title: Friends (With Benefits)
text: # Friends (With Benefits)
  
  Friends (with benefits) is a 2009 romantic comedy film released on June 12, 2009 at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival.
  
  ## Production
  
  ### Casting
  
  The film stars Margaret Laney as Chloe and Alex Brown as Owen, lifelong best friends and current med school students. Rounding out their tight-knit group of friends are Anne Peterson as Allison, Jake Alexander as Jeff, Lynn Mancinelli as Shirley, Brendan Bradley as Brad and Rooney Mara as Tara.
  
  ### Development
  
  Taken off a script originally written by Gorman Bechard in 1999, the film was shopped around that summer under the title Fuck Buddies to every major studio in Hollywood. Inevitably, the script was put on the back burner until Bechard started looking for a lighter follow-up to his extremely dark 2005 feature You Are Alone. In 2006 Bechard teamed with writing partner Ashley McGarry and they began to rewrite the film, changing the title to Friends (with benefits) and casting Margaret Laney in the lead role.
  
  ### Filming
  
  Production began in April 2007. The film was shot over 18 days in New Haven, Connecticut.
  
  ## Release
  
  The film debuted at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival on June 12, 2009 and received their award for "Best Romantic Comedy". The film was released on DVD in the United States in August 2010.
  
  | Location | Award |
  | - | - |
  | Seattle True Independent Film Festival | "Best Romantic Comedy" |
  | Sacramento Film and Music Festival | "Best Narrative Feature" |
  | Royal Flush Festival | "Best Narrative Feature" |
  | Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival | Festival's Best |
  | First Glance Philadelphia | "Best Ensemble Cast" |
  