EXCLUSIVE: Kai Barry’s thriller, starring James Floyd [pictured], starts shooting in Serbia this week.

Content’s sales team has introduced another title to EFM buyers and has been talking up the espionage thriller Newcomer.

Srdjan Stakic will produce in association with Dominion Pictures and Emote Productions, while Brian Kavanaugh-Jones serves as executive producer with Greg Chou, Taylor Hart, Carl Moellenberg, Brandon Powers and Bobby Sain.

Director Kai Barry will start shooting in Serbia this week (Feb 12) on the story of a rookie on a botched special ops mission in Belgrade who is interrogated by his own agency and battles to prove his innocence.

James Floyd from My Brother The Devil will star alongside Noémie Merlant, Predrag Ejdus and Anthony LaPaglia. ICM Partners represents US rights.

“Kai, Brian and Srdjan have created a really compelling world of intrigue and action and we believe this could be the launch of an enduring character,” said Content’s Jamie Carmichael. “We can’t wait to show footage of the film to our buyers at Cannes.”

“Our writer-director, Kai Barry’s storytelling style of documentary-like realism and emotional immediacy will have Newcomer raising the bar in the spy thriller genre,” said Stakic. “I know we are in great hands with Content and I’m excited to start shooting.”

Content’s EFM slate comprises Dan Bush’s supernatural thriller The Trust, Caradog James’ psychological horror Don¹t Knock Twice and Steve McQueen documentary The Man & Le Mans.