Ondi Timoner (pictured), director of Sundance Jury GrandPrix documentary winner Dig!, is todirect a "History Of Jamaican Music" for Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures. Theepic documentary, which will encompass dub, ska and reggae, will be given atheatrical release.
As the founder of Island Records, Jamaican-based Blackwellowns the rights to Bob Marley's music and archives. As a film producer, he hasbeen behind such recent Jamaican features as Dance Hall Queen and ThirdWorld Cop.
The relationship between Timoner and Palm Pictures wasforged in Sundance, where Palm took North American theatrical and DVD rights toDig!. The US release is scheduled forearly October. Tartan is in advanced negotiations to take UK rights to thefilm, which is likely to receive its British premiere at the London FilmFestival in the autumn.
Meanwhile, Timoner is preparing her first dramatic feature,a biopic about songwriter Glen Shirley, who was discovered in prison by countrylegend Johnny Cash. Thomas Jane is attached to star in the film, which will beproduced by Lou Pitt.
Dig! is being soldinternationally by Celluloid Dreams. The film, which focuses on therelationship between US rock bands The Dandy Warhols and The Brian JonestownMassacre, screened on Friday at the Locarno Festival.
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