BUFF Studios has acquired the UK distribution rights to British romantic thriller City of Masks, the debut feature from UK production company Starmist Films, ahead of its Halloween 2026 release.
Directed by Andrea M. Catinella (Piglet) and written by Enrico Tessarin (The Habit of Beauty), the film draws inspiration from Gaston Leroux’s 1910 gothic novel The Phantom of the Opera, reworking its themes of identity, obsession and performance through a contemporary female perspective.
The film stars Amanda Jiang in the lead role as the enigmatic Eve, a gifted composer whose brilliance has been hidden behind a mask. Jiang, who also co-founded Starmist Films, leads the cast alongside Charlie Goddard (Barbie) as talented actor Christian, Deano Bugatti Mitchison (EastEnders) as theatre director Victor, Kay Boggett (Tapped) as Christian’s mother, Madalina Belariu Ion (The young Pope) as detective Maya and former Sky Sports presenter Charlotte Jackson Coleman (Silent Witness) as stage manager Helen.
Produced by Tessarin, Jiang, Catinella, Carla Fuschillo and Arnaldo Stafa, City of Masks marks the first feature from Starmist Films. Founded by Jiang and Tessarin, the company develops commercially driven feature films and premium vertical content for international audiences. The project was financed through Starmist’s Pegasus Fund, with Clare and Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe joining the production as executive producers after the shoot.
Scheduled for release ahead of Halloween, City of Masks taps into growing audience demand for gothic romance and psychological thrillers set against London’s iconic theatrical backdrop. The film is an original independent production and is not affiliated with any existing stage or screen adaptations.
Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, Head of Global Theatrical Distribution at BUFF Studios and executive producer on the film, said:
“City of Masks is an ambitious British genre film blending gothic romance, psychological suspense and contemporary filmmaking. It represents exactly the kind of distinctive independent cinema that BUFF Studios is committed to championing, and we look forward to bringing it to audiences across the UK.”
Enrico Tessarin, producer and writer, added:
“City of Masks marks the beginning of Starmist Films’ ambition to create distinctive British stories with global appeal. We believe audiences continue to embrace bold, cinematic filmmaking across both theatrical exhibition and emerging platforms. Launching our debut feature with BUFF Studios is a significant milestone, and with our investment fund supporting an ambitious slate of feature films and international co-productions, this is just the beginning.”
Further details of the UK theatrical release will be announced in due course.
Photo source: Nicoli Vizioli