Vertical Entertainment has secured U.S. distribution rights to “Sanctuary,” an English-language science fiction thriller produced in Serbia and starring Nina Kiri from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The film is directed by Filip Kovačević and features an international cast that also includes Dutch actor Jonas Smulders and Serbian performer Darko Perić from the popular series “Money Heist.”
The story unfolds on a post-apocalyptic Earth where the discovery of a woman preserved in cryogenic suspension triggers alarm among residents of a struggling settlement. A young warrior and the mysterious woman embark on a dangerous expedition to locate a legendary lost city, hoping to uncover knowledge that could help restore civilization. Director Kovačević describes the project as offering a fresh perspective on dystopian fiction, presenting a future timeline that is near enough for viewers to understand the causes of societal collapse yet distant enough for history to become obscured by legend and myth.
The production represents an ambitious undertaking for Serbian cinema, marking a significant expansion of TS Media’s portfolio under telecommunications company Telekom Srbija. Producers emphasize that the film was conceived from inception as a globally appealing project, combining experienced international performers with a skilled Serbian production team. The acquisition demonstrates how production companies from smaller European nations can approach large-scale genre filmmaking with international appeal from the project’s earliest stages.
Originally reported by Variety →
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