Saidam Baril and Argentic Productions have signed a contract to co-produce the folk horror feature film Thaw, written and directed by Yakut filmmaker Stepan Burnashev.
The deal, signed at the American Film Market (AFM), is believed to be the first narrative collaboration between a Yakut and American film company.
This mystical thriller takes place in a remote village in Yakutia, where an American filmmaker investigating permafrost thaw becomes embroiled in the shamanic initiation of a local teenager named Saldana. This story explores the intersection of climate science and indigenous beliefs, blending documentary-style observation with spiritual and psychological elements.
“In Western culture, such experiences are often seen as possession, which requires exorcism,” says Brunashev. “In the Sakha tradition, it is understood as the beginning of becoming a shaman, a mission, a responsibility. Thaw invites the audience to see this change as something to be understood rather than something to be expelled.”
Argentic Productions’ KT Kent described the project as “a unique audio piece of elevated folk horror with cultural specificity, real locations, and international merit.”
The production will feature an international cast and creative team, as well as a global theatrical and streaming release strategy. “Thaw” is aiming for a festival debut in late 2026 or early 2027.
Brunashev has emerged as a prominent figure in contemporary Yakut cinema, known for his atmospheric storytelling that blends contemporary life with the indigenous Sakha perspective. In October, four of his films, “Black Snow,” “Our Winter,” “Cursed Land-Fate,” and “Aita,” began streaming worldwide on Prime Video. He recently finished production on “The Penthouse,” a psychological thriller filmed in Malaysia starring “Tokyo Vice” and “Pachinko” star Satoshi Arai.
Kent founded Argentic Productions in 2017 with a focus on genre content with thematic depth. “We’re looking for projects that inform public discussion,” Kent said. “How do old philosophies apply to modern life? How can we interpret events in new ways that challenge our perspectives? We want people to walk out of the theater thinking, ‘Wow! I never thought of it that way.'” We want to make films that people can discuss over dinner next week. ‘Thaw’ fits that profile perfectly. ”
Saidam Baryl is based in Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia, and Argentic Productions is based in Los Angeles.
