Align and Goldcrest Features announced today that the as currently untitled (f.k.a An Unquiet Life) feature starring Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), and Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard, Misbehaviour), will begin filming on November 14th.

The story of the world’s most beloved children’s author, Roald Dahl (Bonneville) and his film star wife, Patricia Neal (Hawes) will be directed by John Hay (Lost Christmas, There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble). Hay also wrote the film alongside David Logan. The picture is being produced by Donall McCusker (The Hurt Locker), Adrian Politowski (The Artist), Martin Metz (Mandy) and Nick Quested (Danger Close ).

The film is an Align/Goldcrest presentation, produced by Atticus Films and financed by Align, LipSync Productions LLP and Goldcrest Features Inc. Principal photography commences on November 14th in Surrey, England.

Goldcrest represents the worldwide rights, and has already closed deals with Icon Film Distribution PTY LTD in Australia and New Zealand, Empire International in the Middle East, Paradiso Filmed Entertainment in Benelux, Red Apollo Group in China, and MVP Entertainment in India.

In 1962 Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal retreated to the English countryside to bring up their joyful and expanding young family. The unlikely pairing of an Academy Award-winning actress and a burgeoning children’s author, Dahl and Neal put their relationship to the test, revealing a love more painful than anything Roald Dahl ever wrote about in his books. However, for this remarkable pair, redemption and strength sees them changed forever.

“Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal seemingly had it all until an unimaginable event threatened to tear their family apart. I am so pleased we have attracted two award-winning talents in Hugh and Keeley to play these iconic roles,” Director John Hay said.

“I can’t wait to start work on this film,” said Keeley Hawes. “The story of Patricia Neal and Roald Dahl is extraordinary, and I’m so excited to be part of it and so looking forward to working with the brilliant Hugh Bonneville and the hugely talented John Hay who has provided us with such a beautiful script.”

Donall McCusker, Producer, adds, “Award winning writers John Hay and Dave Logan have written a warm, funny and powerful script that we know is going to resonate with audiences throughout the world”.

Adrian Politowski, CEO of Align notes, “With a love as electric as Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal’s it’s no surprise a project as special as this one has attracted the likes of Hugh Bonneville and Keeley Hawes.”

“Dear Zoe” is a new independent feature film adapted from the award-winning novel by Pittsburgh author Philip Beard. The adapted screenplay was written by Pittsburgh natives Marc Lhormer and Melissa Martin, and directed by Gren Wells (The Road Within).

“Dear Zoe” stars Sadie Sink as Tess (Stranger Things). Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy, Luke Cage) plays her father Nick, with newcomer Kweku Collins as Tess’ love interest. Justin Bartha (The Hangover, National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Jessica Capshaw (Grey’s Anatomy), and Vivien Blair (Bird Box, We Can Be Heroes) round out the principal cast. This film for all ages is a powerful study of grief and resilience told from the point of view of a 16-year-old girl: a coming-of-age dramedy in which teenage Tess enlists her biological father, a lovable slacker from the wrong side of the tracks, and the charming juvenile delinquent next door to help her come to grips with the death of her little sister. Principal photography will take place in and around Pittsburgh, PA.

Leading the production is Zin Haze Productions, led by Producers Brenda and Marc Lhormer (Bottle Shock) along with independent Producers Peter Phok (Most Beautiful Island, In A Valley of Violence) and Christopher H. Warner (Wind River, Five Feet Apart), along with Emmy award-winning Producer Lizzie Friedman of Priority Pictures (Momentum Generation, The Land). Resonate Entertainment’s Brent Emery (The Stanford Prison Experiment, Carrie Pilby) is also Producing, while Susan Cartsonis (What Women Want, The Duff), and Suzanne Farwell (It’s Complicated, The Intern) are Executive Producing.

“Marc and I are thrilled to bring this powerful, healing and entertaining story to the screen with such a gifted cast and director,” said producer Brenda Lhormer. “This is a dream project that is finally coming true. It’s been a joy to adapt this Pittsburgh-based story in such an authentic way here in this magical city. We look forward to sharing Dear Zoe with audiences all around the world.”

Gren Wells is represented by Paradigm and Mainstay Entertainment; Sadie Sink is represented by Paradigm and Mara Entertainment; Theo Rossi is represented by Paradigm and Management 360; Kweku Collins is represented by Paradigm and No Comply Management; Vivien Blair is represented by Paradigm and Marnie Cooper Management; Justin Bartha is represented by CAA and MGMT; and Jessica Capshaw is represented by CAA. Christopher H. Warner is represented by UTA.

Paradigm is handling worldwide rights.

Queensbury Pictures, the year-old Chicago- and London-based production company today announced the start of shooting in Chicago on BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION, a sci-fi horror film directed by Jacob Gentry.

The cast includes Harry Shum Jr. (Crazy Rich Asians, Glee), Kelley Mack (The Walking Dead) and Chris Sullivan (This Is Us, I Trapped the Devil).

BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION, a technological thriller inspired by actual broadcast interruptions that occurred in the Windy City in the late 1980s, and remain unsolved to this day. The film an unsettling journey into our collective technological nightmares, confronting our deepest, darkest fears of both man and machine.

Shum has been cast in the lead role as James. While logging tapes of decades-old TV broadcasts,video archivist James (Harry Shum Jr.) comes across a surreal and disturbing clip of what appears to be an imprisoned android. James believes it’s the product of a mysterious broadcast signal hacking, and his discovery takes a sinister turn when he tracks down similar broadcast intrusions that send him on an obsessive mission. Now James must confront two very real possibilities: that the videos may be clues to a crime beyond all comprehension; and that whoever was behind them may be very aware that James is coming uncomfortably close to the truth.
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Tom Cronin and Jacqui Fifer’s, groundbreaking documentary THE PORTALhas been chosen as an official selection at the 2019 Awareness Film Festival. The film will play on Saturday, October 12that 5pm at the Regal LA Live, 1000 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015 followed by a Q&A with cast and crew. The film will be released in theaters across North America starting November 1, 2019.

“We are thrilled to be screening for audiences and working with the amazing team at the 2019 Awareness Film Festival,” stated writer/producer Tom Cronin. “The timing and setting is perfect as we work to launch THE PORTAL into theatres across the US starting this November, with Los Angeles.”

Directed and written by first-time Australian director, Jacqui Fifer, and written and produced by international meditation expert, Tom Cronin(The Stillness Project)the captivating film has inspired crowds throughout the world and audiences across North America will get their chance to experience THE PORTALthis fall.

“The film facilitates a collective shift on the planet that takes us into a new era of united living; it had to be groundbreaking, unique, and go viral.” “THE PORTALis truly a film for everyone. Its commercially viability raises the genre bar while remaining true to its core message,”Cronin continued. Click here to see the trailer.
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IFC Films announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to THE PAINTED BIRD directed, written, and produced by Václav Marhoul (TOBRUK, SMART PHILIP). Based on the acclaimed novel by Jerzy Kosinski, the movie was a singular achievement by Marhoul, almost 11 years in the making from the decision to acquire the rights, to the writing of the screenplay, to the casting and production lock. It is also notably, the first ever film made in the invented Interslavic language. THE PAINTED BIRD stars Petr Kotlár, Udo Kier (BLADE, MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO) Lech Dyblik, Jitka Čvančarová, Stellan Skarsgard (DANCER IN THE DARK, NYMPHOMANIAC) Harvey Keitel (BAD LIEUTENANT, RESERVOIR DOGS), Julian Sands (A ROOM WITH A VIEW, NAKED LUNCH), Aleksey Kravchenko (COME AND SEE), and Barry Pepper (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, THE GREEN MILE).

It is a Silver Screen production in co-production with Czech Television, Directory Films, Radio and Television Slovakia, Certicon Group, Innogy, PubRes, Monte Rosso Production, with producer Václav Marhoul and co-producers, Eduard Kučera, Milada Kučera, Igor Savychenko, Vladimír Mařík, Karel Kraus, Zuzana Mistríková, Ľubica Orechovská, and Richard Kaucký. The film was supported by the Czech Film Fund, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, Ukrainian State Film Agency, and Creative Europe – MEDIA.

THE PAINTED BIRD had its world premiere at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival then went on to screen at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival in the Special Presentations section to much acclaim and will be the Czech Oscar® entry for the Foreign-Language category at the 92nd Academy Awards®. IFC Films will be releasing THE PAINTED BIRD theatrically in 2020.

THE PAINTED BIRD is a meticulous 35mm black and white evocation of wild, primitive Eastern Europe at the bloody close of World War II. The film follows the journey of The Boy, entrusted by his persecuted parents to an elderly foster mother. The old woman soon dies, and the Boy is on his own, wandering through the countryside, from village to village, farmhouse to farmhouse. As he struggles for survival, The Boy suffers through extraordinary brutality meted out by the ignorant, superstitious peasants and he witnesses the terrifying violence of the efficient, ruthless soldiers, both Russian and German.

Arianna Bocco EVP of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films said, “THE PAINTED BIRD is a brilliant cinematic achievement with a fiercely accomplished cast to match. We’re incredibly proud to bring such a monumental film to audiences across the country.”

Lisa Schwartz, Co-President of IFC Films added, “IFC Films is committed to providing thought-provoking and challenging films, and this is a prime example of maintaining this core mission and continuing our legacy for nearly 20 years now.”

Hengameh Panahi, President of Celluloid Dreams and Vice-President, Charlotte Mickie added, “We are delighted to be working with IFC again. Their curation is extremely astute, and they have unparalleled expertise with important, provocative movies. We look forward to this new adventure and to American audiences responding to a 21st century masterpiece. We are also grateful to Federica Sainte-Rose at CAA for her support throughout the festival and sales circuit this fall.”

Director Václav Marhoul added, “I am extremely gratified that IFC has acquired THE PAINTED BIRD. They have demonstrated a deep, sensitive understanding of the message of the movie, which is so important in today’s volatile world. I deeply believe the movie’s advocacy of tolerance, fellow-feeling and community must reach American audiences. IFC will make that happen.”

The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco of IFC Films with CAA Media Finance and Celluloid Dreams on behalf of the filmmakers.