Untamed Talent, the newly launched Arab world management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment director Antone Saliba, is rebranding to 75East and bringing on board Shams Mohajerani, a former acquisitions executive at Cairo-based MAD Solutions, as head manager and producer.
The company’s name change to 75East, which launched last December with support from Front Row Productions – a joint venture between leading Middle Eastern distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment – is a geographical reference to the wider Southwest Asia and North African area. (SWANA) region from Morocco to Pakistan, “reflecting the company’s commitment to representing talent outside Arabic-speaking areas,” a statement said.
The addition of Mohajerani, an Iranian-American raised in Boston, will expand the company’s reach beyond the Arab world and focus on neighboring areas “including the Persian-speaking world, as well as filmmakers with ties to the region who work and live across Europe and the US,” the statement said.
“Shams is one of the brightest minds in the industry, who is also fluent in multiple regional languages,” said Saliba, head of 75East. “He has built a reputation for being close to the very best filmmakers and he has a great eye for newcomers and IP,” he added.
Untamed Talent unveiled its first client roster of writers and directors in December, including Palme d’Or nominee Abu Bakr Shawky (“Yomeddine,” “Hajjan”); Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner Bassel Ghandour (“Theeb,” “The Alleys”); Amjad Al Rasheed (“Inshallah A Boy”); and Firas Khoury (“Alam”, “Maradona’s Legs”) limited series.
More customers from the wider region will be announced in the coming months.
