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Actor Steve Coogan ('The Trip') and director Peter Cattaneo ('The Full Monty') join Matt Mahler to discuss their new film, 'The Penguin Lessons.' They touch on the book by Tom Michel, bonding with the two penguins on set, balancing tragedy and comedy, and bringing 'Dr. Strangelove' into the modern world with Coogan's latest stage play. 'The Penguin Lessons' hits theaters on May 28, 2025, from Sony Pictures Classics.

'The Penguin Lessons' is inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down.

Jonathan Swift's classic tale, Gulliver's Travels, has been adapted for the big screen many, many times since movies were invented (like the 1939 animated film seen in the image above). But it looks like ol' Lemuel Gulliver is about to set sail on the small screen, in a new adaptation from the Oscar-nominated Uberto Pasolini. The Italian writer/director/producer is perhaps most well-known for bringing The Full Monty to cinemas, having conceived of the idea that Simon Beaufoy went on to write and Peter Cattaneo then directed. But unlike other, older iterations of the tale, this one is said to lean heavily into the original story's satirical elements.

According to a new report from Variety, British screenwriter William Ivory is slated to pen all six episodes of the project, but that Pasolini will serve as showrunner. The series is being billed as a "high-end show," with an international pedigree...

More drudgery at the spring break box office. Five — count ’em, five — wide releases are going this weekend in 1,000-plus theaters. None of them of will be able to put Disney’s embattled Snow White to sleep, with the live-action take on the Disney 1937 toon doing hopefully around $20M in Weekend 2, -53%. The princess who connects with birds and Bambis will have a hold that’s on par to live-action reimaginings of old Disney toons Maleficent and Cinderella, both of which eased by 48%. Snow White remains the fairest with a mix of Imax and PLFs. She’ll be sharing Imax with another Princess — Princess Mononoke.

Unless something magical happens for Jenna Ortega, Rachel Zegler will have bragging rights for No. 1. The Wednesday actress’ R-rated A24 horror movie Death of a Unicorn, starring Paul Rudd, won’t be able to budget past $5M-$7M at 3,000 sites. That’s far below Ortega’s past two Scream movies,...

Directed by Academy Award nominee Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) and written by Academy Award nominee Jeff Pope (Philomena), the Steve Coogan-starring dramedy The Penguin Lessons has the caliber of talent behind and in front of the camera to be a great film. It definitely doesn’t reach the level of greatness, but if you are willing to look past the movie’s flaws and enjoy it as a lighthearted, not-too-meaningful picture, it’s hard not to be won over by its charms.

The Penguin Lessons Review

Based on Tom Michell’s memoir, The Penguin Lessons tells the story of an English schoolteacher at a boarding school in Argentina whose life is changed after he adopts a penguin. Despite being based on a true story, the film does feel a bit comfortable in its tropes; however, it does break its formula in just enough ways that it feels worth your time as a crowd-pleaser.

There are two things that can make any movie better: Steve Coogan and penguins.

Fortunately, and not surprisingly considering its title, The Penguin Lessons features both. Well, at least one penguin, who goes by the name Juan Salvador. But he’s more than enough. He’s Coogan’s best onscreen partner since Rob Brydon in the Trip movies.

Loosely based on a memoir by Tom Michell, the film takes place in 1976 in Buenos Aires, where teacher Tom (Coogan) arrives to teach English to teenage students at a tony private school. His timing wasn’t exactly fortuitous, as not long after he gets there the country is rocked by a military coup, with people disappearing subsequently.

Not that any of the tumult affects Tom, who soon embarks on a weekend getaway to Uruguay with his Swedish colleague (Bjorn Gustafsson, priceless), where he enjoys a flirtation with a local woman. Walking together on the beach,...

It’s not hard to imagine plenty of moviegoers enjoying a comedy where wry English actor Steve Coogan plays a teacher who inspires a class of spoiled boarding school students with the help of his pet penguin. Nor is it hard to imagine moviegoers being riveted by a political drama about Argentina’s notorious Dirty War, during which a vicious military junta overthrew President Isabel Perón's government in 1976 and sent death squads to kill a reported 30,000 dissidents. However, it is hard to imagine moviegoers embracing, to any memorable degree, The Penguin Lessons, which attempts to gently combine those two things, but does so in a manner that is rarely smooth, which was probably inevitable considering these narrative extremes.

The surprising part is that The Penguin Lessons is based on a true story. Tom Michell was in his 20s when he accepted a job as an English professor at a Buenos Aires boarding school.

Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history. Also stars Jonathan Pryce.

The Penguin Lessons opens in theaters March 28.

The St. Louis special advance screening is this Wednesday, March 19 at 7 Pm at Marcus Ronnies 20.

Pass link: https://forms.gle/WDJKe7nruwkMTSS1A

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

Rated PG 13.

Sony Pictures Classics has released a teaser trailer for their upcoming period dramedy starring British comedian Steve Coogan and veteran actor Jonathan Pryce. “The Penguin Lessons” sees a jaded man leave England for Argentina in the 1970s to teach pupils, only to have a rescued penguin enter his life and help him find purpose.

Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2025

The pic hails from a script penned by Jeff Pope (“Philomena”) and was helmed by “The Full Monty” director Peter Cattaneo.

Continue reading ‘The Penguin Lessons’ Teaser Trailer: Steve Coogan Rescues A Cute Penguin In New Dramedy Coming This March at The Playlist.

"I rescued him from an oil slick, because I was trying to impress a woman... and now he thinks he's my friend." Aw what a cutie - I'd be his friend. Sony Pictures Classics has unveiled one more teaser trailer for The Penguin Lessons, a cute dramedy about rescuing a penguin in Argentina. This is opening at the end of March in US theaters - and we featured the official trailer a few weeks ago along with an international one last year. They're really hoping this is a hit & makes some money! Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this endearing film from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman's personal and political awakening after he adopts a little penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine's history. He finds the tiny penguin covered with oil and cleans him up, making a new friend in the process. The main ensemble cast includes Björn Gustafsson,...

P-p-p-pick up the new trailer for The Penguin Lessons, an upcoming drama starring Steve Coogan. And also a penguin.

Coming to a cinema near you soon(ish) is The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo and based on the memoir of Tom Michell, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Pope. Steve Coogan stars alongside Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Björn Gustafsson and Alfonsina Carrocio.

The synopsis reads as follows:

The Penguin Lessons is a story about a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. There, he found a divided nation and a class of unteachable students, only for everything to change when he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach.

Steve Coogan and writer Jeff Pope have been a successful filmmaking team over the last few years. It began in 2013 with Philomena, which starred Judi Dench as the titular character, who enlists the help...

"The penguin is not a communist." Sony Pictures Classics has debuted their own official trailer for the new film titled The Penguin Lessons, a cute dramedy about rescuing a penguin in Argentina. A similar story to My Penguin Friend with Jean Reno from last year year, but not the same. This is opening at the end of March in US theaters. Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this endearing new film from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman's personal and political awakening after he adopts a little penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine's history. He finds the small penguin covered with oil and cleans him up, making a new friend in the process. The main ensemble cast includes Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Aimar Miranda, Micaela Breque, Tomas Pozzi, and Ramiro Blas. The film played at TIFF and got glowing reviews, a few of which are quoted in this trailer.

Roger Durling can’t conceal his excitement for the 40th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The Sbiff director sees the need for a celebration of art as Los Angeles, 90 minutes or so to the south of Santa Barbara, begins to recover from devastating wildfires that destroyed large areas of the county.

“It gives you a sense of togetherness, a sense of community, and that’s what we need right now. I have always found that in the most difficult times in my life, film festivals and films have always been a beacon,” Durling says.

Sbiff and Direct Relief are partnering in a response to the wildfires as well, accepting donations for relief and putting up a $100,000 matching grant. “We’re going to be printing limited edition 40th anniversary T-shirts, and then all the funds from the merchandise will go towards the Direct Relief fund,” he says.

This...

The Academy Awards have their detractors and defenders, but even the biggest fans of the ceremony may grow tired of seeing the same names on the nominees list year after year. Some Hollywood creatives just seem to have the blessing of the Academy no matter what, earning a nomination practically any time they decide to make another movie. But while the voting body has often been accused of stodginess and a lack of diversity, efforts to correct things on those fronts have yielded some exciting results.

Recent ceremonies have seen a more diverse and interesting array of movies take home a statuette or two, like Parasite's surprise clean-up at the 2020 awards, or Everything Everywhere All At Once's big wins for weirdo sci-fi fans everywhere in 2023. The 2025 nominations were recently announced, and while there aren't too many big surprises with what movies are being recognized, one race in particular...

All five Academy Award nominees for Best Director on Thursday — Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, Sean Baker for Anora, Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, James Mangold for A Complete Unknown, and Coralie Fargeat for The Substance — are first-timers in the category.

The last time the Best Directors list was all first-timers was 1998, when James Cameron (Titanic), Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting), Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential), Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter), Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line), and Peter Weir (The Truman Show) were honored. That was the year that Cameron went on to personally win three Oscars, for Best Picture and Best Editing in addition to directing as part of Titanic’s massive 11-victory haul.

Too, Fargeat joined an exclusive club on Thursday, becoming just the ninth woman to be nominated in the Best Director category. The other eight were Lina Wertmüller (Seven Beauties,...

Exclusive: This year’s Manchester Film Festival is set to run from March 14 – 23 and will open with a screening of The Penguin Lessons, directed by British filmmaker Peter Cattaneo and starring Steve Coogan.

Based on the best-selling memoir, the film tells the story of an Englishman’s personal and political awakening during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history, brought about by his unlikely adoption of a penguin.

Manchester will screen 37 features, including 15 UK premieres and 4 world premieres. All films will be screening in Manchester for the first time. This includes the Manchester premiere of the UK’s Oscar selection Santosh from Sandhya Suri, Sundance, and Cannes hit Good One directed by India Donaldson, and South by Southwest Audience Award Winner My Dead Friend Zoe from Kyle Hausmann-Stokes.

Other highlights include the UK premieres of Y2K, A24’s latest horror comedy starring Fred Durst and directed by Kyle Mooney, the...

In the year without a frontrunner, the doors are still wide open. I’m predicting three films will tie for the most nominations with 10 each: “Conclave,” “Emilia Pérez” and “Wicked.”

Jacques Audiard’s crime musical “Emilia Pérez” is poised to dominate, and if it can tack on a tech nom or two, the Netflix film could become the most nominated non-English-language film in history, surpassing “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) and “Roma” (2018). The streamer’s primary awards pony could potentially go even further. On an ideal nomination day, if it lands nods in all of its “on the bubble” categories — such as cinematography, sound, and two extra bids for supporting actress (Selena Gomez) and original song — it could secure 14 nominations, tying with “All About Eve” (1950), “Titanic” (1997), and “La La Land” (2016) as the most-nominated films of all time. Notably, “La La Land,” also a musical, is the only one to lose the best picture.

Sony Pictures Classics has announced that it will release its dramedy The Penguin Lessons, starring Academy Award nominees Steve Coogan (Philomena) and Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes), in theaters nationwide on March 28.

The film is set to open against Focus Features’ Sundance entry The Ballad of Wallis Island, starring Carey Mulligan; Universal’s horror thriller The Woman in the Yard, A24’s Death of a Unicorn, starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd; and Amazon MGM’s Jason Statham action thriller A Working Man, among other titles.

Based on Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir of the same name, The Penguin Lessons is inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom (Coogan) discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down.

Production is underway in London on Drake Doremus’s romantic comedy Next Lifestarring Emilia Clarke and Edgar Ramirez.

Clarke plays a jazz singer who finds herself across two alternate realities. The shoot is scheduled to wrap later this month.

Next Life is produced byMutressa’s Elika Portnoy, Gleb Fetisov ofFetisoff Illusion, UK-us production house42’s Ben Pugh and Kate Buckley, Doremus, and JohnPalfery Smith.

Doremus’s credits includesci-fi romancesZoe and Equals.

Pugh has produced UK films including Eran Creevy’s 2008 thriller Shifty, Peter Cattaneo’s Military Wives, Dominic Cooke’s The Courier, Agnieszka Smoczynska’s The Silent Twins,and Cattaneo...

Production is underway in London on Drake Doremus’s romantic comedy Next Lifestarring Emilia Clarke and Edgar Ramirez.

Clarke plays a jazz singer who finds herself across two alternate realities. The shoot is scheduled to wrap later this month.

Next Life is produced byMutressa’s Elika Portnoy, Gleb Fetisov ofFetisoff Illusion, UK-us production house42’s Ben Pugh and Kate Buckley, Doremus, and JohnPalfery Smith.

Doremus’s credits includesci-fi romancesZoe and Equals.

Pugh has produced UK films including Eran Creevy’s 2008 thriller Shifty, Peter Cattaneo’s Military Wives, Dominic Cooke’s The Courier, Agnieszka Smoczynska’s The Silent Twins,and Cattaneo...

Production is underway in London on Drake Doremus’s romantic comedy Next Lifestarring Emilia Clarke and Edgar Ramirez.

Clarke plays a jazz singer who finds herself across two alternate realities. The shoot is scheduled to wrap later this month.

Next Life is produced byMutressa’s Elika Portnoy, Gleb Fetisov ofFetisoff Illusion, UK-us production house42’s Ben Pugh and Kate Buckley, Doremus, and JohnPalfery Smith.

Doremus’s credits includesci-fi romancesZoe and Equals.

Pugh has produced UK films including Eran Creevy’s 2008 thriller Shifty, Peter Cattaneo’s Military Wives, Dominic Cooke’s The Courier, Agnieszka Smoczynska’s The Silent Twins,and Cattaneo...

Michael Gracey’s Robbie Williams biopic musical Better Man will open the 36th annual Palm Springs Film Festival on Thursday, January 2, while The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring Steve Coogan in the heartwarming story of a teacher who rescues and adopts an adorable penguin, closes it out January 13. Both films had premieres at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year, and Better Man first had its world premiere at Telluride.

As always a hallmark of Psiff are screenings of numerous entries into the Oscar International Feature Film race, this year with 35 scheduled to screen in the desert.

The festival has programmed 158 films from 71 countries including 68 premieres. The lineup also includes sections like Talking Pictures, a focus on Spanish films with a spotlight on Pedro Almodóvar, New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, Cine Latino, True Stories,...

On Tuesday, the Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) announced its official 2025 lineup for the nearly two-week event that’s being held from Jan. 2 to Jan. 13.

The opening night movie will be Paramount Pictures’ “Better Man,” starring Robbie Williams and directed by Michael Gracey, which chronicles the pop star’s meteoric rise and dramatic fall. And the festival will close with Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Penguin Lessons,” starring Steve Coogan and directed by Peter Cattaneo, in the dramedy about a teacher whose life changes when he adopts a penguin. In all, Psiff will screen 158 films from 71 countries, including 68 premieres.

Artistic director Lili Rodriguez said, “Our lineup this year is truly something special. In true Psiff fashion, it spans genres and crosses borders to bring an exciting mix of films to the Coachella Valley. Over the past year, our Palm Springs International Film Festival team has carefully crafted a program that celebrates the art of storytelling,...

The Palm Springs International Film Festival is set to kick off on Jan. 2 with “Better Man,” directed by Michael Gracey, while the closing film on Jan. 12 will be “The Penguin Lessons,” directed by Peter Cattaneo.

The lineup will feature 35 of the international feature film Oscar submissions. Over 11 days, the festival will screen 158 films from 71 countries, including 68 premieres.

Also set are a focus on Spanish films including a spotlight on Pedro Almodóvar, and the return of sections such as New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, Cine Latino, True Stories and World Cinema Now.

“Better Man” is based on the true story of the rise, fall and return of British musician Robbie Williams. Cattaneo will be in attendance for “The Penguin Lessons,” a dramedy about a schoolteacher in militaristic Argentina who rescues a penguin.

Several of the honorees from the Palm Springs International Film Awards are set to participate in the Talking Pictures screenings,...

The UK Global Screen Fund’s (Ukgsf) next round of awardees from its distribution strand of support includes The Penguin Lessons, Bring Them Down, The Salt Path and Kneecap.

The Ukgsf has issued 18 new awards, administered by the BFI, to support international opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector. Ukgsf is financed through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms), and the awards see a further £413,995 allocated through the £7m per year fund’s international distribution strand.

The international distribution strand is now managed by Jordan Allwood, who joined the team in October from UK sales agent Independent Entertainment and replacesFrancesca Walker.

UK sales, finance and production company Protagonist Pictures has made a suite of promotions and hires across its sales and marketing teams.

Joseph Hewitt has been tapped from fellow UK sales agent HanWay Films as senior marketing and distribution manager. At HanWay, Hewitt worked on films including Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter, Matteo Garrone’s Pinocchio, Ron Howard’s Pavarotti and Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt.

Alexandra Da Silva has been promoted from sales executive to sales manager, looking after new title sales in Eastern Europe, Asia and select European territories. She reports to acting senior vice...

“It’s so nice to talk to The Hollywood Reporter,” Olivia Williams says, as we start our interview, “because I really had that Hollywood experience. I went from living in a damp basement flat in Camden Town to, in a matter of days, flying in a private jet to go on set of a huge Hollywood movie.”

Over the course of a single year, from 1997 to 1998, Williams (before then a jobbing British theater actress, doing commercials for Dove shower cream — “they asked me to audition in a bikini…I felt like giving up”) starred in three studio films: Kevin Costner’s The Postman, Wes Anderson’s Rushmore and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense. The Postman was a legendary flop. Rushmore an indie breakout. The Sixth Sense a gargantuan, global hit. Williams, it appeared, had arrived.

“I went from galloping horses with Kevin Costner — doing my own stunts, thank...

"What happened to you?" "I met a penguin." Lionsgate has revealed the official trailer for The Penguin Lessons, a cute dramedy about rescuing a penguin in Argentina. A similar story to My Penguin Friend with Jean Reno that also opened in theaters this year, but also not the exact same story. Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman's personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history. He finds the small penguin covered with oil and cleans him up, making a new friend in the process. The main ensemble cast in here includes Björn Gustafsson, David Herrero, Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Aimar Miranda, Micaela Breque, Tomas Pozzi, and Ramiro Blas. It was shot in Spain though it takes place in Argentina. After premiering at TIFF, the movie will open in the UK next April...

Lionsgate has released the trailer for the Steve Coogan-led feature ‘The Penguin Lessons’

Starring Oscar nominee Steve Coogan, this poignant dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo follows an Englishman’s personal and political awakening after he adopts a penguin during a cataclysmic period in Argentine history.

Jonathan Pryce, Vivian El Jaber, Björn Gustafsson, Alfonsina Carrocio, David Herrero also star.

Also in trailers – “You asked for me…” New trailer flies in for ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

The film debuts across the UK and Ireland on 18th April 2025.

The post Steve Coogan stars in trailer for ‘The Penguin Lessons’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Set in 1970s Argentina, The Penguin Lessons tells the heartwarming yet poignant story of an English teacher and the unexpected bond he forms with a rescued penguin. Director Peter Cattaneo brings us the tale of Tom Michell, played by Steve Coogan, a man arriving in Buenos Aires to teach at a private school. But amidst the political turmoil of the Dirty War, Tom finds an unlikely companion in the form of a penguin washed ashore.

After saving the injured bird, Tom at first tries sending the penguin on its way. Yet it refuses to leave his side. Reluctantly, Tom comes to care for the animal, soon naming him Juan Salvador. Through their interactions, Juan Salvador not only keeps Tom company in lonely times. But more meaningfully, the penguin provides inspiration and emotional support and helps Tom connect with his students in new ways.

Based on a true story, the film...

Stan And Ollie stars Steve Coogan and John C Reilly are reuniting for thespian comedy The Players.

One of the biggest cinematic comedy treats of 2018 was Stan And Ollie, a love letter to arguably the greatest double act of all time. At its centre were two powerhouse performances from Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, who not only captured the perfect comic timing but also the onscreen chemistry.

The film was written by Coogan’s regular collaborator Jeff Pope. The pair also made Philomena and last year’s Jimmy Savile drama, The Reckoning.

According to Deadline, Coogan and Reilly are reuniting with Pope for The Players, a comedy about actors performing a Shakespeare play in New York.

Peter Cattaneo will direct from Pope’s script. Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope are also co-producing with Protagonist Pictures’ Dave Bishop, George Hamilton, James Pugh and 42’s Josh Varney.

Cattaneo, Coogan, Pope and...

After teaming up for 2018’s Stan & Ollie, a biographical comedy focusing on the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan are reuniting for The Players, an upcoming comedy about competing Shakespearian actors.

The Full Monty’s Peter Cattaneo directs The Players from a script by Jeff Pope. The Players is an 1800s period comedy revolving around two thespians, Edwin Forrest and William MacCready. According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, The Players “is set in 1847 New York, where Edwin Forrest (Reilly) holds the undisputed title as the country’s top Shakespearian actor. Playing magnificently to a sold out, raucous crowd every night, Edwin is “The Star”. But when critically celebrated English thespian William MacCready (Coogan) arrives from London to perform his sophisticated Hamlet, Edwin’s title is thrown into jeopardy. Each man wants what the other has, and the rivalry between them starts a hilarious and unforgettable battle of egos.

Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are set to collaborate again in an upcoming comedy that tells the true story of a legendary feud between two American Shakespearean actors in the 1800s. The film, titled “The Players,” will depict the rivalry between actors Edwin Forrest and William MacCready that dominated New York’s mid-19th century theater scene. Coogan will play MacCready, while Reilly portrays Forrest.

The movie takes place in 1847 and focuses on the tense relationship between the two main characters. Forrest, played by Reilly, was America’s top Shakespearean star at the time. However, his dominance was challenged with the arrival of Coogan’s character, the sophisticated English actor MacCready. Director Peter Cattaneo, known for the hit comedy “The Full Monty,” will direct the project. The screenplay was written by Jeff Pope, a frequent Coogan collaborator.

Pope’s script promises to deliver an insightful and witty dramatization of...

Screen Internationalis rounding up the key projects launched before and during this year’s American Film Market (AFM), which runsNovember 5-10 at thePalms Casino Resort.

Refresh the page for latest updates.

Misty Green

Chris Rock will direct and star in the story of a talented actress with a habit of getting in her own way. She is offered the role of a lifetime from a director. The only snag is they have history. FromMACRO Film Studios and Confluential Films.

Sales: Neon International

Paper Tiger

Adam Driver, Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway will star for James Gray in the crime drama,...

Exclusive: Following their 2018 critically acclaimed hit Stan & Ollie, Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are reuniting for The Players, a comedy based on the rivalry between 1800s thespians Edwin Forrest and William MacCready. Two-time Academy Award nominee Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) is directing the project from a script penned by Stan & Ollie and Philomena writer Jeff Pope.

The Players, which is set to begin production early next year in Europe, is set in 1847 New York, where Edwin Forrest (Reilly) holds the undisputed title as the country’s top Shakespearian actor. Playing magnificently to a sold out, raucous crowd every night, Edwin is “The Star”. But when critically celebrated English thespian William MacCready (Coogan) arrives from London to perform his sophisticated Hamlet, Edwin’s title is thrown into jeopardy. Each man wants what the other has, and the rivalry between them starts a hilarious and unforgettable battle of egos.

The fall festival season has wrapped up! Each year, dozens of movies premiere at festivals with distributors looking to launch them before they’re released in theaters or on streaming services. But dozens more are independent films without distribution that came to the festivals looking to be discovered. This year, over 200 movies made their world premieres across the Venice Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival, and the New York Film Festival, and we’ve seen some big name movie sales across all four.

Right as Venice got underway, we saw U.S. deals for two of the biggest competition titles on the slate, Pablo Larraín’s “Maria” to Netflix and Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” to A24. A24 also picked up the rights to Venice Silver Lion winner “The Brutalist” in a competitive situation. And some of the hottest discoveries like “Nutcrackers,” “September 5,” and TIFF Audience...

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired Toronto premiere The Penguin Lessons starring Steve Coogan for North America, the Middle East, Turkey, Asia, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Peter Cattaneo directed the adaptation of Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir of the same name from a screenplay by Jeff Pope, who worked with Coogan on prior Toronto International Film Festival selections The Lost King and Philomena, as well as Stan & Ollie.

Coogan and Jonathan Pryce star in the story about a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. There, he found a divided nation and a class of unteachable students,...

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired “The Penguin Lessons,” an uplifting dramedy starring Steve Coogan as a teacher who forms an unlikely bond with a feathered friend.

Peter Cattaneo directed the film, which premiered at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. It’s adapted by Jeff Pope from Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir. It follows a cynical British professor who takes a job in Argentina in the 1970s during a period of political upheaval, only to find his life transformed when he rescues a oil-soaked penguin from a beach. Under the deal, Sony Pictures Classics has distribution rights in North America, the Middle East, Turkey, Asia, India, Japan and South Korea.

In Variety’s review, critic Guy Lodge described “The Penguin Lessons” as a “heartwarming tale of human-animal bonding” and praised the eponymous penguin, writing that “almost inevitably, it’s best when it’s about the bird.”

Coogan, the English actor who...

Measured against recent Toronto Film Festivals, business at TIFF 2024, which wrapped on September 15, was average.

There was one big studio deal: Paramount Pictures snatching up worldwide rights outside of Germany-speaking Europe for Tim Fehlbaum’s September 5, a newsroom thriller on the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attacks, which is already being touted a major awards contender. There were a handful of indie pickups, with A24 nabbing Brady Corbet’s buzzy period epic The Brutalist and Andrew DeYoung’s bro-com Friendship starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, and Samuel Goldwyn Films taking North American rights to Nick Hamm’s Medieval actioner William Tell starring Claes Bang. And there was a major streaming acquisition as Hulu snatched up TIFF opener Nutcrackers, a family comedy from David Gordon Green featuring Ben Stiller.

There were also a few deals inked ahead of the festival, with Sony Pictures Classics scooping up key world rights to Laura Piani...

All too often, a Toronto Film Festival premiere is seen as an audition for a U.S. release, when the end result is more like sending a manned space flight into the sun. The Penguin Lessons is a case in point, being a peculiarly British movie that takes a very traditional trope — man becomes attached to a very unusual pet — and then infuses it with an unexpectedly modern sense of humor. Given its setting, there were always going to be some serious issues to deal with that wouldn’t quite square with what is essentially a wry comedy. Star Steve Coogan, however, working from a script by his frequent writing partner Jeff Pope, does his best to ground the movie, using irony in a way that international audiences may find hard to process.

After an epoch-defining montage of civil unrest...

Argentina’s 1976 military coup d’état, along with the sustained period of violence and forced disappearances that it ushered in, isn’t an obvious historical backdrop for a heartwarming tale of human-animal bonding. But that’s how the timing worked out for Tom Michell, an English teacher stationed at an elite Buenos Aires private school, at the time of the turmoil: With the country in chaos and many of his colleagues in crisis, he was figuring out what to do with the Magellan penguin he had accidentally adopted on a weekend jaunt to Uruguay. His 2016 memoir of that period, “The Penguin Lessons,” was the kind of breezy read that bridges adult and juvenile tastes for animal stories; Peter Cattaneo’s amiable film adaptation matches the book’s feathery whimsy while reaching for a little more political import. Almost inevitably, it’s best when it’s about the bird.

While Michell...

Jamie Lee Curtis, Kiernan Shipka, Pamela Anderson, Chole Sevigny, Ben Stiller and more struck a pose at TheWrap’s 2024 TIFF Studio sponsored by Moët & Chandon and Boss Design.

This year’s iteration of the Toronto International Film Festival is playing host to the premieres of the Stiller-fronted comedy “Nutcrackers,” Anderson’s Vegas showgirl drama “The Last Showgirl,” the adaptation “Bonjour Tristesse” and others, and the cast and filmmakers behind these films stopped by TheWrap’s studio for interviews and to post for portraits by photographer O’Shane Howard.

Peruse TheWrap’s TIFF Studio portrait gallery below and check back throughout the festival as we update with more portraits.

Photo by O’Shane Howard

Kiernan Shipka, “The Last Showgirl” at TheWrap TIFF 2024 Portrait Studio.

Photo by O’Shane Howard

Jamie Lee Curtis, “The Last Showgirl” at TheWrap TIFF 2024 Portrait Studio.

Photo by O’Shane Howard

Pamela Anderson, “The Last Showgirl” at TheWrap TIFF 2024 Portrait Studio.

Toronto film festival

Tom Michell’s feelgood memoir could have been a winning buddy movie with Coogan’s colleague – if it wasn’t for the titular bird always muscling its way in looking baffled

Films set in Latin America during periods of political and social unrest – the early work of Pablo Larraín, say – have traditionally been low on Dead Poets Society-style inspirational uplift. Or, for that matter, penguins. Now the Steve Coogan Heartwarming True Story Machine – the same one which produced Philomena and The Lost King – seeks to rectify the oversight, and not a moment too soon.

This adaptation of Tom Michell’s cosy memoir The Penguin Lessons, scripted by Coogan’s semi-regular collaborator Jeff Pope and directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), begins in Buenos Aires in 1976, just as Isabel Perón is being ousted in a military coup. Tom, played by Coogan, pitches up with his wardrobe of...

Hollywood and other global entertainment stars will return to this year’s Toronto Film Festival in pre-pandemic numbers and glory, says local restaurant and nightclub kingpin Charles Khabouth.

“I do feel TIFF is coming back to 100 percent, if not 110 percent. Everybody’s been looking forward to this for so many years,” Khabouth told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. That’s in stark contrast to the 2023 edition of TIFF, where striking Hollywood actors were no-shows and local party spots, restaurants and their suppliers had to take financial hits.

And before that, Toronto faced two years of pandemic disruption with slimmed-down digital editions in 2020 and 2021. “TIFF is the most exciting time of the year in Toronto, and we’ve missed it,” Khabouth added as Toronto’s latest festival, running Sept. 5-15, gets set to launch.

As CEO of Ink Entertainment, Khabouth is in close contact with reps for major studios and streamers...

The Full Monty initially struggled to secure production due to similarities to another film, eventually finding success with Fox Searchlight. The cast adamantly decided to only do one take for the striptease scene. The follow-up series aired last year.

Just a few beats into Tom Jones' "You Can Leave Your Hat on" or Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff," and plenty of people will be replaying a couple of iconic scenes from the British hit The Full Monty. The movie depicts a group of men from Sheffield who find themselves unemployed after the steel mill they work for closes down. Gaz has to find money to enable him joint custody of his son, while other ex-employees have their own issues to contend with. In a bid to get him and his friends some cash, he floats the idea of doing a striptease to a live audience, inspired by the famous dance striptease troupe,...

David Gordon Green y Rebel Wilson en la inauguración y clausura.

El Festival Internacional de Cine de Toronto (TIFF) ha revelado su programación para la edición de 2024.

La nueva película de David Gordon Green, “Nutcrackers”, protagonizada por Ben Stiller, inaugurará el Festival, mientras que la nueva película musical “The Deb”, dirigida y protagonizada por Rebel Wilson, será la encargada de clausurarlo.

Entre las películas que harán su debut mundial en TIFF, se encuentran el drama deportivo “Unstoppable”, dirigido por William Goldenberg y protagonizado por Jharrel Jerome y Jennifer Lopez; la película dramática “Hard Truths”, de Mike Leigh y con Marianne Jean-Baptiste; el terror psicológico de A24, “Heretic”, de Scott Beck y Bryan Woods con Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher y Chloe East; la comedia criminal “Riff Raff”, de Dito Montiel, con Jennifer Coolidge, Dustin Hoffman, Brian Cox, Gabrielle Union, Pete Davidson, Ed Harris y Bill Murray; la película de animación “The Wild Robot”, de Chris Sanders,...

The time has come for the annual presentation of the Toronto International Film Festival. The festivities will include many premieres of titles, whether it be their big world premiere, their North American premiere, or even just their Canadian premiere. Deadline has unveiled a number of upcoming films that attendees are expected to see this year.

Among those premiering are some star-studded affairs, such as the war drama Without Blood, which stars Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir and is directed by Angelina Jolie. The film is based on the Alessandro Baricco novel. Hard Truths from Mike Leigh stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste. That film is being described as an “Ongoing exploration of the contemporary world with a tragicomic study of human strengths and weaknesses.”

The Last Showgirl will premiere. The movie follows a seasoned stage dancer who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run and stars Dave Bautista,...

The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival have unveiled their lineup of 63 films from the Gala and Special Presentations programs. Notable titles include the world premieres of Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths and The Last Showgirl, the North American premieres of Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Harvest and Justin Kurzel’s The Order, the Canadian premiere of Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End, along with many favorites from this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Check out the lineup below.

Galas 2024 (in alphabetical order)

*Previously announced

Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe Cosima Spender | UK

World Premiere

Better Man Michael Gracey | USA

Canadian Premiere

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight Embeth Davidtz | South Africa

Canadian Premiere

Sales Title

*Eden Ron Howard | USA

World Premiere

Sales Title

*Elton John: Never Too Late R.J. Cutler, David Furnish | USA

World Premiere

*Harbin Woo Min-ho | South Korea

World Premiere

Meet the Barbarians...

The Toronto Film Festival has turned up the star power for its 49th edition, having added the latest movies from Alicia Vikander, Lupita Nyong’o, Steve Coogan, Ralph Fiennes, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Lily James and Riz Ahmed.

For the Gala section at Roy Thomson Hall, there’s world bows for two music specials: the Andrea Bocelli biopic Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe, a doc about the Italian tenor by director Cosima Spender; and Thom Zimny’s Bruce Springsteen doc for Disney+ and Hulu, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. Zimny was in Toronto last year with his Sylvester Stallone documentary Sly for Netflix.

TIFF will also give a first look to Uberto Pasolini’s historical epic The Return, with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche reteaming after The English Patient. And there’s gala world premieres for Peter Cattaneo’s The Penguin Lessons, toplined by Steve Coogan and...

The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival announced its full lineup of Galas and Special Presentations today in what is a complete embarrassment of riches as the event blasts off after last year’s actors strike with 29 titles having rights for sale.

Among those movies making their world premieres is the Angelina Jolie-directed war drama Without Blood, starring Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir, based on the Alessandro Baricco novel. There’s also Mike Leigh’s first movie in six years, Hard Truths, with Marianne Jean-Baptiste, which is billed as an “ongoing exploration of the contemporary world with a tragicomic study of human strengths and weaknesses.”

Gia Coppola has the drama The Last Showgirl, starring Pamela Anderson, Dave Bautista, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kiernan Shipka and Billie Lourd, which follows a seasoned stage dancer who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.

World premieres from Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, David Mackenzie, Edward Burns, Uberto Pasolini, Peter Cattaneo, and Rachel Morrison among the Gala and Special Presentation titles unveiled by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) today (July 22).

Hard Truths is a rare TIFF premiere for Leigh after the UK auteur’s last film Peterloo debuted in Venice in 2018, while Mr. Turner in 2014 and Another Year in 2010 both premiered in Cannes. Cornerstone represents sales and Bleecker Street will handle US distributon on the film, which stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste from Secrets And Lies.

Pasolini’s The Return marks his follow-up to Venice 2020 entry Nowhere Special...