Filmmaker Babak Jalali has unveiled an early glimpse of his upcoming feature A Town in Nova Scotia, starring acclaimed actor Bill Nighy. The film is set to enter the international market at the Cannes Film Festival through global sales handled by Paradise City Sales.
This marks the fifth feature from Babak Jalali, who previously gained global recognition with his film Fremont. His earlier projects have been showcased at major festivals including Locarno Rotterdam and Berlin, establishing his reputation in independent cinema.
In A Town in Nova Scotia, Bill Nighy plays Leon, an elderly widower living in Liverpool. After being encouraged by his daughter to relocate to Canada, Leon instead embarks on a mission to improve safety conditions in his residential building following news of a devastating fire incident in London. Alongside his close friend Salah, portrayed by Makram J Khoury, he challenges the quiet routine of fellow residents in a story centered on friendship resilience and small acts of courage.
The film is co-written by Carolina Cavalli, who previously collaborated with Jalali on Fremont. The creative team also includes production designer Paulina Rzeszowska, cinematographer Crystel Fournier, costume designer Jessica Schofield, and casting director Lucy Pardee.
According to Babak Jalali, the project explores themes of companionship and purpose later in life, focusing on how individuals choose to spend their time and who they share it with. The director also expressed enthusiasm about collaborating once again with Paradise City Sales following their previous partnership.
The film has been developed with support from BBC Film, and further distribution details in the UK are expected to be announced soon.