IATSE Says Producers on TIFF Film ’40 Acres’ Owe ‘Significant Outstanding Payments’ to Crew

IATSE has called out the producers of “40 Acres,” a drama that premiered this weekend at the Toronto International Film Festival, saying that almost a year after the film wrapped principal photography crew and vendors have yet to be paid.

Based in Ontario, Canada, IATSE Local 634 issued a formal statement to members on September 6, the same night that “40 Acres” made its TIFF world premiere. The union local said there are “significant outstanding payments to its employees and vendors” and it is “profoundly disappointing” that the film is screening at a major festival despite the unpaid crew.

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“The actions of this production company are highly troubling and highlights their disregard for professional ethics and responsibility,” IATSE wrote in the statement. “The making of ’40 Acres’ should not have come at the expense of well-being and financial security of its actors, crew, and local businesses who provided their services.”

“40 Acres” is directed by R.T. Thorne and stars “The Color Purple” actress Danielle Deadwyler. The film is a post-apocalyptic thriller about a family of Black farmers who who must defend their land from cannibals. The film premiered to respectable reviews.

Jennifer Holness, the producer on “40 Acres” with company 4T, said in a statement to IndieWire: “4T is aware of the claims being made by IATSE 634 about crew non-payment and  take these matters seriously. We will evaluate all the claims to ensure everything get resolved as quickly as possible.”

A representative from Ontario Creates, a government agency that supports local creative industries, provided IndieWire with a statement.

“Ontario’s strong reputation as an international film jurisdiction is, in large part, due to our stellar industry workers, suppliers and producers. Ensuring that those workers are properly compensated is key to our success,” said Jennifer Pountney, Ontario Creates’ manager of communications. “Ontario Creates is aware of the challenges associated with ’40 Acres’ and we are hopeful that the film’s success at TIFF will help lead to a positive resolution for everyone.”

IndieWire’s requests for comment from Téléfilm Canada, Canadian distributor Mongrel Media, and sales agent Visit Films were not returned.

The project began pre-production in Sudbury, Ontario in August 2023 and completed principal photography on October 26. It obtained an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA to film during last year’s strikes.

IATSE said a film of its size generally would be a boon for Northern Ontario’s economy and provide a lot of good jobs, but the film “left town with unpaid invoices and unpaid wages.”

A formal statement from the union should allow members who worked on the project to begin coming forward with additional complaints and arbitration on what they are owed.

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