1-2 Special Acquires North America Rights to Radu Jude’s ‘Dracula’

Neophyte U.S. distributor 1-2 Special has acquired all North American rights to "Dracula," the forthcoming horror-comedy from Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude, the companies said on 8 July. The deal comes weeks before the picture’s world premiere in competition at the Locarno Film Festival in August. Shot and set in Transylvania, the feature is billed as a black comedy that blends vampires, zombies, AI-generated imagery and car chases while paying homage to experimental American auteurs such as Ed Wood and Andy Warhol. Jude called the project “the film itself as Dracula,” adding that it offers a fresh take on the century-old legend. The acquisition extends 1-2 Special’s relationship with Jude after the distributor picked up his Berlin Silver Bear–winning drama "Kontinental ’25" earlier this year. Founded by former Sideshow executive Jason Hellerstein, the privately backed company positions itself as a theatrical-first outlet for international art-house cinema.