Cannes Market: Pluto Film Secures Sales for Pole-Dancing Drama ‘Exotic’ Featuring ‘Green Border’ and ‘Sweat’ Actresses

Pluto Film Acquires International Rights to "Exotic," Debut Feature by Sonja Orlewicz-Zakrzewska

Berlin-based sales company Pluto Film has secured international rights to "Exotic," the debut feature from Sonja Orlewicz-Zakrzewska. The film explores a woman’s transformative journey of self-discovery through the art of pole dancing.

The narrative centers on a writer whose endeavor to master pole dancing evolves into a deeper exploration of her identity, aided by the engaging community of dancers she encounters along the way.

Filmed at the Exo Stars Camp, a real-life workshop in Poland, "Exotic" was inspired by Orlewicz-Zakrzewska’s personal fascination with the pole dancing culture. "As soon as I discovered exotic pole dance, I got so invested that I went straight to Exo Stars Camp,” she shared. “I was fascinated by the clash of the fragile, intimate universes we carried within us around the camp. It soon became clear that the camp itself was a perfect place to confront fears, leave one’s comfort zone, and express oneself more than daily life ever allows.”

The film features a talented cast of Polish actors, including Jaśmina Polak, Magdalena Koleśnik, and Monika Frajczyk. Polak and Frajczyk previously starred together in Agnieszka Holland’s "Green Border," playing activist sisters aiding individuals in the treacherous areas between Poland and Belarus. Koleśnik has gained international recognition for her performance in Magnus von Horn’s "Sweat."

Daniela Cölle, managing director of Pluto Film, stated, “The writer’s journey through pole dancing becomes a beautiful metaphor for breaking free from self-imposed limitations and embracing unexpected paths to self-discovery. Based on Sonja’s personal story, this debut speaks about universal human themes like connection, reinvention, and belonging.”

"Exotic" is produced by Magdalena Sztorc of Mozaika Films, a Warsaw-based company whose upcoming projects include Anna Jadowska’s "Little Mary, Always a Virgin," supported by Eurimages. Sztorc described the film as “a bold, electrifying debut that plunges into a rarely seen subculture, tracing one woman’s fierce journey toward self-realization with wit, edge, and raw intimacy.”

With a cast of some of Poland’s finest young actors—including Polak, Bartosz Bielenia, Koleśnik, and Frajczyk—"Exotic" dares to offer a fresh perspective. Sztorc expressed confidence that, alongside Pluto Film, the film will connect with audiences at festivals and beyond.

Orlewicz-Zakrzewska, who holds a master’s degree in photography from the Łódź Film School’s Cinematography Department, has previously screened her short film "Cross’n’Carry" (2019) at various festivals, including New Horizons and HollyShorts. She has also participated in script training labs and workshops throughout Europe. Additionally, she has worked as a cinematographer on the documentary series "Enthusiasts" for Canal+, and her video art and photography have been featured in multiple exhibitions, including those at the Leica Gallery in Warsaw.