Tatami, the groundbreaking Iranian drama co-directed by Oscar winner Guy Nattiv (Golda) and Cannes best actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi, has been picked up by XYZ Films for North America, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Based on real-life stories, the Farsi-language drama sees Arienne Mandi play Leila, an Iranian female judo athlete who travels to a world championship with her coach, played by Ebrahimi. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, or she will be branded a traitor of the state.
With her own freedom as well as her family’s at stake, she’s faced with an impossible choice: comply with the Iranian regime as her coach implores her to do, or fight on for the gold.
Tatami is the first feature film to have Iranian and Israeli filmmakers as co-directors. Nattiv directed the 2023 film Golda,...
Based on real-life stories, the Farsi-language drama sees Arienne Mandi play Leila, an Iranian female judo athlete who travels to a world championship with her coach, played by Ebrahimi. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, or she will be branded a traitor of the state.
With her own freedom as well as her family’s at stake, she’s faced with an impossible choice: comply with the Iranian regime as her coach implores her to do, or fight on for the gold.
Tatami is the first feature film to have Iranian and Israeli filmmakers as co-directors. Nattiv directed the 2023 film Golda,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Tatami,” the Iranian drama from co-directors Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir, has been picked up by XYZ Films for North America, where both lip-synched English and original language versions will be released later this year.
The feature, which bowed in Venice 2023 where it won the Brian Award, made history by becoming the first film to be jointly directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker.
Starring Arienne Mandi, Amir, Jaime Ray Newman and Ash Goldeh, and written by Nattiv — an Oscar winner for his short film “Skin” — and Elham Erfani, “Tatami” is set during the Judo World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. Midway through the competition, Iranian female judo fighter Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Amir ) receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be branded a traitor of the state. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake,...
The feature, which bowed in Venice 2023 where it won the Brian Award, made history by becoming the first film to be jointly directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker.
Starring Arienne Mandi, Amir, Jaime Ray Newman and Ash Goldeh, and written by Nattiv — an Oscar winner for his short film “Skin” — and Elham Erfani, “Tatami” is set during the Judo World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. Midway through the competition, Iranian female judo fighter Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Amir ) receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be branded a traitor of the state. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Drafthouse Films has acquired North American rights to the documentary Chop & Steele, about the creators of the Found Footage Festival, announcing plans to release the film in April at Alamo Drafthouse theaters as part of a double bill with another newly-acquired doc, A Life on the Farm.
Chop & Steele premiered at Tribeca in 2022 and went on to a robust North American festival run that encompassed Calgary, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis, the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Ala., and the San Francisco Independent Film Festival.
In Chop & Steele, Found Footage Festival principals Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher, “lifelong friends who tour the country with their popular VHS oddities festival, are slapped with a federal lawsuit after pranking a local news station as ‘strong men’ Chop and Steele. Many notables are featured in the doc, including David Cross, Bobcat Goldthwait, Reggie Watts, and Howie Mandel.
Chop & Steele premiered at Tribeca in 2022 and went on to a robust North American festival run that encompassed Calgary, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis, the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Ala., and the San Francisco Independent Film Festival.
In Chop & Steele, Found Footage Festival principals Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher, “lifelong friends who tour the country with their popular VHS oddities festival, are slapped with a federal lawsuit after pranking a local news station as ‘strong men’ Chop and Steele. Many notables are featured in the doc, including David Cross, Bobcat Goldthwait, Reggie Watts, and Howie Mandel.
- 3/11/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: One of the most prominent ex-ICM agents still in play, Jessica Lacy, has landed at Range Media Partners as Partner and head of management company’s newly minted division, Range Select. In her role, Lacy will oversee structuring and arranging financing, packaging, and securing distribution for select independent films. She is joined by her former ICM colleague Oliver Wheeler who also will work in the Range Select unit as a manager.
Lacy spent the last two decades combined at ICM Partners — where she was a partner and head of the Independent Film Department for the past 10 years — and Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency (before its 2006 acquisition by ICM). Throughout her career, Lacy has brokered distribution deals for many of the many acclaimed films coming out of the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival, SXSW, Tribeca, and the Toronto International Film Festival.
She was part of...
Lacy spent the last two decades combined at ICM Partners — where she was a partner and head of the Independent Film Department for the past 10 years — and Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency (before its 2006 acquisition by ICM). Throughout her career, Lacy has brokered distribution deals for many of the many acclaimed films coming out of the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival, SXSW, Tribeca, and the Toronto International Film Festival.
She was part of...
- 7/26/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has nabbed North American and UK rights to Last Survivors, a dystopian thriller starring Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Moyer, and Drew Van Acker, ahead of its world premiere at London’s FrightFest Film Festival on October 30, with plans for a day-and-date release across both territories in February 2022.
The post-apocalyptic pic centers on Troy (Moyer), who has raised his now grown son, Jake (Van Acker), in a wooded utopia thousands of miles away from the decayed cities. When Troy is severely wounded, Jake is forced to travel to the outside world to find life-saving medicine. While he’s ordered to kill any humans he encounters, Jake defies his father by engaging in a forbidden relationship with a mysterious woman, Henrietta (Silverstone). As Jake continues this dangerous affair, Troy will do anything to get rid of Henrietta and protect the perfect world he created for himself and his son.
The...
The post-apocalyptic pic centers on Troy (Moyer), who has raised his now grown son, Jake (Van Acker), in a wooded utopia thousands of miles away from the decayed cities. When Troy is severely wounded, Jake is forced to travel to the outside world to find life-saving medicine. While he’s ordered to kill any humans he encounters, Jake defies his father by engaging in a forbidden relationship with a mysterious woman, Henrietta (Silverstone). As Jake continues this dangerous affair, Troy will do anything to get rid of Henrietta and protect the perfect world he created for himself and his son.
The...
- 10/21/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
For many distributors and sales agents, the Tribeca Festival — which kicks off Wednesday — marks a major milestone: The first American festival in over a year offering an in-person venue to make deals for finished films. But the dealmaking will mirror the festival itself, which will offer in-person programming across the New York City’s five boroughs as well as a robust online component for out-of-towners.
The decentralized festival means that this year, Tribeca won’t be defined by making the daily trek to Manhattan to watch films and take meetings. New York-based agents and buyers say they’re looking forward to meeting in person and leveraging the long-awaited return of word-of-mouth buzz. But many in Los Angeles are still relying on Zoom and the festival’s online platform to do their work.
Maria Zuckerman, head of Topic Studios, has three films at the festival, all for sale: the Vanessa Kirby-starring “Italian Studies,...
The decentralized festival means that this year, Tribeca won’t be defined by making the daily trek to Manhattan to watch films and take meetings. New York-based agents and buyers say they’re looking forward to meeting in person and leveraging the long-awaited return of word-of-mouth buzz. But many in Los Angeles are still relying on Zoom and the festival’s online platform to do their work.
Maria Zuckerman, head of Topic Studios, has three films at the festival, all for sale: the Vanessa Kirby-starring “Italian Studies,...
- 6/9/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Clint Bentley’s feature debut “Jockey,” set to world premiere in the U.S. Dramatic Competition in Sundance, has been acquired by Berlin-based Films Boutique for international sales.
Written by Bentley and Greg Kwedar (“Transpecos”), “Jockey” stars Clifton Collins Jr. as Jackson, a seasoned jockey who has weathered decades of races on the riding circuit, and now finds himself facing what could be his last season due to his deteriorating health. With the help of Ruth (Molly Parker) and a promising new horse, Jackson starts to prepare for the upcoming championship, while reflecting on his legacy.
The film shot at a live racetrack and is inspired by Bentley’s own experiences, which give the film its authenticity and naturalism. Moises Arias also stars in the film.
“We discovered the work of Clint with his short ‘9 Races’ and we have been very impressed and touched by ‘Jockey,'” said Jean-Christophe Simon,...
Written by Bentley and Greg Kwedar (“Transpecos”), “Jockey” stars Clifton Collins Jr. as Jackson, a seasoned jockey who has weathered decades of races on the riding circuit, and now finds himself facing what could be his last season due to his deteriorating health. With the help of Ruth (Molly Parker) and a promising new horse, Jackson starts to prepare for the upcoming championship, while reflecting on his legacy.
The film shot at a live racetrack and is inspired by Bentley’s own experiences, which give the film its authenticity and naturalism. Moises Arias also stars in the film.
“We discovered the work of Clint with his short ‘9 Races’ and we have been very impressed and touched by ‘Jockey,'” said Jean-Christophe Simon,...
- 1/28/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The film industry, like many other industries all over the world, has been crushed by the coronavirus pandemic, yet buyers and sellers are heading into this week’s mostly virtual Sundance Film Festival optimistic about a “robust” and healthy market for indie films. The need for content has never been higher due to families being stuck at home with nowhere to go, and the pandemic has forced production stoppages that have upended studios’ plans. These factors are making agents and distributors optimistic about a strong sales market at the festival, which begins Thursday and runs through Feb. 3. “We’re very cautiously optimistic. As we have seen during the pandemic, particularly with Cannes and Toronto, there is still a strong demand in the marketplace,” Nick Ogiony, an agent at CAA Media Finance, told TheWrap. “Even with the challenges with theatrical, content is still being consumed more than ever. We are confident.
- 1/26/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
In 2020, the Sundance Film Festival kicked off with a splashy premiere for Netflix’s new Taylor Swift documentary. When the 2021 edition gets underway on Thursday, there will be none of that. As a virtual affair, this year’s Sundance is a back-to-basics event, one where a plethora of smaller-scale films without distribution will vie both for awards and acquisition.
But don’t let the relative lack of A-list names suggest that sales activity will be sluggish. Amid a dearth of production, streaming arms race, and the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel coming into view, buyers are hungry for new product.
The result is an environment where theatrical distributors are bracing for competition from streamers for titles that are usually their bread and butter, while buyers of all breeds are expecting to consider films that in other years they might have passed on.
“Because Covid has been more impactful than originally anticipated,...
But don’t let the relative lack of A-list names suggest that sales activity will be sluggish. Amid a dearth of production, streaming arms race, and the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel coming into view, buyers are hungry for new product.
The result is an environment where theatrical distributors are bracing for competition from streamers for titles that are usually their bread and butter, while buyers of all breeds are expecting to consider films that in other years they might have passed on.
“Because Covid has been more impactful than originally anticipated,...
- 1/25/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
With its timely vision of Black American icons, awards buzz, and run at two of the fall’s three major festivals, Regina King’s “One Night in Miami” couldn’t have asked for a better sales environment in any other year. But in 2020, few in the business could get to Venice to watch the premiere, while TIFF’s largely virtual program means American industry members would be stuck screening King’s directorial debut at home. The in-theater excitement and cocktail chatter that have inspired so many late-night dealmaking sessions? Not Covid friendly.
“Everyone’s trying to be creative and find a situation whereby we’re not just sending out links (to online screeners) and hoping for the best,” said ICM Partners sales agent Oliver Wheeler.
Earlier this summer, ICM offered extended footage of the film to a cadre of buyers in a tight screening window, a pandemic-era (virtual) analogue to...
“Everyone’s trying to be creative and find a situation whereby we’re not just sending out links (to online screeners) and hoping for the best,” said ICM Partners sales agent Oliver Wheeler.
Earlier this summer, ICM offered extended footage of the film to a cadre of buyers in a tight screening window, a pandemic-era (virtual) analogue to...
- 9/9/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
One year after Sundance broke records with mega deals and huge bidding wars, indie distributors and sales agents are expecting a “healthy” market with lots of activity and competition among buyers at this year’s film festival. “Personally, I feel like there is going to be more activity at Sundance than there was at Toronto,” Oliver Wheeler, an agent in the International & Independent Film Department at ICM, told TheWrap. “The new streamers will be active and the ecosystem is healthy for the right content.” Another sales agent added, “The market continues to be strong, the money is there and the financiers are out there and excited.” According to several executives, this year’s independent film market is “healthy” and thriving, even with the new influx of countless streamers competing with the traditional distributors. Filmmakers are also embracing new paradigms for distribution, which could lead to new, creative ways deals are...
- 1/22/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Sundance sizzled. But the box office of the films sold in that market largely fizzled over the past few months. That has buyers, and even sellers, expecting a market correction this Toronto, with little evidence to support the astronomical price tags in Park City (think eight-figure acquisitions like Late Night and Blinded by the Light). In a sign of the anxiety felt by sales agents, most are pre-screening their bigger titles for distributors ahead of the market. But ICM Partners' Oliver Wheeler says his team is bucking that trend. "I still think premiering at a festival, in a competitive ...
Sundance sizzled. But the box office of the films sold in that market largely fizzled over the past few months. That has buyers, and even sellers, expecting a market correction this Toronto, with little evidence to support the astronomical price tags in Park City (think eight-figure acquisitions like Late Night and Blinded by the Light). In a sign of the anxiety felt by sales agents, most are pre-screening their bigger titles for distributors ahead of the market. But ICM Partners' Oliver Wheeler says his team is bucking that trend. "I still think premiering at a festival, in a competitive ...
Samuel Goldwyn Films has picked up the North American distribution rights to Back Roads, the first feature directorial outing from Elvis & Nixon actor Alex Pettyfer. Pettyfer also stars in the pic, which will be released late this year.
Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time), Nicola Peltz (Transformers: Age Of Extinction), Chiara Aurelia (Gerald’s Game), Hala Finley (Man With a Plan), June Carryl (Sweet November), Robert Patrick (Scorpion), and Juliette Lewis (August: Osage County) co-star.
Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Tawni O’Dell, who also penned the screenplay, the film follows Harley Altmyer (Pettyfer) who, after his mother (Lewis) is imprisoned for killing his abusive father, is left to care for his three younger sisters in rural Pennsylvania. Harley forgoes his college education, working dead-end jobs to pay the bills and raise his siblings, including his rebellious and promiscuous 16-year-old sister, Amber (Peltz). Scarred by his past,...
Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time), Nicola Peltz (Transformers: Age Of Extinction), Chiara Aurelia (Gerald’s Game), Hala Finley (Man With a Plan), June Carryl (Sweet November), Robert Patrick (Scorpion), and Juliette Lewis (August: Osage County) co-star.
Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Tawni O’Dell, who also penned the screenplay, the film follows Harley Altmyer (Pettyfer) who, after his mother (Lewis) is imprisoned for killing his abusive father, is left to care for his three younger sisters in rural Pennsylvania. Harley forgoes his college education, working dead-end jobs to pay the bills and raise his siblings, including his rebellious and promiscuous 16-year-old sister, Amber (Peltz). Scarred by his past,...
- 8/16/2018
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
ICM Partners announced two additions to its Independent and International Film Department on Monday, with Kristen Konvitz hired as an agent for the division and Oliver Wheeler promoted to the same position. Both will report to department head Jessica Lacy. Kravitz joins ICM from Stay Gold Features, where she was Head of Production. She was involved with the Sundance hit “Patti Cake$,” which was bought by Fox Searchlight for $9.5 million, as well as A24’s “Under The Silver Lake” and SXSW award winner “The Strange Ones. She also worked as Director of Film for the crowdfunding site Indiegogo and also worked.
- 7/10/2017
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
ICM Partners today has hired Stay Gold Features exec Kristen Konvitz and promoted Oliver Wheeler to agent, both at the agency's Independent and International Film Department. The ramp-up comes after department head Jessica Lacy has seen a strong year that includes the recent sale to A24 of Sean Baker's The Florida Project at Cannes in addition to repping Raoul’s Peck’s Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro among others. Konvitz was most recently the New…...
- 7/10/2017
- Deadline
New arrival worked at Stay Gold, Wild Bunch, The Weinstein Company
ICM Partners on Monday announced the hire of Kristen Konvitz at the agency’s independent and international film department.
Konvitz, who most recently served as head of production at Stay Gold Features, will be based in the Los Angeles office and reports to department head Jessica Lacy.
At Stay Gold Features, Konvitz was involved in Sundance breakout Patti Cake$ that sold to Fox Searchlight, as well as A24’s upcoming Under The Silver Lake from David Robert Mitchell, and SXSW award winner The Strange Ones.
The hire comes as Lacy’s division enjoys a purple patch, having recently sold Cannes Director’s Fortnight hit The Florida Project to A24, Cory Finley’s Sundance selection Thoroughbred to Focus Features, and Charlie McDowell’s The Discovery to Netflix.
“Our department is in the midst of a banner year, and we want to continue to grow our team with...
ICM Partners on Monday announced the hire of Kristen Konvitz at the agency’s independent and international film department.
Konvitz, who most recently served as head of production at Stay Gold Features, will be based in the Los Angeles office and reports to department head Jessica Lacy.
At Stay Gold Features, Konvitz was involved in Sundance breakout Patti Cake$ that sold to Fox Searchlight, as well as A24’s upcoming Under The Silver Lake from David Robert Mitchell, and SXSW award winner The Strange Ones.
The hire comes as Lacy’s division enjoys a purple patch, having recently sold Cannes Director’s Fortnight hit The Florida Project to A24, Cory Finley’s Sundance selection Thoroughbred to Focus Features, and Charlie McDowell’s The Discovery to Netflix.
“Our department is in the midst of a banner year, and we want to continue to grow our team with...
- 7/10/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Tina Hobley has become a mother for the third time. The 'Holby City' actress gave birth to a 7lb 15oz baby boy, named Orson Henry Attwood Wheeler, and both she and husband Oliver Wheeler are thrilled with their new arrival. Speaking about Orson's birth on Monday (01.03.10), Oliver said: ''Mummy and baby are both very well and happy.'' The couple - who married in 2006 - already have a 22-month-old daughter Olivia, while Tina has a 10-year-old girl, Isabella, from her first marriage. During her pregnancy Tina, 38, revealed she was craving caviar along with Marmite sandwiches. She said: ''It's odd because I didn't have any ..
- 3/3/2010
- Virgin Media - TV
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