Anatomica Films, the production label led by writer-director J. M. Stelly, has signed a worldwide sales agreement with New Zealand-based Black Mandala for a trio of horror features. The deal covers international rights to «Within Madness,» «Vessel» and «The Thirteenth Gate,» all of which Stelly wrote and directed.
Stelly produced the three films alongside Johnny Stassi under the Anatomica Films banner. The agreement was negotiated on Anatomica's behalf by Stelly and Black Mandala co-founder Michael Kraetzer, positioning the independent label for a broader global push in the horror market.
The three titles represent a concentrated bet on horror at a moment when the genre continues to perform strongly across international markets. «Within Madness» leads the package, with Black Mandala set to introduce the films to buyers worldwide. Details on release timing and individual territory deals were not immediately available.
Black Mandala has built a reputation as a specialist in genre sales, handling horror, thriller and cult titles for distributors across multiple continents. The company's acquisition of the Anatomica slate adds three completed features to its catalog and gives Stelly's label a dedicated international sales partner rather than a piecemeal approach to foreign rights.
For Anatomica Films, the arrangement marks a significant step in its evolution from a production outfit into a brand with global reach. Stelly's dual role as writer-director and producer on all three films underscores the label's creative concentration, while the partnership with Black Mandala provides the infrastructure to place the films with international distributors, streaming platforms and theatrical buyers.
The horror genre has remained one of the most reliable categories for independent filmmakers seeking international sales, with buyers consistently drawn to contained thrillers and supernatural stories that travel across languages and cultures. By packaging three titles together, Anatomica and Black Mandala can present a cohesive slate to distributors rather than negotiating each film in isolation.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal was confirmed as an exclusive arrangement between the two companies, with Stelly and Kraetzer handling negotiations directly. Further announcements regarding specific territory sales and release plans are expected as Black Mandala begins presenting the films to international buyers.