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Official Michael Mahonen Website Now Online

Requisite Films — Sun, 22 May 2011 18:26:00 GMT

Michael's official website has just been launced and is now online. For comprehensive information, many photos and the most recent updates about Michael's work and career, please visit michaelmahonen.com

Sandstorm DVD Now Available

Requisite Films — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:22:00 GMT

Requisite Films is very pleased to announce the release of Sandstorm on DVD.

See the movie that's touched the hearts and stirred the passions of filmgoers worldwide.

The DVD follows theatrical releases in Los Angeles and New York and screenings in 58 international film festivals where Sandstorm won 29 awards including 11 for Best Feature Film.

Sandstorm has been banned in China and created panic at Chinese Embassies and Consulates from Moscow, Russia to Houston, Texas to Northern California, where Chinese officials admonished film festivals to pull the movie from being screened or "cautioned" them to not repeat such errors in the future.

The DVD includes a Special Feature "Interview with the Director". The interview is an in-depth discussion with Sandstorm Writer/Director Michael Mahonen who discusses the inspiration for the movie, the unique circumstances surrounding the making of the movie and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners on which the movie is based.

Please see more information on our Sandstorm DVD page or click here to order.

Review: Sandstorm - from Epoch Times

Requisite Films — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:14:00 GMT

Canadian director, producer, and writer Michael Mahonen’s award-winning Sandstorm pays homage to the ancient adage “Good is rewarded, evil provokes retribution” while revealing the chilling and cruel persecution of Falun Dafa, an ancient traditional spiritual meditation and qigong practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Protagonist He Tian Ying (Rong Tian), a mid-level police chief works for the Gestapo-like 610 office whose mission is to eradicate Falun Dafa practitioners. While trapped in his house during a twelve-day sandstorm with his ailing wife, a lack of electricity, and dwindling food supplies, he recalls a warning from a Falun Dafa practitioner before she was tortured to death by his subordinates. She had forewarned him that those who do evil things will be met with retribution and that his family would also suffer as a consequence. Having lost his daughter already and on the verge of losing his wife to a life-threatening disease, he realizes that the practitioner’s words have become his reality and we become witnesses to his awakened conscience as he finally faces what he has done.

Rong Tian’s debut acting performance is perfectly nuanced, demonstrating an impressive range and depth of emotions throughout the film. Lili Li, in her role as the Falun Dafa practitioner who is tortured to death, still haunts me with her righteousness and tolerance even as she is subjected to unbelievably shocking cruelty for merely practicing Falun Dafa.

Given the Chinese Communist Party’s stringent controls on its media and Internet access, most of its citizens are unaware of the truth behind the ten plus years and continuing persecution of Falun Dafa. Sandstorm is powerfully captivating and serves as testament to the efficacy of film as a medium to provoke thought and raise awareness about social injustices in today’s world.

‘Sandstorm’—A Story of Reckoning, Repentance, and Redemption

Requisite Films — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:10:00 GMT

For over ten years, the general public has known relatively little about the realities of torture committed against Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese prisons. The Chinese communist regime has worked overtime to ensure it stays that way, implementing a rigorous propaganda campaign to malign the practice and suppress the truth inside and outside China.

With the arrival of Sandstorm in New York and Los Angeles, these harsh realities can be experienced in a compelling and ultimately uplifting film.

Michael Mahonen’s fact-based drama accurately and sensitively portrays this dire situation in post 1999 mainland China, following the order from former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin to systematically wipe out the popular practice.

Based on actual survivor accounts, Mahonen tells the story of a man, (played convincingly by newcomer, Rong Tian), who has been trapped with his wife for twelve days in a massive sandstorm without electricity or provisions. We learn that he is a police officer, instructed by his superiors from the Gestapo-like 610 Office, to “reeducate” the Falun Gong adherents “at any cost.”
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Get Showtimes for Sandstorm's LA Run at Laemmle Music Hall 3

Requisite Films — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:39:00 GMT

Sandstorm will debut on Friday night, with a reception hosted by Requisite Films following the 7:15pm show.

Show Times:
Friday, September 11 at 5:00, 7:15, 9:40
Saturday, September 12 at 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:40
Sunday, September 13 at 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15
Monday, September 14 thru Thursday, September 17 at 5:00 and 7:15

Director Michael Mahonen will be available for Q&A after all the Friday shows and for all the shows on Saturday and Sunday starting with the 2:45pm show.

Reception Announced for Film Audiences in NY and LA

Requisite Films — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:45:00 GMT

Join Director Michael Mahonen at a reception for all attendees following the Q&A session after the 7:30pm show at the Village East Cinema on Friday, September 4th.

Requisite Films will also hold a reception at the Writers Guild Theatre in Los Angeles after the 7:15pm showing of Sandstorm on September 11, and will be preceded by a Director Q&A.

Requisite Films to host Sandstorm Screening for Amnesty International, United Nations

Requisite Films — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:44:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce that on September 9th in New York, Requisite Films will be hosting a special screening of SANDSTORM for members of Amnesty International and the United Nations.

This is an important opportunity to clarify the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners

"We made the movie to awaken the consciences of the Chinese policemen who are carrying out the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners and subsequently focused outside China to raise awareness through this fact based drama," Mahonen says. "To have these organizations coming out is very positive. The Q&A after the screening should also be helpful to address any unanswered questions.

"The DVD will have an interview I did with a Chinese TV station as well as a director's commentary track which will address some of the common questions I've had at Q&As after screenings in the past."

Official Release Info: Sandstorm to Debut in NY and LA

Requisite Films — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:59:00 GMT

A shocking and haunting view of a world seldom seen, the award-winning Sandstorm opens for exclusive engagements in New York at the Village East on September 4 and in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Music Hall on September 11. The first film being released under the recently established Requisite Films banner, Sandstorm is further distinguished by its introduction of six talented actors and the memorable directorial and writing debut of Michael Mahonen.

Sandstorm tells the story of Hetian Ying, a mid-level Chinese police officer. For twelve days and nights, he and his wife are trapped in their home during a massive sandstorm covering a large area of China. They are devastated that their young daughter is missing in the storm, electricity and phone communication have been cut off, and their food, water and medical supplies are running out. Caring for his dying wife in this isolation, Hetian Ying’s conscience starts to emerge. As a policeman, he was involved in the horrific persecution of common Chinese citizens who follow the spiritual practice of Falun Gong—a practice, based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance, which is in sharp contrast to Chinese government dictates.

Award-winning actor and President of Requisite Films, Michael Mahonen wrote and produced the film while delivering his directorial debut. As an actor, Mahonen has performed in numerous film, television and stage works in his native Canada and the U.S. He won Canada’s Gemini Award for Best Performance By a Leading Actor in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series and was nominated three additional times for his portrayal of Gus Pike in Disney’s Emmy and Cable Ace Award-winning series, Avonlea.

Sandstorm evolved from Mahonen’s adoption of the Falun Gong practice and research into first-hand accounts of persecution and deception by Chinese government propagandists. The police in China who are carrying out the persecution were the initial target audience for the film.

“Sandstorm is meant to shed light on a critical human rights issue barely acknowledged by people inside or outside of China using the uniquely powerful medium of film,” Mahonen stated. “The situation in China remains urgent as average Chinese citizens of all ages and walks of life are barbarically persecuted and have nowhere to appeal. It is hoped that Sandstorm can help awaken conscience outside of China as well.”

The passion for the subject matter and mission of bringing it under a spotlight through film transcended money for everyone involved, resulting in a feature film being produced for under $5,000. As a pre-release work in progress, Sandstorm earned 29 significant creative awards at numerous film festivals that included eleven best picture nods. Executive Producer for Requisite Films Deborah Esayian stated, “Requisite Films will make films about stories that others are reluctant or unwilling to tell. Sandstorm brings awareness to an atrocity happening right now to innocent people."

An NTD Films and Requisite Films’ production, Sandstorm stars six bright talents including: Rong Tian (Hetian Ying), Lili Li (The Practitioner), Angela Huang (Young Policewoman), Steve Hong (Supervisor), Cheng Guang (Young Policeman), and Zeng Ziyu (Tong Mou).

The film will be released on DVD in September.

Sandstorm was executive produced by Joe Wang, director of photography/editor was David Chai, and the sound editor was Corban Hu, all of NTD Films, a New Tang Dynasty company.

The mission of Requisite Films is to produce entertaining and enlightening films of integrity that awaken conscience and inspire compassion. Energy and focus combined with an innovative approach to financing, distribution and marketing define the unique character of this independent film company.