Variety is expanding its international coverage with the appointment of well-respected trade correspondent Alex Ritman as its London Bureau Chief.
Ritman, who is based in London, was U.K. correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter for nine years. During that time, he was nominated for several National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, co-winning in 2017 for a feature about Leonardo DiCaprio and a major international corruption scandal. He was most recently nominated for a profile of Daniel Radcliffe. Prior to joining THR, Ritman wrote for publications including The Guardian, Time Out, The Sunday Times, Esquire, The Daily Beast, The Los Angeles Times and Little White Lies. He spent several years in the Middle East as the main film writer for The National newspaper.
At Variety, Ritman will contribute to magazine features and web stories with an emphasis on U.K. film and media, production and financial news, as well as industry analysis,...
Ritman, who is based in London, was U.K. correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter for nine years. During that time, he was nominated for several National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, co-winning in 2017 for a feature about Leonardo DiCaprio and a major international corruption scandal. He was most recently nominated for a profile of Daniel Radcliffe. Prior to joining THR, Ritman wrote for publications including The Guardian, Time Out, The Sunday Times, Esquire, The Daily Beast, The Los Angeles Times and Little White Lies. He spent several years in the Middle East as the main film writer for The National newspaper.
At Variety, Ritman will contribute to magazine features and web stories with an emphasis on U.K. film and media, production and financial news, as well as industry analysis,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
“I hope we can communicate and reconcile again,” said Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon on the opening night of the South Korean city’s film festival.
With so much of the dialogue in opening drama “Because I Hate Korea” discussing Korean societal rigidities, group loyalties, long working hours and poor pay (which cause the protagonist to emigrate to laid-back New Zealand), it is easy to forget that many of these characteristics are what may have saved this year’s Busan International FIlm Festival from going off the rails.
Mid-year, the festival’s aging senior management had a self-inflicted meltdown (a senior moment?) when chairman and co-founder Lee Yong-kwan set off a chain of events that caused multiple resignations, highlighting the old city-versus-festival political divide and alienating local sponsors and industry guilds.
This was dirty laundry that Busan should have washed out of its system in the years-long aftermath of the 2014 “The...
With so much of the dialogue in opening drama “Because I Hate Korea” discussing Korean societal rigidities, group loyalties, long working hours and poor pay (which cause the protagonist to emigrate to laid-back New Zealand), it is easy to forget that many of these characteristics are what may have saved this year’s Busan International FIlm Festival from going off the rails.
Mid-year, the festival’s aging senior management had a self-inflicted meltdown (a senior moment?) when chairman and co-founder Lee Yong-kwan set off a chain of events that caused multiple resignations, highlighting the old city-versus-festival political divide and alienating local sponsors and industry guilds.
This was dirty laundry that Busan should have washed out of its system in the years-long aftermath of the 2014 “The...
- 10/4/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Almost exactly a year after Amazon’s Prime Video officially set foot in Thailand, the company is this week launching its first locally-made ‘original.’
Produced for the streamer by Liminal Entertainment in conjunction with Malin Films Production, and executive produced by Jef Lim, Marilyn Tan and Malin Pongsapipatt, the show follows six well-known actors to an almost utopian island, where the only thing missing is laughter. The celebrities are tasked with performing improvised skits to lift the locals’ gross happiness index. The series launches on Thursday, delivering the first three of its six episodes.
Darin Darakananda, Amazon Studios’ head of Thailand originals, calls the show “a commitment to the local creative community.” She expands on that theme in conversation with Variety.
What is the Prime Video strategy in Thailand?
As we’ve done in multiple territories, we want to come in and wow the audience with all the content that we’re creating.
Produced for the streamer by Liminal Entertainment in conjunction with Malin Films Production, and executive produced by Jef Lim, Marilyn Tan and Malin Pongsapipatt, the show follows six well-known actors to an almost utopian island, where the only thing missing is laughter. The celebrities are tasked with performing improvised skits to lift the locals’ gross happiness index. The series launches on Thursday, delivering the first three of its six episodes.
Darin Darakananda, Amazon Studios’ head of Thailand originals, calls the show “a commitment to the local creative community.” She expands on that theme in conversation with Variety.
What is the Prime Video strategy in Thailand?
As we’ve done in multiple territories, we want to come in and wow the audience with all the content that we’re creating.
- 8/31/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The SAG-AFTRA strike has shut down scores of film and TV productions as actors hit the picket line. While many sets had already shut down as a result of the WGA writers strike, the actors strike will effectively slow Hollywood down to a crawl as negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers continue.
Read Variety‘s list of newly halted productions below, which will be updated throughout the strike.
Beetlejuice 2
The Tim Burton production, with Michael Keaton reprising his role as the crude ghost, is almost done with shooting in London but was still expected to film one last sequence in Vermont when the strike took place.
The Day of the Jackal
Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch star in this Sky and Peacock series that was shooting around Central and Eastern Europe.
Deadpool 3
The superhero sequel was filming in the U.K., with Hugh Jackman...
Read Variety‘s list of newly halted productions below, which will be updated throughout the strike.
Beetlejuice 2
The Tim Burton production, with Michael Keaton reprising his role as the crude ghost, is almost done with shooting in London but was still expected to film one last sequence in Vermont when the strike took place.
The Day of the Jackal
Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch star in this Sky and Peacock series that was shooting around Central and Eastern Europe.
Deadpool 3
The superhero sequel was filming in the U.K., with Hugh Jackman...
- 7/14/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Asian content heavyweights revealed their thoughts on several subjects at a panel called “The Asian Wave in 2023 and Beyond” on March 13, the opening day of FilMart in Hong Kong.
The lively session, moderated by Variety‘s Asia editor Patrick Frater, featured Sebastian Kim, director of international content sales and acquisition at Korea’s Cj Enm, Sanmesh Thakur, executive VP and territory head, Asia Pacific, at India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Ziraviss Vindhanapisuth, VP, international business at Thailand’s Bec World Public Company.
The evergreen topic of co-production was discussed in some depth. Kim said: “We’ve been looking for this formula for decades and for now, we find that the best formula of co-production is more like an adaptation of the original — A place to B place production — that’s how we’ve been doing it.”
Kim, noted, however, that mixed casting from different countries don’t work because...
The lively session, moderated by Variety‘s Asia editor Patrick Frater, featured Sebastian Kim, director of international content sales and acquisition at Korea’s Cj Enm, Sanmesh Thakur, executive VP and territory head, Asia Pacific, at India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Ziraviss Vindhanapisuth, VP, international business at Thailand’s Bec World Public Company.
The evergreen topic of co-production was discussed in some depth. Kim said: “We’ve been looking for this formula for decades and for now, we find that the best formula of co-production is more like an adaptation of the original — A place to B place production — that’s how we’ve been doing it.”
Kim, noted, however, that mixed casting from different countries don’t work because...
- 3/13/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The Independent Film & Television Alliance today unveiled new details, as to the programming and speakers to be featured at this year’s American Film Market.
The AFM Sessions put on at the Loews Beach Hotel in Santa Monica as part of the 43rd edition of the industry’s only independently produced sales market will consist of 30+ panels bringing together over 100 speakers from November 2-5, including film industry thought leaders Howard Cohen (Roadside Attractions), Ashley Stern (Picture Perfect Federation), Martin Moszkowicz (Constantin Film), Jeff Annison (Legion M), Jeffrey Greenstein (Millennium Media) and George Hamilton (Protagonist Pictures). Programming highlights include:
Finance: Strategies for Today’s VOD Dominated World
Maxime Cottray, XYZ Films, Peter Graham, 120 dB Films (Principal), Deirdre Owens, Cast & Crew and Jeremy Kay, Screen International (Americas Editor).
Forecasting the Future for Independent Film
David Fannon, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Screen Media Ventures, Martin Moszkowicz, Constantin Film (President and Chairman), Ashley Stern, Picture Perfect Federation / Federation Entertainment of America (President) and Patrick Frater, Variety (Asia Editor).
Theatrical Marketplace Recovery for Independent Films
Howard Cohen, Roadside Attractions (Co-President & Co-Founder), Jeffrey Greenstein, Millennium Media (President), Scott Shooman, IFC Entertainment and Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, (International Features Editor).
Demystifying the Global VOD Landscape
Nick Isaak, Gravitas Ventures (VP of Sales), Peter Jarowey, Vertical Entertainment (Partner / CEO), Jason Pfardrescher, Well Go USA (EVP Digital Distribution), Kent Sanderson, Bleecker Street/ Decal and Stephanie Prange, Media Play News (Editor in Chief).
Inspiration is Everywhere: Accessing & Adapting Existing IP for the Screen
Margaret Boykin, Ubisoft Film & Television, Charles Hopkins, Concord Originals (Director of Development & Production) and James Vanderbilt, Project X Entertainment (Cco).
Independent Features with Big Profit Potential
Miranda Bailey, Cold Iron Pictures (CEO), Brian Beckmann, Arclight Films (CFO), George Hamilton, Protagonist Pictures (Cco), and Pip Ngo, XYZ Films (SVP of Sales & Acquisitions).
The Producer / Sales Agent Dynamic
Clay Epstein, Film Mode Entertainment (President), Delphine Perrier, Highland Film Group (COO), Mary Jane Skalski, Echo Lake Entertainment (President of Production / Producer), and Mimi Steinbaur, Radiant Films International (President & CEO).
The Innovators
Jeff Annison, Legion M (Co-Founder & President), Lindsey Ramey, Wattpad Webtoon Studios (Head of Global Film), Richard Botto, Stage 32 (Founder) and Alex Ferrari, Indie Film Hustle (Founder).
AFM’s programming will kick off the morning of November 2nd with the Finance Conference “The Risk Takers”, featuring Jason Cloth (Creative Wealth Media/Bron), Basil Iwanyk (Thunder Road Pictures), Laura Lewis (Rebelle Media), Milan Popelka (FilmNation), and Erich Schartzel (The Wall Street Journal), as previously announced.
Attendees will also be able to connect with Film Commissions, Government Agencies and Production Service Companies from more than 30 countries, who collectively are offering millions of dollars in production incentives, via AFM’s LocationEXPO. Exhibitors and LocationEXPO partners putting on presentations for participants include The Italian Trade Agency, The Polish Film Institute, The North Finland Film Commission and the Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development.
This year’s installment of AFM will take place at the Loews Hotel and theatres throughout the city from November 1-6. More information on AFM’s current schedule and speakers, as well as its exhibitor list, can be found here and here, respectively. Check out the official poster for AFM 2022 above.
The AFM Sessions put on at the Loews Beach Hotel in Santa Monica as part of the 43rd edition of the industry’s only independently produced sales market will consist of 30+ panels bringing together over 100 speakers from November 2-5, including film industry thought leaders Howard Cohen (Roadside Attractions), Ashley Stern (Picture Perfect Federation), Martin Moszkowicz (Constantin Film), Jeff Annison (Legion M), Jeffrey Greenstein (Millennium Media) and George Hamilton (Protagonist Pictures). Programming highlights include:
Finance: Strategies for Today’s VOD Dominated World
Maxime Cottray, XYZ Films, Peter Graham, 120 dB Films (Principal), Deirdre Owens, Cast & Crew and Jeremy Kay, Screen International (Americas Editor).
Forecasting the Future for Independent Film
David Fannon, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment / Screen Media Ventures, Martin Moszkowicz, Constantin Film (President and Chairman), Ashley Stern, Picture Perfect Federation / Federation Entertainment of America (President) and Patrick Frater, Variety (Asia Editor).
Theatrical Marketplace Recovery for Independent Films
Howard Cohen, Roadside Attractions (Co-President & Co-Founder), Jeffrey Greenstein, Millennium Media (President), Scott Shooman, IFC Entertainment and Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, (International Features Editor).
Demystifying the Global VOD Landscape
Nick Isaak, Gravitas Ventures (VP of Sales), Peter Jarowey, Vertical Entertainment (Partner / CEO), Jason Pfardrescher, Well Go USA (EVP Digital Distribution), Kent Sanderson, Bleecker Street/ Decal and Stephanie Prange, Media Play News (Editor in Chief).
Inspiration is Everywhere: Accessing & Adapting Existing IP for the Screen
Margaret Boykin, Ubisoft Film & Television, Charles Hopkins, Concord Originals (Director of Development & Production) and James Vanderbilt, Project X Entertainment (Cco).
Independent Features with Big Profit Potential
Miranda Bailey, Cold Iron Pictures (CEO), Brian Beckmann, Arclight Films (CFO), George Hamilton, Protagonist Pictures (Cco), and Pip Ngo, XYZ Films (SVP of Sales & Acquisitions).
The Producer / Sales Agent Dynamic
Clay Epstein, Film Mode Entertainment (President), Delphine Perrier, Highland Film Group (COO), Mary Jane Skalski, Echo Lake Entertainment (President of Production / Producer), and Mimi Steinbaur, Radiant Films International (President & CEO).
The Innovators
Jeff Annison, Legion M (Co-Founder & President), Lindsey Ramey, Wattpad Webtoon Studios (Head of Global Film), Richard Botto, Stage 32 (Founder) and Alex Ferrari, Indie Film Hustle (Founder).
AFM’s programming will kick off the morning of November 2nd with the Finance Conference “The Risk Takers”, featuring Jason Cloth (Creative Wealth Media/Bron), Basil Iwanyk (Thunder Road Pictures), Laura Lewis (Rebelle Media), Milan Popelka (FilmNation), and Erich Schartzel (The Wall Street Journal), as previously announced.
Attendees will also be able to connect with Film Commissions, Government Agencies and Production Service Companies from more than 30 countries, who collectively are offering millions of dollars in production incentives, via AFM’s LocationEXPO. Exhibitors and LocationEXPO partners putting on presentations for participants include The Italian Trade Agency, The Polish Film Institute, The North Finland Film Commission and the Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development.
This year’s installment of AFM will take place at the Loews Hotel and theatres throughout the city from November 1-6. More information on AFM’s current schedule and speakers, as well as its exhibitor list, can be found here and here, respectively. Check out the official poster for AFM 2022 above.
- 10/14/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
An influential panel of buyers from Asia and Europe identified multiple problems in the current, depressed post-pandemic box office landscape for arthouse films and attempted to find solutions at a Platform Busan panel on Monday.
The panel included Laure Parleani of Totem Films (France), Kim Heaok of Hark & Company (Japan), Beril Heral of Filmarti (Turkey) and June Lee from Korean streamer Watcha. The panel was moderated by Variety Asia editor Patrick Frater.
Parleani mentioned that France has had its worst box office September in 42 years, with only Rebecca Zlotowski’s Venice title “Other People’s Children” and Alice Winocour’s Cannes title “Revoir Paris,” both starring Virginie Efira, bringing some cheer amongst local fare.
“We have good news, but they’re still exceptions, that’s the issue,” said Parleani.
“There’s no good news at all,” declared Kim about Japan, adding that the market for arthouse films was declining even before the pandemic.
The panel included Laure Parleani of Totem Films (France), Kim Heaok of Hark & Company (Japan), Beril Heral of Filmarti (Turkey) and June Lee from Korean streamer Watcha. The panel was moderated by Variety Asia editor Patrick Frater.
Parleani mentioned that France has had its worst box office September in 42 years, with only Rebecca Zlotowski’s Venice title “Other People’s Children” and Alice Winocour’s Cannes title “Revoir Paris,” both starring Virginie Efira, bringing some cheer amongst local fare.
“We have good news, but they’re still exceptions, that’s the issue,” said Parleani.
“There’s no good news at all,” declared Kim about Japan, adding that the market for arthouse films was declining even before the pandemic.
- 10/11/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
A heavyweight producers panel discussed the modalities of producing independent films in Southeast Asia at a mylab panel on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival on Thursday.
Panelists included: Liza Diño, former chair of Film Development Council of the Philippines (Fdcp) who had greenlit several films during her tenure; Indonesia’s Yulia Evina Bhara, producer of Venice-winner “Autobiography” that’s also playing at Busan; Thailand’s Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, producer of Locarno and Busan title “Arnold is a Model Student,”; and Malaysia’s Haris Sulong, producer of “Beautiful Mind.” The discussion was moderated by Variety Asia editor Patrick Frater.
Bhara said that the entry of giant global streamers into the region has had a positive effect on the quality of productions and has also driven up budgets. Where once 100,000 was considered a high budget for independent films, now they can touch 900,000-1 million, Bhara said. Much of the funding...
Panelists included: Liza Diño, former chair of Film Development Council of the Philippines (Fdcp) who had greenlit several films during her tenure; Indonesia’s Yulia Evina Bhara, producer of Venice-winner “Autobiography” that’s also playing at Busan; Thailand’s Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, producer of Locarno and Busan title “Arnold is a Model Student,”; and Malaysia’s Haris Sulong, producer of “Beautiful Mind.” The discussion was moderated by Variety Asia editor Patrick Frater.
Bhara said that the entry of giant global streamers into the region has had a positive effect on the quality of productions and has also driven up budgets. Where once 100,000 was considered a high budget for independent films, now they can touch 900,000-1 million, Bhara said. Much of the funding...
- 10/7/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Leading practitioners of the Asian theatrical business participated in a lively discussion on the future of the sector post-pandemic and the signs are encouraging.
Speaking at the Apos conference in Singapore on Thursday, moderated by Variety Asia editor Patrick Frater, Stephen Laslocky, VP at leading research firm Media Partners Asia, provided a handy overview of the theatrical market in Southeast Asia.
Laslocky said that Indonesia, the largest market in the region, would be back to 2019 levels of theatrical business by the end of 2022. “In Malaysia, the demand generally appears to be back, the issue was the pipeline just wasn’t so great, particularly this year. But next year, they think that’s going to improve for both local, which has done very well this year, and for foreign films next year,” Laslocky said.
“In the Philippines, I’m hearing some slightly more ambiguous feedback from a lot of people – frankly,...
Speaking at the Apos conference in Singapore on Thursday, moderated by Variety Asia editor Patrick Frater, Stephen Laslocky, VP at leading research firm Media Partners Asia, provided a handy overview of the theatrical market in Southeast Asia.
Laslocky said that Indonesia, the largest market in the region, would be back to 2019 levels of theatrical business by the end of 2022. “In Malaysia, the demand generally appears to be back, the issue was the pipeline just wasn’t so great, particularly this year. But next year, they think that’s going to improve for both local, which has done very well this year, and for foreign films next year,” Laslocky said.
“In the Philippines, I’m hearing some slightly more ambiguous feedback from a lot of people – frankly,...
- 9/29/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festivals
On Aug. 24, Ukraine independence day, the Venice Film Festival has revealed that it will host a Ukrainian Day on Sept. 8, as part of the festival’s Venice Production Bridge initiative. The day will kick off with a panel discussion introduced by the president of the Biennale, Roberto Cicutto, and the artistic director of the 79th festival, Alberto Barbera.
Panelists include the Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy, Yaroslav Melnyk; the head of the National Cinema Institution of Ukraine, Marina Kuderchuk; the director of the film “Luxembourg, Luxembourg” (which will screen in competition in the festival’s Horizons strand), Antonio Lukich; the director of the film “Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom” (screening out of competition), Evgeny Afineevsky; the exhibiting artist in the Ukrainian Pavilion at the 59th Biennale Arte, Pavlo Makov; the curator of the Ukrainian Pavilion at the 59th Biennale Arte, Boris Filonenko; the representative of Ukraine’s...
On Aug. 24, Ukraine independence day, the Venice Film Festival has revealed that it will host a Ukrainian Day on Sept. 8, as part of the festival’s Venice Production Bridge initiative. The day will kick off with a panel discussion introduced by the president of the Biennale, Roberto Cicutto, and the artistic director of the 79th festival, Alberto Barbera.
Panelists include the Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy, Yaroslav Melnyk; the head of the National Cinema Institution of Ukraine, Marina Kuderchuk; the director of the film “Luxembourg, Luxembourg” (which will screen in competition in the festival’s Horizons strand), Antonio Lukich; the director of the film “Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom” (screening out of competition), Evgeny Afineevsky; the exhibiting artist in the Ukrainian Pavilion at the 59th Biennale Arte, Pavlo Makov; the curator of the Ukrainian Pavilion at the 59th Biennale Arte, Boris Filonenko; the representative of Ukraine’s...
- 8/24/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
As Venice Film Festival chief Alberto Barbera continues to see films and tinker with his selection before announcing the Lido lineup next week, several high-profile titles have emerged as either locked in or highly likely to be launching from the Lido.
As previously anticipated by Variety, U.S. studios and streamers are set to be disembarking at the fest in full force. Warner Bros. will be launching steamy psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” which is Olivia Wilde’s second directorial effort and stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. The pic is one of two movies starring the latter pop star to come out this fall (the other being Amazon Studios’ “My Policeman”).
Focus Features will be on the Lido with Todd Field’s “Tár,” which teams the “In the Bedroom” director with Cate Blanchett as the fictional Lydia Tár, one of the world’s greatest conductors and the first female...
As previously anticipated by Variety, U.S. studios and streamers are set to be disembarking at the fest in full force. Warner Bros. will be launching steamy psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” which is Olivia Wilde’s second directorial effort and stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. The pic is one of two movies starring the latter pop star to come out this fall (the other being Amazon Studios’ “My Policeman”).
Focus Features will be on the Lido with Todd Field’s “Tár,” which teams the “In the Bedroom” director with Cate Blanchett as the fictional Lydia Tár, one of the world’s greatest conductors and the first female...
- 7/21/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Rights
U.K.-based distributor Dcd Rights has acquired Grammy-nominated feature documentary “Music, Money, Madness… Jimi Hendrix Live In Maui.” The 90-minute documentary chronicles guitar legend Jimi Hendrix’s visit to Maui in July 1970 and details how he became ensnared in “Rainbow Bridge,” an ill-fated independent film produced by his manager, Michael Jeffery.
Jeffery secured a 300,000 advance against the promise of a soundtrack album by Hendrix — the first time a movie was funded solely by an album. Jeffery hired Chuck Wein, a former associate of Andy Warhol, to direct. However, without a script or professional actors, the shoot was proving one of excess. With Hendrix and the Experience already booked to play Honolulu, Wein, desperate to feature the band, planned to film them playing on the slope of the dormant Haleakala volcano. The show was a success but the film, less so.
The documentary is produced under the Experience Hendrix label,...
U.K.-based distributor Dcd Rights has acquired Grammy-nominated feature documentary “Music, Money, Madness… Jimi Hendrix Live In Maui.” The 90-minute documentary chronicles guitar legend Jimi Hendrix’s visit to Maui in July 1970 and details how he became ensnared in “Rainbow Bridge,” an ill-fated independent film produced by his manager, Michael Jeffery.
Jeffery secured a 300,000 advance against the promise of a soundtrack album by Hendrix — the first time a movie was funded solely by an album. Jeffery hired Chuck Wein, a former associate of Andy Warhol, to direct. However, without a script or professional actors, the shoot was proving one of excess. With Hendrix and the Experience already booked to play Honolulu, Wein, desperate to feature the band, planned to film them playing on the slope of the dormant Haleakala volcano. The show was a success but the film, less so.
The documentary is produced under the Experience Hendrix label,...
- 7/5/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava will direct a film about Pakistani model and social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered in an honor killing in 2016.
Shrivastava, along with producers Vikas Sharma (“Toba Tek Singh”) and Sunny Khanna (“Why Cheat India”), has acquired the rights to the book “The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch,” by Sanam Maher, published by Aleph, it was revealed ahead of the Cannes Film Market.
Shrivastava’s credits include feminist films “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” which was briefly banned in India in 2017, Busan selection “Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars” and Netflix series “Bombay Begums.”
Baloch, whose real name is Fouzia Azeem, had stoked controversy in Pakistan by living a Westernized lifestyle and posting her thoughts on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Divorced from her husband, she had been nicknamed “Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian” and “Pakistan’s first social media star.”
“When Qandeel...
Shrivastava, along with producers Vikas Sharma (“Toba Tek Singh”) and Sunny Khanna (“Why Cheat India”), has acquired the rights to the book “The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch,” by Sanam Maher, published by Aleph, it was revealed ahead of the Cannes Film Market.
Shrivastava’s credits include feminist films “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” which was briefly banned in India in 2017, Busan selection “Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars” and Netflix series “Bombay Begums.”
Baloch, whose real name is Fouzia Azeem, had stoked controversy in Pakistan by living a Westernized lifestyle and posting her thoughts on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Divorced from her husband, she had been nicknamed “Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian” and “Pakistan’s first social media star.”
“When Qandeel...
- 5/17/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Music
Singer-songwriter Sam Ryder will represent the U.K. at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Turin, Italy in May 2022 with the song “Space Man.” With over 12 million followers and 100 million likes on TikTok, Ryder is currently the most followed U.K. music artist on the platform. The search for the U.K. representative was led by 2022 partners, the global music management and publishing company TaP Music.
As the world went into lockdown in March 2020, Ryder uploaded the first of his now famous covers onto TikTok and his vocals quickly caught the attention of celebrity fans including Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys. Ryder is signed up with Parlophone.
Ryder co-wrote “Space Man” with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge and Max Wolfgang.
Ryder said: “Having been a fan of Eurovision since I was a kid I am so honored to have been presented with the opportunity to sing...
Singer-songwriter Sam Ryder will represent the U.K. at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Turin, Italy in May 2022 with the song “Space Man.” With over 12 million followers and 100 million likes on TikTok, Ryder is currently the most followed U.K. music artist on the platform. The search for the U.K. representative was led by 2022 partners, the global music management and publishing company TaP Music.
As the world went into lockdown in March 2020, Ryder uploaded the first of his now famous covers onto TikTok and his vocals quickly caught the attention of celebrity fans including Justin Bieber, Sia and Alicia Keys. Ryder is signed up with Parlophone.
Ryder co-wrote “Space Man” with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge and Max Wolfgang.
Ryder said: “Having been a fan of Eurovision since I was a kid I am so honored to have been presented with the opportunity to sing...
- 3/10/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Award
Mo Abudu, CEO of Nigeria’s The EbonyLife Group, will be celebrated by France’s upcoming Series Mania festival with its Women in Series Award. The prize, given in tandem with the European Women’s Audiovisual Network (Ewa Network) and advocacy group Pour Les Femmes Dans Les Médias (Pfdm), honors a remarkable woman from the audiovisual industry for her vision and leadership. Last year’s award went to Christina Sulebakk, general manager of HBO Max Emea.
Abudu has turned Nigeria-based EbonyLife — the upscale international Black TV network she launched in 2013 — into a multi-pronged media conglomerate that has produced more than 5,000 hours of original content, including the top-grossing Nigerian film of all time, 2016’s “The Wedding Party,” and multiple projects for Netflix. Among these is the film “Òlòtūré” that exposes human trafficking in Nigeria. She will be handed her award on the evening of March 22 at the Forum’s Awards Ceremony in Lille.
Mo Abudu, CEO of Nigeria’s The EbonyLife Group, will be celebrated by France’s upcoming Series Mania festival with its Women in Series Award. The prize, given in tandem with the European Women’s Audiovisual Network (Ewa Network) and advocacy group Pour Les Femmes Dans Les Médias (Pfdm), honors a remarkable woman from the audiovisual industry for her vision and leadership. Last year’s award went to Christina Sulebakk, general manager of HBO Max Emea.
Abudu has turned Nigeria-based EbonyLife — the upscale international Black TV network she launched in 2013 — into a multi-pronged media conglomerate that has produced more than 5,000 hours of original content, including the top-grossing Nigerian film of all time, 2016’s “The Wedding Party,” and multiple projects for Netflix. Among these is the film “Òlòtūré” that exposes human trafficking in Nigeria. She will be handed her award on the evening of March 22 at the Forum’s Awards Ceremony in Lille.
- 3/8/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Trailer
BAFTA and sponsor, telecommunications provider Ee, are celebrating a 25 year partnership with a trailer that is playing across U.K. cinemas from Friday. The partnership is one of the longest running arts partnerships in the U.K. with Ee working with BAFTA to introduce the Ee Rising Star Award. The nostalgic film looks back over the past 25 years of film, following the stories of the Chen family, opening with a popcorn-fuelled trip to the cinema in 1997, continuing with the memorable moment their father proudly reveals their first LCD TV set up and ready for Blockbuster VHS rentals, first dates at the cinema and culminates in the family streaming a film over Ee Full Fibre broadband in 2022. The film ends with the message: “The way we watch film might have changed, but our love for it never has. Ee proud sponsors of the BAFTA Film Awards for 25 years.”
The trailer,...
BAFTA and sponsor, telecommunications provider Ee, are celebrating a 25 year partnership with a trailer that is playing across U.K. cinemas from Friday. The partnership is one of the longest running arts partnerships in the U.K. with Ee working with BAFTA to introduce the Ee Rising Star Award. The nostalgic film looks back over the past 25 years of film, following the stories of the Chen family, opening with a popcorn-fuelled trip to the cinema in 1997, continuing with the memorable moment their father proudly reveals their first LCD TV set up and ready for Blockbuster VHS rentals, first dates at the cinema and culminates in the family streaming a film over Ee Full Fibre broadband in 2022. The film ends with the message: “The way we watch film might have changed, but our love for it never has. Ee proud sponsors of the BAFTA Film Awards for 25 years.”
The trailer,...
- 3/4/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Broadcast
Seven Network in Australia is this week to begin broadcasting “Police Strike Force,” a documentary series made in close partnership with the New South Wales police. The 6×60 minute series is produced by Wtfn and licensed internationally by Fred Media. Premiering on Channel 7 and 7plus from Wednesday, the show depicts real-life police investigations, stings, and taskforce operations. The narratives are recounted by the men and women who broke each case and are copiously illustrated using video and sound captured by the police media unit, combined with surveillance, search and interview footage taken by the investigating units. Wtfn also recently produced eight-part “Code 1: Minute by Minute” sister show, also for Seven. Each episode tells the story of a single crime incident, including one covering the 2017 Bourke Street Mall tragedy in Melbourne, when a man murdered six people by deliberately ramming his car into a busy shopping mall. – Patrick Frater...
Seven Network in Australia is this week to begin broadcasting “Police Strike Force,” a documentary series made in close partnership with the New South Wales police. The 6×60 minute series is produced by Wtfn and licensed internationally by Fred Media. Premiering on Channel 7 and 7plus from Wednesday, the show depicts real-life police investigations, stings, and taskforce operations. The narratives are recounted by the men and women who broke each case and are copiously illustrated using video and sound captured by the police media unit, combined with surveillance, search and interview footage taken by the investigating units. Wtfn also recently produced eight-part “Code 1: Minute by Minute” sister show, also for Seven. Each episode tells the story of a single crime incident, including one covering the 2017 Bourke Street Mall tragedy in Melbourne, when a man murdered six people by deliberately ramming his car into a busy shopping mall. – Patrick Frater...
- 2/28/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival
The Red Sea Film Festival has announced that its second edition will run Dec. 1-10 this year, after its 2021 inaugural event saw nearly 140 films from 67 countries in 34 languages screen for more than 30,000 ticket holders and over 3,100 accredited industry guests. The Festival will once again be held in Jeddah’s Unesco World Heritage Site, old-town Al Balad.
“We are grateful to the film and local community who put their trust in us, this was a huge undertaking and the team worked extremely hard to deliver a Festival that I believe exceeded expectations,” said festival chairman Mohammed Al-Turki. “To bring people together through the universal language of film within the historic surroundings of Jeddah’s historic oldtown, to see emerging local filmmakers present their films alongside international counterparts to full cinemas was truly extraordinary. The future is bright for Saudi film and I look forward to welcoming return and new guests...
The Red Sea Film Festival has announced that its second edition will run Dec. 1-10 this year, after its 2021 inaugural event saw nearly 140 films from 67 countries in 34 languages screen for more than 30,000 ticket holders and over 3,100 accredited industry guests. The Festival will once again be held in Jeddah’s Unesco World Heritage Site, old-town Al Balad.
“We are grateful to the film and local community who put their trust in us, this was a huge undertaking and the team worked extremely hard to deliver a Festival that I believe exceeded expectations,” said festival chairman Mohammed Al-Turki. “To bring people together through the universal language of film within the historic surroundings of Jeddah’s historic oldtown, to see emerging local filmmakers present their films alongside international counterparts to full cinemas was truly extraordinary. The future is bright for Saudi film and I look forward to welcoming return and new guests...
- 2/8/2022
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Sales
International media group Fremantle has picked up sales rights outside Asia to Korean format “DNA Singer.” The music gameshow was created by specialty firm FormatEast and Kyung Hwangbo for Sbs and has not yet gone to air. Family members who are genetically linked with celebrities such as singers and actors perform, while the judges must guess which celebrities they are genetically related to. “Fantastic Family – DNA Singer” launches in Korea next week as Lunar New Year specials on Sbs. “It is by no means easy to sell a paper format, before the initial proposal has aired. But recently the preference for Korean content has amplified interest in our shows. We are seeing a trend for major players in the global entertainment industry to acquire our formats in advance to stay ahead of the game,” said Kim Il-Joong, executive director of FormatEast. Fremantle has produced local versions of Korean global...
International media group Fremantle has picked up sales rights outside Asia to Korean format “DNA Singer.” The music gameshow was created by specialty firm FormatEast and Kyung Hwangbo for Sbs and has not yet gone to air. Family members who are genetically linked with celebrities such as singers and actors perform, while the judges must guess which celebrities they are genetically related to. “Fantastic Family – DNA Singer” launches in Korea next week as Lunar New Year specials on Sbs. “It is by no means easy to sell a paper format, before the initial proposal has aired. But recently the preference for Korean content has amplified interest in our shows. We are seeing a trend for major players in the global entertainment industry to acquire our formats in advance to stay ahead of the game,” said Kim Il-Joong, executive director of FormatEast. Fremantle has produced local versions of Korean global...
- 1/27/2022
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Festival
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral” director Mike Newell and actor Jason Wong are launching the Kingston International Film Festival (Kiff) to support independent film makers in a post-pandemic world. Taking place June 24-26, the festival is a 50:50 partnership between Blue Elephant Films and Rose Theatre which aims to address a decline in the independent film industry by establishing a new platform for emerging talent and creating opportunities which will link new filmmakers and industry experts. Kiff also received early support from Oscar-winning actor Dame Vanessa Redgrave and “Star Trek” actor Marina Sirtis.
The Festival announcement comes in the wake of a BFI report which revealed that investment into the independent film industry in the U.K. has dropped 45% and that just twenty-two films accounted for 78% of UK film production spend. Kiff will be headed by festival directors David Cunningham and...
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral” director Mike Newell and actor Jason Wong are launching the Kingston International Film Festival (Kiff) to support independent film makers in a post-pandemic world. Taking place June 24-26, the festival is a 50:50 partnership between Blue Elephant Films and Rose Theatre which aims to address a decline in the independent film industry by establishing a new platform for emerging talent and creating opportunities which will link new filmmakers and industry experts. Kiff also received early support from Oscar-winning actor Dame Vanessa Redgrave and “Star Trek” actor Marina Sirtis.
The Festival announcement comes in the wake of a BFI report which revealed that investment into the independent film industry in the U.K. has dropped 45% and that just twenty-two films accounted for 78% of UK film production spend. Kiff will be headed by festival directors David Cunningham and...
- 1/25/2022
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Sales
Blue Ant International has closed several sales deals with linear networks and streaming platforms across Latin America on several key titles, highlighted by package deals with DirecTV and Sky Brazil for 20 one-off Royal Family documentaries including “Harry and Meghan: Two Troubled Years” and several nostalgic looks back at the lives and stories of Diana and Queen Elizabeth II, among others.
DirecTV and DirecTV Go also picked up “Bathsheba,” a two-part documentary about the real-life stories which inspired “The Conjuring” films, in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Mexico.
Other deals included a package of Love Nature documentaries sold to AMC Networks International in Central and South America and “Into the Blue,” an exploration of marine ecosystems, to Globosat in Brazil.
*****
Beyond Rights has closed several international deals for ITN Productions’ two-hour investigative documentary “The Costa Concordia: Why She Sank.” In Europe, the program was sold to TF1 in France,...
Blue Ant International has closed several sales deals with linear networks and streaming platforms across Latin America on several key titles, highlighted by package deals with DirecTV and Sky Brazil for 20 one-off Royal Family documentaries including “Harry and Meghan: Two Troubled Years” and several nostalgic looks back at the lives and stories of Diana and Queen Elizabeth II, among others.
DirecTV and DirecTV Go also picked up “Bathsheba,” a two-part documentary about the real-life stories which inspired “The Conjuring” films, in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Mexico.
Other deals included a package of Love Nature documentaries sold to AMC Networks International in Central and South America and “Into the Blue,” an exploration of marine ecosystems, to Globosat in Brazil.
*****
Beyond Rights has closed several international deals for ITN Productions’ two-hour investigative documentary “The Costa Concordia: Why She Sank.” In Europe, the program was sold to TF1 in France,...
- 1/11/2022
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Sports
Global sports streaming service Dazn and leading Spanish broadcast group Movistar Plus have acquired the audiovisual rights to the country’s top soccer division, Laliga, from the 2022/23-2026/27 seasons at a total cost of €4.95 billion ($5.6 billion). The deal represents a slight increase – around €10 million ($11.30 million) or 1% per season – from the previous cycle. That number is a point of pride for La Liga, which says that it has managed to keep its audiovisual revenues steady at a time when many other major European leagues have peaked in valuation and are likely to decline in future rights cycles.
Under the joint deal, Movistar Plus and Dazn will each broadcast five games per matchday, with Movistar taking three full matchdays for themselves. Details about which matchdays will go exclusively to Movistar have not yet been shared, but it seems likely that the final week of the season will be one, as teams...
Global sports streaming service Dazn and leading Spanish broadcast group Movistar Plus have acquired the audiovisual rights to the country’s top soccer division, Laliga, from the 2022/23-2026/27 seasons at a total cost of €4.95 billion ($5.6 billion). The deal represents a slight increase – around €10 million ($11.30 million) or 1% per season – from the previous cycle. That number is a point of pride for La Liga, which says that it has managed to keep its audiovisual revenues steady at a time when many other major European leagues have peaked in valuation and are likely to decline in future rights cycles.
Under the joint deal, Movistar Plus and Dazn will each broadcast five games per matchday, with Movistar taking three full matchdays for themselves. Details about which matchdays will go exclusively to Movistar have not yet been shared, but it seems likely that the final week of the season will be one, as teams...
- 12/14/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Studios
Shinfield Studios, an 85,000 square meter studio facility comprising 18 sound stages, has received planning permission for construction from Wokingham Borough Council. The studio, located at Shinfield, Berkshire, within the Thames Valley Science Park, some 42 miles southwest of London, will be one of the largest film and TV studios in the U.K. once completed. It includes four sound stages which have already been completed and are now ready for operation, with a Disney production confirmed to start in 2022. The studio will also include workshops, a contemporary office environment and a post-production and screening facility, all designed to service large film and TV productions.
Shinfield Studios is part of Blackhall Global Partners, which also owns Blackhall Studios in Atlanta and is developing in the Los Angeles area with a 19-stage facility in Santa Clarita, which is expected to open in 2025.
Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission, said: “The U.
Shinfield Studios, an 85,000 square meter studio facility comprising 18 sound stages, has received planning permission for construction from Wokingham Borough Council. The studio, located at Shinfield, Berkshire, within the Thames Valley Science Park, some 42 miles southwest of London, will be one of the largest film and TV studios in the U.K. once completed. It includes four sound stages which have already been completed and are now ready for operation, with a Disney production confirmed to start in 2022. The studio will also include workshops, a contemporary office environment and a post-production and screening facility, all designed to service large film and TV productions.
Shinfield Studios is part of Blackhall Global Partners, which also owns Blackhall Studios in Atlanta and is developing in the Los Angeles area with a 19-stage facility in Santa Clarita, which is expected to open in 2025.
Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission, said: “The U.
- 12/13/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (Nfmla) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), with presenting partners The Arab Film and Media Institute and Dutch Culture USA are partnering for a short film festival that runs across the Dec. 10 and 11 weekend.
The annual event, titled Nfmla Film Festival InFocus: Middle Eastern, Arab & Dutch Cinema, will feature virtual screenings of films followed by live Q&As. The films are by emerging filmmakers from the Netherlands, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, France, Belgium and the U.S.
The program includes the U.S. premiere of “Nervosa,” the latest work by Nfmla alum Thessa Meijer and the Tribeca award-winning short “Leylak,” by co-directors Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos.
Festival panels will feature conversations with Palestinian director-writer Hany Abu-Assad (“Omar”), whose upcoming feature “Huda’s Salon” will be distributed by IFC Films, and Saudi Arabian filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour...
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (Nfmla) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), with presenting partners The Arab Film and Media Institute and Dutch Culture USA are partnering for a short film festival that runs across the Dec. 10 and 11 weekend.
The annual event, titled Nfmla Film Festival InFocus: Middle Eastern, Arab & Dutch Cinema, will feature virtual screenings of films followed by live Q&As. The films are by emerging filmmakers from the Netherlands, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, France, Belgium and the U.S.
The program includes the U.S. premiere of “Nervosa,” the latest work by Nfmla alum Thessa Meijer and the Tribeca award-winning short “Leylak,” by co-directors Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos.
Festival panels will feature conversations with Palestinian director-writer Hany Abu-Assad (“Omar”), whose upcoming feature “Huda’s Salon” will be distributed by IFC Films, and Saudi Arabian filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour...
- 12/8/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Sales
Studiocanal has sold a raft of global territories on four-part thriller drama series “Ridley Road.” Created by Studiocanal’s Red Production Company, commissioned for BBC One and co-produced with Masterpiece, the series will air in the U.S. on PBS Masterpiece, in France on Canal Plus, and has also been acquired by Now Studio Hong Kong, ABC Australia, Nova Greece, Yle Finland, Svt Sweden, Nrk Norway, Dr Denmark, Rte Ireland, Hot Israel, Canal Plus Poland and Disney Plus Benelux. A sale to Mola Indonesia was agreed earlier this year.
Based on Jo Bloom’s book, the series follows a young Jewish woman who falls in love with a member of the ’62 Group. She rejects her comfortable middle-class life in Manchester and joins the fights against fascism in London, risking everything for her beliefs for the man she loves.
The drama adaption is written, and executive produced by Sarah Solemani...
Studiocanal has sold a raft of global territories on four-part thriller drama series “Ridley Road.” Created by Studiocanal’s Red Production Company, commissioned for BBC One and co-produced with Masterpiece, the series will air in the U.S. on PBS Masterpiece, in France on Canal Plus, and has also been acquired by Now Studio Hong Kong, ABC Australia, Nova Greece, Yle Finland, Svt Sweden, Nrk Norway, Dr Denmark, Rte Ireland, Hot Israel, Canal Plus Poland and Disney Plus Benelux. A sale to Mola Indonesia was agreed earlier this year.
Based on Jo Bloom’s book, the series follows a young Jewish woman who falls in love with a member of the ’62 Group. She rejects her comfortable middle-class life in Manchester and joins the fights against fascism in London, risking everything for her beliefs for the man she loves.
The drama adaption is written, and executive produced by Sarah Solemani...
- 12/6/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Edu-tainment
Sony Pictures Television‘s YouTube channel Impossible Science, fronted by magician Jason Latimer, has partnered with the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide programming blocks in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) subjects.
The lesson plans, which are funded via Sony Pictures Global Relief Fund for Covid-19, can be used as part of the Klcs summer and winter learning programming blocks, which are focused on supporting children’s education through home school periods and vacations.
Over 30 bespoke plans, based on existing ‘Impossible Science’ YouTube videos, are available for educators and parents to download via a free-to-access website.
Impossible Science was launched with Latimer at the helm in fall 2020. Since then it has grown exponentially with nearly 220 Stem-inspired videos, amassing over 40 million views worldwide.
Award
David Gulpilil, the iconic Indigenous actor who died earlier this week, is to be given a...
Sony Pictures Television‘s YouTube channel Impossible Science, fronted by magician Jason Latimer, has partnered with the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide programming blocks in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) subjects.
The lesson plans, which are funded via Sony Pictures Global Relief Fund for Covid-19, can be used as part of the Klcs summer and winter learning programming blocks, which are focused on supporting children’s education through home school periods and vacations.
Over 30 bespoke plans, based on existing ‘Impossible Science’ YouTube videos, are available for educators and parents to download via a free-to-access website.
Impossible Science was launched with Latimer at the helm in fall 2020. Since then it has grown exponentially with nearly 220 Stem-inspired videos, amassing over 40 million views worldwide.
Award
David Gulpilil, the iconic Indigenous actor who died earlier this week, is to be given a...
- 12/3/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Release
Kenneth Branagh‘s “Belfast” and the late Roger Michell‘s “The Duke” will release theatrically in the U.K. on Jan. 21 and Feb. 25, 2022 respectively.
Featuring an ensemble cast, “Belfast” is an autobiographical story set in late 1960s Northern Ireland. It follows Buddy, a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life.
The film won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and is an odds on favorite at the upcoming awards season.
Universal is giving “Belfast” a wide release of more than 300 screens.
Meanwhile, Pathe is also planning a wide release with more than 300 screens for “The Duke.” The film bowed at...
Kenneth Branagh‘s “Belfast” and the late Roger Michell‘s “The Duke” will release theatrically in the U.K. on Jan. 21 and Feb. 25, 2022 respectively.
Featuring an ensemble cast, “Belfast” is an autobiographical story set in late 1960s Northern Ireland. It follows Buddy, a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life.
The film won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and is an odds on favorite at the upcoming awards season.
Universal is giving “Belfast” a wide release of more than 300 screens.
Meanwhile, Pathe is also planning a wide release with more than 300 screens for “The Duke.” The film bowed at...
- 11/5/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Documentaries
Toronto Raptors vice-chair and president Masai Ujiri has joined the upcoming documentary series on the Basketball Africa League (Bal), a partnership between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (Fiba), as an executive producer.
Fremantle and Passenger are producing the as yet untitled series, which tells the story of the creation, launch and inaugural season of the Bal, a new professional basketball league in Africa featuring 12 club teams from across the African continent. The series is being directed by emerging South African director Tebogo Malope.
Ujiri was the architect behind the Raptors’ historic 2019 NBA Championship win and he also serves as president of Giants of Africa, the non-profit he co-founded in 2003, which uses basketball as a tool to educate and enrich the lives of African youth.
The first edition of Bal took place in May in Kigali, Rwanda. Working alongside showrunner and executive producer Richard Brown...
Toronto Raptors vice-chair and president Masai Ujiri has joined the upcoming documentary series on the Basketball Africa League (Bal), a partnership between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (Fiba), as an executive producer.
Fremantle and Passenger are producing the as yet untitled series, which tells the story of the creation, launch and inaugural season of the Bal, a new professional basketball league in Africa featuring 12 club teams from across the African continent. The series is being directed by emerging South African director Tebogo Malope.
Ujiri was the architect behind the Raptors’ historic 2019 NBA Championship win and he also serves as president of Giants of Africa, the non-profit he co-founded in 2003, which uses basketball as a tool to educate and enrich the lives of African youth.
The first edition of Bal took place in May in Kigali, Rwanda. Working alongside showrunner and executive producer Richard Brown...
- 10/28/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival
The 65th BFI London Film Festival, which concluded Oct. 17, attracted crowds for in-person events and virtually. The festival unspooled over 12 days across London venues, 10 partner cinema venues around the U.K. and online. There were more than 139,000 physical attendances at screenings and events and over 152,000 virtual attendances.
The festival closed with the European premiere of “The Tragedy of Macbeth” at new festival venue, the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall with director Joel Coen and key cast, including Frances McDormand, in attendance.
There was a sting in the tail, however, as two people who attended the closing film and after party tested positive for Covid-19, compelling the BFI to send letters to attendees informing them about this. The positive tests came as no surprise as the U.K. is experiencing a dramatic surge in cases currently.
The array of celebrities who attended the festival in person included Jay Z,...
The 65th BFI London Film Festival, which concluded Oct. 17, attracted crowds for in-person events and virtually. The festival unspooled over 12 days across London venues, 10 partner cinema venues around the U.K. and online. There were more than 139,000 physical attendances at screenings and events and over 152,000 virtual attendances.
The festival closed with the European premiere of “The Tragedy of Macbeth” at new festival venue, the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall with director Joel Coen and key cast, including Frances McDormand, in attendance.
There was a sting in the tail, however, as two people who attended the closing film and after party tested positive for Covid-19, compelling the BFI to send letters to attendees informing them about this. The positive tests came as no surprise as the U.K. is experiencing a dramatic surge in cases currently.
The array of celebrities who attended the festival in person included Jay Z,...
- 10/25/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Sales
Red Arrow International has sold documentary “Controlling Britney Spears” to a raft of territories. The 75-minute documentary contains new allegations from insiders with intimate knowledge of the pop icon’s daily life under her controversial conservatorship.
The documentary has been sold to Sky (U.K.), Nine (Australia), Crave (Canada), Three (New Zealand), Talpa TV (the Netherlands), Vgtv (Norway), TV2 (Denmark), TV4, MTV and Cmore (Sweden and Finland), Discovery (Italy and Philippines), Originals Factory (French and German-speaking Europe), HOT8 (Israel), yes-Dbs (Israel), TV Nova’s streamer Voyo (Czech Republic and Slovakia), Pro Plus (Slovenia), Globo for its GloboPlay streaming service (Brazil), and Tvn Grupa Discovery (Poland) including for its streaming platform Player.
“Controlling Britney Spears” is a follow-up to “Framing Britney Spears” and was produced in partnership by The New York Times and Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company. It premiered last month on FX and Hulu in the U.
Red Arrow International has sold documentary “Controlling Britney Spears” to a raft of territories. The 75-minute documentary contains new allegations from insiders with intimate knowledge of the pop icon’s daily life under her controversial conservatorship.
The documentary has been sold to Sky (U.K.), Nine (Australia), Crave (Canada), Three (New Zealand), Talpa TV (the Netherlands), Vgtv (Norway), TV2 (Denmark), TV4, MTV and Cmore (Sweden and Finland), Discovery (Italy and Philippines), Originals Factory (French and German-speaking Europe), HOT8 (Israel), yes-Dbs (Israel), TV Nova’s streamer Voyo (Czech Republic and Slovakia), Pro Plus (Slovenia), Globo for its GloboPlay streaming service (Brazil), and Tvn Grupa Discovery (Poland) including for its streaming platform Player.
“Controlling Britney Spears” is a follow-up to “Framing Britney Spears” and was produced in partnership by The New York Times and Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company. It premiered last month on FX and Hulu in the U.
- 10/18/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival
The 17th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 23-Oct. 3) will honor Paul Schrader for his life’s work, which includes the screenplays for Martin Scorsese‘s “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” and “The Last Temptation of Christ,” and the films he directed, including “American Gigolo,” “Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters,” “The Comfort of Strangers” and “First Reformed.”
Schrader will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in person at Zurich Convention Center on Oct. 1 before presenting his new film “The Card Counter,” which bowed at the Venice Film Festival. He will also deliver a masterclass.
“I am pleased to be honored by a very hip film festival in the beautiful city of Zurich,” said Schrader. “I have many fond memories and friends there, and am appreciative that this honor will allow me to visit those”.
“It is a dream for me as a cinephile to pay homage to Paul Schrader at the Zff.
The 17th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 23-Oct. 3) will honor Paul Schrader for his life’s work, which includes the screenplays for Martin Scorsese‘s “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull” and “The Last Temptation of Christ,” and the films he directed, including “American Gigolo,” “Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters,” “The Comfort of Strangers” and “First Reformed.”
Schrader will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in person at Zurich Convention Center on Oct. 1 before presenting his new film “The Card Counter,” which bowed at the Venice Film Festival. He will also deliver a masterclass.
“I am pleased to be honored by a very hip film festival in the beautiful city of Zurich,” said Schrader. “I have many fond memories and friends there, and am appreciative that this honor will allow me to visit those”.
“It is a dream for me as a cinephile to pay homage to Paul Schrader at the Zff.
- 9/7/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festivals
The 17th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 23-Oct. 3) will honor Sharon Stone with its highest accolade, the Golden Icon Award. Stone will be in Zurich to accept the award in person on Sept. 25. The award ceremony will be followed by a screening of Martin Scorsese’s “Casino,” which earned Stone an Oscar nomination. The actor will also conduct a masterclass where she will offer insights into her creative process and career.
“It is an honor to engage with the global community and celebrate the profound depth of our art,” said Stone. “I am thrilled to be recognized in this capacity.”
“Sharon Stone is a true icon of the seventh art,” said festival artistic director Christian Jungen. “She is a woman that Hitchcock would have loved. Her distinguishing qualities include an irresistible charm, a great human depth, the talent to play a whole range of roles and the ability to captivate an audience like no other.
The 17th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 23-Oct. 3) will honor Sharon Stone with its highest accolade, the Golden Icon Award. Stone will be in Zurich to accept the award in person on Sept. 25. The award ceremony will be followed by a screening of Martin Scorsese’s “Casino,” which earned Stone an Oscar nomination. The actor will also conduct a masterclass where she will offer insights into her creative process and career.
“It is an honor to engage with the global community and celebrate the profound depth of our art,” said Stone. “I am thrilled to be recognized in this capacity.”
“Sharon Stone is a true icon of the seventh art,” said festival artistic director Christian Jungen. “She is a woman that Hitchcock would have loved. Her distinguishing qualities include an irresistible charm, a great human depth, the talent to play a whole range of roles and the ability to captivate an audience like no other.
- 8/26/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Resotration
Francis Ford Coppola’s classic 1983 coming-of-age drama “The Outsiders” is getting a new 4K restoration from Studiocanal, Warner Bros. and American Zoetrope. The remaster, titled “The Outsiders: The Complete Novel,” is designed to allow fans of the original film to see more of the world created in S.E. Hinton’s original novel. It includes new music and several cut scenes which didn’t make the film’s final version. Studiocanal has planned a theatrical release for the film in the U.K. on Oct. 15 and will make both the original and remaster available on Uhd, Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms on Nov. 8.
“’The Outsiders: The Complete Novel’ came about after meeting students over the years who repeatedly asked me why certain scenes from S.E. Hinton’s wonderful book were missing from the theatrical version,” said Coppola in a statement. “These questions reminded about my inspiration for the film...
Francis Ford Coppola’s classic 1983 coming-of-age drama “The Outsiders” is getting a new 4K restoration from Studiocanal, Warner Bros. and American Zoetrope. The remaster, titled “The Outsiders: The Complete Novel,” is designed to allow fans of the original film to see more of the world created in S.E. Hinton’s original novel. It includes new music and several cut scenes which didn’t make the film’s final version. Studiocanal has planned a theatrical release for the film in the U.K. on Oct. 15 and will make both the original and remaster available on Uhd, Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms on Nov. 8.
“’The Outsiders: The Complete Novel’ came about after meeting students over the years who repeatedly asked me why certain scenes from S.E. Hinton’s wonderful book were missing from the theatrical version,” said Coppola in a statement. “These questions reminded about my inspiration for the film...
- 8/25/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Festival
Taliban hostage drama “And Tomorrow We Will Be Dead,” by Swiss filmmaker Michael Steiner (“The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch”) will open the 17th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 23 – Oct. 3).
The film follows the story of Daniela Widmer (Morgane Ferru) and David Och (Sven Schelker), the Swiss couple were kidnapped and handed over to the Taliban in 2011 while traveling through Pakistan. The story kept Switzerland on tenterhooks. For eight months, the two were held as hostages until they managed to escape.
“I’m a storyteller and here I wanted to give a personal insight into the fate of the two hostages Daniela Widmer and David Och, so that the audience understands the context,” said Steiner.
The world premiere of the film will take place in the presence of Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin and the Mayor of Zurich Corine Mauch. It will be the first screening in the newly renovated Convention Center,...
Taliban hostage drama “And Tomorrow We Will Be Dead,” by Swiss filmmaker Michael Steiner (“The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch”) will open the 17th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 23 – Oct. 3).
The film follows the story of Daniela Widmer (Morgane Ferru) and David Och (Sven Schelker), the Swiss couple were kidnapped and handed over to the Taliban in 2011 while traveling through Pakistan. The story kept Switzerland on tenterhooks. For eight months, the two were held as hostages until they managed to escape.
“I’m a storyteller and here I wanted to give a personal insight into the fate of the two hostages Daniela Widmer and David Och, so that the audience understands the context,” said Steiner.
The world premiere of the film will take place in the presence of Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin and the Mayor of Zurich Corine Mauch. It will be the first screening in the newly renovated Convention Center,...
- 8/24/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival
BFI London Film Festival (Lff) will host the European premiere of Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” for its closing ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Coen is scheduled to attend. The festival will also host simultaneous preview screenings of the film at Lff partner venues across the U.K. Previously, the festival has announced that its opening night film will be Jeymes Samuel’s “The Harder They Fall,” with Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” to screen at its American Express Headline Gala. The 65th BFI Lff will run Oct. 6 to Oct. 17.
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” features an all-star cast including Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Brendan Gleeson, Harry Melling and Ralph Ineson. It was written and directed by Coen and produced by Coen, McDormand and Robert Graf.
“Shakespeare belongs to the world but comes from Britain. Having borrowed your cultural patrimony,...
BFI London Film Festival (Lff) will host the European premiere of Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” for its closing ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Coen is scheduled to attend. The festival will also host simultaneous preview screenings of the film at Lff partner venues across the U.K. Previously, the festival has announced that its opening night film will be Jeymes Samuel’s “The Harder They Fall,” with Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” to screen at its American Express Headline Gala. The 65th BFI Lff will run Oct. 6 to Oct. 17.
“The Tragedy of Macbeth” features an all-star cast including Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Brendan Gleeson, Harry Melling and Ralph Ineson. It was written and directed by Coen and produced by Coen, McDormand and Robert Graf.
“Shakespeare belongs to the world but comes from Britain. Having borrowed your cultural patrimony,...
- 8/23/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Distribution
International distributor Rainmaker Content has sold the Television Academy‘s 73rd Emmy Awards to more than 150 territories. New buyers include AMC Networks International for Central Europe, Catchplay Plus for Indonesia and Taiwan, Mediacorp for Singapore, U-Next Co., Ltd for and Japan and Sky Italia for Italy. Returning broadcasters include Turner, Extension TV (Series Club) for French speaking Europe, Sky (U.K.), Telefonica (Spain), Sic (Portugal), TV2 (Denmark), M-Net (Africa), Osn (Middle East), Telenet (Belgium) and A serial (Commonwealth of Independent States).
Hosted by Cedric The Entertainer, star and executive producer of CBS comedy “The Neighborhood,” in front of a live limited audience at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, the awards will air on the CBS Television Network on Sept. 19.
Emmy nominated producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart will executive produce and Hamish Hamilton will direct the telecast for production companies Done+Dusted and Hudlin Entertainment.
“The Crown” and...
International distributor Rainmaker Content has sold the Television Academy‘s 73rd Emmy Awards to more than 150 territories. New buyers include AMC Networks International for Central Europe, Catchplay Plus for Indonesia and Taiwan, Mediacorp for Singapore, U-Next Co., Ltd for and Japan and Sky Italia for Italy. Returning broadcasters include Turner, Extension TV (Series Club) for French speaking Europe, Sky (U.K.), Telefonica (Spain), Sic (Portugal), TV2 (Denmark), M-Net (Africa), Osn (Middle East), Telenet (Belgium) and A serial (Commonwealth of Independent States).
Hosted by Cedric The Entertainer, star and executive producer of CBS comedy “The Neighborhood,” in front of a live limited audience at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, the awards will air on the CBS Television Network on Sept. 19.
Emmy nominated producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart will executive produce and Hamish Hamilton will direct the telecast for production companies Done+Dusted and Hudlin Entertainment.
“The Crown” and...
- 8/12/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festivals
The Banff World Media Festival (Banff) has unveiled its masterclass lineup for this year’s online festival taking place June 14–July 16. Classes will be held by creative team members of major global programs including “It’s a Sin,” hosted by creator Russel T. Davies, director Peter Hoar and actor Nathaniel Curtis; Warner Bros. Television’s Peabody-winning series “David Makes Man,” led by creator Tarell Alvin McCraney; “Transplant” with creator and showrunner Joseph Kay; Finnish animated series “Moominvalley”; CBC’s “Sort Of”; and a previously announced presentation from the creative team behind FX’s new series “Reservation Dogs.”
*****
Thong Kay Wee has been appointed as program director of the Singapore International Film Festival, taking over from Kuo Ming-Jung. He will work alongside executive director Emily J. Hoe from June 21. Thong was previously program and outreach officer at the Asian Film Archive. There, he has presided over multiple film-centric programs with a...
The Banff World Media Festival (Banff) has unveiled its masterclass lineup for this year’s online festival taking place June 14–July 16. Classes will be held by creative team members of major global programs including “It’s a Sin,” hosted by creator Russel T. Davies, director Peter Hoar and actor Nathaniel Curtis; Warner Bros. Television’s Peabody-winning series “David Makes Man,” led by creator Tarell Alvin McCraney; “Transplant” with creator and showrunner Joseph Kay; Finnish animated series “Moominvalley”; CBC’s “Sort Of”; and a previously announced presentation from the creative team behind FX’s new series “Reservation Dogs.”
*****
Thong Kay Wee has been appointed as program director of the Singapore International Film Festival, taking over from Kuo Ming-Jung. He will work alongside executive director Emily J. Hoe from June 21. Thong was previously program and outreach officer at the Asian Film Archive. There, he has presided over multiple film-centric programs with a...
- 6/7/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, Eurovision impresses in its post-covid return; the Walt Disney Company appoints Winradit (Win) Kolasastraseni as its new Gm for much of Southeast Asia; the Producers Guild of India launches a vaccination drive for industry members; Bangladesh’s International Academy of Film and Media kicks off its first online script lab; Cartoon Network Mena gets kids involved in the fight against climate change; the Taipei Film Festival is postponed after an uptick in Covid-19 activity; and Tchéky Karyo will be honored at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.
Reality
2021’s Eurovision Song Contest was watched by more than 183 million viewers across 36 markets, according to results from Ebu, and based on Glance, relevant partner and Ebu Members data. Additionally, the program’s Grand Finale scored a four percent higher audience share than its 2019 counterpart, more than doubling the average primetime share for its broadcast slot.
The program was a...
Reality
2021’s Eurovision Song Contest was watched by more than 183 million viewers across 36 markets, according to results from Ebu, and based on Glance, relevant partner and Ebu Members data. Additionally, the program’s Grand Finale scored a four percent higher audience share than its 2019 counterpart, more than doubling the average primetime share for its broadcast slot.
The program was a...
- 6/1/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, “Line of Duty” finale dashes decades-old TV records in the U.K.; Netflix embarks on production of “1899” from the creators of “Dark”; and Purin Pictures announces 2021 funding recipients in Southeast Asia.
Ratings
BBC’s “Line of Duty” finished its sixth season with a record-breaking viewership performance of 12.8 million overnight viewers for a 56.2% share. The numbers dwarf last week’s series record of 11 million overnights, or a 51.7% share.
Putting those numbers into context, the BBC said it was the most watched episode of any drama since modern records began in 2002, not including soaps. To find something comparable, one must go back to February 2001 when ITV’s “Heartbeat” pulled an overnight audience of 13.2 million. Considering two decades of changing viewing habits and the introduction of streaming platforms, “Line of Duty’s” numbers are all the more impressive.
“Line of Duty” is created by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions.
Ratings
BBC’s “Line of Duty” finished its sixth season with a record-breaking viewership performance of 12.8 million overnight viewers for a 56.2% share. The numbers dwarf last week’s series record of 11 million overnights, or a 51.7% share.
Putting those numbers into context, the BBC said it was the most watched episode of any drama since modern records began in 2002, not including soaps. To find something comparable, one must go back to February 2001 when ITV’s “Heartbeat” pulled an overnight audience of 13.2 million. Considering two decades of changing viewing habits and the introduction of streaming platforms, “Line of Duty’s” numbers are all the more impressive.
“Line of Duty” is created by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions.
- 5/3/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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