John Slattery’s directorial debut film, GOD’S POCKET, which made its world premiere this at the Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section, has been acquired by IFC Films for release in the U.S.  GOD’S POCKET stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks, and John Turturro.

Based on the novel by Pete Dexter, the film is set in the gritty, blue-collar neighborhood of GOD’S POCKET.  When Mickey Scarpato’s crazy stepson, Leon, is killed in a construction “accident,” Mickey quickly tries to bury the bad news with the body. But when a local columnist comes sniffing around for the truth, things go from bad to worse. Mickey finds himself stuck in a life-and-death struggle compounded by a body he can’t bury, a wife he can’t please, and a debt he can’t pay.

Director John Slattery said, “I’m thrilled to be working creatively with IFC, and very happy to continue my ongoing and successful relationship with AMC. We’re very proud of this film and excited to partner with IFC Films to bring it to a wide audience.”

Festival programmer Trevor Groth said this of the film: “Acclaimed actor John Slattery makes an impressive jump behind the camera with an assured directorial debut that shows he has a razor-sharp eye for conveying the absurdity, cruelty, desperation, and tragic optimism of the people he portrays. Like life, his scenes seamlessly fuse humor and heartbreak, but it’s Slattery’s wit and confident style that make the portrait so authentic. Featuring a top-shelf cast and impeccable cinematography, God’s Pocket oozes with talent and marks the emergence of an inspired directorial presence.”