Domestic title: Missing in Europe, International: The Disappeared, Lifetime title: My Daughter is Missing
Cyber security expert Sara Woods visits Belgrade, Serbia under the guise of attending a work conference, but really to check in on her daughter, Karissa, who is studying abroad. Their happy reunion is cut short when Karissa and her classmate Lara go clubbing and seemingly disappear into thin air. Utilizing a host of hacking skills and following clues Karissa leaves, Sara starts to uncover a major sex trafficking ring. Using every tool at her disposal to locate her daughter before she’s sold to the highest bidder and disappears forever, Sara is running out of time...
Interview with Director Tamar Halpern
Watch My Daughter is Missing on Vudu and Prime Video
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Missing in Europe came to me via my former manager Kaila York, who also produces films. Kaila had worked with the writer to develop the script and managed to get MarVista Entertainment to green light it.
I had recently finished my fifth feature and was considering some projects when Kaila reached out. The script for Missing in Europe was a real page turner and I found myself inexorably drawn to the strong female characters. My work is often centered on female protagonists, but the thriller genre was new to me as a director. I was intrigued by the tenets of the genre as well as the look of an exotic, foreign location where enemies lurk and plot twists play out.
While I was intrigued by a heart-stopping thriller about a woman who uses her stealth and smarts to foil bad guys and find her daughter, the reason I said yes was to have the opportunity to make a film about human trafficking from a female perspective. Did you know around the world, according to UNICEF, 21 million people are trafficked against their will in 2017? Most of these victims are women.
After I read the script, I met with the film’s producers Kaila and Nigel Thomas. We discussed some changes to the script to make it more visual, visceral and economical. Nine days later, they had me on a plane to Belgrade, Serbia.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Missing in Europe is a high-stakes, fast moving thriller with a stellar cast. Miranda Raison from Britain’s MI-5, and a host of other film and TV, stars with Emmett J Scanlan, who’s graced the screen in BBC’s The Fall and features such as Guardians of the Galaxy. Newcomer Sophie Robertson has a real young Angelina Jolie meets Scarlett Johansen vibe, with the acting chops to keep up with acting vets Miranda and Emmett. The film is a real edge of your seat ride shot entirely on location in Belgrade, Serbia. Belgrade is like a gritty Paris; sparkly, regal, at times colorful and other times foreboding. The architecture and beauty alone are worth the price of admission. Shot by a spectacular Serbian director of photography, Vladimir Ilic, and utilizing some of the top actors working on Serbia stage, TV and screen, Missing in Europe shows what it means to be a woman at her strongest and at her most vulnerable, and even offers an element of romance.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Themes of trust and betrayal bond the lead characters into a reluctant team. Miranda Raison plays Sara, a former hacker who teaches internet privacy at a university. Her dark past has left her wary, distrustful and unwilling to let anyone in. Emmett J Scanlan plays Detective Dubrovsky, a rogue cop fired from the police force when he suspected police involvement in human trafficking. He’s determined to find the missing girls and expose the criminals, even if it costs him his life. They have both been betrayed - Sara by her former husband, Detective Dubrovsky by his own police force. If there’s any hope of finding Sara’s daughter before it’s too late, they must learn to trust each other.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
One of the most amazing things about this project is that it was filmed in twelve days. Nigel Thomas has made 70 + films over the course of his career and he knows how to make the impossible possible.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Very positive. The feedback overwhelmingly is that the power and vulnerability in Sara’s character is mesmerizing and deeply sympathetic. Audiences cheer out loud when Karissa, played by Sophie Roberson, defends herself. Men, who were not supposed to be our demographic, are thrilled with Sara’s tough but level-headed super hero qualities as she battles her way across the city, using her smarts and determination to outwit the bad guys. And we have some VERY convincing bad guys. Karissa’s safety, as well as her mother’s, is constantly threatened in the film and audiences report sympathizing strongly with Sara, Karissa and Detective Dubrovski as they follow the “edge of your seat” story.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
One press question was, “We’ve seen this story before. What’s different about this film?” Clearly the reporter was referring to the iconic film Taken and subsequent films that seek to emulate it. My answer is that, unlike those other films, Missing in Europe has a woman who does the saving. The independent, fierce, mama bear spirit that propels Sara’s character is an instant draw for audiences. For Kaila and me, that made all the difference because that’s a film we want to watch.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The film airs on Lifetime June 25, under a new title My Daughter is Missing before going on to other channels and territories. We’d love to get the word out now so people can discover the film for themselves and take a breathtaking, fast paced and harrowing adventure through Belgrade. This story in We Are Moving Stories is a big help and we thank you.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would love to have more interviews, specifically with our cast.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
My hope is this film empowers women, or anyone who feels helpless, to harness their inner strength against all odds. This film has that message and gift waiting for anyone who watches. Miranda Raison’s Sara is a hero and an inspiring character.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
As one audience member reported, “This is NOT your average chick flick.” I’d like to see this film infiltrate and erase the boundaries of what’s considered a ‘female film’ or a ‘male film’. This film thrills men and women alike, young and old. To make films that span gender and age groups is very possible, and I’d like the conversation about this film to start there.
Would you like to add anything else?
This film is a tribute to professionalism and talent. Kaila and Nigel, as well as their Serbian co-producers at Red Productions, worked tirelessly under extreme conditions to make this film happen. They brought me on because I have an MFA in film production, 6 features, a host of commercials and award winning shorts. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in the edit bay, and have worked as a postproduction supervisor and a production coordinator in TV, commercials and music videos. With a stellar cinematographer, editor, composer, and a cast and crew of top talent and consummate professionals from Belgrade, the UK, and the states, we banded together quickly and efficiently. This level of talent and collaboration was the only way the film could have come out so well in such a short and, quite frankly, freezing cold time.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Tamar Halpern (me) was recently hired by Tony Award winning producer Jack Dalgleish and Independent Spirit award winner Susan Stover to adapt a book by SE Hinton (she wrote The Outsiders and Rumble Fish) for the screen and will direct. Nigel is in post production on two feature films and ramping up production on his next feature. Kaila has more projects with MarVista Entertainment lined up, as well as several features in development. Writer Jenny Paul, who recently became a proud mom, is writing her next screenplay with a strong female lead.
Interview: July 2017
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Domestic title: Missing in Europe, International: The Disappeared, Lifetime title: My Daughter is Missing
Cyber security expert Sara Woods visits Belgrade, Serbia under the guise of attending a work conference, but really to check in on her daughter, Karissa, who is studying abroad. Their happy reunion is cut short when Karissa and her classmate Lara go clubbing and seemingly disappear into thin air. Utilizing a host of hacking skills and following clues Karissa leaves, Sara starts to uncover a major sex trafficking ring. Using every tool at her disposal to locate her daughter before she’s sold to the highest bidder and disappears forever, Sara is running out of time...
Length: 87 minutes
Director: Tamar Halpern
Producer: Kaila York, Nigel Thomas
Writer: Jenny Paul
About the writer, director and producer:
Tamar Halpern (director)
Writer/director of six features, award winning shorts and commercials. Her work revolves around strong female characters and whenever someone says, hey – we need a female director.
Jenny Paul: Jenny Paul started her career on the TV show House, MD before transitioning into development at various production companies. She’s currently working on several projects.
Nigel Thomas: Nigel Thomas has produced or executive produced over 70 films and TV shows, earning over 300 awards, nominations and festival selections.
Kaila York: Kaila York worked for a variety of entertainment companies before forming Headlong. She has produced and executive produced films and developed and sold scripted television.
Key cast: Miranda Raison, Emmett J Scanlan, Sophie Robertson
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Journalists, festivals
Twitter: check @HeadlongEnt for future updates on the film
Other: IMDb under My Daughter is Missing
Funders: MarVista Entertainment
Made in association with: Headlong Entertainment, Red Productions
Where can I see it in the next month? Lifetime June 25