POLARIS U.S. Premiere Screening at the Culver City Film Festival
Polaris is a moving drama in which a psychologically traumatized war photographer is locked in a desperate struggle to protect her secrets from her husband and escape her inevitable return to the Middle East.
By: Christina Jo'Leigh, p.g.a.
Polaris is a rare, Iranian / American collaboration. Even rarer, it was created by female filmmakers. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, there has been an outcry for films by women, starring women, offering a different perspective and window into a world we’ve not been seeing. This is just such a film.
Polaris was written by Naghmeh Samini and Soudabeh Moradian. Soudabeh is also the Director. She was an accomplished documentarian in Iran and traveled abroad creating many insightful films about Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq. Her evolving body of work includes over 70 documentaries and TV series for European Channel ARTE and the BBC. She immigrated to the U.S. for the freedom to create films with empowering social messages and now lives in Los Angeles. Together, Soudabeh Moradian and I have worked over 3 years to bring Polaris and its message to life.
Our lead character in Polaris, Baran, is half Persian – from Iran, and is representative of many women today, straddling two worlds, and attempting to cross the cultural divide. She exemplifies the silent struggle of women who have had the strength to escape war-torn countries wrought with persecution, only to live in an aftermath of the trauma, still subject to the conventional constraints from which they came, while facing an ongoing struggle for independence and equality in the Western world that does not accept them, and in which they do not fit in.
Through
the interpersonal relationships of the characters, Polaris tangentially
addresses universal issues of extreme relevance – which are rising to
the forefront of headlines and political movements today – issues
attendant to cultural diversity, immigration, women’s rights and the
human impact of war. However, this messaging is subtly woven as the
film’s focus is on the characters and their relationships with one
another. It is intentionally non-political. Instead, it is an intimate
look into the effects of these issues on these characters lives.
Insights from which some will learn, and to which others will closely
relate.
Polaris had its world premiere in October in Toronto at CineIran, at the TIFF theatre.
OFFICIAL TRAILER:
Polaris was created by female Writers, a female Director, a female
Producer, a female Editor, and it’s lead protagonist is female. More
than 80% of the cast, more than 60% of the extras, and more than 50% of
the crew of Polaris were women and/or members of of ethnic
groups/minories.
Written by award-winning playwright Naghmeh Samini and Soudabeh Moradian, and scored by multi-award winning composer Karen Homayounfar. Produced by Christina Jo'Leigh, p.g.a.
On December 6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., Cinematic Artistry will debut its new
feature film Polaris with a U.S. Premiere screening followed by Q&A
at ArcLight Cinemas in Culver City, 9500 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA,
as part of the Culver City Film Festival, open to the public.
Cast (Character):
Alicja Bachleda (Baran), Bahram Radan (Poorya), Coby Ryan-McLaughlin
(Daniel), Roya Taymourian (Baran’s Mother), Tasha Smith (Sophie) and
Elisabeth Röhm (Christine)
Director: Soudabeh Moradian
Producers: Christina Jo’Leigh, Mahdi Davari
Writers: Naghmeh Samini, Soudabeh Moradian
Executive Producers: Mahdi Davari, Bahram Radan
Official Site: http://polarismovie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polaristhemovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PolarisTheMovie
Instagram: https://instagram.com/polaristhemovie/
Press Contact: Christina Jo’Leigh,
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
, (310) 924-0810
A Cinematic Artistry Production. A Sahara Pictures Film.
**************************************
Voice of Kurdish-American Radio for Democracy, Peace, and Freedom
|
