Juliette Binoche, Sally El Hosaini and Isabel Coixet, are among the six filmmakers taking part in anthology film Bike Me Up, which will shoot across six European cities this summer, celebrating the locations’ relationships with cycling.
Binoche will make her debut as writer and director for the Paris film, in which she will star alongside Ralph Fiennes. London will be written and directed by El Hosaini and feature James Krishna Floyd. Berlin will be directed by Matthias Schweighöfer and star himself and Ruby O. Fee.
The Barcelona segment will be helmed by Coixet, while Bucharest will be written and directed by Cristina Jacob.
Binoche will make her debut as writer and director for the Paris film, in which she will star alongside Ralph Fiennes. London will be written and directed by El Hosaini and feature James Krishna Floyd. Berlin will be directed by Matthias Schweighöfer and star himself and Ruby O. Fee.
The Barcelona segment will be helmed by Coixet, while Bucharest will be written and directed by Cristina Jacob.
- 5/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
Signature Entertainment has unleashed the trailer for Sally El Hosaini (Swimmers) and BAFTA winner James Krishna Floyd’s ‘Unicorns’.
The movie is a cross-cultural romance about a single father from Essex who works as a mechanic and a British Indian drag queen living a double life. When their paths collide, an emotional search for identity is sparked.
The film had its world premiere at last year’s Toronto Film Festival and its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. It stars Ben Hardy (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Jason Patel who makes his feature film debut.
Also in trailers – “It was a golden age for motorcyles…” New trailer drops for ‘The Bikeriders’
The movie to be released in UK & Irish cinemas 5 July 2024.
The post Trailer drops for new film from Sally El Hosaini – ‘Unicorns’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
The movie is a cross-cultural romance about a single father from Essex who works as a mechanic and a British Indian drag queen living a double life. When their paths collide, an emotional search for identity is sparked.
The film had its world premiere at last year’s Toronto Film Festival and its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. It stars Ben Hardy (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Jason Patel who makes his feature film debut.
Also in trailers – “It was a golden age for motorcyles…” New trailer drops for ‘The Bikeriders’
The movie to be released in UK & Irish cinemas 5 July 2024.
The post Trailer drops for new film from Sally El Hosaini – ‘Unicorns’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 5/13/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The BFI Flare: London Lgbtqia+ Film Festival has revealed the line-up for its 38th edition which takes place March 13-24.
The programme comprises 57 features across the Hearts, Bodies and Mind strands, four of which are world premieres.
Scroll down for full line-up
World premiering is Karen Knox’s sophomore feature We Forgot To Break Up about a trans musician caught in a love triangle with his bandmates. The Canadian actress and filmmaker’s debut Adult Adoption premiered at Glasgow Film Festival in 2022.
Other world premieres are Kat Rohrer’s Austrian romantic comedy What A Feeling about two women who meet...
The programme comprises 57 features across the Hearts, Bodies and Mind strands, four of which are world premieres.
Scroll down for full line-up
World premiering is Karen Knox’s sophomore feature We Forgot To Break Up about a trans musician caught in a love triangle with his bandmates. The Canadian actress and filmmaker’s debut Adult Adoption premiered at Glasgow Film Festival in 2022.
Other world premieres are Kat Rohrer’s Austrian romantic comedy What A Feeling about two women who meet...
- 2/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
Signature Entertainment has acquired the U.K. and Irish rights to “Unicorns,” the romance drama co-directed by BAFTA nominee Sally El Hosaini (“The Swimmers”) and her long-standing collaborator James Krishna Floyd, who starred in both “The Swimmers” and her directorial debut “My Brother the Devil.”
From a script written by Floyd, “Unicorns” is described as a “visually daring and heartfelt portrayal of modern masculinity” and follows a queer South Asian club performer living a double life who meets a straight, single-father mechanic, with whom unexpected sparks begin to fly. The film stars Ben Hardy (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Love at First Sight”), newcomer Jason Patel, Nisha Nayar (“Buddha of Suburbia”), Hannah Onslow (“Empire of Light”) and Sagar Radia (“Industry”).
“We are thrilled to have Signature bring ‘Unicorns’ to U.K. and Irish cinemas where we know audiences will enjoy our unique, timely, but above all entertaining film,” said El-Hosaini and Floyd.
“Unicorns,...
From a script written by Floyd, “Unicorns” is described as a “visually daring and heartfelt portrayal of modern masculinity” and follows a queer South Asian club performer living a double life who meets a straight, single-father mechanic, with whom unexpected sparks begin to fly. The film stars Ben Hardy (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Love at First Sight”), newcomer Jason Patel, Nisha Nayar (“Buddha of Suburbia”), Hannah Onslow (“Empire of Light”) and Sagar Radia (“Industry”).
“We are thrilled to have Signature bring ‘Unicorns’ to U.K. and Irish cinemas where we know audiences will enjoy our unique, timely, but above all entertaining film,” said El-Hosaini and Floyd.
“Unicorns,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
A total of £208,217 was awarded to 10 projects through the international distribution strand.
Hoard, The Radleys and How To Have Sex are among the 10 titles to receive funding from the latest round of UK Global Screen Fund (Ukgsf) awards, totalling £208,217 through the international distribution strand, administered by the British Film Institute (BFI).
To-date, this strand has made 57 awards totalling nearly £2m, financed through the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms).
Financial support for international distribution provides sales agents and producers with funding via three tracks – film sales, prints & advertising (P&a) and festival launch.
Venice Critics’ Week award winner Hoard,...
Hoard, The Radleys and How To Have Sex are among the 10 titles to receive funding from the latest round of UK Global Screen Fund (Ukgsf) awards, totalling £208,217 through the international distribution strand, administered by the British Film Institute (BFI).
To-date, this strand has made 57 awards totalling nearly £2m, financed through the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms).
Financial support for international distribution provides sales agents and producers with funding via three tracks – film sales, prints & advertising (P&a) and festival launch.
Venice Critics’ Week award winner Hoard,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
“Unicorns” explores a world not seen much in feature films — the world of “gaysians,” the South Asian gay community in the U.K. The film, directed by Sally El Hosaini (“The Swimmers”) and James Krishna Floyd and written by Floyd, follows Aysha/Ashiq (charismatic newcomer Jason Patel) a queer, Muslim, South Asian drag queen living a double life who sparks a friendship then romance with white, straight mechanic and single father Luke. The film bowed to rave reviews at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival. Protagonist Pictures is handling international sales at AFM.
“Unicorns” is El Hosaini and Floyd’s third collaboration.
“I think mainstream society is very good at lumping very reductive identity labels on all of us. Obviously, in terms of sexuality, but I think in terms of everything in terms of race and gender and I’ve always felt that these things are very gray and very fluid.
“Unicorns” is El Hosaini and Floyd’s third collaboration.
“I think mainstream society is very good at lumping very reductive identity labels on all of us. Obviously, in terms of sexuality, but I think in terms of everything in terms of race and gender and I’ve always felt that these things are very gray and very fluid.
- 11/1/2023
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
Pauline Burt left the Welsh film agency in September.
Ffilm Cymru, the development agency for Welsh film, has named Lee Walters as its incoming CEO, taking up the position from November.
Walters joins from Media Cymru, an organisation set up to drive economic growth in the Welsh media sector, where he was a senior producer and funding manager.
Prior to that, he was senior change manager at BBC Cymru Wales, where he was instrumental in delivering the new headquarters to the centre of Cardiff. In 2020 he joined Cardiff University as programme manager for Clwstwr, an innovation programme supported by both...
Ffilm Cymru, the development agency for Welsh film, has named Lee Walters as its incoming CEO, taking up the position from November.
Walters joins from Media Cymru, an organisation set up to drive economic growth in the Welsh media sector, where he was a senior producer and funding manager.
Prior to that, he was senior change manager at BBC Cymru Wales, where he was instrumental in delivering the new headquarters to the centre of Cardiff. In 2020 he joined Cardiff University as programme manager for Clwstwr, an innovation programme supported by both...
- 10/17/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Rising British actress Leo Hatton has inked with Artists First for management.
The move comes ahead of the Season 2 premiere of No Man’s Land, the Hulu/Fremantle series examining the Syrian civil war, which she’s boarded as a season regular.
The thriller created by María Feldman and Eitan Mansuri looks at the war through the prism of a man searching for his missing sister. As he navigates through the chaos, he encounters a diverse group of characters, as well as a web of secrets and betrayals, coming to grips with moral complexities surrounding the ongoing conflict. Hatton’s part of an ensemble that also includes Mélanie Thierry, Souheila Yacoub, James Krishna Floyd and Zed Josef, among others.
Also coming up for the thesp is the Israeli-American indie The King of Sunflowers, directed by Emil Ben Shimon.
Described as a talent on the verge of her big break, the...
The move comes ahead of the Season 2 premiere of No Man’s Land, the Hulu/Fremantle series examining the Syrian civil war, which she’s boarded as a season regular.
The thriller created by María Feldman and Eitan Mansuri looks at the war through the prism of a man searching for his missing sister. As he navigates through the chaos, he encounters a diverse group of characters, as well as a web of secrets and betrayals, coming to grips with moral complexities surrounding the ongoing conflict. Hatton’s part of an ensemble that also includes Mélanie Thierry, Souheila Yacoub, James Krishna Floyd and Zed Josef, among others.
Also coming up for the thesp is the Israeli-American indie The King of Sunflowers, directed by Emil Ben Shimon.
Described as a talent on the verge of her big break, the...
- 10/6/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Following the TIFF world premiere of Unicorns, the buzzy cross-cultural romance marking his feature acting debut, British actor and singer Jason Patel has taken on new reps at Gersh and Untitled Entertainment.
World premiering up north just a few weeks ago, the film from Sally El-Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd has him starring as Aysha, a British Indian drag queen living a double life, with Ben Hardy (Love at First Sight) as Luke, a single father from Essex who works as a mechanic. When their paths collide, an emotional search for identity is sparked.
Pic debuted to almost universally positive reviews and landed Patel on several Best Performance lists out of the festival. CAA is handling sales.
In addition to his acting career, Patel is an emerging musical artist whose work spans pop and R&b. His latest single, “Choclafied,” was released worldwide in August, and will be followed...
World premiering up north just a few weeks ago, the film from Sally El-Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd has him starring as Aysha, a British Indian drag queen living a double life, with Ben Hardy (Love at First Sight) as Luke, a single father from Essex who works as a mechanic. When their paths collide, an emotional search for identity is sparked.
Pic debuted to almost universally positive reviews and landed Patel on several Best Performance lists out of the festival. CAA is handling sales.
In addition to his acting career, Patel is an emerging musical artist whose work spans pop and R&b. His latest single, “Choclafied,” was released worldwide in August, and will be followed...
- 9/27/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
by Cláudio Alves
The 48th Annual Toronto Film Festival may have ended already, but my coverage here at The Film Experience is still going for a few more days. This time, let's talk about the program's queer offerings, highlighting three projects that range from an award-winning World Premiere to a beloved Spanish auteur's first foray into the Western genre. They are the dragged-up double feature of Sophie Dupuis' Solo, which took the Best Canadian Feature prize, and Unicorns, directed by Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd. Finally, there's Pedro Almodóvar's Strange Way of Life, bound to hit American theaters on October 4th, released by Sony Pictures Classics…...
The 48th Annual Toronto Film Festival may have ended already, but my coverage here at The Film Experience is still going for a few more days. This time, let's talk about the program's queer offerings, highlighting three projects that range from an award-winning World Premiere to a beloved Spanish auteur's first foray into the Western genre. They are the dragged-up double feature of Sophie Dupuis' Solo, which took the Best Canadian Feature prize, and Unicorns, directed by Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd. Finally, there's Pedro Almodóvar's Strange Way of Life, bound to hit American theaters on October 4th, released by Sony Pictures Classics…...
- 9/19/2023
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
Jason Patel and Ben Hardy walked the TIFF carpet for the premiere of their drama on Friday, “Unicorns”, and while the cameras flashed on them at every turn, they stopped for an interview with Et Canada’s Dallas Dixon.
In “Unicorns”, directed by Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd, Patel plays a femme drag queen engaging in a relationship with Luke, played by Hardy, a hardworking single father who begins exploring his identity.
Read More: TIFF 2023: Ben Hardy Talks About His Queer Fanbase: ‘I Have Always Been Very Thankful For That’
” I would say like there is a lot of queer representation out there now. Like it’s getting better, like it’s so great, but maybe not like all of it is like varied,” explained Patel to Dixon while stopping on the carpet for a quick chat. “And I think what’s really special about this film...
In “Unicorns”, directed by Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd, Patel plays a femme drag queen engaging in a relationship with Luke, played by Hardy, a hardworking single father who begins exploring his identity.
Read More: TIFF 2023: Ben Hardy Talks About His Queer Fanbase: ‘I Have Always Been Very Thankful For That’
” I would say like there is a lot of queer representation out there now. Like it’s getting better, like it’s so great, but maybe not like all of it is like varied,” explained Patel to Dixon while stopping on the carpet for a quick chat. “And I think what’s really special about this film...
- 9/9/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
As Ben Hardy touched down in Toronto for TIFF for the premiere of his film “Unicorns” on Friday, the UK-born actor hit up a red carpet interview with Et Canada’s Dallas Dixon to discuss his support from the LGBTQ+ community and how he achieved a sizable derrière.
Directed by Sally El Hosani and James Krishna Floyd, “Unicorns” sees Hardy playing Luke, a single father whose sex life is marred with transactional hookups, until he meets a woman named Aysha, played by Jason Petal, in an underground club.
Read More: David Oyelowo Was ‘Surprised’ With ‘The Girl Before’ Ending
“I’ve always had a big old rump on me.”
As the two worlds collide, Luke discovers that Aysha is not a cis woman but a femme drag queen. As the film progresses, Luke and Aysha begin to transcend their ideas of identity and relationships.
On the topic of his vast fandom in the LGBTQ+ community,...
Directed by Sally El Hosani and James Krishna Floyd, “Unicorns” sees Hardy playing Luke, a single father whose sex life is marred with transactional hookups, until he meets a woman named Aysha, played by Jason Petal, in an underground club.
Read More: David Oyelowo Was ‘Surprised’ With ‘The Girl Before’ Ending
“I’ve always had a big old rump on me.”
As the two worlds collide, Luke discovers that Aysha is not a cis woman but a femme drag queen. As the film progresses, Luke and Aysha begin to transcend their ideas of identity and relationships.
On the topic of his vast fandom in the LGBTQ+ community,...
- 9/9/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
On the way home after a party-ending brawl, Aysha (Jason Patel) explains to Luke (Ben Hardy) the torrid love triangle that precipitated the fight in the first place. It sounds complicated, Luke remarks, but Aysha counters that it’s actually pretty simple: “Everybody just wants what they can’t have.”
Despite her breezy delivery, the statement seems to hang in the air between them. Because by this point, both Luke and Aysha already know on some level what they want. They just have to allow themselves to have it. Unicorns traces their twin journeys toward self-acceptance with empathy, curiosity and a refreshing disregard for constricting labels.
What stands between the central pair is not a lack of desire, but a clash of identities. Luke is a straight white single dad from Essex who scrapes together a modest living as a mechanic; Aysha is a professional drag queen from Manchester hiding...
Despite her breezy delivery, the statement seems to hang in the air between them. Because by this point, both Luke and Aysha already know on some level what they want. They just have to allow themselves to have it. Unicorns traces their twin journeys toward self-acceptance with empathy, curiosity and a refreshing disregard for constricting labels.
What stands between the central pair is not a lack of desire, but a clash of identities. Luke is a straight white single dad from Essex who scrapes together a modest living as a mechanic; Aysha is a professional drag queen from Manchester hiding...
- 9/8/2023
- by Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Welsh-Egyptian director Sally El Hosaini had the opening night film at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival with “The Swimmers,” a Netflix drama about two would-be Olympic swimmers fleeing Syria for a chance to compete in Europe. She’s back at the festival a year later with “Unicorns,” codirected with James Krishna Floyd. It’s a quieter, less rousing drama that in some ways couldn’t be further from “The Swimmers,” but in other ways shares that earlier film’s determination to find moments of happiness and celebration in the midst of struggle.
“Unicorns” is a work designed to bring empathy for its two lead characters, a scruffy auto mechanic trying to raise a young son by himself and a British-Asian drag queen looking for moments of release in a life of hardship. At times it finds El Hosaini holding beats for too long, as she also did in “The Swimmers,...
“Unicorns” is a work designed to bring empathy for its two lead characters, a scruffy auto mechanic trying to raise a young son by himself and a British-Asian drag queen looking for moments of release in a life of hardship. At times it finds El Hosaini holding beats for too long, as she also did in “The Swimmers,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Bohemian Rhapsody actor Ben Hardy and newcomer Jason Patel were kept apart during the pre-production phase of Unicorns, a love story between an Essex car mechanic and a South Asian drag queen.
It’s the new film co-directed by Sally El Hosaini (My Brother the Devil) and James Krishna Floyd (The Good Karma Hospital), and they took measures to ensure that the relationship Hardy and Patel depict in the movie, which has its world premiere Friday at TIFF, was fresh.
“All of our prep was separate,” Patel confirmed. “They didn’t want us to meet.”
Floyd said that the only time they saw each other was at the read-through, “but they weren’t allowed to talk to each other. We explained it to Ben and Jason and to the heads of department that if they spent too much time together before filming began, then it would be too familiar...
It’s the new film co-directed by Sally El Hosaini (My Brother the Devil) and James Krishna Floyd (The Good Karma Hospital), and they took measures to ensure that the relationship Hardy and Patel depict in the movie, which has its world premiere Friday at TIFF, was fresh.
“All of our prep was separate,” Patel confirmed. “They didn’t want us to meet.”
Floyd said that the only time they saw each other was at the read-through, “but they weren’t allowed to talk to each other. We explained it to Ben and Jason and to the heads of department that if they spent too much time together before filming began, then it would be too familiar...
- 9/8/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Next Goal Wins (Taika Waititi, 2023).The lineup is being unveiled for the 2023 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, starting with 60 selections from the Gala and Special Presentations programs. The festival takes place from September 7–17, 2023.Gala PRESENTATIONSConcrete Utopia (Um Tae-Hwa)Dumb Money (Craig Gillespie)Fair Play (Chloe Domont)Flora and Son (John Carney)Hate to Love: Nickelback (Leigh Brooks)Lee (Ellen Kuras)Next Goal Wins (Taika Waititi)Nyad (Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin)Punjab ’95 (Honey Trehan)Solo (Sophie Dupuis)The End We Start From (Mahalia Belo)The Movie Emperor (Ning Hao)The New Boy (Warwick Thornton) The Royal Hotel (Kitty Green)The Holdovers.Special Presentationsa Difficult Year (Éric Toledano, Olivier Nakache)A Normal Family (Hur Jin-ho)American Fiction (Cord Jefferson)Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet)Close to You (Dominic Savage)Days of Happiness (Chloé Robichaud)The Rescue (Daniela Goggi)Ezra (Tony Goldwyn)Fingernails (Christos Nikou)Four Daughters (Kaouther Ben Hania...
- 8/14/2023
- MUBI
Recruitment for a new CEO is underway.
Pauline Burt – the founding CEO of Welsh film agency Ffilm Cymru Wales – is to step down after 17 years.
Since Burt founded the agency in 2006, it has invested £15.8m of National Lottery funding in supporting 89 feature films through to production, and many more in development. These include Gideon Koppel’s documentary Sleeping Furiously, Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not A Witch, Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor, Lee Haven’s Gwledd (The Feast), Euros Lyn’s Dream Horse, Janis Pugh’s Chuck Chuck Baby, Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd’s Unicorns and animation Kensuke’s Kingdom.
Pauline Burt – the founding CEO of Welsh film agency Ffilm Cymru Wales – is to step down after 17 years.
Since Burt founded the agency in 2006, it has invested £15.8m of National Lottery funding in supporting 89 feature films through to production, and many more in development. These include Gideon Koppel’s documentary Sleeping Furiously, Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not A Witch, Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor, Lee Haven’s Gwledd (The Feast), Euros Lyn’s Dream Horse, Janis Pugh’s Chuck Chuck Baby, Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd’s Unicorns and animation Kensuke’s Kingdom.
- 8/11/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Festival runs September 7-17.
The world premieres of Ellen Kuras’s biopic Lee starring Kate Winslet, Craig Gillespie’s GameStop meme craze drama Dumb Money, David Yates’s crime drama Pain Hustlers with Emily Blunt, and Michael Winterbottom’s thriller Shoshana are among Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Galas and Special Presentations.
The festival unveiled a further 60 selections on Monday after previously announcing Taikia Waititi’s Searchlight Pictures underdog football story Next Goal Wins, and Ladj Ly’s Les Indésirables, and Atom Egoyan’s Seven Veils - both of which are available for the US. XYZ Films handles world sales...
The world premieres of Ellen Kuras’s biopic Lee starring Kate Winslet, Craig Gillespie’s GameStop meme craze drama Dumb Money, David Yates’s crime drama Pain Hustlers with Emily Blunt, and Michael Winterbottom’s thriller Shoshana are among Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Galas and Special Presentations.
The festival unveiled a further 60 selections on Monday after previously announcing Taikia Waititi’s Searchlight Pictures underdog football story Next Goal Wins, and Ladj Ly’s Les Indésirables, and Atom Egoyan’s Seven Veils - both of which are available for the US. XYZ Films handles world sales...
- 7/24/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: 12 Years a Slave and Brokeback Mountain outfit River Road Entertainment has joined Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd’s feature Unicorns as producer and financier.
CAA Media Finance will be selling the project at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.
The cross-cultural romance, directed by The Swimmers filmmaker El Hosaini and Floyd, from a screenplay by Floyd, is now in post-production.
Today, we can also reveal that the film will co-star emerging British Indian R&b artist Jason Patel alongside the previously announced Ben Hardy (Bohemian Rhapsody).
Related: Deadline’s Full EFM Coverage
Set against a secretive London subculture, the film follows a queer performer (Patel) living a double life and a single father (Hardy) working as a mechanic, whose lives collide after a chance encounter.
“When Laura Windows, our casting director, introduced us to Jason, we knew we’d found our unicorn. Jason has poured his heart and soul into this.
CAA Media Finance will be selling the project at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.
The cross-cultural romance, directed by The Swimmers filmmaker El Hosaini and Floyd, from a screenplay by Floyd, is now in post-production.
Today, we can also reveal that the film will co-star emerging British Indian R&b artist Jason Patel alongside the previously announced Ben Hardy (Bohemian Rhapsody).
Related: Deadline’s Full EFM Coverage
Set against a secretive London subculture, the film follows a queer performer (Patel) living a double life and a single father (Hardy) working as a mechanic, whose lives collide after a chance encounter.
“When Laura Windows, our casting director, introduced us to Jason, we knew we’d found our unicorn. Jason has poured his heart and soul into this.
- 2/10/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Unicorns
For their third creative collaboration, actor James Krishna Floyd shares co-directing duties alongside Sally El Hosaini for what becomes her third directing outing. The Welsh-Egyptian filmmaker just preemed the Netflix backed The Swimmers as the opening night film at last year’s TIFF and the timing would be great for another Toronto showcase with Unicorns. With Stephen Daldry onboard as executive producer, production on Unicorns took place this past October-November with actor Ben Hardy toplining. Produced by Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray’s Maven Screen Media and Philip Herd’s Chromatic Aberration, Floyd is working from a personal place with a queer-friendly film that deals with themes of culture clashes and taboo romance.…...
For their third creative collaboration, actor James Krishna Floyd shares co-directing duties alongside Sally El Hosaini for what becomes her third directing outing. The Welsh-Egyptian filmmaker just preemed the Netflix backed The Swimmers as the opening night film at last year’s TIFF and the timing would be great for another Toronto showcase with Unicorns. With Stephen Daldry onboard as executive producer, production on Unicorns took place this past October-November with actor Ben Hardy toplining. Produced by Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray’s Maven Screen Media and Philip Herd’s Chromatic Aberration, Floyd is working from a personal place with a queer-friendly film that deals with themes of culture clashes and taboo romance.…...
- 1/5/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The Swimmers is a saga of grit and determination arising out of a desire to escape the conflict zone of Syria by two sisters and pursue the passions of their lie. The topic chosen is contextual- the aspiration of citizens caught in zones of conflict to try to escape it and have a meaningful life without a morbid fear of looming death in myriad formats looming over the shoulders.
Sportspersons have the burning desire continuously simmering below their skins, to make a mark of their prowess in their chosen fields and announce their arrival through a public arena and create a spectacle. The Swimmers is a gritty tale of two sisters Yusra Mardini and Sara Mardini, enacted by two real life sisters- Natahie Issa and Manal Issa, who try and escape the conflict zone of war in their backyard in Syria and arrive in Germany to aspire to lead a...
Sportspersons have the burning desire continuously simmering below their skins, to make a mark of their prowess in their chosen fields and announce their arrival through a public arena and create a spectacle. The Swimmers is a gritty tale of two sisters Yusra Mardini and Sara Mardini, enacted by two real life sisters- Natahie Issa and Manal Issa, who try and escape the conflict zone of war in their backyard in Syria and arrive in Germany to aspire to lead a...
- 12/11/2022
- by Nalin Rai
- GlamSham
Spy thriller and family drama ‘No Man’s Land’ has been renewed for a second season and principal photography has commenced in Morocco.
Rotem Shamir, winner of the Israeli Academy of Television Director’s Award, and whose credits include ‘Fauda’ and ‘Hostages’, is directing the second season, reports Variety.
Series regulars Melanie Thierry (‘The Princess of Montpensier’), Souheila Yacoub (‘Rise’) and James Krishna Floyd (‘The Good Karma Hospital’) will reprise their characters and new cast members include Leo Hatton (‘Rate Me’) and Zed Josef (‘The Disguise’).
Season 2 is set amidst the ongoing Syrian civil war and follows a female freedom fighter group and the portrayal of radicalised westerners who join Isis. It is commissioned by Arte and Hulu, and produced by Haut et Court TV, Masha, and Spiro Films in co-production with Fremantle.
Created by Masha’s Maria Feldman and Spiro’s Eitan Mansuri, ‘No Man’s Land’ is written by Amit Cohen and Ron Leshem,...
Rotem Shamir, winner of the Israeli Academy of Television Director’s Award, and whose credits include ‘Fauda’ and ‘Hostages’, is directing the second season, reports Variety.
Series regulars Melanie Thierry (‘The Princess of Montpensier’), Souheila Yacoub (‘Rise’) and James Krishna Floyd (‘The Good Karma Hospital’) will reprise their characters and new cast members include Leo Hatton (‘Rate Me’) and Zed Josef (‘The Disguise’).
Season 2 is set amidst the ongoing Syrian civil war and follows a female freedom fighter group and the portrayal of radicalised westerners who join Isis. It is commissioned by Arte and Hulu, and produced by Haut et Court TV, Masha, and Spiro Films in co-production with Fremantle.
Created by Masha’s Maria Feldman and Spiro’s Eitan Mansuri, ‘No Man’s Land’ is written by Amit Cohen and Ron Leshem,...
- 11/30/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Fremantle’s spy thriller and family drama “No Man’s Land” has been renewed for a second season and principal photography has commenced in Morocco.
Rotem Shamir, winner of the Israeli Academy of Television Director’s Award, and whose credits include “Fauda” and “Hostages,” is directing the second season.
Series regulars regulars Mélanie Thierry (The Princess of Montpensier”), Souheila Yacoub (“Rise”) and James Krishna Floyd (“The Good Karma Hospital”) will reprise their characters and new cast members joining include Leo Hatton (“Rate Me”) and Zed Josef (“The Disguise”).
Season 2 is set amidst the ongoing Syrian civil war and follows a female freedom fighter group and the portrayal of radicalised westerners who join Isis. It is commissioned by Arte and Hulu, and produced by Haut et Court TV, Masha, and Spiro Films in co-production with Fremantle.
Created by Masha’s María Feldman and Spiro’s Eitan Mansuri, “No Man’s Land” is written...
Rotem Shamir, winner of the Israeli Academy of Television Director’s Award, and whose credits include “Fauda” and “Hostages,” is directing the second season.
Series regulars regulars Mélanie Thierry (The Princess of Montpensier”), Souheila Yacoub (“Rise”) and James Krishna Floyd (“The Good Karma Hospital”) will reprise their characters and new cast members joining include Leo Hatton (“Rate Me”) and Zed Josef (“The Disguise”).
Season 2 is set amidst the ongoing Syrian civil war and follows a female freedom fighter group and the portrayal of radicalised westerners who join Isis. It is commissioned by Arte and Hulu, and produced by Haut et Court TV, Masha, and Spiro Films in co-production with Fremantle.
Created by Masha’s María Feldman and Spiro’s Eitan Mansuri, “No Man’s Land” is written...
- 11/29/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The Swimmers is a 2022 biographical drama movie directed by Sally El Hosaini starring Manal Issa and Nathalie Issa.
A powerful movie in its sincerity. It is impossible not be moved by this film that tells a story of the incredible strength and resilience of its protagonists. With its social-realism and documentary techniques in some sequences, it shows us the harshness of the reality of many, as well as giving us a beautiful story about resilience.
Premise
Two heroic young sisters set out on a voyage that will require resilience and conviction. They leave behind a war-torn Syria, intent on proving to the world their swimming skills they are selected to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Swimmers (2022) Movie Review
A movie that counts on a potent screenplay that is well developed providing us not only the story the two brave sisters, but also a good depiction of the context they...
A powerful movie in its sincerity. It is impossible not be moved by this film that tells a story of the incredible strength and resilience of its protagonists. With its social-realism and documentary techniques in some sequences, it shows us the harshness of the reality of many, as well as giving us a beautiful story about resilience.
Premise
Two heroic young sisters set out on a voyage that will require resilience and conviction. They leave behind a war-torn Syria, intent on proving to the world their swimming skills they are selected to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Swimmers (2022) Movie Review
A movie that counts on a potent screenplay that is well developed providing us not only the story the two brave sisters, but also a good depiction of the context they...
- 11/23/2022
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The Swimmers is a 2022 drama movie directed by Sally El Hosaini starring Manal Issa and Nathalie Issa.
Premise
From war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, two young sisters embark on a risky voyage, putting their hearts and their swimming skills to heroic use.
Release Date
November 23, 2022.
Where to Watch The Swimmers
Netflix
Cast
Manal Issa / Sarah Mardini
Nathalie Issa / Yusra Mardini
Matthias Schweighöfer / Sven
Ali Suliman / Ezzat Mardini
James Floyd / Emad
Ahmed Malek / Nizar
Kinda Alloush / Mervat Mardini
Nahel Tzegai / Shada
Carlotta De Gregori / Marlena Kristov (Olympic swimmer)
Victoria Valcheva / Kostana
See full credits >>...
Premise
From war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, two young sisters embark on a risky voyage, putting their hearts and their swimming skills to heroic use.
Release Date
November 23, 2022.
Where to Watch The Swimmers
Netflix
Cast
Manal Issa / Sarah Mardini
Nathalie Issa / Yusra Mardini
Matthias Schweighöfer / Sven
Ali Suliman / Ezzat Mardini
James Floyd / Emad
Ahmed Malek / Nizar
Kinda Alloush / Mervat Mardini
Nahel Tzegai / Shada
Carlotta De Gregori / Marlena Kristov (Olympic swimmer)
Victoria Valcheva / Kostana
See full credits >>...
- 11/20/2022
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Marrakech – Director Sally El Hosaini, whose Working Title-produced “The Swimmers” opened the Toronto Film Festival, is turning her attention to one of the biggest mass murder-suicide stories in history with her forthcoming project “Jones.”
The Welsh-Egyptian director, who recently signed with CAA, told Variety at the Marrakech Film Festival that she began working on the film before making her current feature, “The Swimmers,” but is now rebooting the project towards production. “The Swimmers” is playing at the Marrakech International Film Festival this week.
El Hosaini is casting new light on the story which, she said, has been misunderstood. She has acquired the life rights from Jim Jones’ surviving son, Stephan Jones, she said.
“It’s a very misunderstood chapter in American history,” she says. “People label Jim Jones as a Charles Manson type of character from that era, but if the history had stopped in 1976/7, at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The...
The Welsh-Egyptian director, who recently signed with CAA, told Variety at the Marrakech Film Festival that she began working on the film before making her current feature, “The Swimmers,” but is now rebooting the project towards production. “The Swimmers” is playing at the Marrakech International Film Festival this week.
El Hosaini is casting new light on the story which, she said, has been misunderstood. She has acquired the life rights from Jim Jones’ surviving son, Stephan Jones, she said.
“It’s a very misunderstood chapter in American history,” she says. “People label Jim Jones as a Charles Manson type of character from that era, but if the history had stopped in 1976/7, at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The...
- 11/19/2022
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has debuted the trailer for Sally El Hosaini’s ‘The Swimmers.’
Based on a true story, The story follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.
Directed by Sally El Hosaini, the film stars Nathalie Issa (Yusra), Manal Issa (Sara), Matthias Schweighöfer (Sven), Ahmed Malek (Nizar), James Krishna Floyd (Emad), Nahel Tzegai (Shada) and Kinda Alloush (Mervat) with Ali Suliman (Ezzat).
Also in trailers – “You’re supposed to be in rehab…” Sheridan Smith stars in trailer for ‘Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything’
The film hits select cinemas on November 11 and on Netflix from November 23rd.
The post Trailer lands for Sally El Hosaini’s ‘The Swimmers’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
Based on a true story, The story follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.
Directed by Sally El Hosaini, the film stars Nathalie Issa (Yusra), Manal Issa (Sara), Matthias Schweighöfer (Sven), Ahmed Malek (Nizar), James Krishna Floyd (Emad), Nahel Tzegai (Shada) and Kinda Alloush (Mervat) with Ali Suliman (Ezzat).
Also in trailers – “You’re supposed to be in rehab…” Sheridan Smith stars in trailer for ‘Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything’
The film hits select cinemas on November 11 and on Netflix from November 23rd.
The post Trailer lands for Sally El Hosaini’s ‘The Swimmers’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 11/2/2022
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"Swim for me, for everyone who died trying to find a new life. Swim for all of us." Netflix has debuted the full trailer for The Swimmers, a true story movie made by a Welsh-Egyptian filmmaker named Sally El-Hosaini. This already premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last month, and will be out on Netflix later this month. From war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, two sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use. Based on the true story of the miraculous journey made by swimming sisters Yusra & Sarah Mardini who fled as refugees from war-torn Syria all the way to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Starring Nathalie Issa (as Yusra) and Manal Issa (as Sara) as the two sisters, plus Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Nahel Tzegai, with Kinda Alloush and Ali Suliman. Worth a watch! This really does look like a remarkable,...
- 11/1/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
You often hear that reality is often more amazing than any fiction. That’s exactly the case with the story that inspired the upcoming film, “The Swimmers.”
As seen in the trailer for “The Swimmers,” the film follows the incredible true story of two sisters who escaped Syria as refugees with dreams of one day competing in the Olympic Games as swimmers. The drama stars Nathalie Issa, Manal Issa, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Nahel Tzegai, Kinda Alloush, and Ali Suliman.
Continue reading ‘The Swimmers’ Trailer: Syrian Refugees Dream Of Olympic Gold In Sally El Hosaini’s Netflix Drama at The Playlist.
As seen in the trailer for “The Swimmers,” the film follows the incredible true story of two sisters who escaped Syria as refugees with dreams of one day competing in the Olympic Games as swimmers. The drama stars Nathalie Issa, Manal Issa, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Nahel Tzegai, Kinda Alloush, and Ali Suliman.
Continue reading ‘The Swimmers’ Trailer: Syrian Refugees Dream Of Olympic Gold In Sally El Hosaini’s Netflix Drama at The Playlist.
- 11/1/2022
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
On Thursday evening The Swimmers received a four minute standing ovation after its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
This soaring epic dramatizes the true story of two sisters who left their home in war-torn Syria for a new life in Europe — and the chance to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
An epic adventure drawn from the most pressing of global stories, The Swimmers tells the remarkable true tale of sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini, who fled their home in war-torn Damascus to seek a new life in Europe and earn the chance to compete in the Olympics. Directed by Sally El Hosaini (My Brother the Devil) and written by Jack Thorne (TIFF ’19’s The Aeronauts), this is a moving story of two young women refugees, and their inspiring reach for a better life.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Etan Vlessing writes: “It’s an inspirational story,” director El-Hosaini said...
This soaring epic dramatizes the true story of two sisters who left their home in war-torn Syria for a new life in Europe — and the chance to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
An epic adventure drawn from the most pressing of global stories, The Swimmers tells the remarkable true tale of sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini, who fled their home in war-torn Damascus to seek a new life in Europe and earn the chance to compete in the Olympics. Directed by Sally El Hosaini (My Brother the Devil) and written by Jack Thorne (TIFF ’19’s The Aeronauts), this is a moving story of two young women refugees, and their inspiring reach for a better life.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Etan Vlessing writes: “It’s an inspirational story,” director El-Hosaini said...
- 9/12/2022
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The stars descended on Soho House in downtown Toronto on Saturday for Variety and Chanel’s Female Filmmakers’ Dinner during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Guests in attendance included Tilda Swinton, star of Joanna Hogg’s “The Eternal Daughter”; Gina Prince-Bythewood, director of “The Woman King”; Darren Aronofsky, director of “The Whale”; and Anna Kendrick, who’s in Toronto shopping her new AGC Studios project “The Dating Game” to market buyers.
Stars mingled on a packed rooftop before convening in the club’s private dining room, which gathered around 100 of the festival’s bright lights in filmmaking. They dined on a bespoke Soho House menu of beef tartare with black truffle, black cod and bok choy, and wagyu rib cap with porcini purée.
The dinner was hosted by Variety CEO and group publisher Michelle Sobrino-Stearns and co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh.
Attendees included Judd Apatow and Leslie Bibb; Margaret Qualley and Jack Antanoff...
Guests in attendance included Tilda Swinton, star of Joanna Hogg’s “The Eternal Daughter”; Gina Prince-Bythewood, director of “The Woman King”; Darren Aronofsky, director of “The Whale”; and Anna Kendrick, who’s in Toronto shopping her new AGC Studios project “The Dating Game” to market buyers.
Stars mingled on a packed rooftop before convening in the club’s private dining room, which gathered around 100 of the festival’s bright lights in filmmaking. They dined on a bespoke Soho House menu of beef tartare with black truffle, black cod and bok choy, and wagyu rib cap with porcini purée.
The dinner was hosted by Variety CEO and group publisher Michelle Sobrino-Stearns and co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh.
Attendees included Judd Apatow and Leslie Bibb; Margaret Qualley and Jack Antanoff...
- 9/11/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The Toronto International Film Festival started off on a historic day with one of its strongest opening films in years in Sally El Hosaini’s ‘The Swimmers’, but what some audience members will likely remember is the stressful experience of securing their tickets for the Roy Thomson Hall world premiere.
TIFF, which has gone digital again this year via Ticketmaster, has been plagued with ticketing issues all week thanks to a complicated voucher process for public tickets, reports ‘Variety’.
While it was hoped that many of the technical kinks would be ironed out by opening night, this wasn’t the case.
Media outlets, including Variety, that were meant to receive opening night tickets from the film’s studio — in this case, Netflix — didn’t get them in time for the screening due to “technical glitches” and had to be rounded up and escorted to their seats by representatives for the streamer.
TIFF, which has gone digital again this year via Ticketmaster, has been plagued with ticketing issues all week thanks to a complicated voucher process for public tickets, reports ‘Variety’.
While it was hoped that many of the technical kinks would be ironed out by opening night, this wasn’t the case.
Media outlets, including Variety, that were meant to receive opening night tickets from the film’s studio — in this case, Netflix — didn’t get them in time for the screening due to “technical glitches” and had to be rounded up and escorted to their seats by representatives for the streamer.
- 9/9/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
TIFF Kicks Off on Historic Day With ‘Swimmers,’ but Finds Itself in the Deep End With Ticketing Woes
The Toronto International Film Festival kicked off on a historic day with one of its strongest opening films in years in Sally El Hosaini’s “The Swimmers,” but what some audience members will likely remember is the stressful experience of securing their tickets for the Roy Thomson Hall world premiere.
TIFF, which has gone digital again this year via Ticketmaster, has been plagued with ticketing issues all week thanks to a complicated voucher process for public tickets.
While it was hoped that many of the technical kinks would be ironed out by opening night, this wasn’t the case. Media outlets, including Variety, that were meant to receive opening night tickets from the film’s studio — in this case, Netflix — didn’t get them in time for the screening due to “technical glitches” and had to be rounded up and escorted to their seats by representatives for the streamer.
During the festival’s opening ceremony,...
TIFF, which has gone digital again this year via Ticketmaster, has been plagued with ticketing issues all week thanks to a complicated voucher process for public tickets.
While it was hoped that many of the technical kinks would be ironed out by opening night, this wasn’t the case. Media outlets, including Variety, that were meant to receive opening night tickets from the film’s studio — in this case, Netflix — didn’t get them in time for the screening due to “technical glitches” and had to be rounded up and escorted to their seats by representatives for the streamer.
During the festival’s opening ceremony,...
- 9/9/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Not even the death of Queen Elizabeth II could halt the hustle and bustle of another in-person Toronto International Film Festival during the Covid era as throngs lined up for premieres and chomped off food carts on festival row (aka King Street).
However, what did vex festivalgoers in Hogtown was the second year of TIFF’s digital ticketing website via Ticketmaster. Last year it wasn’t a problem given the reduced capacity at TIFF venues and fewer attending out of fear of the pandemic. However, judging by the turnout at Roy Thomson Hall tonight for the fest’s opening film, The Swimmers from Netflix, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that TIFF has returned to its pre-pandemic 300K-plus attendance.
Toronto Film Festival 2022 Photo Gallery: ‘The Swimmers’ World Premiere, ‘On The Come Up’, ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ And More
And with great demand, comes great chaos. The TIFF Ticketmaster site...
However, what did vex festivalgoers in Hogtown was the second year of TIFF’s digital ticketing website via Ticketmaster. Last year it wasn’t a problem given the reduced capacity at TIFF venues and fewer attending out of fear of the pandemic. However, judging by the turnout at Roy Thomson Hall tonight for the fest’s opening film, The Swimmers from Netflix, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that TIFF has returned to its pre-pandemic 300K-plus attendance.
Toronto Film Festival 2022 Photo Gallery: ‘The Swimmers’ World Premiere, ‘On The Come Up’, ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ And More
And with great demand, comes great chaos. The TIFF Ticketmaster site...
- 9/9/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The Swimmers Trailer — Sally El-Hosaini‘s The Swimmers (2022) teaser trailer has been released by Netflix. The The Swimmers trailer stars Nathalie Issa, Manal Issa, Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Nahel Tzegai, Kinda Alloush, and Ali Suliman. Crew Sally El-Hosaini and Jack Thorne wrote the screenplay for The Swimmers. “Produced by Working Title’s [...]
Continue reading: The Swimmers (2022) Teaser Trailer: Two Refugee Sisters Travel from War-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics...
Continue reading: The Swimmers (2022) Teaser Trailer: Two Refugee Sisters Travel from War-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics...
- 9/2/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"We need to move forward. We're not allowed to give up." Netflix has revealed a teaser trailer for a film titled The Swimmers, made by a Welsh-Egyptian filmmaker named Sally El-Hosaini. This is premiering soon at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival, hence this trailer arriving now, before it arrives for streaming on Netflix this November. From war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, two sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use. Based on the true story of the miraculous journey made by swimming sisters Yusra & Sarah Mardini who fled as refugees from war-torn Syria all the way to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Starring Nathalie Issa (as Yusra) and Manal Issa (as Sara) as the two sisters, plus Matthias Schweighöfer, Ahmed Malek, James Krishna Floyd, Nahel Tzegai, with Kinda Alloush and Ali Suliman. This is a fantastic teaser, with David Guetta's song "Titanium ft.
- 9/1/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Click here to read the full article.
Sally El Hosaini’s drama The Swimmers, the true-life story of Syrian refugees-turned-Olympic athletes the Mardini sisters, will be the opening night film at the 18th Zurich International Film Festival.
The Swimmers, which will have its world premiere in Toronto, will have its European bow in Zurich on Sept. 22. El Hosaini together with the film’s stars Nathalie Issa and Matthias Schweighöfer and sisters Sara and Yusra Mardini will attend the Zurich premiere.
Produced by Working Title for Netflix, El Hosaini’s feature follows the Mardini sisters’ journey after they fled the civil war in Syria in 2015, trying to escape across the Aegean Sea to Europe. When the motor of the dinghy they were ridding on cut out, the sisters, both champion swimmers, helped save the other passengers. They went on to settle in Germany, where Yusra began training again. She competed at...
Sally El Hosaini’s drama The Swimmers, the true-life story of Syrian refugees-turned-Olympic athletes the Mardini sisters, will be the opening night film at the 18th Zurich International Film Festival.
The Swimmers, which will have its world premiere in Toronto, will have its European bow in Zurich on Sept. 22. El Hosaini together with the film’s stars Nathalie Issa and Matthias Schweighöfer and sisters Sara and Yusra Mardini will attend the Zurich premiere.
Produced by Working Title for Netflix, El Hosaini’s feature follows the Mardini sisters’ journey after they fled the civil war in Syria in 2015, trying to escape across the Aegean Sea to Europe. When the motor of the dinghy they were ridding on cut out, the sisters, both champion swimmers, helped save the other passengers. They went on to settle in Germany, where Yusra began training again. She competed at...
- 8/25/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Making its European premiere, Sally El Hosaini’s The Swimmers has been set as the opening film of the 18th Zurich Film Festival. Based on the inspirational true-life story of the Mardini sisters, it will screen on September 22 at Zurich’s Convention Center. It will earlier world premiere as the opening night gala presentation in Toronto.
The Working Title film for Netflix is directed and written by El Hosaini and co-written by Jack Thorne. It follows the harrowing journey of two young sisters from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“The Swimmers is a deeply moving and timely film about a miraculous journey,” says Zff Artistic Director Christian Jungen. “It shines a light on the refugee crisis, but is also up-lifting and inspiring. We couldn’t imagine a better opening night film. Sally El Hosaini, who already with her first feature My Brother The Devil won an award at Sundance,...
The Working Title film for Netflix is directed and written by El Hosaini and co-written by Jack Thorne. It follows the harrowing journey of two young sisters from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“The Swimmers is a deeply moving and timely film about a miraculous journey,” says Zff Artistic Director Christian Jungen. “It shines a light on the refugee crisis, but is also up-lifting and inspiring. We couldn’t imagine a better opening night film. Sally El Hosaini, who already with her first feature My Brother The Devil won an award at Sundance,...
- 8/25/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Sally El Hosaini’s drama “The Swimmers,” based on the inspirational true-life story of the Mardini sisters, will open the 18th Zurich Film Festival on Sept. 22. It will be the film’s European premiere.
The film is produced by Working Title for Netflix. It is directed and written by El Hosaini and co-written by Jack Thorne, based on a true story. It follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics of two young sisters, who embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.
El Hosaini will be joined at the screening by cast members Nathalie Issa and Matthias Schweighöfer, along with Sara and Yusra Mardini, and Yusra’s swimming coach Sven Spannenkrebs.
“’The Swimmers’ is a deeply moving and timely film about a miraculous journey,” Christian Jungen, the festival’s artistic director, said. “It shines a light on the refugee crisis,...
The film is produced by Working Title for Netflix. It is directed and written by El Hosaini and co-written by Jack Thorne, based on a true story. It follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics of two young sisters, who embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use.
El Hosaini will be joined at the screening by cast members Nathalie Issa and Matthias Schweighöfer, along with Sara and Yusra Mardini, and Yusra’s swimming coach Sven Spannenkrebs.
“’The Swimmers’ is a deeply moving and timely film about a miraculous journey,” Christian Jungen, the festival’s artistic director, said. “It shines a light on the refugee crisis,...
- 8/25/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Director Sally El Hosaini’s new feature Unicorns will begin principal photography in the U.K. this October, with Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray’s Maven Screen Media and Philip Herd’s Chromatic Aberration financing and producing.
Oscar Nominee Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) is also on board as executive producer.
The feature is described as a cross-cultural romance set against a secretive subculture in London, revolving around a queer South Asian nightclub performer living a double life, and a young, single father who works as a mechanic. When their paths collide, a dramatic search for identity is sparked.
Actor James Krishna Floyd, who also wrote the screenplay, will co-direct with El Hosaini for their third collaboration.
“This is a very personal story for me with the themes of dual culture clash, sexuality, fatherhood and forbidden romance originating from my own experiences,” he said.
Ben Hardy will star as the single father with the casting search underway for an authentic, queer South Asian actor for the other. Renowned Gaysian performer Britain’s first out Muslim Drag Queen’ Asifa Lahore is the consultant and will also executive produce.
Sally El Hosaini’s first feature My Brother the Devil won prizes at Sundance, Berlin and the London Film Festival. Her hotly anticipated second feature The Swimmers is opening Toronto International Film Festival and is being tipped as one of Netflix’s big awards contender this year.
“This unconventional love story resonated deeply with me and I’m excited to be bringing it to the screen with authenticity, sensitivity and humour,” she said.
“We are blown away by Sally’s spectacular work, and her ability to create colourful worlds and find joy in the most challenging situations,” said Styler, Rattray and Herd.
“It is a great honour to help her and James on their third collaboration, and to tell a story where love overcomes all barriers.”...
Oscar Nominee Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) is also on board as executive producer.
The feature is described as a cross-cultural romance set against a secretive subculture in London, revolving around a queer South Asian nightclub performer living a double life, and a young, single father who works as a mechanic. When their paths collide, a dramatic search for identity is sparked.
Actor James Krishna Floyd, who also wrote the screenplay, will co-direct with El Hosaini for their third collaboration.
“This is a very personal story for me with the themes of dual culture clash, sexuality, fatherhood and forbidden romance originating from my own experiences,” he said.
Ben Hardy will star as the single father with the casting search underway for an authentic, queer South Asian actor for the other. Renowned Gaysian performer Britain’s first out Muslim Drag Queen’ Asifa Lahore is the consultant and will also executive produce.
Sally El Hosaini’s first feature My Brother the Devil won prizes at Sundance, Berlin and the London Film Festival. Her hotly anticipated second feature The Swimmers is opening Toronto International Film Festival and is being tipped as one of Netflix’s big awards contender this year.
“This unconventional love story resonated deeply with me and I’m excited to be bringing it to the screen with authenticity, sensitivity and humour,” she said.
“We are blown away by Sally’s spectacular work, and her ability to create colourful worlds and find joy in the most challenging situations,” said Styler, Rattray and Herd.
“It is a great honour to help her and James on their third collaboration, and to tell a story where love overcomes all barriers.”...
- 8/4/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Sally El Hosaini’s Netflix movie The Swimmers will be making its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival as the opening-night film on September 8 at Roy Thomson Hall.
The pic, based on a true story, follows the journey of two young sisters who fled war-torn Syria as refugees and made their way to the 2016 Rio Olympics to compete in swimming.
Deadline told you Tuesday that CAA signed El Hosaini.
“I was deeply moved by the story of these two sisters and wowed by the storytelling,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. “The Swimmers was the very best kind of surprise when we saw it this summer — an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker. I’m thrilled that audiences in Toronto will be the first to discover Sally El Hosaini’s remarkable film, and that this year on our Opening Night we can honor everyone who risks everything to reach a better,...
The pic, based on a true story, follows the journey of two young sisters who fled war-torn Syria as refugees and made their way to the 2016 Rio Olympics to compete in swimming.
Deadline told you Tuesday that CAA signed El Hosaini.
“I was deeply moved by the story of these two sisters and wowed by the storytelling,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. “The Swimmers was the very best kind of surprise when we saw it this summer — an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker. I’m thrilled that audiences in Toronto will be the first to discover Sally El Hosaini’s remarkable film, and that this year on our Opening Night we can honor everyone who risks everything to reach a better,...
- 7/27/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Sally El Hosaini’s refugee drama “The Swimmers” will open the 47th Toronto International Film Festival.
The film follows the journey made by swimming sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini who fled as refugees from war-torn Syria all the way to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2015, after their house was destroyed in the Syrian Civil War, the Mardini sisters decided to flee the country. They made their way to Lebanon and then Turkey, where they arranged to be smuggled into Greece by dinghy. In the middle of the Aegean Sea, the motor of the dinghy, overcrowded with refugees, cut out, and the Mardini sisters and others who could swim, ensured the safety of the passengers.
The film is based on a screenplay by El Hosaini and BAFTA winner Jack Thorne (“Help”).
The roles of Yusra and Sarah Mardini are played by Lebanese sisters Manal and Nathalie Issa (“My Favourite Fabric”). Manal Issa...
The film follows the journey made by swimming sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini who fled as refugees from war-torn Syria all the way to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2015, after their house was destroyed in the Syrian Civil War, the Mardini sisters decided to flee the country. They made their way to Lebanon and then Turkey, where they arranged to be smuggled into Greece by dinghy. In the middle of the Aegean Sea, the motor of the dinghy, overcrowded with refugees, cut out, and the Mardini sisters and others who could swim, ensured the safety of the passengers.
The film is based on a screenplay by El Hosaini and BAFTA winner Jack Thorne (“Help”).
The roles of Yusra and Sarah Mardini are played by Lebanese sisters Manal and Nathalie Issa (“My Favourite Fabric”). Manal Issa...
- 7/27/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The 2022 Toronto International Film Festival lineup is coming further into focus, with the Opening Night selection now revealed.
Netflix and Working Title film “The Swimmers” is confirmed to open the 2022 festival on Thursday, September 8. “The Swimmers” follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics of two elite swimmers who are sisters and is written and directed by Sally El Hosaini and co-written by multi-award-winner Jack Thorne.
“I was deeply moved by the story of these two sisters and wowed by the storytelling,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a press statement. “‘The Swimmers’ was the very best kind of surprise when we saw it this summer — an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker. I’m thrilled that audiences in Toronto will be the first to discover Sally El Hosaini’s remarkable film, and that this year on our Opening Night we can honor everyone...
Netflix and Working Title film “The Swimmers” is confirmed to open the 2022 festival on Thursday, September 8. “The Swimmers” follows the journey from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics of two elite swimmers who are sisters and is written and directed by Sally El Hosaini and co-written by multi-award-winner Jack Thorne.
“I was deeply moved by the story of these two sisters and wowed by the storytelling,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a press statement. “‘The Swimmers’ was the very best kind of surprise when we saw it this summer — an exciting, epic journey and the arrival of an important filmmaker. I’m thrilled that audiences in Toronto will be the first to discover Sally El Hosaini’s remarkable film, and that this year on our Opening Night we can honor everyone...
- 7/27/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Click here to read the full article.
The Working Title and Netflix drama The Swimmers, about real-life sisters on an inspiring odyssey as refugees from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, will open the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 8 at Roy Thomson Hall.
Lebanese actresses and real-life sisters Manal and Nathalie Issa play sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini in the film from writer and director Sally El Hosaini, who co-wrote the script for The Swimmers with Enola Holmes scribe Jack Thorne.
The sisters, fleeing their home in Damascus, had to swim in choppy Mediterranean seas to reach the Greek island of Lesbos as asylum seekers before going on to compete in the pool at the Rio Olympic Games.
“I’m ecstatic. What an honor and privilege to open TIFF with the inspirational true-life story of the Mardini sisters. A city as multicultural and diverse as Toronto is the perfect place...
The Working Title and Netflix drama The Swimmers, about real-life sisters on an inspiring odyssey as refugees from war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, will open the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 8 at Roy Thomson Hall.
Lebanese actresses and real-life sisters Manal and Nathalie Issa play sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini in the film from writer and director Sally El Hosaini, who co-wrote the script for The Swimmers with Enola Holmes scribe Jack Thorne.
The sisters, fleeing their home in Damascus, had to swim in choppy Mediterranean seas to reach the Greek island of Lesbos as asylum seekers before going on to compete in the pool at the Rio Olympic Games.
“I’m ecstatic. What an honor and privilege to open TIFF with the inspirational true-life story of the Mardini sisters. A city as multicultural and diverse as Toronto is the perfect place...
- 7/27/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Filmmaker arrives with long-awaited follow-up to 2012’s ‘My Brother The Devil’.
Netflix and Working Title’s refugee drama The Swimmers from Sally El Hosaini will open the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), marking the streamer’s second opening-night slot of the upcoming fall festival season.
El Hosaini, a Screen Star of Tomorrow 2009 who makes her long-awaited follow-up to 2012 drama My Brother The Devil, co-wrote the screenplay with Jack Thorne based on a true story about two young sisters on a harrowing journey from war-torn Syria to compete as swimmers at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Manal Issa, Nathalie Issa, Ahmed Malek, Matthias Schweighöfer,...
Netflix and Working Title’s refugee drama The Swimmers from Sally El Hosaini will open the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), marking the streamer’s second opening-night slot of the upcoming fall festival season.
El Hosaini, a Screen Star of Tomorrow 2009 who makes her long-awaited follow-up to 2012 drama My Brother The Devil, co-wrote the screenplay with Jack Thorne based on a true story about two young sisters on a harrowing journey from war-torn Syria to compete as swimmers at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Manal Issa, Nathalie Issa, Ahmed Malek, Matthias Schweighöfer,...
- 7/27/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Sally El Hosaini’s “The Swimmers” has been chosen as the Opening Night Gala Presentation for the 47th Toronto International Film Festival.
Based on the true story of Yusra and Sarah Mardini, “The Swimmers” chronicles the journey of two sisters who flee Syria in the midst of war and eventually make it to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Also Read:
Harry Styles Romantic Drama ‘My Policeman’ to Make World Premiere at TIFF
In August 2015, the Mardini sisters were on the third leg of their journey, a boat trip from Turkey to Greece, when the overcrowded vessel began to sink. After more than three hours of swimming, they were able to propel the passengers to safety. Less than a year later, 18-year-old Yusra made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games, followed by the Tokyo Summer Games four years later.
Led by sisters Nathalie and Manal Issa as Yusra and Sarah, the Netflix...
Based on the true story of Yusra and Sarah Mardini, “The Swimmers” chronicles the journey of two sisters who flee Syria in the midst of war and eventually make it to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Also Read:
Harry Styles Romantic Drama ‘My Policeman’ to Make World Premiere at TIFF
In August 2015, the Mardini sisters were on the third leg of their journey, a boat trip from Turkey to Greece, when the overcrowded vessel began to sink. After more than three hours of swimming, they were able to propel the passengers to safety. Less than a year later, 18-year-old Yusra made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games, followed by the Tokyo Summer Games four years later.
Led by sisters Nathalie and Manal Issa as Yusra and Sarah, the Netflix...
- 7/27/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
To mark the release of The Good Karma Hospital Series 4 on 11th April, we’ve been given 1 copy to give away on DVD.
Ruby is still reeling following Gabriel’s (James Krishna Floyd – Of Kings and Prophets) shock departure. Struggling with an uncertain future, she makes some rash decisions – but must find an outlet for her rage before she loses control…
Series four sees the arrival of Frankie Martin (Raquel Cassidy – Downton Abbey) and her neurodiverse son Bobby (Connor Catchpole – Enola Holmes) who are visiting India, as well as two new docs – charismatic British Asian Dr Samir Hasan (Harki Bhambra – Call the Midwife) and Dr Nikita ‘Niki’ Sharma (Rebecca Ablack – Ginny & Georgia), a privileged and headstrong young doctor who is determined to get a taste of real life, working in a community hospital.
As with all families, this medical family has their ups and downs, yet they are bound by...
Ruby is still reeling following Gabriel’s (James Krishna Floyd – Of Kings and Prophets) shock departure. Struggling with an uncertain future, she makes some rash decisions – but must find an outlet for her rage before she loses control…
Series four sees the arrival of Frankie Martin (Raquel Cassidy – Downton Abbey) and her neurodiverse son Bobby (Connor Catchpole – Enola Holmes) who are visiting India, as well as two new docs – charismatic British Asian Dr Samir Hasan (Harki Bhambra – Call the Midwife) and Dr Nikita ‘Niki’ Sharma (Rebecca Ablack – Ginny & Georgia), a privileged and headstrong young doctor who is determined to get a taste of real life, working in a community hospital.
As with all families, this medical family has their ups and downs, yet they are bound by...
- 4/1/2022
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Screen has spoken to Bafta as well as a cross-section of individuals from the film sector to discuss how the industry can move forward.
The UK film and TV industry has been rocked by the allegations of abuse levelled at actor and filmmaker Noel Clarke published in The Guardian on April 29. Clarke has been accused of abuse by 20 people with allegations including groping, harassment and bullying.
Clarke has “vehemently” denied all the allegations put to him, except one regarding inappropriate comments to a woman.
Screen has spoken to a cross-section of individuals from the film sector to discuss how the...
The UK film and TV industry has been rocked by the allegations of abuse levelled at actor and filmmaker Noel Clarke published in The Guardian on April 29. Clarke has been accused of abuse by 20 people with allegations including groping, harassment and bullying.
Clarke has “vehemently” denied all the allegations put to him, except one regarding inappropriate comments to a woman.
Screen has spoken to a cross-section of individuals from the film sector to discuss how the...
- 5/11/2021
- by Ben Dalton¬Louise Tutt¬Matt Mueller
- ScreenDaily
Members of the U.K. film and TV industry are calling for an overhaul of on-set safety measures and a “recalibration” of how to protect survivors of abuse following reports of multiple allegations of sexual harassment and bullying against Noel Clarke during his decades-long career as an actor, writer and producer.
Since The Guardian released its investigation into the star, best known for his roles in “Doctor Who” and “Bulletproof,” as well as creating “The Hood” film trilogy, 26 people have come forward with accusations against him. Clarke has categorically denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing, but released a statement apologizing for some of his actions.
The revelations have emboldened industry insiders to speak out about a culture that has allowed professional misconduct to continue, even after the Time’s Up movement swept the film and TV world four years ago with the #MeToo reckoning sparked by the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Since The Guardian released its investigation into the star, best known for his roles in “Doctor Who” and “Bulletproof,” as well as creating “The Hood” film trilogy, 26 people have come forward with accusations against him. Clarke has categorically denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing, but released a statement apologizing for some of his actions.
The revelations have emboldened industry insiders to speak out about a culture that has allowed professional misconduct to continue, even after the Time’s Up movement swept the film and TV world four years ago with the #MeToo reckoning sparked by the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
- 5/4/2021
- by Hanna Flint
- Variety Film + TV
It has been an eye-opening 24 hours for the U.K. film and TV industries as the fall-out continues from bombshell sexual misconduct and harassment allegations against British actor Noel Clarke. (Check out Variety’s explainer about Clarke and his career to date.)
In the course of just one day, the 45-year-old actor-producer has been dropped from his management and suspended by BAFTA; production on the latest season of his police procedural show “Bulletproof” has been halted; U.S. network The CW has cut ties with the series; and his co-star and close friend Ashley Walters has spoken out against him.
All3Media, the super-indie backers of Clarke’s production company Unstoppable Film and Television, has also suspended the actor and his business partner Jason Maza. As revealed exclusively by Variety, All3Media opened a probe into Clarke’s activities with Unstoppable on Thursday, just hours after the allegations were first published by The Guardian.
In the course of just one day, the 45-year-old actor-producer has been dropped from his management and suspended by BAFTA; production on the latest season of his police procedural show “Bulletproof” has been halted; U.S. network The CW has cut ties with the series; and his co-star and close friend Ashley Walters has spoken out against him.
All3Media, the super-indie backers of Clarke’s production company Unstoppable Film and Television, has also suspended the actor and his business partner Jason Maza. As revealed exclusively by Variety, All3Media opened a probe into Clarke’s activities with Unstoppable on Thursday, just hours after the allegations were first published by The Guardian.
- 4/30/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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