BET+ original movie Stolen to film from June

BET+ original film Stolen starts production in June, 2022 and marks the first instalment of what will be an action thriller movie franchise for the streaming service.

Directed by Sheridan De Myer (The Weekend Movie), Stolen follows Seline who must use her military skills to unearth the truth of her daughter's disappearance in South Africa as she is thrown into a world of chaos and organ trafficking. 

The UK and South African co-production between Ida Rose and ANTS Media, stars Christine Adams in the lead, alongside Luka Peros, Jimmy Jean Louis, Michael Landes and Alba Amira. It also stars Shantelle Rochester who produces alongside Uzanenkosi Mahlangu.

Stolen received a grant through the International Co-production strand of the UK Global Screen Fund, financed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and administered by the BFI. Ida Rose has also received support through the International Business Development strand of the UK Global Screen Fund.

Commenting on the production, Ida Rose CEO Rochester said: ‘This film is a perfect fit for Ida Rose and will begin to move genre independent films to another level as there needs to be more from the UK and Africa. Being able to create diverse content is a pleasure and I am delighted that all companies involved supported us.'

Denitsa Yordanova, BFI head of the UK Global Screen Fund, added: 'It is fantastic to see Ida Rose securing new global partnerships and striking an international distribution deal with Big Media on these three scripted projects. The UK Global Screen Fund is proud to support independent companies with international ambitions, including backing for international co-productions with strong export potential. I look forward to following Stolen on its journey into the marketplace as it reaches new audiences around the world.'

The collaboration is between executive Emma Sparks and Big Media president Danny Wilk, together with Marvin Neilvice, president of content programming and strategy at BET+ and Karl Hilbrick from Infilmpact - who facilitated Ida Rose in the deal.

Big Media's Wilk said: 'This relationship combines each company’s strengths and this move into scripted is something we’ve been working on for some time.  It’s a great way to kick off 2022.'

US associate producers Steven Adams and Dan Sheldon of Alta Global Media packaged the project.

Launched in 2017, Ida Rose's first British in-house feature film Two Graves was written and directed by Gary Young and was sold internationally and released on Netflix in May, 2019.