Bill Nighy and Makram Khoury Star in ‘A Town In Nova Scotia’ — First Glimpse as Paradise City Starts Sales at Cannes Market
Paris-based Paradise City Sales has unveiled a first look at Bill Nighy and Makram Khoury in Babak Jalali’s upcoming drama, A Town in Nova Scotia. The film, set in Liverpool, is slated for release next month.
In the film, Nighy portrays Leon, an Irishman contemplating a new life in Canada’s picturesque Nova Scotia after the death of his wife. Guided by his daughter’s suggestion, Leon grapples with his decision while simultaneously launching a campaign to improve the safety of his aging block of flats, prompted by a tragic fire in a similar property in London.
Accompanied by his neighbor and longtime friend, Saleh (Khoury), Leon disrupts the quiet lives of their fellow residents as he embarks on this mission.
This feature marks Jalali’s fifth, following his previous works, Frontier Blues (2009), Radio Dreams (2016), Land (2018), and the award-winning Fremont (2023), which premiered at Sundance and has been showcased at over 40 festivals globally.
Watch on Deadline
Jalali reflected on the film’s themes, stating, “A Town in Nova Scotia is about community and camaraderie in the latter phase of life, and choosing how and with whom you want to spend that particular phase.”
Previously known as Memento International, Paradise City Sales managed the sales for Jalali’s Fremont.
Co-written by Jalali and Carolina Cavalli, who previously collaborated on Fremont, A Town in Nova Scotia features a notable crew. This includes production designer Paulina Rzeszowska (Saint Maud), cinematographer Crystel Fournier (Girlhood), costume designer Jessica Schofield (Boiling Point), hair and makeup designer Caroline Rose (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), and BAFTA-winning casting director Lucy Pardee from Aftersun.
The film is produced by Naïma Abed and Émilie Georges for Paradise City, along with Jennifer Monks from The Fold.
Financed by a collaboration of institutions including BBC Film, BFI (backed by National Lottery funding), the Liverpool Film Office (via the LCR Production Fund), Calculus, Hoopsa Films, and Desmar, the project comprises a robust financial foundation.
Executive producers include Kristin Irving for BBC Film, Ama Ampadu for BFI, Christopher Moll for the Liverpool Film Office, Sonny Gill and Peter O’Leary for Hoopsa Films, Naomi Despres and Michèle Marshall for Desmar, and Brad Noel and Mariyah Dosani for Calculus, with development support from BBC Film.
