A striking new festival poster has been unveiled for “Falling Stars,” the feature directorial debut from Richard Karpala and Gabriel Bienczycki. This highly anticipated American folk-horror witch drama is set to make its North American premiere at Austin’s Fantastic Fest later this month. Karpala and Bienczycki take the helm as both directors and producers of this intriguing project.

The film, written and edited by Karpala, with Bienczycki serving as the cinematographer, has already garnered attention in the film industry. Giona A. Nazzaro, the artistic director of Locarno, drew a captivating comparison, describing “Falling Stars” as reminiscent of “Monte Hellman doing The Blair Witch Project.”

“Falling Stars” promises a captivating blend of tones and genres, described by Sight and Sound as having “a touch of Shirley Jackson.” The story unfolds in the American West on the eve of the first harvest, where three brothers (portrayed by Rene Leech, Shaun Duke Jr., and Andrew Gabriel) embark on a perilous journey to witness the burial of a deceased witch, a close friend. However, their unintended desecration of the witch’s body sets off a series of harrowing events. To break the curse looming over their family, they must act swiftly and burn the witch’s remains before sunrise.

The film delves deep into the complexities of coming-of-age, exploring the sacrifices and consequences that accompany the transition from the safety of home to the uncharted territories of youthful independence.

Before its highly anticipated premiere, “Falling Stars” earned recognition in the film industry. It was selected as part of the 2022 US in Progress showcase at the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland, and featured in the 2022 Frontières Platform in Cannes as part of the Buyer’s Showcase. Sales rights for “Falling Stars” are in the capable hands of XYZ Films for North America and Raven Banner for international distribution.

With its intriguing premise, talented directorial duo, and captivating festival poster, “Falling Stars” is set to make a powerful impact on audiences as it ventures into the realm of folk-horror witch drama. Stay tuned for this exciting North American premiere at Fantastic Fest, where the film’s dark and mysterious tale is sure to captivate and terrify viewers.