Harvest Films–the longstanding production house founded by executive producer Bonnie Goldfarb and DGA Award-winning director Baker Smith–has signed director Nicholas Schrunk.
Schrunk brings action and adventure storytelling sensibilities to the company’s boutique and curated roster.
“Nick’s work is memorable and takes ‘action genre’ content creation to an entirely new level,” assessed Harvest co-owner Goldfarb. “His experience working with Red Bull, as a creative director, has given him the tools to excel in our marketplace.”
Schrunk just returned from China on a major new launch for Cadillac and he most recently won an Emmy for his feature documentary, Blood Road, which has drawn praise from the L.A. Times, The Huffington Post, Access Hollywood, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and ESPN. Blood Road introduces us to professional multi-sport athlete Rebecca Rusch as she and riding partner Huyen Nguyen become the first people to cycle the entire Ho Chi Minh trail through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos–a 1,200-mile journey.
Schrunk comes aboard a Harvest directorial roster that consists of company co-owner Smith, Elizabeth Banks and Sam Jones.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More