EXCLUSIVE: WTFilms has unveiled first sales and a first clip for French director Marion Le Corroller’s body horror thriller Species ahead of its premiere in Cannes Midnight Screenings this week.

In Europe, the film has sold to Spain to Barcelona-based indie distributors ADSO and Twelve Oaks Pictures, the latter of which recently also acquired Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day, as well as Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Scandinavia (Njuta Fillms), German-speaking Europe (Lighthouse) and CIS (Magic). ARP Selection pre-bought the film for France.

In the rest of the world, it has been acquired for Latin America (Cine Video Y TV), Thailand (Movie Copyright), Turkey (Mars), Vietnam and Cambodia (Mockingbird), India (Impact) and the Philippines (888).

Mara Taquin stars as aspiring doctor Margot, who is interning at the most competitive ER in the country, where she struggles to keep up with the high-pressure environment.  Suddenly young multiple patients of her age start to arrive with strange symptoms, just as she starts developing a strange metamorphosis herself. Karin Viard, Kim Higelin and Sami Outalbali also feature in the cast.

Speaking to Deadline ahead of the premiere, Le Corroller explains inspiration for the film came not from any experience of working in a hospital, but rather in the world of finance.

“It was far worse. I never managed to adapt myself to this work environment and that was my main inspiration for the film,” she says. “I wanted to tell a story about bodies forced to change, to evolve and adapt to a very toxic and demanding workplace.”

Le Corroller follows in the footsteps of female French body horror genre directors Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) and Julie Ducournau (Raw, Titane).

“They are both very inspiring women. I think French female directors are very politically engaged. Talking about bodies and offering a new way to look at them is a game changer. It’s very important, that us, women, take this responsibility,” she says.

“Aside from Julia and Coralie, my master in cinema is Ari Aster. To me he is the new king of horror of this century. Beau is Afraid is a masterpiece and inspires me every day.”

The film is produced by Windy Production and Trésor Films. WTFilms is continuing to consolidate sales in Cannes.