THE suspense drama The Good Shepherd, from Toronto’s GFT Entertainment (Crime Spree), is one of eight features announced as of press time in the World Film Festival’s Panorama Canada program.

The US$5.7 million film, directed by GFT president Lewin Webb in Hamilton, tells the story of Father Daniel Clemens (Christian Slater), a priest brought in by the church to investigate a murder allegedly committed by a fellow man of the cloth. Molly Parker plays Clemens’ former girlfriend, a TV reporter also on the murder trail, while Stephen Rea is on board as the archbishop’s top lawyer and the venerable Gordon Pinsent assumes the role of Cardinal Ledesma.

Webb’s directorial debut The Limit, starring Lauren Bacall, played at WFF 2003, so The Good Shepherd’s acceptance this year seemed only natural, says Gary Howsam, GFT Entertainment CEO and the film’s producer.

‘I think the film turned out well, and I think it shows Lewin’s coming to grips with his craft as a director,’ Howsam says.

GFT, which makes a lot of films in the straight-to-video mold, sold U.S. rights to the movie to New York’s New American Films against a substantial advance prior to principal photography. ‘Obviously we’d like to see them get some kind of [theatrical] release out of it, but it’s not really within our control anymore,’ Howsam explains. Alliance Atlantis holds Canadian rights, and GFT parent company Peace Arch Entertainment has international.

A wet, unfinished print of the film played at Cannes, and Howsam reports the screening was well-attended and well-received. ‘But because we had no video materials, we didn’t have any chance to really follow up with it in any meaningful way. [WFF] just gives us another chance to exhibit in a way that implies some level [of quality]. That a festival invites a picture to be screened is a plus. It makes it easier to interest distributors in your film.’

GFT says the film has sold in nine territories throughout South America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. *

-www.gfte.com