Acclaimed British actor Jason Flemyng (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch)
and leading Indian singer-poet Satinder Sartaaj, who makes his acting debut in THE
BLACK PRINCE, an award-winning
historic film biopic on the poignant life story of the last King of Punjab – Maharajah Duleep Singh – will be gracing the 70th Cannes
Film Festival to unveil the film’s first trailer on Saturday 20th May 2017.
Produced by Brillstein Entertainment Partner’s (Academy Award winning film 12 Years A Slave), THE BLACK PRINCE,
a period drama written and directed by Hollywood filmmaker Kavi Raz and
filmed widely across the UK and India, carefully captures the tragic,
yet fascinating true story and legacy of Maharajah Duleep
Singh, providing a visual narrative of one of India’s most noble kings, and his
fragile relationship with Queen Victoria, who was Godmother to his children.
After
receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from film festivals and award
committees around the world, THE BLACK PRINCE will be at the centre of several
activities in Cannes to coincide with the 70th
Cannes Film Festival.
·
The film’s
stars Satinder Sartaaj and Jason
Flemyng will be providing insight
into THE BLACK PRINCE during press interviews on Saturday 20th
May.
·
This will be followed by the Official Trailer Launch for the film
at 4.30pm, where the first trailer will be screened at Cannes’ India
Pavilion.
·
Following the launch of the trailer, a special Cocktail Reception will
be held to celebrate the film’s impending launch at 5.30pm.
·
Satinder
Sartaaj and Jason Flemyng will also
grace the official Red Carpet of the Cannes Film Festival alongside
other luminaries at 6.30pm.
·
To end the day, an Exclusive Screening of THE BLACK PRINCE will
take place in the main festival Palais.
Satinder
Sartaaj marks his acting debut in THE BLACK PRINCE,
portraying the role of Maharajah Duleep Singh with eloquence. He is joined by
an esteemed cast of acting stalwarts including Jason Flemyng as Dr.
Login, the foster parent for the Maharajah, English
stage, screen actress Amanda Root (The Iron
Lady), who portrays the bold role of Queen Victoria;
and veteran actress Shabana Azmi (City
of Joy) as Rani Jindan, the exiled King’s mother. The film also features
Keith Duffy, David Essex OBE, Canadian actor Rup Magon and Sophie Stevens
in supporting
roles.
In anticipation of its worldwide release, THE
BLACK PRINCE has already won several awards including the award for Best Drama Feature at the LA Film Awards, the Special Jury Remi Award at the 50th Annual WorldFest International Film
Festival in Houston, and the Best
Male Debut Award for lead actor Satinder Sartaaj at the London Independent Film Festival.
Speaking
about the film, Satinder Sartaaj
said: “It has been heartening to see such
a great response to the film around the world. Bringing THE BLACK PRINCE to
Cannes alongside so many other incredible films is an exciting prospect and I
hope it will help carry the story of one of the greatest kings of all time to
audiences globally.”
Jason Flemyng said: ”It’s not often you get the chance to tell a story like that of
Maharaja Duleep Singh's, and so being a part of this film was a fantastic
opportunity. Seeing THE BLACK PRINCE collect awards in festivals around the
world is indeed a very promising sign that we’ve made something that really
resonates, and hopefully the audience at Cannes will agree too.”
As the last King of Punjab, THE
BLACK PRINCE chronicles Maharajah
Duleep Singh's lifelong struggle and daring journey of self-discovery to
reclaim his identity, his faith, and the Kingdom that was rightfully his.
This ultimately leads him to meeting his mother after 13 years of her
being in exile. THE BLACK PRINCE spotlights
Queen Victoria’s cordial relationship with Maharajah Duleep Singh, as he begins
adjusting and embracing the English culture he was drawn to at the age of 15.
The film also sheds light into his upbringing as an aristocrat in the UK who
converts to Christianity under the influence of his foster parents, but later longs
to return to his Kingdom, mother and roots. His character, as it evolves, is
torn between two contrasting cultures – his royal ancestry from the Kingdom of
Punjab as its last King, set against his upbringing in the UK as he embarks in
a new journey of exile, away from his mother.
THE BLACK PRINCE is also poised
to create a wave of intrigue in India and the UK as the story touches upon the
historically significant and priceless Kohinoor diamond, which was purportedly
gifted by a young 13-year-old Maharajah Duleep Singh to Queen Victoria in a
ceremony held in 1850, at Buckingham Palace, London.
The Black Prince releases internationally
in cinemas on 21st July 2017.
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