28/10/2016 - Steve Buscemi and Chloë Sevigny star in the British director’s new film

British writer-director Andrew Haigh is in post-production with Lean on Pete [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]. Adapted by Haigh from Willy Vlautin’s best-selling and award-winning novel of the same name, the film is seen from the perspective of 15-year-old boy Charlie Thompson, who is left to his own devices by his single father. He embarks on a perilous journey in search of his long-lost aunt and a possible home, his only companion the stolen and ageing racehorse Lean on Pete. Charlie Plummer, who shot to prominence playing the title role in Felix Thompson’s King Jack, which won the Audience Award at Tribeca in 2015, plays Charlie Thompson. Other cast members include Steve Buscemi, recently seen in Joseph Cedar’s Toronto and Telluride selection Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer; Chloë Sevigny, who played an important role in Whit Stillman’s global independent 2016 success Love & Friendship [+see also:
trailer
film profile]; and US indie veteran Steve Zahn (Captain Fantastic). 

Principal photography commenced at Portland, Oregon locations in August and concluded in September. Tristan Goligher produced the film for the UK’s The Bureau, which also produced Haigh’s 45 Years [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Andrew Haigh
film profile], and Film4 co-financed. Le Bureau Sales and Celluloid Dreams are handling international sales, and European sales already achieved include to Artificial Eye for the UK, Ad Vitam for France, Lumière for Benelux, Seven Films for Greece, Filmcoopi for Switzerland and Teodora for Italy.

After directing several shorts, Haigh made his feature debut with Greek Pete (2009), which won the Special Jury Award at Atlanta and the Award for Artistic Achievement at the LA Outfest. His next film, Weekend [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2011), won the Youth Jury Award at Ghent, Breakthrough British Filmmaker at the London Critics Circle Film Awards, two BIFAs, a Special Mention at Dinard and a host of other accolades. 

Haigh’s 45 Years (2015) took the world by storm. Amongst its 19 wins and 48 nominations are Best Actor and Best Actress for Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling at Berlin, the Coup de Coeur at Dinard and the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film at Edinburgh.