France’s WTFilms Sets Up L.A. Base to Bolster Investments in English-Language Genre Pics
15.01.2024 - 15:13
/ variety.com
Martin Dale Contributor Founded in 2012, Paris-based WTFilms, run by Gregory Chambet and Dimitri Stephanides, has built a strong reputation as a sales agent for break-out genre pics and has recently diversified into production, to access hit projects. As competition ramps up for more ambitious projects with strong theatrical potential, Chambet decided to move to Los Angeles in mid-2023, while Stephanides remains based in Paris. “At WTFilms, we aim to continue to work on both sides of the Atlantic,” explains Chambet.
“In the current market it’s important to invest in projects by talented directors, with innovative concepts, budgeted above $5 million. It makes sense for me to be based here because we work a lot with partners here and L.A. is a key talent hub.
We’re on the lookout for talent from all around the world. There are really exciting genre directors popping up everywhere – in North America and also in Latin America and Asia. Being here gives me much bigger access to talent and partners.” In partnership with Charades, WTFilms is repping Sébastien Vaniček’s $4 million spider invasion horror pic “Vermin” (retitled “Infested” for the U.S.
market) that was released in France by Tandem on Dec. 27 and clocked up 100,000 admissions in its first week. “’Vermin’ is one of the biggest successes for a French genre movie in recent years,” says Chambet.
“We have also generated great international sales on the pic, with our partner Charades.” In Los Angeles, Chambet is prepping Jennifer Reeder’s next film, after having produced her previous pic, “Perpetrator,” which premiered in Berlin, and was released in the U.S. in the second half of 2023 by Shudder. Shudder, the U.S.