HOTEL MUMBAI (2018) Director & Cast
Anthony Maras, Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, and Nazanin Boniadi
ANTHONY MARAS (Director/Writer/Editor), DEV PATEL (Arjun), ARMIE HAMMER (David), NAZANIN BONIADI (Zahra)
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ANTHONY MARAS (Director/Writer/Editor) is a multi award winning Greek-Australian filmmaker, who has carved a reputation for tackling ambitious, large-scale, character driven stories, often shot on location in difficult circumstances. Anthony's short film THE PALACE, which he directed, wrote, produced and edited, was set during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and shot along the UN Green Line in Nicosia.
THE PALACE had its international premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and won awards at over 20 festivals internationally. The film was one of six selected by the Cesar Awards/French Film Academy to screen at the Golden Nights of Short Film at the UNESCO World Headquarters in Paris.
THE PALACE won Best Short Film and Best Short Screenplay at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTAs). This marks Anthony's third AACTA Award, having also won Best Short Film for his police drama SPIKE UP. Anthony was also nominated for the same award for his first film AZADI, which explored the plight of Afghan refugees in Australian detention centers.
Anthony's work has premiered or won awards at film festivals the world over, including: Telluride FF, Rotterdam IFF, Palm Springs IFSF, Santa Barbara IFF, Austin FF, Valladolid FF, Hamptons FF, Flickerfest SFF, Adelaide FF, Melbourne FF, Sydney FF, Beverly Hills FF, Bilbao ISFF, Sao Paulo IFF, Los Angeles ISFF, Interfilm Berlin ISFF, Rome IFF, Fort Lauderdale IFF, Athens IFF, Vermont IFF, Bermuda IFF, Drama IFF, Tiburon IFF, Berkshire IFF, Festival du Film Court de Mont-Tremblant, Australian FF, St Kilda FF, IF Awards, ADG Awards and AWG Awards.
Co-written with John Collee, HOTEL MUMBAI is Anthony's directorial feature film debut. The film screened to rave reviews and strong audience response at its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and its Australian premiere at Adelaide Film Festival where it won the Rising Sun Audience Award for Best Film.
Maras was named one of Variety's top 10 directors to watch in 2018.
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DEV PATEL (Arjun) catapulted to success in 2008 when he starred in the Academy Award-winning film SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, and received rave reviews for his performance and garnered several award wins including the National Board of Review Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, The British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer, The Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Award for Best Young Actor, and The Chicago & Washington Film Critics' Awards for Most Promising Performer. In this film, Patel's character recounts his upbringing in the slums of India while he is accused of cheating on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Since then, Patel has expanded his repertoire with acclaimed roles on both big and small screens.
Patel will soon begin production on his feature directorial debut with MONKEY MAN, a script he co-wrote and is also producing. The film centers on the Kid (Patel), who emerges from prison to grapple with a world marred by corporate greed and eroding spiritual values. Patel recently wrapped filming in the titular role on THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD, written and directed by Armando Iannucci and based on the novel Charles Dickens.
Patel also recently completed production on THE WEDDING GUEST for Sony Pictures, written and directed by Michael Winterbottom and produced by Revolution Films. Patel serves as a producer on the film, a story centered on a mysterious British Muslim man on his journey across Pakistan and India.
In January 2018, Patel directed the short film HOME SHOPPER, which debuted at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Patel also served as a producer on the project, which stars Armie Hammer and Thomas Sadoski and was written by Ryan Farhoudi and Leigh Whannel.
In November 2016, Patel starred as 'Saroo Brierley' in the critically-acclaimed film LION, opposite Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara for director Garth Davis. The film is adapted from the memoir "A Long Way Home," by Saroo Brierley, that tells the story of a young Indian orphan adopted by an Australian couple, who journeys to find his biological family years later. Patel captured the screen as a worthy contender, garnering acting nominations from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics Choice awards. Additionally, Patel took home the Supporting Actor award at the 2017 BAFTAs.
In April 2016, Patel starred opposite Jeremy Irons in Matt Browns' THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY, an IFC production. As a brilliant mathematician with no prior education, he tells a story about struggles of adapting to a new culture, friendship, and breaking barriers. In March 2015, Patel also starred opposite Hugh Jackman, Sharlto Copley and Sigourney Weaver in Neill Blomkamp's CHAPPIE for Sony & MRC. Patel plays an engineer who has designed an A.I. robot but then is captured by criminals who have their own plans to use his robot.
Patel starred in the 2011 film THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL opposite Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Richard Gere. The film, directed by John Madden, became a worldwide commercial success and was nominated for a Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Picture. Patel played the host of a run-down hotel who charms a few elderly cash-strapped Britons on vacation. He returned with the same cast for the 2015 sequel, THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL. Both films were released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.
On the small screen, Patel starred opposite Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer in HBO'S Golden Globe nominated series THE NEWSROOM, created by Aaron Sorkin, for which he was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2013 for Best Supporting actor for his portrayal of 'Neal' in the show. Additionally, Patel appeared on the British teen drama SKINS early in his career, on which he played 'Anwar Kharral,' a role written specifically for him.
Patel currently resides in Los Angeles.
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ARMIE HAMMER (David) received an Independent Spirit Award and Golden Globe nomination for his role in Luca Guadagnino's CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, opposite Timothee Chalamet. The film premiered to rave reviews at Sundance 2017, before going onto the awards circuit later that year. The film earned BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. Sony Pictures Classics released the film on November 24, 2017.
In 2018, Hammer starred in Boots Riley's film SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. Annapurna purchased the film following its debut at Sundance and later released it July 6th. The cast also included Tessa Thompson, Lakeith Stanfield and Omari Hardwick. He was also seen starring in Mimi Leder's Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic, ON THE BASIS OF SEX, opposite Felicity Jones. Hammer portrays the role of Ginsburg's husband, Martin. Focus Features released the film December 25th.
This year, he will star in Babak Anvari's WOUNDS, opposite Dakota Johnson, which will be released on March 29th.
In July 2018, Hammer made his Broadway debut in Anna D. Shapiro's play STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, which opened at the Helen Hayes Theater. The cast also includes Josh Charles, Ty Defoe and Paul Schneider. The last performance took place on September 9th.
In 2017, Hammer voiced the role of "Jackson Storm" for Pixar's CARS 3. He also starred in Ben Wheatley's film FREE FALL alongside Cillian Murphy and Brie Larson. The film premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, earning the People's Choice Award for 'Midnight Madness' and A24 released the film on April 21st
In 2016, Hammer appeared in Tom Ford's critically acclaimed film NOCTURNAL ANIMALS alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams and Michael Shannon. Focus Features released the film on November 18, 2016.
In 2015, Hammer starred with Henry Cavill in the spy thriller THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., playing Russian spy Illya Kuryakin and American agent Napoleon Solo, respectively. The film was released by Warner Brothers on August 14, 2015.
In 2013, Hammer starred as the title character in THE LONE RANGER, alongside Johnny Depp, directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.
Hammer earned a 2012 SAG Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Clyde Tolson in Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar Hoover biopic J. EDGAR, with a script by Dustin Lance Black. Hammer starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. The film was released by Warner Brothers on November 11, 2011.
His performance as the Winklevoss twins in the award-winning film THE SOCIAL NETWORK garnered him critical praise and positioned him as one of Hollywood's breakouts of 2010. Hammer was nominated Most Promising Performer by the Chicago Film Critics Association, and awarded Best Supporting Actor by the Toronto Film Critics Association. The film received a SAG nomination for Best Ensemble, as well as a Best Picture Golden Globe. It was also recognized by both Los Angeles and New York Film Critics, the Broadcast Film Critics Association, National Board of Review and named one of the AFI's Top 10 Films of the Year.
*****
NAZANIN BONIADI (Zahra) is an accomplished British actress in both film and television as well as a passionate, renowned activist.
On television, Boniadi stars opposite J.K. Simmons in the critically acclaimed Starz Original series, "Counterpart," as 'Claire,' an enigmatic young woman of curious origin. The story centers on a hapless U.N. employee (Simmons) who discovers the agency he works for is hiding a gateway to a parallel dimension, created by East Germany. Directed by Morten Tyldum and written and created by Justin Marks, the series premiered on December 10, 2017. "Counterpart," which was renewed for a second season and is currently in production, is set to premiere in 2019.
From October 2013 to December 2014, Boniadi previously recurred as 'Fara Sherazi' in the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning drama series, "Homeland," for which she shared a 2015 SAG-AFTRA Award nomination for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series'. Additional television credits include 'Nora', in seasons six and seven of CBS's Comedy, "How I Met Your Mother." In 2014, she appeared as the notorious 'Adnan Salif' in season three of Shonda Rhimes' ABC hit political drama series, "Scandal."
Additional on screen credits include, the adaptation of BEN-HUR, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, PASSENGERS, directed by Morten Tyldum, THE NEXT THREE DAYS, directed by Paul Haggis, and the first installment of IRON MAN, directed by Jon Favreau, among others. Born in Tehran, Boniadi and her family relocated to London shortly after the Iranian Revolution. While in London, following her early involvement in theater, Boniadi sought to pursue acting and trained in Contemporary Drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts under the supervision of dramaturge, Lloyd Trott.
In addition to her passion for the arts, Boniadi is a dedicated human and women's rights advocate with a focus on Iran. From 2009-2015, she served as a spokesperson for Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) and continues to partner with the non-profit as an Amnesty International Artist of Conscience. In 2014, she was selected for term membership by the Council on Foreign Relations and in 2015, she joined the Board of Directors at the Center for Human Rights in Iran. Boniadi's advocacy work has taken her to Capitol Hill, British Parliament, and most recently, the Bundestag.
Boniadi received her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. During her time at UCI, she received the distinguished "Chang PinChun" Undergraduate Research Award for molecular research involving cancer treatment and heart transplant rejection.
Boniadi currently resides in Los Angeles.
