Greenwich Entertainment has acquired the US distribution rights to BAFTA award-winning writer-director Dominic Savage‘s (The Escape; I Am Ruth) Close To You. Elliot Page (Juno; “The Umbrella Academy”), who also produced the film, stars alongside Hillary Baack (Sound of Metal). The film received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and Greenwich has now confirmed that it will release the film in theaters this summer.
Close To You centers on Sam (Page), who, having relocated to Toronto from his small town on Lake Ontario, Canada, decides to head back home to visit his family on his father’s birthday. On his way, he runs into an old high school friend (Baack) who stirs up past emotions. Over the course of the journey, Sam finally addresses long-buried feelings, a first love that was never properly resolved, his relationship with his family, and a newfound love and confidence in himself.
The films also features Andrew Bushell (“Strays”, “Hudson & Rex”), Wendy Crewson (“Gray”,”Good Sam”), Daniel Maslany (“Impulse”, “Murdoch Mystery”), Peter Outerbridge (“V-Wars”, The Oak Room), Alex Paxton-Beesley (“Chucky”, “Pure”), Janet Porter (Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, IT Chapter Two), and David Reale (“The Boys”).
Commenting on the acquisition news, Page said, “I am thrilled audiences around the U.S. will be able to watch Close To You this summer. Working alongside Dominic, Hillary, and the full team was an absolute pleasure and privilege. I am so proud of this special film.”
And Writer/Director Savage added, “It has been a real privilege to create Close To You with Elliot Page and the incredible cast of actors. This unique and personal film about love, identity and family is the result of this special collaboration. I’m looking forward to audiences enjoying what we have achieved in cinemas later this year.”
The film was produced by Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee, who helped Savage develop the project under their Me + You Productions banner in the UK, and Daniel Bekerman and Chris Yurkovich of Good Question Media in Canada. Savage and Page are also serving as producers, having developed, devised and co-written the story together.
Kindred Spirit co-financed the film, with Anita Gou (The Farewell, Honey Boy) and Sam Intili (I Saw the TV Glow) executive producing alongside Rolling Dice’s Nia Vazirani (Academy Award nominated The Trial of Chicago 7) and PAGEBOY Productions’ Matt Jordan Smith. Andrew Frank and Francine Maisler also executive produced. Greenwich’s Andy Bohn negotiated the acquisition with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.
