Paul Leuer’s debut feature comedy, “Eden Court,” had its world premiere as the opening night film of the 18th Annual Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California Feb. 27.
“It’s a big honor and a prestigious positon to be opening the festival,” Leuer said. “Two years ago Jason Reitman’s ?Thank You for Smoking’ opened the festival.
Cinequest programming director Michael Rabehl wrote in an acceptance letter to Leuer “we absolutely love the film. We especially love the complexity of the characters and how you found an exciting blend of comedy with a truly human story of lost dreams and finding that what one often needs most is what they already have. We know the audience will eat it up.”
Thomas Lennon (“Reno 911”) stars as a former baseball prodigy who mows the lawn at a minor league stadium and contemplates leaving his wife and trailer park existence to pursue the American Dream in Australia.
It features Kimberly Williams-Paisley (“We Are Marshall”), Stephnie Weir (“MADtv”) and Christian Finnegan (“Chappelle’s Show”).
Murphy Guyer adapted the “Eden Court” script from his own 1982 play.
Leuer acquired the rights after Penny Marshall’s option lapsed. Leuer produced with Carl Amari (“Madison”) and K?the Wilson through Printers Row Pictures.
