21 March 2006: Distributor Tartan Films has acquired all UK and Ireland rights to Driving Lessons, starring Julie Walters, Rupert Grint, and Laura Linney. The film is the directorial debut from Mrs Brown screenwriter Jeremy Brock, who also wrote the original story about an aging actress (Walters) who develops an unconventional friendship with a poetry-loving teenage boy (Grint). “Driving Lessons is a wonderful, beautifully made and very commercial British feature film and we look forward to releasing it in the UK and Ireland this year,” said Laura DeCasto, managing director of Tartan Films. Julia Chasman produced through her company RubberTreePlant. Alexandra Ferguson co-produced, with Edward R. Pressman and Alessandro Camon serving as executive producers. Driving Lessons was funded partially by the UK Film Council’s Premiere Fund, and ITV pre-bought UK free television rights. ContentFilm International is representing remaining worldwide rights.
The film will have its North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 30.
