John Henry Hinkel's Atlanta-based Liaison Pictures has partnered with France's Because the Night Productions on the documentary feature "Behemoth Ann Holds a Seance," currently in development through Locarno Film Festival's Match Me! networking platform.
The film comes from directors Isidore Bethel, Vicki Bethel, and Daniel Hymanson. It centers on Arthur Douglas, exploring his life and creative legacy through an unconventional lens. The project positions itself as an unconventional documentary that blends archival material with speculative storytelling.
Liaison Pictures brings significant pedigree to the endeavor. The company previously produced Charlie Kaufman's acclaimed short "How to Shoot a Ghost," establishing itself as a home for experimental and auteur-driven work. Kaufman's involvement in Liaison's slate underscores the company's commitment to challenging, conceptually ambitious cinema.
Because the Night Productions, the Paris-based outfit joining the effort, operates in similar creative territory. The French production house focuses on distinctive documentary and hybrid projects that resist conventional categorization.
The Locarno Match Me! initiative functions as an industry matchmaking program, connecting independent filmmakers and producers with potential collaborators and financiers. The festival's platform attracts projects poised between documentary and experimental narratives, precisely where "Behemoth Ann Holds a Seance" lands. Its presence at Locarno signals strong positioning within festival circuits that prioritize formal innovation and unconventional subject matter.
The international co-production structure reflects a broader trend in independent filmmaking. Atlanta has emerged as a production hub beyond its traditional focus on narrative features and episodic television. Liaison Pictures represents the city's growing infrastructure for art-house and experimental projects seeking global reach. Pairing with a European producer like Because the Night Productions ensures cross-Atlantic financing connections and