EXCLUSIVE: The distributor has acquired all rights in the US and Canada to John Huddles’ sci-fi thriller starring James Darcy. Bankside Films handles international sales on the Croisette.

The Philosophers centres on a philosophy teacher at an international school in Jakarta who challenges his graduate class of 20 to elect which 10 they would send into an underground shelter in the event of a nuclear apocalypse.

Sophie Lowe, Daryl Sabara, Freddie Stroma, Rhys Wakefield and Bonnie Wright star.

Cybill Lui and George Zakk produced and Indonesia’s SCTV financed the thriller.

Phase 4’s Larry Greenberg and Katharyn Howe negotiated with Paradigm on behalf of the filmmakers. The distributor plans a theatrical and VoD release later this year.