Indian-American producer Ashok Amritraj has decided to shift the release date of his recession drama 99 Homes, starring Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield, to June 2015.
After getting a great response at Venice and Toronto film festivals, the Ramin Bahrani-directed drama was touted as a front-runner at the Academy Awards next year but the producers decided to shift it to 2015.
Amritraj, 58, who has produced the film with Garfield, Kevin Turen, Justin Nappi and Bahrani, says they shifted the release date as there are already big releases lined-up for this year.
"We will release the film next year in June. There is no time left for promotion if we release this year. Moreover, there are big releases already lined up for this year be it Birdman, The Imitation Game or Foxcatcher.
"These are the biggies which will be up for this year. They are all playing trailers at theatres at this time. So, now we will start building up our trailer, website and will be in the race for Academy in 2016," said Amritraj.
99 Homes, starring Garfield and Michael Shannon in lead, was screened at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival and also competed for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.
"I didn't expect such a response but I am honoured that it is being appreciated. The film is a very touching human story. Homes are very much what we are. We work all our lives to have a home. When somebody takes it away from you then it becomes a big deal. Both Andrew and Michael are brilliant in the film," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"I didn't expect such a response but I am honoured that it is being appreciated. The film is a very touching human story. Homes are very much what we are. We work all our lives to have a home. When somebody takes it away from you then it becomes a big deal. Both Andrew and Michael are brilliant in the film," he said.
{{/usCountry}}The Chennai-born filmmaker's list of Hollywood work includes movies like Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Killer, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, The Other End of the Line, Premonition, Double Impact and Eyewitness to Murder under his banner Hyde Park Entertainment.
His only production in his native country was 1998 Tamil romantic drama Jeans, starring Aishwarya Rai, Prashanth and Nassar in lead roles. The film was later dubbed in Hindi and Telugu.