BUFF Studios has acquired UK and Ireland theatrical rights to British
romantic thriller City of Masks, the debut feature from UK production
company Starmist Films, ahead of its Halloween 2026 release.
Directed by Andrea M. Catinella (Piglet) and written by Enrico
Tessarin (The Habit of Beauty), City of Masks is a contemporary
reimagining inspired by Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera,
placing an enigmatic female composer at the heart of the story.
Set inside a haunted London theatre, City of Masks follows a brilliant
composer hiding behind a mask who orchestrates the rise of an
ambitious young actor. As an obsessive theatre director fights to keep
the past buried, love, jealousy and betrayal threaten to expose the
theatre’s darkest secret.
The film stars Amanda Jiang as the enigmatic Eve, alongside Charlie
Goddard (Barbie) as ambitious actor Christian, Deano Bugatti Mitchison
(EastEnders) as formidable theatre director Victor, Kay Boggett
(Tapped) as Christian’s mother Julie, Madalina Bellariu Ion (The Young
Pope) as detective Maya, and Charlotte Jackson Coleman (Silent
Witness) as stage manager Helen.
Produced by Enrico Tessarin, Amanda Jiang, Andrea M. Catinella, Carla
Fuschillo and Arnaldo Stafa, City of Masks is the first production
backed by Starmist’s Pegasus Fund.
Founded by Jiang and Tessarin, Starmist Films develops commercially
driven feature films and premium vertical content for international
audiences. Clare and Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe joined the project as
executive producers following principal photography.
Developed as both a feature film and a premium vertical series, City
of Masks reflects Starmist Films’ strategy of creating projects
designed for theatrical audiences and emerging digital platforms.
Scheduled for release ahead of Halloween, City of Masks blends gothic
romance, psychological suspense and London’s iconic theatrical
setting. The film is an original independent production and is not
affiliated with any existing stage or screen adaptation.
Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, Head of Global Theatrical Distribution at BUFF
Studios and executive producer on the film, said:
“City of Masks is a bold British gothic thriller that blends romance,
psychological suspense and striking visual ambition. It’s exactly the
kind of distinctive independent film BUFF Studios is proud to
champion, and we’re excited to bring it to audiences across the UK and
Ireland.”
Enrico Tessarin, producer and writer, added:
“City of Masks marks the beginning of Starmist Films’ ambition to
create distinctive British films with global appeal. Audiences
continue to embrace bold, cinematic filmmaking across both theatrical
exhibition and emerging platforms. Launching our debut feature with
BUFF Studios is a significant milestone, and we’re excited about what
comes next.”
City of Masks opens in UK cinemas on Friday 30 October 2026, following
its world premiere at Vue Piccadilly, London, on Thursday 29 October
2026.