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Dubai-based sales company Mad World has taken global rights to feminist drama “The Wound,” which marks the directorial debut of Morocco’s Seloua El Gouni, who has experience as a production manager on Hollywood titles such as “A Hologram for the King” and “Men in Black: International.”

“The Wound” (“La Plaie”) stars rising Arab talent Oumaïma Barid, who gained global notice in Sofia Alaoui’s 2023 Sundance title “Animalia.” Barid plays a young woman named Leila who is trying to pursue her passions and ambitions while contending with Morocco’s societal constraints and becomes pregnant in an extramarital love affair.

The promising drama’s Moroccan A-list cast also comprises rising star Brice Bexter; Amal Ayouch (“Eye on Juliet”); Mansour Badri (“Ghosts of Beirut”); Soraya Azzabi (“Billie’s Magic World”); Abdelhak Saleh (“Hounds”); and Sami Fekkak (“Testament: Story of Moses”).

“The Wound” is being produced by El Gouni and Taha Benghalem through their Marrakech-based company Pink Sheep Productions,...

Stars: Gary Dourdan, Serinda Swan, Andy Garcia, Brice Bexter, Ernie Hudson, Martin Donovan, Robert Knepper, Samy Naceri, Don B Gig, Joey Footlik, Lilia Hajji, Joe Drago | Written by Sam Chouia, Hicham Hajji, Lemore Syvan | Directed by Hicham Hajji

When the love of his life is kidnapped and held for ransom by terrorists, war hero Brad Paxton (Gary Dourdan) races against the clock to rescue her in a daring and deadly operation that pits him against terrorists and clandestine powerful forces.

Yes, you’ve guessed it. Redemption Day is Taken in the desert… Well it would be if this film actually featured more than 10 minutes of action in its entire running time! For Redemption Day does that most heinous of crimes – be an action movie with no action.

Of course many will say this Isn’T an action movie, more a political drama about the current tension in the Middle East – throwing in Isis,...

If “Redemption Day” were any more generic, the first thing you’d see on screen would be a bar code in place of the opening credits. It’s the handiwork of first-time feature filmmaker Hicham Hajji, making his directorial debut after years of assistant-directing gigs for Hollywood and homegrown productions in his native Morocco. And the best thing to say to say about it is, it’s certainly no worse than most other run-of-the-mill, run-and-gun action-adventures that used to proliferate on Blockbuster store shelves and which now feed the seemingly insatiable demand for VOD fare. Trouble is, it’s no better, either.

Gary Dourdan of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” fame offers the requisite displays of formidable physicality and authoritative intensity in the lead role of Brad Paxton, a U.S. Marine captain who’s hailed as a hero for his courage under fire during a roadside attack on a humanitarian mission in Syria,...

Arab Stars of Tomorrow spotlights six talents from the Middle East and North Africa who are making their mark on the global stage.

In our fourth edition of Arab Stars of Tomorrow, Screen International celebrates six of the most exciting talents to emerge this year from the Middle East and North Africa. Egyptian director Sameh Alaa, Palestinian-Jordanian actress Tara Abboud, Saudi director Hana Al Omair, Lebanese actress Stephanie Atala, Moroccan actor Brice Bexter El Glaoui and Algerian actor Mehdi Ramdani are the breakout names of 2020.

Click on the links below to read the profiles of this year’s stars, and...

Redemption Day Trailer — Hicham Hajji‘s Redemption Day (2021) movie trailer has been released by Saban Films and stars Gary Dourdan, Serinda Swan, Andy Garcia, Ernie Hudson, Martin Donovan, Samy Naceri, Brice Bexter, Joe Drago, Brahim Rachiki, Jay Footlik, and Robert Knepper. Crew Sam Chouia, Hicham Hajji, and Lemore Syvan wrote the screenplay for Redemption Day. [...]

Continue reading: Redemption Day (2021) Movie Trailer: U.S. Marine Captain Gary Dourdan travels to Morocco to Rescue His Wife...

Voltage Pictures unveiled the first look at its political-action drama “Redemption Day,” starring Andy Garcia, Gary Dourdan and Serinda Swan and set in Morocco.

In the Moroccan-set film, Dourdan portrays a Us. Marine Captain on a rescue mission to save his wife (Swan) when she is kidnapped by a terrorist group leader (Samy Naceri). Garcia is playing the American Ambassador in Morocco and Brice Bexter is portraying a Moroccan counter-terrorisim agent. The ambassador will have to go against the maneuvers of his own government and a mysterious powerful man who will undermine his mission.

“Redemption Day” also stars Ernie Hudson, Martin Donovan, Samy Naceri and Brice Bexter. It marks the feature film and directorial debut for Hicham Hajji, the first-ever Moroccan/Arab to write, produce and direct a major Hollywood feature film.

The film is heading for the Berlin Film Market, where Voltage Pictures will handle worldwide sales. Hajji is producing through his H Films.