Tribeca Festival 2024 Untold Stories Winner ‘Honeyjoon’ Casts ‘Jackpot!,’ ‘Call Me By Your Name’ Actors (Exclusive)

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As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for indie films and a soft spot for poignant narratives, I am genuinely thrilled about the upcoming release of “Honeyjoon”. The stellar cast, comprising talents from critically acclaimed productions such as “Jackpot!” and “Call Me By Your Name”, promises an intriguing blend of dramatic depth and comedic flair.

The latest winner of the Tribeca Festival‘s Untold Stories, “Honeyjoon,” is now set to feature actors who have previously starred in “Jackpot!” and “Call Me By Your Name.” Filming for this production will take place in Portugal this autumn.

This independently produced comedy-drama, penned and helmed by Lilian T. Mehrel, features Ayden Mayeri (known for her roles in ‘Jackpot!’, ‘Mr. Throwback’, and ‘I Love That For You’), Amira Casar (recognizable from ‘La Maison’, ‘Call Me By Your Name’, ‘Sarah Bernhardt’, and ‘La Divine’), and José Condessa (noted for his work in ‘Strange Way of Life’ and ‘Turn of the Tide’).

Honeyjoon accompanies Lela (Casar), a Kurdish-Persian woman, and her American daughter June (Mayeri) on a journey to the Azores following a significant loss. They each hold distinct perspectives regarding the trip, grief, as well as June’s beachwear, according to Tribeca’s description.

The Tribeca synopsis goes on to say, “Among the joyful newlyweds, Woman Life Freedom, and their intellectually stimulating guide João (played by Condessa), they form a connection that seems to reinvigorate them.

Mehrel praises her cast by saying, “Working with Ayden, Amira, and José is a director’s dream come true! Their performances breathe such depth, authenticity, and liveliness into their characters that they seem real and vibrant. Just like real life, Honeyjoon adds a blend of raw emotion and humor to the mix. The way Ayden seamlessly switches between comedy and drama, Amira’s natural gravitas and lightness, and José’s radiant energy complement each other wonderfully. I can hardly wait for everyone to witness their stunning chemistry in this film.

Mayeri expresses her delight, stating, “Working with Lilian is an absolute privilege! Her voice is unique, fresh, and captivating. Reading the script for the first time left me astounded by its honesty and specificity – it felt like she was reading my thoughts. The way she portrays grief, joy, and everything in between, with such courage and life-affirming authenticity, I knew without a doubt that I had to play June.

Casar expressed immediate intrigue upon reading the script, admiring Mehrel’s “directorial traits” and noting that her writing style subtly incorporates a unique blend of intimacy and humor, which she referred to as a fresh genre.

Casar remarks, “Mehrel is not only a director who excels in visuals but also in poetry. Her dialogue and storylines are cleverly witty. I found myself eagerly anticipating working with such intriguing content.

At the 2025 Tribeca Festival, “Honeyjoon,” the winner of the seventh annual AT&T Presents: Untold Stories pitch competition held at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, will make its premiere. This film was created at the TorinoFilmLab’s ComedyLab and Cine Qua Non Storylines Lab. The joint U.S.-Portugal production is being produced by Andreia Nunes with Wonder Maria.

Mayeri is represented by Gersh and Mosaic, Casar by Artmedia and Condessa by Carrelo Squad.

Since 2017, Untold Stories has been offering funding and assistance to filmmakers from underrepresented communities. The grand prize winner secures $1 million, in addition to mentorship and advice, to transform their idea into a full-length film that will screen at the following year’s Tribeca Festival. Over 35 feature films have benefited from this program.

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2024-11-13 19:26