Locally-shot film to make Syracuse premiere

Syracuse movie lovers will soon be able to see a film shot in their town, starring Emma Roberts and John Cusack.

 The new film, “Adult World,” will close the 10th annual Syracuse International Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 2 through Oct. 6, at the Landmark Theatre. The film will play at 7:30 p.m.

 Principal photography for “Adult World” took place in Syracuse from February through March 2012, with locations including the Syracuse University campus and Clinton Square. 

The film stars Emma Roberts as a recent college graduate and aspiring poet who’s forced to take a job at an adult bookstore to pay her debt. Along the way, she meets one of her favorite poets (John Cusack) and becomes his assistant.

Roberts, the daughter of Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts, is best known for films like “Scream 4” and “We’re the Millers.” She is currently in a relationship with Evan Peters, who plays the adult bookstore manager in “Adult World.”

She also stars in “Palo Alto,” the directorial debut of Gia Coppola, the granddaughter of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola of “The Godfather” fame.

The film also sees Cusack in a return to the snarky, witty type he so indelibly played in “High Fidelity” after a recent run of darker roles. Cusack most recently played President Richard Nixon in Lee Daniels’ “The Butler.”

“Adult World” was written by Andy Cochrane and directed by Scott Coffey, the writer/director behind the 2005 film “Ellie Parker.” That film similarly dealt with a young woman (Naomi Watts) combating harsh realities to realize her dream as an actress.

“Adult World” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, where it received mixed reviews. 

Tickets will be available for $20 through Ticketmaster and the Landmark Theatre box office starting Friday. All remaining tickets will be two for $35 at the door.

A special party featuring food, beverages, and commemorative 10th anniversary wine glasses will be held before the event. Tickets for this pre-screening event are $40 in advance and $75 at the door. Some of the cast will make a guest appearance, although the names are being left as a surprise.

Production still by Treehouse Pictures