MONTREAL – Sept. 11, 2025 – KINO Studios announced that its feature film ‘The Undertone’ has been acquired by A24 in a highly competitive bidding process following the film’s world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
Directed by Toronto-based writer-director Ian Tuason, the psychological horror stars Nina Kiri (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’) as a paranormal podcast host pulled into a spiral of paranoia after receiving disturbing recordings from a troubled couple.
The acquisition marks a milestone moment for KINO, whose mission is to back daring new voices in global cinema.
“Independent film is a risk worth betting on,” said Daril Fannin, co-founder of KINO and executive producer of ‘The Undertone.’ “To see Ian’s debut feature land at a distributor as respected and visionary as A24 is the kind of moment every filmmaker dreams of. It’s proof that when you trust the storyteller, magic happens.”
Brit MacRae, co-founder of KINO and also an executive producer, added: “This win isn’t just for our team, it’s for every indie filmmaker out there fighting to get their stories seen. A24 has built its reputation on bold, original films, and ‘The Undertone’ is exactly that.”
Co-produced by Black Fawn Films and Slaterverse Pictures, with executive producers including Roy Lee (Spooky Pictures) and Steven Schneider, the deal landed in the mid-seven-figure range after multiple buyers competed for worldwide rights.
The acquisition comes as KINO doubles down on its mission to level the playing field for creators. Alongside its film fund/production arm, the company has built ScreenKey, a secure platform for viewing and collaboration.
“ScreenKey offers the same level of protection used by studios, but now it’s available to independent filmmakers, for free!” said Fannin. “Indie filmmakers should be able to protect their films without breaking the bank.”
With ‘The Undertone’ finding a global home at A24 and ScreenKey opening its doors to filmmakers everywhere, KINO is redefining what support for independent film can look like in 2025.
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