Russian-Kazakh multi-hyphenate Timur Bekmambetov has teamed up with MarVista Entertainment, Endeavor Content and Pulsar Content on a slate of feature films in his pioneering Screenlife format that will be presented to buyers at the TIFF market.
Bekmambetov told Variety during the Toronto Film Festival, that the rapid growth, critical recognition and box-office success of Screenlife films – which take place almost entirely on smartphones and computer screens – prove the format is “more than just a gimmick.”
“It is the first time the presence of Screenlife movies at a major film market is so prominent,” he said. “Just a few years ago, film festivals and industry events used to have only one or two [Screenlife] pictures in the program or in the sales slate, but now it’s already multiple studios and distributors producing and promoting dozens of movies set on a computer or a smartphone screen.”
Two of the six titles Bekmambetov...
Bekmambetov told Variety during the Toronto Film Festival, that the rapid growth, critical recognition and box-office success of Screenlife films – which take place almost entirely on smartphones and computer screens – prove the format is “more than just a gimmick.”
“It is the first time the presence of Screenlife movies at a major film market is so prominent,” he said. “Just a few years ago, film festivals and industry events used to have only one or two [Screenlife] pictures in the program or in the sales slate, but now it’s already multiple studios and distributors producing and promoting dozens of movies set on a computer or a smartphone screen.”
Two of the six titles Bekmambetov...
- 9/14/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Kazakh-Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov’s thriller “Profile” has been completed since 2018, when it was released at the Berlin International Film Festival. But the latest film from the director of “Night Watch,” “Wanted,” and the notorious 2016 remake of “Ben Hur” is only just now getting a theatrical release — on May 14 from Focus Features. Watch the U.S. trailer for the film below.
“Profile” follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself. The thriller is co-led by Valene Kane (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) and Shazad Latif (“Star Trek: Discovery”). “Profile” is inspired by the 2015 nonfiction bestseller “In the Skin of a Jihadist” by a French journalist who now has round-the-clock police protection and has changed her name to Anna Érelle.
Much like the Bekmambetov-produced horror movie “Unfriended,...
“Profile” follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself. The thriller is co-led by Valene Kane (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) and Shazad Latif (“Star Trek: Discovery”). “Profile” is inspired by the 2015 nonfiction bestseller “In the Skin of a Jihadist” by a French journalist who now has round-the-clock police protection and has changed her name to Anna Érelle.
Much like the Bekmambetov-produced horror movie “Unfriended,...
- 4/5/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
After producing Unfriended, Unfriended: Dark Web, and Searching, filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) has directed the new computer screen Pov thriller Profile (using Bekmambetov's Screenlife filmmaking format), which has been acquired by Focus Features and slated for a May 14th release.
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA March 23, 2020 – Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to the thriller Profile, a Berlin Film Festival sensation from Timur Bekmambetov, the director behind the intense Angelina Jolie-led thriller Wanted. Focus Features will distribute the film domestically and has set a release date of Friday, May 14, 2021. Universal Pictures will distribute internationally, excluding Cis/Russia. The sale was negotiated by WME.
Profile follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself. The thriller is co-led by Valene Kane (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story...
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA March 23, 2020 – Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to the thriller Profile, a Berlin Film Festival sensation from Timur Bekmambetov, the director behind the intense Angelina Jolie-led thriller Wanted. Focus Features will distribute the film domestically and has set a release date of Friday, May 14, 2021. Universal Pictures will distribute internationally, excluding Cis/Russia. The sale was negotiated by WME.
Profile follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself. The thriller is co-led by Valene Kane (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story...
- 3/23/2021
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Focus Features has taken global rights to Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov’s thriller Profile, which made its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in 2018 and won the Audience Award there. A theatrical release date of May 14 has been set. Universal Pictures will distribute internationally, excluding Cis/Russia.
Profile follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself. Profile stars Valene Kane (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) and is inspired by the 2015 nonfiction bestseller In the Skin of a Jihadist by a French journalist who now has round-the-clock police protection and has changed her name to Anna Érelle.
Profile plays out entirely on a computer screen in the Screenlife format, pioneered by Bekmambetov. It was written...
Profile follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself. Profile stars Valene Kane (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) and is inspired by the 2015 nonfiction bestseller In the Skin of a Jihadist by a French journalist who now has round-the-clock police protection and has changed her name to Anna Érelle.
Profile plays out entirely on a computer screen in the Screenlife format, pioneered by Bekmambetov. It was written...
- 3/23/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Timur Bekmambetov’s thriller “Profile,” which made waves at Berlin in 2018 for being seen entirely through a computer screen, has landed worldwide distribution from Focus Features.
Focus will release “Profile” in theaters domestically on May 14, 2021, while Universal Pictures will distribute internationally, excluding Cis/Russia.
“Profile” was shot using the Screenlife format, a platform pioneered by Bekmambetov that allows for the action to play out through webcams, computer screens, smartphones and social media windows. The technology has recently become more common in films like the horror movie “Unfriended” and the thriller “Searching” starring John Cho. Most recently, Bekmambetov was a producer on “R#J,” a new take on “Romeo & Juliet” for the TikTok era that also used Screenlife and premiered at Sundance.
The story of “Profile” follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in...
Focus will release “Profile” in theaters domestically on May 14, 2021, while Universal Pictures will distribute internationally, excluding Cis/Russia.
“Profile” was shot using the Screenlife format, a platform pioneered by Bekmambetov that allows for the action to play out through webcams, computer screens, smartphones and social media windows. The technology has recently become more common in films like the horror movie “Unfriended” and the thriller “Searching” starring John Cho. Most recently, Bekmambetov was a producer on “R#J,” a new take on “Romeo & Juliet” for the TikTok era that also used Screenlife and premiered at Sundance.
The story of “Profile” follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in...
- 3/23/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Thriller inspired by2015 non-fiction French bestseller In The Skin Of A Jihadist.
Focus Features has picked up worldwide rights to Timur Bekmambetov’s thriller Profile, the 2018 Berlinale Panorama selection about a UK journalist who infiltrates an Isis cell.
Focus negotiated the deal with Endeavor Content and will release the film in the US on May 14, with Universal Pictures distributing internationally outside Cis/Russia.
Valene Kane stars as the reporter and Shazad Latif plays the recruiter she tries to expose on social media while trying to avoid getting sucked into a life as a militant extremist.
The thriller was inspired by...
Focus Features has picked up worldwide rights to Timur Bekmambetov’s thriller Profile, the 2018 Berlinale Panorama selection about a UK journalist who infiltrates an Isis cell.
Focus negotiated the deal with Endeavor Content and will release the film in the US on May 14, with Universal Pictures distributing internationally outside Cis/Russia.
Valene Kane stars as the reporter and Shazad Latif plays the recruiter she tries to expose on social media while trying to avoid getting sucked into a life as a militant extremist.
The thriller was inspired by...
- 3/23/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” has long endured as one of the written word’s greatest love stories, but what’s often forgotten among the “star-crossed lovers” and the dumb rage of familial feuds is just how nutty hormone-addled teenagers can be. It was true in the 16th century when The Bard committed its story to paper — based on a number of earlier tales — and then the stage; it was true when Franco Zeffirelli made his 1968 film, and when Baz Luhrmann updated it in 1996; and it’s certainly true in 2021.
For the latest — and, given the ways teenagers interact these days, wholly inevitable — adaptation, filmmaker Williams’ “R#J” joins a growing cadre of “screen films,” this one bolstered by the producing and technological talents of Timur Bekmambetov and Igor Tsay’s Screenlife platform, which aims to build the best screen-set films in a market beset by them.
The screen elements of “R#J,...
For the latest — and, given the ways teenagers interact these days, wholly inevitable — adaptation, filmmaker Williams’ “R#J” joins a growing cadre of “screen films,” this one bolstered by the producing and technological talents of Timur Bekmambetov and Igor Tsay’s Screenlife platform, which aims to build the best screen-set films in a market beset by them.
The screen elements of “R#J,...
- 1/31/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Pierson Fodé (Naomi & Ely’s No Kiss List) has been cast in Sony’s Patrick Hughes-directed action-comedy Man From Toronto, starring Kevin Hart, Woody Harrelson, and Kaley Cuoco. Written by Robbie Fox and Chris Bremner, from a story by Fox and Jason Blumenthal, the film follows the world’s deadliest assassin, known as “The Man from Toronto” and a man named Teddy who is described as “New York’s biggest screw-up.” The two run into each other in a rented Airbnb and are forced to team up and save the day. Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Blumenthal, and Oscar winner Steve Tisch are producing with Bill Bannerman serving as executive producer. Fodé, who will next be seen in Reboot Camp, is repped by Innovative, Strategic, Zero Gravity and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.
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Milo Gibsonwill co-lead opposite Annet Mahendru in the indie film Manifest West from Wolf Haus Productions.
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Milo Gibsonwill co-lead opposite Annet Mahendru in the indie film Manifest West from Wolf Haus Productions.
- 5/11/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Diego Tinoco, best known for the Netflix series, On My Block, and Siddiq Saunderson of Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, will co-star In R#J, a modern-day adaptation of the Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet from producers Timur Bekmambetov and Igor Tsay. Carey Williams is directing the film from a script he co-wrote with Rickie Castaneda.
Tinoco will take on the role of Tybalt. Saunderson is Mercutio. Additional cast includes Camaron Engels (Malibu Rescue) as Romeo, Francesca Noel (Selah and the Spades) as Juliet, and Rj Cyler (Power Rangers) as Benvolio.
More from DeadlineTimur Bekmambetov Vertical Movie 'V2. Escape from Hell' To Use Remote Filming Methods During Coronavirus Crisis'Searching' Producer Timur Bekmambetov To Shoot World's First Vertical Format BlockbusterAlfonso Gomez-Rejon On His Second Chance & Erasing Harvey Weinstein's 'The Current War' Cut & Rotten Tomatoes Score
This marks the first project under Bekmambetov and Tsay’s newly-launched Interface Films banner.
Tinoco will take on the role of Tybalt. Saunderson is Mercutio. Additional cast includes Camaron Engels (Malibu Rescue) as Romeo, Francesca Noel (Selah and the Spades) as Juliet, and Rj Cyler (Power Rangers) as Benvolio.
More from DeadlineTimur Bekmambetov Vertical Movie 'V2. Escape from Hell' To Use Remote Filming Methods During Coronavirus Crisis'Searching' Producer Timur Bekmambetov To Shoot World's First Vertical Format BlockbusterAlfonso Gomez-Rejon On His Second Chance & Erasing Harvey Weinstein's 'The Current War' Cut & Rotten Tomatoes Score
This marks the first project under Bekmambetov and Tsay’s newly-launched Interface Films banner.
- 4/20/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Camaron Engels, best known for Netflix teen show “Malibu Rescue,” and cast in the streamer’s upcoming series “Clickbait,” is to play Romeo in a new film adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet,” produced by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov and Igor Tsay, whose movie “Searching” raked in $75 million.
The project, with the working title “R#J,” is directed by Carey Williams, who won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018 for his short “Emergency.” Francesca Noel, who appeared in the Sundance Labs film “Selah and the Spades,” will play Juliet.
“I’m thrilled to be presenting a timeless classic in a never before seen fashion, and giving people of color an opportunity to see themselves onscreen in these iconic roles. There have been many versions of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ but there’s never been one quite like this,” Williams said.
Variety has been given exclusive images from the production,...
The project, with the working title “R#J,” is directed by Carey Williams, who won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018 for his short “Emergency.” Francesca Noel, who appeared in the Sundance Labs film “Selah and the Spades,” will play Juliet.
“I’m thrilled to be presenting a timeless classic in a never before seen fashion, and giving people of color an opportunity to see themselves onscreen in these iconic roles. There have been many versions of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ but there’s never been one quite like this,” Williams said.
Variety has been given exclusive images from the production,...
- 4/7/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Jordan Rubin will ring in 2019 by returning to the big screen with The Drone, the follow-up to his 2014 cult horror comedy Zombeavers about a weekend lake-cabin outing fantastically undone by undead Castor canadensis. Deadline has the exclusive teaser trailer for The Drone to start your new year off right.
The new pic, which as you will have hoped is directly in Zombeaver‘s loopy flight path, revolves around a drone that has become sentient with the consciousness of a deranged serial killer. It then flies off to terrorize newlyweds Rachel (Alex Essoe) and Chris (John Brotherton), who must fight to stop the insidious device before it destroys them both. Anita Briem, Neil Sandilands, Rex Linn, Simon Rex, Sam Adegoke and Christopher Matthew Cook co-star.
Rubin returns to direct, and he reteamed with his Zombeavers co-scribes Al and Jon Kaplan on the script, which judging by the trailer features plenty of bikini and shower scenes,...
The new pic, which as you will have hoped is directly in Zombeaver‘s loopy flight path, revolves around a drone that has become sentient with the consciousness of a deranged serial killer. It then flies off to terrorize newlyweds Rachel (Alex Essoe) and Chris (John Brotherton), who must fight to stop the insidious device before it destroys them both. Anita Briem, Neil Sandilands, Rex Linn, Simon Rex, Sam Adegoke and Christopher Matthew Cook co-star.
Rubin returns to direct, and he reteamed with his Zombeavers co-scribes Al and Jon Kaplan on the script, which judging by the trailer features plenty of bikini and shower scenes,...
- 1/1/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
"No one is lost without a trace." We've been excited for Daily Dead readers to see Aneesh Chaganty's new movie Searching since Heather Wixson called it an "innovative, gripping, and tension-fueled thriller" in her four-star review. If you missed Searching in theaters, you can still uncover the movie's mystery, because Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing the John Cho-starring film on Blu-ray and DVD beginning November 27th, following its digital release on November 13th:
Press Release: Culver City, Calif. – Dive deep into the virtual world of social media with a mystery-thriller for the digital age, Searching, debuting on Digital and redeemable via the Movies Anywhere App. on November 13, coming to Blu-ray™ and DVD November 27 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. A unique take on society’s pervasive use of technology, Searching is the feature film debut for writer-director Aneesh Chaganty, and writer-producer Sev Ohanian. Chaganty and Ohanian’s script...
Press Release: Culver City, Calif. – Dive deep into the virtual world of social media with a mystery-thriller for the digital age, Searching, debuting on Digital and redeemable via the Movies Anywhere App. on November 13, coming to Blu-ray™ and DVD November 27 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. A unique take on society’s pervasive use of technology, Searching is the feature film debut for writer-director Aneesh Chaganty, and writer-producer Sev Ohanian. Chaganty and Ohanian’s script...
- 10/25/2018
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Culver City, Calif. – Dive deep into the virtual world of social media with a mystery-thriller for the digital age, Searching, debuting on Digital and redeemable via the Movies Anywhere App. on November 13, coming to Blu-ray and DVD November 27 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. A unique take on society’s pervasive use of technology, Searching is the feature film debut for writer-director Aneesh Chaganty, and writer-producer Sev Ohanian. Chaganty and Ohanian’s script constructs a new form of cinema inspired by the connection between parent and child in the Internet age. Stopping at no lengths to find his missing daughter, a determined father, played by John Cho, explores her social media accounts, emails, pictures, videos and more to aid in the police investigation. Cho is joined by an impressive cast including Emmy Award® winner Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Joseph Lee (“NCIS: Los Angeles”) and Michelle La in her feature film debut.
- 10/17/2018
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
The first trailer for Sony’s “Searching” has been released, and in it, a father searches for his missing daughter with help from the contents of her laptop.
Chaganty’s feature directorial debut, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, stars John Cho and Debra Messing. Sony Worldwide Acquisitions picked up the film in January.
The film follows David (Cho), a father who searches for his missing teenage daughter and uses her online platform on her computer for help. The audience sees everything unfold on screen, whether it’s a smart phone or a computer.
Also Read: John Cho, Debra Messing Thriller 'Search' Sells to Sony Worldwide for $5 Million
The film was produced by Timur Bekmambetov, Ohanian, Adam Sidman and Natalie Qasabian. Ana Liza Muravina, Maria Zatulovskaya and Igor Tsay are executive producers.
Chaganty, who co-wrote the script with Sev Ohanian, became an internet sensation for creating a 2-minute short film, a Google Glass spot titled “Seeds.” The film garnered more than 1 million YouTube views in 24 hours.
Also Read: Sony Classics Picks Up Lebanese Director Nadine Labaki's 'Capernaum'
“Searching” will debut this summer. So far, it holds a score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch the trailer above.
Read original story John Cho Hunts for Missing Daughter in Suspenseful First Trailer for ‘Searching’ (Video) At TheWrap...
Chaganty’s feature directorial debut, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, stars John Cho and Debra Messing. Sony Worldwide Acquisitions picked up the film in January.
The film follows David (Cho), a father who searches for his missing teenage daughter and uses her online platform on her computer for help. The audience sees everything unfold on screen, whether it’s a smart phone or a computer.
Also Read: John Cho, Debra Messing Thriller 'Search' Sells to Sony Worldwide for $5 Million
The film was produced by Timur Bekmambetov, Ohanian, Adam Sidman and Natalie Qasabian. Ana Liza Muravina, Maria Zatulovskaya and Igor Tsay are executive producers.
Chaganty, who co-wrote the script with Sev Ohanian, became an internet sensation for creating a 2-minute short film, a Google Glass spot titled “Seeds.” The film garnered more than 1 million YouTube views in 24 hours.
Also Read: Sony Classics Picks Up Lebanese Director Nadine Labaki's 'Capernaum'
“Searching” will debut this summer. So far, it holds a score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch the trailer above.
Read original story John Cho Hunts for Missing Daughter in Suspenseful First Trailer for ‘Searching’ (Video) At TheWrap...
- 5/10/2018
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
John Cho starrer is recipient of Alfred P. Sloan Film Prize.
In its third deal to be announced in Park City, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Spwa) is understood to have paid $5m for the world on Aneesh Chaganty’s thriller Search starring John Cho.
The deal closed in the early hours of Monday morning (January 22) after the Next selection and Alfred P. Sloan Film Prize recipient premiered on Sunday evening.
Cho plays a man in touch with his high school daughter via social media and messaging who believes the girl has gone missing when she does not reply to a series of texts.
Teaming up with a detective in the real world, the father navigates the internet in a bid to find his daughter. Debra Messing also stars.
Chaganty wrote the screenplay with Sev Ohanian. Timur Bekmambetov and Ohanian of Bazelevs produced alongside, Adam Sidman and Natalie Qasabian produced, and Ana Liza Muravina, Maria Zatulovskaya, and Igor Tsay...
In its third deal to be announced in Park City, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Spwa) is understood to have paid $5m for the world on Aneesh Chaganty’s thriller Search starring John Cho.
The deal closed in the early hours of Monday morning (January 22) after the Next selection and Alfred P. Sloan Film Prize recipient premiered on Sunday evening.
Cho plays a man in touch with his high school daughter via social media and messaging who believes the girl has gone missing when she does not reply to a series of texts.
Teaming up with a detective in the real world, the father navigates the internet in a bid to find his daughter. Debra Messing also stars.
Chaganty wrote the screenplay with Sev Ohanian. Timur Bekmambetov and Ohanian of Bazelevs produced alongside, Adam Sidman and Natalie Qasabian produced, and Ana Liza Muravina, Maria Zatulovskaya, and Igor Tsay...
- 1/22/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
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