Berlin EFM23: VERA FARMIGA AND TIM BLAKE NELSON STAR IN TRUE CRIME BIOPIC ‘THE LEADER’ FOR THE EXCHANGE

Nat McCormick, The Exchange Worldwide Sales & Distribution President, announced recently that Academy Award nominated actress Vera Farmiga and award-winning actor Tim Blake Nelson are starring in the true crime biopic feature THE LEADER, based on the 1997 mass suicide of the religious group known as “Heaven’s Gate”. Farmiga stars as cult leader Bonnie Nettles aka “Ti” with Nelson portraying the infamous frontman, Marshall Applewhite aka “Do”.

As the world sales agent, The Exchange introduced THE LEADER to buyers at the upcoming 2023 European Film Market, February 16-23, 2023, in Berlin. The film is produced by Cinemand and Balcony 9 Productions.

THE LEADER tells the unforgettable true story of the thirty-nine members of the UFO cult known as “Heaven’s Gate” who committed the largest mass suicide to ever take place on American soil. The gripping film tracks Nettles (Farmiga) and Applewhite (Nelson) as they develop the religion, build a devout following, and face unforeseen conflict when the spaceship fails to arrive.

The original screenplay is written by award-winning filmmaker Michael Gallagher (FUNNY STORY) who will also direct. The project is produced by Jana Winternitz, Michael Wormser, and Gallagher of Cinemand, and Joel David Moore and Max Osswald from Balcony 9 Productions. Rishi Bajaj and Daniel Taborga from Balcony 9 Productions will executive produce along with Cassian Elwes, Evan Silverberg and Entertainment 360. Full film casting is currently underway.

Nelson’s most recent projects include, DUNE: PART TWO, Marvel’s upcoming CAPTAIN AMERICA: NEW WORLD ORDER and The Exchange’s upcoming feature with Kathy Bates’ entitled THELMA. Farmiga’s most recent projects include Apple’s limited series FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL, David Chase’s SOPRANOS prequel THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK, and THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT. Vera is an Emmy nominee for her work on BATES MOTEL and Ava Duvernay’s limited series WHEN THEY SEE US , and an Oscar and Golden Globe nominee for her performance in UP IN THE AIR. She recently completed filming Duvernay’s newest project, CASTE.

“Vera Farmiga and Tim Blake Nelson are two of the finest actors working today. We are honored to partner with them to tell this incredible story,” said writer-director Gallagher. “The Leader will depict the Heaven’s Gate tragedy through the lens of hope and heartbreak. It is a film about the dangers of self deception, the thirst for human connection and the mystery of faith”

“The Heaven’s Gate mass suicide is one of the most fascinating and unprecedented TRUE CRIME events in American History. It’s hard to comprehend how it all coalesced. And that’s exactly what this movie is about. Tim and Vera portraying the messiah’s of Heaven’s Gate is going to be something to behold,” said McCormick of The Exchange.

The Exchange’s EFM’23 line-up includes: Orlando Bloom’s THE CUT, Octavia Spencer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lucy Liu’s NOBODY NOTHING NOWHERE, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Guy Pearce’s NEPONSET CIRCLE, Olivia Munn’s REPLAY, Kathy Bates’ THELMA, Zoe Saldana and Garrett Hedlund’s THE ABSENCE OF EDEN, Venice’22 Competition Title MONICA, Steve Zahn and John Magaro’s LAROY (when not all caps: LaRoy), and Tyrese Gibson and Thomas Jane’s BOSCO.

Farmiga is represented by CAA, Authentic Talent and Literary Management and Peikoff Mahan Law Office and Nelson is represented by UTA, Gateway Management and Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver Thompson. Gallagher is represented by Entertainment 360 and attorney David Matlof.

About The Exchange

Collaborative and transparent, The Exchange is a leading international sales, finance and production company committed to creating strong relationships between filmmakers, film financiers and distributors through the exchange of product, information and commerce. Created by veteran sales executive Brian O’Shea, the company specializes in high quality, commercial films that appeal to North American audiences and the ever-evolving global film market. For more information, please visit: www.theexchange.ws