Exclusive: Canadian sales company Apl Film has acquired international sales rights for Canadian-British writer and director Shamim Sarif’s drama Polarized, a love story between two women separated by culture and religion.
The film will screen in the market as part of the selection of Telefilm Canada’s Perspective Canada initiative.
Holly Deveaux co-stars as a white farm worker who is fired for racism and then falls in love with her Palestinian boss, played by Maxine Denis.
“I like to push the boundaries of the way queer women of color are portrayed,” said Sarif. “With Polarized, I believe it’s one of the first times in cinema that we see Palestinian immigrants onscreen who are successful, driving scientific innovation, and in the case of co-lead character Dalia, also queer.”
The filmmaker said she had drawn on her own experiences as well as those of her wife and producer Hanan Kattan,...
The film will screen in the market as part of the selection of Telefilm Canada’s Perspective Canada initiative.
Holly Deveaux co-stars as a white farm worker who is fired for racism and then falls in love with her Palestinian boss, played by Maxine Denis.
“I like to push the boundaries of the way queer women of color are portrayed,” said Sarif. “With Polarized, I believe it’s one of the first times in cinema that we see Palestinian immigrants onscreen who are successful, driving scientific innovation, and in the case of co-lead character Dalia, also queer.”
The filmmaker said she had drawn on her own experiences as well as those of her wife and producer Hanan Kattan,...
- 2/8/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Bleecker Street, IFC Films, Bankside Fims, Netflix, Neon among participants.
A raft of digital events to commemorate the 30th annual Inside Out Toronto Lgbt Film Festival includes the annual finance forum, set to run from May 26-30 and featuring projects from Canada, the UK, Australia and Kenya.
Netflix, Neon, Bleecker Street, IFC Films, Gamechanger Films, Killer Films, MK2, Bankside Films, Powderkeg Studios and GLAAD are among the companies participating in the forum, which enables Lgbtq-identified producers and/or producers creating Lgbtq content an opportunity to pitch projects directly to leading decision-makers.
Projects include The Viridian (Canada) from director and Blake Mawson...
A raft of digital events to commemorate the 30th annual Inside Out Toronto Lgbt Film Festival includes the annual finance forum, set to run from May 26-30 and featuring projects from Canada, the UK, Australia and Kenya.
Netflix, Neon, Bleecker Street, IFC Films, Gamechanger Films, Killer Films, MK2, Bankside Films, Powderkeg Studios and GLAAD are among the companies participating in the forum, which enables Lgbtq-identified producers and/or producers creating Lgbtq content an opportunity to pitch projects directly to leading decision-makers.
Projects include The Viridian (Canada) from director and Blake Mawson...
- 5/23/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Tim Marshall with Christina Radburn (second from left).
Writer-director Tim Marshall’s debut feature Followers is among 10 projects from around the world selected to participate in the Toronto-based Inside Out Lgbtq Film Finance Forum.
Developed from his eponymous short which had its world premiere in competition at Sundance followed by SXSW in 2015, the dark comedy follows Lynn Walters, a grieving widow who sees a vision of Jesus on the shorts of young, queer aqua aerobics instructor Rudi.
Convinced Rudi has been sent from God to heal and reinvigorate her life, Lynn hopes he will somehow fill the void left by her dead husband while he endures a toxic relationship with Jim, his older life coach.
Melbourne-based Frances Wang-Ward and Christina Radburn (who produced the short) will produce, with Robyn Kershaw as Ep.
The fourth edition of the Lgbtq Forum will take place online from May 26-29, featuring one-on-one meetings with reps from Netflix,...
Writer-director Tim Marshall’s debut feature Followers is among 10 projects from around the world selected to participate in the Toronto-based Inside Out Lgbtq Film Finance Forum.
Developed from his eponymous short which had its world premiere in competition at Sundance followed by SXSW in 2015, the dark comedy follows Lynn Walters, a grieving widow who sees a vision of Jesus on the shorts of young, queer aqua aerobics instructor Rudi.
Convinced Rudi has been sent from God to heal and reinvigorate her life, Lynn hopes he will somehow fill the void left by her dead husband while he endures a toxic relationship with Jim, his older life coach.
Melbourne-based Frances Wang-Ward and Christina Radburn (who produced the short) will produce, with Robyn Kershaw as Ep.
The fourth edition of the Lgbtq Forum will take place online from May 26-29, featuring one-on-one meetings with reps from Netflix,...
- 5/12/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Inside Out, one of the world’s leading Lgbtq film festivals and Canada’s largest distributor of Lgbtq content, has given Variety exclusive access to the lineup of 10 feature film projects that will participate in the festival’s fourth annual Finance Forum during its 30th anniversary year. Executives taking part will include reps from Netflix, Bleecker Street, IFC Films, Gamechanger Films, Killer Films, MK2, Bankside Films, Powderkeg Studios and GLAAD. Inside Out executive director Andria Wilson and director of programming Andrew Murphy spoke to Variety about the program, and the commercial and creative health of Lgbtq cinema.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s finance forum will proceed entirely online during the festival’s original May dates. As previously announced, the full festival will now take place from Oct. 1-11.
Inside Out’s Lgbtq Finance Forum, taking place May 26-29, provides Lgbtq-identified producers and/or producers creating Lgbtq content...
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s finance forum will proceed entirely online during the festival’s original May dates. As previously announced, the full festival will now take place from Oct. 1-11.
Inside Out’s Lgbtq Finance Forum, taking place May 26-29, provides Lgbtq-identified producers and/or producers creating Lgbtq content...
- 5/8/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Parkland sells Despite The Falling Snow to Us and Canada.
Parkland Pictures has sold Cold War thriller Despite The Falling Snow, starring Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), to Et Pictures for USA and Canada.
Jim Cardwell and April Russell negotiated the deal for Et Pictures with Louis Feola and John Cairns for Parkland.
Rebecca Ferguson, Charles Dance and Sam Reid star in the completed romance-thriller about a female spy who steals secrets from an idealistic politician but then falls in love with him with tragic consequences.
The film is produced by Hanan Kattan for Enlightenment Productions and written and directed by Shamim Sarif from her novel.
Et Pictures has previously released titles including Stephen Dillane comedy-drama Papadopoulos & Sons and 2010 Felicity Jones feature SoulBoy.
Parkland Pictures has sold Cold War thriller Despite The Falling Snow, starring Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), to Et Pictures for USA and Canada.
Jim Cardwell and April Russell negotiated the deal for Et Pictures with Louis Feola and John Cairns for Parkland.
Rebecca Ferguson, Charles Dance and Sam Reid star in the completed romance-thriller about a female spy who steals secrets from an idealistic politician but then falls in love with him with tragic consequences.
The film is produced by Hanan Kattan for Enlightenment Productions and written and directed by Shamim Sarif from her novel.
Et Pictures has previously released titles including Stephen Dillane comedy-drama Papadopoulos & Sons and 2010 Felicity Jones feature SoulBoy.
- 9/12/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Romance-thriller Despite The Falling Snow, also starring Charles Dance and Sam Reid, moves from 6 Sales to Parkland Pictures.
UK sales outfit Parkland Pictures has taken on sales of Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation) thriller Despite The Falling Snow from 6 Sales.
The completed Cold War-set romance-thriller follows a female spy who steals secrets from an idealistic politician but then falls in love with him with tragic consequences.
Burgeoning star Ferguson, who also stars in upcoming buzz titles Florence Foster Jenkins, The Girl On The Train and The Snowman, plays alongside Games Of Thrones star Charles Dance and The Riot Club and Belle actor Sam Reid.
The film is the third feature from producer Hanan Kattan and writer-director Shamim Sarif’s Enlightenment Productions (I Can’t Think Straight, The World Unseen) and is adapted from Sarif’s novel of the same name.
The score comes from Oscar-winner Rachel Portman (Emma) while DoP is Resident Evil cinematographer [link=nm...
UK sales outfit Parkland Pictures has taken on sales of Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation) thriller Despite The Falling Snow from 6 Sales.
The completed Cold War-set romance-thriller follows a female spy who steals secrets from an idealistic politician but then falls in love with him with tragic consequences.
Burgeoning star Ferguson, who also stars in upcoming buzz titles Florence Foster Jenkins, The Girl On The Train and The Snowman, plays alongside Games Of Thrones star Charles Dance and The Riot Club and Belle actor Sam Reid.
The film is the third feature from producer Hanan Kattan and writer-director Shamim Sarif’s Enlightenment Productions (I Can’t Think Straight, The World Unseen) and is adapted from Sarif’s novel of the same name.
The score comes from Oscar-winner Rachel Portman (Emma) while DoP is Resident Evil cinematographer [link=nm...
- 4/12/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Here is the group shot with all the participants of this year's Producers Lab Toronto.
Top row (left to right): Arnie Zipursky (Canada), Kaleena Kiff (Canada), Chantelle Kadyschuk (Canada),Leanne Saunders (New Zealand), Rebecca Summerton (Australia), Raquelle David (Australia),Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Ireland), Marie-Claude Poulin (Canada), Simone Urdl (Canada),Floor Onrust (The Netherlands), Julia Rosenberg (Canada), Hanan Kattan (United Kingdom), Eva Jakobsen (Denmark), Barbara Willis Sweete (Canada), Bob Crowe (Canada).
Bottom row (left to right): Peter Rommel (Germany), Alex Behse (New Zealand), Hlin Johannesdottir (Iceland), Silvia Panakova (Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Spain), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (Canada), Jane Loughman (Canada), Adis Djapo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Not pictured Ivo Felt (Estonia).
Intense networking and pitching events among producers from Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Australia took place at the Toronto International Film Festival. The sixth edition of this initiative, which ran September 9 to 12, was created for 24 hand-picked participants to exchange project ideas and funding information for trans-atlantic co-production deals.
The international co-production forum was organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with the Ontario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) supported the event once again, along withCreative Europe – Media Program, the participating Efp member organizations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Here is a list of the participants:
European participants
Canadian participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt, Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
Australian participants
New Zealand’s participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films
Detailed information about the 24 participants of Producers Lab Toronto 2015 can be found...
Top row (left to right): Arnie Zipursky (Canada), Kaleena Kiff (Canada), Chantelle Kadyschuk (Canada),Leanne Saunders (New Zealand), Rebecca Summerton (Australia), Raquelle David (Australia),Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Ireland), Marie-Claude Poulin (Canada), Simone Urdl (Canada),Floor Onrust (The Netherlands), Julia Rosenberg (Canada), Hanan Kattan (United Kingdom), Eva Jakobsen (Denmark), Barbara Willis Sweete (Canada), Bob Crowe (Canada).
Bottom row (left to right): Peter Rommel (Germany), Alex Behse (New Zealand), Hlin Johannesdottir (Iceland), Silvia Panakova (Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Spain), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (Canada), Jane Loughman (Canada), Adis Djapo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Not pictured Ivo Felt (Estonia).
Intense networking and pitching events among producers from Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Australia took place at the Toronto International Film Festival. The sixth edition of this initiative, which ran September 9 to 12, was created for 24 hand-picked participants to exchange project ideas and funding information for trans-atlantic co-production deals.
The international co-production forum was organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with the Ontario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) supported the event once again, along withCreative Europe – Media Program, the participating Efp member organizations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Here is a list of the participants:
European participants
Canadian participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt, Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
Australian participants
New Zealand’s participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films
Detailed information about the 24 participants of Producers Lab Toronto 2015 can be found...
- 9/14/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The sixth edition of Producers Lab Toronto is set to launch during the Toronto International Film Festival from September 9 to 12, 2015. Twenty four producers from Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have been chosen to exchange project ideas, funding information, and co-production deals. This successful networking platform has facilitated the development of several trans-Atlantic co-productions, with 17 former participants now working on 17 projects at various stages of production.
Producers Lab Toronto 2015 will see the 24 participants taking part in various networking and pitching events, case studies, and round tables with key industry members. The event will enable the participants to broaden their scope of projects regarding financing, creativity, and distribution in order to create trans-Atlantic co-productions.
The international co-production forum is organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with theOntario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) will again be supporting the event, along with Creative Europe – Media Programme, the participating Efp member organisations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Selected by the event's five partners, the participating producers have significant experience of co-production and will be presenting new projects with international market potential. Adis Dapo, known for Aida Begic’s "Children of Sarajevo" (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Germany/ France/ Turkey 2012), is from Efp’s youngest member country Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is one of the ten European internationally-experienced producers coming to take part in the event.
Canadian producer participants include Simone Urdl, known for her long association with Atom Egoyan ("The Captive," Cannes 2014), and Chantelle Kadyschuk of No Trace Camping, Canadian producer of "Room," a Canada-Ireland co-production premiering at Tiff 2015.
European participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt , Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Australian participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Canadian participants
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
New Zealand's participants
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films...
Producers Lab Toronto 2015 will see the 24 participants taking part in various networking and pitching events, case studies, and round tables with key industry members. The event will enable the participants to broaden their scope of projects regarding financing, creativity, and distribution in order to create trans-Atlantic co-productions.
The international co-production forum is organized and financed by European Film Promotion (Efp) in collaboration with theOntario Media Development Corporation (Omdc) and the Toronto International Film Festival®.Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) will again be supporting the event, along with Creative Europe – Media Programme, the participating Efp member organisations, Eurimages, and Telefilm Canada.
Selected by the event's five partners, the participating producers have significant experience of co-production and will be presenting new projects with international market potential. Adis Dapo, known for Aida Begic’s "Children of Sarajevo" (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Germany/ France/ Turkey 2012), is from Efp’s youngest member country Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is one of the ten European internationally-experienced producers coming to take part in the event.
Canadian producer participants include Simone Urdl, known for her long association with Atom Egoyan ("The Captive," Cannes 2014), and Chantelle Kadyschuk of No Trace Camping, Canadian producer of "Room," a Canada-Ireland co-production premiering at Tiff 2015.
European participants
Adis Djapo , Scca (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ivo Felt , Allfilm (Estonia)
Eva Jakobsen , Snowglobe (Denmark)
Hlín Johannesdóttir , Vintage Pictures (Iceland)
Hanan Kattan , Enlightenment Productions (UK)
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler , Wide Eye Films (Ireland)
Floor Onrust , Family Affair Films (The Netherlands)
Silvia Panáková , Arina (Slovak Republic)
Edmon Roch , Ikiru Films (Spain)
Peter Rommel , Rommel Film (Germany)
Australian participants
Raquelle David , Damsel Pictures
Rebecca Summerton , Closer Productions
Canadian participants
Bob Crowe , Angel Entertainment Corp.
Chantelle Kadyschuk , No Trace Camping Productions
Kaleena Kiff , Radius Squared Media Group
Jane Loughman , Monkeys & Parrots
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith , First Love Films
Marie-Claude Poulin , Item 7
Julia Rosenberg , January Films
Simone Urdl , The Film Farm
Barbara Willis Sweete , Willis Sweete Productions
Arnie Zipursky , Cci Entertainment
New Zealand's participants
Alexander Behse , Monsoon Pictures International
Leanne Saunders , Piki Films...
- 9/1/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Twenty-four producers from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been selected for the programme.
Toronto International Film Festival sources said the networking initiative has led to 17 former participants working on projects at various stages of production.
Participants will take part in networking and pitching events, case studies and roundtables with key industry members.
The participants are:
Canada: Bob Crowe (Angel Entertainment Corp), Chantelle Kadyschuk (No Trace Camping), Kaleena Kiff (Radius Squared Media Group), Jane Loughman (Monkeys & Parrots), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (First Love Films), Marie-Claude Poulin (Item 7), Julia Rosenberg (January Films), Simone Urdl (The Film Farm), Barbara Willis Sweete (Willis Sweete Productions) and Arnie Zipursky (Cci Entertainment).
Europe: Adis Djapo (Scca, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ivo Felt (Allfilm, Estonia), Eva Johannesdóttir (Snowglobe, Denmark), Hanan Kattan (Enlightenment Productions, UK), Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Wide Eye Films, Ireland), Floor Onrust (Family Affair Films, The Netherlands), Silvia Panáková (Arina, Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Ikiru Films, Spain), [link...
Toronto International Film Festival sources said the networking initiative has led to 17 former participants working on projects at various stages of production.
Participants will take part in networking and pitching events, case studies and roundtables with key industry members.
The participants are:
Canada: Bob Crowe (Angel Entertainment Corp), Chantelle Kadyschuk (No Trace Camping), Kaleena Kiff (Radius Squared Media Group), Jane Loughman (Monkeys & Parrots), Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (First Love Films), Marie-Claude Poulin (Item 7), Julia Rosenberg (January Films), Simone Urdl (The Film Farm), Barbara Willis Sweete (Willis Sweete Productions) and Arnie Zipursky (Cci Entertainment).
Europe: Adis Djapo (Scca, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ivo Felt (Allfilm, Estonia), Eva Johannesdóttir (Snowglobe, Denmark), Hanan Kattan (Enlightenment Productions, UK), Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Wide Eye Films, Ireland), Floor Onrust (Family Affair Films, The Netherlands), Silvia Panáková (Arina, Slovak Republic), Edmon Roch (Ikiru Films, Spain), [link...
- 8/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The UK’s Hanan Kattan, Germany’s Peter Rommel and Canada’s Chantelle Kadyschuk are among those selected for this year’s Producers Lab Toronto (Plt).
The 24 producers from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will participate in the sixth edition of the networking platform, which will run Sept 9-12 during the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 10-20).
Plt is targeted at producers who have had previous experience in working on international co-productions and now have projects in the pipeline that could be interesting for the international market.
European producers
The ten European producers were selected by European Film Promotion’s member organisations from previous participants of its Cannes-based initiative Producers on the Move.
Together with her partner Shamim Sarif, Hanan Kattan has a presence in the UK and Canada with their Enlightenment Group of companies. Hattan produced Sarif’s three features, including Despite The Falling Snow, starring Charles Dance and Rebecca Ferguson, as well as...
The 24 producers from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will participate in the sixth edition of the networking platform, which will run Sept 9-12 during the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 10-20).
Plt is targeted at producers who have had previous experience in working on international co-productions and now have projects in the pipeline that could be interesting for the international market.
European producers
The ten European producers were selected by European Film Promotion’s member organisations from previous participants of its Cannes-based initiative Producers on the Move.
Together with her partner Shamim Sarif, Hanan Kattan has a presence in the UK and Canada with their Enlightenment Group of companies. Hattan produced Sarif’s three features, including Despite The Falling Snow, starring Charles Dance and Rebecca Ferguson, as well as...
- 8/24/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Production on Enlightenment Productions’ spy thriller will commence production in Belgrade, Serbia, on January 23 with Rebecca Ferguson from the BBC historical drama The White Queen replacing Olga Kurylenko in the lead.
Despite The Falling Snow is based on the book of the same name by Shamim Sarif, who adapted the screenplay and will direct.
Hanan Kattan of London-based Enlightenment Productions is producing the story of a spy who falls in love with an idealistic politician.
Charles Dance, Sam Reid, Maria Furtwangler, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Anthony Head and Trudie Styler round out the key cast.
Beta Films handles international sales and will distribute directly in Germany. Linda Lichter of Lichter, Grossman Nichols & Adler represents North American sales.
Despite The Falling Snow is based on the book of the same name by Shamim Sarif, who adapted the screenplay and will direct.
Hanan Kattan of London-based Enlightenment Productions is producing the story of a spy who falls in love with an idealistic politician.
Charles Dance, Sam Reid, Maria Furtwangler, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Anthony Head and Trudie Styler round out the key cast.
Beta Films handles international sales and will distribute directly in Germany. Linda Lichter of Lichter, Grossman Nichols & Adler represents North American sales.
- 1/8/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Canadian actress Lisa Ray, star of The World Unseen, I Can't Think Straight, began blogging this week about her diagnosis with Multiple Myeloma, a rare and incurable cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow.
Lisa Ray
At first, she wasn't sure if she would go public with the news. She wrote on her blog:
I asked around if I should speak openly about getting diagnosed recently with Multiple Myeloma. Some advised me to keep my "‘condition"’ a secret as it could negatively affect my career. Buh? I’m plumper, redder, more energetic and wily than ever before- Kiss me like I’ve been kidnapped!
Ultimately, she decided to share her story in hopes of raising awareness about (and hopefully funding for) the disease. Ray was diagnosed on June 23, and started her first cycle of treatment for the disease on July 2. She recently wrote:
For me, it was a relief to hear what was wrong.
Lisa Ray
At first, she wasn't sure if she would go public with the news. She wrote on her blog:
I asked around if I should speak openly about getting diagnosed recently with Multiple Myeloma. Some advised me to keep my "‘condition"’ a secret as it could negatively affect my career. Buh? I’m plumper, redder, more energetic and wily than ever before- Kiss me like I’ve been kidnapped!
Ultimately, she decided to share her story in hopes of raising awareness about (and hopefully funding for) the disease. Ray was diagnosed on June 23, and started her first cycle of treatment for the disease on July 2. She recently wrote:
For me, it was a relief to hear what was wrong.
- 9/9/2009
- by karman
- AfterEllen.com
Want to know the status of a particular movie, TV show, or band? Wondering what a certain actress is up to these days? Send your entertainment-related questions to askafterellen@gmail.com — with your first name, city and country — and we'll try to answer as many as we can.
Question: I heard that I Can't Think Straight is going to be a TV show. Is it true?
― Lesley M.
Sheetal Sheth and Lisa Ray in I Can't Think Straight
Answer: I reached out to Aida Kattan, the head of the Los Angeles office of writer-director Shamim Sarif's Enlightenment Films, and she confirmed that I Can't Think Straight, the series, is indeed in development by Sarif and her wife and co-producer Hanan Kattan.
According to Aida, Sarif is currently writing a pilot and series arc, and she's aiming for a North American network/broadcaster. If it gets developed by a network,...
Question: I heard that I Can't Think Straight is going to be a TV show. Is it true?
― Lesley M.
Sheetal Sheth and Lisa Ray in I Can't Think Straight
Answer: I reached out to Aida Kattan, the head of the Los Angeles office of writer-director Shamim Sarif's Enlightenment Films, and she confirmed that I Can't Think Straight, the series, is indeed in development by Sarif and her wife and co-producer Hanan Kattan.
According to Aida, Sarif is currently writing a pilot and series arc, and she's aiming for a North American network/broadcaster. If it gets developed by a network,...
- 8/4/2009
- by karman
- AfterEllen.com
While the recent passage of Proposition 8 in California was devastating to Lgbt people and our supporters everywhere, the issue reinvigorated an international debate about gay marriage.
It also drew attention to a number of famous couples, like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who wed in the small window of time that gay marriage was legal in California.
Even celebrity lesbian couples who didn’t get married, such as Melissa Etheridge and partner Tammy Lynn Michaels Etheridge were queried in the press for their views on Prop. 8 and what it means to the future of Lgbt rights. Whether appearing on news programs or talk shows, the couples interviewed were typically presented as every bit as committed and family-centric as any heterosexual married couple.
Most of us are on a first name basis with the partners of out celebrities like Ellen, Melissa, and Rosie O’Donnell (her partner is Kelli Carpenter-o'Donnell...
It also drew attention to a number of famous couples, like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who wed in the small window of time that gay marriage was legal in California.
Even celebrity lesbian couples who didn’t get married, such as Melissa Etheridge and partner Tammy Lynn Michaels Etheridge were queried in the press for their views on Prop. 8 and what it means to the future of Lgbt rights. Whether appearing on news programs or talk shows, the couples interviewed were typically presented as every bit as committed and family-centric as any heterosexual married couple.
Most of us are on a first name basis with the partners of out celebrities like Ellen, Melissa, and Rosie O’Donnell (her partner is Kelli Carpenter-o'Donnell...
- 1/8/2009
- by dennis
- AfterEllen.com
Earlier this month, we spoke with lesbian novelist/filmmaker Shamim Sarif (who was recently voted International Lesbian/Bi Woman of the Year by AfterEllen.com readers), her partner (and film producer) Hanan Kattan, and actor Sheetal Sheth, about the making of their first film, I Can’t Think Straight Sarif and Kattan discussed the beginning of their filmmaking career, from their tumultuous first steps into the cinematic world, to the start of their second film, an adaptation of Sarif’s novel The World Unseen.
In this interview, they discussed the making of their second film. A much more intense script, and a period piece (it’s set in 1950s South Africa), The World Unseen benefited from the lessons Sarif and Kattan learned from making their first film, and took home serious praise at gay and straight independent film festivals.
The narrative of Unseen is centered on a love story between...
In this interview, they discussed the making of their second film. A much more intense script, and a period piece (it’s set in 1950s South Africa), The World Unseen benefited from the lessons Sarif and Kattan learned from making their first film, and took home serious praise at gay and straight independent film festivals.
The narrative of Unseen is centered on a love story between...
- 12/22/2008
- by sarahwarn
- AfterEllen.com
In our annual Visibility Awards, we formally recognize the people who have positively or negatively impacted lesbian and bi visibility in American entertainment during the year. (See previous years here: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004).
From Best Movie to Worst Song to Lesbian/Bi Woman of the Year, these awards recognize the television shows, movies, music, books and people who entertained, inspired, or disappointed us in 2008.
In previous years, the winners have been editorially chosen by the AfterEllen.com staff (note: winners do not necessarily represent any individual staff member's preference). This year, we opened up some of the categories for nominations, posted the finalists, and thousands of you voted. We've designated those categories with this symbol:
We've also included more international people, shows and movies this year, a reflection of the increasing awareness of lesbian and bisexual visibility around the world made possible by the internet.
Now on to the best and worst of...
From Best Movie to Worst Song to Lesbian/Bi Woman of the Year, these awards recognize the television shows, movies, music, books and people who entertained, inspired, or disappointed us in 2008.
In previous years, the winners have been editorially chosen by the AfterEllen.com staff (note: winners do not necessarily represent any individual staff member's preference). This year, we opened up some of the categories for nominations, posted the finalists, and thousands of you voted. We've designated those categories with this symbol:
We've also included more international people, shows and movies this year, a reflection of the increasing awareness of lesbian and bisexual visibility around the world made possible by the internet.
Now on to the best and worst of...
- 12/18/2008
- by sarahwarn
- AfterEllen.com
2008 will always be known as an historic year — for the passing of gay marriage laws in two states (and the tragic reduction of those rights in four), for the election of the nation’s first president of color, and for the downturn of the economy.
Years from now, when we talk about 2008, it’s likely that we’ll be discussing these events, rather than any specific lesbian film that came out.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a banner year for lesbian cinema.
While there were still extremely few mainstream movies with notable lesbian/bi characters, the overall quality of representation was decidedly — and dramatically — on the rise.
2008 saw an encouraging dearth of murderous, victimized or man-hating lesbian characters in any level of production (from smaller indie flicks to big-budget movies).
Women of color were better represented than in many years past, gross stereotypes were avoided, and new talents emerged.
Years from now, when we talk about 2008, it’s likely that we’ll be discussing these events, rather than any specific lesbian film that came out.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a banner year for lesbian cinema.
While there were still extremely few mainstream movies with notable lesbian/bi characters, the overall quality of representation was decidedly — and dramatically — on the rise.
2008 saw an encouraging dearth of murderous, victimized or man-hating lesbian characters in any level of production (from smaller indie flicks to big-budget movies).
Women of color were better represented than in many years past, gross stereotypes were avoided, and new talents emerged.
- 12/16/2008
- by dennis
- AfterEllen.com
Once upon a time, a successful lesbian novelist — Shamim Sarif — decided that she was going to make films.
She started by writing Hollywood scripts, and when that proved depressingly unsatisfactory, she adapted her novels into screenplays, learned the art of directing, and convinced her partner Hanan Kattan to produce her films.
A couple of years and two full-length features later, the couple is currently knee-deep in a sea of anticipation and praise, with the recent theatrical releases of I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen. AfterEllen.com had a unique opportunity to speak with both the filmmakers and lead actress Sheetal Sheth about the journey from page to screen, and back again.
Actress Sheetal Sheth, director Shamim Sarif, producer Hanan Kattan
Surely, many lesbian filmmakers have “done more with less” before, but none on the scale and scope of Sarif and Kattan. They brought a “Diy” ethos to a higher level.
She started by writing Hollywood scripts, and when that proved depressingly unsatisfactory, she adapted her novels into screenplays, learned the art of directing, and convinced her partner Hanan Kattan to produce her films.
A couple of years and two full-length features later, the couple is currently knee-deep in a sea of anticipation and praise, with the recent theatrical releases of I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen. AfterEllen.com had a unique opportunity to speak with both the filmmakers and lead actress Sheetal Sheth about the journey from page to screen, and back again.
Actress Sheetal Sheth, director Shamim Sarif, producer Hanan Kattan
Surely, many lesbian filmmakers have “done more with less” before, but none on the scale and scope of Sarif and Kattan. They brought a “Diy” ethos to a higher level.
- 12/2/2008
- by sarahwarn
- AfterEllen.com
New York -- "I Can't Think Straight," a Sapphic romantic comedy written, directed and produced entirely by women, has been picked up for North American distribution by Here! Films.
Shamim Sarif's film charts the unexpected romance between Tala (Lisa Ray), a vivacious Christian woman from Palestine, and Leyla (Sheetal Sheth), a shy Muslim woman from India. When they meet in London just before Tala's planned wedding, sparks fly between them and their families.
Here! sister co. Regent Releasing will distribute Sarif's other feature, the South African-set period lesbian romance "The World Unseen" on Nov. 7 in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. "Straight" will bow in the same cities two weeks later, followed by additional regional markets.
Sarif based both directorial efforts on her novels of the same name and both star the same actresses. Bollywood actress and model Ray ("Water") sparked controversy in India last year when it was...
Shamim Sarif's film charts the unexpected romance between Tala (Lisa Ray), a vivacious Christian woman from Palestine, and Leyla (Sheetal Sheth), a shy Muslim woman from India. When they meet in London just before Tala's planned wedding, sparks fly between them and their families.
Here! sister co. Regent Releasing will distribute Sarif's other feature, the South African-set period lesbian romance "The World Unseen" on Nov. 7 in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. "Straight" will bow in the same cities two weeks later, followed by additional regional markets.
Sarif based both directorial efforts on her novels of the same name and both star the same actresses. Bollywood actress and model Ray ("Water") sparked controversy in India last year when it was...
- 9/16/2008
- by By Gregg Goldstein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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