Saidam Baril And Argentic Productions signed an agreement on the co-production of the folk horror film “The Thaw”, written and directed by Yakut director Stepan Burnashev.
Deal signed at the American Film Market (AFM), is believed to be the first joint artistic production between a Yakut and an American film company.
The mystical thriller takes place in a remote Yakut village, where an American director investigating the melting permafrost becomes involved in the shamanic initiation of a local teenager named Sardaana. The story explores the intersection of climate science and Indigenous beliefs, combining documentary-style observations with spiritual and psychological elements.
“In Western culture, such experiences are often perceived as possession, requiring an exorcism,” Burnashev said. “In the Sakha tradition, this is understood as the beginning of the shaman's formation – a calling, a responsibility. “The Thaw” invites viewers to see this transformation not as something that needs to be expelled, but as something that needs to be understood.”
KT Kent of Argentic Productions described the project as “a distinctive voice piece – sublime folk horror with cultural specificity, real location and international potential.”
The production plans to assemble an international cast and creative team with a global theatrical and streaming release strategy. “The Thaw” plans to debut at the festival in late 2026 or early 2027.
Burnashev has become a prominent figure in modern Yakut cinema, known for his atmospheric storytelling that combines modern life with the perspectives of the indigenous peoples of Sakha. In October, four of his films—Black Snow, Our Winter, The Cursed Earth of Fate, and Aita—were premiered worldwide on Prime Video. He recently wrapped production on Penthouse, a psychological thriller filmed in Malaysia starring Soji Arai from Tokyo Vice and Pachinko.
Kent founded Argentic Productions in 2017, focusing on genre-based content with thematic depth. “We look for projects that will educate the public,” Kent said. “How does an old philosophy apply to modern life? How can you interpret events in a new way that challenges your point of view? We want you to leave the theater saying, 'Wow!' I've never thought about it that way.” We want to make films that you'll be talking about over dinner next week. The Thaw fits that profile perfectly.”
Saidam Baryl is based in Yakutsk, Russian Republic of Sakha, and Argentic Productions is based in Los Angeles.
