Russian production and distribution powerhouse Central Partnership and the Latin American film group BF Films have announced their first co-production, Variety can reveal.
“Schizophrenic” is a psychological horror film set in the real world of severe mental disorder. Dark stories of real patients will serve as inspiration, and a variety of schizophrenia symptoms are part of the script, including conspiracy theories and altered reality perception.
Russian production and distribution powerhouse Central Partnership and the Latin American film group BF Films have announced their first co-production, Variety can reveal.
“Schizophrenic” is a psychological horror film set in the real world of severe mental disorder. Dark stories of real patients will serve as inspiration, and a variety of schizophrenia symptoms are part of the script, including conspiracy theories and altered reality perception.
The story was created by J.P. Jacobsen, and the script is being written by Hernany Perla (“Blink, “Revelation,” “Santería”) whose scripts have twice been featured on Hollywood’s Black List. Perla is represented by Verve, Anonymous Content and attorney Marios Rush.
The film’s director and cast are currently being scouted and will be announced in the coming months. The project will be shot in English by an international team working in Russia in late 2021 or early 2022. Executive producing are BF Films partner and CEO Carlos Hansen and the company’s partner and head of acquisitions Juliana da Cunha Jacobsen, and Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereschagin.
“We have over 15 years of finding the world’s best film projects and widely distributing them in Latin America,” said Hansen. “We know what works in our territories, and now the time has come for us to collaborate with some of our favorite international partners to develop and produce BF’s projects aimed at the global market.”
“‘Schizophrenic’ is a vivid illustration of what BF Films strives for,” added Jacobsen. “We all know that the horror genre has had an explosion of interest worldwide, and the challenge is to do something fresh that stands out in a crowded marketplace. The story carries an intriguing premise, two iconic female lead roles, and a lot of creative potential that we’re confident will attract world-class talent.”
The film will be distributed by Central Partnership in Russia, and in Latin America by BF Distribution. The companies are also working as partners to sell the rights to other territories.
“We are excited to be starting a new chapter in Central Partnership’s history and beginning production of a joint project with our accomplished partner BF Distribution, one of the largest independent content distributors and producers in Latin America,” said Vereshchagin. “‘Schizophrenic’ carries a powerful statement and is perfectly positioned to be a successful horror film. The story appeals to one of the most relatable human fears, something wide audiences will understand and feel for, not just in Russia and Latin America, but all around the world.”
The project was announced during the Key Buyers Event, which takes place online June 8-10. Also on Central Partnership’s slate during the KBE are “The World Champion” (pictured), a drama based on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi; “December,” a 1920s-set drama that follows the last days of Sergey Yesenin, a famous Russian poet and lover of the American dancer Isadora Duncan; and “Row 19,” a psychological thriller centered on a young doctor and her 6-year-old daughter who are on a redeye flight and get caught in a storm.