Audience: The First Lady receives Hollywood producer Lawrence Kasanoff

The First Lady, Mrs Dominique Ouattara, received in audience this Thursday June 26, 2025, at her offices, Mrs Eva Peled, Managing Director of the Mitrelli Group, and Mr. Lawrence Kasanoff, a renowned producer in the American film industry.

The meeting was an opportunity for Mrs Peled to introduce the First Lady to her guest, Lawrence Kasanoff, an emblematic figure in Hollywood cinema, known for having produced such cult films as Mortal Kombat, Dirty Dancing, Platoon, True Lies and Beowulf. His rich and varied body of work has left its mark on the history of the 7th art worldwide.

During the audience, Mr. Kasanoff shared with the First Lady his plans to make a film in Côte d’Ivoire. It’s a hopeful project, which could enhance the country’s cultural richness while contributing to its international influence. “The purpose of the visit was to introduce the First Lady to Mr. Kasanoff, an American film producer who produced Mortal Kombat, Dirty Dancing, Platoon, True Lies and Beowulf, the biggest films ever made in American cinema.  His goal is to make a film in Côte d’Ivoire,” declared Mrs Eva Peled, as she left the meeting. She added: “The First Lady was extremely pleased and supportive of our approach. She expressed her absolute support for the initiative to enable Larry to come and make his films in Côte d’Ivoire”.

This film project opens up great prospects for the promotion of Côte d’Ivoire’s cultural heritage and the development of the local audiovisual sector. “Obviously, making a film in Côte d’Ivoire will have a huge impact on its international reputation. It will raise the profile of this country, which is not only Côte d’Ivoire, but also a continent that is not always properly perceived by international audiences. So this film, which could be a romantic comedy for example, will enable international viewers to discover this magnificent country,” said Eva Peled, Managing Director of the Mitrelli Group.

Lawrence Alan Larry Kasanoff is an American film producer who founded Lightstorm Entertainment with James Cameron in 1990 and Threshold Entertainment in 1993. He is known for films such as the Mortal Kombat film franchise, including 1995’s Mortal Kombat, its 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation and its spin-off series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and Mortal Kombat: Conquest. He became involved in the franchise after working on Terminator 2 with Lightstorm Entertainment. Other films produced by Kasanoff include Blood Diner, Blue Steel, True Lies and Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers. He also directed and produced the animated film Foodfight! for Threshold Entertainment. In 2023, Kasanoff published a self-help book entitled A Touch of the Madness: How to Be More Innovative in Work and Life.