FREMONT AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND RELEASE DATE REVEALED
Mushroom Studios is delighted to announce the much hyped and critically acclaimed film FREMONT will be in cinemas nationwide throughout Australia and New Zealand on May 2.
FREMONT features Anaita Wali Zada in her debut breakout performance, alongside Australian born actor Gregg Turkington, and Primetime Emmy Award winner and star of the hit show ‘The Bear’, Jeremy Allen White.
A beautifully poignant story, FREMONT uniquely illustrates the experiences of an Afghan immigrant and former translator for the US military, as she builds a new life in San Franscisco with captivating dry humour and a sense of stoic optimism.
FREMONT is the fourth feature film by Director Babak Jalali. The Iranian-British filmmaker was determined to craft a story that focused on true observations. Which is why casting real-life Afghan refugee Anaita Wali Zada, in her debut role, was a key decision to achieve a realistic sense of experience throughout the film.
“This film is about an immigrant in a new country but, of course, there is no uniform immigrant experience.
Each individual has different reasons for leaving and each individual has their own dreams and desires for what the future will hold in their new home. Often, one’s past dictates their present and for someone starting from scratch somewhere far from home, the past is never really behind them,” said Babak Jalali.
Shot in stunning black and white, FREMONT is a nuanced character study that is centred around the absurdities of cultural adjustment and feelings of displacement, presented through a deadpan comedic lens.
“Showing humour in situations that are bleak doesn’t underplay the seriousness or depth of a story. It can make it even more real and add layers. As the saying goes: ‘He who cries only has one pain. But he who laughs has a thousand and one pains.’”
Produced by Extra A Productions and Butimar Productions, the film showcases powerful performances and outstanding cinematography, to ultimately tell a story of the human experience and our universal hopes, dreams, and desire for love.
FREMONT premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim. The film also screened to overwhelmingly positive reviews at SXSW in the US and received a range of accolades including:
The John Cassavetes Award – Independent Spirit Awards
Best Director – Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Special Jury Prize – Deauville Film Festival
Grand Jury Prize – The Independent Film Festival of Boston
One in a Million Award – Sun Valley Film Festival
Best International Independent Film Nominee – British Independent Film Awards
FREMONT IS IN CINEMAS MAY 2
