APPOFENIACS: Chris Marrs Piliero’s Fantastic Fest Fave To Serve As Launchpad For Magenta Light Studios’ New Genre Shingle In 2026!
Admittedly, I’m guilty of not promoting every horror title that gets sent to my email everyday. That’s only because it’s not my specialty, although I choose to cover it because there’s some viability in the genre for my own coverage purview. Simply put, I love a good thriller, and that’s what Appofeniacs does.
My review for the film’s screening at the twentieth edition of Fantastic Fest can be found here for reference, but guaranteed you’ll be in for a treat. The film is finally on track for a release and thanks to none other than Magenta Light Studios who is now launching Magenta Edge Films to release in theaters and on digital later this year.
Read the announcement:
January 23, 2026 – Los Angeles – Magenta Light Studios has announced the launch of Magenta Edge Films, a new distribution label dedicated to championing and discovering bold independent cinema and connecting original stories with audiences across both theatrical and digital platforms. The company also revealed their first acquisition, the Fantastic Fest breakout horror/thriller, APPOFENIACS, written and directed by Chris Marrs Piliero.
The new division will be spearheaded by industry executive Bill Vergos, who joined Magenta Light Studios last year as Head of Digital Film Distribution after spending 15 years building and leading the digital division at Freestyle Digital Media. Vergos developed the Magenta Edge initiative as a platform designed to support curated, limited theatrical and digital releases, while prioritizing audience engagement, the discovery of new talent, and meaningful partnerships with filmmakers.
Magenta Edge Films will acquire narrative features, documentaries, and festival titles across a wide range of genres, with a focus on creative collaboration, transparency, and long-term value building for filmmakers navigating an evolving marketplace.
Bob Yari, CEO of Magenta Light Studios said the launch represents a meaningful expansion of the studio’s distribution strategy. “Magenta Edge Films allows us to deepen our commitment to distinctive independent voices while expanding ways in which we bring those stories to audiences. APPOFENIACS is a terrific example of the kind of inventive and audience-driven filmmaking we want to champion.”
In APPOFENIACS, as AI-generated deepfakes spread, a group of interconnected lives spiral into paranoia, blurring reality and unleashing violent consequences revealing that the true horror lies not in the deceit, but in what happens when people believe it. Written and directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, APPOFENIACS made its debut at Fantastic Fest, where it quickly generated a strong critical response and audience buzz, establishing itself as a notable genre title on the festival circuit. The film stars Aaron Holliday, Jermaine Fowler, Will Brandt, Paige Searcy, Simran Jehani, Harley Bronwyn, Michael Abbott Jr., and Sean Gunn, and blends sharp social satire with heightened genre elements that resonated strongly with Fantastic Fest audiences.
“I saw a frightening shift in our society approaching and felt compelled to make a film about it. I dipped into my savings, got an incredible team together, and turned a passion project into reality. Next thing you know, we’re getting audience reactions beyond what we could have hoped for coming out of festivals. It truly has been such a rad, life-changing experience thus far, and I’m thrilled to now partner with Magenta Edge to release APPOFENIACS theatrically and digitally in support of independent filmmaking,” said Piliero.
“Independent filmmaking has always been about more than just making movies. It is about creativity, courage, and community,” Vergos added. “Magenta Edge Films is a true home for filmmakers, a place where new voices and passionate creators can thrive while connecting with audiences in meaningful ways.”
“Appofeniacs embodies the creative ambition behind Magenta Edge Films,” said Vergos. “It is bold, original, and built for audiences who want discovery. Launching the label with a film like this clearly signals the kind of storytelling and filmmaker partnership we believe in.”
Appofeniacs will be released theatrically later this year, followed by a digital rollout under the Magenta Edge Films banner. Additional titles will be announced in the coming months. Magenta Edge Films is actively acquiring completed narrative features, documentaries, and festival titles for theatrical and digital release.
Magenta Light Studios will release Adrian Grunberg’s PROTECTOR, starring Milla Jovovich in theaters on March 6, 2026 and Renny Harlin’s DEEP WATER, starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley in theaters May 1, 2026.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
