tanabi / April 13 / Uncategorised

ACTRESS SAMIRA MOHAMED ALI TO STAR IN HARD-HITTING FEATURE FILM ‘CRUSHED WINGS’

Following winning the Best Actress award for her role in By Any Name (2016) at this year’s North Wales International Film Festival, Samira has just been cast to play co-lead in the powerful feature film Crushed Wings. Principal photography will take place in July 2016 where the team will film in the UK, India and Nepal.

In an interview today, the Writer and Director of Crushed Wings Lalit Bhusal of Cam Buddha Films said: “We are extremely excited to have Samira as part of the lead cast for this film, which will highlight issues of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Asian countries, which include India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and many more countries. Crushed Wings will be the voice of those who have suffered, and for those who are presently suffering unknowingly. It will also bring issues affecting FGM to the wider audience. FGM causes physical and emotional pain, and our research shows that the issues have been raised in the past by media and governments, but there is still not enough awareness, support, and educational material available for these women. Samira’s recent film roles, in particular Molly Crows has showed me that she can play these challenging characters and is able to cope with filming in difficult environments, which we will face in Nepal and India this summer”.

Samira will play the character Emma in the film, a foreign social worker opposite actors Oznur Cific and Nisaro Karim. The film will be shot in English, and then eventually dubbed in Hindu and Urdu. Speaking earlier today, she said “I am truly honoured to have been cast for this film, as it will highlight many dark subjects such as FGM and ‘honour’ violence and killings, that are not freely discussed in society these days. I look forward to working with the cast and crew and hopefully the film will encourage young women to come forward and report these barbaric rituals”.

The film deals with very current issues. One key advisor who will also feature in the film is Women’s Rights Activist Mandy Sanghera, who recently played an integral role as advisor for the recent factual-based drama ‘Murdered By My Father’ on BBC which looked at ‘honour’ violence and killings”.

Crushed Wings is set for release in 2017 across UK, Europe, India and Asia.

 

Production Company: Cam Buddha Films Ltd 

Project by Director/Writer/Producer: Lalit Bhusal,

Co-Producer : Shivani Vyas (Mumbai)

Main Cast: Oznur Cific, Samira Mohammed Ali, Nisaro Karim, Jet Summan

Guest Appearance: Bhasker Patel – Indiana Jones/Thunderbirds/Emmerdale

Researcher: Mansoor Zahid

tanabi / March 1 / Community

Miami Finally Joins the Tiki Revival.

MIAMI BEACH, Florida. (Tanabi) – Saturday February 20, 2016.

One of Miami’s most decorated and beloved celebrity chefs, Ralph Pagano, has opened what is to become Miami’s first full-blown Tiki concept, Naked Tiki.

As many will recall, Chef Pagano, is the brainchild of several Naked concepts in Miami: Naked Taco (at The Dream Hotel), Naked Lunch (located inside the University of Miami Life Science & Technology Park) and now, Naked Tiki (located inside the Stiles Hotel at 1120 Collins Ave., Miami Beach). Naked Tiki is significant as it marks Miami-Dade’s first foray into a full-tilt Tiki concept, something which a lot of restaurants and hotels in the area have been flirting with in recent years but have not been fully committed to.

(L to R) Celebrity chef Ralph Pagano, journalist Jim "Hurricane" Hayward, and Tanabi's MMV

Tanabi teamed up with Tiki expert, The Atomic Grog blogger, and Palm Beach Post journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward for a sneak peek before the crowds arrived.

Located inside the Stiles Hotel, Naked Tiki boasts a multilevel paradise consisting of roughly 2,500-square-feet of space divided into three separate areas. Up front, there’s the nautical-themed main bar – The Coconut Bar, while downstairs introduces time travelers to a sleek lounge area with an adjoining restaurant called The Bamboo Lounge, complete with a smaller tropical islander bar called The Shark Bar. Finally, a lush outside seating area includes three small swimming pools and decorative moai-laden gardens for guests to enjoy a twinkling starry evening sky.

On Saturday night about 250 people descended upon the Stiles Hotel sipping on Mai Tai’s and Scorpion Bowls that transported them to faraway tropical isles. Guests included Emmy award-winning actor and producer Vincent De Paul, Honduran filmmaker Guillermo Ayestas, and Syndicated News’ Dena Stewart and Stewart Stewart.

Naked Tiki's Bennett Goldman and actor Vincent De Paul (center) with the Polynesian revue dancers

Naked Tiki’s concept is simple: to pay tribute to Tiki culture and to become a haven for classic cocktail lovers dedicated to embracing recipes of bar masters from the days of yore; our favorite drink of the night was the famed Aku Aku (an original recipe developed back in the 1960s in Las Vegas) and Tiki’s signature drink, the Mai Tai.

As we walked around the outside pool area, we observed numerous Tiki torches, string lights, teakwood furnishings, and giant custom moai. Dancing hula girls greeted guests with leis and live Polynesian fire dancers put on an authentic revue show towards the end of the night. As we walked, Chef Pagano explained, “I have been a fan of Tiki for a long time and I am thrilled to put one on the map in Miami Beach.”

Poolside revue show with Polynesian fire dancers

Naked Tiki’s rum-soaked cocktail list spotlights updated classics from yesteryear (for example, muddled mint in our Aku Aku), and included themed drinks (the famed #88 which utilizes tequila), large-format punch bowls, and frozen daiquiris. We tried the delicious Barrel of Monkeys, Mai Tai, and the Aku Aku, which according to Chef Pagano, uses fresh squeezed juices, in-house infusions, homemade shrubs, and fresh seasonal ingredients from local farmer’s markets.

Naked Tiki's exotic five-selection Pu Pu Platter

With a choice from a tantalizing array of exotic dishes, we chose Naked Tiki’s famed Pu Pu Platter (a delicious mixture of spicy tuna poke, real lump Crab Rangoon, steak Negimaki, sticky wings, and BBQ spare ribs) and handmade pork and ginger Dim Sum, among tempting appetizers, and over 15 Cantonese-inspired preparations.

Tiki bars have a special place in American booze lore and Naked Tiki is a testament to all who have come before in bringing you hand crafted cocktails and island inspired dishes in a traditional Tiki setting.

The comeback of Tiki (which had it’s original heyday in the middle of the 20th century) is not only a natural progression of the craft-cocktail movement, but also the country’s first viable cocktail culture form; Tiki drinks are so complex in nature and require so many hard-to-find ingredients that Tiki drinks are viewed as the ultimate craft cocktail expression.

“A lot of that growth is being driven by the craft cocktail scene finally embracing Tiki, plus the slow revival of the economy. This is giving smaller, risk-taking entrepreneurs the motivation to open Tiki bars,” Jim ‘Hurricane’ Hayward, said during our VIP tour. “Of course, there’s a worry among the hardcore Tiki purists that growth may be coming too fast and that the new establishments aren’t grounded in the traditions of the past.”

If you’re brand-new to the Tiki scene or extremely skeptical about its legitimacy, rest assured that Naked Tiki is the real deal. Despite misleadingly ending up as a kitschy architectural footnote, the Tiki aesthetic has a surprisingly cosmopolitan and intellectual provenance, which people are slowly beginning to realize. It’s pretty fascinating to see Tiki making a comeback, thanks to passionate enthusiasts like Chef Pagano, whose numbers are growing steadily.

Tanabi and “Hurricane” Hayward also caught up with Chef Pagano at this year’s 2nd annual The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown event hosted by Rhum Barboncourt at The Surfcomber Hotel in Miami Beach; the Art of Tiki is a competition featuring bartenders from some of the most noteworthy Tiki bars across the United States, including the world famous Mai-Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, and Branden Powers’ newly-opened, 24hr Tiki bar in Las Vegas, The Golden Tiki.

While neo-Tiki’s crowning achievements may be San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove and Chicago’s famed Three Dots & A Dash, the Tiki scene is now in full flower in locales as far-flung as Miami, Poland, London, Moscow, and Slovakia.

Naked Tiki's own 'mystery girls' Maria Ippolito and Mariarita Battilana waiting to greet you...

So, stop on by to Naked Tiki at The Stiles Hotel and spend an evening in paradise where you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of exotic tropical cocktails in which rare rums, spices and fruit juices go into making the most exquisitely refreshing drinks you have ever enjoyed, while cares of the outside world seem far away from this wonderland of music, Cantonese cuisine and whispering waters.

Mahalo to the Tiki Revival!

Naked Tiki, 1120 Collins Avenue (inside The Stiles Hotel), Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 307-5890. www.nakedtikimiami.com #GetLeid #GetNaked #NakedTikiMiami

tanabi / February 9 / ‘BY ANY NAME" Movie, Business

BRITISH THRILLER ‘BY ANY NAME’ AWARDED DOUBLE ACCOLADE BY INTERNATIONAL JURY

Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. Tuesday, 9th Feb 2016

Welsh production company Tanabi Films, who produced ‘By Any Name’ movie based on the best-selling novel by Katherine John has been awarded Best Feature Film produced in Wales and Best Actress accolade for Samira Mohamed Ali from a plethora of entries at this year’s prestigious North Wales International Film Festival.

Samira Mohamed Ali stars as leading lady Dr Elizabeth Santer, a psychologist, who is taken hostage by John West, which is played by lead Actor and Combat expert Cengiz Dervis. Samira, currently the UK ambassador for Cerebra charity had to undergo intensive personal training in order to keep up with the physical demands of the role. In an interview today, Samira said: “I am thrilled to have won this award, being able to work in Wales and especially in Swansea and Brecon Beacons has been very exciting as most of my work to date has been overseas. I really enjoyed playing opposite Cengiz as he is a great actor and it was an intense shoot for us in 16 days”.

Recently selected as one of Amazon’s chosen authors, Katherine John is profiled on most online platforms across the US, South America and Europe. In an interview today, she said, “I am delighted and honoured that ‘By Any Name’ has won these awards from the International Jury at its first festival. The entire team at Tanabi are superb professionals and prepared to do whatever it takes to capture every shot perfectly. I wrote the script with the support of the director and it was an enormous privilege to work with him, the actors and the crew. I am looking forward to seeing the film on the big screen”.

The Director of ‘By Any Name’ Euros Jones-Evans said, “We are extremely proud winning these awards for our first feature film. We had incredible support from the whole team and from our local partners such as Gower College Swansea, Swansea Council and South Wales Police. And on the post-production, we have also had the privilege of working with Crispin Merrell and Gordon Young, who are such talented composers in delivering the score for this feature. Being based at the Dylan Thomas Centre and as we prepare for our next feature, it is an important part to involve the local community in our projects as it forms part of Tanabi’s 5-year strategy to bring inward investment to Wales and create sustainable highly skilled media jobs in the area”.

‘By Any Name’ is a recent acquisition of CEO Marie Adler of Hollywood’s Adler’s Adler & Associates Entertainment, Inc. A&AE will be taking the film to upcoming film markets such as EFM in Berlin, FILMART in Hong Kong and Cannes. “We very excited for ‘By Any Name’ and believe wholeheartedly in Euros and Samira at Tanabi Films. This film is the start of something special for them. To receive these accolades in Wales, a country that has such a strong reputation around the globe for great artists and writing is truly a wonderful affirmation,” says Adler.

‘By Any Name’ will screen as one of the first films at the 5th annual Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, which will take place on 09-13 May at the Stradey Park Hotel. “Carmarthen Bay Film Festival has always been very keen to support and promote independent films, especially ones that have been made here in Wales. That’s why we are very pleased to be screening ‘Buy Any Name’ at one of our special evening events,” said the festival’s founder Kelvin Guy.

You can follow the adventure on Twitter @ByAnyNameMovie, @TanabiFilms and on Facebook.

 

tanabi / January 3 / Business, Community

Happy New Year / Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

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We would like to wish all our partners and friends a great new year that will be filled with happiness and success, thank you for your continued support across the group. We are excited to be launching #Tanabi2020, our 5 year plan which will hopefully make a big difference in Wales, details will be announced in the coming months.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i’n partneriaid a ffrindiau, rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at lansio ein cynllun #Tanabi2020 dros y 5 mlynedd nesaf efo’r gobaith o wneud gwahaniaeth mawr yng Nghymru, bydd manylion pellach yn dros y misoedd nesaf.

tanabi / November 4 / Uncategorized

UK Ambassador Samira Mohamed Ali attends Cerebra Reception at No 10

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On Tuesday 3rd November children’s charity Cerebra held a prestigious fundraising reception at 10 Downing Street that was hosted by Samantha Cameron.

As a national charity Cerebra supports children with brain related conditions and their families by funding ground-breaking research, supplying top quality advice and information and providing direct support services.

The reception at 10 Downing Street was an opportunity to celebrate the charity’s work while raising Cerebra’s profile and generating essential support.

Samira Mohamed Ali, UK Ambassador for Cerebra, said: “I am truly honoured and privileged to be at this event in such a distinguished venue with all the families and guests. The work of Cerebra is so important in research and supporting hundreds of families that have children with neurological conditions. The charity is growing from strength to strength and we at Tanabi Films will soon be hosting an UK Premiere for our latest feature film ‘By Any Name’ to raise money and awareness for Cerebra”.

Chris Jones, Chief Executive of Cerebra, said: “I am extremely grateful to both Mr and Mrs Cameron that we are able to be at No 10 Downing Street today. It is an honour shared by everyone present. Mr Cameron, as Leader of the Opposition, wrote to Cerebra with the following words: “’I am delighted to welcome the work of Cerebra, which has done so much to help support children, and their families, in cases where children are living with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy. I am sure the practical support and information you provide has been a lifeline to people – especially parents – in times of need, and that the ground breaking research you have sponsored will help future generations too. Many people have cause to be grateful for all you have done’. I am sure then that Mrs Cameron’s kind offer to host today’s event at this venue, steeped in history and of such gravitas is not without the depth of sincerity that I imagine. We are proud of what we do. We are proud of the people with whom we do it. Most of all we are proud of the families who we support. They are an inspiration and deserve all the recognition we can give. Today we are here at No 10 to do just that”.

Guests at the event were joined by several families that have received support from Cerebra, including David and Mary Jane Hoyle from Hull whose daughter Annie-May was born with massive brain damage. David and Mary Jane spoke movingly at the event telling guests that “when we were told about Annie-May’s problems we felt lost and alone with nowhere to turn. But Cerebra have been a true friend to us and have been with us on a journey from the start, giving us the support we needed”.

Laura and Brendon Jones explained that their eight year old daughter Violet has a very rare chromosome deletion. Her condition affects her in many ways – she is profoundly deaf and visually impaired, non-verbal and unable to walk or stand unaided. She has profound and multiple learning disabilities and has complex health needs. Despite all her difficulties Violet is a joy to all who know her. She has endured many operations, procedures, tests and hospital stays and is often poorly, however she is a happy, giggly girl who enjoys life to the full and loves to cuddle and be with her family. Cerebra have helped the family with a stay at their specially adapted holiday home, a grant for a specialist trike and sledge designed by the charity’s Innovation Centre. Mum Laura said “Life with Violet brings many challenges but Cerebra helps families like us enjoy the good times together, making special memories”

The charity’s fundraising group ‘London Minds’ were instrumental in ensuring the success of the evening. ‘London Minds’ was set up with the concept of forming a small group of individuals from various corporate backgrounds who identified strongly with Cerebra’s purpose and aims, and who were keen to promote the charity’s work to likeminded souls within the city, whether they be friends, colleagues or associates. For charities, opportunities to communicate their message to potential supporters in big business are few and far-between -arguably more so in London than anywhere else. The London Minds group aims to grow support for Cerebra organically, with members actively engaging friends, colleagues and associates who they feel will be genuinely interested in hearing about the charity’s work, and who might in-turn communicate this to others, via promotional and, in particular, fundraising events.

Cerebra is a national charity supporting children with neurological conditions and their families. To find out more about the work that Cerebra does, please visit www.cerebra.org.uk.

tanabi / October 28 / Uncategorized

Celebrating 50 years of Excellence at Durham University Business School

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Celebrating 50 years of Excellence in 2015, Tanabi CEO and Founder Euros Jones-Evans co-teaches entrepreneurship with Dr Mathew Hughes.

Through lectures, courses taught in partnership with faculty, and a variety of other forums, Durham’s guest lecture and visiting speakers series provides invaluable real-world insight into critical entrepreneurial management issues.

On Tuesday 27th October 2015, an informative and interesting co-lecture on entrepreneurship was conducted by Durham University Business School’s (DUBS) Dr Mathew Hughes and Tanabi CEO and DUBS Entrepreneurial Fellow, Euros Jones-Evans, who followed the talk with a hands-on live business challenge workshop as part of the ‘The Entrepreneur’s Environment’ module of the School’s Masters in Management postgraduate degree programme.

Whilst Durham students benefit a great deal from hearing from leading business figures, the speakers themselves also benefit from the experience – speakers have the opportunity to hear the thoughts, reactions and ideas from an international group of highly motivated and talented individuals. This can lead to new initiatives being taken or a re-think of existing practices by the company.

“These talks can not only open your eyes to what’s going on across various sectors, but serve to ultimately support your professional development and help you build your network of contacts,” explained Jones-Evans.

“The Entrepreneurial Fellows are members of the School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and are important to the work that we do in teaching the next generation of entrepreneurs and informing our research. The students thoroughly enjoyed the session with Mr Jones-Evans, gaining insight into what it’s like to create, run and grow a successful international business,” said Dr Hughes.

tanabi / October 3 / Community

Ohana: Luau by the Sea debuts at Ft. Lauderdale’s world-famous Mai-Kai

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FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 02 October – Ohana: Luau by the Sea dubbed the, “biggest little event in tiki,” debuted this week at the World-Famous Mai-Kai Restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale; Ohana is a three-day charity event held in several locations in and around Fort Lauderdale from October 1st through 3rd, 2015.

In Hawaiian culture, ‘Ohana’ means ‘family’ in an extended sense of the term, including blood-related, adoptive or intentional. Ohana: Luau by the Sea is organized by the Fraternal Order of Moai (FOM), an organization that serves as the premier fraternal organization and social network for all men and women interested in tiki culture and the Polynesian pop era.

Famous for the annual “Ohana: Luau on the Lake” summer event at The Tiki Resort on Lake George in upstate New York, these tiki time travelers have finally set their sights on creating a spin-off event in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on the first weekend of October. Locations include Kreepy Tiki rum bar, World-Famous Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant, and the Grand Ohana Luau located at the Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port Hotel.

Friday evening was host to a special dinner and Polynesian Islanders Review show (the world’s longest running show of its kind) at the World-Famous Mai-Kai Restaurant with a special happy hour for Ohana from 7 – 9 pm in both the Molokai Lounge and on the Lanai.

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(L to R) NYC super couple Nicole and Joe Desmond (proprietors of the secret Rhum Rhum Room) and Mai-Kai owner Dave Levy – pictured with the potent (and inexplicably smooth) Pina Passion (Source: © Tanabi Group)

The Mai-Kai, having last year been added to the National Register of Historic Places, has this year been officially crowned ‘the best tiki bar in the world’ by a recent poll.  The midcentury modern Mai-Kai, built in 1956, is not only a tiki mecca for fans of Polynesian pop, but is the longest-running tiki theme restaurant in America. Tanabi was happy to celebrate this much-anticipated event with Mai-Kai owner Dave Levy and friends.

While the accolades keep piling up, 2016 will see the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the annual Hukilau (another larger-scale and seminal tiki event for fans of the genre) in addition to the Mai-Kai celebrating it’s much-anticipated landmark 60th (yes, 60) Birthday.

Tiki is more a state of mind – an “escapist’s fantasia, if you like, an exotic place where the trapdoor to life is seemingly pulled out from beneath you,” explained one fez-adorned reveler. With widespread events like Ohana, The Hukilau, Tiki Oasis, Texas Tiki Week, and many other regional rum-soaked gatherings (for example, Miami’s annual Rum Renaissance Festival), so too have restaurants and bars been popping up all over the place (a notable example being The Golden Tiki in Las Vegas) in similar fashion.

However, while the tiki ‘revival’ has been in full swing for the last 5 years, at the center of it all is American craft cocktail culture itself, a renewed interest in rum as a spirit, and the banal trappings of everyday life which has sent people desperately searching for a more ‘immediate’ and romantic escapist fix.

tanabi / August 7 / Uncategorized

SAMIRA MOHAMED ALI: BRINGING BOLLYWOOD AND HOLLYWOOD PROJECTS TO WALES

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Actress and business woman Samira Mohamed Ali has just seen her latest TV series aired in America, and is hard at work selling Wales to the world’s film industry. MARK REES went to meet her.

Ever since taking a leap of faith and boarding a plane to fly into the unknown world of the Bollywood film industry, actress Samira Mohamed Ali has carved out a successful, jet-setting career for herself on the silver screen.

But for all her achievements, in such far-flung countries as India and America, the Neath-based lady of many hats has never lost her love for her hometown, and is working hard to develop the film industry in her own backyard.

When I catch up with Samira, who was raised in Dubai before relocating to Neath in her early teens, she has just had seen her latest show, two-part historical epic Egyptian Vice, broadcast across the United States on digital channel Spike TV.

But as she tells me, even this major production was firmly rooted in Wales.

“It was amazing,” she says of the drama documentary, which delves into the vice-filled lifestyles of the wealthiest rulers in ancient Egypt, and serves as a precursor to Sir Ben Kingsley’s new mini-series Tut which premieres on Channel 5 tonight.

“We filmed it in Wales, and the majority of them came from the US,” she says of the show, noting the blend of Welsh and American talent involved in the production

“It’s a documentary intended to educate the audience about Egypt leading up to Tut, which looks amazing.

“It has a dramatic feel to it. Very bloody, very gory, and very similar to Game of Thrones – but Egyptian.”

Now an in-demand actress, it wasn’t a career path that Samira initially set out to pursue. In fact, it was through entering ­— and winning — beauty pageants that led to an unexpected, and life changing, proposition from the booming Indian film industry.

“It happened overnight,” she recalls of her swift introduction to Bollywood.

“The brother of a friend of the family was a film director in India, and I’d been speaking to him for six months, but I didn’t really think anything was going to come of it.

“Then one Friday, I was asked to be in India for a role on Sunday. I thought, what, a week Sunday? But no – two days later!” she laughs.

It was a big call, heading out to an unfamiliar country on her own, but she plucked up the courage, picked up the airline ticket and flew out into the unknown.

“I just got on a plane and went,” she says of decision to accept what she believed to be the relatively minor role of a Bollywood beauty queen – but then things took an even bigger turn on arrival.

“I’d won some beauty pageants back home – Miss Europe, and Miss American Dream – and I was going there for a similar part,” she explains.

“But when I arrived, I ended up with a leading role in a franchise, and it changed my life. I’m so grateful.”

Since tasting success in India, Samira has juggled her acting with her dual roles as a business owner and producer of her own production company Tanabi, who are based in Swansea’s Dylan Thomas Centre, with a second office based in the equally glamorous city of… Miami.

“I’m in Swansea at the moment, and my partner is in Miami,” she explains of the company’s set-up, noting that she’s more than happy to be spending her time in Wales – in particular, in Neath – while her business partner soaks up the sun in The Magic City.

“It’s my home,” she says of the town.

“Even when I’m in India, I’m thinking of Neath – I love being home.”

So much so that Samira is now hoping that she can help to develop the movie industry locally by exposing India – and with the rest of the world – to the delights of South West Wales.

“We’ve been working in the business for quite a long time, and most of our commissions are from overseas. We get calls from LA, and they’re sending us scripts, which is crazy. I just think, how have you heard of us?” she jokes.

“They’re always looking for new locations, and I’m trying to convince them to come to Swansea, and how wonderful it is here,” she says of a potential team-up with Bollywood.

“We did a tour of the area with some executive producers recently, and they liked that look and feel of the place.

“They’d never normally come as far as Swansea – maybe Newport, maybe Cardiff, but not Swansea.”

But is there anything in particular about the area that they can’t get in India?

“The beaches,” she says of the area’s obvious big selling point.

“Our beaches are beautiful, especially on a good day. We took them to Oystermouth Castle, the city centre, and down to Margam Castle in Port Talbot.”

Looking to the future, Samira can see her love affair with the Indian film industry continuing side-by-side with her commitment to homegrown productions, which includes a locally sourced film later this year.

“50 percent of my job is acting ­— I do four to five films a year,” she says.

“I’ve been offered a lot of work in India, with two big Bollywood properties, which would be amazing.

“I’m also see myself getting more into production. A lot of my roles in the UK have involved a bit of producing as well, and I’m hands on with that side of things.”

All of which points to a successful future right here in Wales.

“We bought the rights to a best-selling book from Swansea author Katherine John called By Any Name, which will be out soon — definitely this year.

“We have such a lovely Welsh team, and there’s a passion and a love I have for Wales. I wouldn’t have half of that passion somewhere else.”

Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Samira-Mohamed-Ali-Bringing-Bollywood-Hollywood/story-27522027-detail/story.html#ixzz3i7xw3csP
Follow us: @SWEveningPost on Twitter | SWEveningPost on Facebook

tanabi / July 21 / Uncategorized

TITAN FC 34: THE WELSH WARRIOR’S QUEST FOR VICTORY CONTINUES

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Team Johns (L to R) Sam the Pad Man, Tanabi Founder and CEO Euros Jones-Evans, Ashley Johns, Brett “The Pikey” Johns, Coach Chris Rees, and Brian Evans, after Saturday’s spectacular victory.

 

Titan FC 34 took place this past Saturday night at the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, MO. This was the first Titan FC event streamed live on UFC Fight Pass in a newly signed deal which will allow its fighters to move up to the UFC and vice versa.

Unbeaten Welsh fighter Brett “The Pikey” Johns (12-0) defeated former TUF contestant Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez in what should’ve been Johns’ Bantamweight title defense, but he was stripped of the belt on Friday after he failed to make weight due to a sudden stomach bug, and the belt was only on the line for Gutierrez.

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Brett “The Pikey” Johns faces off with opponent Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez in Round 1 on Saturday night in Missouri.

 

Unfortunately for Brett Johns, coming to his defense against Anthomy Gutierrez over the Bantamweight limit cost him his belt on the scale, however, the ‘People’s Champ’ kept his perfect professional record intact by implementing ground and pound to take the first round and was literally fighting on one leg by the fifth, but his heart and his ability to keep his pace up earned him the better end of a Split Decision win, as well as another title shot. The official results were 47-48, 48-47, 49-46.

Johns has no qualms about a rematch for the vacant title against Gutierrez at Titan FC 35; the young fighter is fearless in his quest for UFC glory and will stop at nothing until he achieves his feat.

Titan FC CEO Jeff Aronson said after the fight, “I jumped out of my seat. Brett Johns is just an amazing figure. He is the toughest little guy I think I have ever met.”

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Titan FC CEO Jeff Aronson during the Johns Vs. Gutierrez weigh in on Friday night. While Johns didn’t make weight and was stripped of the title, he went on to win the bout opening up another title shot rematch in September.

 

The 23-year-old Swansea native is continuing his 2015 campaign firing on all cylinders and standing in the best position of his unbeaten career. Currently, he is ranked #20 in the top 50 prospects outside of the UFC according to MMALatestNews.com. The ‘Welsh Warrior’ stamped his place on the larger MMA radar in MArch by defeating former UFC veteran Walel Watson to capture the Bantamweight title at Titan FC 33, while Gutierrez rebounded from a loss to Watson with a third round TKO of Austin Lyons in his last outing.

The two fighters will face an immediate rematch in September at Titan FC 35 for the vacant belt in what will be another epic battle for glory, allowing unbeaten Johns another chance to be crowned Bantamweight World Champion.

tanabi / July 16 / Community

SAMIRA MOHAMED ALI IN NEW SPIKE TV DOCU-DRAMA

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From Dubai to the ancient Egyptian elite, via Neath, actress Samira Mohamed Ali will wow audiences of new Spike TV drama documentary, Egyptian Vice, which will see experts recount the scandalous tales of the ancient Egyptian elite. The two-part special is set to premiere in the UK tonight (July 15) at 9pm on the digital channel.

South Wales-based Samira Mohamed Ali was born and raised in Dubai but moved to Neath when she was in her early teenage years. The model and presenter will star in the ancient Egyptian drama documentary after only discovering her acting talents and breaking into the industry a few years ago.

Her latest acting role will see Samira play the iconic Ptolemy, the king’s sister in the Egyptian Vice, which will be an educational preview for the highly anticipated mini-series ‘TUT’ that stars Sir Ben Kingsley and also premieres on Spike TV later this month in the USA and Canada.

“I was extremely honoured to be headhunted for a role in such a huge production,” said Samira.

“Receiving the script was so exciting and it’s been one of my most challenging yet fulfilling roles to date. I don’t want to give too much away but if you expect an ancient Egyptian version of Game of Thrones then you won’t be disappointed! ”

The first-part of Egyptian Vice will take an in-depth look at the sins of Egypt, where the drama documentary will touch upon the extravagant and vice filled lifestyles of the wealthiest rulers in ancient Egyptian history. The second installment of the two-part event delves into the rulers of Egypt and the darker side to those who shaped Egyptian civilisation into the icon it is today.

Since her first acting role in the horror film Spirital Phantoma (2012), Samira has also starred as an alcoholic mother in the award-winning horror Molly Crows (2013), and as Dr. Elizabeth Santer of this Autumn’s release of Tanabi Films’ screen adaption of best-selling novel By Any Name (2015). As well as her established acting career, Samira is also a successful businesswoman and is VP of Tanabi Group, which is based in Swansea, as well as Miami, USA.

The former model and presenter utilises her role as a producer at Tanabi to encourage big productions from overseas to come to the UK to support the UK film industry and economy.

Following her work the UK film industry, Samira has recently been invited to the House of Lords for a private meeting to discuss exciting plans for the near future.