Relativity Media made one of the first major purchases at this year’s American Film Market (AFM), picking up the North American distribution rights to the Iran-based musical drama Desert Dancer, starring Freida Pinto, Reece Ritchie and “Downton Abbey” star Tom Cullen, for an undisclosed amount of money.
Directed by first-timer Richard Raymond from a script by Jon Croker, the film is based on the story of Afshin Ghaffarian (Ritchie) who dreamed of becoming a dancer in a country where dance is forbidden with the majority of the film taking place in the 2009 protests that led the country towards more freedoms. The film is choreographed by Akram Khan, who was responsible for the same job at last year’s London Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Relativity president Tucker Tooley declared, “’Desert Dancer’ is an important movie that was exceptionally made, and we are proud to be a part of it.”
