Melbourne writer-director Adrian Chiarella has signed with talent agency Anonymous Content, fending off interest from several other companies, following the acclaimed Sundance debut of his feature "Leviticus." The queer horror film follows two teenage boys whose romance turns fatal after a violent conversion therapy ritual, with each subsequently haunted by a malevolent presence taking the shape of the other. The signing reflects growing industry attention on Chiarella after his film's strong critical reception and a notable distribution deal.

Causeway Films produced "Leviticus," which Neon acquired in a seven-figure deal after its Sundance premiere; it went on to screen at SXSW and in Sydney ahead of a theatrical release. The cast includes Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt and Ewen Leslie, and Variety's review praised the film as a "tightly conceived, gripping queer horror" blending scares with social commentary. Chiarella said he drew on the horror genre to explore a perceived regression in LGBTQIA+ rights and rising homophobic rhetoric in Australia, having previously worked on TV shows including "Totally Completely Fine," "Erotic Stories" and "Five Bedrooms"; he remains represented by WME.