Jon Stewart’s ‘Rosewater’ Picked Up By Open Road Films
Jon Stewart directing ‘Rosewater’
Jon Stewart’s screenwriting and directorial debut, Rosewater, has acquired US distribution through Open Road Films.
OddLot have financed the film, whilst Sierra/Affinity is dealing with international sales at the Cannes Film Festival.
Rosewater tells the story of Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari, living in London with his pregnant fiancée. In June 2009, he travelled to Iran to cover the presidential election.
Bahari was arrested and kept in Evin Prison for 118 days, whilst being blindfolded, interrogated and tortured by someone who smelt of rosewater. During this time, Bahari was accused of being a secret agent for several foreign intelligence groups.
Stewart’s screenplay is based on the book Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity and Survival, written by Maziar Bahari and Aimee Molloy.
Jon Stewart took a three month break from hosting his satirical news show The Daily Show in 2013 to direct Rosewater in Jordan, whilst British comedian John Oliver took over hosting duties.
Rosewater stars Gael García Bernal (The Motorcycle Diaries, A Little Bit of Heaven) as Bahari, and since filming, Stewart has returned to hosting The Daily Show.
Rosewater is due to be released at the end of 2014.
