David Arquette is to star in 'The Perfect Gamble'.The 52-year-old actor is set to feature alongside Daniella Pick – the wife of legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino – in Danny A. Abeckaser's crime drama.The film will be shot on location in the European nation of Georgia and tells the story of two gamblers who decide to open an illegal casino after they are released from prison.Pick will play the girlfriend of one of the two main characters as they become entangled with the mafia over the course of the picture.Abecakser is producing the movie under his 2B Films banner in conjunction with Yoav Gross and Rinati Rokach while Kosta Kondilopolous is writing the script.The director said: "Working with Arquette is always a no brainer, he adapts to any character and brings a vulnerability and likeability even when you are supposed to dislike them."Daniella has been extremely...
- 5/29/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Exclusive: Danny A. Abeckaser (Bardejov) is set to direct his next feature, crime drama The Perfect Gamble, which will film on location in the country of Georgia (previously part of Russia), and stars David Arquette, Abeckaser and Daniella Pick Tarantino, wife of director Quentin Tarantino. The Perfect Gamble is produced by Abeckaser under his 2B Films umbrella, in partnership with Yoav Gross and Rinati Rokach.
Written by Kosta Kondilopoulos, the film follows two gamblers who are released from prison and decide to open an illegal casino. Pick Tarantino is set to portray the girlfriend of one of the two protagonists, who become entangled with the mafia throughout the film.
Abeckaser said, “Working with Arquette is always a no brainer, he adapts to any character and brings a vulnerability and likability even when you are supposed to dislike them. Daniella has been extremely impressive in all of our screen testing and...
Written by Kosta Kondilopoulos, the film follows two gamblers who are released from prison and decide to open an illegal casino. Pick Tarantino is set to portray the girlfriend of one of the two protagonists, who become entangled with the mafia throughout the film.
Abeckaser said, “Working with Arquette is always a no brainer, he adapts to any character and brings a vulnerability and likability even when you are supposed to dislike them. Daniella has been extremely impressive in all of our screen testing and...
- 5/28/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Danny A. Abeckaser is directing and starring in a new World War II drama, “Bardejov” from a screenplay by Shmuel Lynn. It has already been picked up by Gravitas Ventures for North American distribution next spring.
Also starring Robert Davi, Kyle Stefanski, Dean Miroshnikov, Darren Weiss and Omer Hazan, the film tells the story of the Jews of Bardejov in Slovakia, who were almost completely wiped out during the Holocaust.
Among them was Holocaust survivor Emil A. Fish, who was 9 years old when a Gestapo officer found him and his family hiding and sent them to a concentration camp to suffer the same fate as their many friends and relatives. Fish survived but to this day no Jews live in Bardejov.
Fish, who is the founder of the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee, also makes a cameo in the film and is a producer on the project.
Israeli-born Abeckaser is a producer,...
Also starring Robert Davi, Kyle Stefanski, Dean Miroshnikov, Darren Weiss and Omer Hazan, the film tells the story of the Jews of Bardejov in Slovakia, who were almost completely wiped out during the Holocaust.
Among them was Holocaust survivor Emil A. Fish, who was 9 years old when a Gestapo officer found him and his family hiding and sent them to a concentration camp to suffer the same fate as their many friends and relatives. Fish survived but to this day no Jews live in Bardejov.
Fish, who is the founder of the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee, also makes a cameo in the film and is a producer on the project.
Israeli-born Abeckaser is a producer,...
- 12/18/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
New Direction
One Direction star Niall Horan is set to cameo on rail-themed Channel 4 digital series, “Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois.”
Produced by Untold Studios, the series sees TikTok creator Bourgeois introduce celebrities to the obscure hobby.
Horan will join Bourgeois for a “day of locomotive escapades” starting at Liverpool Street Station in London – but will a series of train cancelations and delays scupper their plans?
During the episode, which is available from June 14 on Channel 4’s YouTube, Horan reveals a very personal connection to trains, telling Bourgeois that his grandfather was a train driver. Movie buffs will also be thrilled to discover Horan’s grandfather drove the train in “The Great Train Robbery.”
Series Lab Dana Blankstein-Cohen
The second edition of the Sam Spiegel Series Lab, which was established last year by the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School, with the support of Netflix, and artistic consultancy of Hagai Levi...
One Direction star Niall Horan is set to cameo on rail-themed Channel 4 digital series, “Trainspotting with Francis Bourgeois.”
Produced by Untold Studios, the series sees TikTok creator Bourgeois introduce celebrities to the obscure hobby.
Horan will join Bourgeois for a “day of locomotive escapades” starting at Liverpool Street Station in London – but will a series of train cancelations and delays scupper their plans?
During the episode, which is available from June 14 on Channel 4’s YouTube, Horan reveals a very personal connection to trains, telling Bourgeois that his grandfather was a train driver. Movie buffs will also be thrilled to discover Horan’s grandfather drove the train in “The Great Train Robbery.”
Series Lab Dana Blankstein-Cohen
The second edition of the Sam Spiegel Series Lab, which was established last year by the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School, with the support of Netflix, and artistic consultancy of Hagai Levi...
- 6/12/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Red Skies, the Israeli drama that counts Euphoria and Shtisel execs behind it, has landed a renewal a month before the first season has launched.
Reshet 13 has made the bold move for an eight-part Season 2, with the first set to debut in mid-June. The series, which has backing from Len Blavatnik’s Access Entertainment, has been building momentum over recent months and had its world premiere in International Competition at Series Mania in March.
Red Skies is based on a best-selling novel from former Israeli Intelligence Officer Daniel Shinar and is set during the bloody Second Intifada period of 2000-2005, exploring events such as Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. It follows the Israel-Palestine conflict through the eyes of two friends who are forced to choose sides and stars Maor Schweitzer (Valley of Tears), Amir Khoury (Fauda), Annie Shapero, Lihi Kornowski (Losing Alice), Alona Sa’ar, and Yaakov Zada Daniel...
Reshet 13 has made the bold move for an eight-part Season 2, with the first set to debut in mid-June. The series, which has backing from Len Blavatnik’s Access Entertainment, has been building momentum over recent months and had its world premiere in International Competition at Series Mania in March.
Red Skies is based on a best-selling novel from former Israeli Intelligence Officer Daniel Shinar and is set during the bloody Second Intifada period of 2000-2005, exploring events such as Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. It follows the Israel-Palestine conflict through the eyes of two friends who are forced to choose sides and stars Maor Schweitzer (Valley of Tears), Amir Khoury (Fauda), Annie Shapero, Lihi Kornowski (Losing Alice), Alona Sa’ar, and Yaakov Zada Daniel...
- 5/18/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Power Play, a 1970s-set comedy that plays with the conventions of period TV, docudrama and political satire, has won the top prize for best series at this year’s Canneseries television festival.
The series stars Kathrine Thorborg Johansen as Gro Harlem Brundtland, a young doctor and women’s choice activist in the 1970s who, through a series of accidents, stumbles into politics and, while the government around her implodes, learns to play the power game, rising the ranks to become Norway’s first female prime minister. The project, which plays like a comedic version of Danish political series Borgen, also took the best music honor at Canneseries for Kåre Christoffer Vestrheim, Andrea Louise Horstad, Kristoffer Lo and Eivind Helgerød.
Created by showrunner Johan Fasting and directed by Yngvild Sve Flikke, the series was produced by Motlys and Fremantle label Novemberfilm for Nrk / Ndr in Norway. Power Play is being sold worldwide by REinvent International Sales.
The series stars Kathrine Thorborg Johansen as Gro Harlem Brundtland, a young doctor and women’s choice activist in the 1970s who, through a series of accidents, stumbles into politics and, while the government around her implodes, learns to play the power game, rising the ranks to become Norway’s first female prime minister. The project, which plays like a comedic version of Danish political series Borgen, also took the best music honor at Canneseries for Kåre Christoffer Vestrheim, Andrea Louise Horstad, Kristoffer Lo and Eivind Helgerød.
Created by showrunner Johan Fasting and directed by Yngvild Sve Flikke, the series was produced by Motlys and Fremantle label Novemberfilm for Nrk / Ndr in Norway. Power Play is being sold worldwide by REinvent International Sales.
- 4/19/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
High-flying Access Entertainment, a division of Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries and equity investor in A24 and “His Dark Materials” producer Bad Wolf, is investing in “Red Skies,” one of the biggest titles set to world premiere at this year’s Series Mania, in main International Competition.
Blavatnik and Danny Cohen, Access Entertainment president, will serve as executive producers on “Red Skies,” a position they also hold one upcoming movies such as Beau is Afraid, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Glazer’s “Zone of Interest,” “Iron Claw,” starring Zac Efron, and “Conclave,” from Edward Berger, director of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
An eight-episode series, “Red Skies” will be broadcast on Reshet 13 later this year.
“Red Skies” marks Access Entertainment’s first foray into Israeli television drama production. It makes its bow on a series which involves a bevy of the prime movers on Israel’s international TV scene.
Produced by Yoav Gross,...
Blavatnik and Danny Cohen, Access Entertainment president, will serve as executive producers on “Red Skies,” a position they also hold one upcoming movies such as Beau is Afraid, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Glazer’s “Zone of Interest,” “Iron Claw,” starring Zac Efron, and “Conclave,” from Edward Berger, director of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
An eight-episode series, “Red Skies” will be broadcast on Reshet 13 later this year.
“Red Skies” marks Access Entertainment’s first foray into Israeli television drama production. It makes its bow on a series which involves a bevy of the prime movers on Israel’s international TV scene.
Produced by Yoav Gross,...
- 3/17/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood) has signed on to star alongside actor-director Danny A. Abeckaser in his latest feature, The Engineer. The project is the pair’s second together, on the heels of the crime drama The Gemini Lounge—also starring Lucy Hale, Ashley Greene, Robert Davi and Vincent Laresca—which is set for release this fall.
Based on true events, The Engineer will tell the story of Yahya Ayyash—the mastermind bombmaker who led an army of suicidal soldiers in Israel during the mid ’90s. The story follows the biggest manhunt in the history of Israel to find him. Hirsch will play Etan, the head agent looking for ‘The Engineer,’ with Abeckaser as his superior agent, Yakov. Angel Bonanni and Omer Hazan will also star.
Kosta Kondilopoulos wrote the script. Danny A. Abeckaser will produce via his company 2B Films, along with Yoav Gross and his Yoav Gross Productions.
Based on true events, The Engineer will tell the story of Yahya Ayyash—the mastermind bombmaker who led an army of suicidal soldiers in Israel during the mid ’90s. The story follows the biggest manhunt in the history of Israel to find him. Hirsch will play Etan, the head agent looking for ‘The Engineer,’ with Abeckaser as his superior agent, Yakov. Angel Bonanni and Omer Hazan will also star.
Kosta Kondilopoulos wrote the script. Danny A. Abeckaser will produce via his company 2B Films, along with Yoav Gross and his Yoav Gross Productions.
- 6/13/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Documentary
Fremantle has won a bidding war for exclusive rights to produce a high-end documentary about Raffaella Carrà, the iconic Italian singer, actor, dancer and TV host who was a pop culture sensation across Europe and Latin America.
Carrà, who died in July at 78, rose to fame in Italy as a singer and dancer during the 1970’s as co-host of the variety show “Canzonissima,” where she plugged her original songs directly into its dance and music numbers, including the show’s opening credits. On the show she famously wore a risquè outfit that marked the first time a woman dared to expose her midriff on TV in Italy, sparking an uproar form the Vatican and sending the ratings soaring. But Carrà was never one of the many women whose bodies were exploited on Italian TV. On the contrary, she became a symbol of female empowerment.
In 1976, she sang her first major international hit,...
Fremantle has won a bidding war for exclusive rights to produce a high-end documentary about Raffaella Carrà, the iconic Italian singer, actor, dancer and TV host who was a pop culture sensation across Europe and Latin America.
Carrà, who died in July at 78, rose to fame in Italy as a singer and dancer during the 1970’s as co-host of the variety show “Canzonissima,” where she plugged her original songs directly into its dance and music numbers, including the show’s opening credits. On the show she famously wore a risquè outfit that marked the first time a woman dared to expose her midriff on TV in Italy, sparking an uproar form the Vatican and sending the ratings soaring. But Carrà was never one of the many women whose bodies were exploited on Italian TV. On the contrary, she became a symbol of female empowerment.
In 1976, she sang her first major international hit,...
- 12/21/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Martin Lawrence has been tapped to star in Topic Studios’ reimagined English-language adaptation of the Hot-produced praised Israeli series Nehama. In his first television role in seven years, Lawrence will play the title character in the soon-to-be-titled dark comedy. Lawrence also will produce the U.S. version via his RunTelDat Entertainment production company, alongside 24 Drafts Studio and Topic Studios.
In a competitive situation, Topic Studios acquired the rights to develop an English-language adaptation of Nehama in 2020, with Quan Phung, Topic Studios’ SVP, Original Series, bringing the project to the studio. The original Israeli series was created by Reshef Levi (The Arbitrator) and Tomer Shani (Very Important Person), who also directed it, with Yoav Gross (The Good Cop) producing. Levi, Shani and Gross will partner with an American writer on the adaptation.
The series tells the story of a happily married father of five (Lawrence) who quits his suffocating job in...
In a competitive situation, Topic Studios acquired the rights to develop an English-language adaptation of Nehama in 2020, with Quan Phung, Topic Studios’ SVP, Original Series, bringing the project to the studio. The original Israeli series was created by Reshef Levi (The Arbitrator) and Tomer Shani (Very Important Person), who also directed it, with Yoav Gross (The Good Cop) producing. Levi, Shani and Gross will partner with an American writer on the adaptation.
The series tells the story of a happily married father of five (Lawrence) who quits his suffocating job in...
- 10/28/2021
- by Denise Petski and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
In his first series regular role since 2014, Martin Lawrence has signed on to star in the English-language adaptation of the acclaimed Israeli Hot original series “Nehama,” from Topic Studios.
The series tells the story of a happily married father of five (Lawrence) who quits his suffocating job in tech to chase his original love of stand-up comedy. When his wife suddenly dies, he must decide whether he should pursue his dream and risk losing his kids — who are lost without their mother. Described as “hilarious, intelligent, and raw,” the series examines what it means “to seek pleasure and find comfort in the face of tragedy and tackles the timeless challenge of ‘wanting to have it all’ from a uniquely male perspective, with some twists along the way.”
Lawrence takes on the lead role in the soon-to-be titled dark comedy and will produce through his production company, RunTelDat Entertainment, alongside 24 Drafts Studio and Topic Studios,...
The series tells the story of a happily married father of five (Lawrence) who quits his suffocating job in tech to chase his original love of stand-up comedy. When his wife suddenly dies, he must decide whether he should pursue his dream and risk losing his kids — who are lost without their mother. Described as “hilarious, intelligent, and raw,” the series examines what it means “to seek pleasure and find comfort in the face of tragedy and tackles the timeless challenge of ‘wanting to have it all’ from a uniquely male perspective, with some twists along the way.”
Lawrence takes on the lead role in the soon-to-be titled dark comedy and will produce through his production company, RunTelDat Entertainment, alongside 24 Drafts Studio and Topic Studios,...
- 10/28/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
First Look Media streamer Topic has picked up the U.S. rights to Israeli drama Nehama, while Topic Studios will also develop an English-language adaptation of the darkly comic series.
Topic clinched the finished tape rights in a competitive situation, and the original series will premiere in North America on October 15. Produced by Yoav Gross (The Good Cop) and 24 Drafts Studio, it stars Reshef Levi as a father of five whose decision to ditch his tech career for stand-up comedy is thrown into turmoil after the death of his wife.
Levi, who has previously starred in The Arbitrator, created the 10-part series with Tomer Shani. Nehama co-stars Yuval Scharf (McMafia), Shalom Michaelshwilli (Harborer), and Liron Vaisman (Mossad 101).
“From the moment we sat down with Reshef and Yoav, we knew we wanted to be in business with this team,” said Maria Zuckerman, head of Topic Studios. “Reshef’s witty and acerbic perspective on family,...
Topic clinched the finished tape rights in a competitive situation, and the original series will premiere in North America on October 15. Produced by Yoav Gross (The Good Cop) and 24 Drafts Studio, it stars Reshef Levi as a father of five whose decision to ditch his tech career for stand-up comedy is thrown into turmoil after the death of his wife.
Levi, who has previously starred in The Arbitrator, created the 10-part series with Tomer Shani. Nehama co-stars Yuval Scharf (McMafia), Shalom Michaelshwilli (Harborer), and Liron Vaisman (Mossad 101).
“From the moment we sat down with Reshef and Yoav, we knew we wanted to be in business with this team,” said Maria Zuckerman, head of Topic Studios. “Reshef’s witty and acerbic perspective on family,...
- 10/8/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Cannes Series has revealed the lineup, jury and masterclasses for its second edition, which takes place alongside the Mip TV market on the French Riviera.
Among ten series in competition at the TV festival are Netflix’s German show How To Sell Drugs Online and Amazon’s UK series The Feed with Michelle Fairley and David Thewlis. Out of competition shows include Starz’ Now Apocalypse and Russel T Davies’ Years And Years. Scroll down for the lineup in full.
The competition jury will be presided over by Dark show-runner Baran bo Odar with members comprising actor, director and author Stephen Fry (Gosford Park), actors Miriam Leone (Non Uccidere) and Emma Mackey (Sex Education), actor and director Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) and composer Rob (The Bureau). David Cross and Jude Law are among those with projects in the short form competition.
Among those set to give masterclasses will be Game Of Thrones...
Among ten series in competition at the TV festival are Netflix’s German show How To Sell Drugs Online and Amazon’s UK series The Feed with Michelle Fairley and David Thewlis. Out of competition shows include Starz’ Now Apocalypse and Russel T Davies’ Years And Years. Scroll down for the lineup in full.
The competition jury will be presided over by Dark show-runner Baran bo Odar with members comprising actor, director and author Stephen Fry (Gosford Park), actors Miriam Leone (Non Uccidere) and Emma Mackey (Sex Education), actor and director Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) and composer Rob (The Bureau). David Cross and Jude Law are among those with projects in the short form competition.
Among those set to give masterclasses will be Game Of Thrones...
- 3/13/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Directors with shorts at the Jerusalem Film Festival are readying an intriguing slate of features, including an ambitious period drama about Judas Iscariot, a documentary omnibus about life in the West Bank and a drama about gay life in Israel.
Directing duo Ehab Tarabieh and Yoav Gross, whose Berlin Golden Bear nominee Smile, and the World Will Smile Back charts the exchange between a Palestinian family (the al-Haddad family are co-directors) and Israeli soldiers, are planning a Life In A Day-style doc omnibus about life in the West Bank.
As was the case with Smile, participating families will be encouraged to take an active part in the post-production process with camera training also available. Funding is likely to come from B’Tselem.
Recent Tel Aviv Film School graduate Shira Porat, director of short Has Anyone Seen Eyal Nurich?, is on course to renew her collaboration with her award-winning lead actress Hadas Yaron (Fill The Void) in...
Directing duo Ehab Tarabieh and Yoav Gross, whose Berlin Golden Bear nominee Smile, and the World Will Smile Back charts the exchange between a Palestinian family (the al-Haddad family are co-directors) and Israeli soldiers, are planning a Life In A Day-style doc omnibus about life in the West Bank.
As was the case with Smile, participating families will be encouraged to take an active part in the post-production process with camera training also available. Funding is likely to come from B’Tselem.
Recent Tel Aviv Film School graduate Shira Porat, director of short Has Anyone Seen Eyal Nurich?, is on course to renew her collaboration with her award-winning lead actress Hadas Yaron (Fill The Void) in...
- 7/13/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Selection competing for the Golden Bear includes films from 21 countries.
A total of 25 films from 21 countries will compete for the Golden Bear for Best Short Film and the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 64th Berlinale (Feb 6-16).
The jury comprises Indonesian director Edwin, who last participated in the Berlinale Competition 2012 with Postcards from the Zoo; Nuno Rodrigues, artistic director of the Vila do Conde short film festival and founder of Agência - Portuguese Short Film Agency; and Lebanese curator Christine Tohme.
They will award a Golden and a Silver Bear, the Daad Short Film Prize as well as the Berlin Short Film Nominee for the European Film Awards.
Berlinale Shorts 2014
Afronauts, Frances Bodomo, USA, 13’ (IP)
Birds, Ulu Braun, Germany, 15’ (Wp)
La Casona (The Big House), Juliette Touin, Cuba, 25’ (IP)
darkroom, Billy Roisz, Austria, 13’ (Wp)
Do serca Twego (To Thy Heart), Ewa Borysewicz, Poland, 10’ (IP)
Im Tekhayekh, Ha’Olam Yekhayekh Elekha (Smile, and the World...
A total of 25 films from 21 countries will compete for the Golden Bear for Best Short Film and the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 64th Berlinale (Feb 6-16).
The jury comprises Indonesian director Edwin, who last participated in the Berlinale Competition 2012 with Postcards from the Zoo; Nuno Rodrigues, artistic director of the Vila do Conde short film festival and founder of Agência - Portuguese Short Film Agency; and Lebanese curator Christine Tohme.
They will award a Golden and a Silver Bear, the Daad Short Film Prize as well as the Berlin Short Film Nominee for the European Film Awards.
Berlinale Shorts 2014
Afronauts, Frances Bodomo, USA, 13’ (IP)
Birds, Ulu Braun, Germany, 15’ (Wp)
La Casona (The Big House), Juliette Touin, Cuba, 25’ (IP)
darkroom, Billy Roisz, Austria, 13’ (Wp)
Do serca Twego (To Thy Heart), Ewa Borysewicz, Poland, 10’ (IP)
Im Tekhayekh, Ha’Olam Yekhayekh Elekha (Smile, and the World...
- 1/13/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
CBS has given a put pilot commitment to a single-camera comedy executive produced by Greg Berlanti. The project, based on the Israeli series Haverot (Little Mom), will be written by Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky who last season adapted another Israeli comedy for CBS, Mother’s Day, which went to pilot starring Debra Messing. The new project revolves around three moms who live in a Brooklyn high-rise and how they help each other stay sane (or try to) as they juggle their friendships, marriages and kids. Berlanti, Rottenberg and Zuritsky executive produce, with Melissa Kellner Berman co-executive producing for Warner Bros TV and Berlanti’s studio-based Berlanti Prods. The original series, produced by Yoav Gross Prods for Channel 10 Israel and distributed globally by Dori Media, was created by Gross, Lital Schwartz, Shay Ben-Atar, and Liat Shavit. (You can watch a subtitled trailer below.) This marks Wme-repped Berlanti Prods’ third big sale this season,...
- 10/8/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
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