‘Euphoria’ Star Barbie Ferreira to Lead XYZ’s Rom-Com ‘Mile End Kicks’ With Devon Bostick, Stanley Simons, Juliette Gariepy (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned cinema enthusiast with a penchant for indie films that delve deep into the human condition, I find myself eagerly anticipating “Mile End Kicks.” Having spent my formative years immersed in the vibrant Montreal music scene, reminiscent of the artistic powerhouses like Mac DeMarco, Arcade Fire, and Grimes, this film strikes a chord with my personal history.


Actress Barbie Ferreira, known for her radiant performance in “Euphoria”, has been cast to play the lead role in the independent romantic comedy “Mile End Kicks” produced by XYZ Films. The Montreal-based film will also feature Devon Bostick (“Oppenheimer”), Stanley Simons (“The Iron Claw”) and Juliette Gariépy (“Red Rooms”). This project is directed by Chandler Levack, who previously worked on “I Like Movies”.

At the moment, filming is taking place in Montreal, funded by XYZ’s New Visions program. This movie is a joint production between Banner House Productions and Zapruder Films, and it also involves Rhombus Media as a partner in its creation.

In the scorching summer of 2011, the narrative unfolds around Grace Pine (Ferreira), a 24-year-old music critic, who relocates to Montreal with aspirations of penning a book about Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill.” However, her objectives take an unforeseen twist as she finds herself drawn into romantic entanglements with two musicians from a struggling indie rock band. Intriguingly, she also decides to manage their public relations.

In this movie, I’m drawn to how it immerses viewers in the vibrant music culture of Montreal’s Mile End district, a breeding ground for talented artists such as Mac DeMarco, Arcade Fire, and Grimes. It delves into the complexities of passionate infatuation and a budding writer discovering her unique voice.

In 2023, the movie “I Like Movies,” directed by Levack who made her feature film debut with this project, first premiered at Toronto. It later went on to win the Independent Spirit Award at Santa Barbara. The screenplay was inspired by Levack’s personal experiences as a young female music critic.

“Mile End Kicks” is created by Matthew Miller (known for “BlackBerry”) and Pat Kiely (“Three Night Stand”), along with executive producers Niv Fichman, Kevin Krikst, Fraser Ash, Barbie Ferreira, Matt Johnson, Adrian Love, Olivia Nasner, Tim Ringuette, Haley Vickers, Tim Godsall, Ian Webb and Benji Weinstein. Todd Brown and Nate Bolotin from XYZ Films, as well as Julie Groleau (“The Decline”), serve as supervising producers for this project.

The movie is co-produced by Telefilm Canada and SODEC. Elevation Pictures takes care of distribution within Canada, while Entract Films manages release in Quebec. On the other hand, XYZ handles global sales excluding Canada.

“Todd Brown from XYZ remarks that with her first film, ‘I Like Movies’, Chandler demonstrates an exceptional talent for combining humor, emotion, and style. She seamlessly transitions scenes from laughter to tears, while ‘Mile End Kicks’ mirrors the unease of young adulthood reminiscent of timeless films like ‘Reality Bites’ and ‘Almost Famous.’ The production is delightful, honest, and funny, and we are overjoyed to assist in sharing it globally.”

Ferreira, Bostick, Simons, and Gariépy are each represented by multiple talent agencies: Ferreira by Aperture Talent, Authentic Talent and Literary Management, Highlight PR, and Felker Toczek Suddleson McGinnis Ryan LLP; Bostick by Gersh, Principal Entertainment, Noble Caplan Abrams, and Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light; Simons by Gersh and M88; and Gariépy by Agence La Suite. Levack is represented by WME and Artists First. In simpler terms, these individuals are each managed by more than one agency or firm.

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2024-08-29 18:18