The Spectacular Now, a feature-length film directed by Athens native James Ponsoldt and shot entirely in Athens, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting at the Sundance Film Festival Saturday and was picked up for distribution by the film company A24.
Ponsoldt graduated from Cedar Shoals High School in 1997. He brought the cast and crew of The Spectacular Now to Athens last summer to shoot the movie about a young couple struggling with the effects of alcoholism, something Ponsoldt explored with his last film, Smashed. He described the movie as “a teen film for adults.” Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, who play the couple, were both awarded for their acting.
The Spectacular Now is scheduled for a limited release in July. A24 has distributed films by Roman Coppola and is set to release films by Sofia Coppola and Harmony Korine.
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