Director's Statement:
The Old Man in the Dunes is a story that's been part of my family for nearly a century. I grew up climbing the dunes in Oceano as a kid, dreaming of one day making a film there. Our connection to the Dunites — the group who lived off the grid in that wild, breathtaking landscape — pulled me deeper into this story.
At its heart, the film is about not rushing to judgment. In today’s world of cancel culture and quick assumptions, I hope audiences walk away remembering there's always more beneath the surface.
My approach is to keep everything real and raw — gritty, emotional, but still beautiful. Aaron Eckhart brings the perfect balance of ruggedness and vulnerability to the role, and his dedication is raising the bar for the entire production.
I’m incredibly grateful to our producer, Noli Molla, who's been with me from the first draft to getting the movie greenlit, and to Angel, whose boldness and belief in stories that shine light into the world align perfectly with the spirit of this film.
Heading into production still feels surreal. I can’t wait to share this story with the world.
Synopsis:
An elderly recluse in the dunes faces murder charges. A dedicated public defender fights to reveal the truth in this tale of secrets, guilt, and the path to redemption.
About the Cast and Filmmakers
Aaron Eckhart is a versatile actor renowned for his compelling performances across a diverse range of genres. He gained early recognition with his breakout role in Neil LaBute’s provocative film In the Company of Men (1997), which became one of the highest-grossing independent films of the year. His portrayal of a love interest in Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich (2000) further solidified his status in Hollywood.
Eckhart's career continued to flourish with notable performances in films such as Thank You for Smoking (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), Rabbit Hole (2010), and Olympus Has Fallen (2013). His role as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Dark Knight remains a standout in his filmography.
In 2007, Eckhart received a Golden Globe and Independent Spirit award nomination for his performance in Thank You for Smoking. In 2011, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his performance in Rabbit Hole.
Most recently, Aaron can be seen in Muzzle, Chief of Station, Classified and The Bricklayer.
Up next, Eckhart is set to star in Deep Water, an upcoming disaster horror film directed by Renny Harlin.
Originally from Northern California, Eckhart studied theatre and film at Brigham Young University, where he met and appeared in many of Neil LaBute’s plays. In addition to In the Company of Men, he has starred in three other LaBute films, including Possession (2002), Nurse Betty (2000), and Your Friends & Neighbors (1998).
Christian Guiton was born on 1 November 1991 in Hayward, California, USA. He is a director and actor, known for The Bail Out (2017).
Noli Molla, born on June 11th, 1984, in Gjakove, Kosovo, Europe.
Presently, Noli is engaged in a slate of Films with a Film Finance Company, devoted to nurturing cinematic projects from their inception to their pinnacle, showcasing an unwavering dedication to unlocking the full brilliance of each endeavor.
Noli's journey transcends borders, with his early migration to Switzerland, Noli is Fluent in Albanian, Turkish, German, and English. Fueled by a profound love for cinema and a passion for filmmaking, he made a bold decision at 16 to leave behind the familiar and complete his English studies in Louisiana. By the age of 18, Noli was resolutely on the path to Hollywood, seeking wisdom from some of the industry's top talents.
Jacques Abrahamian was born in Beirut, Lebanon of Armenian descent. He later relocated to the United States with his family due to the civil unrest. Initially settling in South Boston, they later moved to Watertown, Massachusetts. After spending many years on the East Coast, Jacques and his family made the move to California in 1989, where he would go on to carve out a career in entertainment.
Jacques began his career in the mailroom of Writers & Artists Agency (WAA) in Beverly Hills, where he was introduced to the world of talent representation. During his time there, the agency represented high-profile clients such two time Oscar winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist, The Brutalist), Oscar winning actor the late Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote), Oscar-nominated William H. Macy (Fargo), James Gandolfini (The Sopranos). WAA eventually merged with what is now Paradigm Talent Agency in Beverly Hills, marking a significant milestone in Jacques' early career.
Jacques helped package and green-light Darren Lemke's (Goosebumps, Shazam!, Gemini Man) Directorial debut feature-film entitled "Lost".
From 2002 to 2007, Jacques founded Cedar Films, a production company focused on independent film projects. He played a key role in packaging several notable indie films, including "DALI", which was set to be Directed by Alejandro Chomski ("Hoy y Mañana" - Cannes Un Certain Regard, "Feel the Noise" - produced by Jennifer Lopez and "A Beautiful Life" - starring Dana Delany, Angela Sarayan, and Bai Ling.
In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Jacques holds a Master's Degree in Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration & Management from "Woodbury University".
Leo Severino, is a twenty year Hollywood veteran and a founding partner of Metanoia Films.
His producing and screenwriting debut was the acclaimed feature film Bella (winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, garnering more than ten times its production budget in revenues). His subsequent films include Little Boy (winner of the Latin American Cancine Award for best picture), the wildly successful Sound of Freedom ($14MM production budget, nearing $300MM in revenues, making it one of the most profitable films in independent film history) and the soon-to-be-released Cabrini, a $34MM period piece to be distributed globally in theaters March of 2024.
Prior to producing, Leo spent three years as Director of Business Affairs for the Fox Networks Group (a division of 20th Century Fox), in charge of their National Programming and a year as an associate at the Producer’s Guild of America, where he first experienced his passion for filmmaking. Previously, Leo was an associate at one of the largest law firms in the world, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher working in Latin American corporate transactions.
Leo received his Juris Doctorate degree, with honors, from the University of Southern California Law School and degrees in Philosophy from the same institution as an undergraduate.