A new feature film for Such Much Films, The Surrogate has been selected for U.S. Dramatic Competition at The Sundance Film Festival 2012.  Written and directed by Ben Lewin and produced by Judi Levine, the feature film is an entirely independent production – very much a family affair – which has been brewing since 2006.  Inspired by an essay written by Mark O’Brien, the film took off when Oscar-nominee John Hawkes accepted the role of Mark, a man determined to lose his virginity despite spending much of his time inside an iron lung.  Heeding the advice of his unconventional priest (William H. Macy), his journey to manhood with Cheryl the sex surrogate (Helen Hunt) unfolds in a most intriguing way.

Here’s the scoop on Sundance... out of over 4,042 feature-length films submitted, only 110 were selected.  Of those, only 16 (out of 2,059 films from the US) were selected for US competition.

• Click here for the official Sundance announcement
• Sundance Screenings
• Sundance listing and review >
• The Surrogate official page on this website
  

"This poet’s extraordinary story resonates with the elegance and precision of a poem. No line in The Surrogate is extraneous, no frame accidental. Filmmaker Ben Lewin's masterful brushstrokes endow every character with fullness and authenticity, fashioning rich metaphors and emotional nuance and fusing them into an exquisite, unforgettable awakening."
More from the Sundance listing about the Film and review >

NEW YORK TIMES.COM – November 30, 2011 – “Eclectic as Ever, Sundance Unveils Competition Lineup,” mentions THE SURROGATE, by Brooks Barnes

More about The Surrogate – click here

Synopsis – click here

Find out why it’s a family affair – click here