With its Toronto premiere taking place at press time, Eating Buccaneers by writer/director Bill Keenan should gain some attention – if the on-screen talent is any indicator. The comedy, about four ad execs and a client who crash-land in northern Ontario, stars Peter Keleghan (The Newsroom), Leah Pinsent (Made in Canada), Shannon Beckner (Billable Hours) Steven McCarthy (Dead Mary), Jeff White (Little Mosque on the Prairie), and Neil Crone (Mosque). Also making a cameo as a hermit trapper is screen icon Gordon Pinsent.

Casting was one part hard work and one part kismet. Keenan met Keleghan at a commercial recording at Toronto’s Pirate Radio and pitched him on the piece. He accepted and brought in Leah Pinsent. Casting director Stephanie Gorin found White, McCarthy and Beckner. For the pilot of the doomed plane, Keenan enlisted Crone, whom he had known since high school. Gordon Pinsent, staying in a lodge near the shoot, offered to do a cameo and was written into the script.

Buccaneers is Keenan’s first feature, and is also the first feature credit for producers Mark Montefiore and Jennifer Mesich. Montefiore’s short

The Armoire recently landed an honorable mention at TIFF.

The film is being distributed in Canada by KinoSmith.