Lightning Entertainment Acquires International Sales Rights To Noirish Thriller "DON MCKAY"
Cannes, France – May 12, 2009 – Continuing to bolster its international sales slate at the onset of the market, Lightning Entertainment, the Santa Monica based sales and distribution company, announced today that it has acquired international sales rights to thriller “Don McKay” starring Academy Award Nominees Thomas Haden Church (“Sideways” “Spider-Man 3”), Elisabeth Shue (“Leaving Las Vegas” “Hollow Man”), and Melissa Leo (“Frozen River”, “Hide and Seek”). The announcement was made by Lightning Entertainment Co-Presidents Rich Goldberg and Richard S. Guardian.
Written and directed by Jake Goldberger, the film is produced by Jim Young (“Homecoming” “Year of the Bull”) and executive produced by Thomas Haden Church. Starring alongside Haden Church, Shue and Leo are M. Emmet Walsh (“My Best Friend’s Wedding” “Blade Runner”), Keith David (“Crash” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”), James Rebhorn (“Independence Day” “Scent of a Woman”) and Pruitt Taylor Vince (“Monster” “The Electric Mist”).
Twenty-five years after abandoning his hometown, Don McKay (Thomas Haden Church) gets a letter from his ex-girlfriend Sonny (Elisabeth Shue) saying that she is dying and wants him to come see her. When Don returns home, Sonny doesn't seem quite like he remembers her and everything seems a little bit off. In his darkly comic debut thriller, “Don McKay”, writer/director Jake Goldberger tells a story where no one is who they seem and everyone appears to be hiding something.
The film most recently screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The Cannes Marche screenings will be the film’s Market debut.
“This is a commercial film that is very evocative of the Coen brothers’ style of thriller, with subtle comic undertones, and unpredictable twists and turns,” commented Richard Guardian. “It’s a great original story that feeds off memorable performances from Thomas Haden Church and Elizabeth Shue. We’re excited to have this film on our Cannes slate and believe the genre and cast will have great appeal to international buyers.”
The deal for “Don McKay” was negotiated by Lightning Senior VP of Acquisitions Joe Dickstein and Lightning corporate counsel Megan Holstein on behalf of Lightning and producer Jim Young.
In addition to “Don McKay,” Lightning’s diverse slate at the Cannes Market includes the romantic comedies “Coach” and “Taking Chances,” Jonathan Hensleigh’s action thriller “The Irishman,” ghost story “No-Do” (The Beckoning”), “The Merry Gentleman” starring Michael Keaton and Kelly McDonald and the man-against-shark thriller “The Reef” from the director and producer of ‘Black Water.”