Sundance 2012: Julie Dash to Direct Canadian Indie 'Tupelo 77'

TORONTO - Julie Dash (The Rosa Parks Story) is to direct the indie feature Tupelo 77  from Canadian indie producer Angel Entertainment.

our editor recommends

Sundance 2012: Protagonist Sells U.K. and Aussie Rights to 'Sugar Man'

Sundance 2012: HBO and Scott Rudin to Remake Documentary 'Indie Game: The Movie'

Sundance 2012 Preview: Julie Delpy on '2 Days in New York' and Funny Intellectuals (Q&A)

Written by Rich Mancuso, the theatrical drama portrays a group of woman of varied ages and races who frequent a roadside diner in small-town Mississippi in the hot summer of 1977, just as Elvis Presley tragically died.

PHOTOS: The Scene at Sundance Film Festival 2012

Together the women struggle to overcome poverty, racial and religious differences, and the wounds of war.

Tupelo 77 is produced by Bob Crowe (Rabbit Fall, Stained) and Sean Hewitt (Carry Me Home).

The indie film will shoot in late summer 2012.

Casting for the film is underway.

STORY: Sundance 2012: 10 Films that will Sell and 3 Wild Cards that Might

News of Dash’s next project comes as the American director has her 1991 film, Daughters of the Dust, screen at Sundance 2012 as part of its From the Collection sidebar.

Daughters of the Dust screened at Sundance in 1991, where it earned an excellence in cinematography award.

Julie Dash is represented by Syzygy Management International.