Frozen’s’ Idina Menzel, ‘The Big Short’s’ Jae Suh Park Join ‘Latchkey Kids,’

Idina Menzel (“Frozen,” “Uncut Gems”) and Jae Suh Park (“The Big Short”) have joined Golden Globe nominee Elsie Fisher (“Eighth Grade”) and Alan S. Kim (“Minari”) for “Latchkey Kids,” which David Garrett’s Mister Smith Entertainment has boarded as its sales agent.

Starlings Entertainment is also now on board to co-produce and finance the feature, which Mister Smith is launching at this week’s European Film Market in Berlin where it bids fair to become one of the market standouts.

Directed by John J. Budion, whose feature debut was the acclaimed fest hit “Rockaway,” and with a script from Meaghan Cleary, “Latchkey Kids” is scheduled to start production in late Spring. Ken H. Keller and Caron Rudner of Related Pictures Group produce. Executive producers are Brendan Thomas of Luber Roklin, Cory Thompson, and RPG’s David Polemeni and Donald Malter.

Full Article HERE By John Hopewell

Elsie Fisher And ‘Minari’ Star Alan S. Kim To Star In Dark Comedy ‘Latchkey Kids’ -Deadline

Following his breakout role in award season daring Minari, Alan S. Kim is set to star opposite Eighth Grade star Elsie Fisher in Latchkey Kids. The film will be directed by John J. Budion, whose last film was the multi award-winner “Rockaway”. READ FULL ARTICLE

A24 Darlings Alan S. Kim, Elsie Fisher to Team for ‘Latchkey Kids’ - VARIETY

The film will be directed by John J. Budion, whose last pic was acclaimed “Rockaway,” with a script from Meaghan Cleary. Ken H. Keller and Caron Rudner of Related Pictures Group will produce. Brendan Thomas and Tact Media’s Cory Thompson will executive produce. RPG’s David Polemeni and Donald Malter will also serve as executive producers. READ FULL ARTICLE

What to Stream This Weekend: “Rockaway,” a Boy’s Stark and Moving Tale of Surviving Domestic Violence

THE NEW YORKER - Jan 11, 2019 - by Richard Brody

John J. Budion’s first feature, “Rockaway,” which opens Friday, January 11th, in limited release as well as streaming (including on Amazon and iTunes) and on video-on-demand, is an old-school independent film. It’s the work of an outsider, though one of a very insider-y kind. Budion, who wrote and directed the film, is a young veteran of the movie business—a longtime video-effects artist (on films including “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “Zoolander 2”) and a prominent director of TV commercials. As a title card at the beginning of “Rockaway” states, the film is “inspired by true events,” and its basis in Budion’s painful experience accounts for both its terrifying emotional urgency and its aesthetics. The film is at the same time intensely personal and riddled with occasionally cringe-inducing clichés. No matter: “Rockaway” is an agonized and sharply moving film.

Read the full NEW YORKER article HERE.

ROCKAWAY wins BEST FILM & BEST DIRECTOR at LongBeach Int. Film Festival!

ROCKAWAY took home the awards of BEST FILM and BEST DIRECTOR at their New York Premiere as part of the Long Beach International Film Festival. This was their 5th such award for Best Film, and the first Best Director nod for John J. Budion.

Tickets for the premiere of the film went on sale at the brand new Regal Theater in Lynbrook, and 10 minutes later, they were sold out! The festival then added on an encore screening of ROCKAWAY at the Madison Theater at Molloy College to adhere to the demand. One day later, another 600 seats had sold out!

Their story was covered in Newsday as well as the LI Herald! We hear major distribution news is coming very soon, for a much wider audience to get the chance to see this coming of age gem!