‘Serena’: Arclight Boards A.I.-Centered Screenlife Thriller

Producers of the Screenlife thriller Serena have announced that Gary Hamilton, CEO of Arclight Films, has come on board to handle worldwide sales for the feature, Dread Central learned today.

This Screenlife genre thriller explores the real-world implications of artificial intelligence and human connection in an increasingly digital world. The film stars Andi Matichak (Halloween), Steven Strait (The Expanse), and Ashleigh Murray (Riverdale).

Serena, which recently celebrated its festival premieres at Cinequest Film Festival and the Miami Film Festival, now heads to Raindance, nominated in its new competition category – “Best Horror Feature”.

With Arclight’s attachment, Serena is poised for a strong international rollout, leveraging Arclight’s proven track record in launching commercially viable, high-concept independent films on the global stage.

“Gary, Ying, and the Arclight team bring an unparalleled understanding of the international marketplace,” said the Producers. “A.I. is a global phenomenon, and their ability to position elevated genre films with both commercial appeal and thematic relevance makes them the ideal partner as we introduce Serena to buyers worldwide.”

Hamilton added, “Serena is exactly the kind of forward-thinking genre film that resonates globally. It’s timely, accessible, and built around a compelling concept that speaks to audiences everywhere. We’re excited to bring it to Raindance and present it to our international partners.”

The film’s festival run has already generated early industry attention for its innovative Screenlife format, following in the footsteps of Unfriended and Searching, and its grounded take on AI’s evolving role in everyday life, particularly as it intersects with themes of loneliness, dependency, and unintended consequences.

Arclight Films will position Serena as a standout commercial-genre title with franchise potential and strong cross-market appeal.