Nicely Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, is expanding its portfolio beyond female-driven romance by introducing Darkly Entertainment, a label dedicated to thrillers and genre content. The official launch of Darkly Entertainment is taking place at AFM, with plans to produce and distribute theatrical and “darker elevated dramatic” content.

The inaugural slate for Darkly Entertainment includes two films: the holiday crime drama “Holiday Hold-Up” and the disaster-action film “Super Icyclone.” “Holiday Hold-Up,” currently in post-production, features Jeremy Holm, John Pirruccello, and Agnes Albright. The story follows a group of disgruntled restaurant employees seeking revenge on their thieving mobster boss. Four directors, including Michael Moreci, have contributed to this project, with Moreci also penning the screenplay. “Super Icyclone” is a co-production with Defiant Entertainment Distribution and Good-Soldier Films in Canada. The film centers on climatologist Jill Sanders as she discovers the formation of a destructive ice-hurling tornado about to hit her small town.

In addition to these productions, Darkly Entertainment has acquired international distribution rights to three titles: “Exile,” a psychological horror film starring Adam Beach; “Lace,” a 14-part TV series for AMC Networks’ streaming service AllBlk; and “How to Rob,” a crime film about two stick-up men robbing criminals from Boston to Cape Cod.

Vanessa Shapiro, CEO of Nicely Entertainment, expressed the company’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for alternative and dramatic content for both theatrical and digital distribution. She emphasized that Darkly Entertainment would focus on storytelling that delves into the complexities of human nature, providing thrilling and emotionally charged experiences for viewers. The launch of Darkly Entertainment at AFM aligns with their vision to expand their content offerings.