Jessica Rothe SXSW Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Imposters’ Sells to Brainstorm Media for U.S., Racks Up International Deals Ahead of AFM (EXCLUSIVE)

“Imposters,” the SXSW 2026 sci-fi thriller from first-time feature director Caleb Phillips, has landed U.S. distribution with Brainstorm Media, which plans to open the film theatrically in early 2027.

Jessica Rothe (“River”), Barnett (“Russian Doll”) and Vazquez (“Severance”) lead the cast. Phillips also wrote the screenplay. His short “Other Side of the Box” won awards at SXSW and BiFan.

In the film, a couple’s baby boy is abducted and his frantic mother finds a way to get him back. Her husband, though, starts to suspect that whatever she brought home is not their child.

The U.S. pact is one of a batch of deals that U.K. sales and distribution company Blue Finch Films closed on the title in the run-up to the American Film Market.

Vortex has taken Canada, with Umbrella Entertainment buying Australia and New Zealand. In Europe, the film has gone to Tiberius for Germany, VOD Factory for France, A Contracorriente Films for Spain, Vendetta Filmes for Portugal, Plaion for Italy and PremiereTV for Benelux. Red Castle Group has the CIS territories and Media4Fun has Poland.

Further afield, Particular Crowd bought Latin America, Falcon Films took the Middle East and North Africa and BookMyShow acquired India. Penny Black has airline rights. Blue Finch will handle the release in the U.K. and Ireland itself.

Thomas Bond and Sara Seligman produced “Imposters” as their first feature for Broken Pig Productions. Joe Bandelli of Marylous’ Boys, whose credits include the “Hell House LLC” franchise, also produced.

Since its Austin bow, the film has traveled to Beyond Fest, Chicago, BiFan, the Edinburgh Film Festival and Sitges, among other stops.

Founded in 1995, Brainstorm is an independent distributor that pairs theatrical releases with campaigns aimed at specific audiences. Its recent slate includes Rothe-starrer sci-fi horror “Affection,” Melanie Lynskey legal drama “Pike River” and Marisa Tomei romcom “You’re Dating a Narcissist.” The company has also released Lili Reinhart tech thriller “American Sweatshop,” dark comedy “Psycho Therapy,” with Steve Buscemi, Britt Lower and John Magaro, and Edie Falco vehicle “I’ll Be Right There.”

Blue Finch’s international lineup also features Tribeca horror selection “Recluse,” “Kick On,” a pick for Toronto’s Midnight Madness section, and George MacKay starrer “Mission,” which has BBC Film backing.