Exclusive: The highly praised debut of Graham Foy, The Maiden, is set for an August release along with a new trailer.

      One of my favorite directorial debuts from 2022 is set to be released in the U.S. Graham Foy’s atmospheric and split coming-of-age story, The Maiden, which was screened at Venice, TIFF, and New Directors/New Films, has been acquired by Altered Innocence. In anticipation of its Blu-ray (pre-order here) and VOD release on August 12, we’re excited to unveil the new trailer and cover art.

      Here’s the synopsis: “A perfect summer day takes a tragic turn, creating a cosmic link between three suburban teenagers. Best friends Colton and Kyle float on the river, share dreams, and spray-paint in the nearby ravine. Meanwhile, Whitney explores the same ravine, finding comfort in her diary through writing and drawing. But when her best friend leaves her, Whitney goes missing. The children's lives are filled with natural beauty and wonder, but shadows of darkness and death lurk nearby. The finding of Whitney’s diary takes us to a mirrored realm. A mystical ravine. A supernatural encounter. The return of a deceased black cat. Is this merely a dream? The afterlife? Once closely intertwined, are we ever truly alone?”

      C.J. Prince commented in our ND/NF 2023 preview, “Divided into two distinct segments, Graham Foy’s debut, The Maiden, begins as a portrayal of two high school students grappling with the loss of their best friends (one through a tragic accident, the other through the natural drift of growing up). What appears to be a serene, reflective exploration of grief and maturation evolves into something more profound once one of the characters ventures into the woods bordering their suburban environment. While many filmmakers have drawn inspiration from Apichatpong Weerasethakul in recent years, few have successfully captured his emotional essence. Foy achieves this without feeling overly influenced by his inspirations (primarily Tropical Malady), which is part of what makes The Maiden one of the standout directorial debuts of the year.”

      Watch the trailer and see the cover art below.