Exclusive: Dubai-based management and production company 75East has signed Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel, whose narrative feature debut To A Land Unknown is playing in Directors’ Fortnight this year.
75East, was launched last December by former Mister Smith sales executive Antone Saliba under the banner Untamed Talent with a focus on the Swana region (South West Asia and North Africa), and has recently rebranded.
The only Palestinian feature in Cannes this year, To A Land Unknown tells the story of the desperate attempts of two Palestinian cousins stranded in Athens to find a way to reach Germany.
Chatila and Reda are saving to pay for fake passports to get out of Athens. When Reda loses their hard-earned cash to his drug addiction, Chatila hatches an extreme plan, which involves them posing as smugglers and taking hostages in an effort to get him and his best friend out of their hopeless environment before it is too late.
75East, was launched last December by former Mister Smith sales executive Antone Saliba under the banner Untamed Talent with a focus on the Swana region (South West Asia and North Africa), and has recently rebranded.
The only Palestinian feature in Cannes this year, To A Land Unknown tells the story of the desperate attempts of two Palestinian cousins stranded in Athens to find a way to reach Germany.
Chatila and Reda are saving to pay for fake passports to get out of Athens. When Reda loses their hard-earned cash to his drug addiction, Chatila hatches an extreme plan, which involves them posing as smugglers and taking hostages in an effort to get him and his best friend out of their hopeless environment before it is too late.
- 5/21/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Untamed Talent, a management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment executive Antone Saliba, is launching with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions, a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment.
Front Row Productions will provide capital and strategic value to support Untamed Talent’s goals to innovate new business models covering the South West Asia and North Africa region, the fastest-growing entertainment market in the world. The focus will be not only on representing filmmakers from established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, it will also identify, develop and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
Untamed will work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers to maximize opportunities for its clients.
Front Row Productions will provide capital and strategic value to support Untamed Talent’s goals to innovate new business models covering the South West Asia and North Africa region, the fastest-growing entertainment market in the world. The focus will be not only on representing filmmakers from established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, it will also identify, develop and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
Untamed will work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers to maximize opportunities for its clients.
- 12/1/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
‘Hajjan’ director Abu Bakr Shawky and ‘Theeb’ producer’ Bassel Ghandour on initial clint roster.
Untamed Talent, a new management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment executive Antone Saliba, has launched with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions and unveiled its first roster of clients.
The firm will represent filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi as well as promoting talent from more underrepresented countries in South West Asia and North Africa such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran.
Front Row Productions, a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution...
Untamed Talent, a new management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment executive Antone Saliba, has launched with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions and unveiled its first roster of clients.
The firm will represent filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi as well as promoting talent from more underrepresented countries in South West Asia and North Africa such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran.
Front Row Productions, a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution...
- 12/1/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Former Mister Smith Entertainment exec Antone Saliba is spearheading a newly launched management and production company focused on the Middle East and the South West Asia and North Africa (Swana) region.
Untamed Entertainment, unveiled from the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, comes with backing from Dubai-based Front Row Productions, the joint venture between distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment.
Alongside representing filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Untamed aims to identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region, such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran. It plans to work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers.
The company’s opening roster of clients includes an impressive mix of critically acclaimed writers and directors, including Palme d...
Untamed Entertainment, unveiled from the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, comes with backing from Dubai-based Front Row Productions, the joint venture between distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment.
Alongside representing filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Untamed aims to identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region, such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran. It plans to work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers.
The company’s opening roster of clients includes an impressive mix of critically acclaimed writers and directors, including Palme d...
- 12/1/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Former Mister Smith sales executive Antone Saliba has launched management and production company Untamed Talent, with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions.
The latter company, which is a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment, will provide capital and strategic value for the new banner.
Saliba, who was a sales and acquisitions executive under David Garrett at Mister Smith, wants to create new content business models for the fast-growing entertainment sectors of the Swana region, covering Southwest Asia and North Africa.
As well as representing filmmakers from the established Mena industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, the new company will also identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
The company will work on a non-exclusive basis with production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.
The latter company, which is a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment, will provide capital and strategic value for the new banner.
Saliba, who was a sales and acquisitions executive under David Garrett at Mister Smith, wants to create new content business models for the fast-growing entertainment sectors of the Swana region, covering Southwest Asia and North Africa.
As well as representing filmmakers from the established Mena industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, the new company will also identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
The company will work on a non-exclusive basis with production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.
- 12/1/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Despite the proliferation of streaming services, it’s becoming increasingly clear that any cinephile only needs subscriptions to a few to survive. Among the top of our list are The Criterion Channel and Mubi and now they’ve each unveiled their stellar April line-ups.
Over at The Criterion Channel, highlights include spotlights on Ennio Morricone, the Marx Brothers, Isabel Sandoval, and Ramin Bahrani, plus Luchino Visconti’s The Leopard, Frank Borzage’s Moonrise, the brand-new restoration of Joyce Chopra’s Smooth Talk, and one of last year’s best films, David Osit’s Mayor.
At Mubi (where we’re offering a 30-day trial), they’ll have the exclusive streaming premiere of two of the finest festival films from last year’s circuit, Cristi Puiu’s Malmkrog and Nobuhiko Obayashi’s Labyrinth of Cinema, plus Philippe Garrel’s latest The Salt of Tears, along with films from Terry Gilliam, George A. Romero,...
Over at The Criterion Channel, highlights include spotlights on Ennio Morricone, the Marx Brothers, Isabel Sandoval, and Ramin Bahrani, plus Luchino Visconti’s The Leopard, Frank Borzage’s Moonrise, the brand-new restoration of Joyce Chopra’s Smooth Talk, and one of last year’s best films, David Osit’s Mayor.
At Mubi (where we’re offering a 30-day trial), they’ll have the exclusive streaming premiere of two of the finest festival films from last year’s circuit, Cristi Puiu’s Malmkrog and Nobuhiko Obayashi’s Labyrinth of Cinema, plus Philippe Garrel’s latest The Salt of Tears, along with films from Terry Gilliam, George A. Romero,...
- 3/26/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The 25th anniversary edition of the Slamdance Film Festival kicks off Jan. 25-31 in Park City, Utah, with a line-up of world premieres, guest speakers and filmmaking seminars all geared toward fresh storytellers who are looking for their cinematic breakthroughs.
This year, further underscoring a desire for world cinema, there are 11 narrative and nine documentary features that will be showcased in competition, from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa and the U.K., alongside the U.S. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million, and lack American distribution.
Founded by current president Peter Baxter, as well as Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn, Dan Mirvish and Paul Rachman, Slamdance has screened more than 2,000 films over the years, with notable alumni including Christopher Nolan (whose 1999 drama “Following” debuted at the fest), Oren Peli (“Paranormal Activity”), Bong Joon-ho (“Okja”), Lynn Shelton (“Outside In”), Ari Aster...
This year, further underscoring a desire for world cinema, there are 11 narrative and nine documentary features that will be showcased in competition, from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa and the U.K., alongside the U.S. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million, and lack American distribution.
Founded by current president Peter Baxter, as well as Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn, Dan Mirvish and Paul Rachman, Slamdance has screened more than 2,000 films over the years, with notable alumni including Christopher Nolan (whose 1999 drama “Following” debuted at the fest), Oren Peli (“Paranormal Activity”), Bong Joon-ho (“Okja”), Lynn Shelton (“Outside In”), Ari Aster...
- 1/24/2019
- by Nick Clement
- Variety Film + TV
Festival to run in Park City, Utah, from January 25-31.
The Slamdance Film Festival organisers have unveiled the narrative and documentary feature competition line-ups, as well as the new Breakouts section for the festival’s 25th edition in January.
The feature competition programme boasts 18 premieres, including 10 world, four North American, and four Us debuts from an array of global filmmakers hailing from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa, and the UK.
All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m, and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are eligible for the Audience Award,...
The Slamdance Film Festival organisers have unveiled the narrative and documentary feature competition line-ups, as well as the new Breakouts section for the festival’s 25th edition in January.
The feature competition programme boasts 18 premieres, including 10 world, four North American, and four Us debuts from an array of global filmmakers hailing from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa, and the UK.
All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m, and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are eligible for the Audience Award,...
- 11/26/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Telefilm Canada has unveiled its Ten Canadians To Watch at the Berlinale and the Efm.
The list, presented for the second year in a row, comprises the following talents:
Yosef Baraki (Toronto), director – Mina Walking, world premiere, Generation section, nominated for Best First Feature Award at the Berlinale;
François Delisle (Montreal), director – Chorus, European premiere, Panorama section;
Mathieu Denis (Montreal), director – Corbo, European premiere, Generation section;
Bernard Émond (Montreal), director – Le Journal D’un Vieil Homme, world premiere, inaugural Critics’ Week Berlin;
Anne-Marie Gélinas (Montreal), producer – Turbo Kid (pictured), presented during Perspective Canada, a Telefilm initiative at the European Film Market; also taking part in Producers Without Borders at the Berlinale Co-Production Market;
Yassmina Karajah (Vancouver), director – Light, presented as part of the Telefilm initiative Not Short on Talent at the European Film Market;
Guy Maddin (Winnipeg), director – The Forbidden Room, European premiere, opening film of the Forum section;
Fanny Mallette (Montreal), actress – Chorus, by [link=nm...
The list, presented for the second year in a row, comprises the following talents:
Yosef Baraki (Toronto), director – Mina Walking, world premiere, Generation section, nominated for Best First Feature Award at the Berlinale;
François Delisle (Montreal), director – Chorus, European premiere, Panorama section;
Mathieu Denis (Montreal), director – Corbo, European premiere, Generation section;
Bernard Émond (Montreal), director – Le Journal D’un Vieil Homme, world premiere, inaugural Critics’ Week Berlin;
Anne-Marie Gélinas (Montreal), producer – Turbo Kid (pictured), presented during Perspective Canada, a Telefilm initiative at the European Film Market; also taking part in Producers Without Borders at the Berlinale Co-Production Market;
Yassmina Karajah (Vancouver), director – Light, presented as part of the Telefilm initiative Not Short on Talent at the European Film Market;
Guy Maddin (Winnipeg), director – The Forbidden Room, European premiere, opening film of the Forum section;
Fanny Mallette (Montreal), actress – Chorus, by [link=nm...
- 1/29/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
For the first time in Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival™ history, audiences were invited to vote for their favourite feature film. Festivalgoers crowned Sturla Gunnarsson’s Monsoon the People’s Choice Award winner. The award is announced as Tiff wraps up 10 days of celebrating the nation’s cinema. From January 2 to 11, Toronto audiences were presented with screenings of the top 10 features, shorts and student short films of the year, introductions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, along with free engagements and special events that included onstage conversations with actor Keanu Reeves, author Naomi Klein and filmmaker Avi Lewis. Now in its 14th year, the festival attracted the highest number of attendees to date.
Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award goes to Sturla Gunnarsson’s Monsoon. Part road movie, part spectacle, part drama, Monsoon is Gunnarsson’s meditation on chaos, creation and faith,...
Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award goes to Sturla Gunnarsson’s Monsoon. Part road movie, part spectacle, part drama, Monsoon is Gunnarsson’s meditation on chaos, creation and faith,...
- 1/16/2015
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
The 11th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) closes today, but film industry professionals will be able to watch many of the Arab films in the selection online for the next nine months.
The Arab titles in the line-up will be available to screen on the Dubai Film Market’s video platform Cinetech for nine months starting from December 18.
“The service is open to all the distributors and sales agents who attended the market,” said Dfm chief Samr Al Marzooqi. “We want these films to continue their sales careers after the market has closed. The Cinetech is the best place to find Arab films.”
Aside from keeping Cinetech live for nine months, the Dfm is also continuing its partnerships with Festival Scope and the Venice Film Festival.
Under the agreement with Festival Scope, the titles in Diff’s Muhr Shorts and Features competitions will be available on the industry platform.
The agreement...
The Arab titles in the line-up will be available to screen on the Dubai Film Market’s video platform Cinetech for nine months starting from December 18.
“The service is open to all the distributors and sales agents who attended the market,” said Dfm chief Samr Al Marzooqi. “We want these films to continue their sales careers after the market has closed. The Cinetech is the best place to find Arab films.”
Aside from keeping Cinetech live for nine months, the Dfm is also continuing its partnerships with Festival Scope and the Venice Film Festival.
Under the agreement with Festival Scope, the titles in Diff’s Muhr Shorts and Features competitions will be available on the industry platform.
The agreement...
- 12/17/2014
- ScreenDaily
The luxurious banquet hall in Toronto’s Royal York hotel was electric with excitement as Tiff senior programmers including Steve Gravestock and Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo announced the robust lineup of Canadian films (several world preems) at this year’s Tiff plus the 40+ short titles (out of an astounding 840 short films — an increase of over 200 titles from last year) that will screen at the prestigious festival. With features populating almost every section at the fest, among the headliner items from English Canada, Cairo Time‘s Ruba Nadda returns to the fest with October Gale, while also world preeming is Bang Bang Baby — Jeffrey St. Jules marks his feature film debut with a film that is equal parts Rocky Horror Picture Show and early Cronenberg. Starring Jane Levy of the recent About Alex, it revolves around a small-town teenager in the ’60s whose dream of becoming a famous singer is dashed...
- 8/6/2014
- by Leora Heilbronn
- IONCINEMA.com
New work by Sturla Gunnarsson, Denys Arcand, Ruba Nadda and Xavier Dolan are among the selection set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) next month.
“These are filmmakers at the top of their craft, bringing fresh perspectives to traditional genres like comedies and less traditionally Canadian genres, such as musicals,” said Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) senior programmer Steve Gravestock. “This year’s slate truly showcases the diversity of talent in our country, featuring films from coast to coast.”
“We are inspired by the number of exceptional debut features from Canadian directors, reflecting the depth of talent in this country,” said Tiff’s Canadian features programmer Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo.
“Extremely exciting is also the fact that female-driven narratives play a significant part in this year’s programming, highlighting the strong, rich tapestry of our storytelling.”
The Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Feature Film is up for grabs, as is the...
“These are filmmakers at the top of their craft, bringing fresh perspectives to traditional genres like comedies and less traditionally Canadian genres, such as musicals,” said Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) senior programmer Steve Gravestock. “This year’s slate truly showcases the diversity of talent in our country, featuring films from coast to coast.”
“We are inspired by the number of exceptional debut features from Canadian directors, reflecting the depth of talent in this country,” said Tiff’s Canadian features programmer Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo.
“Extremely exciting is also the fact that female-driven narratives play a significant part in this year’s programming, highlighting the strong, rich tapestry of our storytelling.”
The Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Feature Film is up for grabs, as is the...
- 8/6/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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