Mimi Steinbauer’s Radiant Films International has picked up a tasty project for Cannes and will handle sales on the Unified Pictures and Bron Studios dark comedy starring Anton Yelchin and Zooey Deschanel.

John Hawkes, Ciaran Hinds and Alia Shawkat round out the key cast on the tale of a bartender who encounters a volatile criminal after he falls for a young woman upon his return to his hometown in the wake of his parents’ death.

Principal photography is scheduled to begin on May 14 in greater Vancouver. Zachary Sluser will direct The Driftless Area and co-adapted the screenplay with Tom Drury from Drury’s novel of the same name.

Keith Kjarval produces through his Unified Pictures alongside Aaron L Gilbert via Bron Studios in association with CW Media Finance.

Nicole Romano at Anonymous Content manages Sluser and is executive producer on the film.

CAA packaged The Driftless Area and represents US rights.

“It is a great joy to be able to bring Tom Drury’s hauntingly beautiful story to life with such profoundly talented actors, all of whom have inspired me for years,” said Sluser.

“We are quite excited about making this film as it is so darkly humorous and wrought with atmosphere and frankly, I am excited to be telling such a delicious story with some of my favorite actors,” said Kjarval.

“Excited to see Bron and Unified team up again on what is a moving and comedic film, being brought to life by a dynamic young filmmaker Zachary Sluser,” said Gilbert.

Unified Pictures and Bron Studios most recently partnered on William H Macy’s directorial debut Rudderless. Radiant also handled international sales on that project, which Paramount and Samuel Goldwyn Films recently acquired for US theatrical release.

Unified’s latest film Loitering With Intent starring Sam Rockwell, Marisa Tomei and Natasha Lyonne premiered last week at Tribeca.

Bron Studios is currently in production in Massachusetts on the rom-com Tumbledown starring Jason Sudeikis, Rebecca Hall, Dianna Agron, Blythe Danner, Griffin Dunne, Joe Manganiello and Richard Masur.