Newmarket Capital Group and Buena Vista Film Sales (BVFS) have teamed up to back Sidewalks Of New York, the latest film from Ed Burns, who will write, direct, produce and star in the film alongside his girlfriend Heather Graham and Stanley Tucci.

It is the fourth picture on which Burns has fulfilled all four functions following his Sundance Film Festival-winner The Brothers McMullen (1995), She's The One (1996) and No Looking Back (1998). His acting roles since then have included a key part in Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan and the lead role opposite Robert DeNiro in the upcoming 15 Minutes.

Newmarket Capital Group is financing Sidewalks Of New York, which is budgeted at under $10m. BVFS will act as the sales agent, introducing the film to buyers at next week's American Film Market (AFM).

Newmarket (run by Will Tyrer and Chris Ball) and BVFS (headed by Jere Hausfater) previously teamed up last year to strike a two-year deal with film-makers John Woo and Terence Chang to make action pictures budgeted at under $20m. The first two movies from that deal - Mint Condition starring Michelle Yeoh and The Long Hello And Short Goodbye directed by Gustavo Mosquera - are also on offer at AFM.

Sidewalks Of New York, which Hausfater described as "a romantic comedy about the trials and tribulations of love, marriage and dating in New York City," is being produced by Burns, Cathy Shulman and Rick Yorn of his management company Artists Management Group (AMG) and Margot Bridger.

"I am really excited how fast this project came together and hope that it marks the beginning of a long relationship with Newmarket and Buena Vista Film Sales," said Shulman.

North American rights are still available on the film, which starts shooting on Feb 23. Joining Burns, Graham and Tucci in the cast are Britanny Murphy (Girl, Interrupted; Drop Dead Gorgeous), Rosario Dawson (Down To You; He Got Game) and David Krumholtz (Ten Things I Hate About You; Liberty Heights).

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