TIFF Film ’40 Acres’ Facing Claims by IATSE Over Alleged Unpaid Crew, Vendors

Producers of 40 Acres, a dystopian thriller starring Danielle Deadwyler that had its world premiere at TIFF, have addressed cost overruns during the movie’s production a year ago that led to some local crew and vendors being left unpaid, according to the U.S.-based union IATSE.

“We had cost overruns on the production. It’s a big, wonderful movie financed almost entirely out of Canada, but we made payroll every week and in a timely manner,” the film’s producer, Jennifer Holness, told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, some vendors remain unpaid. We take this matter seriously and have been working tirelessly with independent accountants to address all approved costs and we have kept vendors informed that we remain committed to paying them also,” Holness added.

On the heels of 40 Acres bowing at TIFF, IATSE issued a statement indicating the film’s producers had yet to fully pay wages and monies owed to local crews, actors and vendors.

“The production has… yet to settle outstanding payments owed to some of its actors and crew. It is profoundly disappointing to learn that 40 Acres is being showcased at festivals such as TIFF while there are significant outstanding payments to its employees and vendors,” IATSE said in a statement after the Oct. 2023 production shoot for 40 Acres in Sudbury, Ontario.

Holness said those still owed monies after the 40 Acres shoot have been told they will be made whole once the film is sold out of TIFF, with the last written communication being Sept. 3. “It has been difficult, but through sheer hard work, passion and many sleepless nights, we are ready to launch our excellent film with the goal to sell the movie and resolve the situation for our vendors,” she said.

40 Acres, directed by R.T. Thorne, stars Deadwyler as Hailey Freeman, as she and her family are the last descendants of African American farmers who settled in rural Canada after the Civil War and now struggle to safeguard their farm while making one last stand against a militia hell-bent on taking their 40 Acres.

Visit Films has the world sales rights to the indie feature, excluding Canada, where Mongrel Media earlier picked up the local distribution rights. Holness did not comment on current sales talks for 40 Acres to avoid interfering with any potential deal.  

Besides its statement, IATSE was not available for direct comment on the 40 Acres cost-overruns after THR reached out.