She skyrocketed to instant cinematic prominence with her feature debut, the goth musical about hungry mermaids The Lure (read ★★★ review) in 2016 (a Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition pick that also earned the Special Jury Award for Unique Vision and Design), Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Smoczyńska was then feted in two different Cannes sections with Cannes Critics’ Week 2018 selected Fugue (read ★★★★ review) and 2022’s The Silent Twins (an Un Certain Regard selection). Once again teaming with Focus Features on her second English language feature, her fourth outing might be her most ambitious yet. On her one film per four years pace, she now moves into sci-fi thriller realm. Here is Everything We Know So Far … about Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s Hot Spot.
The project first appeared on the industry radar back in 2024 with pre-sales being launched. Several distributors climbed on board (including a Focus Features deal with several territories in play), production took place in Poland and in Greece in late 2024.
Based on an original script by Robert Bolesto (The Lure), set in the dystopian future, when the world is ruled by a global AI system, which keeps everybody in check. When a detective is summoned to investigate a ritual murder that occurred at a refugee camp he encounters a woman who is a witch that has the ability to hack the ruling system of control. But the more he gets involved in this relationship, the more he endangers his loved ones.
Noomi Rapace, Reika Kirishima (Drive My Car) and Andrzej Konopka.
Re-teaming with Cinematographer Jakub Kijowski who joins Smoczyńska for a fourth time out here (or a fifth time if we factor in her item in the anthology horror film The Field Guide to Evil) and Costume Designer Katarzyna Lewinska, this is produced by Madants’ Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska and Bogna Szewczyk-Skupień and executive produced by Gregory Jankilevitsch, Marcin Czernik, and Christos V. Konstantakopoulos. Co-producers are 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.
Production would have wrapped in late 2024 – so we’re looking at a definite world premiere showcase in 2026. Perhaps a premium slot at the Berlinale?
