Italian state-funded distributor Istituto Luce has acquired local rights to Pepe Danquart's English-language thriller Semana Santa, starring Mira Sorvino and Olivier Martinez, which is currently shooting in Seville.

UGC International is handling sales on the $5m film about a female US police detective who becomes involved in a double murder case during Holy Week celebrations. Roy Mitchell wrote the script, an adaptation of David Hewson's novel.

The UK's Wandering Star and Germany's Schlemmer are producing with Italy's Poetiche Cinematografiche, France's Septieme and Spain's La Fiera Corrupia and Zebra Producciones co-producing. Lead producers are Wandering Star's Paul Berrow and Schlemmer's Christoph Meyer-Wiel.