His 2006 true-life fairytale swooned Sundance audiences picking up the Audience Award World Cinema – Dramatic Competition and then Best Song at the Oscars. Once filmmaker John Carney has made a pair of films since in 2009’s Zonad and 2012’s The Rafters, but we think that despite the budget and the fact that with post-prod began in August, that with a return to a strong musical element and a cast that includes a mixture of established indie vets and singers (Sundance does have an appreciation for films that bring in musical talents), Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo (see set-pic above), Adam Levine, Catherine Keener, Hailee Steinfeld, Mos Def, Cee-Lo and James Corden, that there might be a window of opportunity to include Can A Song Save Your Life? to the Premieres line-up. Tech crew includes Cinematographer Yaron Orbach (Please Give) and Production Designer Chad Keith (At Any Price).
Gist: Seduced by dreams of making it in the big city, Gretta (Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend move to New York to pursue their passion for music. She’s heartbroken when he dumps her for the fame and fortune of a big solo contract, leaving Gretta all on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when a down-on-his-luck record producer (Ruffalo) stumbles upon her singing in a local bar and is immediately captivated by her raw talent and inspiring authenticity – they may be each other’s last chance to turn their lives around. Somewhere between friendship and their love of music, the two strangers strike a chord that captures the hearts of everyone around them, proving that every great story has its own soundtrack.
Production Co./Producers: Exclusive Media Group’s Tobin Armbrust and Likely Story’s Anthony Bregman
Prediction: Premieres Program but might end up at a fest like TIFF.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available