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About The Department

The Department of Special Projects is a South African film development and production company that specialises in auteur-driven genre films.

We combine local talent with a worldwide network of marketplace decision-makers to create films that excel both commercially and artistically.

The Department is led by award-winning producer, James C. Williamson, who founded the company after almost a decade of working for major international studios. Williamson’s experience in marketing and publicity on major studio pictures gives the Department a competitive edge that ensures each project captures the right audience.

With the celebrated cult hit FRIED BARRY (2020) being picked up as a SHUDDER ORIGINAL and several more films well underway, the Department is carving out a formidable reputation in the genre film community.

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NOW AVAILABLE ON SHUDDER

Fried Barry

A shudder original

FRIED BARRY is the South African cult smash hit that has enamored fans and critics alike. Winning 22 awards at festivals around the world – including 5 “Best Film” awards and 4 “Best Lead Actor” awards – FRIED BARRY is one of the most talked about movies of the year, having played at Fantasia, Sitges, Torino, Kyiv Molodist and many more.

Earning a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and rated as one of the top horror films of the year by 7 leading genre film publications, FRIED BARRY has been a hit with critics and fans alike. The FRIED BARRY fanbase is nothing short of explosive, with hundreds of examples of fan art based on the compelling main character and one diehard fan even getting a FRIED BARRY tattoo.

In pre-production

The Trek

THE TREK is a horror/western that follows an Afrikaans family and their British travel companion as they make the perilous journey across the Kalahari Desert in the late 1800s. Unbeknown to them, the land is guarded by two malevolent spirits who place a wager on their lives. Assisted by a mysterious Khoisan stranger, the group is preyed upon by the harsh desert, beset by hunger and desperation while being stalked by a terrifying, invisible enemy.

Directed by Meekaaeel Adam
Written by Hannah Massyn, James C. Williamson and Sandulela Asanda

In financing

Street Trash

Coming Soon

Exo Sapien

EXO SAPIEN is a high-concept sci-fi short that follows the story of CASS (Liza Claire Scholtz) – the sole survivor of a crashed ship –  as she
learns her true identity in a strange and hostile alternate version of Earth.

Devoid of any memory, her only clue is the mysterious device she carries with her that is constantly counting down towards an unknown climax. Pursued by a group of brutal scavengers and hunted by a terrifying, amorphous entity, Cass must unravel the mysteries of the world before it’s too late.

The world of EXO SAPIEN is rich and expansive with plenty of compelling story threads set up by the short. Plans are currently underway to develop this story into a full-length feature.

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