Production Commences On “Lepel” Produced By Lemming Film And Distributed By Warner Bros. Holland

(March 24, 2004 – Burbank, CA) - Principal photography has begun on “Lepel” in Gera, near Leipzig, in Germany. “Lepel” is produced by Lemming Film and distributed by Warner Bros (Holland) B.V. “Lepel” is directed by critically acclaimed director Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen who has directed films like “Cloaca” (Public Award Dutch Film Festival 2003) and “Familie” (Film Critics Award 2001) and the TV series “De Enclave,” “Bij ons in de Jordaan” (Golden Kalf Best TV Drama 2000), “Oud geld” and “Pleidooi.” Joep Truyen has been cast in the leading role of “Lepel.” Neeltje de Vree will play his friend Pleun; Loes Luca (“Ja Zuster Nee Zuster”) has been cast as Lepel’s grandmother, Koppenol; Barry Atsma (TV series “Rozengeur en Wodka Lime”) is Max the salesman; Carice van Houten (“Minoes”) plays the head of the department store, Mrs. Broer; and Kees Hulst (“Abeltje,” “Wij Alexander”) is the schoolmaster, Bijts. “Lepel,” written by Mieke de Jong, is a timeless and fantastic story about a seven-year-old boy named Lepel, who has to live with his mean Grandma Koppenol because his parents, whom he misses dearly, are on a long journey. When he gets the chance, he escapes and hides in a department store where he meets and befriends Pleun, a cool, tough girl who lives “behind the sweaters” in the department store. Together with a salesman named Max, Lepel and Pleun start an adventurous journey and search for loving parents. “Lepel” is produced by Lemming Film together with the NPS and co-producers Egoli Tossell Film from Germany and Zephyr Film from the UK. Lemming Film has produced critically acclaimed youth-oriented TV dramas and documentary series including “Ik ben Willem,” “En Terecht” and “De dag dat ik besloot.” Distributor Warner Bros (Holland) B.V. has built a tradition of distributing very successful family movies such as “Abeltje,” “Minoes” and “Ja Zuster Nee Zuster.” “Lepel” will be released in the Dutch cinemas Spring 2005. # # #