A24, in conjunction with director Matt Shakman, the film’s producers and in partnership with DirecTV, announced today that they have acquired all US rights to Shakman’s directorial debut, Cut Bank. The film had a successful US premiere at the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival and will next make its International debut at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
Written by Robert Patino, Cut Bank is a modern-day thriller with an ensemble cast that includes Liam Hemsworth, John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thorton, Bruce Dern, Teresa Palmer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Oliver Platt.
In the film, Dwayne McLaren (Hemsworth) a high school star athlete recently turned auto mechanic, dreams of getting out of his tiny Montana town and whisking his pageant-hopeful girlfriend, Cassandra (Palmer), away to the big city. But his plan sets in motion a deadly series of events and thrusts him into a police investigation headed by Sheriff Vogel (Malkovich), the protector of Cut Bank and the closest thing Dwayne has to a father figure. But things are not what they seem. Cassandra’s father Big Stan Steeley (Thornton) is the only one who seems to realize this. However, the damage is already done and the events that unfold change Dwayne’s life – and the life of the town – forever.
“I’m thrilled to team up with A24. Their smart, eclectic taste is inspiring. And their passion and plan for the film felt like the ideal way to bring it to the world,” says Shakman, “It’s been a tremendously exciting journey with the best group of collaborators possible – from a brilliant script by Roberto Patino, to the incredible support of Mark Manuel & Ted O’Neal at Kilburn Media and the producing team led by Laura Rister, to a dream cast of actors as talented as they are fun to work with.”
Cut Bank is financed by Kilburn Media and the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, and was shot on location in Edmonton, Alberta. It is produced by Laura Rister, Edward Zwick, Mickey Barold, Mark Manuel, Ted O’Neal, and Dan Cohen.
