SHE IS CONANN: Bertrand Mandico's Epic Fantasy Gets February Release by Altered Innocence

The buzz from the 2023 Fantastic Fest revolves around the mesmerizing 35mm epic "SHE IS CONANN," a queer fantasy offering a multilayered reinterpretation of CONAN THE BARBARIAN. Director Bertrand Mandico, known for his acclaimed works like "THE WILD BOYS" and "AFTER BLUE (DIRTY PARADISE)," presents a barbaric fantasy sci-fi trip that boldly draws inspiration from Fellini, Fassbinder, and more, crafting a moving portrait of a warrior navigating existence beyond space, time, and meaning. Filled with surrealism, chaos, and gore, this unforgettable film promises an immersive experience. Altered Innocence's announcement of a limited theater run in February heightens the anticipation, ensuring audiences can revel in the visual and narrative brilliance of "SHE IS CONANN" on the big screen. Get ready to be transported into a world where fantasy transcends boundaries and storytelling reaches new heights.

Following a celebrated tour of film festivals that began last summer with a buzzy world premiere at Cannes in the Directors' Fortnight section, Altered Innocence announces the upcoming North American theatrical release for Bertrand Mandico’s SHE IS CONANN kicking off on February 2nd, 2024. SHE IS CONANN will be opening in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, and more, with Mandico and star Elina Löwensohn in attendance for select opening weekend screenings at Anthology Film Archives in New York City. In addition to the opening of his latest feature, both Anthology Film Archives and select Alamo Drafthouses across the country will be presenting special short showcases of newly debuting work.

Mandico’s third feature following THE WILD BOYS, which topped Cahiers du Cinéma’s 2018 list of Top 10 Films, and the multi-award-winning AFTER BLUE (DIRTY PARADISE), SHE IS CONANN is a barbaric fantasy sci-fi trip that boldly celebrates the influences of Fellini Satyricon, The Night Porter, The Hunger, and Fassbinder’s entire oeuvre to craft a moving portrait of a warrior trying to find her place while existing outside of space, time, and meaning. 

Mandico’s most ambitious work yet, the film blurs realities and flips genders, loosely using the American cult classic Conan the Barbarian as groundwork for this intoxicatingly lush 35mm-shot hero’s journey. Starring Claire Duburcq (1917, AFTER BLUE), Christa Théret (RENOIR), Sandra Parfait (Netflix’s Lupin), Agata Buzek (AFTER BLUE, HIGH LIFE), Nathalie Richard (AFTER LOVE, IRMA VEP), and Françoise Brion (L'IMMORTELLE) as the many faces of Conann —from young woman to warrior queen, each overcoming the last— in addition to Julia Riedler (LUZ) and Mandico-constant Elina Löwensohn (AMATEUR, LET THE CORPSES TAN), who has appeared in every one of his films, in the role of Rainer, the Cerberus guardian of the underworld.

A visceral and impulsive queer artist with a prolific body of work in singular and form challenging cinema, Mandico is a co-founder and follower of the 12-rule Incoherence Manifesto, which includes the prompts 'filming must be done on expired film stock,' ‘special effects must be made in-camera,’ and 'the film must be in an uncertain geography, timeless, ban any realistic effect’.

SCREENING DETAILS

https://www.alteredinnocence.net/sheisconann

Opening — 1/24 

RAINER'S UNGODLY CAMERA: 3 Shorts by Bertrand Mandico

Alamo Drafthouses in Austin, TX, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Raleigh, NC, San Francisco, CA, Springfield, MO, Yonkers, NY

One Night Only — 1/30 

Special Advance SHE IS CONANN Preview Screenings 

Alamo Drafthouses in Austin, TX, Boston, MA, Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, El Paso, TX, Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Lubbock, TX, New York, NY, Raleigh, NC, San Francisco, CA, Springfield, MO, Winchester, VA, Yonkers, NY

Opening — 2/2

SHE IS CONANN Theatrical Release Weeklong Run

Anthology Film Archives - New York, NY

Bertand Mandico & Elina Löwensohn in attendance for select opening weekend shows

Gateway Film Center - Columbus, OH

Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville - Chicago, IL

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh - Raleigh, NC

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar - Austin, TX

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Sloans Lake - Denver, CO

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Boston Seaport - Boston, MA

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema New Mission - San Francisco, CA

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA

Screening 2/3 & 2/4

THE SHOW HAS ALREADY STARTED / L’ÉMISSION A DÉJÀ COMMENCÉ

U.S. debut of new short work at Anthology Film Archives 

Opening 2/9

SHE IS CONANN Theatrical Release Expansion Weeklong Runs

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Lower Manhattan - New York, NY

Grand Illusion Cinema - Seattle, WA

More to come!