by FilmInk Staff
Penned by award winning journalist and refugee ambassador Abdul Karim Hekmat (top left), 2017 article True Love in Nauru will now be adapted into feature film Paradise, by leading independent production company Aquarius Films.
Billed as a moving and harrowing drama, Paradise will be based on the real-life story of two gay refugees who meet and fall in love, despite the odds, whilst imprisoned in an offshore detention facility established by the Australian Government.
Paradise is being adapted for the screen by Hekmat, who will co-write the screenplay with Roger Monk (Walking on Water, Nowhere Boys, The Unusual Suspects), with co-directing duties falling to Rhys Graham (Galore, Murundak: Songs of Freedom, The Unlisted) and Phoenix Raei (The Night Agent, Clickbait, pictured bottom left), an Australian actor/director of Persian descent, in his feature directorial debut.
“I’m looking forward to helping bring this story to life,” said Raei in a press release. “I have faith that the vision and depth of this character-driven drama will have an impact on the audience it deserves.”
“Since first reading Abdul Karim’s journalism several years back, I’ve been deeply moved and inspired by Ashkan and Nima’s story of a profound love that survived and transcended the horrific, crushing regime of Australia’s offshore detention,” added co-director Rhys Graham.
Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford will be producing for Aquarius Films, alongside Osamah Sami (Ali’s Wedding, pictured right).
“I’m proud and excited to be part of a project that embodies the true essence of collaborative storytelling, for it is through this synergetic form that we’re able to tell powerful stories that are magical and moving, whilst maintaining their authenticity,” commented Sami.
“We were so moved by Abdul’s article,” noted producers Fielder and Staniford. “He is an enormously talented storyteller who has captured the triumph of the human spirit. We want to bring this story to the screen because we are so inspired by these brave men who, despite every imaginable obstacle, prevailed and stayed true to their love.”
“When Nima and Ashkan told me about their incredible and forbidden love story, I was so moved I decided to write it for others to read,” said co-writer Abdul Hekmat. “This kind of heart-wrenching and harrowing story, I thought exists only in imaginative literature, however, this is a true love story that happened in the secretive and inhospitable place of Australia’s offshore detention centre. I am excited to be working with the team at Aquarius and talented scriptwriter, Roger Monk, to bring this passionate love story to the world.”
Script development is funded by Screen Australia and LevelK, with LevelK also handling international sales.
