40 ACRES is a gripping dystopian survival thriller set to hit theaters on July 2, in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world where food scarcity has pushed humanity to desperate extremes. Directed by R.T. Thorne in his feature film debut and co-written with Glenn Taylor and Lora Campbell, the film centers on a resilient Black Canadian farming family descended from African American migrants who settled in Canada after the American Civil War. They now find themselves defending their land and way of life from cannibalistic intruders who seek to take control of their valuable resources.
The story follows Hailey Freeman, played by Danielle Deadwyler, a strong matriarch and the backbone of the family. Supporting cast includes Kataem O’Connor as Emanuel, Michael Greyeyes as Galen, Milcania Diaz-Rojas as Dawn, Leenah Robinson as Raine, and Jaeda LeBlanc as Danis. Set in a future where civilization has crumbled, 40 ACRES blends urgent themes of land protection, food sovereignty, and cultural survival.
While the narrative dives deep into these societal issues, the atmospheric Canadian wilderness plays an equally vital role in bringing the film’s world to life.
Where Was 40 ACRES Filmed?
Principal photography for 40 ACRES began in mid-September 2023 and wrapped on October 26, 2023. The production was filmed entirely on location in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, a region well known for its rugged natural landscapes and increasingly popular as a destination for filming genre-driven and atmospheric projects.
40 ACRES Filming Locations Sudbury, Ontario
The city of Sudbury and its surrounding rural areas in Northern Ontario served as the primary filming locations for 40 ACRES. The decision to shoot in Sudbury was key in shaping the film’s gritty, isolating, and raw environment. Known for its forests, lakes, and remote farmland, Sudbury’s landscape gave the filmmakers the perfect canvas to depict a crumbling future where nature has taken back control and survival depends on what the land can give.
The northern climate, mixed with open fields and isolated homesteads, helped establish a haunting yet authentic setting for the Freeman family’s stand against external threats. The wide, open spaces of Sudbury were instrumental in portraying the vulnerability of the family’s land in a world where resources are scarce and every meal is hard-won.
Why Sudbury Was the Perfect Fit
Director R.T. Thorne, now based in Toronto but originally from Calgary, Alberta, has a deep personal connection to farming culture—his father worked in produce. That relationship with the land inspired the film’s themes. Thorne explained, “I grew up understanding the farmers’ relationship with the land as noble and important. When you project that into the dystopia genre, a family of farmers in a time of food scarcity has the biggest target on their backs.”
Shooting in Sudbury also allowed the production to ground the film in a place rich with visual texture and cultural relevance. “Expressing ideas about land and food sovereignty in a film featuring Black and Indigenous characters makes sense with their shared traumas of the colonial past,” Thorne shared.
Production Details and Partners
40 ACRES was produced by Jennifer Holness of Hungry Eyes Media in collaboration with Crave, a division of Bell Media. Canadian distribution is being handled by Mongrel Media. The film was supported by Visit Films, whose president Ryan Kampe praised Thorne’s socially conscious storytelling blended with commercial appeal. “Audiences will be taken with his commercial approach to social-issue filmmaking,” Kampe noted.
Stay tuned to netfilming.com for more updates, previews, and behind-the-scenes.
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