Global Flicks: Saeed Roustaee Convicted for Showcasing Latest Film 'Leila's Brother'
Africa: Nigerian filmmaker and producer Editi Effiong has released the official trailer for The Black Book. The film follows a father looking for retribution when his son is killed. The film stars Richard Mofe-Damijo, Olumide Oworu, Sam Dede, Shaffy Bello, Iretiola Doyle, Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Ade Laoye, Ikechukwu Onunaku, Patrick Doyle, and Bimbo Manuel. The film will premiere exclusively on Netflix on September 22, 2023.
Director Tola Olatunji and Producer Jennifer Mairo join forces to unite Hollywood and Nollywood and introduce Kanaani. This love story follows the journey of star-crossed lovers Obehi and Gbovo, played by Gabriel Afolayan and Ivie Okujaye. The cast also includes Robb Hudspeth, Ayo Kosh, and Joseph Benjamin.
Nigerian filmmaker and writer Jade Osiberu has wrapped production for Everything Scatter. This film addresses the issue of police brutality and references the massive protests in Nigeria in October 2020. The film follows five young people in Lagos, Nigeria, whose lives are affected by the protests against the brutal Special Anti-Theft Squad (SATS). The film will star Deyemi Okanlawon, Nkem Owoh, Iretiola Doyle, Jemima Osunde, and Kemi Lala Akindoju. There has been no confirmed release date for the film.
Sharvari Wagh - Prodip Guha
Asia: Sharvari Wagh will join Alia Bhatt in the cast of the first female-led film in the leading Indian studio Yash Raj Films’ spy universe. Created by producer Aditya Chopra, the spy universe kicked off with the Tiger franchise. Production is set to start in 2024.
Gadar 2 is a blockbuster success and is in the process of breaking Indian box office records. The film is written by Shaktimaan Talwar and directed by Anil Sharm. It revolves around the adventures of Tara Singh (Deol) and Sakeena (Ameesha Patel), set against the backdrop of the India-Pakistan war.
Yeo Siew Hua, the Singaporean director has cast Taiwanese actors Lee Kang-Sheng and Wu Chien-Ho in Stranger Eyes. The cast includes Anicca Panna, Xenia Tan, Vera Chen, and Pete Teo. The story follows a struggling young father whose baby daughter has gone missing and suspects the neighbor’s involvement with the kidnapping. The film is set to wrap post-production by early 2024.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai - Woohae Cho / Stringer
Europe: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the star of In the Mood for Love has joined the cast of Silent Friend by director Ildiko Enyedi. Pandora Film is producing Silent Friend. The film is set in the botanical garden of Marburg, a medieval university town in Germany, and tells three stories connected to a tree over a period of more than 100 years.
Rubicon Global Media
Latin America: Rubicon Global Media has partnered strategically with Mexico-based film and television production firm BTF Media. BTF Media will provide development funding for select Rubicon projects, accelerating its efforts to aggregate IP from Mexico and transform it into story-driven content with multi-national appeal.
Saeed Roustaee - Sylvain Lefevre
Middle East: Iranian director Saeed Roustaee has been sentenced to six months in prison for showing his latest film, Leila’s Brothers, at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The Islamic Revolutionary Court convicted Roustaee and Javad Noruzbegi for “contributing to the propaganda of the opposition against the Islamic system.” Roustaee and Noruzbegi will serve nine days in prison. At the same time, the remainder of the sentence will be suspended over five years, and they will also be banned from making films.
