Johnny Knoxville and Jason Flemyng Star in New Serbian Thrillers

Johnny Knoxville and Jason Flemyng are set to star in two new thrillers produced by Vienna-based Pont Pictures, with filming scheduled to take place in Serbia. Knoxville leads the psychological thriller “Night Sessions,” while Flemyng stars in the time-loop thriller “Fractal.” Both films are adaptations of scripts that have garnered attention for their unique narratives.

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“Night Sessions,” directed by Austrian filmmaker Gregor Schmidinger, features Knoxville as Dr. Rick Brennan, a psychiatrist living in Berlin who hosts a late-night radio show. The plot revolves around a mysterious caller who accuses him of a grave crime, leading to a tense psychological confrontation. Philipp Mair Vargas of Pont Pictures describes the script as one of the best he has encountered, emphasizing its potential as an “actor’s showcase” for Knoxville. The film will be primarily shot in a radio station in Belgrade, showcasing the city’s brutalist architecture.

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In “Fractal,” Flemyng portrays Tom, an abusive husband whose wife, Emily, played by Gabriela Garcia Vargas, conspires with her ex-boyfriend to murder him. However, their plan spirals into chaos as they find themselves trapped in a time loop, facing the consequences of their actions.

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Initially, Mair Vargas intended to film both “Night Sessions” and “Fractal” in Austria. However, budget cuts to the Austrian Film Institute’s ÖFI Plus funding initiative prompted a shift to Serbia, which offers a 25% tax rebate on local production expenditures. Mair Vargas noted that without the ÖFI Plus support, filming in Austria had become too risky, despite the availability of other funding options like the FISA Plus incentive.

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Pont Pictures is also developing “Tunnel Vision,” a supernatural thriller that explores themes of grief and trauma through the lens of a family trapped in a nightmarish scenario. The production team is currently assessing filming locations, with Austria still being the preferred choice, although the feasibility remains uncertain due to funding challenges.

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Another project in the pipeline is “Amygdalla,” an elevated horror film co-directed by Adriana Mrnjavac and Nicole Stigler. This project is also undergoing revisions in light of the funding cuts but is expected to shoot in Austria.

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Philipp Mair Vargas expressed optimism about the new filming locations in Serbia, stating, “We found a nice location in Belgrade that has a view of the brutalist architecture and the brutalist nature of the city — it’s fantastic, a perfect fit.” He also highlighted the challenges posed by the funding cuts, indicating that the shift to Serbia was a strategic decision to ensure the viability of the projects.

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While the decision to move production to Serbia has logistical advantages, it has drawn criticism regarding the impact of funding cuts on the Austrian film industry. Critics argue that the loss of the ÖFI Plus initiative could hinder the growth of local talent and production capabilities in Austria.

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• “It’s such a great, metaphorical piece of art.” — Philipp Mair Vargas, Pont Pictures

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• “The movie is 90% inside the radio station,” — Philipp Mair Vargas, Pont Pictures

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This shift in production strategy highlights the evolving landscape of film financing and location selection in Europe, particularly in response to economic pressures.

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