Alicia Vikander, James McAvoy star in romantic thriller.

This year’s San Sebastian Festival (Sept 22-30) will open with the European premiere of Wim Wenders’ Alicia Vikander and James McAvoy-starring Submergence.

The Germany-France-Spain co-production will travel to the Spanish festival, where it will compete for the event’s top prize the Golden Shell, after its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Submergence is a romantic thriller adapted by Erin Dignam from the novel of the same name by JM Ledgard. It tells the story of James More (McAvoy), a water engineer who is taken hostage in Somalia by Jihadist fighters who suspect that he is a British spy. Danielle ‘Danny’ Flinders (Vikander) is a bio-mathematician working on a deep sea diving project to support her theory of the origin of life on the planet.

UK outfit Embankment Films is handling international sales. eOne will distribute in Spain.

Submergence is a romantic thriller adapted by Erin Dignam from the novel of the same name by JM Ledgard.

Separately, San Sebastian revealed its New Director line-up last month.