Ahead of its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which is about to kick off in Park City, Utah, the supernatural body horror project Saccharine was acquired by Independent Film Company (IFC) and Shudder for distribution in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The Australian production will be released in theaters this year, prior to its launch on Shudder, reported Variety. Along with the acquisition, the first official look was revealed, available at the end of the note.
Saccharinefrom the screenwriter and director Natalie Erika James (Relic, Apartment 7A), follows Hana, a heartbroken medical student, who finds herself terrorized by a sinister force after participating in a dark weight loss fad: eating human ashes.
The main cast includes Midori Francis (Grey’s Anatomy, The Sex Lives of College Girls), Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$), y Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time).
The project is produced by Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, producers of Relic by James.
Regarding his new collaboration with IFC and Shudder, James said in a press release:
“I am thrilled to be working with IFC and Shudder again after our experience co-releasing Relic in 2020. They are an incredible team with a deep understanding of the genre and a genuine commitment to filmmakers.”
Emily Gotto, senior vice president of acquisitions and productions at Shudder, added:
“Natalie proclaimed herself an exceptional figure with her captivating debut, Relica film we had the privilege of presenting to audiences in 2020 through IFC Midnight. With Saccharinereturns with a chilling and absolutely original vision that penetrates our deepest obsessions with body image, reaffirming his work as a leading voice in genre cinema.”
Carver Films and Thrum Films produce the feature film. Screen Australia financed it in association with XYZ Films, IPR.VC, Stan and VicScreen.
And in case you are not aware, we tell you that Independent Film Company, is the rebranding of the formerly known as IFC Films. In May 2025, the independent film producer and distributor announced its rebranding, with which it would be renamed Independent Film Company (IFC), launching its logo and changing the name of its parent group from AMC Networks Entertainment Group to IFC Entertainment Group.
This is how the integrated structure of AMC Networks' four film verticals, which include Independent Film Company, IFC Center, RLJE, and Shudder, is formalized. The brands continue to operate with a synergistic approach across the AMC Networks ecosystem.
IFC co-distributes horror films with Shudder, the streaming service specialized in the genre.
First look at Saccharine:
Source: https://cine3.com/primer-vistazo-body-horror-saccharine-natalie-erika-james/
