Outside the Box [Office] and Kino Lorber invite you and a guest to attend

A Special Advance Screening of

ATONEMENT

Written & Directed by Reed Van Dyk
Produced by Trevor White, Tim White, David M. Wulf,
Reed Van Dyk, and Steven Demmler

Followed by a Q&A with Reed Van Dyk,
and Actors Boyd Holbrook and Hiam Abbass

7:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 24th, 2026

The Ray Stark Family Theater, SCA 108
George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

In Theaters on Friday, October 2nd, 2026
 

About Atonement

Displaced from their home by U.S. military action during the early days of the Iraq War, the Khachaturian family finds refuge with relatives, gathering their three generations together under one roof. But when another bombing erupts nearby, they decide to return to their home across the city. As they navigate the war-torn streets of Baghdad, the family is trapped in a firefight between U.S. Marines and insurgents, and one Marine’s split-second decision devastates the family. Years later, haunted by his time in Iraq and aided by a New Yorker journalist, the Marine seeks to reconcile with the Khachaturian matriarch and her surviving family members. Anchored by moving, unforgettable performances from Boyd Holbrook, Hiam Abbass, and Kenneth Branagh, Atonement is a powerfully human story about the immeasurable costs of war, exploring universal questions about guilt, redemption, and the nature of forgiveness.

Provided courtesy of Kino Lorber. Running time: 118 minutes. In English and Arabic, with English subtitles.

About the Guests

REED VAN DYK (Writer/Director)

Reed Van Dyk is a screenwriter and director based in Los Angeles. His acclaimed short film DeKalb Elementary was an Oscar Nominee for Best Live Action Short Film. The film won prizes from festivals around the world, including at SXSW and the Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand. Reed’s last short film Interiør premiered at TIFF.

BOYD HOLBROOK (Actor - "Lou D'Alessandro")

Boyd Holbrook has built a distinguished career across film and television.

He will next star in Atonement, the film adaptation of a 2012 New Yorker article about a troubled Marine seeking reconciliation with the survivors of an Iraqi family his unit fired upon. He also stars in the upcoming Netflix action-thriller series Mercenary: An Extraction Series opposite Omar Sy.

Holbrook joined the cast of Apple TV’s The Morning Show in its fourth season as ‘Bordie “Bro” Hartman,’ starring alongside Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Billy Crudup. He will reprise his role in the upcoming fifth season.

Holbrook recently co-starred in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, portraying Johnny Cash. The film earned Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Critics’ Choice Awards, as well as a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

In 2023, he appeared in Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders for Focus Features alongside Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy, and in Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny opposite Harrison Ford. His recent television work includes FX’s Justified: City Primeval, as well as roles in BJ Novak’s dark comedy Vengeance and Netflix’s The Sandman.

Additional film credits include leading roles in The Cursed opposite Kelly Reilly, and Shane Black’s The Predator, as well as notable performances in Logan opposite Hugh Jackman, The Free World, Morgan, Jane Got a Gun, and Run All Night.

Holbrook gained widespread recognition with his streaming debut in the critically acclaimed Netflix series Narcos, which received a 2016 Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, where he starred for two seasons opposite Pedro Pascal. In 2019, he led the Netflix feature In the Shadow of the Moon for director Jim Mickle. His earlier television credits include HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, and the Emmy-nominated miniseries Hatfields & McCoys for the History Channel.

HIAM ABBASS (Actress - "Mariam Khachaturian")

Hiam Abbass is known for her prolific work in American and International feature films, television shows and theatre productions. Hiam was born in Nazareth and began acting at the El Hakawaty Theater in East Jerusalem before moving to Europe.

She recently starred opposite Jeremy Irons in Palestine 36, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025. She appeared as a series regular on HBO’s “Succession” and recurring on Hulu’s “Ramy” and “The Old Man” for FX. Her other television credits include “The Promise,” “The State,” and “The OA.”

Her extensive feature film credits include Haifa (1996), Red Satin (2002), Paradise Now (2005), Free Zone (2005), Munich (2005), The Lemon Tree (2008), The Visitor (2008), Amreeka (2009), Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), amongst many others. She also worked as a creative consultant and acting coach on Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Babel and Steven Spielberg’s Munich. In 2012, she was named as a member of the Jury for the Main Competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. She made her directorial feature film debut with The Inheritance in 2012, and has since written and directed an additional three short films: Le Pain, Le Danse Eternelle and Le Donne Della Vucciria.

She recently co-directed a production of La France Contre Les Robots de G. Bernanos with Jean Baptiste Sastre.

About Outside the Box [Office]

Outside the Box [Office] is a weekly showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles. The series draws from around the globe to present movies that may challenge, inspire or simply entertain.

To view the calendar of screenings, click here

To SUBSCRIBE to our MAILING LIST for upcoming free screenings and events, e-mail the word "Subscribe" to: aago@cinema.usc.edu

Check-In & Reservations

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This screening is free of charge and open to the public. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Assistant Dean, Programming and Special Events, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu