HANDS OF STONE is based on the true life story of Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran, who is considered a national treasure in Panama. The film takes place from 1964 to 1983, and was shot in Panama City and New York over a period of 65 days. With a 300 person crew and 15,000 extras, HANDS OF STONE is not only the biggest film ever created in Panama but also the Latino Movie with the widest US release in history. This all became possible when the film was approved in the national congress of Panama as a National Interest Project. A special fund was then created to support the film and the entire nation helped in making it possible to shoot. Every department head is Latino except for the Fight Choreographer and Wardrobe Designer.

The filmmakers used CGI to recreate all the stadiums in the film, building virtual locations that include New York, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Montreal and Panama. The following were all shot in Panama City: the Montreal Olympic Stadium, where they used a baseball field with the same dimensions, Madison Square Garden, where they used an arena called “The Roberto Duran,” and the New Orleans Superdome, where they used an abandoned U.S. Military Plane Hangar. ONER VFX, an Argentinean VFX Company famous for the stadium in the film “The Secret in Her Eyes,” is responsible for recreating all of the stadiums on top of each location.

All of the boxing fights in the film were choreographed to be identical reenactments of the originals. Sugar Ray Leonard was among the people who trained Usher for the role while Roberto Duran and two of his son’s helped in training Edgar Ramirez. Robert De Niro and Usher spent a month and a half living in Panama for the film.

Robert De Niro came on board early in the process and worked closely with Jakubowicz on the screenplay. They first met because De Niro liked Secuestro Express, Jakubowicz’s first film. He also liked the screenplay for Hands of Stone but he wasn’t sure he wanted to do it because “he couldn’t hear Ray Arcel’s voice. Jakubowicz and De Niro then met multiple times with Stephanie Arcel, the widow of Ray Arcel, and were able to capture the essence and the voice of the legendary character. De Niro had met Arcel and Duran many decades before when Duran was the world champ and De Niro was preparing for Raging Bull. Ray Arcel made a big impression on Mr. De Niro because “he spoke like a Harvard Professor, not like a typical boxing trainer”. He also liked Duran a lot and they played a softball game together, USA vs Panama, in Central Park.

The entire Duran family acts in the film. Robin Duran (Roberto Duran’s son), who is also an Executive Producer of the film, plays his uncle Pototo. The real Felicidad Duran plays the nurse who delivers Felicidad’s babies in the ER (Felicidad is played by Ana de Armas).

David Arosemena, the boy who plays young Roberto Duran, was cast through the Nuevas Generaciones Foundation from El Chorillo, which helps get kids off the streets. David’s mother had abandoned him 5 years prior and his dad is a construction worker who works 12 hours on night shifts while supporting 6 kids. The day he was chosen, it was discovered that not only does he live on the same street in El Chorrilo that Roberto Duran lived on, but he was also born on the same day, June 16. His mother and father reunited after he started working on the film and are trying to become a family again. The filmmakers have helped in creating a better lifestyle for David and his family. Prior to him being cast, his family didn’t have any furniture and their entire family of 6 had no choice but to sleep on the floor. The filmmakers worked to furnish his whole apartment and enroll him in school as well as help him get a scholarship to continue to provide opportunities for education in the future. He will continue to get a check for his payment for the film every month until he is 18 years old.

Israel ̈Bumaye ̈ Duffus, the boxer who plays Davey Moore, was discovered in a Panamanian Boxing Gym by the Director. He got picked up by the boxing choreographer and became a professional boxer in the USA after the film.

Ruben Blades and Usher worked together with Raphael Saadic to write and perform the original song “Champions” in which they sing about Roberto Duran and many of the themes of the movie. The song became the theme song of the movie and plays twice during the film.

ABOUT ROBERTO DURAN

Roberto Duran was born on June 16, 1951 in El Chorillo. His father, an American Marine had had an affair with a local Panamanian woman during the United States occupation of Panama, but was relocated while Duran was still very young and left his family behind in the slums of Panama. Duran learned to box at a young age at the Neco de La Guardia Gym, turning pro when he was just 16 years old. Quickly becoming one of the most well known and successful boxers in the ring, Duran boasted a record of 72-1 prior to his first face off against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980. His penchant for hard hits and early knock outs earned him the nickname “Manos de Piedra” or “Hands of Stone”.

He was introduced to famed boxing trainer Ray Arcel in the early 1970s by then manager, wealthy landowner Carlos Aleta. With Arcel’s rigorous training schedule and unique methods, Roberto Duran won his first world title against then Lightweight Champion Ken Buchanan. This fight earned 21 year-old Duran’s 30th straight win, 19 of which were knock outs. Roberto Duran is still today widely considered the best lightweight of all times.

On June 20, 1980, in a 15 round match, Roberto Duran beat, then undefeated, and 2- 1 favorite, Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC Welterweight Champion in the “Brawl in Montreal”. A few months later, on November 25th of the same year, Duran and Leonard revisited their notorious rivalry in a rematch that would become one of the most infamous fights in boxing history. Midway into the fight, Duran walked away. Uttering the phrase “no más” (no more). Roberto Duran turned his back on his opponent and gave up, ultimately surrendering his title in a shocking decision that would appear to be the culmination of Duran’s triumphant career.

Despite this rare and almost unprecedented occurrence, Duran was not ready to give up. According to him, he was a fighter and he had been fighting all his life, but he was not ready for a forfeit to be his legacy. In 1983 at Madison Square Garden, on his 32nd birthday, Roberto Duran defeated 24-year-old crowd favorite, Davey Moore, in an eighth round knock out, earning him the title of WBA junior middleweight champion and perhaps more notably, redemption.

Considered to be one of the top ten best boxers of all time, Roberto Duran was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007. He continued boxing until the age of 50 when he officially retired with a record of 119 fights, 103 wins, and 69 knockouts. He lives in Panama with his wife of over 40 years Felicidad Duran with whom he has nine children with.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Jonathan Jakubowicz jumped to international recognition after he wrote, directed and produced “Secuestro Express” (2005), the frightening story of one young couple’s ordeal as they career through the underbelly of Caracas in the hands of three thugs who’ve made them their latest payday. The thriller became Venezuela’s highest-grossing film, eclipsing such movies as “Titanic” and “The Passion of the Christ.” In 2015, Jakubowicz completed filming the epic movie about legendary boxer Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran starring Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin, Ruben Blades, John Turturro and Usher. Hands of Stone was written, directed and produced by Jakubowicz through his Company Epicentral Studios, which he owns with his wife and Producing Partner Claudine Jakubowicz.

JONATHAN JAKUBOWICZ – Writer/Director/Producer

In 2010 he co-directed the HBO International Show “Profugos”, the biggest action driven original series ever made in Latin America. The series premiered in September 2011 in the US and all Spanish Speaking territories across the world, and was nominated to the Monte Carlos TV Festival as Best Series of the Year.

Distance (2002/I) is a poignant short film about a woman’s mysterious past unfolding during an unexpected trip to Holland in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Distance screened at the World Film Festival of Montreal, New York Independent Film Festival and Palm Springs Short Film Festival, amongst others.

In addition, Jakubowicz wrote and directed “Ships of Hope”, a documentary recounting the journey of refugee Jews on a ship fleeing the European Nazi Regime to Venezuela. It screened at the Director’s Guild of America’s Angelus Awards, and the Havana Film Festival. The documentary went on to win Best Documentary at the Premios a la Calidad de Cenac (Venezulelan Oscars). “Ships of Hope” was purchased by HBO and History Channel Latin America, and was in programming rotation for two years. Jakubowicz has a BA in Communications from the Universidad Central de Venezuela.

JAY WEISLEDER – Producer

Television and Film Producer Jay Weisleder recently completed the production of the feature film “Hands of Stone”. Weisleder is currently producing feature films “Clemente”, the Roberto Clemente biopic with Legendary Pictures, and “The Search”, the biographical story of Viktor Frankl, the man who wrote the best-selling memoir “Man’s Search for Meaning”. Weisleder has a long history of scripted television development with companies such as Reveille Productions, ABC Studios, NBC TV Studios, FOX, WGN, Scarlet Fire, Madhouse Entertainment, Shine, and Electus. Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Weisleder started his career in the entertainment industry while working at Miami-based Sony Music Latino, where he worked closely with many established and rising musicians. Weisleder later transitioned into television working at Telemundo’s bilingual cable network, Mun2. After Telemundo, Mr. Weisleder turned to his ultimate passion, developing and producing film and television, which led him to the foundation of Fuego Films; an independent production company focused on worldwide intellectual property rights through scripted and alternative television and film formats. Jay Weisleder lives in Studio City, California.

CARLOS GARCIA DE PAREDES – Producer

Carlos Garcia de Paredes holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and received his MBA in INCAE Business School in Costa Rica. Carlos had two production companies in the late nineties, Key Light Productions and Eye Storm Productions, that produced the first TV reality show in Panama, “Lo tomas o lo dejas”. In the earlier part of this century, Carlos ventured into film and was involved in the production of Chance, the most successful Panamanian film to reach theaters. Since then, he has been involved in the production of several films including a remake of “Elsa & Fred”, and “Gloria”, the Gloria Trevi biopic. His current production company is Vertical Media. Hands of Stone is his latest production.

CLAUDINE JAKUBOWICZ – Producer

Atlanta born, Venezuelan raised Claudine Jakubowicz previously worked as a Graphic Designer for several multinational advertising companies including J. Walter Thompson, where she designed campaigns for major brands such as Johnnie Walker. In 2005, she became part of the Key Art Design team for BLT and Assoc, the largest design firm for the entertainment industry, where she specialized in theatrical movie posters, television advertising and home entertainment marketing. Her portfolio includes campaigns for hit movies like Spider Man and Shrek, TV series like “The Sopranos” and “Curb your Enthusiasm” and other campaigns for FOX, SONY, Universal Pictures, HBO, Warner Bros, Relativity Media as well as Sundance and the Venice Film Festival. In 2010 she worked in the award winning HBO series “Prófugos” with Jakubowicz and in the 2011 Fox Telecolombia series “Lynch”. In 2008 Claudine became producing partners with her husband, Writer/Director Jonathan Jakubowicz. In 2012, the Jakubowicz’s created Epicentral Studios, The production Company that produced “Hands of Stone”. Epicentral is a production service company based in Panama and the USA.

RICARDO DEL RIO – Co-Executive Producer

His experience dates back to 1982 when he started in the film industry in the Miniatures and Creatures departments of major productions like “Dune”, “Conan: The Destroyer” and Disney’s “Honey: I Shrunk the Kids”. He worked on a series of Mexican feature films as visual effects coordinator, then as editor and post-production supervisor. Later, Ricardo worked in American feature films shot in Mexico as Production Coordinator, Production Supervisor, Unit Production Manager, Line Producer, Co-Producer and finally as Executive Producer and Producer. At the same time, Ricardo Del Rio has written and/or produced seven Mexican films; among them “Imperio de los Malditos”, “Un Instante para Morir”, “Bésame en la Boca” y “Zapata – El Sueño del Héroe”.

He has worked as Unit Production Manager on films like “La Hija del Puma” in 1994, “Perfect Target” in 1996, Wild World” and “Journey to the Bermuda Triangle” in 1997 and “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” in 1998. He has also supervised the production of motion pictures like “Kill Bill II” In 2004, “The Cave” and “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” in 2005 as well as “The Heartbreak Kid” in 2007. As 1st Assistant Director, his international credits include “Journey Beyond the Bermuda Triangle,” “Once Upon a Time in México” and

“Borderland”. As 2nd Unit Director, he made “Wild World,” “Vampires – Los Muertos,” “Deadly Swarm” and “Vantage Point”. In 2000, he co-founded the company Art In Motion – Mexico and since then he has been Co-Producer and Line Producer in over a dozen feature length American films including “The Mexican” in 1999, “Vampires: Los Muertos” in 2001, “Deadly Swarm” in 2002, “Puerto Vallarta Squeeze” in 2003, “The Matador” in 2004, “Nacho Libre” in 2005, “The Heartbreak Kid” in 2006, “Vantage Point” in 2007, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” in 2008, “Fast and Furious” in 2009 and “Limitless” in 2010. In the year 2011, he was an Executive Producer for “Little Boy” which is currently in post-production. With “Hands of Stone,” his objective is to lend his 25 year film career experience to help make this project an exceptional film.

ARTURO DEL RIO – Line Producer

Arturo Del Rio studied at the “Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía y Teatro” film school in Mexico City. He attended several production and direction seminars, courses and workshops throughout 1986 at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, California. In 1983, he started working on his first American Film “Conan – The Destroyer” followed by a series of international productions such as “Rambo – First Blood Part II”, Oliver Stone ́s “Salvador” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” for Buenavista Pictures. In 1988, he worked as personal assistant for the renowned director Tony Scott during the production of the cult movie “Revenge”. In 1989, he started working as an assistant director and for the next 10 years, worked in a number of films: “Perfect Target”, “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Journey Into Amazing Caves” amongst them. Also during the 90 ́s, he was a close contributor of the Mexico Film Commission and co-writer of the first Official Film Production Guide in Mexico. In 1999, together with his brother, Ricardo, he founded the company Art In Motion-México, S.A. de C.V. whose main objective is to film foreign films in Mexico. The first of these was “The Mexican” with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts for Dreamworks. Other independent movies followed: “Vampires – Los Muertos” (2001), “Deadly Swarm” and “Puerto Vallarta Squeeze” (2002). After the success of these films, Art In Motion began producing studio feature films in Mexico and Arturo worked as Unit Production Manager on Quentin Tarantino ́s “Kill Bill – Volume II” (2003), “The Matador” (2004) for Miramax Films, “Nacho Libre” (2005) for Paramount Pictures, “Vantage Point” (2006) for Sony Pictures, “The Heart- break Kid” (2006) for Dreamworks, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” (2007) for Disney Pictures and “Fast and Furious” (2008) for Universal Pictures. His recent work includes “Limitless” (2010) for Universal Pictures, “Little Boy” (2011) and “Al lis Lost” starring Robert Redford.

TOMAS VOTH – Production Designer

Born in Argentina, Tomas Voth is an Emmy Award Winner and has received multiple nominations for his work, on films including an Emmy win for Best Art Direction for “Tony Bennet”. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Art Direction for his work on the 2007 Dreamworks SKG film “Dreamgirls” and won the Oscar for Best Art Direction for the Sony Pictures Film “Memoirs of a Geisha”. Other notable projects Voth has worked on include “Savages”, “Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides”, Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion”, “Ali”, “Practical Magic”, and “The Lake House”.

MIGUEL IOAN LITTIN – Director of Photography

Son of legendary Chilean filmmaker and Academy Nominee Miguel Littin and Art Director Elizabeth Littin, Miguel has become one the most renowned Latin Directors of Photography. On September 11, 1973, his father ́s film “The Promised Land” was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, New York Film Festival and the 8th Moscow International Film Festival. That same year, his family was forced out of their home. These events contributed to why he decided to follow his passion and enroll at the School of Film and Workshop Imaginarias Arts in Madrid where he received his professional training. His first job was as a Focus Puller for his father in 1994 in “The Castaways” (Los Naufragos). It was only in 1999, on the TV miniseries “Adventurers end of the world” that he became the Director of Photography. He is the DP of more than 500 spots on numerous TV series for TNT, FOX etc including the biggest action TV series ever done in Latin America for HBO called Profugos alongside Jonathan Jakubowicz. He is an official member of the AEC. He is one of the most relevant and important Latin American Cinematographers of this generation. His work has been internationally rewarded in the most prestigious and diverse festivals including Cannes, Venezia, Toronto and Sundance. His frequent collaborations with Director Andres Wood on films such as “Machuca” (Cannes film festival), “Violeta Went to Heaven” (Sundance Top Prize) or “Loco Fever “(Venezia film fest ) among others stand out for their outstanding and unique aesthetics. His feature film projects include “Hands of Stone”, “El Bosque De Karadima”, “Violeta Went to Heaven”, “Machuca”, “Drama”, and “My Life With Carlos”. Notable television work includes “Echoes of the Desert”, “Avent Del Fin Del Mundo” and the HBO Latin America series “Prófugos”

Relocating from Munich to Madrid, Daigeler managed to find work on the two things she is most passionate about: costumes and film. Language and vocation were crucial on becoming part of the team of Bille August’s “La Casa de Espíritus“and Ridley Scott’s “1492.“ Her first job as head of costume design called ‘Airbag’ by Juanma Bajo Ulloa, broke box office and commercial records in Spanish cinema. Subsequently, she has worked with Pedro Almodóvar on two of his most acclaimed films: “Todo Sobre Mi Madre” and “Volver.” For these works, along with her costume designs for Joaquin Oristrell’s “Inconscientes“ and Fernando Leon de Aranoa’s “Princesas,“ she was nominated for the Goya Awards. She has had the opportunity to work with Antonio Banderas in his second film as director, “El Camino de los Ingleses“ and also in the directorial debut of Jordi Molla, “No Somos Nadie.“ She worked in “La Fiesta del Chivo“ with Luis Llosa, “Capitanes de Abril“ with Maria de Medeiros, “El Lápiz del Carpintero“ with Anton Reixes, and more recently in “Pájaros de Papel,“ Emilio Aragon’s first film.

BINA DAIGELER – Costume Designer

Internationally, she has been in charge of costume design in the two parts of “Che“ by Steven Sodenbergh, with Benicio del Toro, in “Imagining Argentina“ by Christopher Hampton, with Antonio Banderas (this time as an actor) and Emma Thompson. She made costumes in John Malcovich’s behind-the-camera debut as director, “The Dancer Upstairs,“ in the drama about the Spanish Civil War, “Las Mujeres del Anarquista“ directed by Marie Noelle and Peter Sehr, in the German box office hit “Der Schuh des Manitu” by Michael Herbig, and – more recently – with Jim Jarmusch in “The Limits Of Control,“ with Alejandro González Iñárritu in “Biutiful“ and with Dominik Moll in “The Monk.“ All of these films have given her the opportunity to dive into different times, characters and worlds. Turning an actor into a character and infusing truth and life into the movies through costume design is still her main goal and passion.

RICK AVERY – Fight Choreographer

Rick Avery is a Stuntman, Stunt Coordinator, Actor, Director, Helicopter Pilot, and Aerial Coordinator with over 500 feature film, television and commercial credits, including; “Men in Black 2/3”, “Captain America”, four Batman movies, “Titanic”, “The Prestige”, “Star Trek Insurrection”, “The Abyss” and “Gangster Squad.” He has been nominated for three Screen Actors Guild awards winning the Screen Actors Guild Cast Award for “Traffic”, the Best Stunt Ensemble Award in a Motion Picture for “Batman Dark Knight” and the 2009 Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Vehicular Work in “Batman Dark Knight.” Rick, a Fifth Degree Black Belt, was inducted to the “Martial Arts Hall of Honors” in 2010 for Exemplary Achievements and Dedication to the Martial Arts.

His boxing experience includes winning the Old Dog super welterweight Boxing Championship in 2014 in the Masters Division. In 2015, he became the USA National and later that year was declared World Boxing Champion in the Masters Division at the Ringside World Championships.

Rick has directed two movies and a documentary: “The Expert” and “Deadly Outbreak,” and “Raiders Remembered”, a Documentary that won Honorable mention at the New York Film Festival. His Second Unit Director credits include: the upcoming “Hands of Stone,” “Tenacious D,” “Scream 3,” “Anchorman,” “Identity” and “The Sweetest Thing.”

Rick’s acting credits include the films, “Ant Man,” “The Last Ship,” “Edge of Darkness” opposite Mel Gibson, “Hands of Stone”, opposite Robert De Niro,” “Heat,” “Spiderman” and “Batman Begins.”

ABOUT THE CAST

ROBERT DE NIRO – Ray Arcel

Robert De Niro launched his prolific motion picture career in Brian De Palma’s “The Wedding Party” in 1969. By 1974, he had won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in recognition of his critically acclaimed performance in “Bang the Drum Slowly” and from the National Society of Film Critic for Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets.” In 1974, De Niro won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the young Vito Corleone in “The Godfather, Part II.” In 1980, he won his second Oscar as Best Actor for his extraordinary portrayal of Jake La Motta in Scorsese’s “Raging Bull.” De Niro has earned Academy Award nominations for his work in five additional films: as Travis Bickle in Scorsese’s acclaimed “Taxi Driver,” as a Vietnam vet in Michael Cimino’s “The Deer Hunter,” as a catatonic patient brought to life in Penny Marshall’s “Awakenings,” in 1992 as Max Cady, an ex-con looking for revenge, in Scorsese’s remake of the 1962 classic “Cape Fear” and as a father to a bi-polar son in David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook.”

In 2009, De Niro received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor for his distinguished acting. He also received the Hollywood Actor Award from the Hollywood Film Festival, which he won again in 2012, and the Stanley Kubrick Award from the BAFTA Britannia Awards. In addition, AARP The Magazine gave De Niro the 2010 Movies for Grownups Lifetime Achievement Award. De Niro was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards. He also served as the jury president of the 64th Cannes Film Festival in 2011. He most recently completed filming “The Comedian” with director Taylor Hackford. He is in post-production for HBO’s “Wizard of Lies,” in which he is starring as Bernie Madoff and is executive producer. He will next be seen in the upcoming boxing film “Hands of Stone,” and Grindhouse Entertainment’s “Bus 657.”

De Niro recently starred in “Joy,” “Dirty Grandpa,”’ “The Intern,” “Grudge Match,” David O. Russell’s “American Hustle,” “Last Vegas,” and “The Family.” Other recent film credits include “The Killing Season,” “The Big Wedding,” “Being Flynn,” “Freelancers,” and “Red Lights,” “New Year’s Eve,” thriller “Limitless,” “Little Fockers,” the third installment of the highly successful “Meet the Parents” franchise, “Manuale d’amore 3,” psychological thriller “Stone,” and “Machete.” His distinguished body of work also includes performances in Elia Kazan’s “The Last Tycoon,” Bernardo Bertolucci’s “1900,” Ulu Grosbard’s “True Confessions” and “Falling in Love,” Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in America,” Scorsese’s “King of Comedy,” “New York, New York,” “Goodfellas,” and “Casino,” Terry Gilliam’s “Brazil,” Roland Joffe’s “The Mission,” Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables,” Alan Parker’s “Angel Heart,” Martin Brest’s “Midnight Run,” David Jones’ “Jacknife,” Martin Ritt’s “Stanley and Iris,” Neil Jordan’s “We’re No Angels,” Penny Marshall’s “Awakenings,” Ron Howard’s “Backdraft,” Michael Caton-Jones’ “This Boy’s Life,” John McNaughton’s “Mad Dog and Glory,” Kenneth Branagh’s “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” Michael Mann’s “Heat,” Barry Levinson’s “Sleepers” and “Wag the Dog,” Jerry Zaks’ “Marvin’s Room,” Tony Scott’s “The Fan,” James Mangold’s “Copland,” Alfonso Cuarón’s “Great Expectations,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown”; John Frankenheimer’s “Ronin,” Harold Ramis’ “Analyze This” and “Analyze That,” Joel Schumacher’s “Flawless,” Des McNuff’s “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle,” George Tillman’s “Men of Honor,” John Herzfeld’s “Fifteen Minutes,” Frank Oz’s “The Score,” Tom Dey’s “Showtime,” Michael Caton-Jones’ “City By The Sea,” Nick Hamm’s, “Godsend,” John Polson’s “Hide and Seek,” Mary McGuckian’s “The Bridge of San Luis Rey,” DreamWorks’s “Shark Tale” Jay Roach’s “Meet The Parents” and “Meet the Fockers,” Barry Levinson’s “What Just Happened,” Jon Avnet’s “Righteous Kill” and Kirk Jones’ “Everybody’s Fine.”

De Niro takes pride in the development of his production company, Tribeca Productions, the Tribeca Film Center, which he founded with Jane Rosenthal in 1988, and in the Tribeca Film Festival, which he founded with Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 as a response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. The festival was conceived to foster the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music, and culture; the festival’s mission is to promote New York City as a major filmmaking center and help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audiences. Through Tribeca Productions, De Niro develops projects on which he serves in a combination of capacities, including producer, director and actor. Tribeca’s “A Bronx Tale” in 1993 marked De Niro’s directorial debut. He later directed and co-starred in “The Good Shepherd” with Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. Other Tribeca features include “Thunderheart,” “Cape Fear,” “Mistress,” “Night and the City,” “The Night We Never Met,” “Faithful,” “Panther,” “Marvin’s Room,” “Wag the Dog,” “Analyze This,” “Flawless,” “ The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle,” “Meet the Parents,” “Fifteen Minutes,” “Showtime,” “Analyze That” and “Meet the Fockers.” In 1992, Tribeca TV was launched with the acclaimed series “Tribeca.” De Niro was one of the executive producers. Tribeca Productions is headquartered at De Niro’s Tribeca Film Center in the TriBeCa district of New York. The Film Center is a state-of-the-art office building designed for the film and television industry. The facility features office space, a screening room, banquet hall and restaurant. The center offers a full range of services for entertainment professionals.

EDGAR RAMIREZ – Roberto Duran

With his nuanced, masculine style, actor Edgar Ramirez is staking his claim as one of the new leading men of Hollywood.

Ramirez can be seen as the leading role in “Hands of Stone”, starring opposite Robert De Niro. This fall, Ramirez will also star alongside Matthew McConaughey in “Gold”. Ramirez last starred in David O. Russell’s Golden Globe nominated film, “Joy”, as the dapper, but philandering husband to Miracle Mop inventor, Joy Mangano, played by Jennifer Lawrence. He also recently led the remake of “Point Break” starring as “Bodhi,” the head of a band of adrenaline junkies committing a string of robberies. In 2014, Ramirez starred in “Deliver us From Evil”, opposite Eric Bana.

Ramirez also co-starred in the Academy Award-nominated, “Zero Dark Thirty”, directed and produced by Academy Award-winner Kathryn Bigelow. The film starred Jessica Chastain, and chronicled the decade-long hunt for Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden.

Ramirez won a wide arrange of awards attention and critical acclaim for his starring role in director Olivier Assayas’ feature “Carlos”, for which he received a 2011 Golden Globe nomination in the category of “Best Actor in a Television Miniseries,” a 2011 SAG Awards nomination in the category of “Outstanding Actor in a Television Miniseries,” a 2011 Emmy Award nomination in the category of “Best Lead Actor in a Television Miniseries or Movie,” and won the Cesar Award for “Best Newcomer (Male).” Ramirez also received nominations for “Best Actor” by the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle, the London Film Critics Circle, and for a Prix Lumieres Award in the category of “Best Actor.” Ramirez played Carlos, a legend in the espionage world for over 30 years. Ramirez spoke 4-5 languages for the role, which shot in numerous locations including France, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Lebanon and Yemen. The project was released theatrically by IFC and as a 3 part miniseries by Sundance Channel. “Carlos” premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and won “Best Television Miniseries” at the 2011 Golden Globes, as well as being voted “Best Foreign Language Film” by the Los Angeles and New York Film Critics Circles. Ramirez starred as “Ares – God of War” in Jonathan Liebesman’s “Wrath of the Titans” alongside Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson. He was awarded the 2012 Alma Award for “Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Drama” for his role in the film.

Ramirez will star as “Dr. Kamil Abdic,” a psychologist who has an affair with “Megan,” played by Haley Bennett in director, Stephen Gaghan’s upcoming film “Girl on the Train”. The film also stars Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson and Justin Theroux. Additionally, his film “The Liberator”, in which Ramirez starred as Simon Bolivar, investigated a series of heinous crimes involving the occult and possible demonic possession, released in later that year and received the Venezuelan nomination for consideration for the Foreign Language Film category at the 2015 Academy Awards. The Passenger, opposite Juliette Binoche, Stephen Soderbergh’s Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara bio-pic, “The Argentine,” with Benicio Del Toro, as well as political thriller, “Vantage Point”, opposite Forest Whitaker and Dennis Quaid. He also starred in “The Bourne Ultimatum”, opposite Matt Damon, and made his American film debut in director Tony Scott’s “Domino”, opposite Keira Knightley and Mickey Rourke.

Internationally, Ramirez last starred in “Greetings to the Devil”, in which Cyrano Fernandez, a Venezuelan-Spanish production based on the French play “Cyrano De Bergerac”, in which he also starred. For his performance in the film, Ramirez won the “Best Actor Award” in the official selection of Territorio Latinoamericano.

Additional past international film credits include “Elipsis, El Don (The Boss), directed by J.R Novoa (Venezuela/Spain); “La Hora Cero (The Magic Hour), a short film directed by Guillermo Arriaga, the acclaimed screenwriter of “Amores Perros” and “21 Grams” (Mexico); “El Nudo” (The Knot), directed by Alejandro Wiederman (Venezuela); “Yotama Se Va Volando”(Yotama Flies Away), directed by Luis Armando Roche (Venezuela – France); “Punto Y Raya” (Step Forward), directed by Elia K. Schneider (Venezuela – Spain – Chile – Uruguay), a nominee for Oscar consideration for 2004 Best Foreign Film; and “Anonimo” (Anonymous) directed by Enelio Farina (Venezuela).

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Ramirez grew up all over the world due to his father’s job as a military attaché. He has made his home in Austria, Canada, Colombia, Italy and Mexico and is fluent in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish as a result. Throughout his travels, Ramirez developed a great love and ability for intercultural communication, a skill he parlayed into a degree in journalism. He specialized in political communications and initially intended on becoming a diplomat.

In 2000, before turning to acting full time, Ramirez was the executive director of NGO Dale Al Voto, a Venezuelan organization akin to Rock the Vote. In order to foster democratic values among young people, Ramirez and his team created cutting edge campaigns for radio, television and cinema. The campaign was well received by audiences throughout the country. He also lent his expertise to various Venezuelan multilateral organizations including Organization of American States, Transparency International and Amnesty International.

Currently, after three years of contribution to UNICEF, including Haiti Relief, Anti- Violence and Children’s Rights campaigns, Ramirez serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in Venezuela. He joins a distinguished list of International Ambassadors that includes Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Shakira, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Orlando Bloom, Judy Collins and Mia Farrow. This has always been one of his humanitarian goals. He has also been active in the awareness campaign for breast cancer in Venezuela, specifically highlighting the disease’s prevalence in the male community.

ANA DE ARMAS – Felicidad Duran

Cuban born actress, Ana de Armas has become one of Spain’s rising stars and now American audiences are about to discover her in two very different roles this year. de Armas will be seen in “Hands of Stone” alongside Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro and Usher. This is a biographical film about the life of boxer Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran. De Armas plays Felicidad Iglesias, Duran’s (Ramirez) eventual wife and the woman who stood by him during his rise to boxing fame and after the infamous “no mas” fight against Sugar Ray Leonard.

She will soon appear in Todd Phillips’ “War Dogs” opposite Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. The film is based on the true story of two friends in their early 20’s living in Miami during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small business to bid on U.S. Military contracts. De Armas plays the role of Iz; The film will be released by in August, 2016.

Most recently, de Armas completed production on the action movie “Overdrive” in which she stars alongside Scott Eastwood and Freddie Thorp. She also recently starred in the mystery-thriller “Exposed” opposite Keanu Reeves and Mira Sorvino. De Armas first met Keanu Reeves while filming Eli Roth’s independent film, “Knock Knock” which debuted at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

De Armas made her feature film debut in “Una Rosa De Francia” for the Cuban Institute of Cinematography and quickly transitioned into one of Spain’s rising film stars. Her previous credits include the Spanish films “Por Un Puñado De Besos,” “Faraday,” “Blind Alley” and “Sex, Party & Lies.”

Challenging himself creatively and testing musical boundaries are characteristics that have defined Usher’s career since he was first discovered 20 years ago. Usher has been ranked by the Recording Industry Assn. of America as one of the best-selling artists in American music history, having sold over 65 million albums worldwide. He has won numerous awards including 8 Grammy Awards and was named the #1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. Billboard named him the second most successful artist of the 2000s decade, with his career-propelling 2004 album “Confessions” being ranked as the top solo album of the 2000s decade. Usher has attained nine Hot 100 #1 hits (all as a lead artist) and 18 Hot 100 top-10 singles.

USHER RAYMOND IV – Sugar Ray Leonard

2016 is proving to be a big year for Usher not only in Music but also in Film and his philanthropic endeavors. Musically, Usher is currently recording his much anticipated 8th studio album which is set for release this year. In the Fall he released Chains, a powerful song and interactive experience that brings attention to the social injustices of our times. Usher continues his activism by lending his voice and time to various social awareness projects and organizations such as Art for Amnesty, The American Justice Summit and Sankofa.

Recently Usher completed the filming of his role as boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in the upcoming film “Hands of Stone,” a biopic of boxer Roberto Duran played by Edgar Ramirez and costars Robert De Niro. Last year, Usher finished the European leg of his world tour entitled “The UR Experience”. He also recently completed 2 seasons as a coach on NBC’s Emmy award winning hit TV show “The Voice” where he proved his top-notch coaching capability by mentoring Josh Kaufman who became the champion of season 6.

Realizing that with success comes responsibility. Usher has also proven to be a major philanthropic force. Founded in 1999, his New Look Foundation empowers youth from impoverished communities to become leaders. In recognition of his accomplishments, Usher has been honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Trumpet Foundation, Do Something, the NAACP, and as the 2010 Ford Freedom Award Scholar. Usher’s business ventures include a best-selling line of fragrances, and a business venture with RBMG (Raymond Braun Media Group).

RUBEN BLADES – Carlos Eleta

Rubén Blades who was born in 1948 is a Panamanian singer, songwriter, actor, musician, activist, and politician. His music is a mix of Afro-Cuban, salsa, and Latin jazz genres. He is considered one of the greatest Latin singer-songwriter of this generation. His career started in the band ̈Fania All Stars ̈ next to Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe. His best- known song is “Pedro Navaja,” a song about a neighborhood thug. It is considered a classic among his fans and one of the most influential songs of the Latin culture. He also composed and sung “Patria” (Motherland), which many Panamanians consider their second national anthem. He has won seven Grammy and five Latin Grammy Awards. His acting career began in 1983, and has continued, sometimes with several-year breaks to focus on other projects; since 2015, he has portrayed Daniel Salazar, a main character on TV series “Fear the Walking Dead”. He plays Carlos Eleta the Panamenian manager of Roberto Duran in ̈Hands of Stone ̈ along with Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez and Usher Raymond.

He is an icon in Panama and is much admired throughout the world. In 1994, Blades launched his career as a politician when ran for presidential candidate. In September 2004, he was appointed minister of tourism by Panamanian president Martín Torrijos for a five- year term. He holds a Bachelor degree in law from the University of Panama and an LL.M in International Law from Harvard University.

JOHN TARTURRO – Frankie Carbo

Highly talented, American actor, John Tarturro, was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian-American parents, Katherine, a jazz singer, and Nicholas Turturro, a construction worker and carpenter.

Turturro, a regular in the thought provoking films of Spike Lee and the off the wall comedies of Joel Coen & Ethan Coen is known for his wonderful performances in such roles as the highly agitated “Pino” in “Do the Right Thing,” as an intellectual playwright in “Barton Fink,” a pedophile tenpin bowler in “The Big Lebowski,” a confused boyfriend in “Jungle Fever” and as the voice of Harvey the dog in “Summer of Sam”.

ELLEN BARKIN – Stephanie Arcel

Ellen Barkin was born in 1954 in the Bronx, New York, to Evelyn (Rozin), a hospital administrator, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman. Her parents were both from Russian Jewish families. Raised in the South Bronx and Queens, New York area, she wanted to be an actress as early as her teens and was eventually accepted into Manhattan’s High School of the Performing Arts.

Barkin then attended Hunter College and received her degree after double majoring in history and drama. At one point she wanted to teach ancient history, but instead turned her thoughts back to her first love, acting. Barkin then continued her education at New York’s Actor’s Studio. Fearful of the auditioning process, she studied acting for seven years before finally landing her first audition. While continuing her studies, she worked as a waitress at the avant-garde Ocean Club. Performing off-Broadway in such plays “Shout Across the River”, “Extremities,” “Fool for Love,” and “Eden Court,” she was applauded across the board for her first film lead in “Diner” opposite Mickey Rourke and Daniel Stern, and pursued tough-cookie status thereafter with such quirky roles in “The Big Easy” starring Dennis Quaid and “Siesta”.

Barkin continued the fascination of her seamy/steamy girl-from-the-wrong-side-of- the-tracks status most notably opposite Al Pacino in the thriller “Sea of Love.” In addition, she was well cast as Robert De Niro’s abused wife in “This Boy’s Life,” and portrayed “Calamity Jane” in “Wild Bill” with earnest. Other projects included roles in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “Drop Dead Gorgeous”, and “Mercy”. On TV, she was well-cast in the mini-movie “Clinton and Nadine” and won an Emmy award for her gripping performance in “Before Women Had Wings” opposite Oprah Winfrey as another abused wife who, in this case, turns her violent anger on her own daughters.

In late 2005, Barkin ventured into independent film production with Applehead Pictures, a company she set up with her brother George Barkin, who is a scriptwriter and former editor-in-chief of National Lampoon and High Times, and former Independent Film Channel executive Caroline Kaplan. Barkin later co-starred in “Ocean’s Thirteen” with George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and former co-star Pacino. Following that up with a role in Antoine Fuqua’s “Brooklyn’s Finest,” “Happy Tears” with Parker Posey and Demi Moore, and “Twelve”.

Recently, Barkin has produced features, including “Letters to Juliet” and “Another Happy Day”, which she also starred in.

JURNEE SMOLLETT-BELL – Juanita Leonard

Jurnee Smollett-Bell was born on October 1, 1986 in New York City, New York. She is an actress, known for her role as Jess Merriweather on the Emmy Award winning TV series, “Friday Night Lights”. She is also known for her roles in “The Great Debaters”, “Eve’s Bayou” “True Blood”, “Parenthood” and the upcoming feature film “Hands of Stone” as Juanita Leonard, the wife of famed boxer Sugar Ray Leonard.. She is the daughter of Janet and Joel Smollett. Her father was Ashkenazi Jewish and her mother is African-American.

CREDITS

WRITTTEN AND DIRECTED BY
JONATHAN JAKUBOWICZ
BASED ON THE LIFE OF ROBERTO ̈MANOS DE PIEDRA ̈ DURÁN PRODUCED BY JAY WEISLEDER
CARLOS GARCIA DE PAREDES
CLAUDINE JAKUBOWICZ
JONATHAN JAKUBOWICZ
EDGAR RAMIREZ
ROBERT DE NIRO
USHER RAYMOND
RUBEN BLADES
PEDRO ̈BUDU ̈ PEREZ
ANA DE ARMAS
JURNEE SMOLLETT-BELL
OSCAR JAENADA
WITH ELLEN BARKIN
AND JOHN TURTURRO
REG. E CATHEY shared
YANCEY ARIAS
INTRODUCING DAVID AROSEMENA AND ROBIN DURÁN CASTING BY AMANDA MACKEY & CATHY SANDRICH GELFOND DILVA BARRIGA

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MIGUEL IOAN LITTIN PRODUCTION DESIGNER TOMAS VOTH
FILM EDITOR ETHAN MANIQUIS
MUSIC COMPOSED BY ANGELO MILLI COSTUME DESIGNER BINA DAIGELER SOUND DESIGN BY PAULA FAIRFIELD MPSE VFX Producer Marcelo García SHARED
VFX Supervisor Rodrigo Tomasso
A JONATHAN JAKUBOWICZ FILM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BEN SILVERMAN RICARDO DEL RIO
SAMMY WEISLEDER
ROBIN DURÁN SHARED
JIM SEIBEL
BILL JOHNSON SHARED
MAX KELLER
GEORGE EDDE SHARED CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SUE ALLEN VILLALVA LINE PRODUCER ARTURO DEL RIO