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La Biennale di Venezia

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Cinema

The Testament of Ann Lee

Venezia 82 Competition
Director:
Mona Fastvold
Production:
Kaplan Morrison (Andrew Morrison), Intake Films (Joshua Horsfield), Proton Cinema (Viktória Petrányi)
Running Time:
130’
Language:
English
Country:
United Kingdom
Main Cast:
Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, Matthew Beard, Scott Handy, Jamie Bogyo, Viola Prettejohn, David Cale
Screenplay:
Mona Fastvold, Brady Corbet
Cinematographer:
William Rexer
Editor:
Sofia Subercaseaux
Production Designer:
Samuel Bader
Costume Designer:
Małgorzata Karpiuk
Music:
Daniel Blumberg
Sound:
Steve Single, Andy Neil
Visual Effects:
Automatik VFX - Des Anwar

Synopsis

An epic fable inspired by the life of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers, a radical religious movement that began in the late 1700s.

Director’s Statement

Our film is a speculative retelling of the life of Ann Lee, one of the few female religious leaders of the 18th century. She and her followers, known as the Shakers, worshipped through ecstatic song and movement — trembling, exuberant, and physically expressive acts of devotion. I was raised in a secular household, and yet Ann Lee’s prophecies — however implausible — moved me deeply. Not because I share her faith, but because I recognise in her a yearning for justice, transcendence, and communal grace. Her radical pursuit of a self- fashioned utopia speaks to the creative impulse at the heart of all artistic endeavour: the urgent need to shape the world anew. In particular, her clarity of vision and ability to guide others toward a shared ideal recalls the collaborative spirit that underpins any creative undertaking — whether composing a symphony, building a building, or making a film. Each discipline is defined by the same striving: the search for moments of grace. This film is offered as a tribute to her dream — and the silence that now surrounds it.

Production/Distribution

PRODUCTION 1:
Kaplan Morrison - Andrew Morrison
138 Mulberry Street, 5C
10013 New York, NY, United States of America
E-mail: info@kaplanmorrison.com

PRODUCTION 2:
Intake Films - Joshua Horsfield
7th Floor Palladium House, 1-4 Argyll Street
W1F7TA London, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 7808056891
E-mail: joshuahorsfield@yahoo.co.uk
Web: http://www.intakefilms.com

PRODUCTION 3:
Proton Cinema - Viktória Petrányi
Pozsonyi út 14
1137 Budapest, Hungary
Tel: +36 30 9005961
E-mail: viktoria@protoncinema.hu
Web: http://www.protoncinema.hu

WORLD SALES 1:
CAA
2000 Avenue of the Stars
90067 Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
Tel: +1 424-288-2000
E-mail: filmsales@caa.com

WORLD SALES 2:
Charades
3 Rue des Cottages
75018 Paris, France
Tel: +33 6 40 64 66 00
E-mail: sales@charades.eu
Web: https://charades.eu/

INTERNATIONAL AND ITALIAN PRESS OFFICE:
Claudia Tomassini, Paola Schettino Nobile - claudiatomassini + associates
E-mail: festivals@claudiatomassini.com

US PRESS OFFICE:
Emilie Spiegel - Cinetic Marketing
26 Broadway, 14th floor
10004 New York, NY, United States of America
Tel: +1-516-524-9392
E-mail: emilie@cineticmedia.com


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Biennale Cinema
Biennale Cinema