Los Angeles-based production and sales company The Little Film Company has begun principal photography in Vancouver on Sandra Nettelbeck's drama Helen starring Ashley Judd, Goran Visnjic and Lauren Lee Smith.

Nettelbeck's English-language debut centres on a seemingly happy woman who harbours a dark secret that threatens to disrupt her entire life.

Germany's Egoli Tossell Film is producing with Canada's Insight Film Studios. Aramid Entertainment is co-financing the project, which is supported by the Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and the German Federal Film Board and Film Fund.

The Little Film Company is handling worldwide sales and will introduce the film to buyers at next week's AFM.

Judy Tossell is producing and Jens Meurer, Christine Haebler, Kirk Shaw and Kirk Shaw serve as executive producers.

Visnjic is represented by Management 360, Endeavor and attorney Barry Tyerman of Armstrong, Hirsch, Jackoway, Tyerman & Wertheirmer.