News

Exclusive: Tracee Ellis Ross (American Fiction) is in production in New York City on Blow the Horn, an indie psychological drama marking the first narrative feature from writer-director Nacho Arenas.

The project is an adaptation of Bajo Terapia, the acclaimed Argentinian play by Matias del Federico, which has previously been adapted by Spanish filmmaker Gerado Herrero. Others in the cast include Wrenn Schmidt (For All Mankind), Dallas Roberts (Monsters), Joshua Boone (A Jazzman’s Blues), Ken Leung (Industry), and Lake Bell (Mother Couch).

Set in contemporary New York, the story follows three couples summoned to a group therapy session with their psychologist, where personal secrets and simmering tensions are exposed. The plot takes a strange turn when the hot shot therapist unexpectedly fails to show up, leaving the couples to confront their issues without guidance.

“I was immediately captivated by Matias’ play the moment I read it and adapting it for...

Exclusive: Labid Aziz’s People of Culture Studios has entered into a joint venture with Adel Nur’s management and production company Atomik Content to co-manage talent and develop, produce and distribute features, TV series and hybrid projects with a focus on elevated action films.

The first talent signed through the Jv is Professional Fighters League Founder & President Ray Sefo, who will work with other Mma fighters and Hollywood talent to create and develop ensemble and elevated action-thrillers in the sub-15M budget range.

Ray Sefo

Sefo is a semi-retired New Zealand kickboxer, boxer, mixed martial artist, fight promoter and actor who founded the mixed martial arts league Pfl in 2018. The six-time Muay Thai World Champion and eight-time K-1 World Grand Prix Finals tournament participant has been acting since 1995 and made his professional wrestling debut at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2012 in Japan, where he and his tag team partner Hiromi Amada were...

Veteran character actor David Dastmalchian, who you'll recognize from Ant-Man and The Dark Knight, co-stars and writes All Creatures Here Below. The film is a deeply affecting, slow burn indie drama about a poor couple on the edge of society. They make several bad decisions and pay a terrible price for their mistakes. It is a dark journey filled with dread and foreboding. The climax will have you reeling. All Creatures Here Below certainly leaves an impression.

The film opens with Ruby (Karen Gillan) collecting plastic bottles. She wears overalls, a fanny pack, has dirty shoes and fingernails. Her eyes are wide. Her countenance simple. We then meet her boyfriend, Gensen (David Dastmalchian). Close cropped hair, tattooed, he attempts to walk with a tough guy swagger, but has a troubled look on his face. The couple live in a tiny room with a mattress on the floor. Gensen brings Ruby...

Exclusive: Samuel Goldwyn Films has taken U.S. rights to Collin Schiffli’s dramatic thriller All Creatures Here Below which stars Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Karen Gillan, Bird Box’s David Dastmalchian and Once Upon a Time‘s Jennifer Morrison. The film is having its international premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival later this month and is slated for a day and date release this spring. Bleiberg Entertainment is handling worldwide sales on the film.

In the pic, Gensan (Dastmalchian) and Ruby (Gillan) struggle to thrive in the face of abject poverty. When Gensan loses his job and gambles his last pay check, he sets in motion a series of events with dire consequences. Little does he know, Ruby has taken the one thing she’s always yearned to possess – a child of their own. Racing across the country with the infant, they seek refuge in their hometown of Kansas City,...

The new trailer for the indie drama All Creatures Here Below gives us the first look at actors Karen Gillan and David Dastmalchian, a young couple that is on the run after an impulsive crime.

Gillan and Dastmalchian, who are both members of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, show a different side of their acting chops as the aforementioned young couple. Gensan (Dastmalchian) and Ruby (Gillan) struggle to thrive in the face of abject poverty. When Gensan loses his job and is forced to break the law they escape and seek refuge in Kansas City, a place Ruby’s deeply afraid of. Ruby’s indelible choices, and desire to make a family, complicate their journey to freedom.

The film also stars Jennifer Morrison, John Doe, Richard Cabral, and David Koechner. Amy Greene, Chris Stinson and Nacho Arenas serve as producers.

The statistics are staggering. The horror stories are too numerous to comprehend.

Children who wind up in the nation’s foster-care system face a much higher risk of experiencing physical and emotional traumas, from homelessness to substance abuse to suicide.

But there is no more powerful tool to raise awareness of the needs of children and youth who are in need of foster-care services than a testimonial from one who has been in their shoes. And there is no more meaningful way to instill hope than the story of a person who not only survived but has thrived in his adult life.

That’s where Scott Koondel comes in. Koondel, CBS Corp.’s chief content licensing officer and senior VP, endured years of substandard and abusive foster-care homes before striking out on his own as a young teenager in New York City. Today, Koondel is a successful business executive, husband and father of four.

Exclusive: Bleiberg Entertainment has boarded world rights to Karen Gillan-starrer All Creatures Here Below. A dramatic thriller, it reteams director Collin Schiffli and writer David Dastmalchian who were behind 2014 SXSW Special Jury Prize winner Animals. Bleiberg will screen the first footage to buyers in Cannes. The film is currently in post-production.

The story follows a young couple living on the fringes of La society. An impulsive crime sets them on the run from the police and on a trajectory that will forever change their lives.

Gillan is currently in theaters with blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War and is coming off another box office hit, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. Dastmalchian (Blade Runner 2049) also stars and is next up in Ant-Man And The Wasp.

Supporting cast includes Jennifer Morrison (Assassination Nation), David Koechner (Anchorman), Richard Cabral (Breaking In) and John Doe (Boogie Nights).

Planeo Films’ Nacho Arenas produces along with Amy Greene and Chris Stinson of Live Free or Die Films (Woodshock). Greene and Stinson will be in Cannes in support of Debra Granik’s Leave No Trace, which has a berth in Directors’ Fortnight.

Planeo is currently developing Uncommon about the unbreakable bond between the youngest professional athlete to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s and his two-year-old daughter. Bleiberg’s Cannes slate includes Martin Campbell adventure film Treasure Of The 40 Thieves and Pierce Brosnan-starrerr Across The River And Into The Trees.

Exclusive: Actor-writer David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man, The Dark Knight) has been set to play the male lead in All Creatures Here Below, a movie he also scripted. Collin Schiffli, who teamed with Dastmalchian on their 2014 SXSW pic Animals, has been tapped to direct. A summer shoot is planned. The new pic tells the story of a desperate young couple on the run who seek refuge in Kansas City. Amy Greene is producing with Chris Stinson as well as Planeo Films’ Nacho Arenas…...