Founded in 2004 by Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf, Big Beach is a New York-based company that produces and finances independent films, documentaries and works for stage. Big Beach strives to create meaningful, life-affirming projects that inspire, engage and entertain.

Big Beach’s most recent release is Sam Mendes’ AWAY WE GO, written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida and starring Maya Rudolph and John Krasinkski, which hit theaters in June 2009 and was distributed by Focus Features.

Also in 2009, Overture Films released Christine Jeff’s SUNSHINE CLEANING based on an original script by Megan Holley and starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Big Beach’s third release of 2009 was John Crowley’s IS ANYBODY THERE? starring Michael Caine and Bill Milner. Produced with David Heyman and co-financed by BBC Films, the film World Premiered at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival.

In 2007, Big Beach produced CHOP SHOP, written and directed by Ramin Bahrani, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was released by Koch Lorber Entertainment.

In 2006, Big Beach’s LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE was a critical and box office sensation following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it sold to Fox Searchlight. The dramatic comedy was written by Michael Ardnt and directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The film was nominated for Academy Awards including Best Picture, and won two (Original Screenplay and Supporting Actor).

Also in 2006, IFC and Red Envelope Entertainment released Big Beach’s SHERRYBABY, written and directed by Laurie Collyer and Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film, which also premiered at that year’s Sundance Film Festival, garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Gyllnenhaal. Collyer was also nominated for Breakthrough Director at the 2006 Gotham Awards.

Liev Schrieber’s EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, adapted from the best-selling novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, was released in 2005 through Warner Independent Pictures. Also released in 2005 was DUANE HOPWOOD, written and directed by Matt Mulhern. The film premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and was released by IFC the following fall.

Big Beach’s first legit production was Mike Birbiglia’s one-man Off-Broadway show, SLEEPWALK WITH ME, which ran in New York City from November 2008 through June 2009. Mike Birbiglia’s performance was nominated for several awards including the Drama Desk, Lucielle Lortel and Outer Critics Circle. Big Beach is currently in development on a musical version of the 2006 film LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE with music and lyrics by William Finn and a book written by James Lapine.