Turin-based script development organisation TorinoFilmLab (Tfl) has unveiled the first projects and participants for ComedyLab, its new annual programme for developing feature film comedies.
ComedyLab pairs directors and scriptwriters with comedians to help develop comedy feature film projects. From 89 applications, ComedyLab has selected four projects and will pair them with four writers/comedians.
The four projects are: Bootleg by writer/director Reem Morsi (Egypt); Honeyjoon by writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel (USA); The Last Queen by writer/director Stefano La Rosa (Italy) together with the co-writer/director Luca Renucci (Italy); and Midlife by writer/director Alex Sobolev (Ukraine).
They will...
ComedyLab pairs directors and scriptwriters with comedians to help develop comedy feature film projects. From 89 applications, ComedyLab has selected four projects and will pair them with four writers/comedians.
The four projects are: Bootleg by writer/director Reem Morsi (Egypt); Honeyjoon by writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel (USA); The Last Queen by writer/director Stefano La Rosa (Italy) together with the co-writer/director Luca Renucci (Italy); and Midlife by writer/director Alex Sobolev (Ukraine).
They will...
- 3/28/2024
- ScreenDaily
Montreal-based company represents worldwide rights excluding Canada on both titles.
Montreal-based Sphere Films has added two completed features to its Cannes line-up and will launch sales on the Croisette later this month on Queen Tut and Red Rooms.
Reem Morsi (The Last Mark) directed Queen Tut, which stars Alexandra Billings from Transparent in the story of an Egyptian teenager who leaves Cairo when his mother dies and lands in the underground queer nightlife scene in Toronto where he confronts his mother’s death by becoming a drag artist – much to his father’s disapproval.
The Canadian drama is in English...
Montreal-based Sphere Films has added two completed features to its Cannes line-up and will launch sales on the Croisette later this month on Queen Tut and Red Rooms.
Reem Morsi (The Last Mark) directed Queen Tut, which stars Alexandra Billings from Transparent in the story of an Egyptian teenager who leaves Cairo when his mother dies and lands in the underground queer nightlife scene in Toronto where he confronts his mother’s death by becoming a drag artist – much to his father’s disapproval.
The Canadian drama is in English...
- 5/3/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
"Transparent" alum Alexandra Billings has announced her next project: she'll be executive producing and starring in "Queen Tut," a new indie feature following a queer Egyptian teenager who befriends a trans mother in Toronto.
The film will be directed by Egyptian Canadian filmmaker Reem Morsi, and the script is written by Bryan Mark, Kaveh Mohebbi, and Abdul Malik. It will be financed and produced in part by Fae Pictures, a production company on a mission to "decolonize Hollywood by creating cinematic content for, by, and about queer, trans, and Bipoc people," according to its website. The company most recently developed "Framing Agnes," which premiered at Sundance 2022.
The film is expected to enter production this summer in Toronto. "This is a film about family. About chosen family and birthed family and the historic value of queer revolution. Generational dialogue is a spiritual experience and every character resonates with a profound sense of beauty,...
The film will be directed by Egyptian Canadian filmmaker Reem Morsi, and the script is written by Bryan Mark, Kaveh Mohebbi, and Abdul Malik. It will be financed and produced in part by Fae Pictures, a production company on a mission to "decolonize Hollywood by creating cinematic content for, by, and about queer, trans, and Bipoc people," according to its website. The company most recently developed "Framing Agnes," which premiered at Sundance 2022.
The film is expected to enter production this summer in Toronto. "This is a film about family. About chosen family and birthed family and the historic value of queer revolution. Generational dialogue is a spiritual experience and every character resonates with a profound sense of beauty,...
- 5/17/2022
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
SAG Award-nominee Alexandra Billings (Transparent) will star in, and executive produce the upcoming trans revolutionary indie feature, Queen Tut.
Fae Pictures is financing and producing the film in association with Hawkeye Pictures with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates. The producing team will be attending the Cannes Market meeting with international sales prospects.
Queen Tut will be directed by Egyptian-Canadian up-and-coming filmmaker Reem Morsi (The Last Mark), and is based on a script from Bryan Mark, Kaveh Mohebbi, and Abdul Malik. The story follows a shy Egyptian teenager who is discovering a new life in Toronto after his seamstress mother passes away in Cairo. He befriends a trans mother, played by Billings, who inspires him to resurrect his mother’s soul in himself by sewing and donning the magnum opus dress that she never completed making.
Production is expected to begin in August at and in partnership with...
Fae Pictures is financing and producing the film in association with Hawkeye Pictures with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates. The producing team will be attending the Cannes Market meeting with international sales prospects.
Queen Tut will be directed by Egyptian-Canadian up-and-coming filmmaker Reem Morsi (The Last Mark), and is based on a script from Bryan Mark, Kaveh Mohebbi, and Abdul Malik. The story follows a shy Egyptian teenager who is discovering a new life in Toronto after his seamstress mother passes away in Cairo. He befriends a trans mother, played by Billings, who inspires him to resurrect his mother’s soul in himself by sewing and donning the magnum opus dress that she never completed making.
Production is expected to begin in August at and in partnership with...
- 5/17/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
"Forget about the girl! Get out of here." Epic Pictures has revealed the trailer for an indie hitman action movie titled The Last Mark, yet another movie repeating pretty much the same plot of a hitman who has to do one last job before he retires. But he can't take out this person because it's a woman. Oh how original. This film opens on VOD at the beginning of March if anyone wants to watch. After a young woman witnesses a mob hit, a seasoned assassin and his psychotic partner must track her down before she turns them in, but she proves to be the hardest mark to kill. The Last Mark is directed by Reem Morsi and stars Alexia Fast, Shawn Doyle, Bryce Hodgson, Josh Cruddas, and Jonas Chernick. There's not much to see here, it doesn't look any good. The poster is the best part about this release,...
- 2/4/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Five titles from six filmmakers were chosen from more than 130 entries.
Realness, the African screenwriting residency created by Elias Ribeiro and Cait Pansegrouw of Urucu Media, has selected the projects for its 2018 edition.
Taking part in this year’s programme are Kantarama Gahigiri (Tapis Rouge) and Kivu Ruhorahoza (Grey Matter) from Rwanda, Matthys Boshoff (Flesh Of My Flesh) from South Africa, Ng’endo Mukii (Yellow Fever) from Kenya and Reem Morsi (The Door) and Mohammed Siam (Whose Country?), both from Egypt.
The participants were selected by a panel of 16 industry figures, including sales agents Thembe Bhebhe and Efuru Flowers (Flourishing Films...
Realness, the African screenwriting residency created by Elias Ribeiro and Cait Pansegrouw of Urucu Media, has selected the projects for its 2018 edition.
Taking part in this year’s programme are Kantarama Gahigiri (Tapis Rouge) and Kivu Ruhorahoza (Grey Matter) from Rwanda, Matthys Boshoff (Flesh Of My Flesh) from South Africa, Ng’endo Mukii (Yellow Fever) from Kenya and Reem Morsi (The Door) and Mohammed Siam (Whose Country?), both from Egypt.
The participants were selected by a panel of 16 industry figures, including sales agents Thembe Bhebhe and Efuru Flowers (Flourishing Films...
- 5/25/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Effie Brown, Howard Rosenman among participating industry executives.
The 28th annual Inside Out Toronto Lgbt Film Festival has announced the eight selected feature film projects included in this year’s second annual Finance Forum, as well as the participating industry executives.
The Forum, in its second year, will feature international projects from the Us, the UK, and India. Inside Out’s executive director Andria Wilson made the announcement on Friday (April 27).
The 2018 Finance Forum will take place over two days from May 24–25 and aims to provide Lgbtq-identified producers and as producers creating Lgbtq content the chance to pitch their projects to executives.
The 28th annual Inside Out Toronto Lgbt Film Festival has announced the eight selected feature film projects included in this year’s second annual Finance Forum, as well as the participating industry executives.
The Forum, in its second year, will feature international projects from the Us, the UK, and India. Inside Out’s executive director Andria Wilson made the announcement on Friday (April 27).
The 2018 Finance Forum will take place over two days from May 24–25 and aims to provide Lgbtq-identified producers and as producers creating Lgbtq content the chance to pitch their projects to executives.
- 4/27/2018
- by Jenn Sherman
- ScreenDaily
A heavyweight roster of world premieres from the leading lights of Canada’s film industry will grace the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
New work from Deepa Mehta, Bruce McDonald and Chloé Robichaud are among the Canadian features set to receive their world premieres, while Xavier Dolan and Kim Nguyen earn North American premieres for their latest films following their Cannes debuts.
Wednesday’s announcement included the slate of Canadian short films, the festival’s four Rising Stars, and participants in the Talent Lab and Telefilm Canada Pitch This! programmes.
Talent Lab alumnus Andrew Cividino is named the 2016 Len Blum Resident. The film-maker will take up residency at the Festival Tower for three months later this year and receive one-on-one script consultations with screenwriter Blum, mentoring from Tiff’s industry and programming teams, and support from Tiff partners.
Cividino will work on his screenplay, We Ate the Children Last, a feature...
New work from Deepa Mehta, Bruce McDonald and Chloé Robichaud are among the Canadian features set to receive their world premieres, while Xavier Dolan and Kim Nguyen earn North American premieres for their latest films following their Cannes debuts.
Wednesday’s announcement included the slate of Canadian short films, the festival’s four Rising Stars, and participants in the Talent Lab and Telefilm Canada Pitch This! programmes.
Talent Lab alumnus Andrew Cividino is named the 2016 Len Blum Resident. The film-maker will take up residency at the Festival Tower for three months later this year and receive one-on-one script consultations with screenwriter Blum, mentoring from Tiff’s industry and programming teams, and support from Tiff partners.
Cividino will work on his screenplay, We Ate the Children Last, a feature...
- 8/3/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
A heavyweight roster of world premieres from the leading lights of Canada’s film industry will grace the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
New work from Deepa Mehta, Bruce McDonald and Chloé Robichaud are among the Canadian features set to receive their world premieres, while Xavier Dolan and Kim Nguyen earn North American premieres for their latest films following their Cannes debuts.
Wednesday’s announcement included the slate of Canadian short films, the festival’s four Rising Stars, and participants in the Talent Lab and Telefilm Canada Pitch This! programmes.
Talent Lab alumnus Andrew Cividino is named the 2016 Len Blum Resident. The film-maker will take up residency at the Festival Tower for three months later this year and receive one-on-one script consultations with screenwriter Blum, mentoring from Tiff’s industry and programming teams, and support from Tiff partners.
Cividino will work on his screenplay, We Ate the Children Last, a feature...
New work from Deepa Mehta, Bruce McDonald and Chloé Robichaud are among the Canadian features set to receive their world premieres, while Xavier Dolan and Kim Nguyen earn North American premieres for their latest films following their Cannes debuts.
Wednesday’s announcement included the slate of Canadian short films, the festival’s four Rising Stars, and participants in the Talent Lab and Telefilm Canada Pitch This! programmes.
Talent Lab alumnus Andrew Cividino is named the 2016 Len Blum Resident. The film-maker will take up residency at the Festival Tower for three months later this year and receive one-on-one script consultations with screenwriter Blum, mentoring from Tiff’s industry and programming teams, and support from Tiff partners.
Cividino will work on his screenplay, We Ate the Children Last, a feature...
- 8/3/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
A stellar group of eight Canadian women directors, along with an ensemble of hand-picked Industry professionals, mentors, actors and crews, have been selected to attend the 19th annual Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) program, and the two-day pilot session of the Widc Whistler Film Festival Industry Immersion. Over the next two months these rising stars will develop their feature films and web series, while cultivating relationships with industry insiders along with key collaborators, and an ensemble of hand-picked professional actors and technicians. The program culminates with a technical creative master-class at The Banff Centre.
Mounting their directorial debut feature films are, from the Northwest Territories, Kirsten Carthew ("Prototype"), Manitoba-based Rebecca Gibson ("Jane Garbage"), from Ontario, Renuka Jeyapalan ("Sex with as Perfect Stranger"), and Simone Stock ("Dark Horse"), BC-based Kate Kroll, ("One.Last.Stop"), Reem Morsi ("Lips"), and Loretta Todd ("Monkey Beach'), and Pei-based, Jenna MacMillan is developing a new web series, ("Gran Bandit").
“These filmmakers are already established in their own right,” says Carol Whiteman, award-winning Widc producer. “They have won awards and fellowships, some from our collaborating partners like Women In Film, the St John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. We all see the talent that these women possess and the potential of their projects.” “I appreciate how Widc supports women’s work and vision,” says seasoned documentary filmmaker, Loretta Todd whose sci-fi martial arts pilot Skye and Chang airs on Aptn. “Being part of Widc Sim 2.O is a significant opportunity to help me be prepared so I can be even more courageous as a director.”
This year's eight directors also benefit from the expertise of award-winning Canadian writer/directors and Widc alumnae, Katrin Bowen ("Amazon Falls," "Random Acts of Romance"), Lulu Keating ("Lucille's Ball," "The Mood Brood") who mentor in Vancouver, Deanne Foley ("Beat Down," and "Relative Happiness" premiering at Whistler Film Festival) at the Whistler Film Festival, and celebrated writer/director Gail Harvey ("Looking is the Original Sin," "Long Story Short") will be the program's Mentor Director in Banff. The line up of award-winning Widc mentors also includes director of photography, Roger Vernon ("Twilight: Breaking Dawn"), Teresa Hannigan (Rookie Blue), Jeanne Slater ("Lucille's Ball," "Evangeline"), screen-writer and Jungian expert, Dr. Carolyn Mamchur, writer/story consultant Linda Coffey ("These Arms of Mine"), and actress/acting instructor, Lori Triolo (Blackstone, Supernatural). Industry experts include, John Galway (of Harold Greenberg Fund), Maureen Levitt, (of Super Channel), independent producer, Lael McCall, (of Principia Productions), and Lauren Davis of Telefilm Canada.
The Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) program has earned an international reputation for propelling women directors’ skills, stories and careers to the next level of excellence. Creative Women Workshops Association, The Banff Centre and Actra (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) have been Widc collaborators and Telefilm Canada has been a major sponsor since the program’s 1997 inception. This is Widc’s first year collaborating with the Whistler Film Festival, with the Widc Whistler Film Festival Industry Immersion taking place on December 3 and 4.
The Festival’s online box office is now open for industry and festival passes, ticket packages, and individual film and special event tickets (until December 7). The Festival Box Office is also open for phone sales (1-877-838-film) and on November 28 for walk-in sales. Wff’s film, event and industry Summit lineup and schedules are available at whistlerfilmfestival.com.
The Westin Whistler Resort and Spa is Wff’s official host hotel. Wff has 17 accommodation partners to choose from that offer special rates to Whistler Film Festival attendees. Book your accommodation early to ensure your perfect match and price. For information, go to whistlerfilmfestival.com.
The Whistler Film Festival is supported by Telefilm Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Tourism Whistler, and is sponsored by Variety, Elle Canada, the Directors Guild of Canada - British Columbia, Creative BC, The Harold Greenburg Fund, Cineplex, CTV, Pandora, Sorel, Columbia, Whistler Blackcomb, Promosa and the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.
About Widc – Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) is an internationally respected Canadian professional development offering, specially designed to advance the skills, careers and screen projects of women directors. With nearly 200 director alumnae across Canada, Widc is presented in partnership by Creative Women Workshops Association, The Banff Centre and Actra, with major support from Telefilm Canada, William F. White Intl., and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des Arts du Canada, Panavision Canada, Sim Digital, Clairmont Camera Film and Digital, North Shore Studios, The Bridge Studios, Vancouver Film Studios, Front Row Insurance, Banff World Media Festival, Actra Fraternal Benefit Society, Ubcp/Actra, Actra Alberta, Iatse 669, Iatse 212, Independent Production Fund, Wift Vancouver, Female Eye Film Festival, St John’s International Women’s Film Festival and Whistler Film Festival. Director’s chair sponsors include Creative BC, BC Arts Council, Wiftv. Find out more at www.widc.ca www.facebook.com/widc.ca @WIDC_ca #Widc enquiries@creativewomenworkshops.com
About the Whistler Film Festival: From December 3 to 7, 2014, the Whistler Film Festival (Wff) will celebrate its 14th edition as one of Canada's leading festivals. Featuring innovative and original films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who made them, this year’s five day Festival will be filled with a solid lineup of premieres, star-studded guests, lively celebrations and unique industry initiatives. Find out more at www.whistlerfilmfestival.com.
About the Whistler Film Festival Society: The Whistler Film Festival Society (Wffs) is a charitable cultural organization dedicated to furthering the art of film by providing programs that focus on the discovery, development and promotion of new talent culminating with a must attend festival for artists, the industry and audiences in Whistler. Wffs produces one of Canada's leading film festivals and plays a leadership role in offering project development programs for Canadian filmmakers. Find out more at whistlerfilmfestival.com.
Mounting their directorial debut feature films are, from the Northwest Territories, Kirsten Carthew ("Prototype"), Manitoba-based Rebecca Gibson ("Jane Garbage"), from Ontario, Renuka Jeyapalan ("Sex with as Perfect Stranger"), and Simone Stock ("Dark Horse"), BC-based Kate Kroll, ("One.Last.Stop"), Reem Morsi ("Lips"), and Loretta Todd ("Monkey Beach'), and Pei-based, Jenna MacMillan is developing a new web series, ("Gran Bandit").
“These filmmakers are already established in their own right,” says Carol Whiteman, award-winning Widc producer. “They have won awards and fellowships, some from our collaborating partners like Women In Film, the St John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. We all see the talent that these women possess and the potential of their projects.” “I appreciate how Widc supports women’s work and vision,” says seasoned documentary filmmaker, Loretta Todd whose sci-fi martial arts pilot Skye and Chang airs on Aptn. “Being part of Widc Sim 2.O is a significant opportunity to help me be prepared so I can be even more courageous as a director.”
This year's eight directors also benefit from the expertise of award-winning Canadian writer/directors and Widc alumnae, Katrin Bowen ("Amazon Falls," "Random Acts of Romance"), Lulu Keating ("Lucille's Ball," "The Mood Brood") who mentor in Vancouver, Deanne Foley ("Beat Down," and "Relative Happiness" premiering at Whistler Film Festival) at the Whistler Film Festival, and celebrated writer/director Gail Harvey ("Looking is the Original Sin," "Long Story Short") will be the program's Mentor Director in Banff. The line up of award-winning Widc mentors also includes director of photography, Roger Vernon ("Twilight: Breaking Dawn"), Teresa Hannigan (Rookie Blue), Jeanne Slater ("Lucille's Ball," "Evangeline"), screen-writer and Jungian expert, Dr. Carolyn Mamchur, writer/story consultant Linda Coffey ("These Arms of Mine"), and actress/acting instructor, Lori Triolo (Blackstone, Supernatural). Industry experts include, John Galway (of Harold Greenberg Fund), Maureen Levitt, (of Super Channel), independent producer, Lael McCall, (of Principia Productions), and Lauren Davis of Telefilm Canada.
The Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) program has earned an international reputation for propelling women directors’ skills, stories and careers to the next level of excellence. Creative Women Workshops Association, The Banff Centre and Actra (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) have been Widc collaborators and Telefilm Canada has been a major sponsor since the program’s 1997 inception. This is Widc’s first year collaborating with the Whistler Film Festival, with the Widc Whistler Film Festival Industry Immersion taking place on December 3 and 4.
The Festival’s online box office is now open for industry and festival passes, ticket packages, and individual film and special event tickets (until December 7). The Festival Box Office is also open for phone sales (1-877-838-film) and on November 28 for walk-in sales. Wff’s film, event and industry Summit lineup and schedules are available at whistlerfilmfestival.com.
The Westin Whistler Resort and Spa is Wff’s official host hotel. Wff has 17 accommodation partners to choose from that offer special rates to Whistler Film Festival attendees. Book your accommodation early to ensure your perfect match and price. For information, go to whistlerfilmfestival.com.
The Whistler Film Festival is supported by Telefilm Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Tourism Whistler, and is sponsored by Variety, Elle Canada, the Directors Guild of Canada - British Columbia, Creative BC, The Harold Greenburg Fund, Cineplex, CTV, Pandora, Sorel, Columbia, Whistler Blackcomb, Promosa and the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.
About Widc – Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) is an internationally respected Canadian professional development offering, specially designed to advance the skills, careers and screen projects of women directors. With nearly 200 director alumnae across Canada, Widc is presented in partnership by Creative Women Workshops Association, The Banff Centre and Actra, with major support from Telefilm Canada, William F. White Intl., and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des Arts du Canada, Panavision Canada, Sim Digital, Clairmont Camera Film and Digital, North Shore Studios, The Bridge Studios, Vancouver Film Studios, Front Row Insurance, Banff World Media Festival, Actra Fraternal Benefit Society, Ubcp/Actra, Actra Alberta, Iatse 669, Iatse 212, Independent Production Fund, Wift Vancouver, Female Eye Film Festival, St John’s International Women’s Film Festival and Whistler Film Festival. Director’s chair sponsors include Creative BC, BC Arts Council, Wiftv. Find out more at www.widc.ca www.facebook.com/widc.ca @WIDC_ca #Widc enquiries@creativewomenworkshops.com
About the Whistler Film Festival: From December 3 to 7, 2014, the Whistler Film Festival (Wff) will celebrate its 14th edition as one of Canada's leading festivals. Featuring innovative and original films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who made them, this year’s five day Festival will be filled with a solid lineup of premieres, star-studded guests, lively celebrations and unique industry initiatives. Find out more at www.whistlerfilmfestival.com.
About the Whistler Film Festival Society: The Whistler Film Festival Society (Wffs) is a charitable cultural organization dedicated to furthering the art of film by providing programs that focus on the discovery, development and promotion of new talent culminating with a must attend festival for artists, the industry and audiences in Whistler. Wffs produces one of Canada's leading film festivals and plays a leadership role in offering project development programs for Canadian filmmakers. Find out more at whistlerfilmfestival.com.
- 12/1/2014
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
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