StudioCanal Pre-Sells Horror Title Across European Territories

StudioCanal Scores Major Pre-Sales for Horror Title at EFM

StudioCanal has closed pre-sale agreements across 12 European territories for "Beneath the Floorboards," a folk-horror feature directed by rising British filmmaker Ava Chen, in deals collectively valued at an estimated EUR 6.5 million. The sales were finalized at this year's European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.

Territory Breakdown

The pre-sale agreements cover Germany/Austria (Koch Films), Scandinavia (Nordisk Film Distribution), Benelux (Independent Films), Spain (Vertigo Films), Italy (Lucky Red), and several additional markets including Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, and the Balkans.

StudioCanal retains rights for France, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand through its own distribution arms, meaning the company now has coverage across virtually all of Europe and Oceania.

The Project

"Beneath the Floorboards" is described as a slow-burn folk-horror film set in a remote Yorkshire village where a young architect renovating a heritage-listed cottage uncovers evidence of ritualistic practices embedded in the building's construction. The screenplay was developed through the BFI/Film4 development pipeline.

The film has a production budget of approximately EUR 9 million, meaning the pre-sales alone recoup more than 70% of the negative cost — an impressive result for a genre title from a first-time feature director.

European Horror Market Trends

The results underscore the robust health of the European horror market. Genre titles have been outperforming their budget brackets at European box offices for three consecutive years, driven by younger audiences returning to cinemas for communal viewing experiences.

StudioCanal's head of international sales noted that buyer interest was "exceptionally strong" and that several territories saw competitive bidding situations — a rarity for horror pre-sales at this budget level.

Outlook

North American rights remain available and are expected to generate significant interest at Cannes Marche du Film in May, where a promo reel will be screened. Asian territory deals are also in advanced negotiation.