Red hot following the success of the micro-budget Paranormal Activity, Stuart Ford’s LA-based international sales company IM Global is unleashing its Octane genre label at AFM this week, kicking off with Brad Anderson thriller’s The Vanishing On 7th Street.

Former Showtime executive Catherine Quantschnigg will run the division, which was formerly known as IM Global Home Entertainment but has beenrefocused to handle sub-$10m theatrical fare.

Shooting is underway on the Herrick Entertainment and Plum Pictures story starring Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, and John Leguizamo.

The story centres on an apocalyptic horror that engulfs the world following a mysterious blackout and is produced by Norton Herrick, Celine Rattray and Tove Christensen.

“We’re finding that internationally the under $10m marketplace is being dominated even further by young male-orientated action, horror and fantasy product,” Quantschnigg, who introduced Paranormal Activity to the marketplace last year, said. “The Octane title speaks to that demographic”.

Quantschnigg’s slate includes Bitch Slap, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, My Name Is Bruce from the Dark Horse graphic novel stable and Joel Silver’s Dungeons & Dragons 3 and 4.

Meanwhile, IM Global will be fielding offers from buyers this week on Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity follow-up Area 51, which is expected to close a North American deal imminently. Paranormal Activity has grossed more than $85m in North America.

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