London, 27 October 2016. In the lead up to the American Film Market, Independent have come on board to represent available territories on Bright Pictures and Daryl Prince Productions’ heartwarming comedy THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.   The film is written and directed by Oscar-nominee Roger Goldby (THE DURRELLS, THE WAITING ROOM) and stars Golden Globe-winner Dame Joan Collins (ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, DYNASTY), BAFTA-winner Pauline Collins (QUARTET, SHIRLEY VALENTINE) and Franco Nero (DJANGO, LETTERS TO JULIET). It is produced by Sarah Sulick (HONEYTRAP, THE WAITING ROOM) and Azim Bolkiah (DARK PLACES). 
 
Music for the film is being composed by Oscar-winner Stephen Warbeck (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, BILLY ELLIOT). Multi Oscar-winner Sir Tim Rice (THE LION KING, EVITA) is an executive producer and will also be writing a song for the film.  
Financiers for the film include a private EIS fund via Bright Pictures plus additional investment from Daryl Prince Productions and Creativity Capital. Gap finance was provided by Augustin Capital in consultation with Graphic Demo Films with Head Gear cashflowing the UK film tax relief.   
Independent are holding a screening to show first footage of the film at the AFM.  
 
Independent’s MD Andrew Orr said “We are very excited to bring first footage of THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES to buyers at AFM.  It’s a warm, funny and hopeful story of Joan Collins and Pauline Collins enjoying an adventure with Franco Nero in and around Ile de Re, France.  There is a consistent loyal audience for independent films which speak to the baby boomer generation and we’re looking forward to seeing this film connect with commercial audiences around the world.’’ 
 
Producer Sarah Sulick said, ‘’We’re delighted to have Independent selling THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES. They are a brilliant team who truly get the film, how it makes you laugh out loud and is also incredibly moving and ultimately life-affirming. We feel strongly that buyers will agree Joan and Pauline deliver outstanding performances and are the perfect buddy movie odd couple: two very different women who come together by chance, go on an incredible journey, and end up as true friends. We believe audiences will identify with these mischievous, complicated, mature female characters – and how they break free.’’ 
 
Joan Collins is represented by Ashley Vallance at Cole Kitchenn. 

 
Pauline Collins is represented by Sarah Camlett at Independent Talent. Franco Nero is represented by Michelle Burke at Gavin Barker Associates. 
 
 
Synopsis: Determined to gate-crash her ex-lover’s funeral on glamorous French hideaway Ile de Re, former Hollywood siren HELEN (Joan Collins) escapes her London retirement home with the help of repressed English housewife PRISCILLA (Pauline Collins). Pooling their limited resources, they hit the road together by coach, ferry, car, and foot in a race to get to the funeral on time, becoming embroiled in a romantic triangle with a reclusive Italian painter (Franco Nero) along the way. On this unforgettable journey, they find true friendship in one another – and have the time of their lives. 
 
Editor’s Notes: 
 
Roger Goldby – Writer/ Director After early success with his Oscar-nominated short film “It’s Good to Talk”, in 2006 Roger teamed up with Producer Sarah Sulick to make his debut feature film The Waiting Room. A contemporary London romance starring Anne-Marie Duff and Rupert Graves, The Waiting Room premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival where it was selected for “Best of the Fest”.   
The film subsequently sold to 15 international territories, including Lions Gate for the UK; IFC Films for the US; and E1 Entertainment for Canada.  It was released in UK cinemas in 2008 and was critically acclaimed. 
Roger’s TV career has flourished alongside his film career. He is a highly experienced director who works all over the world. His recent TV credits include “The Durrells” (Sid Gentle) for ITV and PBS,”Call the Midwife” (Neal Street) for BBC One and PBS, “Love and Marriage” (Tiger Aspect) for ITV, “Hustle” (Kudos) for BBC One, and “Death in Paradise” (Red Planet) for BBC One.    
Joan Collins - Helen Dame Joan Collins possesses a star quality that circles the globe. Instantly recognizable and utterly unforgettable, she has come to define what it means to be a living legend. A highly accomplished actress, author and entrepreneur, Joan Collins has built a career that places her in the unrivaled ranks of international superstar and icon.  
Joan Collins has appeared in more than 65 feature films and dozens of television series, including creating the villainess character of Alexis Carrington on “Dynasty”, one of the most highly rated television dramas of all time, for which she won a Golden Globe. Her novels and memoirs have sold over 50 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 30 languages.  
 
Pauline Collins – Priscilla Pauline Collins is one of Britain’s most beloved award-winning actresses having worked extensively across film, TV and theatre for several decades, starting with “Upstairs, Downstairs” in 1970. 
 
The feature film Shirley Valentine made Pauline an overnight global sensation winning her a BAFTA for her performance, and also nominations for Best Actress at the Oscars and Golden Globe Awards.  
 
Recently she received critical acclaim on the big screen for her poignant yet vibrant turn as the scatty Cissy in Dustin Hoffman’s hit film Quartet (2012). 
 
Franco Nero – Alberto After being spotted by John Houston for the epic The Bible: In the beginning, Franco found fame with his starring role in Sergio Corbucci's Django (1966).  He then went on to star in 

 

nearly 200 films. His most famous English language films include playing Lancelot in Camelot (1967) opposite Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave, The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Enter the Ninja (1981) and Die Hard 2 (1990). 
 
More recently Franco appeared in Letters to Juliet (2010) alongside Vanessa Redgrave, and in Tarantino’s Django Unchained (2012). 
 
Sarah Sulick – Producer Sarah is an Anglo-American producer based in London.  She is the primary producer and MD at Bright Pictures, which has received development awards for its slate of projects from the BFI and the European MEDIA programme.  Sarah recently produced Honeytrap (w/d Rebecca Johsnon), which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and SXSW 2015 and was subsequently released in UK and US cinemas. 
 
Previously Sarah was Head of Development at Stephen Evans’ production company Scorpio Films, where she was an associate producer on Deepa Mehta’s The Republic of Love (2003), which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and also developed Dear Frankie (2005), which premiered at Cannes and was distributed by Pathe/Miramax. 
 
Bright Pictures Bright Pictures develops and produces feature films with artistic, social and commercial value. The company was formed in 2006 when Producer Sarah Sulick and Writer/Director Roger Goldby teamed up to make Roger’s feature film debut The Waiting Room, released by Lionsgate (UK) and IFC Films (US). Bright Pics’ most recent production, Honeytrap, premiered at BFI’s London Film Festival and SXSW and was released in UK cinemas by Platform Entertainment and in US cinemas and Netflix through Ava du Vernay’s Array. 
 
Daryl Prince Productions  DPP was founded in 2012. Based in the UK, the company has been involved in the production and financing of 5 feature films to date, including You’re Not You (Hilary Swank and Emmy Rossum), Dark Places (Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz and Nicholas Hoult) and Wild Oats (Jessica Lange, Shirley MacLaine, Demi Moore and Billy Connolly). 
 
 
Independent Independent specialises in the development, financing, production, and distribution of independent feature films.  
 
Independent’s latest production is the critically acclaimed THE FALLING by upcoming British filmmaker Carol Morley. Previously, Independent produced John Banville’s Booker Prize winning novel THE SEA which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival 2013. In 2011, Independent produced the celebrated adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s novel WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, directed by Lynne Ramsay, and world premiered it in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.  

Independent also acquires third party rights to manage through its sales and distribution divisions, led by Andrew Orr.  Latest titles include GIMME DANGER, the ultimate documentary on Iggy Pop and The Stooges by acclaimed filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Mat Whitecross’ documentary on OASIS, titled SUPERSONIC, and I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER directed by Billy O’Brien and starring Max Records and Christopher Lloyd, as well as ADULT LIFE SKILLS, directed by Rachel Tunnard and starring Jodie Whittaker.  
 
At the AFM, Independent will also represent THE ESCAPE by Dominic Savage, starring Dominic Cooper and Gemma Arterton, Michael Winterbottom’s ON THE ROAD, and Thomas Napper’s Boxing Movie JAWBONE starring Ray Winstone, Michael Smiley and Johnny Harris. Independent have also taken on BROTHERHOOD, the final instalment of Noel Clarke’s acclaimed ‘Hood’ trilogy, which was released by Lionsgate in the UK, realizing a box office of £3.7m. Toby Jones’ KALEIDOSCOPE is also on the line up.  
 
Further press information Contact Sarah Lebutsch 020 7257 8734/ sarahl@independentfilmcompany.com