Ali Abbasi

The Apprentice

Denmark

Festival de Cannes · 2025

Synopsis

"The Apprentice" is a deep dive into the rarely seen sides of the American empire. It follows a young Donald Trump's rise to power through a Faustian pact with the influential lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn.

Production Facts

Starring: Sebastian Stan (Donald Trump) – Emmy & Golden Globe Award Nominee, Silver Bear Winner; Jeremy Strong (Roy Cohn) – Emmy, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award Winner; Maria Bakalova (Ivana Zelníčková/Ivana Trump) – Academy & Golden Globe Award Nominee; Martin Donovan (Fred Trump Senior).

Director: Ali Abbasi
Script writer: Gabe Sherman
Producer: Daniel Bekerman, Scythia Films, Jakob Jarek, Profile Pictures, Ruth Treacy and Julianne Forde, Tailored Films, Ali Abbasi and Louis Tisné, Film Institute
Executive Producers: Amy Baer, Mark H. Rapaport, Emanuel Nunez, Josh Marks, Grant S. Johnson
Financiers: Kinematics, Head Gear Films, Screen Ireland, Film i Väst, The Danish Film Institute, National Bank of Canada
Co-production: Nima Yousefi, Hobab. Post-produced in Region Västra Götaland by Dupp Film.

About Ali Abbasi
With the film "Border", shot in Region Västra Götaland, Ali Abbasi had his major breakthrough. It won Un Certain Regard in Cannes and five Guldbagge Awards, including Best Film. In 2022, his "Holy Spider" was nominated for the Palme d'Or, where actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi won Best Actress. "Holy Spider" was also shortlisted for an Oscar. All films are co-produced with Film i Väst.

1 nominations

Festival de Cannes2025