NEW YORK CITY - The North Carolina-filmed independent feature Ashby made its world premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival this week in New York City.

Starring Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler, Iron Man 2, Sin City), Emma Roberts (NC-filmed Were The Millers, Aquamarine, American Horror Story: Coven), and Nat Wolff (NC-filmed Paper Towns, NC-filmed Stuck In Love, The Fault In Our Stars), the film is the story of a high school student who befriends a CIA assassin who only has a few months left to live. Production on the film took place last summer in the Charlotte Region and lasted a little more than 80 days in the state.

Ashby was one of more than 50 productions that registered with the North Carolina Film Office in 2014. Combined, the productions are estimated to have had a direct in-state spend in excess of $316 million while creating nearly 19,000 job opportunities, including more than 3,000 well-paying crew positions for the states highly skilled film workforce. Additionally, the productions amassed more than 3,300 production days while shooting in over one-third of the states 100 counties. Highlights from 2014s productions include filming four major television scripted series--Under The Dome (CBS), Sleepy Hollow (FOX), Banshee (Cinemax), and Secrets and Lies (ABC)-- lifestyle series A Chefs Life (PBS) and Love It or List It (HGTV); feature films The Choice, The Longest Ride, Max, Masterminds, Max Steel, and the previously mentioned Paper Towns; independent features The Disappointments Room, Blue Mountain State-The Movie, One & Two, and Union Bound; as well as the filming of national commercials for Dannon Yogurt, Pepsi, Xarelto, Purina, Prudential Insurance, and Burger King.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Tribeca Film Festival brings the film & entertainment industry and community together around storytelling. Known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors, the Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,600 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002 while attracting an international audience in excess of 4.9 million while generating an estimated $900 million in economic activity for New York City.

For More Information

Ashby IMDb Page

Tribeca Film Festival: Official Site