Motherwitch: Dark Star Pictures Acquires Cypriot Folk Horror

Dark Star Pictures has acquired North American rights to Motherwitch, the Cypriot folk horror film from director Minos Papas, ahead of its screening at the Sitges Film Festival. The acquisition brings the 1882-set supernatural story a step closer to audiences in the U.S. and Canada, although a North American release date has not been announced.

Motherwitch brings Cypriot folklore to the screen

Set in Cyprus under British occupation, Motherwitch follows Eleni (Margarita Zachariou), a painter grieving the deaths of her three children. She enlists a young artist, Michalakis, in a ritual intended to bring them back. Instead, she awakens the Kalikantzari, malevolent beings from Cypriot folklore, and puts the boy in danger.

The film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam earlier this year and has since appeared at Fantasia and other international festivals. Its next stop includes the Sitges festival’s Noves Visions program. The production was shot on location in Cyprus, and the cast also includes Miltos Yerolemou and Jason Hughes.

What the Dark Star Pictures deal means

The North American acquisition gives Motherwitch a distributor as its festival run continues. For now, there is no confirmed U.S. theatrical date or streaming platform. The film is scheduled for a separate theatrical run in Cyprus beginning October 29.

Anyone curious about the film can also find the official Motherwitch trailer shared by Dread Central. The film’s blend of grief and supernatural folklore also makes it a natural fit for readers exploring more folk horror.

Sources: Deadline, Sitges Film Festival, Caretta Films.