Indie Outfit Catalytic Films To Launch At AFM With Four-Feature Slate Including James Franco Title ‘Something’s In There’

EXCLUSIVE: Milena Rimassa will launch Catalytic Films, an independent production, financing, and sales company, at the 2026 American Film Market with a four-feature sales slate, including Something’s In There, starring James Franco.

Something’s In There was written and directed by Joel Harber. The film is described as a supernatural horror thriller. It also stars Peter Gold and Elsie Hewitt, with Raoul Max Trujillo (Apocalypto), Rob Moran, Paul Ben-Victor, Jayson Warner Smith (The Walking Dead), and Alexander Kane.

Synopsis reads: Aspiring filmmaker Billy Hobbs takes a night-watchman job at a film studio, where strange sights, sounds, and deaths blur the line between his favorite horror films and reality. He must uncover what is happening before becoming the next victim.

The other Catalytic Films titles are:

• Boundaries — Directed by Kirandeep Karnati, the uplifting ensemble drama follows predominantly South Asian women in suburban California who form a cricket team. Challenging cultural expectations and personal limitations, they discover friendship, independence, and solidarity through sport.
• Paper Flowers — Directed by Mahesh Pailoor (Brahmin Bulls) and produced by Asit Vyas (Zara Si Bhool), the inspirational drama follows USC graduate Shalin Shah, who leaves his Indian American family and Taiwanese American girlfriend to volunteer with the Peace Corps. A rare cancer diagnosis forces him home, where he finds new meaning in love, gratitude, and the time he has left. Kapil Talwalkar (Night Court), Olivia Liang (Kung Fu), Karan Soni (Deadpool), Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do!), Faran Tahir (Iron Man) and Meera Simhan (Four Samosas) star. The film earned recognition at Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Sedona, and Chandler film festivals. North American viewers can watch Paper Flowers on the Angel Studios streaming service. Catalytic Films is licensing the remaining worldwide rights.
• We Are Never Alone — Directed and scored by Michel Pascal and produced by Stephen Powers, the docudrama explores human connection, spirituality and music through stories of healing and hope, featuring Michael Beckwith, Gabriella Wright and Temple Hayes. Its honors include Gold awards from the International Gold Awards, New York Movie Awards and Milan Gold Awards.

Catalytic will also arrive at AFM with a “strategic alliance” with Unni Rav’s Visual Narrative Films (VNF). Under the alliance, Rimassa will serve as executive producer across VNF’s slate, while Catalytic will oversee global distribution and international sales for VNF’s productions.

“After decades working across international distribution, production and entertainment finance, I wanted to create a company that matches exceptional storytelling with the commercial expertise and relationships needed to reach audiences worldwide,” Rimassa said in a statement. “Our alliance with Visual Narrative Films brings that approach into development and production.”