Dark Sky Films has acquired the distribution rights for North America Lolathe sci-fi drama from writer/director Andrew Legge and starring Stefanie Martini (Prime suspect 73, The Last Kingdom) and Emma Appleton (The Witcher, gun). The film will be released in early August.
Giles Edwards, Head of Development & Acquisitions at Dark Sky Films, is currently in Cannes negotiating the distribution deal with Yana Georgieva, Head of Sales at Bankside Films.
Lola is set in 1940 England, where enterprising sisters Thomasina “Thom” Hanbury (Appleton) and Martha “Mars” Hanbury (Martine) built a machine Lola, which can intercept radio and TV broadcasts from the future. The device gives them an exciting preview of the world to come, including music from the likes of David Bowie and the Kinks. But as World War II escalates, the sisters decide to use the machine as a secret service weapon – with world-changing consequences.
Debuting game director Legge, who co-wrote the screenplay with Angeli Macfarlane, tells his story using a documentary approach centered on footage discovered in old film roll cans in an abandoned house – footage that purportedly reveals the work of the eccentric sisters. A lot of Lola was shot on vintage cameras and then processed at home in a vintage 16mm developing tank to give the film an authentic aged feel. The actresses were even trained on how to use the camera for certain crucial scenes.
Lola includes original songs and score by Neil Hannon (forthcoming). wonka) of the Divine Comedy. The film is being produced by Alan Maher and John Wallace of Cowtown Pictures (Rialto) and co-produced by Alice Lusher and Catryn Ramasut of ie ie Productions (Queerama), with support from Screen Ireland, Head Gear Films, Ffilm Cymru Wales and Roads Entertainment. Executive Producers are Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Stephen Kelliher, Sophie Green, Dearbhla Regan, Bizzy Day, Andrew Legge and Danielle Ryan.
“Lola is an amazing achievement, a film that transcends science fiction and the found footage genre and tells a powerful and compelling story,” said Edwards of Dark Sky. “We’re excited to bring Andrew Legge’s great debut to a wide audience.”
Dark Sky Films, home of horror classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Devil’s House And EmelieIn the end he was successful 1BR, third floor girls And Coming home in the dark. The upcoming release mother, may I?starring Kyle Gallner (smile, dinner in America) and Holland Roen (teen wolves)is currently on sale at the Marché du Film in Cannes.
