Goldfinch Studios, the UK mini-conglomerate, has announced that principal photography has begun on their feature film WAITING FOR ANYA, filming on location in Lescun, France for a five-week shoot.
Renowned French actor Jean Reno (THE BIG BLUE, THE DA VINCI CODE, LÉON) has joined the cast of stellar international talent, including STRANGER THINGS’ Noah Schnapp, Oscar® – winning Anjelica Huston (PRIZZI’S HONOR, THE GRIFTERS, THE WITCHES, THE ADDAMS FAMILY), Thomas Kretschmann (THE PIANIST, JUNGLE), as well as César- winning Elsa Zylbertsein (I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG) and Tomas Lemarquis (X-MEN: APOCALYPSE).
Reno is a three-time César Award nominee and a European Film Award – Outstanding Achievement in World Cinema recipient. He is repped by Amy Guenther at Gateway Management Company and ICM Partners.
Rounding out the cast and also announced today are Frederick Schmidt (television’s TABOO and the upcoming feature, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALLOUT); Josephine De La Baum (MADAME, upcoming L’AMOUR EST UNE FÊTE) and Sadie Frost (ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS; THE MOVIE).
Directed by Ben Cookson, a National Film Awards nominee for ALMOST MARRIED and adapted by Toby Torlesse from the novel of the same name by Children’s Laureate and author of multi-award winning WAR HORSE, Michael Morpurgo, WAITING FOR ANYA is a moving drama set against the backdrop of the Second World War in Southern France. It follows young shepherd boy Jo (Schnapp) and his beloved grandfather (Reno) and their remarkable involvement in smuggling Jewish children across the border into Spain.
WAITING FOR ANYA is the second Goldfinch Studios production, following SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER starring Bill Nighy, Sam Riley and Jenny Agutter. 13 Films are Executive Producing and handling international sales on the project. The Los Angeles based outfit have already secured a number of impressive deals at EFM, selling to Pan Asia (Fox Networks Group Asia), Middle East (Eagle Films), Greece (Tanweer), Portugal (NOS Lusomundo), and Spain, Eastern Europe, Turkey & India (SPI).
