Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts and Viola Davis set to Star in Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck's New Film "It's Kind of a Funny Story"

Acclaimed writer/directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck’s (Half Nelson, Sugar) new film It’s Kind of a Funny Story begins production in New York City this week. Focus Features holds worldwide rights to the project, which it is co-financing with Wayfare Entertainment.

Keir Gilchrist, who stars as the title character’s son on the hit television series United States of Tara, has the film’s lead role. Costarring are Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Emma Roberts (of the upcoming Valentine’s Day), Academy Award nominee Viola Davis (Doubt), Zoe Kravitz (The Brave One), Aasif Mandvi (The Proposal), Lauren Graham (of this winter’s NBC series Parenthood), and Jim Gaffigan (of Focus’ Away We Go).

The comedy-drama has been adapted by Ms. Boden & Mr. Fleck from Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel of the same name; 16-year-old Craig (played by Mr. Gilchrist), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Mr. Galifianakis), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Ms. Roberts). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up. Ms. Davis plays Dr. Minerva, the adult ward’s staff psychiatrist; Ms. Kravitz portrays Nia, Craig’s longtime crush; Mr. Mandvi is cast as Dr. Mahmoud, a hospital psychiatrist; and Ms. Graham and Mr. Gaffigan play Craig’s parents, Lynn and George.

The movie is the third feature from the filmmaking team of Ms. Boden & Mr. Fleck, following Half Nelson (2006), for which lead actor Ryan Gosling received an Academy Award nomination, and Sugar, which was released theatrically earlier this year. Focus director of production Matthew Plouffe is supervising It’s Kind of a Funny Story for president of production John Lyons. It’s Kind of a Funny Story is scheduled to be released by Focus in November 2010.