EXCLUSIVE: Ann Peacock is staying in Africa for her next writing gig, signing on to pen the feature adaptation of Asher Naim‘s 2003 book Saving The Lost Tribe: The Rescue And Redemption Of The Ethiopian Jews. First Born Films has optioned the book and life rights to Naim, the one-time Israeli ambassador to…

Gotham Awards: 'The Descendants', 'Martha Marcy May Marlene', 'Beginners' And 'Take Shelter' Lead Nominations New York, NY (November 9, 2011) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the nation's oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers announced today that award winning actors, Oliver Platt and Edie…

Rachid Bouchareb's drama Hors La Loi about the Algerian revolution caused controversy at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, prompting a demonstration and armed police on the streets. Nevertheless, the Gulf state of Qatar’s 2nd Doha Tribeca Film Festival will open with that film and close with The First Grader…

The Toronto Film Festival acquisition parade continues. National Geographic Entertainment has acquired U.S. theatrical rights to The First Grader, the true story of an 84-year old Kenyan former Mau Mau rebel who battles to get an education. Justin Chadwick  directed and Ann Peacock wrote the script. Pic played Toronto…

EXCLUSIVE: The international sales arm of the London-based financier is handling worldwide rights apart from US, which it's sharing with executive producer Anant Singh. The First Grader has been tipped for Venice, and has already been accepted for the London Film Festival in November. Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Cari…