Poker mockumentary to debut at film festival

The Grand, a poker mockumentary by Zak Penn, has been chosen to screen in the Tribeca Film Festival's Spotlight category. The movie will be shown during the festival's run April 25 through May 6.

The Spotlight category showcases out-of-competition movies that feature high-profile cast members, filmmakers and subject matter.

The Grand certainly fits two out of three of those features.

Its cast is made up of a laundry list of stars such as Ray Romano, Jason Alexander, David Cross, Shannon Elizabeth, Dennis Farina, Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, Richard Kind and more.

Several professional poker players also put in appearances in the film: Doyle Brunson, Phil Laak, Phil Gordon, Phil Hellmuth and more will show off their poker skills.

The Grand is a comedy set against a poker tournament, a subject that is quite topical considering the poker boom over the past few years.

Penn directed the movie from a screenplay outline and allowed the actors to improvise most of their dialogue as they play real poker on their way to the championship round of a pretend international tournament.

A theater release date hasn't been set yet for the movie.

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