Liya Kebede to act along with Antonio Banderas on $55 million epic adventure Black Gold

LONDON –Tarak Ben Ammar's Quinta Communications and the Doha Film Institute (DFI) have inked a deal to co-produce Jean-Jacques Annaud's $55 million budgeted Black Gold. Ben Ammar's banner has pacted with the DFI to co-produce the Antonio Banderas, Tahar Rahim, Mark Strong, Freida Pinto, Riz Ahmed and Liya Kebede starrer.

Billed as an epic adventure, the screenplay by Menno Meyjes is an adaptation of Hans Reusch's novel The Great Thirst.
Annaud and Alain Godardhave co-written the story.
The deal was unveiled Thursday during this year's DFI.
Shooting began in Tunisia earlier this month and the film will shoot in and around Ben Ammar's Empire Studios in Tunisia, as well as on location in Qatar next year.
Black Gold tells the story of the rivalry between two Emirs in Arabia in the 1930's just as oil is being discovered, and the rise of a young, dynamic leader who unites the various tribes of the desert kingdoms
Warner Bros. will distribute the film in France, the U.K., Latin America and the Middle East.
Universal Pictures International (UPI) will distribute the film in Germany and Spain.
Quinta Communications' Eagle Pictures is handling distribution in Italy.
"I am delighted that the Doha Film Institute will be my partners in bringing this epic story of Arab heroism and nobility to audiences around the world," said Ben Ammar. "When I first tried to make this film over 30 years ago, I could not find any Arab partners who shared my belief that culture and cinema was a priority. Now, thanks to the inspirational vision of H.E.Sheikha Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani and her team at the Doha Film Institute, I can see how much has changed and that progress is real."
For the Doha Film Institute, which launched at the Cannes Film Festival this year, Black Goldrepresents the first major international feature film that the organization has been involved with.
Amanda Palmer, executive director of DFI said: "One of the goals of DFI is to support and showcase Arab storytellers and expand the reach of Arab films globally. Since our launch five months ago, we have been looking for film financing opportunities that provide unique educational experiences to Qatari youth, and it was important for us to find a production to film here."
Source: Holywood Reporter