Film Screening Attracts Bronxville 'Stars'

NEW YORK—Bronxville residents mingled with the cast and crew of “Dogs Lie,” Richard Atkinson’s debut feature film, at a party and screening held at Tribeca Cinema on Thursday. 

Nearly 120 friends gathered to watch the film, a murder mystery set in a sleep clinic.

“A sleep clinic offers a surreal backdrop,” Atkinson, also of Bronxville, said. “The nocturnal interactions between the patients and the clinicians are somehow more personal, more revealing, the outcomes less predictable.”

A number of village residents have cameos in the film, including Cindy Ahmuty, Mandy MacMillan-Bell and Kathy Fino, all of whom were present with their spouses to catch their moment on screen. 

“I thought it was amazing,” MacMillan-Bell said. “I think it’s going to do really well and there is no question that this is just the beginning of many, many more things, big things. Looking forward to the next one. I’m excited!”

Steve Ahmuty thought his wife’s cameo, shot in restaurant, was a “real shoo-in” for best supporting actress. And Paul Fino praised the acting, especially the two leads.

One of the lead actors, Samrat Chakrabarti (Iqbal) is currently filming “Winds of Change,” a film directed by Deepa Mehta based on the Salman Rushdie novel “Midnight’s Children.” 

Liam Berney and Jack Hutton, who both graduated from Bronxville High School, along with the Atkinson’s two sons, Will and Ben, served on the crew of the film, and Hutton was there to enjoy the finished product. Ignacio Uriarte contributed two songs to the film’s soundtrack.

Atkinson’s next project is writing a screenplay for a mystery novel, “Fatal Betrayal,” by Bronxville resident Bruce Forester, which he has optioned. 

As he addressed the audience, Atkinson saved his final remarks for his own partner in crime, thanking his wife Joanna “who puts up with me on a daily basis.”