Concourse Takes Taylor Cohen's EDM Thriller 'Strobe' to AFM

Concourse Media has boarded international sales on "Strobe," a psychological thriller from first-time feature director Taylor Cohen, and will introduce it to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market in Los Angeles.

The cast stacks up like a festival lineup. Suzanna Son ("Red Rocket," "Monster: The Ed Gein Story"), Chace Crawford ("The Boys," "Gossip Girl"), Rohan Campbell ("The Monkey"), Laura Harrier ("Spider-Man: Homecoming"), Mena Suvari ("American Beauty") and Grace Van Dien ("Stranger Things") all star. CAA is handling domestic rights.

Who is Taylor Cohen?

Cohen wrote and directed the film, his feature debut after an established career directing music videos for major recording artists including Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion and Conan Gray. That résumé matters here: "Strobe" is set in the underground electronic dance music scene, which gives a video director plenty of room to work.

The plot follows a high school senior consumed by an obsessive quest to track down a mysterious, elusive EDM artist. Per the synopsis, her search pulls her deeper into a seductive world of music, nightlife and obsession, where appearances are deceptive and the pursuit of truth threatens to consume her. The film blends psychological suspense with the hypnotic energy of electronic music culture, exploring the darker side of obsession, identity and the intoxicating allure of fame.

What is Concourse saying about it?

"Strobe is exactly the kind of bold, visually distinctive thriller we love bringing to the international marketplace," said Jack Sheehan, president of sales at Concourse Media. "With a new generation of filmmakers redefining genre cinema and drawing younger audiences back to theaters, Strobe taps into that momentum with a visceral cinematic experience."

The producers — Tara Razavi of Happy Place, Nate Matteson and Hiro Murai via Super Frog — share credits on the acclaimed television series "Atlanta," "The Bear" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." Happy Place financed the production alongside executive producer Clayton Moore, and "Strobe" marks the company's first feature film.

"Strobe is not only a passion project for its filmmaking team, but also a resonant story about fame, power, and hidden dangers that only continues to deepen in cultural relevance," the producers said in a statement. "So many incredibly talented people came together to make this film and we're thrilled that Concourse has come on to help steward Taylor's vision in finding its audience."

Where does it sit on the slate?

"Strobe" joins a Concourse lineup that includes "Parish," starring Nicolas Cage, Dane Dehaan and Alexandra Shipp, which wrapped production in Minnesota this week, and "Vision Board," starring Lucy Hale, currently in pre-production.

AFM in Los Angeles will be the first test: buyers get a look at a debut director with a recognizable cast and a subject — fame, obsession, EDM nightlife — that sells itself on a poster. Whether Cohen's music-video polish translates to feature suspense is the question the market will now price in.