New Comedy Film ‘ELIJAH’S ASHES’ Makes World Premiere with Five Nominations at Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards on March 20, 2016

ELIJAH’S ASHES comes from director Ryan Barton-Grimley, who gained much attention for his 2010 directorial debut of indie thriller, The Truth, starring John Heard, Brendan Sexton III and Daniel Baldwin, and released by Gravitas Ventures and Showtime. 

Barton-Grimley partnered with Ari Schneider to co-write, co-produce and co-star in ELIJAH’S ASHES, under his RBG Films banner and repped by Circus Road Films.

ELIJAH’S ASHES follows Lawrence Shaw (Schneider), a run of the mill guy who just can't get accepted for who he is. He's not straight enough for his job or stereotypically gay enough for his boyfriend. To make things worse, his father’s dying wish lands him on a road trip with his extremely homophobic half-brother Kevin (Barton-Grimley). This heroically dumb journey of brotherly love and acceptance begs the age old question: can you truly accept someone else when you can't even accept yourself?

Nominated for five awards at LAIFF, ELIJAH’S ASHES hit the festival circuit winning a pre-release ‘Award of Recognition’ from the Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival (HIMPFF). Up next, it heads to LA Cinefest receiving a nod for Jury Award; and makes its east coast premiere at the Manhattan Film Festival.

Previously, Barton-Grimley and Schneider teamed-up to create their infamous two-man improv team Double Pistols and comedy channel Catnuts.com, which hosts their web series Killer Friend and Lexus Man. Born in Zimbabwe, Barton-Grimley also recently produced and starred in the indie features Repatriation and Hawk & Rev: Vampire Slayers, which he also directed. Schneider, a Los Angeles native, graduated with Honors in Acting and Musical Theatre from Guildford School of Acting in England and was awarded a ‘Gold with Distinction’ from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

ELIJAH’S ASHES

LAIFFA

Premieres: March 20, 2016 at 4:45pm

Location: Raleigh Studios - Chaplin Theater (5300 Melrose Ave, Hollywood)