Vertical Entertainment has picked up North American rights to KATIE SAYS GOODBYE, a coming-of-age drama written and directed by Wayne Roberts, and starring Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One), Mireille Enos (“The Catch”), Christopher Abbott (Hulu’s “Catch-22,” “Girls” ), Mary Steenburgen (“The Last Man on Earth”) and Jim Belushi (Showtime’s “Twin Peaks”). The film had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, and will receive a multi-city theatrical and VOD release on June 7th.
KATIE SAYS GOODBYE tells the story of an optimistic and kind-hearted young waitress in a struggling desert town in the Southwest named Katie (Cooke). In order to fulfill her dream of a new life in San Francisco, Katie prostitutes herself to a handful of regulars at the diner where she works. As Katie draws closer to saving the money necessary for her departure, the delicate harmony of her small town slowly begins to crumble and the townsfolk begin to take advantage of her innate kindness. In the end, Katie must either accept her lot and stay in the destitute town she was born into, or pursue a new life despite losing everything to those she loved and trusted.
“I could not be more proud of the artistry of our cast and crew alike, their passion and dedication being what every director dreams of,” says Roberts. “Alongside Vertical Entertainment and our dedicated team, I am incredibly excited for Katie’s story of triumph to be shared with audiences, beautifully and delicately portrayed by the courageous and ever-talented Olivia Cooke. In times like these, Katie’s undying hope and determination for a better tomorrow could not be more timely.”
KATIE SAYS GOODBYE is produced by Eric Schultz of Relic Pictures, Carlo Sirtori, David Steiner and Benjamin Steiner of Parallell Cinéma, and Jake Wasserman and Kimberly Parker of Unknown Subject. Vertical Entertainment’s Peter Jarowey and Josh Spector negotiated the deal with Eric Schultz on behalf of the filmmakers.