Franka Potente,who is showcasing her directorial debut DiggingFor Belladonna in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino programme, has joined the cast of Arclight Film's Australia-set drama Romulus, My Father.

The German star will appear opposite Eric Bana in the adaptation of philosopher RaimondGaita's award-winning memoir about the strong bondwith his Yugoslavian emigre father at a time ofintense hardship in 1950s rural Victoria.

Australian theatre director Richard Roxburgh will direct theproject based on a screenplay by Nick Drake. Principal photography is set tobegin in April in Victoria. RobertConnolly and John Maynard's Arenafilm are producingand Arclight Films' managing director Gary Hamiltonand company co-founder Victor Syrmis are serving asexecutive producers with Andrew Myer.

"The BourneIdentity and its sequel forged Franka into aninternational star," Hamiltonsaid. "We know she will bring an intensity tothis role that reflects the beauty and sadness of the film. We are thrilled tohave her on-board."