Conviction

CONVICTION, is a true-life drama starring two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry) in the title role, Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), Juliette Lewis (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Natural Born Killers), and Peter Gallagher (American Beauty).

CONVICTION is a powerful and ultimately uplifting true-life story. When Betty Anne's brother Kenny (played here by Sam Rockwell) was wrongfully convicted of the brutal murder of a Massachusetts woman in 1982, Betty Anne, a high school dropout, was unable to afford the legal expertise they needed to properly defend him. 

In between raising two kids and bartending, she put herself through high school, college and law school so she could become her brother’s attorney.  She was aided in her mission by her closest friend, Abra Rice (Minnie Driver), and dedicated attorney Barry Scheck (Peter Gallagher), the driving force behind The Innocence Project. This organization was founded by lawyers Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, who pioneered the use of DNA testing to free the wrongfully imprisoned.

With their support and a tenacious battle against a corrupt and resistant legal system, finally, after 18 years in prison, Kenny Waters walked from a courtroom a free man, to be reunited with his family.

Director Tony Goldwyn: “Like Erin Brockovich, Silkwood and Norma Rae, CONVICTION is the true story of a woman’s fight against the system, her obsessive struggle to battle injustice in the face of insurmountable obstacles.  But unlike these earlier films, CONVICTION is also an exploration of the profound bond between a brother and sister – a love so deep, so unequivocal, a mutual faith so complete that it blossoms into a kind of superhuman force that will not be denied or defeated.”

The project was directed by Tony Goldwyn (The Last Kiss, A Walk on the Moon) from a screenplay by Pamela Gray (Music of the Heart, A Walk on the Moon); their second collaboration together. Andrew Sugerman (Premonition, Shopgirl, Johnson Family Vacation), Andrew S. Karsch (The Emperor’s Club, Town and Country, Princess Caribou, The Prince of Tides) and Tony Goldwyn are producing through Sugerman’s Pantheon Entertainment and Karsch’s Longfellow Pictures. Omega Entertainment, Oceana Media Finance and Prescience are financing, in association with Bank Leumi USA, with Omega distributing worldwide. Principal photography began on the 23 Febraury 2009 and the real Betty Anne was on set every day during production.

The film’s supporting cast includes Loren Dean (Enemy of the State), Ari Graynor (Mystic River), Karen Young (Nine and ½ Weeks), and Clea Duvall (Girl).

Hillary Swank is a two-time OSCAR® winner who is continually successful and commands wide exposure throughout the world. She is an Executive Producer of the film. This was an opportunity to work with one of the leading box office actresses of her generation on a project she was immensely passionate about. The Film is being sold by Omega Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros.

CONVICTION is due for release during the awards season of winter 2009/10 throughout the world.

Press:

Variety Article 11th Feb 2009