American Film Market Dailies

Published on November 12, 2015

 

THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE ANTICHRIST - Forest Whitaker set to star | Filmfestivals.com

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Every fall, the Global Film Industry Converges in Santa Monica

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Filmmakers, producers, directors and writers from around the world come to AFM to gain exposure, discover new projects and make deals. Each year, nearly one billion dollars in deals are sealed at AFM on both completed films and those in every stage of development and production.

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The American Film Market & Conferences is the largest motion picture trade fair in the world. 

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THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE ANTICHRIST - Forest Whitaker set to star

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Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) and Vince Vaughn (upcoming HACKSAW RIDGE, INTO THE WILD) are set to star in the drama THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE ANTICHRIST to be directed by two time Oscar nominee writer/director Roland Joffé (THE KILLING FIELDS, THE SCARLET LETTER), it was announced today by Emmy Award nominated producer Craig Baumgarten (HOOK, NEVER BACK DOWN).

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Joffé co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Ashton. Currently in pre-production, THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE ANTICHRIST will begin shooting in early 2016.

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13 Films is handling international rights and will introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market. WME Global is handling North American rights.

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Kim Ashton serves as executive producer on the feature film.

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Based on the play The Archbishop and The Antichrist by Michael Ashton, the feature film follows a fictionalized account of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s (Whitaker) meetings with brutal murderer Piet Blomfield, who seeks redemption for the atrocities he’s committed while he serves a life sentence in prison in post-apartheid South Africa.

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Forest Whitaker is currently filming Walt Disney Studios’ highly anticipated ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, which will be released December 16, 2016, and will next appear in Paramount’s science fiction STORY OF YOUR LIFE alongside Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Whitaker is most known for his award-winning portrayal of Idi Amin in THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, earning an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award, amongst other honors, for his performance. Other film credits include Oscar Best Picture winner PLATOON alongside Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, and Tom Berenger, and LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER with Oprah Winfrey and John Cusack.

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Writer/Director Roland Joffé started his directorial film career with THE KILLING FIELDS, which won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, Cinematography, and Film Editing, and also earned Joffé a nomination for Best Director. His other credits include directing and producing THE SCARLET LETTER, starring Demi Moore and Gary Oldman, and directing historical adventure THE MISSION, starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, for which he was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Director.

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The fall of Apartheid in South Africa did not bring an end to the violence. New President Mandela established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Mphilo) was appointed as its Chairman. With the passing of the months as the TRC listened to the harrowing and horrific tales coming out from the years of Apartheid rule, the much loved Tutu experienced  a crisis of faith and conscience. 

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It is 1994 and Tutu is accosted by a grieving mother outside a TRC hall in Cape Town. Rashly, he promises he will find out for her the answer to what fate her 'disappeared' daughter suffered. Months pass, he finds nothing, guilt engulfs him, and then he receives a letter from a white Afrikaners serial killer imprisoned for life in Pollsmoor Prison offering him the answers he seeks. The Archbishop has met the Antichrist and the conflict between the true in their meetings is what leads to the Forgiven.

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