Jennifer Beals and Lauren Lee Smith have joined writer-director Terry Miles’ indie film, “Cinemanovel.”

Smith, who played Lara on The L Word, stars as Grace, a young woman whose estranged father is a famous filmmaker. When he dies, she organizes a retrospective of his films, uncovering destructive patterns in his life that mirror her own. Beals will play Grace’s best friend and confidant.

The pair previously appeared in Miles’ “A Night for Dying Tigers,” which played at the Toronto Film Festival in 2010.

“Cinemanovel’s” $100,000 budget is financed by Miles and Smith, who will also produce with Ines Eisses and Kristine Cofsky attached as co-producers.

Miles said, “We decided to self-finance to maintain creative control of the film.”

Smith added, “I know we will create a beautiful film and by keeping control of it we can ensure that it will not just get lost in the mix as is the case with so many Canadian indies.” Filming may be in Vancouver, where The L Word was also filmed.

The filmmakers have also turned to crowd-funding site Indiegogo to help raise $25,000 “enhancement” funds.

The film is set to go into production September.