Focus Features has picked up the sci-fi thriller Hot Spot from director Agnieszka Smoczyńska.
The film, which stars Noomi Rapace, Andrzej Konopka and Reika Kirishima, wrapped production last week in Greece. Focus is reuniting with Smoczyńska after releasing her first English-language feature Silent Twins, which starred Black Panther breakout Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance.
“Agnieszka is a singular visionary whose work — be it about vampire mermaids, silent twins or a tech-ruled society — is both visually astounding and thematically prophetic, and we can’t wait to share her latest with the world,” Kiska Higgs, president of production and acquisitions at Focus, said in a statement.
The U.S. studio picked up all territories worldwide, except for Poland, Greece and France, for Hot Spot, which is based on script by Robert Bolesto. The indie is set in a near future society ruled by sentient artificial intelligence and has a private eye investigate a murder case only to discover a rebel group capable of undermining the digital overlord.
“I’m honored to work with Focus Features. Their remarkable achievements in film are matched only by their unwavering respect and support for directors. With Hot Spot, my goal is to create an immersive cinematic experience that captures the essence of today’s world, where advanced technology feels like magic, and love is intricately tied to fear,” Smoczyńska added in her own statement.
The film is produced by Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Smoczyńska’s longtime producing partner who also worked on Silent Twins, and Bogna Szewczyk-Skupień for the Polish production company Madants. Co-producers include Neda Film’s Amanda Livanou, Film i Väst’s Kristina Börjeson, Zentropa’s Lizette Jonjic, Beata Ryczkowska and Filip Bałdyga for Canal+ Polska, and Adam Gudell from Moderator Inwestycje.
Gregory Jankilevitsch, Marcin Czernik and Christos V. Konstantakopulos share the executive producer credits. Focus’sMichelle Momplaisir is overseeing the project for the studio.
The distribution deal was negotiated by Iddo Arad, Focus senior vp business affairs, and Przybecki & Partners for the producers. Smoczyńska is represented by UTA, Black Bear and High Spot. Konopka is represented by Cont-act.
Rapace is represented by CAA and Stella Hernström, and her deal was negotiated by Kurt Selling. Kirishima is represented by Nest Co.
