The Kazakh American Association is requesting the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Directors Guild of America Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards bar Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” from awards consideration for what it deems racist portrayal of Kazakhs. The petition follows a request to cancel the release of the Amazon Prime Video debut of the film Oct. 23.
The Virginia-based nonprofit organization dedicated to “preserving and promoting” Kazakh heritage and culture in the U.S. slammed the movie and Baron Cohen for adopting a Kazakh persona through his character, a nonsensical Kazakh journalist named Borat Sagdiyev. Kazakhstan, a predominantly Muslim nation, is a Central Asian country that shares a border with Russia in the north, China to the east, and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the south.
The letter, co-signed by the Hollywood Film Academy and Council on American-Islamic Relations, states that the film promotes “whitewashing,...
The Virginia-based nonprofit organization dedicated to “preserving and promoting” Kazakh heritage and culture in the U.S. slammed the movie and Baron Cohen for adopting a Kazakh persona through his character, a nonsensical Kazakh journalist named Borat Sagdiyev. Kazakhstan, a predominantly Muslim nation, is a Central Asian country that shares a border with Russia in the north, China to the east, and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the south.
The letter, co-signed by the Hollywood Film Academy and Council on American-Islamic Relations, states that the film promotes “whitewashing,...
- 11/16/2020
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- Variety Film + TV
Deals close in Italy, France, Spain, Japan.
Arclight Films announced out of the Cannes virtual market it has completed multiple distribution deals for epic female-led action adventure Tomiris.
Deals have closed in Italy (Blue Swan), France (Snd Films), Spain (Art Mood), Japan (At Entertainment), Middle East (Gulf Film), South Korea (Challan), Cis (Paradise/Mgn), Singapore (Shaw), Romania (Program 4 Media), and Turkey (Siyah Bayez Movies).
Arclight announced earlier this month that Well Go USA had acquired Us rights.
Kazakh superstars Almira Tursyn (as Tomiris), Adil Akhmetov (as Argun), and Aizhan Lighg (as Sardana) perform their own stunts and star in the...
Arclight Films announced out of the Cannes virtual market it has completed multiple distribution deals for epic female-led action adventure Tomiris.
Deals have closed in Italy (Blue Swan), France (Snd Films), Spain (Art Mood), Japan (At Entertainment), Middle East (Gulf Film), South Korea (Challan), Cis (Paradise/Mgn), Singapore (Shaw), Romania (Program 4 Media), and Turkey (Siyah Bayez Movies).
Arclight announced earlier this month that Well Go USA had acquired Us rights.
Kazakh superstars Almira Tursyn (as Tomiris), Adil Akhmetov (as Argun), and Aizhan Lighg (as Sardana) perform their own stunts and star in the...
- 6/25/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Sales agency Arclight Films has closed multiple key distribution deals for “Tomiris,” the epic action-adventure about the legendary Kazak warrior queen, directed by Akan Satayev (“The Liquidator”).
The latest deals include Blue Swan for Italy, Snd Films for France, Art Mood for Spain, At Entertainment for Japan, Gulf Film for Middle East, Challan for South Korea, Paradise/Mgn for Cis, Shaw for Singapore, Program 4 Media for Romania, and Siyah Bayez Movies for Turkey. Arclight announced earlier this month that the U.S. rights of the film were picked up by Well Go USA.
The film tells the real-life story of Queen Tomiris who, along with her female warriors, united divided nomadic tribes to create a powerful nation capable of repelling the likes of Persia. According to historical accounts, Tomiris and her army likely brought about the downfall of Cyrus the Great of Persia, who attacked the peoples of the Great Steppe.
The latest deals include Blue Swan for Italy, Snd Films for France, Art Mood for Spain, At Entertainment for Japan, Gulf Film for Middle East, Challan for South Korea, Paradise/Mgn for Cis, Shaw for Singapore, Program 4 Media for Romania, and Siyah Bayez Movies for Turkey. Arclight announced earlier this month that the U.S. rights of the film were picked up by Well Go USA.
The film tells the real-life story of Queen Tomiris who, along with her female warriors, united divided nomadic tribes to create a powerful nation capable of repelling the likes of Persia. According to historical accounts, Tomiris and her army likely brought about the downfall of Cyrus the Great of Persia, who attacked the peoples of the Great Steppe.
- 6/25/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Arclight Films has secured all U.S. distribution rights with Well Go USA for the action-adventure Tomiris, about legendary Queen Tomiris. The movie was released in Kazakhstan on Oct. 1 and became one of the country’s highest grossing movies.
Starring Kazakhstan stars Almira Tursyn (as Tomiris), Adil Akhmetov (as Argun), and Aizhan Lighg (as Sardana) and directed by Akan Sataytev (The Liquidator), Tomiris tells the real-life story of the great queen who, along with her female warriors, united divided nomadic tribes to create a powerful nation capable of repelling the likes of Persia. According to historical accounts, Tomiris and her army very likely served as the downfall of Cyrus the Great, who was foolish enough to challenge the peoples of the Great Steppe and their inimitable leader.
“We are grateful to live in a world where there is a strong appetite for real-life stories of powerful women, stories that deserve to be told,...
Starring Kazakhstan stars Almira Tursyn (as Tomiris), Adil Akhmetov (as Argun), and Aizhan Lighg (as Sardana) and directed by Akan Sataytev (The Liquidator), Tomiris tells the real-life story of the great queen who, along with her female warriors, united divided nomadic tribes to create a powerful nation capable of repelling the likes of Persia. According to historical accounts, Tomiris and her army very likely served as the downfall of Cyrus the Great, who was foolish enough to challenge the peoples of the Great Steppe and their inimitable leader.
“We are grateful to live in a world where there is a strong appetite for real-life stories of powerful women, stories that deserve to be told,...
- 6/4/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Kazakhfilm Studios, Sataifilm co-pro one of biggest box office hits of all time in Kazakhstan.
Gary Hamilton’s Arclight Films, has licensed all Us rights on Kazakh action film Tomiris to Well Go USA.
Akan Satayev (The Liquidator) directed the epic about Queen Tomiris, the central Asian warrior who some 2,500 years ago united nomadic tribes to repel invading armies from Persia.
Kazakh actors Almira Tursyn and Aizhan Lighg star and performed their own stunts.
The film is a co-production between Kazakhfilm Studios and Sataifilm. It got a theatrical release in Kazakhstan on October 1 last year when it became one of...
Gary Hamilton’s Arclight Films, has licensed all Us rights on Kazakh action film Tomiris to Well Go USA.
Akan Satayev (The Liquidator) directed the epic about Queen Tomiris, the central Asian warrior who some 2,500 years ago united nomadic tribes to repel invading armies from Persia.
Kazakh actors Almira Tursyn and Aizhan Lighg star and performed their own stunts.
The film is a co-production between Kazakhfilm Studios and Sataifilm. It got a theatrical release in Kazakhstan on October 1 last year when it became one of...
- 6/4/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
2nd Annual Asian World Film Festival Opens in Culver City October 24: Best of Asian World CinemaExecutive Director, Georges N. Chamchoum
This is the first festival of its kind to play in the United States, giving audiences the unique opportunity to see films from Japan and Turkey and everywhere in-between. The festival is held at the height of the awards season to give these Asian filmmakers maximum exposure. The festival’s Executive Director, Georges N. Chamchoum is announcing films from 51 countries which are eligible. Greater recognition to the region’s wealth of filmmakers will strengthen ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries.
All films selected by their countries as Oscar® or Golden Globes® contenders are automatically invited. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizes these showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes®. At last year’s inaugural event some 30 films from 27 countries participated.
This is the first festival of its kind to play in the United States, giving audiences the unique opportunity to see films from Japan and Turkey and everywhere in-between. The festival is held at the height of the awards season to give these Asian filmmakers maximum exposure. The festival’s Executive Director, Georges N. Chamchoum is announcing films from 51 countries which are eligible. Greater recognition to the region’s wealth of filmmakers will strengthen ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries.
All films selected by their countries as Oscar® or Golden Globes® contenders are automatically invited. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizes these showings as the required official screenings for their members who vote on the Golden Globes®. At last year’s inaugural event some 30 films from 27 countries participated.
- 10/18/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Asian World Film Festival (Awff), which is dedicated to bringing the best of a broad selection of Asian World cinema to Los Angeles, has added East West Artists (Ewa) Co-Founder Jaeson Ma as Director of International Relations. The Festival slate will consist of select foreign language films that have been officially submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) as their country’s Oscar® hopeful and those submitted to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for Golden Globe consideration.
Awff has also enlisted several notable industry executives for its Honorary Board, including former studio executive Teddy Zee and Carolco Pictures executive producer Mario Kassar ("Rambo," "Basic Instinct") as well as the former Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. With The Wrap serving as the official media partner, Awff will take place October 26-November 2, 2015 and will be based at ArcLight Cinema in downtown Culver City and the luxury iPic Theaters in Westwood.
After recently teaming up with Ma on "The Shack," starring Octavia Spencer, Sumire and Sam Worthington, producer Lani Netter secured Ma, recognizing his ability as a strategic consultant and producer, cultivating global Asian talents at Ewa, (which is in partnership with Untitled Entertainment), and since his expertise directly aligns with Awff’s goal of drawing greater recognition to an underrepresented region of talent and filmmakers.
“Jaeson Ma is an ideal partner and asset to Awff because of his long established relationships with the Hollywood and Asian filmmaking industries. He's a trusted ally and invaluable addition,” said Netter, who serves as the Festival’s Director of Development and Philanthropy.
On joining the Awff Board, Ma shared, “Awff will showcase films and talents from the fastest growing region for entertainment, which is very exciting. There are many incredible films in Asia that are not realized by the international marketplace but now they have a fighting chance to be recognized and celebrated at the highest level through Awff."
The Festival’s Advisory Board welcomed producer Stefan Brunner, Shoreline Entertainment producer, Alex Flores, producer Medha Jaishankar, Emmy-winning TV and film director Jeremy Kagan, Igor Kokarev, scholar and expert on Soviet and American Film History, producer Brad Littlefield, producer and Founder and CEO of the Hollywood Film Academy Gia Noortas, South Korean film producer Keon-Seop Park, producer Eliyas Qureshi, producer Nick N. Raslan and Thomas Small, writer and Cultural Affairs Commissioner to the City of Culver City.
I'm excited to announced that I will be joining a great group including His Royal Highness Prince Gharios of Ghassan, Hany Haddad, immediate Past Chair of Board of Directors at the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Lebanese philanthropist Maya Ibrahim, Amin Maalouf, best-selling author and member of the French Academy, Oscar®-winning producer Andre Morgan (Million Dollar Baby), director George Ovashvili, Hon. Roy Paul, judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, South Korean film producer and distributor Chul Shin, community leader and Co-Founder of the Hollywood Schoolhouse, Ferris Wehbe, Weissman/Markovitz Communications Chairman and Co-Founder Murray Weissman and Korean activist and public figure Grace Yoo, to serve on this year’s Honorary Board.
Awff will open with a red carpet awards gala on Monday, October 26, recognizing celebrities and well-known foreign talent and filmmakers who have been major contributors throughout the Asian world film community, followed by seven days of films at ArcLight Cinema and the iPic Theater and with the closing night Festival Awards presented along with the closing night film on Monday, November 2. Throughout the week there will also be expert panels on subjects like film financing, distribution, PR, marketing and awards campaigns, editing for a global audience and more to be announced.
Films that will be accepted by the Festival include those from the 50 countries recognized by the Academy and HFPA. Priority will be given to those in the Best Foreign Language Film categories at the 88th Academy Awards and 73rd Golden Globes. In rare cases, the Asian World Film Festival will consider other outstanding films that are not in contention for the Oscars® or Golden Globes, but which have received critical acclaim on the international film festival circuit. More detailed guidelines are available at www.asianworldfilmfest.org/submissions.
The prizes given out are of significant value to enhance the awards campaign and will feature top prizes for Best Film, Jury Selection and Audience awards including The Wrap’s Awards Special Screening Series and full page ads in the Foreign Film and Oscar Wrap issues valued at over $50,000.
Awff has also enlisted several notable industry executives for its Honorary Board, including former studio executive Teddy Zee and Carolco Pictures executive producer Mario Kassar ("Rambo," "Basic Instinct") as well as the former Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. With The Wrap serving as the official media partner, Awff will take place October 26-November 2, 2015 and will be based at ArcLight Cinema in downtown Culver City and the luxury iPic Theaters in Westwood.
After recently teaming up with Ma on "The Shack," starring Octavia Spencer, Sumire and Sam Worthington, producer Lani Netter secured Ma, recognizing his ability as a strategic consultant and producer, cultivating global Asian talents at Ewa, (which is in partnership with Untitled Entertainment), and since his expertise directly aligns with Awff’s goal of drawing greater recognition to an underrepresented region of talent and filmmakers.
“Jaeson Ma is an ideal partner and asset to Awff because of his long established relationships with the Hollywood and Asian filmmaking industries. He's a trusted ally and invaluable addition,” said Netter, who serves as the Festival’s Director of Development and Philanthropy.
On joining the Awff Board, Ma shared, “Awff will showcase films and talents from the fastest growing region for entertainment, which is very exciting. There are many incredible films in Asia that are not realized by the international marketplace but now they have a fighting chance to be recognized and celebrated at the highest level through Awff."
The Festival’s Advisory Board welcomed producer Stefan Brunner, Shoreline Entertainment producer, Alex Flores, producer Medha Jaishankar, Emmy-winning TV and film director Jeremy Kagan, Igor Kokarev, scholar and expert on Soviet and American Film History, producer Brad Littlefield, producer and Founder and CEO of the Hollywood Film Academy Gia Noortas, South Korean film producer Keon-Seop Park, producer Eliyas Qureshi, producer Nick N. Raslan and Thomas Small, writer and Cultural Affairs Commissioner to the City of Culver City.
I'm excited to announced that I will be joining a great group including His Royal Highness Prince Gharios of Ghassan, Hany Haddad, immediate Past Chair of Board of Directors at the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Lebanese philanthropist Maya Ibrahim, Amin Maalouf, best-selling author and member of the French Academy, Oscar®-winning producer Andre Morgan (Million Dollar Baby), director George Ovashvili, Hon. Roy Paul, judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, South Korean film producer and distributor Chul Shin, community leader and Co-Founder of the Hollywood Schoolhouse, Ferris Wehbe, Weissman/Markovitz Communications Chairman and Co-Founder Murray Weissman and Korean activist and public figure Grace Yoo, to serve on this year’s Honorary Board.
Awff will open with a red carpet awards gala on Monday, October 26, recognizing celebrities and well-known foreign talent and filmmakers who have been major contributors throughout the Asian world film community, followed by seven days of films at ArcLight Cinema and the iPic Theater and with the closing night Festival Awards presented along with the closing night film on Monday, November 2. Throughout the week there will also be expert panels on subjects like film financing, distribution, PR, marketing and awards campaigns, editing for a global audience and more to be announced.
Films that will be accepted by the Festival include those from the 50 countries recognized by the Academy and HFPA. Priority will be given to those in the Best Foreign Language Film categories at the 88th Academy Awards and 73rd Golden Globes. In rare cases, the Asian World Film Festival will consider other outstanding films that are not in contention for the Oscars® or Golden Globes, but which have received critical acclaim on the international film festival circuit. More detailed guidelines are available at www.asianworldfilmfest.org/submissions.
The prizes given out are of significant value to enhance the awards campaign and will feature top prizes for Best Film, Jury Selection and Audience awards including The Wrap’s Awards Special Screening Series and full page ads in the Foreign Film and Oscar Wrap issues valued at over $50,000.
- 8/19/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
Indie production company Helix Films has formed an exclusive partnership with the Meccano Toy Co. to develop an original 3D feature film based upon the Erector Set line of construction toys.
Invented in England by Frank Hornby in 1901, Meccano was conceived as a model toy construction system comprising reusable metal strips, plates, angle girders, wheels, axles and gears, with nuts and bolts to connect the pieces. The toy has sold under the Erector Set brand in the U.S. since 1913, and Meccano/Erector set toy products are currently sold in more than 90 companies.
Santa Monica-based Helix is developing a script for a family fantasy/adventure franchise built around the nuts-and-bolts brand that could also be extended to other platforms like TV and video games.
The deal, for undisclosed terms, represents the first time Meccano has licensed film rights to its toys.
Helix was founded in 2008 by film producers and business execs Steven-Charles Jaffe,...
Invented in England by Frank Hornby in 1901, Meccano was conceived as a model toy construction system comprising reusable metal strips, plates, angle girders, wheels, axles and gears, with nuts and bolts to connect the pieces. The toy has sold under the Erector Set brand in the U.S. since 1913, and Meccano/Erector set toy products are currently sold in more than 90 companies.
Santa Monica-based Helix is developing a script for a family fantasy/adventure franchise built around the nuts-and-bolts brand that could also be extended to other platforms like TV and video games.
The deal, for undisclosed terms, represents the first time Meccano has licensed film rights to its toys.
Helix was founded in 2008 by film producers and business execs Steven-Charles Jaffe,...
- 2/17/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Perhaps it was just a matter of time, but the independent production company Helix Films announced today that they have formed an exclusive partnership with Meccano Toy Company to develop an original 3-D feature film based upon the iconic Erector Set brand of children's construction toys. The deal represents the first time Meccano has licensed film rights to their toys.
We've joked in the past about movies based upon toys/games/merchandise, being, as they are, one third of the current Hollywood filmmaking trifecta—the other two of which constitute remakes and 3-D everything. So we're skeptical when another movie project based upon a toy line is announced.
Below is the official press release, courtesy of Helix:
Helix is currently developing an original script with an eye towards creating a film franchise based on the Erector brand that could also expand to other entertainment platforms including television and video games.
We've joked in the past about movies based upon toys/games/merchandise, being, as they are, one third of the current Hollywood filmmaking trifecta—the other two of which constitute remakes and 3-D everything. So we're skeptical when another movie project based upon a toy line is announced.
Below is the official press release, courtesy of Helix:
Helix is currently developing an original script with an eye towards creating a film franchise based on the Erector brand that could also expand to other entertainment platforms including television and video games.
- 2/16/2010
- CinemaSpy
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