Good Machine International (GMI) has acquired international rights to Ash Wednesday, the fifth film to be directed by Edward Burns. Burns has written, will direct and star in and co-produce the film with Margot Bridger, producer on his last film Sidewalks Of New York.

Set in 1983 New York, Ash Wednesday is a thriller about two brothers trying to escape from their past. Burns plays Francis Sullivan, who after faking the death of his younger brother to save him from a hitman, is desperately trying to lead a straight life. But when his brother returns from hiding to reunite with his wife, Francis is forced back into the dangerous world of the Irish and Italian mafias.

Rosario Dawson, who stars in Universal's upcoming Josie And The Pussycats and opposite Eddie Murphy in Warner's Pluto Nash, and Oliver Platt (Indecent Proposal, Flatliners) co-star with Burns in the film. Dawson also had a key role in Sidewalks Of New York.

The now defunt Buena Vista Film Sales is still mopping up sales on Sidewalks which is being distributed domestically by Paramount Classics later this year.

Good Machine International's sister production company Good Machine is not acting as a producer on Ash Wednesday, although it did produce Burns' first three films The Brothers McMullen (1995), She's The One (1996) and No Looking Back (1998).

Bridger also produced Arresting Gena directed by Hannah Weyer for Good Machine in 1997.