited for the film to have found a home with Magnet,” Pesce continued. “They’re responsible for releasing so many of the movies that inspired me, so to be included in this family is incredible. The life they’ve given to both foreign and domestic genre films is unparalleled, so for ‘The Eyes of My Mother’ to be released through them is a dream come true.”
“The Eyes of My Mother” was produced by Jacob Wasserman, Schuyler Weiss and Max Born, and executive produced by Borderline Films’ Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin and Josh Mond under their new Borderline Presents label.
The film earned Pesce and Magalhaes representation in Hollywood, as Pesce signed with UTA and Washington Square Films, while his lead actress joined Anonymous Content.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia’s Dori Begley and John Von Thaden with the UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.
Magnolia’s sales executives Christina Rogers and Scott Veltri are representing the film for Magnolia International, and all international rights to the film are currently available.