DALLAS, Texas
After screening in France and Canada, a Dallas-filmed movie played a littler closer to home over the weekend.
“Atonement” is the new film from writer-director Reed Van Dyk and stars Boyd Holbrook, Hiam Abbass and Kenneth Branagh. The film, which is based on a 2012 New Yorker article, follows a troubled marine who seeks to reconcile with an Iraqi family that he and his unit fired on back in 2003.
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The Texas Theatre rolled out the red carpet for the film on Sunday, Sept. 20, with Van Dyk, Abbass and producer Steven Demmler in attendance.
“It was fun to fly in today because I haven’t been back since we shot and I’m flooded with memories,” Van Dyk told the Star-Telegram on the red carpet.
‘Atonement’ screens in Dallas
Many local cast and crew members attended the free screening, which was presented by the Dallas Film Commission’s Screen Dallas program.
“Atonement” filmed in Jordan and across Dallas last summer, including at the recently renovated South Side Studios. Demmler’s Talon Entertainment were behind the renovations and he was able to produce the film, since it was made here.
“Reed came and stayed in an apartment we got him for a month,” Demmler said. “We drove all over DFW trying to figure out [locations], because he’s very particular in the best way, but found that it worked.”
The red carpet for “Atonement” at the Texas Theatre in Dallas on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. Brayden Garcia bgarcia@star-telegram.com
Abbass, who lives in Paris, said she was surprised by how developed the film infrastructure is in Dallas.
She called her experience in the city “beautiful” and was excited to be back in town for the screening. Abbass is particularly interested to see what American audiences think of the film, because of its ties to the Iraq War.
“It’s very interesting to see how people would read what Reed, the writer-director, wanted to share with them,” Abbass said. “I really can’t wait.”
“Atonement” opens in theaters on Oct. 2.
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Brayden Garcia is the entertainment reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he mainly writes about how the film and TV industry impacts North Texas, from Taylor Sheridan shows to the Fort Worth Film Commission and everything in between.