Foundation Features and Rodeo Queen Pictures have started the cameras rolling on Ana Valine‘s feature debut Sitting on the Edge of Marlene.

The coming-of-age drama stars Suzanne Clement, Paloma Kwiatkowski and Callum Keith Rennie and is currently filming in Maple Ridge and Langley, British Columbia.

Based on the Billie Livingston novella The Trouble With Marlene, the indie feature is told through the eyes of clean living 16 year-old girl, Sammie (Kwiatkowski), who gets drawn into the family con business while waiting for her father to leave prison.

Laurence Anyways‘ Clément plays the young girl’s pill-popping, alcoholic mother.

Valine most recently directed How Eunice Got Her Baby through the Canadian Film Centre’s short dramatic film program.

Sitting on the Edge of Marlene is produced by Amber Ripley and executive produced by Rob Merilees.

Denys Arcand is also executive producing.

Sitting on the Edge of Marlene received financing from Telefilm Canada, the Harold Greenberg Fund and BC Film + Media.

Entertainment One, which is shopping the rights to the indie feature internationally, will release Sitting on the Edge of Marlene in Canada.