IFC Films has acquired worldwide rights to Nicole Riegel’s second feature film, “Dandelion,” which stars KiKi Layne. Filming for the romantic drama begins this week, with a theatrical release planned for next year.
KiKi Layne, who will also serve as an executive producer, portrays Dandelion, a struggling singer-songwriter from Cincinnati. Facing a downward spiral, she reluctantly accepts a last-ditch gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota. There, she meets Casey, a guitarist who abandoned his dreams long ago. As Dandelion joins Casey’s eclectic group of musicians, they create music together and embark on a whirlwind romance. This journey helps Dandelion shift her focus from a narrow view of success to a deeper appreciation of her artistic path, ultimately discovering her authentic voice.
Layne expressed her excitement about the project, stating, “I’m very excited to bring forth a story about the resilience of the human spirit and the magic of serendipity taking center stage. Music is an integral part of my life, so being able to merge the two worlds with my passion for acting is a dream come true, and I’m thrilled to be in partnership with IFC Films.”
The film is produced by Rian Cahill of Griffin Drive Productions, Adam Cobb, Pete McClellan, and Nicole Riegel. Executive producers include Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger of Automatik, BondIt Media Capital’s Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, and Tyler Gould, along with Aaron and Bryce Dessner and IFC Films.
Nicole Riegel shared her enthusiasm for the project, saying, “I’m thrilled to deepen and continue my relationship with my IFC family and to work with this dream team of producers and crew. It’s an honor to create music with Aaron and Bryce Dessner, two of the best and most respected musicians and composers in the world. It’s been such a rewarding partnership with KiKi Layne in a role that showcases her authenticity and gorgeous music abilities. Dandelion is a film about dreams and a love of process, so there’s a lot of art imitating life on this one.”
Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Films, added, “Nicole is an exceptional talent and we could not be more excited to have her return home to IFC Films with her second feature, as well as welcome KiKi Layne to the family. The entire creative team behind the film are some of the best in the business and we are proud to continue to support rising new voices in the industry by coming on board at this early stage.”
IFC Films and Riegel previously collaborated on the release of her coming-of-age drama “Holler,” which starred Jessica Barden, Gus Halper, Pamela Aldon, Becky Ann Baker, and Austin Amelio.
KiKi Layne gained recognition for her breakout role in Barry Jenkins’ 2018 drama “If Beale Street Could Talk,” earning accolades and a Gotham Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor.
Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National are composing the original music and score for “Dandelion.” Their film credits include “Bardo,” “The Revenant,” and “The Two Popes” (Bryce), as well as “Cyrano” and “C’mon C’mon” (Aaron and Bryce). The brothers are Grammy-winning artists, known for their work with The National and collaborations with other artists.
The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films SVP of Acquisitions and Productions Scott Shooman with WME Independent. Riegel is represented by Entertainment 360 and André Des Rochers of Granderson Des Rochers LLP. Layne is represented by WME, Anonymous Content, and Sloan Offer.
Nicole Riegel, a Wright State University alum, will premiere “Dandelion” at the South by Southwest Film and TV Festival. The film tells the story of Dandelion, a struggling singer-songwriter from Cincinnati who takes a last-ditch gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota. There, she meets Casey, a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago. As Dandelion joins Casey’s group of musicians, they create music together and develop a whirlwind romance. This experience helps Dandelion appreciate her artistic journey and discover her authentic voice.
Riegel shared, “‘Dandelion’ is a film about dreams and a love of process, so there’s a lot of art imitating life on this one.”
The film stars KiKi Layne, who has appeared in “If Beale Street Could Talk,” “Don’t Worry Darling,” and “Native Son.” Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National wrote the original music and score for the film. “Dandelion” will be distributed by IFC Films, which acquired its worldwide rights.
Riegel’s debut film, “Holler,” was named one of the Top 10 Independent Films of 2021 by the National Board of Review. Riegel grew up in Jackson, Ohio, and served in the Army National Guard following high school. She graduated from Wright State in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in motion pictures and the Master of Fine Arts writing program at the University of California-Los Angeles.
“Dandelion” is inspired by Riegel’s experience as a filmmaker and explores the struggles of a female artist. Riegel stated, “I wanted to share how it feels to go through my artistic process in a world that quietly tells me each day that my voice does not matter. In a world and industry of male hero worship: men are mentors. Women, their muses. Men with strong visions are moody auteurs. Women with strong visions are stubborn nightmares. Men pick up guitars and film cameras. Women inspire and are filmed.”
Layne’s portrayal of Dandelion, a struggling singer-songwriter, resonates with her own experiences as a musician and singer-songwriter from Cincinnati. Layne said, “People can expect a more grounded representation of many of the internal struggles that artists go through, especially as we get older and our confidence and belief in ourselves waver. This film really highlights the songwriters’ journey, and I am grateful that in this role I got to truly be a songwriter and help contribute to the music in the film as well.”
“Dandelion” is distributed by IFC Films and will be released later this year. The film co-stars Thomas Doherty, Melanie Nicholls-King, Brady Stablein, Jack Stablein, and Grace Kaiser.
Source: IndieWire, IFC Films, Wright State University
