Raging River Films

02/02/2024

Check out this new theatre project by Raging River founder, Warren Sulatycky!

Excited to share my next project with Toronto audiences at The Theatre Centre from February 15-18, 2024!

Learn more and get your tickets here: https://theatrecentre.org/event/walking-home/

What is truth in memory and what is imagined? What is the nature of personal mythologies?

Walking Home is an interdisciplinary solo theatre development workshop created and performed by award-winning international theatre artist/filmmaker Warren Sulatycky. The work explores his journey care-giving for his mother as she progresses through stages of Alzheimers/dementia. Deeply personal yet universal in scope, the work looks not only at Sulatycky’s own care-giving challenges but the hurdles faced by societies when it comes to looking after the health of its’ elderly and indeed of all age populations. Incorporating performance, video, sound/music design.

[Image description: A poster for Walking Home. “Walking Home” is written in white block letters, above an image of Warren with his eyes closed, gazing up mouth open with an expression of grief and despair. The image has a painterly quality to it and the edges are rough like slightly degraded film. Other text reads “Written and Performed by Warren Sulatycky. Theatre Centre, Toronto. February 15-18, 2024. A workshop presentation produced by Renaissant Arts.”]

16/02/2022

Congratulations to our Jasmine Road composer Suad Lakišić Bushnaq for her Canadian Screen Awards nomination for Achievement in Music - Original Score. Your artistry raised our work to a beautiful work of art. So proud of Suad's accomplishments, and all our artists and crew involved in bringing Jasmine Road to life. Stay tuned for announcements on the Jasmine Road Canadian cinema/theatrical and online streaming release, coming shortly.

What amazing news to wake up to! I am nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for my score for Jasmine Road!!
(For the non-Canadians out there, this is the equivalent of a BAFTA or César....it's basically the Canadian Oscars..so yes, I'm jumping up and down right now!!)
I'm so incredibily honoured to be considered amongst these talented colleagues (congrats Spencer, Steve, & Darren!) and cannot thank the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television enough for this nomination!
A big thank you goes to director extraordinaire, Warren Sulatycky, for entrusting me with this gem and for one of the best artistic collaborations of my career, and to the wonderful producer Caitlyn Sponheimer.
And, my heart will always be filled with immense gratitude for my wonderful music team who helped me bring this score to life with their remarkable talents ❤
Music Composed, Orchestrated, & Produced by سعاد بشناق Suad Bushnaq
Music Score Mixer & Producer: Lodewijk Vos
Oud: Nazih Borish
Vocals: Layal Watfeh & Ashley Jane
Guitar: Timon Wientzek
Strings: Drew Jurecka & team
Score Copyist: Henry Mitton
Score Proofreading: John McKinnon

Canadian Screen Awards

01/12/2021

30/11/2021

Jasmine Road won the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD at the 3rd annual Vancouver MENA Film Festival. We are so grateful for receiving this recognition particularly from the Vancouver Middle Eastern and North African community. Jasmine Road was a deep collaborative effort between many diverse cultures including MENA and was a film based on extensive multi-year research and interviews to ensure the authenticity of the story-telling both of the Arabic and Western Canada cowboy cultures. The film represents the coming together of two disparate cultures in harmony and love. And there were so many artists from diverse backgrounds who collaborated on this group collective work of art: actors (from the MENA community) Aixa Kay, Melody Mokhtari, Ahmed Muslimani, Tito Tbaily, Raneem Jarjour, Hala Nasr, Sleman Aldib, Mohamad Awada; our non-arabic actors Greg and Toni Ellwand, Caitlyn Sponheimer, Ryan Northcott, Melanee Murray, David LeReaney and our Indigenous actor/consultant Bernard Starlight. Our amazing Arabic composer Suad Bushnaq and Animator Ehsan Gharib.

The real reason for making Jasmine Road was to bring as many diverse voices together as possible to collectively express a message of hope, compassion, empathy and love in a time of divisiveness and mistrust. Myself and my truly gifted creative collaborator and co-producer Caitlyn Sponheimer are so thankful to all these artists and so many others who worked on Jasmine Road.

We share this Audience Choice award from MENA Film Festival with all the other equally deserving films at the festival, short and long, works that expressed deep love towards humanity and pure poetry in their longing to connect with audiences. This award goes to all our fellow MENA filmmakers. Your work is all so so beautiful, moving and inspiring.

A HUGE THANK-YOU TO:
Festival Director Programming Director .reporter Digital Strategist Capacity Builder Anika Vervecken Strategic Planner .embodiment
You made us feel welcome and at home at Vancouver’s Vancity Cinema. As the sign outside the cinema says: “We sit in the dark of a cinema, to understand how to love in the light” (paraphrasing). So many of your films took me deep into the love of humanity and the MENA festival resonates with this loving quote.

AND THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL VANCOUVER JASMINE ROAD ACTORS:
Axia Kay (“Layla”) and Melody Mokhtari “(“Heba”) who attended the screening in person and shared the experience of Jasmine Road with me and Vancouver audiences. Am eternally grateful for your creativity and talent. To sit in a dark cinema with those I had made Jasmine Road is a profoundly moving memory I’ll always cherish. And the audience response following was equally moving. THANK-YOU MENA!!!!!

Warren

23/11/2021

Award-winning Jasmine Road has its’ second screening this evening, Tuesday Nov 23, 8:15 at Vancouver’s MENA (Middle Eastern and North Africa) Film Festival at the VIFF/Vancity Cinema. For tickets and info see link in bio for MENA. Jasmine Road is also available for streaming online until Nov 27 in Canada through the MENA Film Festival website. Www.menafilmfestival.com

22/11/2021

Posted • Jasmine Road’s Aixa Kay made insightful comments in diversity in film yesterday while she hosted the opening ceremony of Vancouver’s MENA film festival. Jasmine Road screens tomorrow night at 8:15pm at Vancouver’s VIFF/Vancity Cinema followed by a Q&A with actors Aixa Kay, Melody Mokhtari and filmmaker Warren Sulatycky. Jasmine also screens online in Canada through the festivals website until Nov 27. For cinema tickets and streaming info see link in profile for MENA info.

21/11/2021

So proud of Aixa Kay and her UBCP / ACTRA nomination as BEST FEMALE LEAD in Jasmine Road. Jasmine Road screens today at Vancouver’s MENA Film Festival (Middle Eastern and North Africa) at 4pm. Viff Vancity Theatre. Aixa Kay, costar Melody Mokhtari and filmmaker Warren Sulatycky will be in attendance. Aixa is also hosting the opening festival ceremony at 1:30pm. Some tickets left for the ceremony and screening. https://menafilmfestival.com/

Posted • Virtual red carpet interview, hosted by the wonderful before the awards ceremony. What a fantastic evening. Thank you to all my beautiful friends who cheered, messaged, supported, and to the tireless and hardworking union we have here in BC. Congratulations to nominees and winners! The whole programming tonight was incredibly entertaining and seamless. The interviews and speeches were heartfelt and reflective of how rich and diverse the talent pool is. Until next year, let’s go out there and continue to collaborate on meaningful stories 🥂
#ممثلة

21/11/2021

Jasmine Road's Aixa Kay is nominated for Best Female Lead. Awards are streaming tonight. See below for details.

Today is the day! The 10th annual UBCP/ACTRA Awards are taking place this evening via bit.ly/ubcpactra2021.

We’re excited to welcome our guests virtually on the red carpet to commence a night of celebration for BC talent. For live updates throughout the night, follow along on Twitter at 🌟

20/11/2021

The 2021 MENA (Middle Eastern and North Africa) Film Festival Opening Ceremony will take place tomorrow November 21, 1:30pm in partnership with Vancouver International Film Festival's Vancity Theatre, Vancouver.
Featuring live music by Bèro Saker, food by Super dishes, talks by Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies - SFU and others, and of course FILMS from the MENA/SWANA region! Jasmine Road follows the opening ceremony with a screening at 4pm.
Seating is limited, book your tickets now! Jasmine Road follows the opening ceremony with a screening at 4pm. https://menafilmfestival.com/

syria ⠀⠀

20/11/2021

Jasmine Road opens tomorrow, Sunday Nov 21, at the MENA Film Festivall with filmmaker Warren Sulatycky and stars Melody Mokhtari and Aixa Kay in attendance. 4pm at the Viff Vancity Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia. Opening festival ceremony starts at 1:30pm, hosted by Aixa Kay. There are still some tickets left for the ceremony and screening at: https://menafilmfestival.com/

Jasmine Road screens again at the festival Tuesday Nov 23, 8:15 followed by a Q&A, and ONLINE Nov 21 - 27) at: https://menafilmfestival.com

19/11/2021

UBCP ACTRA Nominee Love!
Congratulations to for their 2021 Lead Female nomination for

Watch awards ceremony online at https://www.ubcpactra.ca/ubcp-actra-awards-2021-nominees/
Saturday, November 20
Red Carpet: 5:45 PM ⁠
Show: 7:00 PM⁠

Catch Aixa Kay in person at Vancouver's MENA (Middle Eastern and North Africa) Film Festival as she hosts the opening ceremony, Sunday Nov 21, 1:30pm, then a screening of Jasmine Road at 4pm, all at the VIFF/Vancity Cinemas, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver. For MENA Film Fest opening ceremony and Jasmine Road tickets:
https://menafilmfestival.com/

18/11/2021

There's one thing that festival-goers and film critics agree on who see Jasmine Road. That Jasmine Road young actor Melody Mokhtari is an emotional standout!

"A remarkable performance by newcomer Melody Mokhtari" - Calgary Herald.

Vancouver audiences can see Melody's performance and meet her in person this Sunday Nov 21 at the MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) Film Festival, Vancouver. Opening Festival Ceremony at 1:30, Jasmine Road screening at 4:00pm. Screening again Tuesday Nov 23, 8:15pm. And virtually online from Nov 21 - 27. For tickets and more info: bit.ly/3oHlqTV

Melody Mokhtari, with over 5 years of experience in acting, voice-over, improvisation, and theatre work is a creative, talented, and skilled young artist. She is known for her role as Heba in the feature film Jasmine Road (2020), directed by Warren Sulatycky, recognized and awarded by the Edmonton International Film Festival as the Best Canadian Feature Drama, as well as showcased at the Calgary International Film Festival and the Calgary Arab Film Nights.
Melody’s acting skills are praised by The Calgary Herald as “a remarkable performance”. Some of her other works include Best Buy holiday season, Fisher-Price and BC Soccer commercials as well as voice-over roles in Zebra Animation series.
Melody trained at Vancouver Young Actors School with Leo-Award winning Johannah Newmarch, Beverley Elliott, Jillian Walchuck, Edward Witzke, Jeff Evans Todd. Melody is fluent in English, French, and Farsi and speaks beginner Spanish. Her musical passions are playing jazz-style music on the saxophone, finger-style guitar, ukulele and kalimba. She loves making videos and photography and doing sports including skateboarding, ice skating, cycling. Melody looks forward to expanding her talents and working on her next big productions soon!

syria

17/11/2021

UBCP/ACTRA AWARDS
3 DAYS TO GO! Saturday, November 20. Red Carpet: 5:45 PM ⁠ Show: 7:00 PM⁠: https://www.ubcpactra.ca/ubcp-actra-awards-2021-nominees/

Jasmine Road's star Aixa Kay is nominated in BEST LEAD FEMALE category for her work portraying a Syrian newcomer to Canada in our film.

17/11/2021

Have you got your Opening Ceremony tickets yet! This week we'll be rolling out our game-day roster of guests and speakers leading up to the big day on Sunday! We start with none other than , our emcee for the afternoon and star of which screens at on Sunday, November 21 and Tuesday, November 23 as well!

🎙"Aixa Kay (pronounced eye-sha) is a Saudi Canadian actor and writer. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and was the head-writer for Um Elhala, a prime-time sitcom that appeared in MBC1. In 2013, she moved to Vancouver, BC to pursue acting. In Jasmine Road (2020), she performed her first lead role in a full length feature. In 2021, she narrated two audiobooks and launched the podcast "Saudi Sisters" which discusses family, culture, and working in the arts as BIPOC women. She had her theatrical debut in the Vancouver Fringe Festival this year, and has completed the mentorship program at Women in Film and Television Vancouver and Penguin Random House Audio."

15/11/2021

Jasmine Road is an official selection in MENA Film Festival (middle eastern and north african) in Vancouver, screening at the VIFF/Vancity cinema Sunday Nov 21, 4pm and Tuesday Nov 23, 8:15pm. Filmmaker Warren Sulatycky and stars Aixa Kay and Melody Mokhtari will be in attendance. See below for details.

12/11/2021

TONIGHT at Celebration Cinema in Okemos, Michigan, East Lansing Film Festival, 9pm ET.

"Jasmine Road" Trailer, 2020 Written, produced and directed by Warren Sulatycky, co-produced by Caitlyn Sponheimer. with major financial support from Telefilm…

11/11/2021

Award-winning Jasmine Road screens at the East Lansing Film Festival tomorrow night Nov 12 at 9pm at Studio C/Celebration Cinema, in Okemos Michigan.
For schedule and cinema ticket info.
https://elff.com/

Ever wondered how the East Lansing Film Festival started? Well, here’s a story for you! The East Lansing Film Festival (ELFF) is a multi-pronged, year-round non-profit organization that was created in 1997 to bring independent films to mid-Michigan and to foster filmmaking in the region. ELFF holds a world-class film festival each November that showcases dramas, comedies, documentaries and short films. In early winter, ELFF holds the Lake Michigan Film Festival (previously known as the Lake Michigan Film Competition) that awards cash prizes to films made in the four states that surround Lake Michigan – Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. ELFF also holds the Indie Film Series in partnership with the John Loeks theaters where 3 or 4 independent first-run films are shown for 4 weeks, 10 months of the year.

11/11/2021

Multi-award winning Jasmine Road screens as an official selection at the East Lansing Film Festival, in cinema tomorrow night November 12, 9pm at the Celebration Cinema in Okemos, Michigan. The East Lansing Film Festival is the oldest and second largest festival in Michigan.

https://elff.com/films-schedule/

An unlikely friendship blossoms when a widowed conservative cowboy takes in a family of Syrian refugees. As the family launches an ice cream business, they encounter hostility from the local community, forcing Mac to confront his own prejudices. Set in a tiny rural corner of the vast Canadian Rockies, Jasmine Road explores universal themes of familial love, loss, and tolerance.

“Extraordinary, Marvelous” – CTV News “Remarkable, Surprising Depth” – Calgary Herald “Fantastic, Heartfelt” - CJSR FM 88.5

Have you heard the news? The East Lansing Film Festival is back November 11-14 in Studio - C in Okemos! https://celebrationcinema.com/ For more information about the East Lansing Film Festival check out our website. https://elff.com/

10/11/2021

Jasmine Road filmmaker Warren Sulatycky wins the inaugural SOCIAL IMPACT AND VISION AWARD at the 22nd annual Ojai Film Festival in Ojai, California, November 7, 2021. The win includes a $60,000 US Panavision services award for a future Raging River Films production.
The Sulatycky family - Mother (Marylin), Father (Allen) and Sister (Annemarie) were on hand for the celebration in beautiful Ojai. Thank-you to ALL Jasmine Road cast, crew and collaborators for helping to bring this story of hope and tolerance to full creation.
And BIG thank-you to the Ojai Film Festival and Panavision for opening your hearts to our film.

Jasmine Road can be screened online during the Ojai Film Festival's virtual period from Nov 9 - 14 at: https://ojaifilmfestival.eventive.org/welcome

Next up for Jasmine Road festivals:
- East Lansing Film Festival, Michigan – in cinema, Friday November 12: https://elff.com/

- MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) Film Festival, Vancouver, OPENING FESTIVAL FILM, November 21 - 27, Vancity Theatre and Online: https://menafilmfestival.com/

05/11/2021

Posted • Saturday, November 6 at 7 PM AC Theater Jasmine Road – 120 min 🎬🎟🎞📽🍿

03/11/2021

Jasmine Road is screening as an official selection at the 22nd annual Ojai Film Festival, in Ojai, California, in cinema, on Saturday November 6, 7pm at the Theater. The screening is part of the Ojai Film Festival's Diversity Films series. Filmmaker Warren Sulatyckywill be on hand for a Q&A following the film.

A new mini-festival within the umbrella of the 22nd Annual Ojai Film Festival reflects the theme “Enriching the Human Spirit through Film.” This inaugural “Diversity and Inclusion for Social Impact and Vision” program explores the breadth of “diversity.” At the same time it examines “intersectionality,” aspects of a person’s identity that may cause conflict yet create an opportunity for understanding marginalized communities.
🏳️‍🌈👩‍🦽✌🏽✌🏼👩🏽‍🦯✌🏻✌🏾👩🏾‍❤️‍👩🏻
This mini-festival consists of thirteen films sprinkled throughout the Festival, plus a dynamic two-part panel.
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🎥
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01/11/2021

A true life highlight to have my family with me at the Newport Beach Film Festival for the Jasmine Road screening. My mother and father came down from Canada (not an easy journey during this still challenging time in the pandemic) to see the film on the big screen for the first time. Thanks mom for inspiring me to dream and create. - Warren Sulatycky

28/10/2021

TONIGHT! Join Newport Beach Film Festival for the OC Premiere of the award-winning film JASMINE ROAD! A Q&A with filmmakers Warren Sulatycky and Allen Sulatycky will follow the film.

JASMINE ROAD
In the rural western Canadian cowboy town of Red River, Mac Bagley (a recently widowed rancher in his sixties) opens his home to a fractured Syrian refugee family. Withstanding some opposition in the conservative town, Layla (a journalist and booza-maker - Arabic ice cream - from Aleppo), her young magic-inspired daughter Heba and Salem (Layla's adult gay brother) struggle to gain new footing in this new land. Mac finds himself in similar circumstances as he seeks for meaning and hope after the loss of his wife. While waiting for news of her missing husband, Layla introduces Mac to her Muslim culture. She proposes they partner in opening a booza ice cream shop to help them both move forward. The venture may just hold the promise for a new future.

JASMINE ROAD will screen on Thursday, October 28th at 7:45pm at Starlight Triangle Cinemas.

Written and directed Warren Sulatycky, JASMINE ROAD stars Greg Ellwand, Toni Ellwand, Aixa Kay, Ahmed Muslimani, Melody Mokhtari, Caitlyn Sponheimer, Ryan Northcott, Brian Martell, Jason Long, Ivan Cermak, Jaslyn Collis, Nimet Janji, Paul Zinno, David LeReaney, Peter Strand Rumpel.

Click link in bio for tickets.

27/10/2021

Filmmaker Warren Sulatycky representing the award-winning "Jasmine Road" and his many amazing collaborators on the film at the Newport Film Festival. Screen Thursday Oct 28, 7:45pm, Triangle Starlight cinemas, Newport Beach.

27/10/2021

Posted • Last chance: www.TINYURL.com/nbff21jasmine
🎭📍:

Jasmine Road screens tomorrow night Thursday October 28 at The Newport Beach Film Festival. 7:45pm. Starlight Cinemas Triangle Square, Newport Beach, California.

26/10/2021

Newport Beach Film Festival, Monday Mexican film evening with a fantastic event sponsored by the California Mexican consulate. JASMINE ROAD screens in-cinema Thursday October 28, 7:45 pm Triangle Cinemas - Theatre 4. Followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Warren Sulatycky.

"An unlikely friendship blossoms when a widowed conservative cowboy takes in a family of Syrian refugees. As the family launches an ice cream business, they encounter hostility from the local community, forcing Mac to confront his own prejudices."

Pre-order tix at:
https://bit.ly/3bjXijP

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25/10/2021

The Newport Beach Film Festival is underway where "Jasmine Road" is officially screening in cinema Thurs, Oct 28th, 7:45 PM @ Starlight Triangle Square Movie Theater - Theater #4. Filmmaker Warren Sulatycky will be attending for a live Q&A following the film.
Posted • Last but not least, the third piece of my favorite feature narrative trio at this year’s is ! In one of our monthly deliberations, fellow NBFF programmer and I fought over on who get to represent it 😂 (she won 👑). But really, it is a beautiful immigrant story that a lot of people can relate with. The cinematography is also 🤩 making you want to visit 🇨🇦.
Major 👏 and ♥️ to .mokhtari and to the rest of the JASMINE ROAD team!
Visit https://bit.ly/2ZvtgaL on how you can watch this.
🎭📍:

21/10/2021

"Jasmine Road" wins BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM award at the Immigration Film Festival, Washington DC. Our story of compassion and acceptance continues to reach hearts and minds worldwide inspiring thought and openness.

"A Syrian refugee family arrives in the rural Canadian western town of Red River and settles on the ranch of a recently widowed conservative cowboy in his sixties. Withstanding some initial opposition in the town, Layla and her family struggle to find footing in a new land."



Immigration Film Festival

21/10/2021

Posted • Last but not least, the third piece of my favorite feature narrative trio at this year’s is ! In one of our monthly deliberations, fellow NBFF programmer and I fought over on who get to represent it 😂 (she won 👑). But really, it is a beautiful immigrant story that a lot of people can relate with. The cinematography is also 🤩 making you want to visit 🇨🇦.

Major 👏 and ♥️ to .mokhtari and to the rest of the JASMINE ROAD team!

Visit www.TINYURL.com/nbff21jasmine on how you can watch this.

🎭📍:

21/10/2021

The Newport Beach Film Festival starts today where "Jasmine Road" is officially screening in cinema Thurs, Oct 28th, 7:45 PM @ Starlight Triangle Square Movie Theater - Theater #4. Filmmaker Warren Sulatycky will be attending for a live Q&A following the film.