•• Virginia Madsen is best known for her role as Helen Lyle in Candyman (1992) and for her performance as Maya in Alexander Payne’s film Sideways (2004) for which she received numerous awards and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Other film appearances include Long Gone, Ghosts of Mississippi, Gotham, The Rainmaker, A Prairie Home Companion, Red Riding Hood, Firewall and The Astronaut Farmer.

Madsen has appeared on television in Moonlighting, Star Trek: Voyager, Frasier, The Practice, Dawson’s Creek, CSI: Miami, Monk, Scoundrels, The Event and Witches of East End. She is the sister of storied actor Michael Madsen and the daughter of author and filmmaker Elaine Madsen.

“I think he has the plague, and I kind of spiral into my own ridiculous insanity. Then the strange way it all unravels with this ghost, whether you think it’s real or in his mind, I found so fascinating. God, Justin did such a great job as the ghost. I thought he was wonderful.”

Walter, the feature film directorial debut for Anna Mastro, opens March 13, 2015 at select theaters and will also be available that day on all major VOD providers including iTunes, Microsoft Xbox, Google, Sony, M-GO, Blockbuster, Amazon Instant Video and Vudu. The gentle, absurdist comedy stars Madsen, Andrew J. West, Justin Kirk, Neve Campbell, Leven Rambin, Jim Gaffigan, Milo Ventimiglia, Peter Facinelli and William H. Macy.

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•• The film is about a young man who reads on Facebook that his best friend from high school is dead and he reluctantly comes home to New Mexico to confront his troublesome parents, his heartbroken first girlfriend and a ton of regrets.

“This film is about your first dead friend. It’s about grief and laughter, and celebrating life, about growing up; whatever that means,” says Matthew McDuffie, writer and director of the film.

McDuffie is a University of New Mexico professor who teaches screenwriting. It is being produced by Albuquerque resident Marshall Bear.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, production will take place in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County mid-July through the beginning of August.

Nick Maniatis, film office director, said the project has a strong New Mexico connection. “We are always excited to announce projects that involve local talent,” Maniatis said. “In this case, both the writer and producer make Albuquerque their home. Nothing is better than when we have New Mexicans creating jobs for New Mexicans.”

The production will also employ at least 30 New Mexico crew members and three New Mexico actors.

Ann Lerner, film liaison for the city of Albuquerque, said having a project written and produced by New Mexico residents is what New Mexico film is all about. “This project represents the independent spirit of Albuquerque filmmaking,” Lerner said. “Matt is a great writer and brings his talents to many students.”

The drama also stars Cody Horn, Landon Liboiron, Sasha Peiterse, Meghann Fahy, Eli Varga and Virginia Madsen. Madsen was nominated for an Oscar in 2004 and was seen recently in “Witches of East End.” She also starred in the short-lived TV series “Scoundrels,” which was filmed in New Mexico.

Liboiron has been seen in TV shows such as “Hemlock Grove,” “Terra Nova,” “Life Unexpected” and “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” Peiterse stars as Alison in ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars,” Horn was last seen in “Magic Mike” and Fahy stars in “One Life to Live.”