Audrey’s Children -The new film, starring Natalie Dormer, Jimmi Simpson and Clancy Brown, is picked up by Blue Harbor

The award-winning film AUDREY’S CHILDREN has landed at Blue Harbor Entertainment for a March 28 nationwide theatrical release. The filmmakers were excited by Blue Harbor’s fresh take on distribution, which landed them the U.S. rights to the inspirational drama.

Directed by Ami Canaan Mann (Jackie & Ryan), the true story of a remarkable hero stars Natalie Dormer (“Game of Thrones”, The Wasp) as Dr. Audrey Evans, with Jimmi Simpson (Dark Matter), Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption), and Brandon Micheal Hall (“Search Party”) in supporting roles.

AUDREY’S CHILDREN tells the untold true story of visionary British physician Dr. Audrey Evans, who burst onto the scene in 1969 as the first female Chief of Oncology at the world-renowned Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Battling sexism, medical conventions, and the subterfuge of her peers, Evans developed the first Neuroblastoma Staging System, co-founded the first Ronald McDonald House for families of patients, and, ultimately, impacted the lives of millions of children and families around the world.

With passionate support from the global non-profit, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and children’s hospitals across the U.S., the filmmakers and Blue Harbor will mount a grassroots campaignto engage individuals whose lives have been changed by Dr. Evans, as well as those who have yet to learn about her momentous work.

With a female star, director, writer/producer and more, the story of one of the nation’s most significant female physicians is hitting theaters during women’s history month. March also would have been the late Dr. Audrey Evans’ 100th birthday. After years of collaborating and supporting the film, Evans passed away two weeks into the start of physical production.

“Dr Evans was a force of nature, determined and tenacious. And always with the well-being of children at the forefront of everything she did,” stated filmmaker Mann. “She’s a lodestar, really, of how to walk through the world. And when I learned about her journey, I thought, ‘Yes, this is a story I need to help tell.’”

“When Audrey’s Children came my way, I was shocked that Dr. Evans wasn’t already a household name,” Dormer shared. “Her influence rippled across the world, touching millions of lives. Playing such an extraordinary woman was an honor I couldn’t pass up and I knew I had to take on the role immediately.”

“Audrey dedicated her 97 years on earth to caring for children at all costs,” writer/producer and lifelong friend of Evans, Julia Fisher Farbman shared. “Every single member of the cast and crew now carries her legacy and are determined to continue what Audrey started.”

“It is no understatement to say that Audrey Evans is one of the world’s most underappreciated heroes. Her story is one of perseverance, dedication, and bravery, while her groundbreaking research changed the world for the better and her co-founding of Ronald McDonald House Charities continues to impact families daily. We’re so excited to be involved and honored to be sharing this with audiences everywhere later this year,” said Blue Harbor in a statement.

AUDREY’S CHILDREN won the Best Feature Award in the Tribeca X category at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. At the 2024 Philadelphia Film Festival, the film was a Jury Nominee, won the Local Audience Award and Dormer garnered a Best Actress Honorable Mention. At the 2024 Austin Film Festival, the film was a Jury Nominee and The Daily Texan called the film “nothing short of beautiful.” At the Stony Brook Film Festival, the film was honored with the 2024 Dr. Gabriel Sara Humanitarian Award.

Award-winning film and television director Ami Canaan Mann’s independent feature films Jackie and Ryan and Texas Killing Fields both premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. Her independent film, Morning, won several awards including Worldfest Houston First Feature Gold Award, and her episode of Friday Night Lights won the Television Academy’s ‘Television with a Conscience’.

Fisher Farbman of Emblem Entertainment wrote the screenplay for the film and produced with Bradley Gallo and Michael Helfant of Amasia Entertainment (Mr. Right, The Call and Wild Mountain Thyme). Executive producers include Susan Cartsonis, Suzanne Farwell, Brent Emery and ClémentBauer of Resonate Entertainment and Michael Leahy of Strike Accord.

Led by Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle, Blue Harbor Entertainment recently released writer/director Zia Mohajerjasbi’s award-winning film Know Your Place and director Olivia Kuan’s award-winning documentary The Herricanes, and will release the romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff in April.

The deal was brokered by UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers with Blue Harbor Entertainment.