‘Sanctuary’ Is Serbia’s New Sci-Fi Gamble, with a ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Star Leading the Cast

Serbia is getting ready to make a bigger name for itself in the world of science fiction. The country’s latest genre movie, ‘Sanctuary,’ has just landed U.S. distribution, giving the Serbian production a chance to reach a much wider audience.

Vertical has picked up the U.S. distribution rights to the English-language post-apocalyptic thriller. There is no U.S. release date yet, but the deal is already a major step for a movie that was developed and produced largely through Serbian talent and financing. It also gives the film a recognizable face for international viewers in Nina Kiri, who many fans will know from ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’

Kiri leads the cast as the story takes place on a future Earth that has been badly damaged by the collapse of civilization. The world is no longer the one we know, and small communities are trying to survive among the ruins. Things change when a woman who has been kept in cryogenic sleep is discovered.

Her arrival quickly becomes much more than a strange discovery. She and a young warrior set out toward a lost city, hoping to uncover answers about what happened to the world and whether humanity still has a chance to rebuild. That setup gives ‘Sanctuary’ a mix of survival drama, mystery and sci-fi adventure.

Director Filip Kovačević is behind the project. He previously directed the 2016 action movie ‘Incarnation,’ and he has described ‘Sanctuary’ as something different from the usual dystopian stories. Speaking to Variety, Kovačević called it “a fresh take on dystopian sci-fi, with an original story that takes place in a distinct ‘semi-far future.’”

The director also explained why the movie does not take place in an extremely distant future. “The time is near enough so the events that led to the collapse of civilization are still relevant, but far enough that they have been shrouded in mystery and myth,” Kovačević told Variety. He added that the goal was “to make an entertaining genre film that explores the cyclical nature of history and the individual’s role inside it.”

Kiri is joined by Dutch actor Jonas Smulders, who has appeared in ‘Luka’ and ‘Paradise Drifters.’ Serbian actor Darko Perić is also part of the cast, giving the movie another familiar name for international audiences after his role as Helsinki in Netflix’s ‘Money Heist.’

The movie is also an important project for the Serbian team behind it. ‘Sanctuary’ was produced by Đorđe Stanković, Kovačević and Vukota Antunović through Belgrade-based Void Pictures, working with TS Media, the production arm of Telekom Srbija. The production brought together Serbian filmmakers and crew members with actors from different countries, giving the movie an international feel while keeping its Serbian roots.

That international goal is not accidental. Aleksandra Martinović, Telekom Srbija’s chief multimedia and content officer, has described ‘Sanctuary’ as the company’s biggest gamble so far. The project represents a serious creative and financial risk as Serbia continues trying to establish itself as a stronger production center for the Balkan region.

The movie’s international sales are being handled by Sublimity, which has already reached deals in several markets. The U.S. agreement with Vertical is another important piece of that expansion and could help ‘Sanctuary’ find an audience far beyond Serbia.

For Kiri, the movie is another chance to step into a genre role after her work on ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and other projects. For Serbia’s growing film industry, however, the stakes may be even higher. A successful U.S. release could show that Serbian-made science fiction can compete for attention on the international stage.

There is still plenty we do not know about ‘Sanctuary,’ including exactly when American audiences will get to see it. But with its post-apocalyptic setting, international cast and mystery at the center of the story, the film already has an interesting hook. Now that Vertical has brought it into the U.S. market, this Serbian sci-fi project is one worth keeping an eye on.