Kickstarter heroine Kristen Bell stars in the Sundance premiere directed by Liz W Garcia. Joker Films handles international rights.

Screen Media and Focus World, the alternative distribution channel operated by Focus Features, will release The Lifeguard in theatres and on digital platforms this summer.

The Lifeguard follows a formerly successful woman who leaves New York and returns to live in her parents’ house in the suburbs after her career and love life come crashing down.

Mamie Gummer, Martin Starr and Amy Madigan round out the key cast. Mike Landry and Carlos Velazquez of C Plus Pictures, Harto and Garcia of La Pistola and Attic Light Films’ Milan Chakraborty produced.

Screen Media president Suzanne Blech and director of marketing and acquisitions Seth Needle negotiated alongside Focus evp of strategic planning, business affairs and acquisitions Avy Eschenasy and director of alternative content and distribution Kent Sanderson. CAA represented the film-makers.

Bell hit the headlines earlier this month when she and Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas raised $2m on Kickstarter to make a feature version of the hit mid-2000s TV mystery show in which Bell starred.

Warner Bros said if the fundraisers reached the target it would assist in various aspects of distribution, marketing and publicity.

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