With two world premieres, eight films in production, as well as its first-ever major television series, Carnaby International are attending their second American Film Market this November with a high profile, varied line-up of exciting titles—and a growing reputation for pulling in A-list talent.
Actors starring in Carnaby’s recent acquisitions include Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point, Dracula, Bend It Like Beckham, Stonewall, Mission Impossible III), Danny Dyer (Vendetta, Dead Man Running), “Downton Abbey’s” Jessica Brown Findlay, with Martin Scorsese(Gangs of New York, Wolf of Wall Street) serving as executive producer on the much-anticipated TOMORROW.
Carnaby co-CEO Sean O’Kelly said “I’m extremely proud to be working alongside the likes of Martha Pinson, Martin Scorsese and of course the talented cast and crew on our films for AFM. This AFM marks a milestone for Carnaby and its continued rapid growth and success in the international sales arena.
“We are excited for the producers and up and coming talent that we have on board our films as well as the incredible established talent such as Stephen Fry, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Bill Nighy, to name but a few.”
DAMASCUS COVER, produced by Hannah Leader (Lucky Number Slevin, Gosford Park) and directed by Daniel Berk, is a tense espionage thriller set in Syria about a veteran spy sent undercover in Syria to smuggle a chemical weapons scientist and his family out of Damascus. Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who has recently been filming the hotly anticipated Stonewall, will be playing the lead role in the film.
Of Carnaby’s new-to-market titles, CASUAL ENCOUNTERS promises to attract attention at AFM this year. Having its world premiere at the market, Carnaby will also be hosting a party after the film’s premiere screening. Starring Brooklyn Decker (What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Battleship, Just Go With It) alongside Saturday Night Live alum Taran Killam (12 Years a Slave, “Saturday Night Live”), David Arquette (Scream, “Cougar Town”) and Mark Boone Junior (Memento, Batman Begins), the film is a quirky rom-com about the trials and tribulations of online dating in the 21st century.
Carnaby will also be hosting the world premiere of Danny Dyer’s latest film, ASSASSIN, written and directed by JK Amalou and executive produced by film legend Barbara De Fina (Casino, Goodfellas). Dyer (Vendetta, Devil’s Playground, Dead Man Running) plays a ruthless killer for hire faced with an impossible decision: murder the girl he loves or be murdered himself. He stars opposite Spandau Ballet brothers Martin Kemp and Gary Kemp, who are brought together on film for the first time since The Krays.
Crime action drama A LOVE OF MONEY is also soon to go into production, starring rising British actor Luke Treadaway (The Rise) – who will be playing opposite Jack O’Connell in Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut Unbroken this Christmas – alongside Alan Cumming (“The Good Wife,” GoldenEye). A LOVE OF MONEY is about a crooked female investment manager who plans to run away with $25M – yet soon finds herself on the run from hit men, crime detectives and mafia bosses. More A list cast to be announced over the coming fortnight.
Martin Scorsese presents TOMORROW, a feel-good drama starring Stephen Fry (The Hobbit), James Cosmo (“Game of Thrones,” Braveheart), Sebastian Street (Age of Heroes), Stuart Brennan (Risen), Sophie Kennedy-Clark (Nymphomaniac, Philomena) and Joss Stone (“The Tudors”), is produced by London-based Roaring Mouse Productions and Studio 82. The first British film to be executive produced by film legend Martin Scorsese,TOMORROW marks the feature film directorial debut of his long-term script supervisor Martha Pinson. The script was written by Stuart Brennan and Sebastian Street who are producers alongside Dean M. Woodford. Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Carnaby joint CEO’s Sean O’Kelly and Andrew Loveday are executive producers alongside Scorsese. TOMORROW is currently shooting in London and Spain and will debuted in Cannes 2015.
Carnaby’s latest acquisition is the romantic drama EVERYTHING CARRIES ME TO YOU, which will also be introduced to buyers at AFM this November. Set in present-day London, a promising young ballet dancer risks her career when she falls for a notable American photographer. Written and directed by Emma Holly Jones and produced by Hilary Shor (The Butler, Paperboy, Children of Men), Tom Butterfield (Life at These Speeds). The film stars Jessica Brown Findlay (Frankenstein, The Riot Club, Winters Tale), Matthew Rhys (Untitled John Wells Project, “The Americans,” “Brothers and Sisters”), Kate Walsh (Scary Movie 5, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Legion) and Freddie Fox, (Frankenstein, The Riot Club, The Three Musketeers).
Director Emma Holly Jones said “I am extremely lucky to be in the strong hands of Carnaby whilst experiencing my first AFM. ECMTY has been such a labor of love and it is so exciting for all involved to see it in the market place.”
Tania Sarra, Director of International Sales at Carnaby International Sales and Distribution, said, “It’s such an honour to be working with producing legend Hilary Shor and Emma Holly Jones is one of the brightest youngest talents I’ve met! The initial response and support from top tier distributors has been overwhelming, I’ve no doubt that the film will achieve strong traction and sales here at AFM.”
BLOODORANGE is also being announced at this year’s market, starring Iggy Pop and executive produced by Colin Vaines (Gangs of New York, Breaking and Entering, Miss Potter, The Young Victoria, London Boulevard, Coriolanus, W.E, My Week with Marilyn, The Rum Diary). The film is a sizzling, dangerous thriller set in Spain with principal photography beginning on 30th October.
MAGNUM OPUS, a new drama series, represents Carnaby’s first venture into television content and was acquired earlier this year. Directed by Timothy Gibbs and Ida Cuellar, the series is a slick political thriller with a distinctive neo-noir aesthetic. The story follows Sidney Porter, a CIA agent who spirals out of control, trading the love loyalty and lives of those closest to him for his own obsessive war of vengeance. The series, set deep in the shadows of Barcelona, is currently in production and the pilot is due for completion in 2015.
Carnaby will also be introducing PLAN Z, a zombie horror picture, directed and written by Stuart Brennan (Tomorrow), to AFM this year. The film is in post-production and is due to be delivered early 2015.
Joint Carnaby co-CEOs Andrew Loveday and Sean O’Kelly, along with Director of International Sales Tania Sarra and Head of Acquisitions Alex Tate, are in Santa Monica for AFM this November.