Antti-Jussi Annila , the Finnish director behind “Codename: Annika” and the political drama series “Peacemaker,” is set to helm “ Sands of Sarasvati ,” a Finland-U.K. co-production eco-thriller adapted from Risto Isomäki’s best-selling novel. The screenplay is co-written by Annila and Rachelle Atalla, a Scottish-Egyptian novelist and screenwriter. Isomäki’s source novel won the Tähtivaeltaja Award and received a nomination for the Finlandia Prize. The film is produced by Kai Nordberg and Kaarle Aho of Helsinki-based Making Movies alongside Scotland-based Indian producer Rakasree Basu, who co-produces under her Glasgow-based banner Momentum Films. Basu’s previous producing credits include “Iqbal and the Jewel of India.” Development has received backing from the Finnish Film Foundation, with additional support from Screen Scotland. Popular on Variety Set against a worsening environmental crisis, the film is conceived as a character-driven narrative charting the human and geopolitical fallout of climate change.…