By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The movie had its North American premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival.
Freestyle Digital Media has announced its acquisition of North American rights to ABERRANCE, from first-time Mongolian director Baatar Batsukh, with a theatrical release date set for October 6. The VOD/digital release will follow in 2024. Batsukh wrote the film with Erdene Orosoo and Byambasuren Ganbat, and the cast is headed by Selenge Chadraabal, Erkhembayar Ganbat, Yalalt Namsrai, Oyundary Jamsranjav, Badamtsetseg Batmunkh, Bayarsanaa Batchuluun and Ariunbyamba Sukhee. The synopsis: “When city dwellers Erkhmee [Ganbat] and Selenge [Chadraabal] arrive at an old cabin deep in the Mongolian wilds, a sense of foreboding settles over the couple. Erkhmee’s seemingly keen desire to provide a safe and nurturing space for his artistic wife is at odds with the violent actions and mannerisms their quizzical neighbor observes. As the neighbor digs deeper for the reason behind this aberrant behavior, only more questions and trouble arise.”
“As a Mongolian and American filmmaker, I am honored to see our film being distributed theatrically in the U.S.,” says Alexa Khan of Three Flames Pictures, which produced ABERRANCE with Team Hero Production. “It is a milestone to celebrate and excited to contribute to the AAPI filmmaking community that is making the marks in the US.”
“As a Gulf War veteran and a film producer,” says Three Flames Pictures’ Trevor Morgan Doyle, “setting a lofty goal of theatrical distribution for a Mongolian film and having it realized is extremely gratifying. Our long-term plan is to get Mongolian cinema and artists the recognition that they deserve. We’re grateful and excited for the opportunity and for what the future holds!”
