The landscape for independent cinema continues to shift as distributors seek singular voices and unusual formats. In that spirit, Grasshopper Film has secured North American rights to Chronovisor, the first feature from the directing duo Kevin Walker and Jack Auen. Produced by Jason Zuriff and shot by Leo Zhang, the picture is being talked about as an inventive armchair mystery filmed on location in New York City. The announcement marks a significant step for the filmmakers and the film’s cast and crew as they move from festival discovery toward a theatrical and digital rollout.
The film centers on a reclusive academic whose focus on memory and textual investigation becomes an obsession with a rumored machine. That machine, known within the story as the chronovisor, is said to reproduce visual moments from any historical moment on a screen. In a casting move that bridges scholarship and cinema, the lead role is played by Anne-Laure Sellier, a behavioral science professor at HEC Paris, who appears here in her screen-acting debut. The combination of a nontraditional lead, a tight creative team, and a compact, city-bound production has given the film a distinctive voice critics have noticed.
Festival reception and premieres
Chronovisor began its public life at the 2026 International film festival Rotterdam, where it caught the attention of critics. In his coverage, Leonardo Goi selected the film as a Critic’s Pick and praised its atmosphere and intellectual curiosity. The film will have its North American premiere at the New Directors/New Films festival on April 10, 2026, an event co-presented by the Museum of Modern Art and Film at Lincoln Center that spotlights bold first and second features. That festival placement positions the film to connect with programmers, critics, and cinephiles ahead of a wider release.
Critical note and early buzz
Early responses have emphasized the film’s slow-building intensity and its play between factual research and fictional speculation. Reviewers have highlighted the way the film treats books and archives as active elements of the plot, arguing that the directors imbue ordinary objects with a kind of cinematic magic. This early acclaim helped fuel Grasshopper Film’s decision to acquire the rights and prepare a targeted release strategy that takes advantage of both festival momentum and niche audience interest in unusual mysteries.
The film, synopsis, and creative team
At its core, Chronovisor follows Beatrice, an academic writing on theories of memory who stumbles across accounts of an occult instrument that can display scenes from history. The film traces her journey from an Upper East Side apartment into New York’s lesser-known research collections and hidden libraries, mapping an arc that moves toward a technological and psychological tipping point. The narrative blends investigative rigor with conspiracy motifs, resulting in a story where scholarly work collides with obsession and the possibility of revelation.
Credits and collaborators
The picture was produced by Jason Zuriff with cinematography by Leo Zhang, and features Anne-Laure Sellier in the lead role. Directors Jack Auen and Kevin Walker work under the umbrella of the filmmaking collective COSMIC SALON, a production company that has shepherded their shorts and features. The duo are originally from Baltimore and now base their practice in New York City. Their previous work and festival run include screenings at Rotterdam, New Directors/New Films, Sarajevo, Thessaloniki, and Gijon, lending the new feature an international festival pedigree.
Deal details, distributor perspective, and legacy
The North American deal was negotiated by Ryan Krivoshey, founder and president of Grasshopper Film, in partnership with Cosmic Salon. Grasshopper plans a theatrical release in early Fall 2026, followed by availability on major streaming platforms. In announcing the acquisition, Krivoshey framed the film as a rare independent work that interweaves literary inquiry, hidden histories, and conspiracy motifs into a compelling viewing experience. His remarks underlined the distributor’s commitment to championing innovative cinema that rewards patient, attentive audiences.
Representatives for the filmmakers expressed gratitude for the partnership and respect for Grasshopper’s decade-long track record. Presently celebrating its 10th anniversary, Grasshopper Film maintains a library of over 500 titles and a reputation for releasing award-winning and festival-circuit works. Recent catalog highlights include restorations and international auteur releases, demonstrating the company’s appetite for films that combine artistic ambition with festival and critical visibility. With distribution secured, Chronovisor moves toward the broader public, building on festival praise and a distribution plan aimed at both theatrical and streaming audiences.