The 2025 Sundance Film Festival has begun, and it’s slated to have some prestigious premieres, especially for the production company and distributor A24. Along with the premieres of movies likeOpusandIf I Had Legs I’d Kick You, the fantasy adventure filmThe Legend of Ochiis set to have its world premiere at the festival.However, according to a new report from Deadline, the movie’s wide release date has shifted. Initially slated for release on February 28, TheLegend of Ochiwill now be released on July 06, 2025.
The decision to move the film comes after director Isaiah Saxon’s personal tragedy, the loss of his home in the devastating 2025 Southern California wildfires. The official synopsis forThe Legend of Ochireads as follows:
“A young girl (Helena Zengel) learns never to go outside after dark because of reclusive forest creatures known as the Ochi. However, when a baby Ochi is left behind by its pack, she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to reunite it with its family.”
The Legend of Ochiis the feature film directorial debut of Saxon, who is also co-founder of the animation studio Encyclopedia Pictura, which has helped produce animation for a number of short films and music videos for artists such as Björk and Panda Bear, with unique visual storytelling and intricate animations. Saxon’s creative growth within the industry, from music videos to short films and now a feature film, makesthe tragedy that befell his homethat much more tragic.
‘The Legend of Ochi’ Will Be Worth the Wait
The Southern California Wildfires have left countless people without homes, and Saxon has taken to social media to express his sadness over the situation, with tweets onX/Twitter from earlier in January saying,“We lost our home, our whole street, most of our town. Ashes to ashes dust to dust. Altadena was the best place I’ve ever lived. An innocent and magical and, above all else, beautiful town. From another time. And its all gone.”It’s clear that the director is struggling with the loss of his home, which makes the delay of the film’s wide release understandable.
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Reports from various entertainment outlets indicate that Saxon will still be in attendance for the Sundance Film Festival premiere, allowing him to still show his work to those at the Festival before taking time to process and navigate this difficult moment in the director’s life. A24’s willingness and compassion to allow for the film’s delay is commendable and is another example of how various figures and companies in the entertainment industry have come together in the face of tragedy.
Judging by just the first trailer alone,The Legend of Ochiis more than worth the wait. The film’s innovative approach to the special effects of the fantasy film is impressive. Saxon described the film as"six years of handmade work: puppets, animatronics, matte paintings, and a bit of 3D animation.“Featuring an impressive cast that includesWillem DafoeandFinn Wolfhard, there is plenty to look forward to once the movie hits theaters after its understandable delay.
The Legend of Ochi
