SXSW 2022: Shudder Acquires SXSW Midnighter ‘Sissy’ Ahead of is Debut

SXSW Sissy
Credit: Steve Arnold ACS

Shudder has acquired rights to ​Arcadia / DEMS Entertainment / Freedom Films’ SXSW Midnighter ‘Sissy,’ from writers-directors Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes, ahead of its anticipated world premiere at the Festival. The premium streamer for horror, thriller and the supernatural will be the exclusive streaming home to the Australian horror comedy in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Shudder’s general manager Craig Engler, said: “Directors Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes’ script crafted something special,  a stylish and thoroughly modern horror comedy with bite, led fearlessly by Aisha Dee. We can’t wait for audiences to meet SISSY.”

“Shudder is the perfect home for SISSY and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them. The team at Shudder are the best at bringing elevated horror to engaged audiences across major territories. As filmmakers, to know SISSY will be celebrated by a genre-loving audience like Shudder’s is a dream come true,” said Lisa Shaunessy from Arcadia. 


‘Sissy’
stars Aisha Dee and Barlow as Cecilia and Emma, who had been tween-age BFFs who were never going to let anything come between them — until Alex (Emily De Margheriti) arrived on the scene. Twelve years later, Cecilia is a successful social media influencer living the dream of an independent, modern millennial woman, until she runs into Emma for the first time in over a decade. After reconnecting, Emmy invites Cecilia on her bachelorette weekend at a remote cabin in the mountains, where Alex proceeds to make Cecilia’s weekend a living hell.