Voltage Pictures Acquires Nervous Global Rights
The psychological horror film starring Sarah Bolger has been picked up for distribution outside South Korea as sales open at AFM.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Foreign
Voltage Pictures has acquired global rights, excluding South Korea, to the psychological horror thriller Nervous, starring Sarah Bolger. Sales on the title begin at AFM.
Why it matters
The deal gives the film an international distribution path following its FrightFest 2026 world premiere as the Opening Night Film. It signals continued market interest in genre titles produced through South Korean and UK co-production.
The film earned Best Musical Score at the 2026 Screamfest Horror Film Festival for composer Matthew Pusti, and its global rights deal excludes South Korea. Financial terms of the acquisition and release timing outside the festival circuit have not been disclosed.
The players
Voltage Pictures
Voltage Pictures is an independent film production and distribution company that acquires and finances genre films for international markets.
Sarah Bolger
Sarah Bolger is an Irish actress who stars in the lead role of the psychological horror thriller Nervous.
Abner Pastoll
Abner Pastoll is a filmmaker who wrote and directed Nervous and also produced the project alongside Junyoung Jang.
The details
Nervous was written and directed by Abner Pastoll and shot in and around Seoul. The story follows Sarah, who relocates with her husband to the Korean countryside to save their marriage, then loses the ability to hear men's voices after listening to a mysterious vinyl record that plays only silence. The cast includes Ko Asung and Sungsoo Yune.
Timeline
2026: Nervous makes its world premiere as the Opening Night Film at FrightFest.
2026: The film earns Best Musical Score at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival.
November 4, 2026: Voltage Pictures acquires global rights excluding Korea as AFM sales begin.
Market Context
Genre films frequently change hands for international distribution at the American Film Market, where buyers secure rights ahead of festival exposure and wide release. Nervous follows that pattern, moving from a FrightFest premiere toward worldwide sales.
Viewers outside South Korea will be able to see Nervous through Voltage Pictures' global distribution once the deal's release windows are set. Festival screenings at MOTELX, Fantasy Filmfest, Screamfest, and the Festival International du Film de La Roche-sur-Yon are planned before wider availability.
The takeaway
International sales at AFM remain a key route for genre films to reach audiences beyond their home markets. Readers interested in the film can track its festival run for the first public screenings.
Further reading
Explore more international releases in the Foreign film section for context on global genre cinema.
