Jackie Keast· IF magazine

·January 15, 2026

‘Saccharine’ (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Shudder.)

Natalie Erika James’ psychological horror Saccharine will head to the Berlin International Film Festival in February, following its world premiere at Sundance next week.

The film will make its European premiere in the Berlinale Special section as one of 19 features from 15 countries.

Saccharine is led by Midori Francis’ Hana, a lovelorn medical student who becomes terrorised by a hungry ghost after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes. Danielle Macdonald stars as Hana’s best friend, while Madeleine Madden plays a personal trainer and fitness influencer. The cast also includes Robert Taylor and Showko Showfukutei.

A Carver Films and Thrum Films production, the film was produced by Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw. Production took place last year at Docklands Studios Melbourne, as well as on location throughout the city.

Saccharine will make its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in the Midnight section on January 22, alongside Adrian Chiarella’s Leviticus and Tamra Davis’ My Best Summer (a co-pro between the US, Australia, Thailand and Indonesia).

“We’re super excited that Saccharine is going to have its European premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, after its world premiere at Sundance. We couldn’t wish for a better way to begin introducing it to audiences this year,” McLeish told IF.

Screen Australia and XYZ, in conjunction with IPR.VC, provided major production investment for Saccharine, with support also coming from Stan, in association with VicScreen through the Victorian Production Fund.

Maslow Entertainment will handle theatrical in ANZ, and the film will launch as a Stan Original Film on Stan. XYZ Films is handling world sales.

Berlin International Film Festival runs February 12-22.