'Great' gig for Bening

BeningAnnette Bening is placed to topline director Gillian Armstrong's "The Truly Amazing,Inch in line with the existence of Catherine the truly amazing, which Bankside Films is unveiling to purchasers in the Berlinale.Bening will have the Russian empress within the pic, composed by Tony McNamara and created by Marian Macgowan of Oz's Macgowan Films and Lago Films' Marco Mehlitz."The Truly Amazing,Inch that has already pre-offered to Icon Film Distribution in New zealand and australia, is scheduled to lense in September.Bankside will even sell U.K. producer Damian Jones' ("The Iron Lady") 1700s-set "Belle," inspired through the existence of Dido Elizabeth Belle who had been the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of John Lindsay, the nephew from the Earl of Mansfield.Amma Asante ("A Life-style") will helm the pic, that is casting and skedded flowing in This summer.Also around the Bankside slate is Pad Whitecross' "Spike Island," about five teen boys who visit Spike Island in summer time 1990 to determine their rock heroes, the Stone Roses. Revolver is disbursing in Blighty.Bankside can also be selling Helen Mirren starrer "The Doorway,Inch helmed by Istvan Szabo, that is getting its market world preem in the EFM. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com