British sales and distribution company Blue Finch Films has acquired the worldwide rights to Indonesian horror film “The Draft!” ahead of its international premiere at Austin’s Fantastic Fest.
Directed by Yosroun Fouadi, the film follows five college students who spend a weekend in a remote villa, only to find themselves confronted by a powerful dark force. The project aims to upend familiar horror concepts in its take on the cabin-in-the-woods horror genre.
Fawadee wrote the screenplay along with Anindita Suryarasmi, with Richard Hames Halstead and P.W. Purba Negara as co-writers. Munandar Aji and Vani Pramoditya serve as producers.
“‘The Draft!’ is a love letter to horror, science fiction, and fantasy,” Fuadi said. “And because it is a love letter, it is only natural that I pour all my passion, anger, lust, protest, and obsession into this underappreciated and somewhat overrated genre.”
Mike Chapman of Blue Finch Films said the film “is an imaginative and original entry into the horror genre that will delight audiences around the world.”
Blue Finch’s international film slate also includes Jean-Luc Herboleau’s “Zero,” which was selected in Sitges, SXSW 2024 Audience Award winner “Oddity,” and Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s thriller “Steppenwolf,” which was selected in Rotterdam.
Indonesia has long been a fertile ground for horror cinema, with the genre deeply rooted in the country’s rich folklore and supernatural beliefs. Recent years have seen a surge in domestic and international interest in Indonesian horror films, with titles like Joko Anwar’s “Impetigore” and Timo Tjajanto’s “May the Devil Take You” garnering critical acclaim on the international festival circuit. “Impetigore” was Indonesia’s entry into the international category of the Oscars in 2020. More recently, Kimo Stambul’s “Dancing Village: The Curse Begins” was picked up for North American distribution by Lionsgate earlier this year. The film is a prequel to “KKN di Desa Penari,” the highest-grossing film of all time in Indonesia.
Blue Finch Films' acquisition of “The Draft!” signals continued international appetite for Indonesia's unique brand of horror films, which often blend cultural specificity with universal scare tactics.
