Angelina Jolie helps bring Sundance hit to theaters
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- Published on Thursday, 17 September 2015 11:21
- Written by EW
Ethiopia has made great progress as a nation since the devastating famine and civil war of the 1980s, but as recently as the 1990s, women in that country were susceptible to unspeakable violence disguised as custom. In Difret, which played at Sundance and opens in theaters on Oct. 23, two Ethiopian women fight back against the practice of telefa, the accepted abduction and rape of teenage girls as long as the man marries his victim. Based on a true story, Difret was the passion project of Ethiopian filmmaker Zeresenay Berhane Mehari. It tells the story of a 14-year-old (Tizita Hagere) who defends herself against her abductor and is sentenced to death when she kills him. A female lawyer (Meron Getnet) takes her case, pitting generations of tradition against the future of equal rights in her country. Mehari turned down opportunities to get his film made abroad, in English, because he was determined to film it in Ethiopia, in Amharic, so that his countrymen and women could see and relate to the story.“Difret not only shows the tenacity and strength of two remarkable Ethiopian women and brings the world’s attention rightfully to these two real-life heroes, but it also shows the extraordinary talent and creativity of Ethiopian filmmakers,” says Angelina Jolie, who became an executive producer prior to Sundance, where the film won an Audience Award. “I’m very proud to be a part of it.” EW has the exclusive trailer above.
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'Fast & Furious 8' rumors: Helen Mirren, Angelina Jolie, and Ruby Rose considered for cast?
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- Published on Thursday, 10 September 2015 10:30
- Written by Christian Post
Universal Pictures has begun the hype surrounding the eighth "Fast & Furious" movie with speculations on its cast.With two years more to go before "Fast & Furious 8" hits theaters, the film's star and producer, Vin Diesel, and Michelle Rodriguez have been interviewed about their choice of actors to make an appearance in the eighth film.Dame Helen Mirren, who earlier mentioned she was a huge fan of Diesel during an April appearance in "Late Night with Seth Meyers," calling the action star "smart, funny, and cool," gave him a shoutout in an Entertainment Online red carpet interview to "get your act together" because she always wanted to star in a "Fast & Furious" movie but was never asked to do so.Diesel responded with a whoop, saying he respected her directness and mentioned there were many characters Dame Mirren could play in the eighth film, including Ramsey's (Nathalie Emmanuel) mother or the Shaw brothers' (Owen, played by Luke Evans in "F&F 6," and Deckard, played by Jason Statham in "Furious 7") scheming matriarch.Michelle Rodriguez also expressed her actress of choice to join the cast, picking her dream co-star, Angelina Jolie as another "Fast and Furious" badass to up the franchise's ante, the Latina actress declared in an August interview with ET."Orange is the New Black's" newcomer, Australian actress Ruby Rose, may also be joining the film. Rose, who auditioned for one of the franchise's flicks before she landed a role in Netflix's "OITNB," confirmed she is currently in negotiations to star in "Fast & Furious 8," saying she was previously turned down for her resemblance to Canadian singer, Justin Bieber.While Jason Statham has already confirmed he will reprise his role, speculations have also emerged Eva Mendes, who played Agent Monica Fuentes in "2 Fast 2 Furious," as well as the late Paul Walker's brother and body double, Cody, will be coming back to the eighth sequel."Fast & Furious 8" is scheduled to premiere in theaters on April 14, 2017.
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Angelina Jolie Pitt’s ‘By the Sea’ to Open AFI Fest on Nov. 5
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- Published on Friday, 28 August 2015 03:52
- Written by Variety
Universal Pictures’ “By the Sea” will world premiere Nov. 5 as the opening-night film of the AFI Fest. Pic, to screen at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, was written, directed, produced by and stars Angelina Jolie Pitt and also stars and was produced by Brad Pitt.The cast includes Mélanie Laurent, Melvil Poupaud, Niels Arestrup and Richard Bohringer.The 29th AFI Fest takes place Nov. 5-12 in Hollywood. Screenings and galas will be held at the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The full festival lineup and schedule will be unveiled in October.Film festivals are increasingly important in a film’s awards campaign, and last year, the AFI Fest confirmed its key role when it premiered “Selma” and “American Sniper,” which both wound up with best-picture nominations. Last year’s AFI opening-night film was “A Most Violent Year.”AFI Fest director Jacqueline Lyanga said, “We are launching this year’s AFI Fest with a film that is fueled by the influence of both American and foreign cinema. Angelina Jolie Pitt’s intelligent artistry in ‘By the Sea‘ proves that she is among the most creative and expressive filmmakers today. It is a perfect way to kick off what will be eight days of incredible films from Hollywood and across the globe.”Jolie Pitt said, “AFI has long supported the boldness and experimentation that accompanies provocative cinema. As a filmmaker, and on behalf of our cast and crew, I am honored to launch the film at the Opening Night Gala for AFI Fest.”AFI president-CEO Bob Gazzale said, “Time and again, Angelina Jolie Pitt has proven herself an artist of the highest caliber. It is an honor for AFI to celebrate her latest story with its world premiere — and in doing so — to shine a proper light upon her boundless creative energies as actor, director, writer and producer.”“By the Sea” follows American writer Roland (Pitt) and his wife Vanessa (Jolie Pitt) in a seaside resort in 1970s France, their marriage in apparent crisis.
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Angelina Jolie Pitt to Exec Produce Animated Film ‘The Breadwinner’
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- Published on Saturday, 20 May 2017 16:33
- Written by Variety
Angelina Jolie Pitt will exec produce the upcoming animated film “The Breadwinner” through her Jolie Pas Productions shingle. The film, which will be directed by Nora Towmey, is based on Deborah Ellis’ internationally acclaimed young adult novel of the same name. The story revolves around a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, who must disguise herself as a boy and become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned.“Millions of young girls like Parvana are growing up today under oppression or conflict, and helping their families to survive in those conditions. This story is a reminder of the immense value of their contribution,” Jolie Pitt said. “I am delighted to be working with a talented team of artists who I know will do justice to the richness, creativity and strength of Afghan culture and to little girls like Parvana.”
The film is being produced by Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions, with producers Tomm Moore and Paul Young of the Cartoon Saloon, Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures, and Stephan Roelants of Melusine Productions.Published by Groundwood Books, “The Breadwinner” has been in print for more than 15 years and is recommended reading in numerous middle schools throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.Jolie Pitt will be directing the upcoming Netflix original movie “First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers.” She can be seen next opposite husband Brad Pitt in the Universal drama “By the Sea,” which she is also helming.She is repped by UTA and Media Talent Group.
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Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt have a not-so-perfect day in first By the Sea trailer
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- Published on Friday, 07 August 2015 11:59
- Written by Entertainment Weekly
We’ve been waiting 10 years for Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt to re-team on screen, but judging by this first trailer for By the Sea — which Jolie Pitt also wrote and directed — there are going to be a lot more tears (and great hats!) than in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The real-life couple (who shot this film last year while on their honeymoon) portray Vanessa and Roland, an estranged husband and wife traveling through France in the 1970s. Production took place on the island of Gozo off of Malta, and Jolie Pitt tells EW that if you are thinking such a dreamy-looking hotel and bar exists, you can forget it. “It’s this lovely and quiet island and we built the hotel and bar. Everyone who has seen the movie wants to go to that exact place — but it’s just the magic of film.” We don’t yet know what the central cause of the grief that’s tearing this pair apart, but it’s enough to inspire a lot of seriously rough-looking kicks and slaps and a crumpled Jolie Pitt on the floor. Harry Nilsson’s “Perfect Day” plays over this trailer, but we’re guessing not-so-much.
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