Bangkok-based horror distributor Fearfolks and Taipei’s Studio76 have signed a three-picture Thai-Taiwanese horror development deal, which was unveiled at the Toronto Film Festival Market. The pact will see the companies co-develop, produce and distribute a slate of genre films for theatrical release.
Leading the slate is “Cher,” a supernatural horror-thriller drawing on Thai folklore surrounding mythical forest nymphs. The project recently became the first Thai project to qualify for and win a top prize at the Frontieres Co-production Market in Montreal, and it has also qualified for the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market.
“Cher” stars Mim Rattanawadee Wongthong, known for the “Death Whisperer” franchise, alongside Pae Arak and Weir Sukollawat of “4 Tigers.” Cinematographer Vikash Nowlakha has also joined the production; his work on the “Dhurandhar” duology helped drive a $330 million global box office.
The second title, “Blur Blur Ghost,” takes a lighter, comedic turn. A ghost with poor eyesight wrongly pins her own killing on an unfortunate insurance agent, driving the film’s dark humor.
The third project will be selected through the RisingStories International Story Pitching Competition, an annual contest jointly hosted by Fearfolks and Studio76 to find new voices in Asian genre filmmaking. The 2026 edition is backed by Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures, Singapore’s August Pictures and Taiwan’s Candy Stage and Scloud, with additional support from the Screenwriters Guild of Taiwan and the Taipei Film and Drama Occupational Union.
Dennis Yang, CEO of Studio76, said, “Our goal is to dismantle language barriers and provide creators with a seamless trajectory toward global distribution.”
Hans Audric Estialbo, CEO of Fearfolks, said the cross-border deal would let Thai and Taiwanese stories tag-team, adding that it would let them “take on the global stage together.”
Fearfolks, backed by Benetone Films, has previously distributed Neon’s “Hokum” and “Leviticus,” as well as A24’s highest-grossing film of all time, “Backrooms.” Studio76, backed by the KKBOX Group, Taiwan’s National Development Fund and Japan’s Asahi Broadcasting Group Dream Ventures, specializes in incubating local Taiwanese intellectual property and financing digital movies and drama series for global audiences.