LOCARNO, Switzerland — Film Recommendations, a prominent sales agency based in New York, has joined forces with the upcoming film “Stay Silent,” directed by Vincent Grashaw (“Bang Bang”) and featuring Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Lou Diamond Phillips (“La Bamba”).
Film Recommendations will kick off its sales efforts around the world premiere of “Stay Silent” on August 14 at the Locarno Film Festival, where it is anticipated to be one of the festival’s most significant commercial offerings.
the screenplay,crafted by Zach montague,centers on a seasoned tribal police officer and his rookie partner as they pursue a dangerous fugitive. This fugitive’s return to his rural Indigenous community threatens to unveil its hidden secrets and ignite violent gang conflicts.
A Focus on Diversity
The cast also includes Slash Stahl (“Bully,” “In The Bedroom”), Dana Namerode (“The A-Body”), Elisha Pratt from the Pawnee Nation (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Emmy-winner Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), and Lane Side (“Reservation Dogs”).
Film Recommendations previously collaborated with Grashaw on “Bellflower,” which marked his debut as a producer and was selected for both Sundance and SXSW festivals.
Ryan Kampe,President of Film Recommendations,stated,“This film aligns seamlessly with our current focus on impactful commercial titles that address social issues. Lou Diamond Phillips delivers an outstanding performance as a tribal cop, providing insight into local law enforcement dynamics within Indigenous territories.”
Greshaw remarked that “‘Stay Silent’ presents an unvarnished look at street gang culture alongside the enduring challenges faced by Indigenous populations.” He noted that Montague’s experience in policing reservations deeply informed this narrative. Greshaw praised Phillips as “an absolute legend” while highlighting breakout performances from Dana Namerode and Elisha Pratt.
The filming took place across Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe reservations along with nearby small towns in Oklahoma. The production features a predominantly Indigenous cast and crew.
The film is produced by ran Namerode and Angelia Adzic from Randomix Productions alongside Cole payne from Traverse Media, with Grashaw also taking part in production duties. executive producers include Phillips himself along with Marcus Purple Remark and Richard Janes.
In addition to this project, Grashaw’s third feature film titled “What josiah Saw,” starring Robert Patrick among others, premiered at Fantasia 2021 before being released by Shudder; it received an impressive 91% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes while being recognized as one of the top horror films of 2022.
The director’s previous work “bang Bang,” which also screened at Locarno recently secured distribution through Dawn Films for its U.S. release set for September 12.
The filmmaker is currently engaged in post-production for “Bruton,” a gripping prison drama featuring Theo Rossi, Aya Cash, Tammy Blanchard, and Tony Hale.