Lightning Entertainment’s Slate Of New Titles For Cannes Includes Chris Colfer’s STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

Lightning Entertainment has acquired international rights to five feature films and will present the slate of new titles, including the star-studded comedy STRUCK BY LIGHTNING written by and starring Glee’s Chris Colfer, to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market, it was announced today by Robert Beaumont, President of Lightning Entertainment.

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING will make its market premiere at the Marché du Film following its Tribeca Film Festival world debut where it received an overwhelmingly positive response. SERVITUDE will also make its market premiere with promotional footage being shown for family film HEAVEN’S DOOR and South African thriller ONE LAST LOOK. BLACK SOUTH-EASTER is currently in production.

“We are thrilled to present this eclectic slate of new titles featuring films from across the globe to our buyers at Cannes and we are incredibly excited that both STRUCK BY LIGHTNING and SERVITUDE will be making their market premieres next month,” said Robert Beaumont. “We always look to find films with a unique twist that we can bring to the marketplace, and we feel that these films are right on target,” he continued.

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING is written by and stars Golden Globe winner Chris Colfer from Fox’s popular award-winning TV show, Glee. He stars alongside Rebel Wilson (BRIDESMAIDS), Allison Janney (THE HELP), Christina Hendricks (AMC’s Mad Men), Dermot Mulroney (THE GREY) and Sarah Hyland (ABC’s Modern Family). The smart, irreverent coming-of-age comedy is directed by Brian Dannelly, who previously directed cult comedy SAVED! and was creative producer on the first season of Showtime’s Weeds where he also directed several episodes.

The film tells the tale of seventeen year old Carson Phillips who is determined to make something of himself and blaze a trail beyond his crummy high school, when he is suddenly struck by a bolt of lightning. The incident is the spark to a wickedly funny story about a young man who devises a blackmailing scheme to improve his chances of getting accepted into a top college…but what he accomplishes is much more profound.

The comedy is produced by David Permut, Roberto Aguire and Mia Chang, co-produced by Monica Aguirre Diez Barroso, Steve Longi and Mark Moran and executive produced by Jason Michael Berman, Chris Colfer, Glenn Rigberg and Lawrence Kopeikin. It is a co-production between Permut Presentations and Camellia Entertainment.

ICM and Traction Media sold international rights to Lightning Entertainment. The deal was negotiated by Joseph Dickstein, the company’s SVP of Acquisitions, with Richard Guardian serving as a consultant on the film for Lightning.

SERVITUDE is a comedy written by Michael Sparaga (SIDEKICK) and directed by award-winning film director Warren P. Sonoda whose previous credits include HAM & CHEESE, TEXTUALITY, and UNRIVALED.  The film stars Joe Dinicol (the CW’s The L.A. Complex), Enrico Colanton (CBS’ Person of Interest), Dave Foley (HBO’s The Kids in the Hall), Kristen Hager (BBC’s Being Human) and John Bregar (THE ENTITLED).  The comedy is produced by Sean Buckley of Buck Productions and Michael Sparaga’s Victory Man Productions and was developed with mentorship from veteran producer/director Ivan Reitman and acclaimed comedy screenwriter, Etan Cohen. Released theatrically by Alliance Films in Canada earlier this year, the film will make its US debut at the Newport Beach Film Festival on April 29^th.

Josh goes in to quit his job waiting tables at Ranch Steakhouse, but is unable to do so as the restaurant is short-staffed for the night. After discovering a secret memo revealing the company’s plans to fire the staff, he rallies his fellow servers and takes over the restaurant for one final, glorious night.

ONE LAST LOOK marks the feature film debut of successful television and commercial director Philip Roberts, who also wrote the script. Currently in post-production, the thriller starsStephanie Schildknecht (YOUNG LEONARDO) and newcomer Anna Capraro as two gorgeous sisters on a trip through Africa.  When Angie disappears, Yasmin accepts the help from a loner musician to find her sister which leads her to the remote farm of a charismatic sculptor, played by Neil Sandilands (Fox’s House). But appearances deceive, and behind the charm and smile is hidden a terrible secret.  Lightning holds worldwide rights outside of Africa, with Richard Guardian serving as a consultant on the film.

HEAVEN’S DOOR is a family film starring Charisma Carpenter (upcoming THE EXPENDABLES 2), Dean Cain (OUT OF TIME), Golden Globe winner Joanna Cassidy (HBO’s Six Feet Under) and Edward Herrmann (the WB’s Gilmore Girls), written and directed by Craig Clyde (THE WILD STALLION, A CHRISTMAS WISH). Currently in post-production, the film is produced by Bryce W. Fillmore and Dave Hunter. HEAVEN’S DOOR is a heartwarming tale about a small town girl who discovers a window into Heaven and uses her new found powers to help heal and bolster faith in the small community until she is faced with the ultimate sacrifice. The film will air in the US at Christmas 2012.

BLACK SOUTH-EASTER is a noir thriller currently shooting in Cape Town, South Africa.  The film is written and directed by NYU film graduate Carey McKenzie, who makes her feature film debut following her critically acclaimed documentary, ORIGINAL CHILD BOMB. McKenzie developed the project through the Binger Institute, which was also selected for the Berlinale Co-Pro Market in 2009. The thriller is produced by Rachel Young and Tendeka Matatu, whose 2008 film, GANGSTER’S PARADISE: JERUSALEMA, was a critical and box office success, screened at several international film festivals and was the country’s official entry for the Academy Awards. The cast includes Tony Kgoroge (INVICTUS) and Fana Mokoena (MACHINE GUN PREACHER), who have both been cast in Justin Chadwick’s newly announced LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, as well as Yu Nan (upcoming THE EXPENDABLES 2), Deon Lotz (SKOONHEID), Thomas Gumede (OTELO BURNING) and Zolani Mahola (FRESHLY GROUND).   Richard Guardian will serve as a consultant on the film for Lightning.

The film tells the story of an ambitious policeman, Sizwe Miya, who uncovers a poaching scheme by his ex-police-comrade who is now a corrupt crime lord. As a man of integrity, he has no choice but to take a stand against his old colleague.

In addition to the new Cannes slate, Lightning will also be showing buyers first footage from the comedy THE HOT FLASHES starring Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Camryn Manheim and Wanda Sykes and screening the Australian sci-fi film, 25^th REICH starring Jim Knobeloch, Dan Balcaban and Jak Wyld. Lightning will also present the thriller FIVE THIRTEEN starring Tom Sizemore, Taryn Manning, Danny Trejo and James Russo.