Antti-Jussi Annila, the Finnish director behind “Codename: Annika” and the political drama series “Peacemaker,” is set to helm “Sands of Sarasvati,” a Finland-U.K. co-production eco-thriller adapted from Risto Isomäki’s best-selling novel.
The screenplay is co-written by Annila and Rachelle Atalla, a Scottish-Egyptian novelist and screenwriter. Isomäki’s source novel won the Tähtivaeltaja Award and received a nomination for the Finlandia Prize.
The film is produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho of Helsinki-based Making Movies alongside Scotland-based Indian producer Rakasree Basu, who co-produces under her Glasgow-based banner Momentum Films. Basu’s previous producing credits include “Iqbal and the Jewel of India.” Development has received backing from the Finnish Film Foundation, with additional support from Screen Scotland.
Set against a worsening environmental crisis, the film is conceived as a character-driven narrative charting the human and geopolitical fallout of climate change. Production is planned to span the Nordic countries, Scotland and India.
“Reading ‘The Sands of Sarasvati’ made me think how it feels to be late,” Annila said. “To make an ecological thriller where we’re are all running against the clock, as individuals and communities to save the planet, and being late is not an option. The book is not science fiction, but a real possibility of the outcome of the global warming and our indifference towards scientific facts. I want to bring the same feeling to the film — real and grounded. That goes for the tension, the action, the characters, all of it. Truth is more horrifying than fiction in this ecological thriller that feels more current now than ever.”
Annila’s previous features include “Jade Warrior” and “Sauna,” which both bowed at the Toronto Film Festival, and 2017’s ”The Eternal Road,” which took home six Jussi Awards. His SkyShowtime crime drama “Codename: Annika” currently airs on Channel 4 in the U.K.
“Sands of Sarasvati” arrives as Making Movies marks its 30th year. Co-founded by Nordberg and Aho, the Helsinki banner has produced more than 120 titles across features and documentaries, among them Klaus Härö’s Academy Award-shortlisted “The Fencer” and “One Last Deal,” “Heavy Trip” and “Little Wing,” winner of the Nordic Council Film Prize. The company’s most recent release, “My Sailor My Love,” a Finnish-Irish co-production, had its world premiere at Toronto.
“After 30 years in global film business, we are ready to take up the challenge for this larger-scale international production shooting and producing partly in India,” Nordberg said. “The project hopefully opens us a whole new market in the Indian subcontinent. With the director A.J. Annila we are very enthusiastic of bringing this story to movie screens worldwide.”
Through Momentum Films, Basu has focused on forging international co-production partnerships that link Scotland with the wider screen industry through cross-cultural projects.
The project was unveiled at the Cannes Film Market.
