Steal Away Wraps
by Staff Editors
(July 18, 2024 – Belgium) Damon D’Oliveira and Clement Virgo of Conquering Lion Pictures and Peter De Maegd and Tom Hameeuw of Potemkino have announced that principal photography has wrapped on the elevated psychological thriller, Steal Away, directed by Clement Virgo (Brother, The Book of Negroes). The film, a Canada-Belgium co-production, stars Angourie Rice (Mean Girls, Mare of Easttown, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Nice Guys), Mallori Johnson (Kindred, Genius MLK/X), Lauren Lee Smith (The Shape of Water, The L Word), Idrissa Sanogo Bamba (The Boys, Titans, The Fire Inside). Written by Tamara Faith Berger (Lie With Me) and Clement Virgo, the film is inspired by the non-fiction book, Steal Away Home by Karolyn Smardz Frost.
Steal Away tells the story of Fanny, a naive teenager, who starts her journey to adulthood when Cécile, a mysterious refugee, is taken in by her charitable family. As the two girls develop an intense and obsessive bond, Fanny becomes captivated by Cécile’s way of navigating life, leading to an awakening of desire and jealousy. Gradually, both girls realize that the charitable world they inhabit is not what it appears.
“We’re going to unsettle and surprise the audience with this female-driven thriller, weaving sharp social critiques on race, sex and family into an entertaining, psychological thrill ride,” said creators Clement Virgo (pictured) and Tamara Faith Berger. “We want to provoke a conversation about how to make allegiances outside your own tribe. In a way, we are all teenage girls: fierce, full of love and fighting the powers that be.”
Produced by Conquering Lion Pictures in Canada, Potemkino in Belgium and in association with 2CFILM in the Netherlands and was shot in Belgium, Steal Away is produced by Damon D’Oliveira and Clement Virgo (Brother, Rude, Lie With Me, The Book of Negroes) and Peter De Maegd and Tom Hameeuw (Hazard, Ennio: The Maestro, Cool Abdoul), executive produced by Paula Devonshire (Indian Horse, Run Woman Run), Caitlin Grabham (Brother, Firecrackers), Laurie May (Humane, Infinity Pool, Brother), Noah Segal (Blackberry, Infinity Pool, Brother), with Edvard van ‘t Wout (Casanova’s, Thunderdome Never Dies) serving as Associate Producer.
Cinematography is by Sophie Winqvist (Clara Sola, Pleasure, Aniara), production design by Elisa Sauvé (Cross, Luckiest Girl Alive, Sneakerella), costume design by Sofie Callaerts (Hidden Assets, Arcadia), and editing by Jorge Weisz (Sweetland, Night Raiders, April’s Daughter).
Steal Away is funded by Telefilm Canada, The Canada Media Fund, ON Creates, Elevation Pictures, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance and Screen Flanders. The film is being released by Elevation Pictures in Canada, and is targeted for a late 2025 theatrical run.
SOURCE: Conquering Lion Pictures
