Images of the North Okanagan will dominate the big screen at one of the world’s top film festivals.
Go With Me, which was shot in Enderby, Armstrong, Vernon and Lumby in late 2014, has made the cut for the Venice Film Festival Sept. 2 to 12.
“To hear we are officially in is exciting,” said Rick Dugdale, producer and president of Hollywood-based Enderby Entertainment, which is named after his hometown.
“Venice is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. It’s a validation of the film because you don’t get into Venice without having a great film.”
And this isn’t the first international recognition for the film, which stars Anthony Hopkins, Ray Liotta, Alexander Ludwig and Julia Stiles.
The trailer was featured at the film industry’s sales market in Cannes, France this spring.
Dugdale believes an appearance in Venice, Italy could provide significant opportunities for Go With Me.
“In a perfect world, it means a big distribution deal out of that festival or another festival,” he said.
“What it means is exposure to the right people, the right buyers.”
It’s anticipated the film will be released in March after award season has wrapped up.
And until that occurs, Dugdale is maintaining a close relationship with Hopkins, who is interested in virtually every aspect of the production.
“I talk to him every couple of days,” said Dugdale.
“He thinks this is one of the best films he’s done since Silence of the Lambs. You need full support of the film (from cast and crew) right through to release and we have that.”
Post-production was done in Sweden and the score includes the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dugdale will be a speaker during the Okanagan Film Fundamentals symposium in Kelowna in October, and he will shoot a film this fall with Ben Kingsley in Serbia.
