IFC Films Loads 'American Gun' With Donald Sutherland, Linda Cardellini, and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon

IFC Films Loads American Gun with Donald Sutherland, Linda Cardellini, and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon

NEW YORK, NY, July 29, 2004--IFC Senior Vice President of Productions and Acquisitions, Caroline Kaplan, announced today the casting of Donald Sutherland, Linda Cardellini, and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon in American Gun, the debut feature of director/co-writer Aric Avelino and co-writer Steven Bagatourian. Sutherland plays Carl, the owner of a Virginia gun shop, and Cardellini is his granddaughter Mary Ann. Beauvais-Nilon is Sara, the wife of Carter, played by Forest Whitaker. Arlen Escarpeta (American Dreams), Schuyler Fisk (Orange County), and Nikki Reed (Thirteen) have also been added to the cast. IFC Films, Participant Productions, and Spirit Dance executive produce. American Gun began filming in Los Angeles on July 15.

Holly Becker, IFC's Director of Production and Development stated, "IFC couldn't be happier with the stellar cast that has been assembled for American Gun. This extraordinary ensemble is poised to tackle the topical and complex subject of this film. They put a distinct face to the issues raised and we are confident their remarkable talent will be showcased."

“We are proud to be a part of American Gun for its ability to highlight both the human and social issues surrounding the proliferation of guns in our society. From cast to crew to filmmakers, everyone involved is dedicated to making a great film that explores the way in which lives can and do change as a result,” said Chris Adams, Participant Productions Chief Vision Officer and Senior Vice President.

Donald Sutherland is one of the most prolific and versatile of motion picture actors whose offbeat elegance is evident in more than 100 films. He recently starred in Anthony Minghella’s Cold Mountain and won a Golden Globe for his work in John Frankenheimer’s HBO docudrama Path to War. Earlier this year, he starred in Griffin Dunne’s Fierce People, starring Diane Lane. Sutherland is currently in London starring as Mr. Bennet opposite Keira Knightley in the Working Title Films production of Pride and Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright for Universal Pictures.

Linda Cardellini is starting her second season as a series regular on the NBC hit medical drama, ER, playing Nurse Samantha Taggart, a free-spirited single mother who struggles to balance parenthood, work, and romance. Cardellini first made her mark in the critically acclaimed television series, Freaks and Geeks and starred as Velma in Scooby-Doo and its sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleased. Her other feature credits include Legally Blonde; Good Burger; Dead Man on Campus with Tom Everett Scott and Mark-Paul Gosselaar; the thriller Strange Land; and the independent feature, The Unsaid, opposite Andy Garcia. Cardellini recently completed filming Brokeback Mountain for Focus Features. She will star opposite Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway and Randy Quaid.

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon stars as the female lead in the upcoming ABC drama, Eyes, opposite Tim Daly. Previously, Beauvais-Nilon was a regular cast member on the hit series NYPD Blue, and starred in The Jamie Foxx Show, where she played Foxx's love interest. Her film credits include Barbershop 2: Back in Business with Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer; Bad Company with Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock; and Wild Wild West with Will Smith and Kevin Kline.

IFC Films presents American Gun, a powerful series of interwoven storylines that bring to light how the proliferation of guns in America dramatically influence and shape every day lives. A gun shop owner, an ace student, a single mother, and a school principal are among those profoundly affected. American Gun is the debut film of director/co-writer Aric Avelino, and is co-written by Steven Bagatourian and produced by Ted Kroeber. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Marcia Gay Harden, Linda Cardellini, Nikki Reed, Arlen Escarpeta, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, and Schuyler Fisk. Forest Whitaker is Executive Producer under his Spirit Dance shingle. Arlene Gibbs of Spirit Dance is Co-Producer. Jeff Skoll and Chris Adams of Participant Productions are executive producers. Jonathan Sehring, Caroline Kaplan and Holly Becker executive produce on behalf of IFC Films.

About Participant Productions--Participant Productions is a Los Angeles-based production company focused on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films and documentaries. Each film will highlight similar themes including the concept of balancing inequities, battling social injustices and the individuals who dedicate their lives and passion to making a difference.

About IFC Films--IFC Films is a leading theatrical film distribution company bringing the best of independent and specialized films to theaters. IFC Films builds its slate of titles from both acquisitions and in-house productions. Past IFC Films include the Oscar®-nominated My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Alfonso Cuaron’s Y Tu Mamá También, Camp, Casa De Los Babys, Touching the Void and The Saddest in the Music in the World. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster and Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 are the most recent releases. Upcoming films include CSA: The Confederate States of America, The Ballad of Jack and Rose (directed by Rebecca Miller and starring Daniel Day Lewis), Dana Brown’s Dust to Glory, and James Toback’s When Will I be Loved (Sept 10).
 

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