EXCLUSIVE: Vorteks, the genre label of Dubai-based sales agency Cercamon, has picked up worldwide rights to Michele Fiascaris’ psychological thriller Rain Catcher, starring UK actor Dudley O’Shaughnessy in his first leading feature film role, for a Cannes sales launch.

The work, which is in post-production, extends Fiascaris’ Silver Méliès-winning short of the same name, which premiered at the Sitges Film Festival. It went on to be distributed by HBO Europe, and is currently available on Disney+ in Europe.

During development, the feature was a finalist for the Netflix + Creative UK Breakout program and won the NAFF Award at the Sitges FanPitch in 2022.

Against the backdrop of a rainy, nocturnal London, O’Shaughnessy reprises his role as photographer Miles who obsessively captures unforgiving, morbid portraits of unaware strangers. When he’s not selling them, he shares them anonymously online under the moniker of “Rain Catcher.”

But soon he notices something unsettling in his photos: a mysterious woman watching him and photographing him—turning the lens back on Miles. As her gaze closes in, his world fractures—his work is sabotaged, his name defamed, his loved ones endangered. Consumed by paranoia, he spirals into a dark, delirious obsession to uncover the truth behind her motives.

Polesel produces for Yellow Pill Films alongside Julien Loeffler and James Kermack for Featuristic Films. Henrik Källsson from Yellow Pill serves as executive producer, alongside Keith Kehoe, David Gendron and Ali Jazayeri for TPC. Associate producer Alba Moyano o co-created the story.

“We are an international filmmaking team that came together and made a British film,” commented co-writer and producer Filippo Polesel.

“We come from all over Europe, but London is our home and we always felt that our multiple perspectives would deliver a film that has universal appeal. It is a story inspired by, as well as an homage to London and now, with our dedicated partners at Vorteks, we are ready to share our passion project with global viewers.”

O’Shaughnessy, whose recent credits include Netflix shows Top Boy and Mary, Mother of Jesus, first brokeout through his appearance opposite Rihanna in the video for ‘We Found Love’, which drew 1.1 billion views on YouTube.

He is joined in the cast by Jessie Mei Li (Shadow and Bone, Havoc), Iris Law (Pistol), two-time BAFTA Scotland winner Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones),Youssef Kerkour (Napoleon) and Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo).

“We’re excited to have such a unique and visually stunning film like Rain Catcher as part of our line-up,” commented David Kwok, Partner, Acquisitions & Sales at Vorteks. “I’m confident that audiences around the globe will discover an exciting new filmmaker voice with Michele. The stellar creative team and cast have built a cinematic world that will give audiences a mysterious and thrilling experience.”

Vorteks’ Cannes slate includes the previously announced SXSW hit Grind from Brea Grant and Ed Dougherty, Joan Chen-starring Taiwanese thriller The Evil Inside from Lingo Hsieh in post-production, and Canadian psychological horror Ancestral Beasts from Tim Riedel, recently announced to world premiere at the upcoming Fantasia International Film Festival, also in post-production.

Additionally, Cercamon’s Cannes slate will present Croatian drama Petty Thieves from Mate Ugrin, currently in post-production, and will continue sales on Chinese Berlinale Perspectives animation ‘Light Pillar’ from Xu Zao, as well as Sundance World Dramatic Cinema Audience Award-winner Hold Onto Me from Myrsini Aristidou.