SA Filmmakers Break The Global Mould

SA Filmmakers break the mould of territorial restrictions regarding independent films and get rewarded with North American distribution deal and global representation.

Director, writer Henk Pretorius and Producer Llewelynn Greeff’s new film THE UNFAMILIAR gets picked up for distribution by Lionsgate UK, Vertical Entertainment for North America and represented by – Scoundrel Media, the genre label of Myriad Pictures for worldwide sales.

Henk Pretorius: Photo Credit: Paul Harris / Copyright: Dark Matter Studios

THE UNFAMILIAR tells the story of a British Army doctor (Jemima West) who comes back from war, thinking she has PTSD, only to discover that there are malevolent spirits present at home, making the life that she knew unfamiliar.

Jamima West: Photo Credit: Fathom KeyArt Services / Copyright: Dark Matter Studios

“In the highly competitive world of filmmaking, a lot of people try to hold you down. The trick is not to listen to them, to focus on what you are authentically born to do and to keep pushing forward. Creating a film that will be seen by a global audience has been my vision since childhood.” – Henk Pretorius, Director/Writer.

Henk Pretorius wrote and directed Leading Lady, Fanie Fourie’s Lobola and Bakgat before leaving for the United Kingdom to write and direct: The Unfamiliar.

Myriad Pictures President and CEO Kirk D’Amico said: “We are excited to be handling international sales on this smart and timely horror thriller film in which director Henk Pretorius has gotten great performances from his cast, including the lead played by Jemima West. We are also delighted to start working with the talented people at Dark Matter Studios.”

Llewelynn Greeff, Producer, Dark Matter Studios said: “Being internationally represented by an industry icon, Kirk D’Amico’s of Scoundrel Media, has been an important milestone for Dark Matter Studios. The timing of the global release allows us to compete with major studios on a more even playing field.”

Llewelynn Greeff produced Leading Lady and Modder en Bloed (Blood and Glory) before producing The Unfamiliar with Producer Barend Kruger.

Dark Matter Studios is a British-based production house, co-founded by South Africans Henk Pretorius and Llewelynn Greeff, that specializes in creating bespoke feature films and television content for a global audience.

Scoundrel Media will premiere THE UNFAMILIAR at the Cannes Virtual Market.

Published in
Categorised as Film

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb