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Tarak Ben Ammars Quinta Communications inks deals with Warner Bros

and Universal Pictures to bring acclaimed filmmaker Jean-Jacques

Annauds $55million Black Gold to the big screen

October 13 2010- Tarak Ben Ammars Quinta Communications has signed multi-territory

distribution deals with Warner Bros and Universal Pictures for the $55 million epic

adventure Black Gold.

Antonio Banderas, Tahar Rahim, Mark Strong, Freida Pinto, Riz Ahmed and Liya Kebede

have signed on to star in Black Gold, an adaptation of Hans Reuschs classic novel The

Great Thirst.

Acclaimed filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud (Quest for Fire; The Name of the Rose;

Seven Years in Tibet; Enemy at the Gate) will direct based on the screenplay by Menno

Meyjes (The Color Purple; Empire of the Sun; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade).

Jean-Jacques Annaud and Alain Godard have co-written the story.

Principal photography will begin in Tunisia on October 18 and the film will shoot in Ben

Ammars Empire Studios and on location in Tunisia.

Black Gold tells the story of the rivalry between two Emirs in Arabia in the 1930s just as

oil is being discovered, and the rise of a young, dynamic leader who unites the various tribes

of the desert kingdoms. The film will sweep audiences into the heart of the Arabian

Peninsula in a way not seen since David Leans seminal Lawrence of Arabia some fifty

years ago.

Warner Bros will distribute the film in France, the United Kingdom, Latin America and the

Middle East.

Universal Pictures International (UPI) will distribute the film in Germany and Spain.

Quinta Communications Eagle Pictures is handling distribution in Italy.

Remaining distribution deals are currently being finalised for a worldwide Christmas 2011

release.

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Tahar Rahim, after his award-winning, breakthrough performance in Jacques Audiards Un

Prophete, will play the lead role of Prince Auda in Black Gold, a hero torn between two

fathers, two loves, two choices, one destiny.

Mark Strong (Robin Hood; Sherlock Holmes; Kick-Ass) is Audas father Amar, ruler of

Salmaah, who is forced to give up his beloved two sons after losing a battle to his fierce

enemy Nessib, ruler of the kingdom of Hobeika, played by Antonio Banderas (Mask of

Zorro; You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger) . Frieda Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire; Miral)

plays Princess Lallah, the daughter of Nessib and future wife of Auda. Riz Ahmed (Four

Lions) plays the role of the wisecracking Dr. Ali, half-brother to Auda, while supermodel

Liya Kebeda (Flower of the Desert) plays fiery Bedouin slave girl Aicha.

For Tarak Ben Ammar, the production of Black Gold represents the culmination of a thirty

year journey to adapt Hans Reuschs novel.

I first optioned the book in 1978 when I was still only beginning my career as a film

producer, said Tarak Ben Ammar. The film will chart the relationship between oil and

Islam in Arabia and the clash between modernity and tradition which shaped the region for

decades to come. The themes are still very alive: Is oil an advantage? Which countries have

used it intelligently? Which have been able to stay faithful to their culture, religion, yet

modern at the same time? Not since 'Lawrence of Arabia' has there been a picture like this

about the Arabian Peninsula.

Richard Fox, Executive VP International Warner Bros. added: We at Warner Bros. are proud

and delighted to be involved in such a prestigious project. Tarak Ben Ammars passion and

commitment to this film has been instrumental in assembling such an amazingly talented

group of filmmakers and actors who will now bring this epic tale to the screen.

Christian Grass, President of International Production and Acquisitions for Universal Pictures

International (UPI) commented: Were delighted to be able to work with Tarak Ben

Ammar and come onboard Black Gold as the international distribution partner in select

territories. This epic adventure further enhances our 2011 slate and is just the kind of

exciting event movie that we believe can appeal to audiences around the world.

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Central to Quinta Communications strategy is the fact that Black Gold will deliver to

audiences around the world an entertaining adventure in the Arabian desert and the kind of

breathtaking action and spectacle that contemporary audiences are craving for.

This is a timely film for the whole family to see and enjoy together. We promise to

transport them to another world under the Arabian sky, says Ben Ammar. This is a big-

budget, big, big epic with a lot of action, planes, tanks and thousands of extras.

Notes to Editors:

About Quinta Communications:

Quinta Communications, founded in 1990 by Tarak Ben Ammar, is the only fully integrated,

multi-platform entertainment company formed and run by an Arab that has successfully

established itself in Europe and North America as well as the Middle East and North Africa.

Tarak Ben Ammar has overseen an ever-expanding infrastructure that now includes

theatrical distribution operations in France (Quinta) and Italy (Eagle Pictures), production

studios (Empire Studios, Carthago Film Studios in Tunisia and Cinema City with Luc Besson in

France), post-production (LTC, Scanlab, Duran Duboi, Eclair Group) and TV Networks

(Nessma TV covering the Maghreb as well as Sport Italia and the DFree digital bouquet in

Italy). Tarak Ben Ammar is also a board member of The Weinstein Company, Telecom Italia

and Mediobanca.

In 2010, Quinta co-produced two major feature films: Rachid Boucharebs Outside The

Law, about the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial rule, received its

world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Quinta also co-produced Julian Schnabels Miral, based on Rula Jebreals biographical

account of Palestinian woman Hend Husseinis establishment of the Dar El Tifl orphanage

following the 1948 partition of Palestine and establishment of the state of Israel. The film

received its world premiere in competition at Venice Film Festival.