Gay Love Against the Odds Film ‘Paradise’ to Be Produced by Australia’s Aquarius (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comPatrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefAquarius Films has optioned the film development and production rights to Abdul Karim Hekmat’s acclaimed article “True Love in Nauru,” and aims to produce it as feature film “Paradise.”“Paradise” is the powerful true story of two men who meet and fall in love in an Australian offshore detention center.
Their relationship becomes a life-affirming source of strength as they take on institutional indifference and overcome hopelessness, finally making their way to freedom.Hekmat’s original article was published in The Monthly, an Australain political and society magazine.
Hekmat, who resides in Australia, arrived as a refugee from Afghanistan and spent five months in detention will co-write the screenplay with Roger Monk (“Walking on Water,” “Nowhere Boys,” “The Unusual Suspects”). “Paradise” will be co-directed by Rhys Graham and Phoenix Raei, an Australian actor-director of Persian descent.
Rae, who will be making his feature directorial debut, has recent performance credits including Netflix series “The Night Agent,” Netflix mini-series “Clickbait,” movie “Black Site,” and immigration-themed mini-series “Stateless.” Graham’s credits include “The Turning” and Aquarius’ YA series “The Unlisted” for Netflix and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.The film will be produced by Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford for Aquarius Films, and Osamah Sami, who earned an Academy Award-nomination for “Lion” and who co-wrote and starred in “Ali’s Wedding.” “Paradise” will be executive produced by Aquarius’ Miranda Culley.
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