Paramount wasn’t messing around during their CinemaCon panel today, giving attendees previews of movies like Smile 2, Gladiator II, A Quiet Place: Day One, Transformers One, and If, revealing The Running Man casting news, and announcing several movies, including a live-action comedy from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Scary Movie 6, a Transformers / G.I. Joe crossover, and a live-action, R-rated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. They also unveiled several titles on their 2024 – 2026 slate, and we can’t possibly cover them all… so we have gone ahead and dropped the full list into this article. Scroll down to see what Paramount has in store for us over the next couple years.
If
Release Date: May 17, 2024
Written and Directed by: John Krasinski
Producers: Allyson Seeger, p.g.a., John Krasinski, p.g.a., Andrew Form, p.g.a., Ryan Reynolds
Executive Producers: John J. Kelly, George Dewey, Kimberly Nelson LoCascio
Cast: Cailey Fleming,...
If
Release Date: May 17, 2024
Written and Directed by: John Krasinski
Producers: Allyson Seeger, p.g.a., John Krasinski, p.g.a., Andrew Form, p.g.a., Ryan Reynolds
Executive Producers: John J. Kelly, George Dewey, Kimberly Nelson LoCascio
Cast: Cailey Fleming,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
David Ayer recently turned heads with The Beekeeper, a seemingly run-of-the-mill Jason Statham action film that turned out to be a strange mish-mash of ideas and bold choices that still feels like a fever dream. Ayer has had some hits under his belt, but as a whole, the filmmaker’s resume has some divisive receptions among them. This brings us to the interesting partnering with the Whiplash, La La Land and Babylon director Damien Chazelle. As Chazelle attempts to recover from Babylon‘s flopping, the First Man director will only be producing the new film that Ayer will helm.
Deadline reports that Ayer will be directing Heart of the Beast. The film will come from Chazelle and spouse Olivia Hamilton’s company, Wild Chicken Productions, as part of their first look deal with Paramount. Ayer and Chris Long will also produce alongside under their Cedar Park Entertainment banner. The screenplay comes from scribe Cameron Alexander,...
Deadline reports that Ayer will be directing Heart of the Beast. The film will come from Chazelle and spouse Olivia Hamilton’s company, Wild Chicken Productions, as part of their first look deal with Paramount. Ayer and Chris Long will also produce alongside under their Cedar Park Entertainment banner. The screenplay comes from scribe Cameron Alexander,...
- 3/22/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Fresh off the success of his action pic The Beekeeper, David Ayer is continuing to stay busy as the director has signed on to helm Paramount Pictures’ Heart of the Beast. Damien Chazelle and Olivia Hamilton are producing under their Wild Chickens Productions banner as part of their first-look deal with the studio. Ayer and Chris Long will produce alongside under their Cedar Park Entertainment banner.
Cameron Alexander, who penned the script, will executive produce.Richard Raymond is co-producing.
The story follows a former Navy Seal and his retired combat dog who attempt to return to civilization after a catastrophic accident deep in the Alaskan wilderness.
Ayer is not shy of showing his appreciation of the military whether by some of the films he has directed like World War II pic Fury or his social media, which is filled with posts that properly honor those who have served and...
Cameron Alexander, who penned the script, will executive produce.Richard Raymond is co-producing.
The story follows a former Navy Seal and his retired combat dog who attempt to return to civilization after a catastrophic accident deep in the Alaskan wilderness.
Ayer is not shy of showing his appreciation of the military whether by some of the films he has directed like World War II pic Fury or his social media, which is filled with posts that properly honor those who have served and...
- 3/22/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Here at /Film, we have talked quite a bit about how much we love genre-specific streaming services like Shudder or Alter, but does such a platform exist for fans of science fiction? Sure, there's always the Syfy channel on cable, but with so many people cutting cords and pivoting exclusively to streaming, you may be wondering where to find new and unique sci-fi stories. Well, may we interest you in Dust? A sister site of Alter, Dust comes from the folks at Gunpowder and Sky, the independent studio behind hits like "Summer of 84," "Tragedy Girls," "Her Smell," "Hearts Beat Loud," "Call Me Miss Cleo," and "Kobe Bryant's Dear Basketball."
A hub for the very best in sci-fi short films, Dust also has a live linear channel constantly playing from their selection of shorts, so if you don't feel like wading through the selections, you can let the service choose for you.
A hub for the very best in sci-fi short films, Dust also has a live linear channel constantly playing from their selection of shorts, so if you don't feel like wading through the selections, you can let the service choose for you.
- 12/9/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
"As a soul of totality, you will always be part of the whole of something." Last year, a total solar eclipse was visible across America - and people went crazy over it. During that eclipse, filmmaker Richard Raymond got a crew and shot this short film - Souls of Totality. It won Best Short at the Raindance Film Festival, and the Grand Jury Prize at Hollyshorts, and is now available online to watch. Souls of Totality follows Lady 18 and Guy 3, who have a secret. They are members of a cult that believes if they die during a Solar Eclipse their souls will be taken to paradise. But their secret... is that they are profoundly in love. Starring Tatiana Maslany & Tom Cullen, plus Mike Tague & Helen Shaver. It runs a bit long, but it's an affecting film. Thanks to Lola for the tip on this. Original description from Vimeo: "Filmed...
- 10/26/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
★★☆☆☆ It's all the more disappointing for a cinemagoer when a film meant to delight in a fellow performance art falls limply flat on its face. Paired with a weakly executed, western-articulated perspective on the constraints of Iranian society, Richard Raymond's debut feature Desert Dancer is a lifeless, contrived and remarkably unengaging rallying cry for freedom of expression and self-fulfilment in the face of adversity. Caught somewhere between one of the Step Up series and an attempted expose on political oppression, the film opens with images of a man beaten black and blue by vicious kicks to the face.
- 4/22/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
This is an unexpected but beautiful, inspiring film. It tells the very human story of youth yearning to express themselves through art (in this case as dancers) who end up through no wish or foresight as socially dangerous protesters against a tyrannical, arbitrarily repressive government.
Iran is such an interesting country with one of the oldest cultures in the world. It was fascinating to see youth whose only wish was to create art being pulled into social protest. In recent years from abroad we have studied the various moves politically of their conservative oppressive government. I have always wondered what the youth, artists and intellectuals were and are going through there. This film brings us inside, up close.
"Desert Dancer" by Richard Raymond follows the true, inspiring story of a brave Iranian dancer, Afshin Ghaffarian.
Set in Tehran during the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election and the start of the “Green Movement,” Afshin and a group of dancers (including “Elaheh” played by Freida Pinto) risk their lives and form an underground dance company.
One of the most socially dangerous things they do is to go on the forbidden internet to look at online dance videos.
With what little access to the Internet they had, the group discovers music and dance videos that were banned from viewing in their country.
The group learns various forms, techniques and styles of dance from timeless legends like Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Inspired by these newfound heroes, they stage their own performances and uncover a passion for dance and one another.
While the political and cultural backdrop of "Desert Dancer" is very unique to the time and place, the struggle to overcome oppression— whether from a government or from within— proves universal.
"Desert Dancer" stars Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie, Tom Cullen, Nazanin Boniadi and Makram J. Khoury. Director: Richard Raymond; Screenplay: Jon Croker, based on the life story of Afshin Ghaffarian; Producers: Pippa Cross, Fabiola Beracasa, Izabella Miko, Luis Astorquia
International Sales are being handled by 6 Sales. Rights have been sold to the following territories: Germany (Senator Enterta), Hong Kong (Cinehub), South Kore (Sookie Pictures), Lebanon (Italia Film), Russia (Exponenta Films), Spain (Betta Pictures), Turkey (Kurmaca Film), U.S.A. (Relativity Media).
Iran is such an interesting country with one of the oldest cultures in the world. It was fascinating to see youth whose only wish was to create art being pulled into social protest. In recent years from abroad we have studied the various moves politically of their conservative oppressive government. I have always wondered what the youth, artists and intellectuals were and are going through there. This film brings us inside, up close.
"Desert Dancer" by Richard Raymond follows the true, inspiring story of a brave Iranian dancer, Afshin Ghaffarian.
Set in Tehran during the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election and the start of the “Green Movement,” Afshin and a group of dancers (including “Elaheh” played by Freida Pinto) risk their lives and form an underground dance company.
One of the most socially dangerous things they do is to go on the forbidden internet to look at online dance videos.
With what little access to the Internet they had, the group discovers music and dance videos that were banned from viewing in their country.
The group learns various forms, techniques and styles of dance from timeless legends like Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Inspired by these newfound heroes, they stage their own performances and uncover a passion for dance and one another.
While the political and cultural backdrop of "Desert Dancer" is very unique to the time and place, the struggle to overcome oppression— whether from a government or from within— proves universal.
"Desert Dancer" stars Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie, Tom Cullen, Nazanin Boniadi and Makram J. Khoury. Director: Richard Raymond; Screenplay: Jon Croker, based on the life story of Afshin Ghaffarian; Producers: Pippa Cross, Fabiola Beracasa, Izabella Miko, Luis Astorquia
International Sales are being handled by 6 Sales. Rights have been sold to the following territories: Germany (Senator Enterta), Hong Kong (Cinehub), South Kore (Sookie Pictures), Lebanon (Italia Film), Russia (Exponenta Films), Spain (Betta Pictures), Turkey (Kurmaca Film), U.S.A. (Relativity Media).
- 4/14/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
As I say in my video review above, Richard Raymond’s directorial debut Desert Dancer is an inspiring true story set in the extremely dangerous period around the 2009 Iran presidential election, when a group young people went underground and created a dance troupe in a country that bans this kind — basically all kinds — of creative expression. Even access to the Internet was denied, but they found a way to see videos of dance legends such as Gene Kelly, Rudolph Nureyev and…...
- 4/10/2015
- Deadline
Chicago – What does anyone understand about regimes outside their political or moral universe? The setting is Iran, the time is during their controversial 2009 elections and the medium is dance as expression. Combining those elements was the challenge for director Richard Raymond, in his debut film “Desert Dancer.”
The film creates an allegory, using dance as a symbol for breaking free of government oppression, and is based on the true story of Afshin Ghaffarian, portrayed by Reece Ritchie. Like the 2014 film “Rosewater,” it uses the 2009 elections in Iran as a backdrop, and the constant vigilance of the “morality police” as a arbiter. Director Richard Raymond and screenwriter Jon Croker tell a simple story, but punctuate that story with two vital dance numbers, that say more about the events than the events themselves.
Director Richard Raymond on Location for ‘Desert Dancer’
Photo credit: Relativity Media
The British born Richard Raymond has an superhero-like movie origin story.
The film creates an allegory, using dance as a symbol for breaking free of government oppression, and is based on the true story of Afshin Ghaffarian, portrayed by Reece Ritchie. Like the 2014 film “Rosewater,” it uses the 2009 elections in Iran as a backdrop, and the constant vigilance of the “morality police” as a arbiter. Director Richard Raymond and screenwriter Jon Croker tell a simple story, but punctuate that story with two vital dance numbers, that say more about the events than the events themselves.
Director Richard Raymond on Location for ‘Desert Dancer’
Photo credit: Relativity Media
The British born Richard Raymond has an superhero-like movie origin story.
- 4/9/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Stepping out for some promotional duties, Freida Pinto showed up at the Baccarat Hotel in Manhattan on Tuesday evening (April 7).
Joined by Director Richard Raymond, the “Slumdog Millionaire” was in the house for the premiere of her new flick “Desert Dancer,” and she looked stunning in a purple lace frock as she posed for photos.
“Desert Dancer” is slated to hit theaters on Friday, April 10th. Per the synopsis, “Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.”...
Joined by Director Richard Raymond, the “Slumdog Millionaire” was in the house for the premiere of her new flick “Desert Dancer,” and she looked stunning in a purple lace frock as she posed for photos.
“Desert Dancer” is slated to hit theaters on Friday, April 10th. Per the synopsis, “Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.”...
- 4/8/2015
- GossipCenter
Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new biography/drama “Desert Dancer” starring Freida Pinto and Reece Ritchie based on the inspiring true story of Afshin Ghaffarian!
“Desert Dancer,” which opens on April 10, 2015 and is rated “PG-13,” also stars Tom Cullen, Makram Khoury, Nazanin Boniadi, Simon Kassianides, Akin Gazi, Marama Corlett and Tolga Safer from director Richard Raymond and writer Jon Croker based on the life story of Afshin Ghaffarian.
To win your free “Desert Dancer” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That’s it! This screening is on Monday, April 6, 2015 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds of winning; this doesn’t intensify your competition!
“Desert Dancer,” which opens on April 10, 2015 and is rated “PG-13,” also stars Tom Cullen, Makram Khoury, Nazanin Boniadi, Simon Kassianides, Akin Gazi, Marama Corlett and Tolga Safer from director Richard Raymond and writer Jon Croker based on the life story of Afshin Ghaffarian.
To win your free “Desert Dancer” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That’s it! This screening is on Monday, April 6, 2015 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds of winning; this doesn’t intensify your competition!
- 4/4/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Copyright Desert Dancer Productions Ltd 2014
Relativity Studios has released a new, behind-the-scenes featurette for their upcoming film Desert Dancer. The movie stars Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie, Tom Cullen, Nazanin Boniadi and Makram J. Khoury.
Check out the featurette now for an inside look at the cast’s dance rehearsals with acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan.
The video features Benjamin Wallfisch’s original score throughout.
Set in Iran, this powerful and unbelievable true story follows the brave ambition of Afshin Ghaffarian. During the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, where many cultural freedoms were threatened, Afshin and some friends (including Elaheh played by Freida Pinto) risk their lives and form an underground dance company.
Through banned online videos, they learn from timeless legends who cross all cultural divides, such as Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Afshin and Elaheh also learn much from each other, most importantly how to embrace their...
Relativity Studios has released a new, behind-the-scenes featurette for their upcoming film Desert Dancer. The movie stars Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie, Tom Cullen, Nazanin Boniadi and Makram J. Khoury.
Check out the featurette now for an inside look at the cast’s dance rehearsals with acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan.
The video features Benjamin Wallfisch’s original score throughout.
Set in Iran, this powerful and unbelievable true story follows the brave ambition of Afshin Ghaffarian. During the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, where many cultural freedoms were threatened, Afshin and some friends (including Elaheh played by Freida Pinto) risk their lives and form an underground dance company.
Through banned online videos, they learn from timeless legends who cross all cultural divides, such as Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Afshin and Elaheh also learn much from each other, most importantly how to embrace their...
- 3/11/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"Dancing is forbidden. So if you're going to do it, you do it somewhere safe." Despite what Footloose may have you believe, it's pretty ridiculous to live in a place in the United States where dancing is forbidden. Of course, you may not realize this, but around the world, not everyone has that same kind of freedom. Desert Dancer sets out to tell the true story of a young man who's a gifted dancer, but finds his skills stifled by the oppressive government of his homeland in Iran. And much like Kevin Bacon, he uses his dancing to make a statement, creating a secret group with other brave dancers for a performance out in the desert. Watch! Here's the trailer for Richard Raymond's Desert Dancer from Relativity Media:...
- 2/4/2015
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
By Scott Feinberg
The Hollywood Reporter
The 30th Santa Barbara International Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday night with the North American premiere of Richard Raymond’s feature directorial debut Desert Dancer, a drama based on the true story of a young aspiring dancer in present-day Iran, where dance is banned. (Think Rosewater meets Footloose or Dirty Dancing, in the best sense.)
More than 2,000 moviegoers packed Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre for the screening, which was attended by Raymond and his stars Reece Ritchie (who looks and dances like a young Michael Jackson), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Tom Cullen (Downton Abbey) — and was very well received.
Read the rest of this entry…...
The Hollywood Reporter
The 30th Santa Barbara International Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday night with the North American premiere of Richard Raymond’s feature directorial debut Desert Dancer, a drama based on the true story of a young aspiring dancer in present-day Iran, where dance is banned. (Think Rosewater meets Footloose or Dirty Dancing, in the best sense.)
More than 2,000 moviegoers packed Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre for the screening, which was attended by Raymond and his stars Reece Ritchie (who looks and dances like a young Michael Jackson), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Tom Cullen (Downton Abbey) — and was very well received.
Read the rest of this entry…...
- 1/28/2015
- by Anjelica Oswald
- Scott Feinberg
Save The Last Dance was one of my favorite movies when I was growing up. It wasn't just because Julie Stiles looked awesome dancing in circles, but the combination of dance and a struggling environment was a powerful one*. And that's what Desert Dancer, a new film by Richard Raymond, seems to bring to the table: dance and struggle.
The setting is Iran, and the story follows Afshin Ghaffarian and some friends (one of which is Elaheh, played by Frieda Pinto) who risk their lives and form an underground dance company. This is a true story, set during the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, where many cultural freedoms, like dance, were threatened.
Through banned online videos, the group learn from timeless legends who cross all cultural divides, such as Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Afshin and Elaheh also learn much from each other, most importantly how to...
The setting is Iran, and the story follows Afshin Ghaffarian and some friends (one of which is Elaheh, played by Frieda Pinto) who risk their lives and form an underground dance company. This is a true story, set during the volatile climate of the 2009 presidential election, where many cultural freedoms, like dance, were threatened.
Through banned online videos, the group learn from timeless legends who cross all cultural divides, such as Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Afshin and Elaheh also learn much from each other, most importantly how to...
- 1/27/2015
- by Laura Frances
- LRMonline.com
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will kick off Opening Night with the U.S. Premiere of Relativity Studios’ Desert Dancer at the historic Arlington Theatre on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.Directed by Richard Raymond and starring Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Cullen and Marmama Corlett, Desert Dancer tells the true story of a self-taught dancer pursuing a dream in a suppressed society.“Raymond has delivered an extremely timely and thought-provoking movie about love, truth and the freedom that comes from following your passions,” stated Roger Durling, Sbiff Executive Director. “What better way to kick off our 30th anniversary!” For the […]...
- 1/26/2015
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
Along with its annual awards season tributes, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (January 27-February 7) presents an array of premieres and hot titles off the festival circuit. The fest will kick off with the Us premiere of "Desert Dancer," Richard Raymond's story of an Iranian underground dance company during the volatile 2009 presidential election. Sbiff will close with Disney's "McFarland, USA." Directed by Niki Caro and starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello, the film follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California’s Central Valley as they build a cross-country team under Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner). This year's edition includes tributes to Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, Michael Keaton, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell and more. Highlights from the Special Presentations section include Oscar-contending docs "Citizenfour," "Life Itself" and "Keep...
- 1/8/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
The 30th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will showcase 23 world premieres and 53 Us premieres in its selections from 54 countries.
The festival will kick off on January 27 with the Us premiere of Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer and wrap on February 7 with Niki Caro’s McFarland (pictured) starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello.
World premiere selections include Jonny Zwick’s Breach, Galen Knowles’ Far From Home, Brad Hall’s Generosity Of The Eye and George Butler’s Tiger, Tiger.
Among other honourees, The Theory Of Everything co-stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award and Michael Keaton the Modern Master Award.
For full details click here.
The festival will kick off on January 27 with the Us premiere of Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer and wrap on February 7 with Niki Caro’s McFarland (pictured) starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello.
World premiere selections include Jonny Zwick’s Breach, Galen Knowles’ Far From Home, Brad Hall’s Generosity Of The Eye and George Butler’s Tiger, Tiger.
Among other honourees, The Theory Of Everything co-stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award and Michael Keaton the Modern Master Award.
For full details click here.
- 1/8/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Stockholm International Film Festival has unveiled the programme for its 25th edition, with more than 200 films from 60+ countries screening from Nov 5-16.
The festival opens with Mikael Marcimain’s hotly anticipated adaptation of Klas Östergren’s postwar Swedish classic Gentlemen [pictured].
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Birdman will be the centerpiece film of the festival and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Wild will close.
“We are extra proud to present a record breaking program when celebrating our 25th anniversary,” said festival director Git Scheynius.
This year’s spotlight theme is hope, and films selected in that programme include Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer, Hong Khaou’s Lilting, Shira Geffen’s Self Made and Stephen Daldry’s Trash.
Uma Thurman will be honoured with the Stockholm Achievement Award and give a public talk followed by a screening of Kill Bill 1 & 2.
Mike Leigh will also be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award and will give a talk and screen Mr. Turner.
Ai...
The festival opens with Mikael Marcimain’s hotly anticipated adaptation of Klas Östergren’s postwar Swedish classic Gentlemen [pictured].
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Birdman will be the centerpiece film of the festival and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Wild will close.
“We are extra proud to present a record breaking program when celebrating our 25th anniversary,” said festival director Git Scheynius.
This year’s spotlight theme is hope, and films selected in that programme include Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer, Hong Khaou’s Lilting, Shira Geffen’s Self Made and Stephen Daldry’s Trash.
Uma Thurman will be honoured with the Stockholm Achievement Award and give a public talk followed by a screening of Kill Bill 1 & 2.
Mike Leigh will also be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award and will give a talk and screen Mr. Turner.
Ai...
- 10/21/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
By Scott Feinberg
The Hollywood Reporter
Richard Raymond‘s Desert Dancer, a drama about a young dancer in present-day Iran that stars Slumdog Millionaire‘s Freida Pinto, will kick off the 30th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre on Jan. 27, 2015, the fest’s organizers announced this week. Sbiff also announced that its Attenborough Award for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking, which hasn’t been presented in five years, will go to the Cousteau family.
Read the rest of this entry…...
The Hollywood Reporter
Richard Raymond‘s Desert Dancer, a drama about a young dancer in present-day Iran that stars Slumdog Millionaire‘s Freida Pinto, will kick off the 30th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre on Jan. 27, 2015, the fest’s organizers announced this week. Sbiff also announced that its Attenborough Award for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking, which hasn’t been presented in five years, will go to the Cousteau family.
Read the rest of this entry…...
- 9/26/2014
- by Anjelica Oswald
- Scott Feinberg
Richard Raymond's Desert Dancer, a drama about a young dancer in present-day Iran that stars Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto, will kick off the 30th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre on Jan. 27, 2015, the fest's organizers announced this week. Sbiff also announced that its Attenborough Award for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking, which hasn't been presented in five years, will go to the Cousteau family. Desert Dancer, which is based on the life story of Afshin Ghaffarian, will be released by Relativity Studios in select cities on March 20 before expanding wider on March 27.
read more...
read more...
- 9/25/2014
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Relativity Studios’ Desert Dancer will open the 30th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, set to run from January 27-February 7.
Richard Raymond directs Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Cullen and Marmama Corlett in the story of a self-taught dancer pursuing her dreams in a suppressed society.
The Attenborough Award For Excellence In Nature Filmmaking will go to the Cousteau Family – Jean-Michel and his son and daughter Fabien and Celine.
Richard Raymond directs Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Cullen and Marmama Corlett in the story of a self-taught dancer pursuing her dreams in a suppressed society.
The Attenborough Award For Excellence In Nature Filmmaking will go to the Cousteau Family – Jean-Michel and his son and daughter Fabien and Celine.
- 9/24/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Santa Barbara Film Festival is sending out announcements. That must mean it’s Oscar season officially. The first of their special announcements is the Us premiere of Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer,...
- 9/24/2014
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
Cannes - Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer, starring Freida Pinto, Tom Cullen and Reece Ritchie, will serve as the opening night film at the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest on July 13 in Ischia, Italy, it was announced today by the fest’s founder and producer Pascal Vicedomini. Desert Dancer is a musical film set during the 2009 riots against the Iranian regime, and is based on the story of Afshin Ghaffarian, who dreamt of becoming a ballet dancer despite a government ban. The film costars Nazanin Boniadi and Reece Ritchie. Its choreography is by Akram Khan, who also created the opening ceremonies of the
read more...
read more...
- 5/17/2014
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Saudi-born Hollywood producer Mohammed Al Turki is setting up a film fund, Rav Raw Artist Vision, with Russian producer Arcadiy Golubovich.
To be launched mid-2014, the fund will support five Us productions a year for five years, including one each year that will shoot in the Middle East region.
“It could be a love story, comedy or drama; it doesn’t have to deal with politics or religion. We will try to shoot the film in Dubai or Abu Dhabi availing of the rebates and incentives they offer. We would like to show more of the Arab landscape and culture in Hollywood films,” Al Turki told Screen.
Al Turki has executive produced films such as Arbitrage, starring Richard Gere, and Richard Raymond’s upcoming Desert Dancer starring Freida Pinto. Golubovich’s producer credits include Paul Haggis’ Third Person. The producing duo haven’t specified the size of the fund but said they will approach institutional investors.
To be launched mid-2014, the fund will support five Us productions a year for five years, including one each year that will shoot in the Middle East region.
“It could be a love story, comedy or drama; it doesn’t have to deal with politics or religion. We will try to shoot the film in Dubai or Abu Dhabi availing of the rebates and incentives they offer. We would like to show more of the Arab landscape and culture in Hollywood films,” Al Turki told Screen.
Al Turki has executive produced films such as Arbitrage, starring Richard Gere, and Richard Raymond’s upcoming Desert Dancer starring Freida Pinto. Golubovich’s producer credits include Paul Haggis’ Third Person. The producing duo haven’t specified the size of the fund but said they will approach institutional investors.
- 12/10/2013
- ScreenDaily
With the American Film Market tapering down ahead of its final day on Wednesday, buyers from around the globe acquired a bunch of films for release in their local markets. Amongst the notable deals:
Dark Places
Exclusive Media has sold most of the worldwide rights to various companies for Gilles Paquet-Brenner's "Dark Places". Charlize Theron leads the cast of this story about a woman forced to re-examine the massacre of her family more than twenty years beforehand.
Wolf Creek 2
Image Entertainment has scored the U.S. distribution rights to the sequel to Greg McLean's cult horror hit "Wolf Creek" with a 2014 release being targeted. John Jarratt returns as homicidal bushman Mick Taylor who preys on backpackers in the Australian Outback.
20,000 Days on Earth
HanWay has acquired world rights, excluding UK and Australia, to the Nick Cave music documentary "20,000 Days on Earth" for a late 2014 release. The film...
Dark Places
Exclusive Media has sold most of the worldwide rights to various companies for Gilles Paquet-Brenner's "Dark Places". Charlize Theron leads the cast of this story about a woman forced to re-examine the massacre of her family more than twenty years beforehand.
Wolf Creek 2
Image Entertainment has scored the U.S. distribution rights to the sequel to Greg McLean's cult horror hit "Wolf Creek" with a 2014 release being targeted. John Jarratt returns as homicidal bushman Mick Taylor who preys on backpackers in the Australian Outback.
20,000 Days on Earth
HanWay has acquired world rights, excluding UK and Australia, to the Nick Cave music documentary "20,000 Days on Earth" for a late 2014 release. The film...
- 11/11/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Relativity Media made one of the first major purchases at this year's American Film Market (Afm), picking up the North American distribution rights to the Iran-based musical drama Desert Dancer , starring Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie and "Downton Abbey" star Tom Cullen, for an undisclosed amount of money. Directed by first-timer Richard Raymond from a script by Jon Croker, the film is based on the story of Afshin Ghaffarian (Ritchie) who dreamed of becoming a dancer in a country where dance is forbidden with the majority of the film taking place in the 2009 protests that led the country towards more freedoms. The film is choreographed by Akram Khan, who was responsible for the same job at last year's London Olympics Opening Ceremony. Relativity president Tucker Tooley...
- 11/9/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Now there are two dancing-related movies I could easily see myself checking out — brave new world, etc. Following recent casting on the salsa comedy Cuban Fury, Variety reports that Reece Ritchie (The Lovely Bones), Freida Pinto, and Alfred Molina, have come aboard a very different kind of entry into the subgenre: Desert Dancer, a biopic of Iranian performer Afshin Ghaffarian.
Set during the tumultuous protests of Iran’s 2009 election, Desert Dancer follows the efforts of Ghaffarian (Ritchie) to advance his career, even going so far as to “risk his life to fight for his dream to become a dancer.” (This Is Not a Boogie.) Pinto and Molina‘s roles haven’t been expounded upon, though it’s fair to think they’ll appear as his lover and father figure, respectively. Jon Croker (The Woman in Black: Angels of Death) is writing the film for debut director Richard Raymond, who’s also producing through his company,...
Set during the tumultuous protests of Iran’s 2009 election, Desert Dancer follows the efforts of Ghaffarian (Ritchie) to advance his career, even going so far as to “risk his life to fight for his dream to become a dancer.” (This Is Not a Boogie.) Pinto and Molina‘s roles haven’t been expounded upon, though it’s fair to think they’ll appear as his lover and father figure, respectively. Jon Croker (The Woman in Black: Angels of Death) is writing the film for debut director Richard Raymond, who’s also producing through his company,...
- 5/18/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
With production set to begin next month, “Runner, Runner” is looking to add another rising star to its ranks. Deadline reports that “The Hurt Locker” star is in talks to join the online gambling thriller written by “Rounders” duo Brian Koppelman and David Levien, and directed by “The Lincoln Lawyer” helmer Brad Furman.
Mackie will join a stacked cast that includes Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake, and “Project X” star Oliver Cooper. It’s been a busy year for Mackie, who has already appeared in the Sam Worthington snoozefest “Man On A Ledge” and will appear in two films opening later this year, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” and “Gangster Squad.” With his profile increasing, he’ll hopefully get a chance to get more lead roles like the one in the ill-fated Paul Greegrass-helmed Jimi Hendrix biopic.
Across the pond, U.K. production “Desert Dancer,” based on the life of Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian,...
Mackie will join a stacked cast that includes Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake, and “Project X” star Oliver Cooper. It’s been a busy year for Mackie, who has already appeared in the Sam Worthington snoozefest “Man On A Ledge” and will appear in two films opening later this year, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” and “Gangster Squad.” With his profile increasing, he’ll hopefully get a chance to get more lead roles like the one in the ill-fated Paul Greegrass-helmed Jimi Hendrix biopic.
Across the pond, U.K. production “Desert Dancer,” based on the life of Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian,...
- 5/18/2012
- by Cain Rodriguez
- The Playlist
Who wouldn't want to hoof it with Freida Pinto?
The "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" beauty will soon be showing off her dance moves as she signs on to play the female lead in "Desert Dancer," according to Variety.
Alfred Molina and Reece Ritchie are also on board the film that's based on the life of Afshin Ghaffarian. The story is set in Iran, where most forms of dancing are banned, against the backdrop of the 2009 election protests — where, despite the dangers, Ghaffarian (Ritchie) is willing to risk his life to fight for his dream to become a dancer.
"Desert Dancer" is being written by Jon Croker, who's currently hard at work on the sequel to "The Woman in Black." The film marks the directorial debut of Richard Raymond, who previously produced "Heartless," the strange (and wonderful) Machiavellian tale starring Jim Sturgess and Clemence Poesy.
Freida Pinto has...
The "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" beauty will soon be showing off her dance moves as she signs on to play the female lead in "Desert Dancer," according to Variety.
Alfred Molina and Reece Ritchie are also on board the film that's based on the life of Afshin Ghaffarian. The story is set in Iran, where most forms of dancing are banned, against the backdrop of the 2009 election protests — where, despite the dangers, Ghaffarian (Ritchie) is willing to risk his life to fight for his dream to become a dancer.
"Desert Dancer" is being written by Jon Croker, who's currently hard at work on the sequel to "The Woman in Black." The film marks the directorial debut of Richard Raymond, who previously produced "Heartless," the strange (and wonderful) Machiavellian tale starring Jim Sturgess and Clemence Poesy.
Freida Pinto has...
- 5/18/2012
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
Fabiola Beracasa attends Heartless New York City Premiere.Photo copyright Debby Wong / PR Photos. Jim Sturgess attends Heartless New York City Premiere.Photo copyright Debby Wong / PR Photos. Dominique Piek attends Heartless New York City Premiere.Photo copyright Debby Wong / PR Photos. Philip Ridley attends Heartless New York City Premiere.Photo copyright Debby Wong / PR Photos. Richard Raymond attends Heartless New York City Premiere.Photo copyright Debby Wong / PR Photos. 11/16/2010 - Jim Sturgess - "Heartless" New York City Premiere - Arrivals - Chelsea Clearview 23 - New York City, NY, USA © Debby Wong / PR Photos 11/16/2010 - Jim Sturgess - "Heartless" New York City Premiere - Arrivals - Chelsea Clearview 23...
- 11/18/2010
- by Michelle Wray
- Monsters and Critics
As mentioned earlier, a bit of Fantastic Fest is coming home thanks to IFC Midnight, and to celebrate, the trailer debut for High Lane (or Vertige for you purists out there) has come online.
IFC Midnight and Fantastic Fest will be making the following four films available nationwide on major national cable systems that include Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Bright House in conjunction with their screenings at Fantastic Fest 2010: Philip Ridley’s demonic thriller Heartless (review) (making its Us debut); Abel Ferry’s mountain climbing nightmare High Lane (making its Us debut); Josh Reed’s Ozploitation horror flick Primal (review) (making its Us debut); and Simon Rumley’s hard-core Red White & Blue (review here).
The following are in-depth summaries of all four films:
Red White & Blue (directed by Simon Rumley)
Erica (Amanda Fuller) is a tough, troubled nymphomaniac with wounds across her soul. For Erica,...
IFC Midnight and Fantastic Fest will be making the following four films available nationwide on major national cable systems that include Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Bright House in conjunction with their screenings at Fantastic Fest 2010: Philip Ridley’s demonic thriller Heartless (review) (making its Us debut); Abel Ferry’s mountain climbing nightmare High Lane (making its Us debut); Josh Reed’s Ozploitation horror flick Primal (review) (making its Us debut); and Simon Rumley’s hard-core Red White & Blue (review here).
The following are in-depth summaries of all four films:
Red White & Blue (directed by Simon Rumley)
Erica (Amanda Fuller) is a tough, troubled nymphomaniac with wounds across her soul. For Erica,...
- 9/20/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
IFC Midnight, the new genre label of IFC Films, has announced its first partnership with Fantastic Fest! Four brand new IFC Midnight acquisitions will screen at Fantastic Fest (Sept 23-30) and will simultaneously be available nationwide via the movies-on-demand platform of major national cable systems, including Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Bright House, and will be available in approximately 40 million homes. The films include: Philip Ridley’s demonic thriller Heartless (making its Us debut); Abel Ferry’s mountain climbing nightmare High Lane (making its Us debut); Josh Reed’s Ozploitation horror flick Primal (making its Us debut); and Simon Rumley’s hard-core Red White & Blue.
IFC Midnight will also make three acclaimed films from Fantastic Fest 2009 available on demand as part of this initiative including: Tom Six’s The Human Centipede, Kim Ji-Woon’s The Good The Bad The Weird, and Jake West’s Doghouse. Primal...
IFC Midnight will also make three acclaimed films from Fantastic Fest 2009 available on demand as part of this initiative including: Tom Six’s The Human Centipede, Kim Ji-Woon’s The Good The Bad The Weird, and Jake West’s Doghouse. Primal...
- 9/15/2010
- by George Bragdon
- OriginalAlamo.com
Two of the biggest names within the world of film distribution and film festivals are set to team up for what appears to be another step in the ever growing popularity of video on demand and film festival partnerships.
Following experiments like YouTube’s attempt at bringing in new viewers by streaming a collection of Sundance films, IFC and their genre label, Midnight, are set to team up with Fantastic Fest, to release four films, premiering at the festival, on their on demand channel.
The Philip Ridley film, Heartless will join High Lane (Abel Ferry), Primal (Josh Reed) and Red White & Blue (Simon Rumley) as the four feature films that premiere day and date at both the Austin, Texas based festival, as well as the IFC Midnight on demand channel.
Midnight has played home to films like The Human Centipede and Doghouse, as well as upcoming releases like Enter The Void...
Following experiments like YouTube’s attempt at bringing in new viewers by streaming a collection of Sundance films, IFC and their genre label, Midnight, are set to team up with Fantastic Fest, to release four films, premiering at the festival, on their on demand channel.
The Philip Ridley film, Heartless will join High Lane (Abel Ferry), Primal (Josh Reed) and Red White & Blue (Simon Rumley) as the four feature films that premiere day and date at both the Austin, Texas based festival, as well as the IFC Midnight on demand channel.
Midnight has played home to films like The Human Centipede and Doghouse, as well as upcoming releases like Enter The Void...
- 9/15/2010
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Some pretty great news has come in for those of us who don't have the funds or the time off from work to attend this year's Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas: IFC Midnight, the new genre label of IFC Films, has announced that four brand new IFC Midnight acquisitions screening at Fantastic Fest (Sept. 23-30) will simultaneously be available nationwide via the movies-on-demand platform.
Here are the details from the press release:
IFC Midnight and Fantastic Fest will be making the following four films available nationwide on major national cable systems that include Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Bright House in conjunction with their screenings at Fantastic Fest 2010: Philip Ridley’s demonic thriller Heartless (review) (making its Us debut); Abel Ferry’s mountain climbing nightmare High Lane (making its Us debut); Josh Reed’s Ozploitation horror flick Primal (review) (making its Us debut); and Simon Rumley...
Here are the details from the press release:
IFC Midnight and Fantastic Fest will be making the following four films available nationwide on major national cable systems that include Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Bright House in conjunction with their screenings at Fantastic Fest 2010: Philip Ridley’s demonic thriller Heartless (review) (making its Us debut); Abel Ferry’s mountain climbing nightmare High Lane (making its Us debut); Josh Reed’s Ozploitation horror flick Primal (review) (making its Us debut); and Simon Rumley...
- 9/14/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Down in the Hug-bunker, we’ve been getting quite excited about forthcoming Brit-flick, Heartless. Directed by Philip Ridley, and starring Jim Sturgess, and the lovely Clémence Poésy, the film is set to be one of the first British features to benefit from near-simultaneous multi-platform release, coming out at cinemas on Friday 21st May, and being available to buy the following Monday (24th).
We recently spoke with the film’s producer, Richard Raymond, who provided some insight into just how hard it was to get the film off the ground, and just why he and Ridley decided to cast Sturgess.
Transcription by Ted Leighton.
HeyUGuys: If you could begin by talking about Heartless and how the project came about, and your involvement with it.
Richard Raymond: I’d known Philip Ridley for about ten years. What happened was, when I was about twenty two, I read a short story that...
We recently spoke with the film’s producer, Richard Raymond, who provided some insight into just how hard it was to get the film off the ground, and just why he and Ridley decided to cast Sturgess.
Transcription by Ted Leighton.
HeyUGuys: If you could begin by talking about Heartless and how the project came about, and your involvement with it.
Richard Raymond: I’d known Philip Ridley for about ten years. What happened was, when I was about twenty two, I read a short story that...
- 5/11/2010
- by Ben Mortimer
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In case you’ve missed it, HeyUGuys is a British site, and as such we’re big fans of British films (despite the amount of time we spend talking about American movies).
One British film we’ve been hearing good things about is Heartless, starring Jim Sturgess, Noel Clarke and the astonishingly beautiful Clémence Poésy.
The film’s been finished for the best part of a year, and while it’s been waiting for distribution it’s been shown to a few lucky viewers at festival screenings. One of those viewers was Slashfilm’s Brendon Connelly, who has had nothing but good things to say about it.
Consequently we’re quite excited about it.
A few weeks ago a preview video, presented by Noel Clarke, was released onto the internet. We’ve embedded it below.
Since then it’s been all quiet on the Heartless front, until today.
This morning the trailer (finally) came online.
One British film we’ve been hearing good things about is Heartless, starring Jim Sturgess, Noel Clarke and the astonishingly beautiful Clémence Poésy.
The film’s been finished for the best part of a year, and while it’s been waiting for distribution it’s been shown to a few lucky viewers at festival screenings. One of those viewers was Slashfilm’s Brendon Connelly, who has had nothing but good things to say about it.
Consequently we’re quite excited about it.
A few weeks ago a preview video, presented by Noel Clarke, was released onto the internet. We’ve embedded it below.
Since then it’s been all quiet on the Heartless front, until today.
This morning the trailer (finally) came online.
- 2/4/2010
- by Ben Mortimer
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Lionsgate UK is testing the waters of multiple releasing, which has been working wonders for IFC here in the States. UK distributor Lionsgate will simultaneously release Philip Ridleys psychological thriller Heartless on DVD, blu-ray, video on demand and download on May 24, three days after its theatrical release. The distributor has received $48,400 (£30,000) of funding from the UK Film Councils (UKFC) digital innovation in distribution strand towards the release, which will include an interactive Facebook campaign. The film, about demons living in East London, stars Jim Sturgess, Clémence Poésy, Noel Clarke, Joseph Mawle, Eddie Marsan, Luke Treadaway and Timothy Spall. It is produced by Richard Raymond and Pippa Cross.
- 1/29/2010
- bloody-disgusting.com
For the world premiere of Philip Ridley’s Heartless the good people behind Frightfest organised two special bonuses; first, Jim Sturgess took the stage before the film screened to perform two of the songs off the soundtrack, and secondly, Ridley himself, Sturgess, producers Pippa Cross and Richard Raymond, plus actors Noel Clarke, Eddie Marsan and Joseph Mawle assembled to rapturous applause for a brief Q&A. Same deal again - this was recorded with an ancient mobile phone, and these people don’t speak too loudly, so a little more of this was indecipherable… but I thought some of you might like it all the same. Note that the transcript contains at least one major spoiler, duly marked. Full text below the break.
- 9/3/2009
- by Eight Rooks
- Screen Anarchy
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