Lena Waithe to Produce AV Rockwell Drama ‘A Thousand and

Lena Waithe will produce the directorial debut from A.V. Rockwell, a drama referred to as “A Thousand And One” that will probably be produced equally by Focus Features, Sight Unseen, Makeready and Hillman Grad Productions.

Rockwell has acquired fellowships from Tribeca Film Institute, the Sundance Institute and the John S. Guggenheim Foundation, and he or she’s been named one in all Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.

Rockwell additionally wrote the script for “A Thousand And One,” which tells the story of a lady who kidnaps a 6-year-old boy from the foster care system. Casting has but to be set, however manufacturing is anticipated to start subsequent yr. Here’s the total synopsis:

Convinced that it’s one final, essential crime on the trail to redemption, unapologetic and free-spirited Ines kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and one another, mom and son got down to reclaim their residence, their identification, and stability in a quickly altering New York City.

“A Thousand and One” is produced by Hillman Grad’s Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani, Makeready’s Brad Weston, and Sight Unseen’s Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev. Makeready’s Negin Salmasi and Sight Unseen’s Oren Moverman and Rachel Jacobs are government producing.

Focus Features will distribute the movie within the U.S., and Universal Pictures International will distribute internationally.

“A.V.’s script absolutely floored us with its insights, emotions and humanity, and we are thrilled to join the powerhouse teaming of Hillman Grad, Makeready and Sight Unseen to bring her directorial talents to the screen,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski mentioned in a press release.

Makeready and Hillman Grad teamed up with Universal Pictures final yr on Melina Matsoukas’ “Queen and Slim,” which Waithe wrote. Sight Unseen and frequent collaborator Hillman Grad are additionally engaged on a Sammy Davis Jr. biopic with MGM, which is predicated on the e book “Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father” written by Davis’ daughter Tracey and Dolores A. Barclay.

Rockwell is represented by WME Entertainment and Granderson Des Rochers. Hillman Grad Productions is represented by WME Entertainment and Blue Marble Management.