News

Tribeca premiere sells to North America.

Samuel Goldwyn Films has taken North American rights to Shady Srour’s Israeli comedy Holy Air.

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival in April. It was produced by Ilan Moscovitch.

Strour also stars, alongside Samuel Calderon, Tarik Copti, Dalia Okal and Bryan Anteer, in the story of a Christian Arab living in Nazareth who has the ingenious idea of bottling air from the Holy Land.

The deal was negotiated by Ben Feingold on behalf of Samuel Goldwyn Films and Jan Naszewski of New Europe Film Sales, on behalf of the filmmakers.

Ben Feingold of Samuel Goldwyn Films said, “Holy Air is a contemporary comedy that not only transcends barriers of religion, gender, and culture, but is also intelligent and funny. I was reminded of The Band’s Visit, which is one of my favourite films of all time. We look forward to working with Shady and releasing...

Ten projects from South-East Europe, Middle East and North Africa comprise Sarajevo’s Work in Progress section.

Sarajevo Film Festival’s (Aug 12-20) Works in Progress strand is set to present the line-up of projects, which will compete for three awards during the festival’s Industry Days on Aug 17-18.

Ten projects in post-production - from Southeast Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region - will be screened to about 40 industry decision-makers who are active on the supply end of the chain: funders, sales agents, distributors, broadcasters and festival programmers.

Prizes will include the traditional post-production in-kind awards from Slovenia’s Restart (€20,000) and Berlin-based The Post Republic (€50,000), as well as a newly established €30,000 cash prize from Turkish broadcaster Trt.

The jury is comprised of Jan Naszewski of New Europe Film Sales, Giona A. Nazzaro from the Venice Film Festival Critics’ Week, Michael Reuter of The Post Republic and a representative from the Trt.[p...