Imposters Lands Worldwide Deal Ahead of SXSW 2026 Midnighter Premiere

A fractured family becomes the center of a chilling sci-fi mystery as Imposters heads to SXSW 2026. (SXSW 2026)

Here at Horror Movies Uncut, SXSW continues to prove why it remains one of the most exciting launchpads for boundary-pushing genre work, and this year’s Midnighter lineup just added another must-watch title to our radar.

Per an exclusive report, U.K.-based distributor Blue Finch Films has acquired worldwide rights to Imposters, a sci-fi psychological thriller set to make its world premiere in the Midnighter section at SXSW 2026.

The film marks the feature directorial debut of Caleb Phillips, a name genre fans may already recognize from the acclaimed short Other Side of the Box, which earned awards at SXSW and BiFan. With Imposters, Phillips expands his fascination with dread rooted in intimacy, trust, and domestic unease—this time filtered through a sci-fi lens that feels tailor-made for late-night festival audiences.

Imposters follows a couple whose infant son is abducted. When the devastated mother discovers a way to retrieve him, relief quickly gives way to paranoia as her husband begins to suspect that the child brought back may not actually be their son. It’s a premise that taps directly into fears of parenthood, identity, and the horrifying question of how far someone might go to preserve the illusion of normalcy.

Leading the cast is Jessica Rothe, whose genre credentials were cemented with Happy Death Day. She’s joined by Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll) and Yul Vazquez (Severance), forming a trio well-suited to the film’s escalating tension and emotional ambiguity.

The project is produced by Thomas Bond and Sara Seligman through Broken Pig Productions, marking their first feature, with Joe Bandelli—known for his work on the Hell House LLC franchise—also producing. That combination alone suggests a film deeply aware of how to balance atmosphere, character, and slow-burn terror.

Phillips described Imposters as a mystery thriller inspired by his parents, exploring “how much damage two people can do to themselves and the world around them when they refuse to change.” It’s a thematically rich foundation, and one that aligns perfectly with the kind of intimate, psychologically charged genre storytelling that Midnighter audiences consistently embrace.

Blue Finch Films’ Mike Chapman praised the project as “an inventive and thrilling debut,” calling Phillips “an audacious new voice in genre”—high praise from a distributor whose slate includes Rotterdam-selected horror Bowels of Hell and Fantastic Fest favorite Dolly.

Between its SXSW Midnighter premiere, a compelling parental-horror premise, and a cast with proven genre chops, Imposters is already shaping up to be one of the films we’ll be watching very closely in Austin. Expect this one to spark conversation long after the lights come up.