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Searchlight Sets Christmas 70mm Launch for The Testament of Ann Lee

Searchlight is positioning Mona Fastvold’s Amanda Seyfried–led musical as an awards contender following Venice and TIFF acclaim.

Overview

  • The film will open in limited U.S. theaters on December 25, 2025, with select screenings presented in 70mm.
  • Searchlight recently acquired distribution for North America and most international territories.
  • Amanda Seyfried stars as Shaker leader Ann Lee in a project written and directed by Mona Fastvold, who co-wrote and produced with Brady Corbet.
  • The release timing qualifies the film for the 2026 Academy Awards after strong festival buzz, including Venice and Toronto premieres and a reported 91% early Rotten Tomatoes score.
  • Industry reports place the production budget at roughly $10–11 million with an acquisition price in the mid-to-high seven figures, and the musical features choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall with a score by Daniel Blumberg.