Independent film distributor Vertical has announced the acquisition of the North American, UK, and Ireland distribution rights to the horror-comedy feature “Found Footage: The Making of The Patterson Project.” The film is set for limited theatrical release this summer on June 20, 2025, and will be available on demand beginning June 24 in North America and June 30 in the UK.
Directed by Max Tzannes, co-written by Tzannes and David San Miguel, and with editing and cinematography by Jacob Souza – who together make up the film collective Dirty Shot Clean (dsc) – the movie follows a crew of acclaimed documentarians as they chronicle a young filmmaker’s quest to create the world’s greatest found footage horror film. A subversive mockumentary with both laughs and scares, “Found Footage” draws inspiration from Christopher Guest-style comedies like “This is Spinal Tap” and found footage classics like “The Blair Witch Project.” Brennan Keel Cook (“The Pale Blue Eye”), Chen Tang (“Warrior”), Erika Vetter (“Somebody I Used to Know”), and Dean Cameron (“Straight Outta Compton”) star in the film.
“We wanted to tell a story that celebrates and subverts the found footage tropes we all know and love, while also poking fun at the terrifying experience of making an independent horror film,” said Tzannes.
The film is produced by Tyler Friesen, with Radio Silence—the team behind the most recent movies in the “Scream” franchise, “Scream” and “Scream VI”—presenting. Chad Villella, Tyler Gillett, and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin served as executive producers.
“‘Found Footage’ is a wildly original ride — it’s laugh-out-loud funny, full of heart, and laced with just the right amount of horror to keep you on edge,” said Vertical’s SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi. “It’s rare to find a film that balances tone so well, and we knew from the first screening that this was something special. Vertical is thrilled to bring it to audiences.”
Piantedosi and Manager of Acquisitions and Sales Rachel White negotiated the deal on behalf of Vertical. UTA Independent Film Group negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. Dirty Shot Clean is represented by UTA, Gotham Group, and Ziffren Brittenham.
Like “The Blair Witch Project,” the filmmakers have also created an online destination where those interested can learn more about the film’s lore before its release at ThePattersonProject.org. The website is dedicated to uncovering the truth about what really happened on the film’s set.
