#FIRSTLOOK: PRODUCTION BEGINS ON “EMBERS” STARRING RALPH FIENNES AND VIGGO MORTENSEN

Serendipity Point Films and HGO Films today announce that principal photography is underway on location in Budapest on Embers. Directed by Academy Award winner István Szabó (MEPHISTO, COLONEL REDL, SUNSHINE, BEING JULIA) and produced by Robert Lantos (SUNSHINE, BARNEY’S VERSION, THE SWEET HEREAFTER, EASTERN PROMISES) and Tibor Krsko (RISE OF THE RAVEN, FATELESS), the film stars three-time Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes (CONCLAVE, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, SCHINDLER’S LIST) opposite likewise three-time Academy Award-nominated Viggo Mortensen (EASTERN PROMISES, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, GREEN BOOK). Embers is written by Academy Award winner Christopher Hampton (THE FATHER, ATONEMENT, DANGEROUS LIAISONS), adapted from the internationally best-selling novel of the same name by Sándor Márai. Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling (45 YEARS, DUNE) joins the cast, along with Katherine Langford (13 REASONS WHY, KNIVES OUT), Louis Hofmann (ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE), Gijs Blom (THE KOLLECTIVE), Evelyne Brochu (FRENCH GIRL), and Jonah Russell (LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER).

Embers reconnects once inseparable friends, Henrik and Konrad, decades after Konrad’s mysterious disappearance and uncovers over the course of one evening the secret that tore them apart—and the woman at the center of it.

Hampton first adapted Márai’s beloved novel as a stage play. Following its successful run on London’s West End, he then delivered a screen draft to Szabó with a single message, “In hope”. The material was tailor made to reunite Szabó with his Sunshine and Being Julia producer, Lantos, and Sunshine star, Fiennes.

“Since Christopher Hampton sent it to me, Robert Lantos and I have been waiting to film the best script I have ever held in my hands. The basis, Márai’s novel, is one of the most beautiful works of 20th Century fiction. Christopher perfectly adapted the novel for film,” Szabó shares.

“I have worked with Ralph, Viggo and István in the past. Uniting them to make Christopher Hampton’s magnificent screenplay come to life is a fantasy realized. Embers is my dream team film,” says Lantos.

“I had long hoped to be reunited with István Szabó on another film. Robert Lantos has brought us together with Christopher Hampton’s wonderful adaptation of Embers. One of the great joys of this project was to be able to work with Viggo Mortensen, he is a great actor who I have admired for many years. It was something extraordinary to be on the set with him, István and a superb Hungarian crew,” says Fiennes.

“To have worked alongside Ralph Fiennes for István Szabó on Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Sándor Márai’s beautiful novel has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I couldn’t have asked for a more inspiring challenge,” adds Mortensen.

Ari Lantos (REMEMBER, CLARA) is Producer, and Laura Lanktree (CRIMES OF THE FUTURE) is Co-producer. Executive Producers include Jan Mojto, Atom Egoyan, Tim Haslam, and Andrea Calderwood, with Hampton and Jeff Sackman as Co-Executive Producers.

Embankment Films is handling international sales. “Embers is a high stakes psychological duel, in which a moment of desire and betrayal defines a lifetime,” says Tim Haslam.

Joining Szabó are Academy Award winning composer Mychael Danna (LIFE OF PI), production designer Attila F. Kovacs (SUNSHINE), cinematographer Dániel Garas (RISE OF THE RAVEN), costume designer Bea Merkovits (RISE OF THE RAVEN) and editor David Wharnsby (AWAY FROM HER). The film was cast by Academy Award nominee Nina Gold (HAMNET).

Embers is a Serendipity Point Films, HGO Films, Potboiler Productions co-production. It is produced with the support of MTVA, Beta Film, Bell Media, and CBC Films.

Ralph Fiennes is represented by Simon Beresford at 42 Management and Production, Joel Lubin at Creative Artists Agency, and Jason Sloane and Tom Collier at SOWDLLP. Viggo Mortensen is represented by Theresa Peters at United Talent Agency, and Stuart Rosenthal at GGSSC. Charlotte Rampling is represented by Lesley Duff at Diamond Management, and Elisabeth Tanner at Time-Art. Leslie Siebert at Gersh represents Katherine Langford, along with Cynthia Pett at Brillstein Partners. Louis Hofmann is represented by Andrew Tsoules and Landon Shepanek at Creative Artists Agency, John Hyslop at United Artists, and Lucy Popkin at GGSSC. Miles Pathirana at The Artists Partnership and Sara Juricic at Henneman represent Gijs Blom.

About Serendipity Point Films:

Serendipity Point Films is focused on theatrical feature films and event television. Among the films produced by its owner, Robert Lantos, The Sweet Hereafter, Sunshine, Being Julia, Eastern Promises, and Barney’s Version were nominated for Academy Awards and/or Golden Globes. The Sweet Hereafter and Crash won Jury Prizes in Cannes, while Barney’s Version won the Audience Award in Venice and eXistenZ and Museo each won a Silver Bear in Berlin. Serendipity most recently produced the ten-hour historical epic series Rise of the Raven and the feature film Crimes Of The Future. www.serendipitypoint.com

About Embankment:

Founded by Tim Haslam and Hugo Grumbar, Embankment consistently delivers acclaimed, award-winning, and commercially resonant stories, including the Oscar-winning The Father, Oscar and BAFTA-nominated The Wife, the BAFTA-nominated documentary McQueen, and the worldwide streaming phenomenon Purple Hearts. Its in-house producing team includes Kevin Loader (Allelujah, The Death of Stalin, The Personal History of David Copperfield) and Nick Taussig (McQueen, Audrey, Churchill), whose combined experience along with the founders spans over 400 productions and a catalogue of more than 1,000 titles. https://embankmentfilms.com