Los Angeles, California – Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired all North American rights to Last I Heard, the Sopranos-esque mob drama from filmmaker David Rodriguez and producers Kevin and Andrea Kelly. The film, which premiered at the 2013 Seattle International Film Festival, stars Paul Sorvino, Steven Bauer, Michael Rapaport and Chazz Palminteri. Lionsgate Home Entertainment will handle the release, which is expected for late 2014.
“We are excited to be working with such a passionate distribution partner that believes in the film as much as we do,” said Rodriguez. “With Grindstone and Lionsgate’s help, we look forward to sharing this bold film with audiences everywhere.”
“David and his team have not only created an impressive gangster film, but a heartfelt and poignant tale about family and forgiveness, and we look forward to helping the film find its audience,” said Ryan Black, Grindstone’s Executive Director of Acquisitions & Development.
The distribution deal for the independently produced Last I Heard was negotiated by Black, and by Kevin Iwashina and Zac Bright of Preferred Content on behalf of the filmmakers.
Content has simultaneously closed a deal to acquire International rights on Last I Heard, and will be introducing the film to the foreign market at the 2014 MIPTV conference in Cannes.
Content Films’ Head of TV/DVD sales, Toby Melling said: “This is a beautifully acted, poignant film which provides us with another insight into a criminal world we all think we are familiar with. We are very excited to be handling such a good quality film with great performances.”
About Last I Heard
In 1990, Mafia capo Joseph “Mr. Joe” Scoleri (Paul Sorvino) was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in Federal prison for a myriad of crimes, including his involvement in the murder of a construction union boss in Brooklyn. In 2012, Mr. Joe is released from prison and sent back to his home in Queens, NY, as his health is seriously deteriorating. His first stop is his attorney Ben Rose (Chazz Palminteri), who is the first to inform him that all Mr. Joe remembers is gone. The film portrays his reentry into his old neighbourhood, where the life he once knew no longer exists. Mr. Joe is unable to experience the connection of being a part of something that defined his life for so many years. While at home, he tries to reconnect with his daughter Rita (Renee Props) and establish a relationship with his neighbour Bobby (Michael Rapaport), who witnessed his arrest as a young boy.
