Screenings of two Wilmington-made films at the Toronto International Film Festival delivered earlier this month, earning filmmakers standing ovations at packed premieres, producers said. Audience members at the premiere of “Arthur Newman,” which stars Oscar-winner Colin Firth and Emily Blunt, responded positively, while laughter and tears accompanied the debut of “Writers,” a dramatic comedy starring Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly. During the TIFF, Millennium Entertainment picked up U.S. distribution rights to “Writers.”
Combined, the features had a direct in-state spend of more than $10 million while providing nearly 900 job opportunities, according to the N.C. Film Office.
Producers for “Arthur Newman,” which also filmed in Raleigh, Durham and Graham, said their experience filming in the region would bring them back. “One of the big reasons for coming was the incentives, but it was also the crew base and the community,” Executive Producer Helen Cappuccino said. “We’re looking forward to finding other projects to do there.”