Brad Anderson got a multi-picture deal with Miramax as part of the reported $6 million the mini-major paid for Next Stop Wonderland, his second feature, at Sundance last year. However, his new feature, Happy Accidents, a quirky urban romance starring Marisa Tomei and Vincent D’Onofrio, is being produced for IFC Productions outside the Miramax deal. Ruby (Tomei) and Sam (D’Onofrio) meet cute as Accidents begins, but Ruby thinks Sam’s too sweet and open to be for real; she can’t remember the last time a guy courted her so ardently. The offbeat Sam thinks French Merlot is a polka, has trouble drinking through a straw, and sports an odd bar code tattoo on his deltoid. When he finally chalks up his oddities to being a time traveller from the future, Ruby assumes he’s either nuts or engaging her in an elaborate game – the ultimate in role playing. But Sam supports his claims with so much detail that Ruby can’t be sure.

Anderson grew up in Connecticut and studied ethnographic film in college and production at the London International Film School before settling in Boston for eight years of documentary work. Both Wonderland and The Darien Gap, his 1996 debut feature, were made in Boston. He and Accidents producer Susan Stover were introduced by indie attorney John Sloss, who represents both and played a key role in securing Accidents’ $1.5 million financing from the Independent Film Channel. Stover, who won the Ralph Lauren Producers Award at this spring’s Spirit Awards for her work on High Art and yet another time travel drama, The Sticky Fingers of Time, also was the recipient of last year’s Sundance Institute fellowship in producing.

Accidents rolled in mid-June with top indie cameraman Terry Stacey (Spring Forward) as d.p. Anderson will edit the film as he did Darien and Wonderland.

Cast: Marisa Tomei, Vincent D’Onofrio, Nadia Dajani, Holland Taylor, Bronson Dudley, Jose Zuniga, Caro Buono, Tamara Jenkins. Crew: Producer, Susan Stover; Executive Producers, John Sloss, Caroline Kaplan, Jonathan Sehring; Line Producer, Derrick Tseng; Screenwriter/Director/Editor, Brad Anderson; Cinematographer, Terry Stacey; Production Design, Susan Block. Contact: Susan Stover, Accidental Productions, Inc., 118 East 25th Street, Suite 10A, New York, NY 10010. Tel: (212) 529-9855, Fax: (212) 533-6432.

But I’m a Cheerleader - Jamie Babbit
Chuck and Buck - Miguel Arteta
The Curse - Jacqueline Garry
Happy Accidents - Brad Anderson
The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me - Tim Kirkman
Seven Girlfriends - Paul Lazarus
Shift - Kelly Anderson
Shooting Vegetarians - Mikey Jackson
Ten Hundred Kings - D.W. Maze
Who is Bernard Tapie? - Marina Zenovich