Toronto-based distributor-turned-producer D Films has started production in Belgium on Dreamland. 

The Canada/Luxembourg/Belgium copro marks the first production from D Films’ recently launched production division, led by Rob Merilees.

Dreamland, directed by Bruce McDonald, is written by Canadian screenwriters Tony Burgess (Pontypool) and Patrick Whistler (Ashram ’69). It stars Canadian actor Stephen McHattie (Born to be Blue), as well as Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers), Tómas Lemarquis (Blade Runner 2049) and Henry Rollins, frontman of punk rock band Black Flag (He Never Died). The dark comedy follows a veteran hitman as he chases his jazz legend doppelganger around a city populated by street urchins, a vampire and an underworld crime boss.

The film is executive produced by Merilees, D Films’ Michael Robson and Jim Sherry, alongside Morris Ruskin and Joseph Chen. Producers on the film are Amber Ripley of Vancouver’s Goodbye Productions, Jesus Gonzalez of Luxembourg-based Calach Films, and Sebastian Schelenz of Belgium’s Velvet Films.

Currently slated for a 2018 theatrical release, D Films will handle distribution in Canada. Shoreline Entertainment is handling international sales.

Dreamland received financing from Telefilm Canada, Film Fund Luxembourg, Fortis Film Fund, Wallimage and BE TV with development support from Telefilm Canada and Creative BC.