No Paradise If You Are Killed By a Woman. Photo: Hene Films
Empire Entertainment has acquired theatrical distribution rights in the Middle East and North Africa for Kurdish-Norwegian filmmaker Halkawt Mustafa’s feature film No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman. A wide theatrical release is planned across 16 countries in the region.
Written and directed by Halkawt Mustafa, known for El Clásico and Hiding Saddam Hussein, the film is a poetic and emotionally charged thriller inspired by true events. The film stars Kurdish Avan Jamal (The Exam) and Norwegian actor Thorbjørn Harr (The Tunnel, July 22).
No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman follows Vyan, a Norwegian-Kurdish woman who returns to Mosul to rescue her younger sister from ISIS.
Following the strong reception of Mustafa’s documentary Hiding Saddam Hussein, described as the most-watched feature documentary in Arab box-office history, Empire Entertainment is now planning a wide theatrical release across the MENA region for Mustafa’s new feature film.
“This is an important step for the film,” says producer Janne Hjeltnes at Hene Films. “Empire Entertainment has a strong position and extensive experience in the MENA region, and their commitment will help bring No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman to audiences across the region.”
Veteran Norwegian producer John M. Jacobsen (No 24, Trollhunter, Max Manus, Pathfinder) adds: “When this project was presented to me, I immediately knew I wanted to be part of it. How often do you come across something that is both stunning and completely original?”
“We are very pleased to work again with Halkawt Mustafa following the outstanding success of Hiding Saddam Hussein across the region,” says Pascal Rahme of Empire Entertainment. “We believe No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman is a powerful and emotional film that will strongly connect with audiences throughout MENA.”
Empire Entertainment has previously distributed major international titles across the MENA region, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Jumanji and Venom.
No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman is produced by Hene Films.
Director and writer: Halkawt Mustafa
Producers: Halkawt Mustafa, Janne Hjeltnes, John M. Jacobsen
Cast: Avan Jamal, Thorbjørn Harr
Production company: Hene Films
Manager International Relations, Feature Films
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