Atomic Falafel a Film by Dror Shaul

ATOMIC FALAFEL A FILM BY DROR SHAUL

PRESS KIT

LOGLINE

Two girls from nuclear towns in Israel and Iran spill their countries most valuable secrets on Facebook while trying to prevent a nuclear crisis.

SYNOPSIS

It’s hard enough to be a teenager, working in the family Falafel food truck with her mother, who’s in the ninth year of grieving the loss of her husband. But Nofar Azrian, 15, sells falafel to soldiers perpetually ready for war, and her hometown is the site of Israel’s secret nuclear weapons program.

When a German international atomic inspector (Oliver Hahn, "Oli") visits, the Israeli military sees a threat to national security, but Nofar sees a chance for her mother to fall in love again.

Israel’s top brass brings its full weight to bear on the relationship, humiliating Nofar to get her to back down – but they’ve never taken on a fifteen year-old girl before. With her fast-

1 talking hacker boyfriend, Meron, she turns the tables on the Israeli military, by stealing the country’s most valuable military secrets.

As if that weren’t bad enough, Nofar’s best Facebook friend lives in Natanz, Iran, target number one for Israel. How Nofar tries to save her friend, how her mom falls in love, and how the Middle East falls apart - is the thrilling climax of Atomic Falafel.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

I was born in Kibbutz Kissufim in southern Israel, to a Yemenite mother and an American father. When I was five years old, I remember standing with my mother near the Kibbutz fence, looking at the sunset over the Dir El Balach sea shore, just two kilometers away. "Wat's that over there?" I asked and my mother said that "in Dir El Balach our Arab neighbors live". "If they are our neighbors, how come we need a fence?" I asked. Then my mother explained what happened before I was born, including the wars and terror attacks. "So all the Arabs are bad?" I asked. My mother took a deep breath and said "There is no connection between Jews or Arabs and good or bad. There are good and bad Jews exactly like there are good and bad Arabs". So easy and clear, she explained and smiled at me. I still remember today the calm feeling that was spread inside me from realizing that simple insight- that right beyond the fence, there are people exactly like me, who don’t have any wish to hurt me. It made so much sense- this might have been the purest essence of truth that my mother and the Kibbutz gave me- the equality of human beings, wherever and whoever they are.

A few decades later, I called an Iranian director friend to congratulate her for winning an award in an important international festival. "Who would have thought", she shouted happily, "Israel and Iran won the first prizes! Maybe someday we'll even make films together!"

At that time I was developing a story which took place in a nuclear town in southern Israel in the last days before a war. The conversation with the Iranian director inspired me to open the story to a similar nuclear town in Iran and create the first Israeli – Iranian co production in the history. I was convinced it would be fast and easy to finance.

It wasn’t. Five and a half years later: during those years, the project had its ups and downs. Getting the finance from Israel took time. The world was hesitating and finding Iranian partners was also a long and slow process. Actors came in and dropped out, producers joined and disappeared, and even when an Iranian producer had agreed to jump on board and shoot some material in Iran for us – the communication with him was difficult until it finally died.

Five and a half years after that night call to the Iranian director, Atomic Falafel is finally ready. Produced by Israel, Germany, New Zealand (and involving Iranians, even if off-the- record), the film conveys the message that the technological revolution of the internet and

2 social networks has succeeded in crossing the black curtain imposed by dark regimes to isolated their citizens. Teenagers, no matter where they are from, have more in common today than ever. They dress the same, listen to the same music and aren’t really interested in wars. I hope that the sane side of Israel and of the world will prevail over the irresponsible one; and that my little boy, who was born two weeks after the shoot, will earn a safe future and home.

Dror Shaul.

DROR SHAUL – DIRECTOR, SCRIPTWRITER & PRODUCER Dror Shaul is a film writer, director, producer residing in Tel Aviv-Israel.

In 1999 he wrote and directed his first short film Operation Grandma (50 minutes, original title: "Mivtsa Savta"), which won the Israeli Academy Award, was a final nominee for the Banff Rockie Award in 2000 in Canada, and is considered as one of Israel's best cult films.

His first feature film Sima Vaknin, A Witch, was released in July 2003.

In 2003 Dror participated in the Sundance Directors and Screenwriters Labs with Sweet Mud. The film was released in September 2006 and won 4 Israeli Academy Awards including Best Film. Sweet Mud premiered in the Toronto IFF and participated in Pusan IFF.

The film won: The Sundance IFF Grand Jury Award in the World Cinema Competition 2007 The Crystal Bear in Berlin IFF 2007 The Audience Award in Miami IFF 2007 The Bermuda IFF 2007 The Serbia IFF 2007 The Croatia IFF 2007 The Prix Jeune Public and Prix Nova in Montpellier IFF 2007.

Dror has worked on several nationally and internationally recognized commercial campaigns and won many local and international awards like Israel's equivalent of the Clio Award, the New York Festival's Global Award and the International Festival of Commercial Films in Rome.

Work Samples: drorshaul.com vimeo.com/user21574282/videos youtube.com/user/DashCham/feed?activity_view=3

MAIN CREDITS Nofar: Michelle Treves CAST Mimi Azrian: Mali Levi Gershon Oliver Hann: Alexander Fehling Joshua: Will Robertson Haim Shai: Shai Avivi Meron: Idan Carmeli Sharareh: Tara Melter Avihu: Yossi Marshak Citizen 60 : Jonathan Cherchi Citizen K: Zohar Strauss Sharareh's Father: Arash Sarhaddi Grandmother: Sima Seyed Head of RVP: Otana Mirza Teacher: Ami Smolarchik

Director & Screenwriter: Dror Shaul CREW Producers: Chilik Michaeli ▪ Avraham Pirchi ▪ Tami Leon ▪ Amir Feingold ▪ Dror Shaul ▪ Moshe Edery ▪ Leon Edery ▪ Andro Steinborn ▪ Skady Lis ▪ Minu Barati ▪ Matthew Metcalfe Director of Photography: Sebastian Edschmid Editor: Tom Eagles Composer: Joel Haines Composer of Iranian Music: Bahar Henschel Editor Tom Eagles Art Director: Diana Habig Production Designers: Yoram Shayer | Yasmin Khalifa Costume Designers: Chen Gilad | Peri de Braganca Sound Designer: Chris Sinclair Sound Recordists Yahav Shemesh | Christoph Schilling Make-up & Hair: Ziv Katanov | Isabelle-Sophie Beyer Line Producer Amir Feingold 1st Assistant Director: Doron Ofer Casting: Limor Shmila | Uwe Bünker Produced by: UCM ▪ Amir Feingold ▪ Dash Ham ▪ United King Films ▪ Arden Film ▪ Jooyaa Filmproduktion ▪ Getaway Pictures ▪ General Film Corporation

The film was produced with the participation of: Israel Film Fund ▪ The Ministry of Culture and Sports, The Israel Film Council ▪ Filmstiftung Nordrhein- Westfalen ▪ Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg ▪ Deutscher Filmförderfonds DFFF ▪ Norddeutscher Rundfunk ▪ ARTE ▪ New Zealand Film Commission ▪ Images & Sound Limited ▪ YES This film was produced with the support of the Israel Fund for Film Production

CAST MICHELLE TREVES (Nofar)

Michelle was born in Israel in 1998. She is the eldest of three children. Her hobbies are painting and sewing. In the past she used to fence, and achieved 2nd place in Israel's Fencing championship of 2010 for her age group. She is an eleventh grade student at the Katzanelson High School of Kfar Saba, majoring in theater and physics. Television: 2004 - "Amalya" in a TV 15 episode series "Every Other Saturday", written by Ofer Knispel and directed by Avi Cohen Theater: A member of "Bimat Hanoar Kfar Saba" for the past 12 years 2013 - "Lighthouse" played in "Akko Festival", directed by Eilat Mansini. Cinema: 2014 - "Atomic Falafel" directed by Dror Shaul 2010 - "The Fifth Heaven" directed by Dina Zvi-Riklis 2009 - "My Australia" directed by Ami Drozd Michelle also participated in several student films.

MALI LEVI GERSHON (Mimi)

Mali is an Israeli Actress. In the last two years Mali acted in several prominent roles in the movies "Zinuck be alia" "childhood pictures" "suicide" "Phoenix" "good boy Jerusalem" and in the TV Series "The Office" "The suspect" "Amamiot" "Naors Friends" "Srugim" "Mesudarim" and "dolls"

Her big break was in the in her roles she played in the Israeli remake of the known TV series "The Office" where she was nominated twice in for Academy Awards Best Actress.

Mali played in the theater plays "Annie" and in "All Man Are The Same" by Act2 theater that won best play award in Haifa Festival.

ALEXANDER FEHLING (Oliver Hann)

ALEXANDER FEHLING was born 1981 in Berlin and attended Ernst Busch drama school from 2003 until 2007. He performed on stage of the Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, the Berliner Ensemble, the bat Berlin, the Deutsches Theaters Berlin, the Berliner Sophiensäle and the Theaters Neumarkt, Zurich. His first feature film was Robert Thalheim’s highly acclaimed AM ENDE KOMMEN TOURISTEN. 2008 Fehling played in Hans-Christian Schmids drama STURM and in Frieder Wittich’s comedy 13 SEMESTER, his part in Quentin Tarantinos INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS got him international attention.

For his lead in GOETHE! (2009; director: Philipp Stölzl) Fehling was nominated for the German Film Award. 2011 Fehling was selected as one of the „Shooting Stars“ during Berlin

Film Festival, also his film WER WENN NICHT WIR directed by Andres Veiel showed on the festival. 2012 Fehling played alongside Ronald Zehrfeld and August Diehl in the GDR-drama WIR WOLLTEN AUFS MEER, 2013 he starred next to Bully Herbig in BUDDY. Recently he played in IM LABYRINTH DES SCHWEIGENS directed by Guilio Ricciarelli.

Filmography (selection)

DER JUNGE KARL MARX (2015) – Director: Raoul Peck

IM LABYRINTH DES SCHWEIGENS (2013) – Director: Giulio Ricciarelli

ATOMIC FALAFEL (2014) – Director: Dror Shaul

BUDDY (2013) – Director: Michael Bully Herbig

WIR WOLLTEN AUFS MEER (2012) – Director: Toke C. Hebbeln

DER FLUSS WAR EINST EIN MENSCH (2011) – Director: Jan Zabeil

WER WENN NICHT WIR (2010) – Director: Andres Veiel GOETHE! (2009) – Director: Philipp Stölzl INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2008) – Director: Quentin Tarantino

STURM (2008) – Director: Hans-Christian Schmid

13 SEMESTER (2008) – Director: Frieder Wittich

BUDDENBROOKS (2008) – Director: Heinrich Breloer

AM ENDE KOMMEN TOURISTEN (2007) – Director: Robert Thalheim

WILL ROBERTSON (Joshua)

Will Robertson has been professionally acting in New Zealand film, television and theatre since high school in 2010. Overseas, he performed Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theatre in London, and Atomic Falafel was his first international film role. Having completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and English Literature, Will is now the Public Works Manager, tutor and performer in Improvised Theatre company ConArtists, and is also an independent screenwriter and filmmaker.

SHAI AVIVI (Haim Shai)

Shai Avivi was born and raised in Acre, the capital of hummus. He acted in high school plays, played a soldier in the army and studied film directing. He also worked as a stagehand but soon realized that he would be better and more successful in other fields. When Israel went through the media revolution, Avivi worked in management positions in television. Avivi's big break came with the " Hahamishia Hakameri". From there, he played various roles in television series and films, including "Ha-Burganim" (2000), "Malka Lev Adom" (1997), "Sweet Mud" (2006) by Dror Shaul, "Bsorot Tovot" (2006) and many others. On

6 stage, he performs with his wife Michal happily. Shai Aviv still seeks to be better and believes he is in the right direction.

IDAN CARMELI (Meron)

Idan Carmeli, 15, is an actor and comedian in Israel.

Idan played the leading role in an American student film, was casted for the television series "Efes Efes" but was unable to take the role due to his young age. He performed as a standup comedian for three years in Eilat (Israel), took part in a standup programs and competitions and won first place.

Idan has a successful Youtube Channel (link) that included short comic clips.

In his earlier years, he appeared in shows at the Cultural Center in Rishon Letzion (Israel) and then pursued to another comic show with another young actor. TARA MELTER (Sharareh)

Tara Melter, born 1991, is a German-Iranian actress. She has gained experience in several stage plays (Die Nachthexe R.: Tamer Yigit und Branka Prlic). SHARAREH is her first big movie role. Apart from acting she also worked as an assistant director at several stage plays including musicals in Germany and South Africa.

YOSSI MARSHAK (Avihu)

Marshak studied at the School of Performing Arts deer cycle in 1994 and then studied film at New York University. He played in theaters around the country , among other plays : "Dry Sea Sea " , "Ha-Ha", "There's a war out there", "The Wedding". He has also performed in fringe plays "Hashita", "Night Talks" and more. In 2011, he received the Israeli Academy award for his performance in the television series "Pilpelim Tsehubim". In 2009, he played in "You Do not Mess with the Zohan "in the role of the Israelis. He has also played in "Under the Same Sun" (2013), "Mivtza Hamaniya" (2014), Zinuk BaAlia (2014), Kicking Out Shoshana (2014) In 2014, Marshak was nominated for best actor for his role in Noam Kaplan's film "Manpower".

JONATHAN CHERCHI (Citizen 60) Jonathan Cherchi was born in Persia and immigrated to Israel at the age of one with his family. Cherchi grew up and Jerusalem and studied acting at Beit Tzi for three years. Since 1982 he has played for the Cameri theater, Haifa Theater and today for the Beer Sheva theater. He teaches humor in acting. Cherchi has recently written, directed and played in the play "Hassad Atzmi" (Self-Kindness).

Cherchi's entire career is deployed on stage. He has appeared in television the television series "Zinzana" by Haim Bouzaglo; "Texi Driver". He has also acted in Israeli and American films such as "Nina's Tragedies" by Savi Gabizon, "It all begins at sea" by Eitan Green, "Chain of Command" by David Worth and many more.

ZOHAR STRAUSS (Citizen K) Zohar Strauss (born 4 March 1972 in Haifa) is an Israeli theater, film and television actor.

Graduating from the "Yoram Levinstein" acting school in Tel Aviv and bearing a Bachelor of Laws from Leicester University England, Strauss is currently a member of the "Yoram Levinstein" acting school faculty.

In 2009 Strauss won the "Ophir Award" and the "Wolgin Award" in the best actor category for his performances in "Lebanon" and "Eyes Wide Open". Additionally, Strauss was an "Ophir Award" (The Israeli Oscar) nominee for his role in "Things behind the Sun" and "Son Of God".

Strauss is also known for his performances in "Things Behind the Sun", "Eyes Wide Open" (Cannes Film Festival), "Lebanon" (winner of the Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival), "Son Of God", and the Polish film "A Grain of Truth".

He has recently starred in the successful TV shows - "Achat Efes Efes" ("100"), "Shtisel", and "Zaguri Empire". ARASH SARHADDI (Sharareh's Father)

Arash is an Iranian/ German trained and graduate actor from “Theaterwerkstatt Berlin“, he has been working in Theatre and Film Industry for the past 20 years writing, acting and directing. He has also been working as the trainer, coach and pedagogue.

Arash's work gained recognition for his theatre "One night in Tehran", while he won several awards for Outstanding Acting as the roll of „Dreck“.

Arash acted in several prominent roles in the movies and Films: „Hotel International „the Return“, “the Trip“, “Yuck”, “On the Wings of God“, “For the Fatherland”, “Dpuble U Tea Cea“, “Lara“ and “Lecker“

Arash also wrote and/or directed several different outstanding films and stage plays like: „whatever the cost “,"One night in Tehran", “Probably the last adventures of Pippi L.”, "The smile of the Mona Lisa", “Thousand and One Nights“, “how did Friederike learn to fly again?“, “The Runner“, and “the politicians“.

Meanwhile he has played in theatre as an official actor in City theatre of Duisburg, Magdeburg, Dresden, Kreativhaus Berlin, Arkadash Theater Köln, Werkstatt der Kulturen Berlin, and Theaterdock Berlin. SIMA SEYED (Grandmother)

Sima is a native Iranian, she went into exile and came to Cologne, Germany, in 1985. She has been a singer, stage actress and director since 1993, performing over 150 performances in Persian and German Languages, both in Germany und Europe. Simultaneously she has worked as an animator and drama educator for children and youth from socially deprived and migrant families.

The role of "Grandma" in " Atomic Falafel" is her first movie appearance!

OTANA MIRZA (Head of RVP)

Otana Mirza is a talented Iranian Actor, who has been working and living in Germany since the end of the 1980’s. He came to Munich to study acting which he subsequently successfully completed. Since the early 1990’s he has appeared in various Films, TV shows and Theater Plays. He is capable of transforming himself into a role completely such that his character in a comedy Film will be entirely different then a character in a drama. This natural ability to transform from one character to another to accurately portray the role he is playing makes him a very valuable actor. Some of the films he has appeared in are following:

ATOMIC FALAFEL VATERTAGE WAS MACHEN FRAUEN MORGENS UM HALB VIER? FREMDKÖRPER (SHORTFILM) KAKS GEGEN EDER (SHORTFILM) DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL TRAILER CREW

SEBASTIAN EDSCHMID - Director of Photography Sebastian Edschmid is an award winning Berlin-based DoP who also signs responsible for lensing Dror Shauls first film SWEET MUD. Edschmid studied at DffB ( Film and Television Academy) in Berlin. He has been awarded for his work on numerous films:

MÄNNERTREU Grimme-Award, 2015 & German Television Price, 2014 QISSA - Indian Filmfestival Queensland/Australia, best Cinematography, 2014 REMEMBRANCE - Warzawa Jewish Filmfestival best Cinematography, 2012 NEUE VAHR SÜD - Grimme-Award, 2011 BLACK DEATH - Los Angeles Screamfest, Best Cinematography, 2010 TEUFELSBRATEN - Grimme-Award, 2009 SWEET MUD - Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Price, 2007 KISS AND RUN - Grimme-Award, 2005 LURCH - Short Film Festival Aspen/USA, Best Photography, 2002 KUDAMM SECURITY - Filmfestival Targu Mures/Rom, Best Photography, 1998

TOM EAGLES – Editor

Tom Eagles is a film editor with a passion for independent cinema. Tom cut his teeth in television drama and comedy and his editing credits include the cable series' Spartacus and Sam Raimi's Ash vs Evil Dead.

He has worked extensively with indie director Taika Waititi, including Waititi's latest film, the critically-acclaimed cult comedy What We Do in the Shadows, with Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords.

JOEL HAINES - Composer

Joel Haines is one of New Zealand’s hardest working Composers.

Over the last 18 years, he has written and produced music for New Zealand’s highest rating TV shows such as ‘Outrageous Fortune’, ‘Step Dave’, ‘The Brokenwood Mysteries’, ‘Westside’ (the much anticipated prequel to outrageous fortune) and many many more.

His work scoring for feature film ‘This Way of Life’ has attracted attention worldwide.

Other film & TV work includes, Strongman The Tragedy (winner of best Feature Documentary NZTV awards). “The Golden Hour” (Nominated for an international Emmy award). After the Waterfall, The Kick, Skin and Bone, Mercy Peak, Diplomatic Immunity, Nights in the Gardens of Spain, & branding music for products including, McDonalds, Hallenstein, Freeview, Mercedes, Audi, Toyota, Mazda, Just Juice, Air New Zealand, as well as channel ID music for TV2, Maori TV, the TE Reo channel, and all Sky Sport channels.

BAHAR HENSCHEL - Composer of Iranian Music

Bahar is a German-Iranian rap artist, musician and songwriter.

She has written and released three own records and is considered to be one of the leading female rappers in Germany.

Since 201, she is also successful as a songwriter for numerous leading German artists. PRODUCERS CHILIK MICHAELI, AVRAHAM PIRCHI & TAMI LEON – UNITED CHANNELS MOVIES (UCM) Chilik Michaeli, Avraham Pirchi & Tami Leon are the founding partners of United Channels Movies (UCM), established in 2006. UCM is one of the leading production companies in Israel and has for goal is to create feature films telling local stories for broad international audience. UCM maintains long established relationships with its international partners and supporters. UCM films have run the major international film festival circuits, reached a worldwide audience and sold internationally.

Films produced by UCM:

"The Man in the Wall" (2015) Director" Evgeny Ruman. Premiered at the 2015 Rotterdam International Film Festival. "Atomic Falafel" (2014) Director: Dror Shaul | Co-production: Israel/Germany/New Zealand "Dancing Arabs" (2014)- Director: Eran Riklis | Co-production: Israel/Germany/France "Yona" (2014)- Director: Nir Bergman | Co-production: Israel/Germany "Big Bad Wolves" (2013)- Directors: Navot Papushado & Aharon Keshales. Won best film prize at the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Award for best director in The International Fantastic Film Festival Sitges and declared by Tarantino as the best 2013 film. "Igor & the Cranes' Journey" (2012) Director: Evgeny Ruman |Co- Producers: Yeti Films &

Ulysses Films. The film premiered at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival. "And On The Third Day" (2011)- Director: Moshe Ivgy. The film debuted at the 2010 Busan Film Festival and won Best Actress at the 2010 Jerusalem Film Festival "Mabul (The Flood)" (2011) - Director: Guy Nattiv |Co- Producers: Intuitive Pictures – Canada, K5- Germany, Mact Productions- France, Metro Communications- Israel, Ocean- France & EZ FILMS- France. The film received a Special Mention in the 2011 Berlin Film Festival.Won Best Film and the Cinematography Award at the 2010 Haifa Film festival. "Rabies" (2010) - Directors: Navot Papushado & Aharon Keshales. The film won the Critics' award at the 2011 Fantasporto Festival. The film was screened at the 2011 Tribeca Festival. "The Matchmaker" (2010) – Director: Avi Nesher | Co- Producers: Metro Communications & Artomas Communications. The film was screened at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival. "A Matter Of Size" (2009) - Directors: Sharon Maymon & Erez Tadmor | Co- Producers: K5 (Germany), Mact Productions (France). The film won the Audience Award at the Karlovy Vary Festival, was selected for the Official Competition at the Tribeca Film Festival and was the opening film for the 2009 Jerusalem Film Festival. "Strangers" (2008) - Directors: Guy Nattiv & Erez Tadmor

AMIR FEINGOLD

Amir Feingold is a film and TV producer residing in Tel Aviv, Israel. Amir produced many TV specials, documentary films and commercials. In 2004 Amir produced Walk On Water and Avanim. In 2007 he produced The Bubble, and in 2009 he produced The History of Israeli Cinema. All these films were screened in Berlin Film Festival.

MOSHE EDERY & LEON EDERY - UNITED KING FILMS

Brothers Moshe Edery and Leon Edery, the children of immigrants, came from Morocco (Tangier) at a young age and worked at a local cinema. Their love of cinema paved the way to their success in the local industry culminating in the production of Israel movies and construction of the Cinema City cinema complex.

In the 1970's the brothers Edery began to distribute films and formed the company United King Films nowadays this is the largest distribution company in the country. United King Films represents various companies abroad, such as Dreamworks; Summit Entertainment; Nu Image owned by Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Red Granite, just to name a few. Moshe Edery and Leon Edery are the largest private investors in Israel cinema, and produce approximately 15 films annually.

ANDRO STEINBORN – ARDEN FILM

ANDRO STEINBORN is a producer and owner of ARDEN FILM. He teaches film and international productions at the Berlin film school (DFFF) and Hamburg Film School (HMS). He began his career in entertainment as an attorney at Studio Babelsberg and at Alexander Kluges Development Company for Television Programs (DCTP). In 1998, he joined German production house X Filme Creative Pool. Since then he has overseen the production and distribution of more than 40 films, among them "Run Lola Run" by Tom Tykwer, "Good Bye, Lenin!" by Wolfgang Becker, „The Mongol“ by Sergei Bodrov, „Paris, Je T´Aime“. His

11 producer credits include furthermore "Imagine Me&You", the 2007 Peace Award winning movie, "Goodbye Bafana", written and directed by Bille August, Michael Haneke's English- language remake of "Funny Games", starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth, "The Countess", written and directed by Julie Delpy, starring William Hurt and Daniel Bruehl and many more. 2010 Andro Steinborn founded his own production company ARDEN FILM.

MINU BARATI – JOOYAA FILMPRODUKTION

Minu Barati founded film production company JOOYAA FILMPRODUKTION in 2009, where she serves as CEO, producer and writer. Prior to studying at film school, she already gained experience working in different fields of film production such as producer assistant, script development, translating and adapting English screenplays for the German market. She also worked as a lector. Between 2001 and 2005 she was studying film production at the well- known German Film and Television Academy Berlin (Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin, dffb). After finishing her studies Minu Barati worked as a TV-producer and script developer for the film production companies Action Concept and UFA Fernsehproduktion.

After a year abroad in the US, in 2009 Minu Barati founded the film production company Jooyaa Filmproduktion, where she wrote and produced the German-Russian co-production AUSGERECHNET SIBIRIEN (Lost in Siberia) on location in Murmansk, Karelia and St. Peterburg, as well as the Israeli-German co-production ATOMIC FALAFEL.

Minu Barati is member of Allianz Deutscher Produzenten, council member of ProSiebenSat.1Media AG, member of the Board of Trustees of Macromedia University of Applied Science and member of the Board of Trustees of CIVIS Medienstiftung for integration and cultural diversity.

Feature- length films:

ATOMIC FALAFEL (2015) – Producer (Director: Dror Shaul)

AUSGERECHNET SIBIRIEN (2012) – Producer & Writer (Director: Ralf Huettner)

HAMMER UND HART (TV), ProSieben (2005) – Producer (Director: Hermann Joha)

FEUER IN DER NACHT (TV), ZDF (2004) – Junior-Producer (Director: Kai Wessel)

SKADY LIS - GETAWAY PICTURES

Getaway Pictures was founded 2009 by producer Skady Lis and is an independent film production and financing company based in Berlin. CEO Skady Lis is coming from the financing side of film production. Prior to founding Getaway Pictures she worked in the business & legal section of X Filme production and distribution, has overseen the financing and legals of more than 35 national and international feature films and invented the first German GAP financing facility for national and international films with Commerzbank Germany. She served as executive producer for Bille August’s GOODBYE BAFANA with Diane Kruger and Joseph Fiennes, Michael Haneke’s FUNNY GAMES US starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth and THE COUNTESS by Julie Delpy with William Hurt and Daniel Bruehl. With

Getaway Pictures, Skady Lis produced the German-Russian co production LOST IN SIBERIA on location in Murmansk and St. Petersburg in summer 2011 and the American-German comedy POSTHUMOUS shot in Berlin and starring Jack Huston and Brit Marling in Summer 2012, followed by Dror Shaul’s ATOMIC FALAFEL shooting in Israel and starring Alexander Fehling in summer 2014.

Getaway Pictures is focused on international feature co-productions with Germany and always looking for new, unique ideas with a clear commercial appeal.

Filmography (selection)

SAMSON & DELIAH Director: Sergei Bodrov, Producer, development MONGOL II Director: Sergei Bodrov, Producer, development QUEEN OF WAR Director: Sergei Bodrov, Producer, development GENERALISSIMO Director: Sergei Bodrov, Producer, pre prep SUMMER WITH JULIA Director: Ralf Huettner, Producer, development RO...RO...ROMEO (2015) Director: David Dietl, Producer, financing FOOL’S GAME (2015) Director: Sergei Bodrov, Producer, prep ATOMIC FALAFEL (2015) Director: Dror Shaul, Producer POSTHUMOUS (2013) Director: Lulu Wang, Producer, with Brit Marling, Jack Huston, Alexander Fehling, Official Selection @ Miami Film Festival 15 LOST IN SIBERIA (2012) Director: Ralf Huettner, Producer DAS WEISSE BAND (2009) Director: Michael Haneke, Business & Legal Affairs & Financing, nominated for two Academy Awards THE COUNTESS (2009) Director: Julie Delpy, Producer, with Julie Delpy, William Hurt, Daniel Brühl, Official entry: 59. Berlinale, Panorama FUNNY GAMES US (2007) Director: Michael Haneke, Producer, with Naomi Watts and Tim Roth, premier @ Toronto International Film Festival GOODBYE BAFANA (2007) Director: Bille August, Producer, with Dennis Haysbert, Joseph Fiennes, Diane Kruger, Official competition: 57. Berlinale THE MONGOL (2007) Director: Sergei Bodrov, Business & Legal Affairs Germany nominated for Academy Award and European Film Award A FRIEND OF MINE (2006) Director: Sebastian Schipper, Business & Legal Affairs SUMMER IN BERLIN (2005) Director: Andreas Dresen, Business & Legal Affairs GO FOR ZUCKER (2004) Director: Dani Levy, Business & Legal Affairs

MATTHEW METCALFE – GENERAL FILM CORPORATION

Producer Matthew Metcalfe has worked in film and TV for the past 18 years. In that time he has produced over NZD 100 million worth of production, representing nine feature films, 10 tele-features and numerous other TV series and documentaries.

At the same time as he is in production on Atomic Falafel, he is producing 25 April, an animated feature film about the New Zealand experience at Gallipoli in World War I. 25 April is being financed by the New Zealand Film Commission, Ingenious Media and K5 International. Matthew is also currently in pre-production with 6 Days, a feature film about the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege in London.

In 2014, The Dead Lands, a film produced by Matthew and directed by Toa Fraser premiered to critical acclaim with a Special Presentation at the Toronto Film Festival. The Dead Lands opened at number one at the New Zealand box office and will be followed by a worldwide release in 2015.

In 2013 he had theatrical releases with Beyond The Edge 3D, the true story of the conquest of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and the 1953 English expedition, and Giselle, a feature co- production with the Royal New Zealand Ballet directed by multi award-winning director, Toa Fraser. Both Beyond The Edge and Giselle were invited to screen at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. This made him the first and only New Zealand producer to ever have two films simultaneously in an ‘A’ list festival.

Previous films produced by Metcalfe have been nominated for more than 40 NZ Film Awards and have won 15, as well as being recognized at festivals such as Cannes, Toronto and London. Films he has produced have also been long-listed for two BAFTAs and nominated for a London Critics’ Circle Award. He also received a Tui Award at the 2002 NZ Music Awards for producing the iconic music video for Fade Away by Che Fu.

Metcalfe has extensive experience in co-productions and was the first New Zealand producer to carry out a tri-partite or three-way co-production between New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom with the US-funded feature film, Nemesis Game. Produced in association with Lions Gate, Nemesis Game has sold to over 30 territories including the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Australia and most of Asia.

In 2008 he produced Dean Spanley, a NZD 15 Million co-production between New Zealand and the United Kingdom that starred the late Peter O’Toole, Bryan Brown and Sam Neill and directed by Toa Fraser. Released in Australasia by Paramount and domestically by Miramax, the film was nominated for 13 New Zealand Film Awards and won seven. It was long-listed for two BAFTA awards and nominated for a London Critics’ Circle award.

In 2009 Metcalfe successfully worked with Polyphon Films in Germany to create, finance and produce the Emilie Richards series for German network ZDF. Regularly drawing an audience in excess of seven million viewers, Emilie Richards has become a smash hit in Europe and is the most successful New Zealand/German co-production venture of all time. He also acted as co-producer on the German mini-series for ZDF, Bird Of Paradise and associate producer on the ZDF series The Dreamboat.

In 2010 he produced Love Birds, a NZD 11 Million romantic comedy starring Rhys Darby (Flight Of The Conchords) and Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky). International sales are handled by Icon.

Metcalfe also produced and appeared in the top rating TVNZ documentary Vietnam – My Father’s War and the groundbreaking TV3 documentary for Inside New Zealand, Soldiers Of Fortune. Other TV credits include producing and writing the top-rating prime time series for TV One, Air Force and the CanWest TV 3 series, Steriogram – White Trash To Rock Gods

He has also contributed to the New Zealand screen sector by serving for three years on the New Zealand Film Commissions SPIF Committee (SPIFCOM) and as a member of the 2012 Government Steering Committee for the Screen Sector Review. He is currently a sitting member of the Significant Economic Benefits Film Review Panel.

Matthew holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Auckland and an Advanced Diploma in English History from the University of Oxford.

PRODUCTION & TECHNICAL INFORMATION Title: ATOMIC FALAFEL Genre: Comedy / Drama Year: 2015 Format: DCP Length: 93 min Original languages: Hebrew, English & Farsi Subtitles available: English / Hebrew

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