- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Toronto International Film Festival -

James McAvoy makes his anticipated directorial debut with this wild true story of two Scottish men pretending to be Americans to achieve their dreams of hip-hop stardom.

Inspired by the real-life tale of Scottish rap duo “Silibil N’ Brains”, California Schemin’ follows lifelong friends Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd. Chasing their dream of becoming successful rappers, Gavin and Billy are faced with one problem - no one will take their aspirations seriously with their thick regional accents.

Humiliated at an audition in London, the pair return home and devise an absurd scheme: they’ll reinvent themselves as hard-partying Californian MCs, complete with elaborate backstories and convincing (enough) American accents.

Miraculously, the gambit pays off, and Sibil N’ Brains’ rise to stardom is set in motion. But as the stakes get raised, the pressure begins to fracture both their success - and their friendship.

With California Schemin’, McAvoy delivers a fast-paced, funny and poignant debut with a killer soundtrack.