For Immediate Release:

Made on a shoestring budget with a skeletal production crew that travelled to political hotbed Iraq during uncertain times, this film tells a story of hope. Devoid of the prevailing negative stereotypes of the Middle East that are so often perpetuated in the western world, Mikael, one of the first co-productions of Kurdistan, Canada, the United States, and the UAE, takes a close personal look at the people and beauty of the region that most outside the country are unfamiliar with. Blurring the line between documentary and drama, many subjects in the film are not actors but the actual members of the internationally recognized Duhok Football Club. Actual events that transpired during the training sessions very much shaped the story. Filmed in Los Angeles and Kurdistan. In English and Kurdish.

Mikael
left: “Mikael” played by Kordo Doski; right: “Jesse” played by Jose Moreno Brooks

Credits –
• Director – Kordo Doski
• Screenwriter – Kordo Doski
• Producers – Nameer Al-Durrah, Jose Moreno Brooks, Kordo Doski
• Associate Producers – Michael Ciulla, Nadav Streett
• Cinematographer – Michael Ciulla
• Editor – Jose Moreno Brooks
• Original Score – Tim Martin, wavetourists

Cast –
• Mikael – Kordo Doski
• Kristina – Sitara Hewitt
• Shawn – Randall Park
• Jesse – Jose Moreno Brooks
• Haval/Hotel Clerk – Mivan Shaban
• News Announcer – Michele Tredger
• Sportscaster – Dwayne Perkins

Kordo Doski (Director, Screenwriter, Producer, “Mikael”) –
Born in Kurdistan, raised in Canada, and currently residing in Los Angeles, Kordo Doski holds a BA in Communication Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. He currently has two projects in the works that have garnered interest from established production companies looking to shoot with Doski attached as director and lead actor. Doski has also been hard at work developing a web series called The Grind, coming out later this year. In addition to telling stories, Doski is the co-founder of Lina Hanson Beauty, an all-natural skin care line that is known for giving back and celebrating the concept of global beauty. The skin care line has received rave reviews by renown publications such as Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, andTeen Vogue, to name a few. Doski’s objective with Mikael was to explore and expose Iraq as a land of opportunity, which is largely contrary to the common perception of the country.

Jose Moreno Brooks (Producer, Editor, “Jesse”) –
Born in San Jose, California, Moreno Brooks graduated with a degree in Economics from UCLA, on the straight and narrow path towards the family business of law. Realizing, just in time, that all he had ever wanted to do was to tell stories for a living, he hung a sharp left and has been doing so since he met Doski in an acting class. In Doski, he found a fellow actor tired of waiting in line. Doski had a film that he wanted to make and Moreno Brooks could not have been more ready to jump. His understanding of the character’s journey as well as the story Doski wanted to tell, combined with his willingness to sit in a dark room, alone, for long periods of time, made him the perfect candidate to edit this film. He recently signed on to play a starring role in NBC’s upcoming Eva Longoria project, Hot and Bothered.

Nameer Al-Durrah (Producer) –
Born in Baghdad, raised in Abu Dhabi, and emigrating to Toronto at the age of 9, Al-Durrah’s interests are as diverse as the landscape in which he was raised. After graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University, he moved to Nigeria, working in the oil sector for two years before deciding to go back and pursue higher education. That idea did not last long as the allure of starting his own business was too attractive, calling him back to the Middle East where he established CBM in the Kingdom of Bahrain. A serial entrepreneur in a variety of industries including construction, telecom and manufacturing, saying no to a good business idea has always been difficult for Al-Durrah. He had been waiting for an opportunity to enter the film industry since his time at Wilfrid Laurier with Doski. What started off as a casual discussion 10 years ago led to his producing role for Mikael.

Sitara Hewitt (“Kristina”) –
Sitara Hewitt (aka Tara Hewitt) is a Canadian film and television actress of Pakistani ethnicity. Originally from Toronto, Canada, her performing career began in dance and she is trained in classical ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern, with dance roles in productions like Deepa Mehta’s Bollywood/Hollywood. She is also a model who has appeared in countless magazines in North America. She can be seen starring as the intelligent and devout “Rayyan” in Canada’s hit series Little Mosque on the Prairie. She was also the co-host of the Comedy Network’s You Bet Your Ass. Along with her acting roles, Hewitt has also hosted shows like Playtime on Sportsnet and Double Down on Global.

Randall Park (“Shawn”) –
Randall Park is an American actor, comedian, writer, and director. He played Kim Jong-Un in the 2014 film, The Interview, Minnesota governor Danny Chung in Veep, and is Eddie Huang’s father, Louis Huang, in ABC’s television show Fresh Off the Boat. He was born in Los Angeles, to Korean parents, and graduated from the Humanities Magnet Program at Hamilton High School. Park went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing and a Master’s degree in Asian American Studies from UCLA. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.

Said Who? Productions –
Said Who? Productions is a family of artists and entrepreneurs dedicated to telling the human story through cinema. The production company’s independence allows Said Who? to challenge the status quo dictated by the larger studios through authentic and accessible narrative film.  Ingenuity, passion, and creativity allow participating artists to ask the question, “Said Who?”

Lina Hanson Media –
Lina Hanson Media is an extension of the Lina Hanson brand of hand-blended, organic beauty products. Much like the skin care brand’s mandate to celebrate global beauty, the media component of the organization spotlights universal stories that connect us all.

Links –
• Official Film Site – http://www.mikaelfilm.com
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/mikaelthefilm
• IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2692134
• Duhok International Film Festival – http://duhokiff.com

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For more information, photos, a screener, or to schedule an interview, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at 213-840-1201, lynn@greengalactic.com.

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~ What Folks Are Saying About Mikael ~

 “As an antidote to fast paced blockbuster films, this subtle, powerful, very human, and deeply moving film also manages through its subject matter to have a unifying effect upon the audience. Mikael… a lovely indie gem.”

– Tim Sika, President, San Francisco Film Critics Circle

“[Kordo Doski’s] background gives him a window to themes and cultures that most of us only know from the news. His instincts are to make such material accessible and entertaining to a broad audience. His talent allows him to achieve this goal. Kordo Doski is a fresh, charismatic voice for the future, one highly worth embracing.”

– Daniel Waters, Writer/Director (Heathers, Batman Returns, Sex and Death 101)

“An Iraqi-American Rocky: Mikael is a winning paean to ignoring the odds and chasing dreams.”

– Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

“I can say with certainty that his filmmaking is not just good, it’s the work of a unique and confident voice that knows it’s supposed to be heard.”

– Joseph M. Smith, Producer (Falling Up, See This Movie)

“10/10 I loved this movie! Especially how it shows another culture in such a kind way. Too many Americans are so close-minded and scared about the world.”

– Audience Member, Test Screening at Camera Cinema Club

“10/10 Tender, thoughtful, a treasure of a film. Touches some universal chords within. Bravo!”

– Audience Member, Test Screening at Camera Cinema Club