Richard Loncraine to direct ‘Finding Your Feet’

Richard Loncraine has signed on to direct romantic comedy Finding Your Feet, centred on a woman whose life is turned upside-down as she enters retirement.

The film is written by Meg Leonard and Nick Moorcroft (Urban Hymn, St. Trinian’s) and is produced by Dashishah Global Film Production, Eclipse Films and Powder Keg Pictures.

The shoot is scheduled to start in October on location in London and Venice. Regular Loncraine collaborator Irene Lamb is casting. 

Loncraine, perhaps best known for directing Ian McKellen in Richard III (1995) and romcom Wimbledon (2004), most recently made 5 Flights Up, starring Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton, which was released in the US earlier this month, distributed by Focus.

Finding Your Feet follows a middle class, judgmental snob who finds her aspirational world turned upside down as she approaches retirement. Unable to deal with the “shame” of her predicament she goes into exile with her estranged bohemian sister, who lives on an inner-city council estate and is a keen member of a senior citizens dance group based at London’s Sadlers Wells.

Loncraine said: “Good stories are hard to find, and great one’s all but impossible. Sometimes you get lucky. Finding Your Feet is for me the best kind of story. It is about people, and how they’re lives entwine.

“The script made me cry and laugh - often at the same time. I cannot wait to get into production on this moving and funny film”.

Eclipse Films producer John Sachs said Loncraine had a “distinct vision” for the feature as well as “an understanding of the complexities of balancing comedy with drama”.

Executive producers Anwar Kawadri and Ibrahim Dashishah will co-finance the project through their Swiss-based company, Dashishah Global Film Production.

Sachs will produce alongside Andrew Berg, Leonard and Moorcroft. Fred Films’ James Spring, Eclipse’s Brian Berg and Powder Keg’s John Stevens will executive produce alongside Anwar Kawadri and Ibrahim Dashishah from DGFP.

Loncraine, Leonard and Moorcroft are all represented by Casarotto Ramsey Associates. Leonard and Moorcroft are also represented by Verve in Los Angeles.