The Solution Entertainment Group will represent international rights to Frank Hudec’s THE SLEEPING SHEPHERD

The Solution Entertainment Group will represent international rights to Frank Hudec’s THE SLEEPING SHEPHERD, who wrote and will direct the feature film. The film stars Michael Pitt (FUNNY GAMES, HBO’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’), Imogen Poots (upcoming KNIGHT OF CUPS, GREEN ROOM, FRANK AND LOLA), Isabelle Huppert (THE PIANO TEACHER, AMOUR) and Willem Dafoe (upcoming THE GREAT WALL, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS) it was announced today by The Solution Entertainment Group’s co-founders and partners, Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel. Mike S. Ryan (JUNEBUG) will produce the film.

The Solution Entertainment Group will present the project to buyers at the upcoming European Film Market. CAA is handling North American rights.

“The cast of THE SLEEPING SHEPHERD is an extremely talented group, perfect for bringing this story of the world’s most notorious art thief to audiences around the world,” said Wilson and Nestel. “Mike S. Ryan has a proven track record for producing great independent films and we are thrilled to include this film in our slate for this year’s Berlin market.”

“I'm excited to help Frank realize a visually unique take on the heist story in a way that allows these complex characters to take the viewer into unexpected dramatic places” said Mike S Ryan.

Alex (Pitt) is a failed painter who decided he would rather steal great art than paint it. As he criss-crosses Europe, he meets a bored rich girl, Karoline (Poots), who gets a sexual thrill from art theft. Their Bonnie and Clyde escapade is cut short when Alex’s arrogance leads to his capture. In an effort to save him, his co-dependent mother (Huppert) destroys two billion-dollars worth of irreplaceable masterpieces by chopping them up and tossing them into the nearby Rhine Canal. Alex and his mother are sent to jail, but in a strange twist of irony, Alex’s jailhouse paintings become collector’s items.

THE SLEEPING SHEPHERD is inspired by the true life story of the world’s most notorious art thief, Stéphane Breitwieser. Breitwieser admitted to stealing 239 works of art from 172 museums and exhibits across Europe beginning in 1995 until he was caught in 2001.

Dynamic young actor Michael Pitt can be seen in Lionsgate’s April 2016 release CRIMINAL with Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds, Gary Oldman, and Kevin Costner. He has previously appeared in films such as Michael Haneke’s FUNNY GAMES with Naomi Watts and Tim Roth, Gus Van Sant’s LAST DAYS, I ORIGINS, THE DREAMERS, and the HBO series ‘Boardwalk Empire’. He is represented by CAA, LBI Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello & Adams.

Imogen Poots’ credits include 28 WEEKS LATER, JANE EYRE, GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY, A LATE QUARTET; THE ELOOK OF LOVE, JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE, FILTH and THAT AWKWARD MOMENT.  Upcoming, Poots stars alongside Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, and Natalie Portman in Terrence Malik’s KNIGHT OF CUPS, Jeremy Sulnier’s GREEN ROOM alongside Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat and Patrick Stewart, as well as Matthew Ross’ FRANK AND LOLA, opposite Michael Shannon. She is represented by CAA, Independent Talent Group, and Morris Yorn.

Isabelle Huppert has crossed international lines starring in beloved films such as Michael Haneke’s Oscar winning foreign film AMOUR,  David O. Russell’s I HEART HUCKABEES and the critically acclaimed 8 WOMEN. A multi-award winning actress, Huppert has won the Cannes Film Festival best actress prize for her role in THE PIANO TEACHER and has received multiple Cesar Award nominations across her prolific career. She is represented by CAA, Voyez Mon Agent in France, and Principal Entertainment.

Willem Dafoe has several upcoming films slated for release in 2016 including Zhang Yimou’s THE GREAT WALL for Universal Pictures, co-starring Matt Damon, WHAT HAPPENED TO MONDAY with Noomi Rapace, Paul Schrader's DOG EAT DOG opposite Nicolas Cage, and THE HEADHUNTER’S CALLING with Alison Brie and Gerard Butler.  Dafoe’s recent credits include Wes Anderson’s Academy Award Winning THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL and the box-office successes JOHN WICK and THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.   Dafoe is represented by CAA and Circle of Confusion.