Bicoastal m ss ng p eces has brought director Riley Stearns aboard its roster for his first career commercial representation. The company will handle him in the U.S. market. Stearns’ first foray into the ad arena comes on the heels of his critically acclaimed feature film The Art Of Self-Defense starring Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots and Alessandro Nivola. Stearns infuses productions with his idiosyncratic dark comedy and writers’ room experience as a narrative storyteller.
A Los Angeles transplant, originally from Austin, TX, Stearns started his career as a writer for Cartoon Network’s live action drama Tower Prep. In 2013, his short film The Cub was in competition at Sundance and after global festival recognition eventually landed on VICE. His feature film debut, Faults, starring Leland Orser and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, premiered at SXSW in 2014. The dark comedy/thriller about cult deprogramming found domestic theatrical distribution through Screen Media Films and the script was voted one of the top ten screenplays of the year on the Black List. In 2019, his sophomore feature, the aforementioned dark comedy The Art Of Self-Defense premiered at SXSW to glowing reviews. It was released domestically via Bleecker Street and internationally through Universal Pictures and is “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes at 83%. Stearns is currently in pre-production on this third feature, Dual, a dark comedy with sci-fi elements.
“I respond most to commercials that are really engaging and a little left of center, and m ss ng p eces felt like the right place for me,” said Stearns. “I look forward to applying my experience in features, and voice as a screenwriter into short form commercial narratives.”
Brian Latt, managing partner, m ss ng p eces, assessed, “Riley’s films are heartbreakingly human, with stories that are as funny as they are poignant. He is incredibly accomplished both as a director and a writer, and we look forward to bringing his unique talents to commercial clients.”
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this yearโs AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckisโ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwoodโs Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
โAt the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,โ said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. โWe look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.โ
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraรญn, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the worldโs most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More