The Search for John Gissing

The Search for John Gissing is a 2001 comedy film written and directed by Mike Binder, produced by Jack Binder, and starring Alan Rickman, Janeane Garofalo, and Mike Binder, set in London. The film won Best Picture at the 2002 Sarasota Film Festival.

Plot
Matthew Barnes is a young executive on the move, who finds himself a pawn in corporate in-fighting when he's sent to London to oversee a merger. He's to replace John Gissing. However Gissing gets wind of it, and makes sure that Matthew and his wife Linda, who has come to England with Matthew, have a miserable first few days there.

Cast

 * Alan Rickman &mdash; John Gissing
 * Mike Binder &mdash; Matthew Barnes
 * Janeane Garofalo &mdash; Linda Barnes
 * Sonya Walger &mdash; Sister Mary
 * Juliet Stevenson &mdash; Gwyneth Moore
 * Allan Corduner &mdash; Francois "Fuller" Feulliere
 * Owen Teale&mdash; Giles Hanagan
 * Nigel Terry &mdash; Alan Jardeen
 * Frank Harper &mdash; Dexter
 * James Lance &mdash; Donny
 * Lee Oakes &mdash; Carl Gissing
 * Angela Pleasence &mdash; Johanna Frielduct
 * Tim Briggs &mdash; Hotel Clerk
 * Caroline Holdaway &mdash; Gissing's assistant

Response
Not having found an appropriate distribution deal, Sunlight Productions set the film aside following its festival premieres. Shortly thereafter, an online petition was formed in a plea for the release of the film, garnering more than 3,000 signatures. Mike and Jack Binder's Sunlight Productions made the film available online.

Awards won

 * Sarasota Film Festival Film Critics Award: Best Film

Official selection

 * AFI Fest 2001
 * Hamptons International Film Festival 2002
 * Rome Film Festival 2002
 * Palm Springs International Film Festival 2002
 * U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Aspen 2002
 * South by Southwest
 * Newport Beach Film Festival 2002
 * Victoria Film Festival 2002
 * Raindance Film Festival

Releases
This film was released on UK DVD by Simply Media 2 July 2018.