Be prepared to sit back and enjoy a slightly dark but delightful cinematic experience as Strand Releasing brings Ulrike Ottinger’s cheekily enticing “The Blood Countess” to North American screens. Front and center, the brilliant Isabelle Huppert plays the role of the infamous and legendary character, Countess Elizabeth Báthory.

You still have a couple of months to wait, as the film, after its initial premiere at the Berlinale Special Gala, is slated for a grand North American unmasking at Fantastic Fest on Sept. 17 before a wider theatrical release in spring 2027.

Negotiating skills were put to the test as Jon Gerrans from Strand Releasing and Austin Kennedy, Magnify’s global sales director, ironed out the details of the deal. "We couldn't be happier to be working with Ms. Ottinger again and on such a marvelous and unique film," said an enthusiastic Marcus Hu, Strand Releasing’s representative.

This isn’t Huppert’s first rodeo with Strand Releasing as they previously associated with her for films such as “Abuse of Weakness,” “Time of the Wolf” and the “Valley of Love.”

“The Blood Countess” derives its storyline from the life and reputation of Báthory, the 16th-century Hungarian noblewoman famed in legends as a blood-thirsty serial killer. The film promises to be a thrilling ride as we watch Huppert’s character rise from centuries-long sleep to roam around Vienna, alongside her loyal maid Hermine, in pursuit of a secret book that could be her downfall.

Excitingly, this is a monumental project for German filmmaker Ottinger, who along with Elfriede Jelinek, the accomplished Austrian author and Nobel Prize winner, penned the script. Unbelievably, Ottinger started on this project back in 1998, crafting the Countess not as a simple psychological study, but as a powerful, mythical being. “She embodies authority, glamour, and elegance,” said Ottinger, highlighting Huppert's striking performance.

The filmfold comprises other notable names as well, like Birgit Minichmayr, Lars Eidinger, Thomas Schubert, André Jung, and the fabulous Conchita Wurst, widely known as Tom Neuwirth.

In the meantime, Strand Releasing is also busy with releases like Brydie O’Connor’s “Barbara Forever” and “Mysterious Skin” by Gregg Araki, along with David Pablos’s Oscar entry “On the Road” in view.