Focus Features has taken worldwide rights to Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest project Bugonia, the remake of South Korean sci-fi comedy Save the Green Planet, which sees the Greek director reunite yet again with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. The trio are here in Cannes with their Competition title Kinds of Kindness, which had its world premiere Friday.
Focus will release Bugonia in the U.S., with Universal Pictures distributing the title internationally (excluding South Korea). It’s the second deal for Focus Features announced in Cannes this week (Focus picked up Woody Harrelson starrer Last Breath a few days ago), but this one will be a notable coup for the studio given that Lanthimos’ previous Oscar-winning titles The Favourite and Poor Things as well as Cannes contender Kinds of Kindness were all handled by Searchlight for distribution.
Bugonia follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company,...
Focus will release Bugonia in the U.S., with Universal Pictures distributing the title internationally (excluding South Korea). It’s the second deal for Focus Features announced in Cannes this week (Focus picked up Woody Harrelson starrer Last Breath a few days ago), but this one will be a notable coup for the studio given that Lanthimos’ previous Oscar-winning titles The Favourite and Poor Things as well as Cannes contender Kinds of Kindness were all handled by Searchlight for distribution.
Bugonia follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company,...
- 5/18/2024
- by Diana Lodderhose and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Fremantle has renewed its first-look deal with Fabula, the Chilean production company run by acclaimed director Pablo Larrain and brother Juan de Dios Larrain.
Fabula’s filmography includes Larrain’s Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman and the Oscar-nominated Jackie as well as Spencer and El Conde.
The agreement will see Fremantle and Fabula continue to work together with Fremantle’s CEO, global drama, Christian Vesper and Seb Shorr, COO, global drama, to develop a slate of original films and TV dramas. Fremantle’s international sales wing, Fmi, will handle distribution on all the small-screen projects.
Upcoming features produced under the Fabula-Fremantle deal, first inked in 2019, include Larrain’s Maria, a biopic of opera star Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, produced together with Fremantle and Komplizen Film; and Sebabstián Lelio’s feminist protest musical The Wave, made in partnership with Participant Media.
On the TV side, Fabula has produced the Spanish-language thriller...
Fabula’s filmography includes Larrain’s Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman and the Oscar-nominated Jackie as well as Spencer and El Conde.
The agreement will see Fremantle and Fabula continue to work together with Fremantle’s CEO, global drama, Christian Vesper and Seb Shorr, COO, global drama, to develop a slate of original films and TV dramas. Fremantle’s international sales wing, Fmi, will handle distribution on all the small-screen projects.
Upcoming features produced under the Fabula-Fremantle deal, first inked in 2019, include Larrain’s Maria, a biopic of opera star Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, produced together with Fremantle and Komplizen Film; and Sebabstián Lelio’s feminist protest musical The Wave, made in partnership with Participant Media.
On the TV side, Fabula has produced the Spanish-language thriller...
- 4/16/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fremantle has renewed its first-look partnership with Chilean production company Fabula in a deal that will see the companies develop a slate of original dramas and films. Fremantle’s international sales wing, Fmi, will distribute the drama projects worldwide.
Fabula and Fremantle have just wrapped production on Sebabstián Lelio’s film musical The Wave, in partnership with Participant Media, which tells the story of the mass protests and university rallies that took place during Chile’s so-called “feminist May” in 2018.
Later this year they will launch Pablo Larraín’s Maria starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, produced alongside Fremantle and Germany’s Komplizen Film.
Fabula and Fremantle have just wrapped production on Sebabstián Lelio’s film musical The Wave, in partnership with Participant Media, which tells the story of the mass protests and university rallies that took place during Chile’s so-called “feminist May” in 2018.
Later this year they will launch Pablo Larraín’s Maria starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, produced alongside Fremantle and Germany’s Komplizen Film.
- 4/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
Chernobyl director Johan Renck and production partner Michael Parets will adapt Andrew O’Hagan’s new epic British novel Caledonian Road for TV.
Recently published by Faber to rave reviews, Caledonian Road is a Dickensian tale of the rise and fall of Campbell Flynn, an art historian and celebrity intellectual, told against the backdrop of modern-day Britain and the deep-set corruption at the heart of the ruling class. O’Hagan is a three-time Booker Prize nominee (for Our Fathers, Be Near Me and The Illuminations). His last novel, Mayflies, was adapted as a drama series by BBC in 2022 starring Martin Compston, Tony Curran and Ashley Jensen.
Parets and Renck will produce Caledonian Road through their Fremantle-backed production company Sinestra, with Renck set to direct. Emmy-winning showrunner Will Smith (Veep, The Think of It, Slow Horses) will adapt the book for the screen. O’Hagan will serve as executive producer.
“We’ve...
Recently published by Faber to rave reviews, Caledonian Road is a Dickensian tale of the rise and fall of Campbell Flynn, an art historian and celebrity intellectual, told against the backdrop of modern-day Britain and the deep-set corruption at the heart of the ruling class. O’Hagan is a three-time Booker Prize nominee (for Our Fathers, Be Near Me and The Illuminations). His last novel, Mayflies, was adapted as a drama series by BBC in 2022 starring Martin Compston, Tony Curran and Ashley Jensen.
Parets and Renck will produce Caledonian Road through their Fremantle-backed production company Sinestra, with Renck set to direct. Emmy-winning showrunner Will Smith (Veep, The Think of It, Slow Horses) will adapt the book for the screen. O’Hagan will serve as executive producer.
“We’ve...
- 4/8/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fremantle is getting into the Rachel Weisz business.
The international production powerhouse has signed a first-look and development deal with Astral Projection, the production company run by the Oscar-winning actress and her Dead Ringers producer Polly Stokes.
The three-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all of Astral Projection’s TV and film projects. Astral will work closely with Fremantle’s Global Drama division under Global Drama CEO Christian Vesper and COO Seb Shorr, as well as its international distribution team.
“We are thrilled to have found such experienced and trusting partners in Fremantle,” said Weisz in a statement. “As soon as we met Christian and Seb, we knew they were a perfect fit for our taste and energy and that this would be a brilliant home for Astral.”
Added Stokes: “We want to tell stories that are surprising and affirming — that find joy in unexpected and daring places.
The international production powerhouse has signed a first-look and development deal with Astral Projection, the production company run by the Oscar-winning actress and her Dead Ringers producer Polly Stokes.
The three-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all of Astral Projection’s TV and film projects. Astral will work closely with Fremantle’s Global Drama division under Global Drama CEO Christian Vesper and COO Seb Shorr, as well as its international distribution team.
“We are thrilled to have found such experienced and trusting partners in Fremantle,” said Weisz in a statement. “As soon as we met Christian and Seb, we knew they were a perfect fit for our taste and energy and that this would be a brilliant home for Astral.”
Added Stokes: “We want to tell stories that are surprising and affirming — that find joy in unexpected and daring places.
- 3/7/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Astral Projection, the production company set up by Oscar winner Rachel Weisz and British executive producer Polly Stokes has signed a new first-look and development deal with Fremantle.
The three-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all TV and film projects for Astral Projection, which co-produced “Dead Ringers,” Amazon’s six-part psychological thriller in which Weisz played both lead roles in a gender-swapped reimagining of the 1988 David Cronenberg film. Stokes, a former creative executive at Film4, and Weisz have a long-standing relationship and are building a slate of projects with Rebecca Servadio as Astral’s literary consultant.
The deal was spearheaded by Fremantle CEO of global drama Christian Vesper and COO of global drama Seb Shorr. It was negotiated by Fran Denny, Fremantle’s VP legal and business affairs of global drama, and James Kay and Jessica Hudson for Sheridans on behalf of Astral Projection.
“We are...
The three-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all TV and film projects for Astral Projection, which co-produced “Dead Ringers,” Amazon’s six-part psychological thriller in which Weisz played both lead roles in a gender-swapped reimagining of the 1988 David Cronenberg film. Stokes, a former creative executive at Film4, and Weisz have a long-standing relationship and are building a slate of projects with Rebecca Servadio as Astral’s literary consultant.
The deal was spearheaded by Fremantle CEO of global drama Christian Vesper and COO of global drama Seb Shorr. It was negotiated by Fran Denny, Fremantle’s VP legal and business affairs of global drama, and James Kay and Jessica Hudson for Sheridans on behalf of Astral Projection.
“We are...
- 3/7/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: TV and film writers will want to circle this one in their calendars: Poor Things and The Favourite producer Element Pictures is launching Storyhouse, a new Dublin-based screenwriting festival that will celebrate storytellers and storytelling.
Speakers at the first edition include Poor Things writer and Oscar nominee Tony McNamara, Arthur Harari, who won a BAFTA for Anatomy Of A Fall, and Iranian writer-director Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider). Molly Manning Walker (How To Have Sex) will also be there and appear in conversation with Charlotte Regan (Scrapper).
Other highlights include frequent Element collaborator Lenny Abrahamson (Room) interviewing One Day and Patrick Melrose scribe David Nicholls. The festival sessions will run over March 21-22. The venue is Dublin’s Light House Cinema, which is owned by Element co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney.
Storyhouse will cater for aspiring writers as well as established names and industry professionals. Storyhouse Lab,...
Speakers at the first edition include Poor Things writer and Oscar nominee Tony McNamara, Arthur Harari, who won a BAFTA for Anatomy Of A Fall, and Iranian writer-director Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider). Molly Manning Walker (How To Have Sex) will also be there and appear in conversation with Charlotte Regan (Scrapper).
Other highlights include frequent Element collaborator Lenny Abrahamson (Room) interviewing One Day and Patrick Melrose scribe David Nicholls. The festival sessions will run over March 21-22. The venue is Dublin’s Light House Cinema, which is owned by Element co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney.
Storyhouse will cater for aspiring writers as well as established names and industry professionals. Storyhouse Lab,...
- 2/22/2024
- by Stewart Clarke
- Deadline Film + TV
Cost-cutting is believed to be behind the end of Berlinale Series this year and the festival has pivoted to inserting high-end TV shows across its programme. Yet top industry executives say endorsement from events such as Berlin and Cannes can have a “halo effect” for premium shows.
The Berlinale Series Market (February 19-21), now in its 10th year, remains in situ and EFM director Dennis Ruh calls it “an integral part” of the EFM with shows taking their place in most sales agents’ rosters.
At a time when many platforms are backing more mainstream drama series and network-style shows, Fremantle...
The Berlinale Series Market (February 19-21), now in its 10th year, remains in situ and EFM director Dennis Ruh calls it “an integral part” of the EFM with shows taking their place in most sales agents’ rosters.
At a time when many platforms are backing more mainstream drama series and network-style shows, Fremantle...
- 2/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
Fremantle has struck a first-look and development deal with I Am Ruth and Alice & Jack producer Me+You Productions, which is run by former BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee.
The three-year non-exclusive deal will see Fremantle become the primary home of all Me+You’s TV projects, working closely with both Fremantle’s global drama division and distribution team.
Founded by Majumdar and Richard Yee, the London-based indie is best known for Dominic Savage’s Channel 4 BAFTA-winning anthology series I Am Ruth, which has starred the likes of Kate Winslet, Suranne Jones and Letitia Wright. Winslet won a BAFTA for her portrayal of a mother witnessing her teenage daughter retreating into herself, played alongside her real-life daughter Mia Threapleton.
Other Me + You productions include Channel 4’s upcoming Andrea Riseborough-starrer Alice & Jack, which has sold to PBS Masterpiece in the U.S., and Elliot Page movie Close to You.
The three-year non-exclusive deal will see Fremantle become the primary home of all Me+You’s TV projects, working closely with both Fremantle’s global drama division and distribution team.
Founded by Majumdar and Richard Yee, the London-based indie is best known for Dominic Savage’s Channel 4 BAFTA-winning anthology series I Am Ruth, which has starred the likes of Kate Winslet, Suranne Jones and Letitia Wright. Winslet won a BAFTA for her portrayal of a mother witnessing her teenage daughter retreating into herself, played alongside her real-life daughter Mia Threapleton.
Other Me + You productions include Channel 4’s upcoming Andrea Riseborough-starrer Alice & Jack, which has sold to PBS Masterpiece in the U.S., and Elliot Page movie Close to You.
- 1/31/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Fremantle has signed a first-look and development deal with U.K. production outfit Me+You Productions, the team behind Channel 4 drama Alice & Jack and BAFTA-award-winning series I Am….
The three-year deal, announced Wednesday, will see Fremantle become the first home for all of Me+You’s television projects, with the U.K. producer working closely with Fremantle’s global drama division and its international distribution team.
Fremantle and Me+You collaborated on Alice & Jack, the 2023 TV drama starring Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson, which was co-produced with Groundswell Productions, De Maio Entertainment, Masterpiece and Channel 4. Fremantle also handled global sales for the series.
Headed by Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee, Me+You Productions is also known for its BAFTA-nominated hit An Idiot Abroad starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, the comedy drama series Sick of It written by Yee and Pilkington for Sky One and the...
The three-year deal, announced Wednesday, will see Fremantle become the first home for all of Me+You’s television projects, with the U.K. producer working closely with Fremantle’s global drama division and its international distribution team.
Fremantle and Me+You collaborated on Alice & Jack, the 2023 TV drama starring Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson, which was co-produced with Groundswell Productions, De Maio Entertainment, Masterpiece and Channel 4. Fremantle also handled global sales for the series.
Headed by Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee, Me+You Productions is also known for its BAFTA-nominated hit An Idiot Abroad starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, the comedy drama series Sick of It written by Yee and Pilkington for Sky One and the...
- 1/31/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Me+You Productions, the company behind Kate Winslet drama “I Am Ruth,” has inked a first-look and development deal with Fremantle.
The three-year deal will mean Fremantle is the primary home for Me+You’s television slate, both in terms of development and distribution. The production company, founded by Richard Yee and former BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar, will work closely with Fremantle’s global drama division and distribution team, in particular Fremantle scripted content SVP Rebecca Dundon and global drama’s head of creative Hilary Martin, who will lead on creative and commercial for Fremantle.
De Maio Entertainment’s will act as a strategic advisor for both Me+You and Fremantle, optimizing strategy and maximimizing impact on each project.
The companies recently collaborated on drama “Alice & Jack,” starring Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson, with Fremantle co-producing and handling global sales.
Me+You also recently produced “I Am Ruth,” starring Kate...
The three-year deal will mean Fremantle is the primary home for Me+You’s television slate, both in terms of development and distribution. The production company, founded by Richard Yee and former BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar, will work closely with Fremantle’s global drama division and distribution team, in particular Fremantle scripted content SVP Rebecca Dundon and global drama’s head of creative Hilary Martin, who will lead on creative and commercial for Fremantle.
De Maio Entertainment’s will act as a strategic advisor for both Me+You and Fremantle, optimizing strategy and maximimizing impact on each project.
The companies recently collaborated on drama “Alice & Jack,” starring Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson, with Fremantle co-producing and handling global sales.
Me+You also recently produced “I Am Ruth,” starring Kate...
- 1/31/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Blyth’s recent credits include The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Michael Winterbottom has written and is set to direct a new film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s classic World War I novel A Farewell To Arms starring Tom Blyth
Blyth, whose recent credits include The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and MGM+ series Billy the Kid, will play the role of volunteer ambulance driver Frederic Henry, who is wounded and falls in love with his nurse in Italy during the First World War.
The Fremantle-backed film is set to start shooting in...
Michael Winterbottom has written and is set to direct a new film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s classic World War I novel A Farewell To Arms starring Tom Blyth
Blyth, whose recent credits include The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and MGM+ series Billy the Kid, will play the role of volunteer ambulance driver Frederic Henry, who is wounded and falls in love with his nurse in Italy during the First World War.
The Fremantle-backed film is set to start shooting in...
- 12/7/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Tom Blyth is set to follow in the footsteps of Gary Cooper, Rock Hudson and George Hamilton to star in Michael Winterbottom’s new adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s classic novel A Farewell to Arms.
Fremantle, Winterbottom’s production company Revolution Films and Passenger are joining forces on the production.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Billy the Kid star Blyth will play volunteer ambulance driver Frederic Henry, who is wounded and falls in love with his nurse in Italy during World War One.
Published in 1929, A Farewell To Arms is inspired by Hemingway’s own experiences as a volunteer ambulance driver with the Italian Army on the Isonzo Front.
Considered one of the greatest war novels of the twentieth century, it established Hemingway as a household name.
The novel has previously been...
Fremantle, Winterbottom’s production company Revolution Films and Passenger are joining forces on the production.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Billy the Kid star Blyth will play volunteer ambulance driver Frederic Henry, who is wounded and falls in love with his nurse in Italy during World War One.
Published in 1929, A Farewell To Arms is inspired by Hemingway’s own experiences as a volunteer ambulance driver with the Italian Army on the Isonzo Front.
Considered one of the greatest war novels of the twentieth century, it established Hemingway as a household name.
The novel has previously been...
- 12/7/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
As actors enter their 112th day on strike, Beanie Feldstein, Christopher Meloni, Zachary Quinto, Bill Irwin, and Carrie Preston marched in New York City this week as the union’s negotiating committee and Hollywood studios inch closer to a deal. Although discussions around AI protections have divided the two parties, both sides have made strides to reach a resolution on actors’ minimum pay.
For Booksmart’s Feldstein, she expressed her gratitude for the union members at the bargaining table with Hollywood studios and streamers from the New York city picket lines Monday.
For Booksmart’s Feldstein, she expressed her gratitude for the union members at the bargaining table with Hollywood studios and streamers from the New York city picket lines Monday.
- 11/2/2023
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
When it comes to the post-summer box office blues, Taylor Swift: Eras Tour has helped shake it off. The film’s phenomenal success — it’s already the top-grossing concert film of all time in North America, not adjusted for inflation — as well as its unique rollout, in which Swift teamed up directly teaming directly with AMC Theaters, bypassing traditional studio distribution, is a bright light in an independent movie market sorely in need of some good news.
Sadly, there is only one Taylor Swift. The rest of the independent film world, representatives of which will be gathering in Santa Monica for the American Film Market Oct. 31-Nov. 5, sees few reasons to dance in the aisles.
The market’s new location, at the Le Méridien Delfina on Pico, exchanges the seaside views and beach vibe of the Loews Hotels, AFM’s home for the past 30 years, for the more elusive charms...
Sadly, there is only one Taylor Swift. The rest of the independent film world, representatives of which will be gathering in Santa Monica for the American Film Market Oct. 31-Nov. 5, sees few reasons to dance in the aisles.
The market’s new location, at the Le Méridien Delfina on Pico, exchanges the seaside views and beach vibe of the Loews Hotels, AFM’s home for the past 30 years, for the more elusive charms...
- 10/31/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The company has also unveiled an Israel-based €150m fund for film and scripted TV projects.
With five films playing in competition, European production and distribution group Fremantle is enjoying a strong presence at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
Fremantle’s Ireland-uk label Element Pictures is behind one of the hottest films on the Lido this year, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, while Italian label Wildside produced Saverio Costanzo’s big budget Finally Dawn.
Another Fremantle Italian production label The Apartment, meanwhile, is involved in three films in competition – Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla , Stefano Sollima’s Adagio and Piero Castellito’s Enea.
With five films playing in competition, European production and distribution group Fremantle is enjoying a strong presence at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
Fremantle’s Ireland-uk label Element Pictures is behind one of the hottest films on the Lido this year, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, while Italian label Wildside produced Saverio Costanzo’s big budget Finally Dawn.
Another Fremantle Italian production label The Apartment, meanwhile, is involved in three films in competition – Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla , Stefano Sollima’s Adagio and Piero Castellito’s Enea.
- 9/8/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Fremantle kicked off its presence at the Venice Film Festival with a bang this year with the announcement of its new €150M ($162.7M) Scripted Fund forged in partnership with Israel-based Ibi Investment House.
The fund is reserved exclusively for select projects being developed by Fremantle’s stable of scripted drama companies, which include UK’s Dancing Ledge and Element Pictures, Italy’s The Apartment, Wildside and Lux Vide, as well as The Immigrant, specialized in Latin America and Spanish content.
First projects backed by the fund include previously announced feature Maria, the high-profile Maria Callas biopic, starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Pablo Larraín, who is at Venice this year with Augusto Pinochet dark comedy/horror El Conde.
Two newly unveiled series will also benefit: the four-part thriller Generation Loss, written by Bridgerton’s Sarah Dollard, and six-part revenge thriller Shelter, to which Jeremy Webb is attached to direct.
Fremantle is not involved in Larrain’s Netflix-backed El Conde but is present instead with five other Golden Lion contenders, including Yorgos Lanthimos’ buzzed about Poor Things, Stefano Sollima’s well-reviewed Adagio, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Salvatore Costanzo’s 1950s Cinecittà drama Finally Dawn, and Pietro Castellitto’s Enea
In a sign of a growing presence in the film world, the company is basing itself out of a vast beachfront villa just down the road from the festival’s main hub for the first time this year.
Deadline sat down with top Fremantle execs, Group COO and CEO Continental Europe Andrea Scrosati and CEO Global Drama Christian Vesper, in the peace of its lawned garden to discuss the genesis and implications of the new scripted fund.
Deadline: How did Fremantle connect with Ibi Investment House?
Scrosati: It came to us through our CEO in Israel Guy Hameiri, who is also going to be the CEO of the fund. He runs our company there [Abot Hameiri), which we initially invested in and then bought out two years ago.
He came to me around like nine months ago, saying that the leadership in Ibi was interested in finding a way to invest in scripted content. Together, we developed this model that I think is pretty new.
Deadline: What do you mean by new? There are other funds in existence investing in scripted content.
Andrea Scrosati: I think the interesting component here is that it’s a financial institution partnering with a content production company. The projects can only come from Fremantle. So that’s the intriguing component, for us. Then, this fund will fully finance those projects, which is also rare, especially for TV. To have a self-funded studio kind of model on drama is slightly rare. And then Fremantle will go out and sell.
Deadline: What encouraged you to go down this route?
Scrosati: It’s coherent with our strategic positioning. Talent has a lot of opportunity choices… but to super simplify, there are two key potential choices. One, talent signs a deal with a big direct-to-consumer operation. It’s an absolutely a fine choice. But obviously, what happens is that the talent then has to deliver results that are coherent with the platform that needs to sell the subscriptions.
Our approach to talent is different. We say, ‘We’re going to focus on your project, we’re going to support your project, we’re going to potentially finance or risk on your project, and then we’re going to find the right home for your project, because not every project is okay for every place.’ This new device helps us with this strategic positioning.
There is a tactical component because of where the market is today. Big traditional buyers didn’t stop buying but are for sure on a slower kind of pace. We strongly believe that good content has a future. I’m very positive about where the market is going to be in three or four years from today. In every market there’s growth, and then an adjustment.
The problem with where the market is today is that there are great opportunities, sometimes that involve great talent, but they have a time component and you risk not doing those projects if you’re waiting for the green light from Apple, Disney, Netflix, or Amazon.
Deadline: If the commissioning contraction hadn’t happened would you still have gone down this route?
Scrosati: Yes, for the strategic reason I mentioned.
Christian Vesper: Not Maria, because Maria is a film and starts very soon. And that was a different calculation. But for the two TV shows that we discuss in the [press] release, part of the consideration there was we believe in the projects. We know there’s a market for them but the talent attached has a discrete window, and so much of our business model has been based on how we bring in talent. How do we service our talent? Our job is to help them get their shows made and on the air. And this gives us one more powerful tool for doing that.
Deadline: Will the new fund change the way you deal with the broadcasters and streamers ?
Scrosati: The buyers are our partners. These shows will go to a client or a streamer. The fund is simply a way to accelerate the production time schedule. The buyer will be able to access a product when it is actually already in production or is already produced.
Vesper: One of our best clients in the UK is struggling now with some of their bigger shows. Even if they’ve greenlit them, they can’t find the financing for the rest of the budget. This is partly to step into that void. The networks, the linears and the public broadcasters, they’re struggling to fulfill all their programming needs with the resources they have and this provides yet one more avenue to do that.
Deadline: Can the fund be accessed by all the companies producing scripted content under the Fremantle umbrella?
Scrosati: Yes, as you can see with the first three projects. One of them is taking place in Israel, one in in UK, and one is a Chilean-Italian co-production, shot in Hungary. It’s going to be fantastically global.
Deadline: You have set yourselves the target of a €3B turnover by 2025. Do you think that’s realistic? And why have you set yourself this goal?
Scrosati: The goal was set by our shareholders… I’ve worked for a few different shareholders over the course of my career. The thing I’ve found incredibly strong is that Bertelsmann and Rtl have set a goal but have also given us all the support and instruments to reach that goal. It is a very ambitious goal because obviously the company was doing a very different number three years ago, but again they have given us all the support.
One thing, which is really important to say, is that the growth we have done in the last few years has been a been a mix of M&a and organic growth. This growth is not simply because we are acquiring companies, but rather because we are diversifying and creating a business portfolio. An example of this, is that five years ago, we were delivering two movies a year, and last year, we delivered 17, and with the exception of Element, which is an acquisition, all these movies come from companies that were already part of Fremantle.
Vesper: When I joined the company, Wildside was already a crucial part of the company, and I’ve been here six years now and the growth there is all organic and extraordinary.
Scrosati: The M&a we’ve done is all part of strategic plans. It’s been about acquiring companies that were best in class in a sector where we were not present. Element is a fantastic example of that. We did not have an English language, movie production company. Or, best in class in potentially growing regions where we were not present. We invested in Latin American company The Immigrant a few years ago when it was a start-up. It now has three productions on the go and its first movie Adolfo won the Generation 14 Plus prize in Berlin.
Vesper: One of our companies in England, Dancing Ledge, is hitting it out of the park in terms of the number of series they have on BBC and all the platforms. Like The Immigrant, we invested in them when they had done nothing. It’s not like we’re buying revenue. A lot of the M&a is investment in the future.
Deadline: Do you plan to keep up the pace of scripted company acquisitions of the last three years, or is that calming down?
Scrosati: In line with what we were just saying, If there is something that is coherent with our growth, in areas where we’re still not present, or there is a company or creative team that we really think has potential, we will still invest. The other component is the cultural element. We are a big company but we’re very lean. The scripted management team is basically in front of you. The only way it can work is if we see can see an element where it will work intellectually and culturally.
Deadline: Do you have further growth plans for scripted in the U.S.?
Scrosati: It’s our first territory. The company’s core business is still the entertainment and unscripted business and the U.S. is a massive territory for us for that. In addition, Dante di Loreto is leading the scripted team and has a lot going on.
Vesper: We have a show, Fellow Travellers, coming out on Paramount+ at the end of September. It’s a big mini-series with Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey and Allison Williams, that was developed with Showtime and that we produced for them. Six-part, gorgeous, about the gay panic in the CIA in the 50s. We also produced two seasons of Mosquito Coast for Apple.
We have a number of big shows that we’re about to announce. What’s interesting is that we have a couple of projects that the U.S. have set up to shoot here (Europe), and vice versa. We’re trying to make sure that our European producers have the resources in the U.S., and the other way round. We’re constantly strategizing about this, it’s important for us to continue to build that business in the U.S..
The fund is reserved exclusively for select projects being developed by Fremantle’s stable of scripted drama companies, which include UK’s Dancing Ledge and Element Pictures, Italy’s The Apartment, Wildside and Lux Vide, as well as The Immigrant, specialized in Latin America and Spanish content.
First projects backed by the fund include previously announced feature Maria, the high-profile Maria Callas biopic, starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Pablo Larraín, who is at Venice this year with Augusto Pinochet dark comedy/horror El Conde.
Two newly unveiled series will also benefit: the four-part thriller Generation Loss, written by Bridgerton’s Sarah Dollard, and six-part revenge thriller Shelter, to which Jeremy Webb is attached to direct.
Fremantle is not involved in Larrain’s Netflix-backed El Conde but is present instead with five other Golden Lion contenders, including Yorgos Lanthimos’ buzzed about Poor Things, Stefano Sollima’s well-reviewed Adagio, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Salvatore Costanzo’s 1950s Cinecittà drama Finally Dawn, and Pietro Castellitto’s Enea
In a sign of a growing presence in the film world, the company is basing itself out of a vast beachfront villa just down the road from the festival’s main hub for the first time this year.
Deadline sat down with top Fremantle execs, Group COO and CEO Continental Europe Andrea Scrosati and CEO Global Drama Christian Vesper, in the peace of its lawned garden to discuss the genesis and implications of the new scripted fund.
Deadline: How did Fremantle connect with Ibi Investment House?
Scrosati: It came to us through our CEO in Israel Guy Hameiri, who is also going to be the CEO of the fund. He runs our company there [Abot Hameiri), which we initially invested in and then bought out two years ago.
He came to me around like nine months ago, saying that the leadership in Ibi was interested in finding a way to invest in scripted content. Together, we developed this model that I think is pretty new.
Deadline: What do you mean by new? There are other funds in existence investing in scripted content.
Andrea Scrosati: I think the interesting component here is that it’s a financial institution partnering with a content production company. The projects can only come from Fremantle. So that’s the intriguing component, for us. Then, this fund will fully finance those projects, which is also rare, especially for TV. To have a self-funded studio kind of model on drama is slightly rare. And then Fremantle will go out and sell.
Deadline: What encouraged you to go down this route?
Scrosati: It’s coherent with our strategic positioning. Talent has a lot of opportunity choices… but to super simplify, there are two key potential choices. One, talent signs a deal with a big direct-to-consumer operation. It’s an absolutely a fine choice. But obviously, what happens is that the talent then has to deliver results that are coherent with the platform that needs to sell the subscriptions.
Our approach to talent is different. We say, ‘We’re going to focus on your project, we’re going to support your project, we’re going to potentially finance or risk on your project, and then we’re going to find the right home for your project, because not every project is okay for every place.’ This new device helps us with this strategic positioning.
There is a tactical component because of where the market is today. Big traditional buyers didn’t stop buying but are for sure on a slower kind of pace. We strongly believe that good content has a future. I’m very positive about where the market is going to be in three or four years from today. In every market there’s growth, and then an adjustment.
The problem with where the market is today is that there are great opportunities, sometimes that involve great talent, but they have a time component and you risk not doing those projects if you’re waiting for the green light from Apple, Disney, Netflix, or Amazon.
Deadline: If the commissioning contraction hadn’t happened would you still have gone down this route?
Scrosati: Yes, for the strategic reason I mentioned.
Christian Vesper: Not Maria, because Maria is a film and starts very soon. And that was a different calculation. But for the two TV shows that we discuss in the [press] release, part of the consideration there was we believe in the projects. We know there’s a market for them but the talent attached has a discrete window, and so much of our business model has been based on how we bring in talent. How do we service our talent? Our job is to help them get their shows made and on the air. And this gives us one more powerful tool for doing that.
Deadline: Will the new fund change the way you deal with the broadcasters and streamers ?
Scrosati: The buyers are our partners. These shows will go to a client or a streamer. The fund is simply a way to accelerate the production time schedule. The buyer will be able to access a product when it is actually already in production or is already produced.
Vesper: One of our best clients in the UK is struggling now with some of their bigger shows. Even if they’ve greenlit them, they can’t find the financing for the rest of the budget. This is partly to step into that void. The networks, the linears and the public broadcasters, they’re struggling to fulfill all their programming needs with the resources they have and this provides yet one more avenue to do that.
Deadline: Can the fund be accessed by all the companies producing scripted content under the Fremantle umbrella?
Scrosati: Yes, as you can see with the first three projects. One of them is taking place in Israel, one in in UK, and one is a Chilean-Italian co-production, shot in Hungary. It’s going to be fantastically global.
Deadline: You have set yourselves the target of a €3B turnover by 2025. Do you think that’s realistic? And why have you set yourself this goal?
Scrosati: The goal was set by our shareholders… I’ve worked for a few different shareholders over the course of my career. The thing I’ve found incredibly strong is that Bertelsmann and Rtl have set a goal but have also given us all the support and instruments to reach that goal. It is a very ambitious goal because obviously the company was doing a very different number three years ago, but again they have given us all the support.
One thing, which is really important to say, is that the growth we have done in the last few years has been a been a mix of M&a and organic growth. This growth is not simply because we are acquiring companies, but rather because we are diversifying and creating a business portfolio. An example of this, is that five years ago, we were delivering two movies a year, and last year, we delivered 17, and with the exception of Element, which is an acquisition, all these movies come from companies that were already part of Fremantle.
Vesper: When I joined the company, Wildside was already a crucial part of the company, and I’ve been here six years now and the growth there is all organic and extraordinary.
Scrosati: The M&a we’ve done is all part of strategic plans. It’s been about acquiring companies that were best in class in a sector where we were not present. Element is a fantastic example of that. We did not have an English language, movie production company. Or, best in class in potentially growing regions where we were not present. We invested in Latin American company The Immigrant a few years ago when it was a start-up. It now has three productions on the go and its first movie Adolfo won the Generation 14 Plus prize in Berlin.
Vesper: One of our companies in England, Dancing Ledge, is hitting it out of the park in terms of the number of series they have on BBC and all the platforms. Like The Immigrant, we invested in them when they had done nothing. It’s not like we’re buying revenue. A lot of the M&a is investment in the future.
Deadline: Do you plan to keep up the pace of scripted company acquisitions of the last three years, or is that calming down?
Scrosati: In line with what we were just saying, If there is something that is coherent with our growth, in areas where we’re still not present, or there is a company or creative team that we really think has potential, we will still invest. The other component is the cultural element. We are a big company but we’re very lean. The scripted management team is basically in front of you. The only way it can work is if we see can see an element where it will work intellectually and culturally.
Deadline: Do you have further growth plans for scripted in the U.S.?
Scrosati: It’s our first territory. The company’s core business is still the entertainment and unscripted business and the U.S. is a massive territory for us for that. In addition, Dante di Loreto is leading the scripted team and has a lot going on.
Vesper: We have a show, Fellow Travellers, coming out on Paramount+ at the end of September. It’s a big mini-series with Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey and Allison Williams, that was developed with Showtime and that we produced for them. Six-part, gorgeous, about the gay panic in the CIA in the 50s. We also produced two seasons of Mosquito Coast for Apple.
We have a number of big shows that we’re about to announce. What’s interesting is that we have a couple of projects that the U.S. have set up to shoot here (Europe), and vice versa. We’re trying to make sure that our European producers have the resources in the U.S., and the other way round. We’re constantly strategizing about this, it’s important for us to continue to build that business in the U.S..
- 9/4/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
It might be too early to call it, but The Hollywood Reporter Roma may have given the best party of the 80th Venice Film Festival.
THR Roma, the first European edition of The Hollywood Reporter, threw a starry and glam but also surprisingly chill bash Sunday night at their festival villa, a stone’s throw from The Excelsior Hotel on the Lido. THR Roma had its official launch, in Rome, in April but the Venice bash marked its international coming out, and the group used the occasion to present its first stand-alone print edition (more on that later).
There were shades of Pablo Sorrentino’s famed party sequence in The Great Beauty as a who’s who of the Italian film and fashion industries — among them the cast of Venice festival opener Comandante, including Italian superstar Pierfrancesco Favino and director Edoardo De Angelis, Adagio filmmaker Stefano Sollima, and Valentino’s...
THR Roma, the first European edition of The Hollywood Reporter, threw a starry and glam but also surprisingly chill bash Sunday night at their festival villa, a stone’s throw from The Excelsior Hotel on the Lido. THR Roma had its official launch, in Rome, in April but the Venice bash marked its international coming out, and the group used the occasion to present its first stand-alone print edition (more on that later).
There were shades of Pablo Sorrentino’s famed party sequence in The Great Beauty as a who’s who of the Italian film and fashion industries — among them the cast of Venice festival opener Comandante, including Italian superstar Pierfrancesco Favino and director Edoardo De Angelis, Adagio filmmaker Stefano Sollima, and Valentino’s...
- 9/4/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Global production and distribution powerhouse Fremantle has revealed a strategic alliance at the Venice Film Festival with Israeli-based Ibi Investment House, which involves the launch of a 150 million euro ($163 million) fund to bankroll a portfolio of premium scripted TV and film projects.
Under the deal, which will last four years, Fremantle will bring a diverse range of projects from its network of studio companies to the Ibi fund, fast-tracking the production of each title. The partners say the projects will also benefit from the creative oversight of Fremantle’s global drama team, led by its CEO Christian Vesper, who will work with the fund throughout the lifecycle of each production. All TV projects approved through the fund will be distributed by Fremantle International.
“At Fremantle, we are always focused on innovation and this alliance with Ibi is a perfect example of this ethos and approach,” said Fremantle Group CEO Jennifer Mullin.
Under the deal, which will last four years, Fremantle will bring a diverse range of projects from its network of studio companies to the Ibi fund, fast-tracking the production of each title. The partners say the projects will also benefit from the creative oversight of Fremantle’s global drama team, led by its CEO Christian Vesper, who will work with the fund throughout the lifecycle of each production. All TV projects approved through the fund will be distributed by Fremantle International.
“At Fremantle, we are always focused on innovation and this alliance with Ibi is a perfect example of this ethos and approach,” said Fremantle Group CEO Jennifer Mullin.
- 9/1/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
One of first projects put forward for funding is a biopic of Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie
Producer and distributor Fremantle has formed a strategic alliance with Israeli based Ibi Investment House, which is launching a new €150m fund to finance a portfolio of scripted television and film projects
Under an initial four-year deal, Fremantle will bring projects from its network of production companies to the Ibi fund. They include previously announced feature film Maria, a biopic of Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie to be directed by Pablo Larrain.
The Ibi Fund will work with Fremantle and its labels, producers...
Producer and distributor Fremantle has formed a strategic alliance with Israeli based Ibi Investment House, which is launching a new €150m fund to finance a portfolio of scripted television and film projects
Under an initial four-year deal, Fremantle will bring projects from its network of production companies to the Ibi fund. They include previously announced feature film Maria, a biopic of Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie to be directed by Pablo Larrain.
The Ibi Fund will work with Fremantle and its labels, producers...
- 8/31/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Pablo Larraín’s Maria Callas biopic starring Angelina Jolie, a mystery thriller penned by Bridgerton’s Sarah Dollard and a revenge drama created by Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton are the first projects to emerge from Fremantle and Ibi Investment House’s €150M ($162.7M) Scripted Fund.
Unveiled today, the fund will see Fremantle label’s high-end TV and film projects funded via a bespoke model by the Israeli investor, which will “fast-track the production of each project,” according to the pair. Ibi, which is making its first foray into international film and TV production, will work closely with Fremantle and talent to greenlight each project and find the best route to market.
As CEO of the fund, Fremantle-owned Abot Hameiri boss Guy Hameiri will oversee the pot. He spearheaded the deal with Fremantle Group COO and Continental Europe CEO Andrea Scrosati, who has been the driving force behind the super-indie’s much-publicized investment splurge.
Unveiled today, the fund will see Fremantle label’s high-end TV and film projects funded via a bespoke model by the Israeli investor, which will “fast-track the production of each project,” according to the pair. Ibi, which is making its first foray into international film and TV production, will work closely with Fremantle and talent to greenlight each project and find the best route to market.
As CEO of the fund, Fremantle-owned Abot Hameiri boss Guy Hameiri will oversee the pot. He spearheaded the deal with Fremantle Group COO and Continental Europe CEO Andrea Scrosati, who has been the driving force behind the super-indie’s much-publicized investment splurge.
- 8/31/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Being an independent producer was never easy. But these days, it’s near impossible. Even before the dual writers and actors strikes, changes in the international film and TV market had made life tough for the indies. Old models of art house moviemaking have been ravaged by a combination of decline in the specialty box office, the collapse of ancillary revenue for home entertainment and TV licensing, and the more recent pullback by streaming companies, who have begun to back fewer, and more mainstream, movies.
But one indie production company has gone from making just a handful of movies a year to dozens, finding a way to turn the turbulent new reality into a business model for making cutting-edge art house cinema that, shockingly, can actually turn a profit. It’s the company behind five of the most hotly anticipated titles at the Venice Film Festival this year: Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things,...
But one indie production company has gone from making just a handful of movies a year to dozens, finding a way to turn the turbulent new reality into a business model for making cutting-edge art house cinema that, shockingly, can actually turn a profit. It’s the company behind five of the most hotly anticipated titles at the Venice Film Festival this year: Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Hollywood Reporter has picked Fremantle as the winner of the inaugural International Producer of the Year award.
The award will be presented annually to an independent producer from outside the U.S. that THR judges to be the most exciting and innovative company of the year.
THR will present the 2023 Producer of the Year award to Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO of Continental Europe, and Christian Vesper, CEO of Global Drama, at a gala event at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.
With a global network of nearly 50 companies — ranging from German giant UFA (Deutschland ’83) and Italian TV group Lux Vide (Netflix’s Medici) to Israel’s Abot Hameiri (Shtisel) and Richard Brown’s Passenger (True Detective) — and revenues of more than $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion) last year, Fremantle is clearly one of the biggest international indies out there.
But what put it over the top as International Producer of...
The award will be presented annually to an independent producer from outside the U.S. that THR judges to be the most exciting and innovative company of the year.
THR will present the 2023 Producer of the Year award to Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO of Continental Europe, and Christian Vesper, CEO of Global Drama, at a gala event at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.
With a global network of nearly 50 companies — ranging from German giant UFA (Deutschland ’83) and Italian TV group Lux Vide (Netflix’s Medici) to Israel’s Abot Hameiri (Shtisel) and Richard Brown’s Passenger (True Detective) — and revenues of more than $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion) last year, Fremantle is clearly one of the biggest international indies out there.
But what put it over the top as International Producer of...
- 8/23/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Andrea Riseborough and Domnhall Gleeson are to star in a Channel 4 drama series created by Mad Men’s Victor Levin.
The duo are leading Alice & Jack, the first major casting for Riseborough since the To Leslie Oscar controversy earlier this year.
The pair play the title characters in what distributor Fremantle described as a “love story for the ages.” Logline adds: “When they first meet they’re bound by a connection so powerful it seems nothing can break it, but will their path lead them to a place of happiness and togetherness? Or will life and their own emotional complexities get in the way.”
Alice & Jack brings together major production companies in Academy Award-nominated Groundswell Productions, De Maio Entertainment, I Am Ruth maker Me + You Productions and Fremantle. Fremantle is also handling global sales.
“The only work I’ve wanted to watch and do since the pandemic is work about connection and love,...
The duo are leading Alice & Jack, the first major casting for Riseborough since the To Leslie Oscar controversy earlier this year.
The pair play the title characters in what distributor Fremantle described as a “love story for the ages.” Logline adds: “When they first meet they’re bound by a connection so powerful it seems nothing can break it, but will their path lead them to a place of happiness and togetherness? Or will life and their own emotional complexities get in the way.”
Alice & Jack brings together major production companies in Academy Award-nominated Groundswell Productions, De Maio Entertainment, I Am Ruth maker Me + You Productions and Fremantle. Fremantle is also handling global sales.
“The only work I’ve wanted to watch and do since the pandemic is work about connection and love,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson are set to star in the romantic drama “Alice & Jack” for U.K. broadcaster Channel 4.
The series is lead directed by Juho Kuosmanen, helmer of the Golden Globe-nominated Cannes title “Compartment Number 6,” with a second block directed by BAFTA-nominated “Lilting” helmer Hong Khaou. The show is written by “Mad Men” scribe Victor Levin. It is a Fremantle production in partnership with BAFTA- and Emmy-winning Me + You Productions (“I Am Ruth”), Academy Award-nominated Groundswell Productions (“The Visitor”) and De Maio Entertainment. Fremantle is handling global sales on the project.
Rounding out the cast are Aisling Bea (“Greatest Days”), Aimee Lou Wood (“Sex Education”) and Sunil Patel (“This Time with Alan Partridge”).
Created and written by Levin, “Alice & Jack” is billed as “a love story for the ages.” An official synopsis for the show reads: When Alice (Riseborough) and Jack (Gleeson) first meet, they...
The series is lead directed by Juho Kuosmanen, helmer of the Golden Globe-nominated Cannes title “Compartment Number 6,” with a second block directed by BAFTA-nominated “Lilting” helmer Hong Khaou. The show is written by “Mad Men” scribe Victor Levin. It is a Fremantle production in partnership with BAFTA- and Emmy-winning Me + You Productions (“I Am Ruth”), Academy Award-nominated Groundswell Productions (“The Visitor”) and De Maio Entertainment. Fremantle is handling global sales on the project.
Rounding out the cast are Aisling Bea (“Greatest Days”), Aimee Lou Wood (“Sex Education”) and Sunil Patel (“This Time with Alan Partridge”).
Created and written by Levin, “Alice & Jack” is billed as “a love story for the ages.” An official synopsis for the show reads: When Alice (Riseborough) and Jack (Gleeson) first meet, they...
- 8/9/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Greenbird Flies To New Owner
Scotland’s Stv Studios has acquired the 15 companies operated by “Lego Masters” company Greenbird Media for £21.4 million ($27.3 million). Israel’s Keshet International acquired 60% of Greenbird five years ago. Stv Studios has now acquired 100% of Greenbird, including Keshet’s stake.
Greenbird founders, Jamie Munro and Stuart Mullin, will join the Stv Studios board in the roles of chief commercial officer and finance and integration director respectively, working alongside COO, Paul Sheehan, and under the leadership of MD, David Mortimer.
The deal boosts the number of labels within Stv Studios from nine to 24. As a result of the acquisition, Stv Studios now has expanded bases in Glasgow and London, as well as offices in Cardiff, Belfast, Brighton and Manchester.
Hit shows made by the producers in Greenbird’s cluster include: “Lego Masters” (Tuesday’s Child for Channel 4/Fox) and “The Hit List” (Tuesday’s Child for BBC One...
Scotland’s Stv Studios has acquired the 15 companies operated by “Lego Masters” company Greenbird Media for £21.4 million ($27.3 million). Israel’s Keshet International acquired 60% of Greenbird five years ago. Stv Studios has now acquired 100% of Greenbird, including Keshet’s stake.
Greenbird founders, Jamie Munro and Stuart Mullin, will join the Stv Studios board in the roles of chief commercial officer and finance and integration director respectively, working alongside COO, Paul Sheehan, and under the leadership of MD, David Mortimer.
The deal boosts the number of labels within Stv Studios from nine to 24. As a result of the acquisition, Stv Studios now has expanded bases in Glasgow and London, as well as offices in Cardiff, Belfast, Brighton and Manchester.
Hit shows made by the producers in Greenbird’s cluster include: “Lego Masters” (Tuesday’s Child for Channel 4/Fox) and “The Hit List” (Tuesday’s Child for BBC One...
- 7/6/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Natalie Portman To Be Feted At Deauville
Todd Haynes’ latest pic May December will head to France’s Deauville American Film Festival following its Cannes Competition debut, where lead actress Natalie Portman will be feted with the Deauville Talent Award. Starting her career aged 15 in Luc Besson’s Leon, Portman has had a varied career with roles in large franchises like Star Wars and smaller indie pics like Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. In 2017, Portman was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Jackie by Pablo Larraín. Previous Deauville Talent Award winners include Jesse Eisenberg and Thandiwe Newton. Deauville runs September 1-10.
ITV Studios Sells ‘My Mum, Your Dad’ To Euro Nets
ITV Studios format My Mum, Your Dad is headed for France and Germany. French net TF1 and German channel Vox have ordered local versions of the entertainment show, which was originally created for HBO Max by father-daughter...
Todd Haynes’ latest pic May December will head to France’s Deauville American Film Festival following its Cannes Competition debut, where lead actress Natalie Portman will be feted with the Deauville Talent Award. Starting her career aged 15 in Luc Besson’s Leon, Portman has had a varied career with roles in large franchises like Star Wars and smaller indie pics like Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. In 2017, Portman was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Jackie by Pablo Larraín. Previous Deauville Talent Award winners include Jesse Eisenberg and Thandiwe Newton. Deauville runs September 1-10.
ITV Studios Sells ‘My Mum, Your Dad’ To Euro Nets
ITV Studios format My Mum, Your Dad is headed for France and Germany. French net TF1 and German channel Vox have ordered local versions of the entertainment show, which was originally created for HBO Max by father-daughter...
- 7/6/2023
- by Jesse Whittock and Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
True Detective producer Richard Brown’s Passenger has struck a first-look deal with Patrick Daly’s Caledonia Productions.
The pair will partner on some existing film and TV projects for the next two years, along with building a co-production slate. Fremantle, which bought Passenger late last year and counts Brown as a global drama exec, will handle global distribution of the projects.
“Fremantle is the most exciting home for world class storytelling, and coupled with Richard’s superb taste, passion for writers, and ambition for Passenger, makes it the perfect place for Caledonia to expand its TV and Film capabilities,” said Daly, while Brown added that he had been “keen to collaborate with Patrick for a long time.”
Brown’s Passenger is a co-producer on HBO’s True Detective, which is soon launching a Jodie Foster-starring fourth season, along with the likes of Sky’s This England. His creative...
The pair will partner on some existing film and TV projects for the next two years, along with building a co-production slate. Fremantle, which bought Passenger late last year and counts Brown as a global drama exec, will handle global distribution of the projects.
“Fremantle is the most exciting home for world class storytelling, and coupled with Richard’s superb taste, passion for writers, and ambition for Passenger, makes it the perfect place for Caledonia to expand its TV and Film capabilities,” said Daly, while Brown added that he had been “keen to collaborate with Patrick for a long time.”
Brown’s Passenger is a co-producer on HBO’s True Detective, which is soon launching a Jodie Foster-starring fourth season, along with the likes of Sky’s This England. His creative...
- 6/26/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Fremantle Banner Signs First-Look Deal With ‘August: Osage County’ Producer Patrick Daly’s Caledonia
Caledonia Productions, the banner of Patrick Daly, the theater and film director whose feature credits include August: Osage County, Una and Galveston, has signed a first-look deal with Passenger, headed by its founder Richard Brown (This England, True Detective, Catch-22).
The two-year deal with Passenger, which now sits within Fremantle’s Global Drama division, will see Daly and Brown collaborate on select existing Passenger and Caledonia film and television projects in addition to building a new slate of projects to co-produce. Fremantle will handle global distribution.
Both Passenger and Caledonia are based in New York and London.
“I have known and admired, Richard Brown and Fremantle’s Christian Vesper for many years, so when this partnership opportunity arose, it really was an easy decision to make,” said Daly, whose 15 years’ experience in producing theatre in the U.S. and U.K. has included productions of Lucy Kirkwood’s Chimerica, Katori Hall...
The two-year deal with Passenger, which now sits within Fremantle’s Global Drama division, will see Daly and Brown collaborate on select existing Passenger and Caledonia film and television projects in addition to building a new slate of projects to co-produce. Fremantle will handle global distribution.
Both Passenger and Caledonia are based in New York and London.
“I have known and admired, Richard Brown and Fremantle’s Christian Vesper for many years, so when this partnership opportunity arose, it really was an easy decision to make,” said Daly, whose 15 years’ experience in producing theatre in the U.S. and U.K. has included productions of Lucy Kirkwood’s Chimerica, Katori Hall...
- 6/26/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amelia Brown has been named chief executive officer of Fremantle’s business in the UK.
In her new role, Brown will oversee the strategic direction of UK corporate functions as well as the output of labels Thames, Talkback and Naked – the producers of programming including “Britain’s Got Talent,” “Too Hot To Handle,” “Never Mind the Buzzcocks,” “Qi,” “The Apprentice” and “The Rap Game UK.” Majority investment Label 1 will also report to Brown.
Brown, who has worked with Fremantle for twenty years, most recently served as managing director of the Thames label. She first joined the company in 2003 as a freelancer before being placed on a permanent basis in 2013. In 2017, Brown as appointed as a managing director.
Also Read:
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Filmmaker Edward Berger Sets First-Look Deal With Fremantle
During her tenure, Brown has been a key creative on almost every series of “Britain’s Got Talent” and...
In her new role, Brown will oversee the strategic direction of UK corporate functions as well as the output of labels Thames, Talkback and Naked – the producers of programming including “Britain’s Got Talent,” “Too Hot To Handle,” “Never Mind the Buzzcocks,” “Qi,” “The Apprentice” and “The Rap Game UK.” Majority investment Label 1 will also report to Brown.
Brown, who has worked with Fremantle for twenty years, most recently served as managing director of the Thames label. She first joined the company in 2003 as a freelancer before being placed on a permanent basis in 2013. In 2017, Brown as appointed as a managing director.
Also Read:
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Filmmaker Edward Berger Sets First-Look Deal With Fremantle
During her tenure, Brown has been a key creative on almost every series of “Britain’s Got Talent” and...
- 4/19/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Former Thames boss - who was slated to leave - will replace Simon Andreae.
Thames’ managing director Amelia Brown has paused plans to set up her own business after Fremantle named her Simon Andrae’s successor as chief executive of its UK business.
Following Andreae’s resignation last week, Brown steps up after six years in her Thames role to take on the role with immediate effect.
Prior to accepting the role, she had been slated to leave the company in July to set up her own indie. She will now stay to oversee the strategic direction of Fremantle UK...
Thames’ managing director Amelia Brown has paused plans to set up her own business after Fremantle named her Simon Andrae’s successor as chief executive of its UK business.
Following Andreae’s resignation last week, Brown steps up after six years in her Thames role to take on the role with immediate effect.
Prior to accepting the role, she had been slated to leave the company in July to set up her own indie. She will now stay to oversee the strategic direction of Fremantle UK...
- 4/19/2023
- by Ellie Kahn Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Veteran Fremantle executive Amelia Brown has been appointed the new CEO of Fremantle U.K., replacing Simon Andreae who abruptly stepped down from the role earlier this month citing health reasons.
Brown, who has been with Fremantle for 20 years, is the former managing director of its U.K. label Thames and has been a key creative on trademark Fremantle hit shows as “Britain’s Got Talent” and “The X Factor.”
Fremantle in a statement noted that Brown has been instrumental in strengthening Thames’ slate of programming and expanding the scripted production outfit into the world of reality television with shows like “Too Hot To Handle” for Netflix and upcoming entertainment show “Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream” for ITV. Her successor as MD of Thames will be announced soon.
In her new role Brown will join Fremantle Global Leadership team and directly manage the output of Fremantle’s British labels Thames,...
Brown, who has been with Fremantle for 20 years, is the former managing director of its U.K. label Thames and has been a key creative on trademark Fremantle hit shows as “Britain’s Got Talent” and “The X Factor.”
Fremantle in a statement noted that Brown has been instrumental in strengthening Thames’ slate of programming and expanding the scripted production outfit into the world of reality television with shows like “Too Hot To Handle” for Netflix and upcoming entertainment show “Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream” for ITV. Her successor as MD of Thames will be announced soon.
In her new role Brown will join Fremantle Global Leadership team and directly manage the output of Fremantle’s British labels Thames,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Long-time Fremantle executive Amelia Brown has been named the new CEO of Fremantle UK, where she will oversee the strategic direction of the group’s U.K. corporate functions as well as the output of Fremantle Brit labels Thames, Talkback, Naked.
Label 1, producers of Hospital, World’s Collide: The Manchester Bombing, which is majority-owned by Fremantle, will also report to Brown.
Brown has been with the production giant for twenty years, most recently in the position of managing director of UK label Thames. She’s been a key creative force on many of the group’s biggest hits, including Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor and was instrumental in strengthening Thames’ slate of programming and expanding the scripted production outfit into the world of reality television with shows like Too Hot To Handle for Netflix and the upcoming entertainment show Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream for ITV. Her...
Label 1, producers of Hospital, World’s Collide: The Manchester Bombing, which is majority-owned by Fremantle, will also report to Brown.
Brown has been with the production giant for twenty years, most recently in the position of managing director of UK label Thames. She’s been a key creative force on many of the group’s biggest hits, including Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor and was instrumental in strengthening Thames’ slate of programming and expanding the scripted production outfit into the world of reality television with shows like Too Hot To Handle for Netflix and the upcoming entertainment show Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream for ITV. Her...
- 4/19/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fremantle UK has named departing Thames boss Amelia Brown as its new CEO just days after Simon Andreae stepped down following misconduct complaints.
Brown was due to leave the Fremantle-owned Got Talent producer over the summer but will instead immediately take the reins from Andreae, who resigned earlier this week. Andreae stepped down citing health reasons before Deadline subsequently revealed he had faced misconduct complaints prior to resigning. The prominent British television executive had faced two recent investigations into alleged comments he made to female colleagues and Fremantle hired an external lawyer to examine accusations about his conduct in February.
Brown will oversee Fremantle labels Thames, Talkback and Naked, which make the likes of Got Talent, Too Hot to Handle and The Apprentice. Majority investment indie Label1, which makes Hospital, will also report to Brown. Wreck producer Euston Films will report to Christian Vesper, CEO of Global Drama. Recent...
Brown was due to leave the Fremantle-owned Got Talent producer over the summer but will instead immediately take the reins from Andreae, who resigned earlier this week. Andreae stepped down citing health reasons before Deadline subsequently revealed he had faced misconduct complaints prior to resigning. The prominent British television executive had faced two recent investigations into alleged comments he made to female colleagues and Fremantle hired an external lawyer to examine accusations about his conduct in February.
Brown will oversee Fremantle labels Thames, Talkback and Naked, which make the likes of Got Talent, Too Hot to Handle and The Apprentice. Majority investment indie Label1, which makes Hospital, will also report to Brown. Wreck producer Euston Films will report to Christian Vesper, CEO of Global Drama. Recent...
- 4/19/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
’The Prisoner in His Palace’ is based on accounts of the US soldiers who guarded Iraqi ruler before his execution.
Chernobyl director Johan Renck is planning a feature film about the last days of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Renck and producer Michael Parets’ Fremantle-backed production outfit Sinestra is adapting Will Bardenwerper’s book, The Prisoner in His Palace, an account of the 12 US soldiers who guarded Saddam Hussein in the months before his execution.
The Prisoner in His Palace will be produced by Parets and Renck for Sinestra in partnership with Fremantle and is being developed for Renck to direct.
Chernobyl director Johan Renck is planning a feature film about the last days of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Renck and producer Michael Parets’ Fremantle-backed production outfit Sinestra is adapting Will Bardenwerper’s book, The Prisoner in His Palace, an account of the 12 US soldiers who guarded Saddam Hussein in the months before his execution.
The Prisoner in His Palace will be produced by Parets and Renck for Sinestra in partnership with Fremantle and is being developed for Renck to direct.
- 3/31/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Fremantle and Sinestra, the production outfit from director Johan Renck and producer Michael Parets, are in development on feature film “The Prisoner in His Palace.”
The film will be based on Will Bardenwerper’s bestselling book “The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid” that tells the story of 12 U.S. soldiers who guarded Saddam Hussein in the months leading up to his execution. It explores the two distinct sides of Saddam Hussein: the cruel tyrant who uses torture and murder as tools and the contemplative prisoner who exhibits surprising affection, dignity, and courage in the face of death. The book delves into the guards’ experiences and shows how Saddam’s presence affected them on a personal level.
Renck, the Emmy-winning director of “Chernobyl,” will helm the project while Parets produces. Author Will Bardenwerper, a former Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer, will serve as executive producer.
The film will be based on Will Bardenwerper’s bestselling book “The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid” that tells the story of 12 U.S. soldiers who guarded Saddam Hussein in the months leading up to his execution. It explores the two distinct sides of Saddam Hussein: the cruel tyrant who uses torture and murder as tools and the contemplative prisoner who exhibits surprising affection, dignity, and courage in the face of death. The book delves into the guards’ experiences and shows how Saddam’s presence affected them on a personal level.
Renck, the Emmy-winning director of “Chernobyl,” will helm the project while Parets produces. Author Will Bardenwerper, a former Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer, will serve as executive producer.
- 3/31/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
From nuclear fallout to the fall of a dictator.
Johan Renck, the Swedish director who won an Emmy for his work on hit miniseries Chernobyl, is to turn his attention to the final days of Saddam Hussein for the feature film The Prisoner in His Palace. Based on Will Bardenwerper’s best-selling book, The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid, the story is an account of the 12 U.S. soldiers who guarded the ousted former Iraqi leader in the months before his execution.
The feature is one of a number of projects under a new partnership between Fremantle and Sinestra, the production banner launched by Renck and producer Michael Parets (Spaceman).
The Prisoner in His Palace will be produced by Parets and Renck for Sinestra in partnership with Fremantle and is being developed for Renck to direct. Bardenwerper, a former Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer,...
Johan Renck, the Swedish director who won an Emmy for his work on hit miniseries Chernobyl, is to turn his attention to the final days of Saddam Hussein for the feature film The Prisoner in His Palace. Based on Will Bardenwerper’s best-selling book, The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid, the story is an account of the 12 U.S. soldiers who guarded the ousted former Iraqi leader in the months before his execution.
The feature is one of a number of projects under a new partnership between Fremantle and Sinestra, the production banner launched by Renck and producer Michael Parets (Spaceman).
The Prisoner in His Palace will be produced by Parets and Renck for Sinestra in partnership with Fremantle and is being developed for Renck to direct. Bardenwerper, a former Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
U.S.-Lebanese actor Tony Shalhoub, who played the “defective detective” on “Monk,” is set to star as former auto mogul-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn in a high-profile TV series directed by Michael Winterbottom.
Ghosn is the French-Lebanese-Brazilian former CEO of automakers Nissan and Renault who in 2020 jumped bail and absconded to Beirut hidden in a music case on a private jet while on trial in Japan for alleged financial misconduct. Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan.
The six-part series titled “Fall of the God of Cars” is written by Winterbottom, the prolific British director of “Welcome to Sarajevo,” whose TV work comprises hit sitcom series “The Trip” and, more recently, “This is England” starring Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson.
The Winterbottom Ghosn show is being produced by Fremantle, Revolution Films, Passenger and Anonymous Content.
The project was originally developed by Winterbottom and Alfonso Cuaron for Anonymous Content, the...
Ghosn is the French-Lebanese-Brazilian former CEO of automakers Nissan and Renault who in 2020 jumped bail and absconded to Beirut hidden in a music case on a private jet while on trial in Japan for alleged financial misconduct. Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan.
The six-part series titled “Fall of the God of Cars” is written by Winterbottom, the prolific British director of “Welcome to Sarajevo,” whose TV work comprises hit sitcom series “The Trip” and, more recently, “This is England” starring Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson.
The Winterbottom Ghosn show is being produced by Fremantle, Revolution Films, Passenger and Anonymous Content.
The project was originally developed by Winterbottom and Alfonso Cuaron for Anonymous Content, the...
- 3/24/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Director’s Revolution Films has partnered with Fremantle, Passenger and Anonymous Content on six-parter
Director Michael Winterbottom is making a six-part drama, Fall Of The God Of Cars, about former Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Winterbottom’s Revolution Films is collaborating with Fremantle, Passenger and Anonymous Content on the series, which tells the story of the Brazilian-Lebanese businessman who was arrested in Japan and one year later orchestrated his own escape to Beirut, hidden in a music case on a private jet.
The series is written and directed by Winterbottom. Tony Shalhoub stars as Ghosn.
The series was originally developed by Winterbottom,...
Director Michael Winterbottom is making a six-part drama, Fall Of The God Of Cars, about former Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Winterbottom’s Revolution Films is collaborating with Fremantle, Passenger and Anonymous Content on the series, which tells the story of the Brazilian-Lebanese businessman who was arrested in Japan and one year later orchestrated his own escape to Beirut, hidden in a music case on a private jet.
The series is written and directed by Winterbottom. Tony Shalhoub stars as Ghosn.
The series was originally developed by Winterbottom,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
A dramatization of the life of Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan/Renault CEO who escaped from arrest hidden in a music case, is in the works from Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón and This England’s Michael Winterbottom.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Monk star Tony Shalhoub is set to play Ghosn in the six-part TV series Fall of the God of Cars, which comes from Fremantle, Anonymous Content, Richard Brown’s Passenger and Winterbottom’s Revolution Films.
Ghosn was the wealthy Brazilian-Lebanese CEO of Nissan and Renault whose world came tumbling down when he was arrested in Japan in 2018 on allegations of under-reporting his salary and gross misuse of company assets. One year later, he orchestrated an escape to Beirut, hidden in a music case on a private jet, and, with multiple warrants out for his arrest, he has remained there ever since.
The big-budget series was originally developed by Winterbottom,...
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Monk star Tony Shalhoub is set to play Ghosn in the six-part TV series Fall of the God of Cars, which comes from Fremantle, Anonymous Content, Richard Brown’s Passenger and Winterbottom’s Revolution Films.
Ghosn was the wealthy Brazilian-Lebanese CEO of Nissan and Renault whose world came tumbling down when he was arrested in Japan in 2018 on allegations of under-reporting his salary and gross misuse of company assets. One year later, he orchestrated an escape to Beirut, hidden in a music case on a private jet, and, with multiple warrants out for his arrest, he has remained there ever since.
The big-budget series was originally developed by Winterbottom,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Carlos Ghosn, the disgraced Nissan exec whose dramatic fall from grace as one of the biggest names in the motoring industry has already led to several documentaries, is getting the scripted treatment.
Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub (Monk, The Marvelous Miss Maisel) will play the Brazilian-Lebanese exec in the newly-announced six-part drama Fall of the God of Cars, written and directed by prolific Brit filmmaker Michael Winterbottom (Welcome to Sarajevo, The Trip, 24 Hour Party People). The series comes from Fremantle, Winterbottom’s Revolution films (This England, A Mighty Heart), Passenger (True Detective, Outlaw King, Catch-22) and Anonymous Content (The Revenant, Mr Robot, Maniac). It was originally developed by Winterbottom, Alfonso Cuaron and Anonymous Content.
Ghosn, a major business figure who for several years headed up both Renault and Nissan and helped save Nissan from near-bankruptcy in 1999, was arrested in Japan in December 2018 over allegations of under-reporting his salary and gross misuse of company assets,...
Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub (Monk, The Marvelous Miss Maisel) will play the Brazilian-Lebanese exec in the newly-announced six-part drama Fall of the God of Cars, written and directed by prolific Brit filmmaker Michael Winterbottom (Welcome to Sarajevo, The Trip, 24 Hour Party People). The series comes from Fremantle, Winterbottom’s Revolution films (This England, A Mighty Heart), Passenger (True Detective, Outlaw King, Catch-22) and Anonymous Content (The Revenant, Mr Robot, Maniac). It was originally developed by Winterbottom, Alfonso Cuaron and Anonymous Content.
Ghosn, a major business figure who for several years headed up both Renault and Nissan and helped save Nissan from near-bankruptcy in 1999, was arrested in Japan in December 2018 over allegations of under-reporting his salary and gross misuse of company assets,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Label launched at Cph:dox in Copenhagen.
UK-based production and distribution house Fremantle has launched Undeniable, a new label for feature and series documentaries.
Sitting within Fremantle’s Documentaries division, Undeniable will develop and produce ‘premium’ projects according to the company. It will make high end international projects that come to Fremantle directly without going through their local territories.
Fremantle’s first-look deal with US filmmaker Amy Berg, announced last week, will fall under the Undeniable banner; Berg is currently in Copenhagen shooting for a film under the partnership.
The brand was announced at Cph:dox today (March 21) in Copenhagen by Mandy Chang,...
UK-based production and distribution house Fremantle has launched Undeniable, a new label for feature and series documentaries.
Sitting within Fremantle’s Documentaries division, Undeniable will develop and produce ‘premium’ projects according to the company. It will make high end international projects that come to Fremantle directly without going through their local territories.
Fremantle’s first-look deal with US filmmaker Amy Berg, announced last week, will fall under the Undeniable banner; Berg is currently in Copenhagen shooting for a film under the partnership.
The brand was announced at Cph:dox today (March 21) in Copenhagen by Mandy Chang,...
- 3/21/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The film is one of three Islas titles Grandave will sell at EFM.
Grandave International has secured worldwide sales rights to Gringo Hunter, the new film from director Ruben Islas.
It will launch sales on the film at next week’s European Film Market, where it is also selling two other films by Islas: Final Vow and The Last Call. All three films are in post-production.
Directed and produced by Islas and written by Pedro Fernandez, Gringo Hunter tells the story of an American military man who heads to Mexico in search of revenge, after his police officer brother is...
Grandave International has secured worldwide sales rights to Gringo Hunter, the new film from director Ruben Islas.
It will launch sales on the film at next week’s European Film Market, where it is also selling two other films by Islas: Final Vow and The Last Call. All three films are in post-production.
Directed and produced by Islas and written by Pedro Fernandez, Gringo Hunter tells the story of an American military man who heads to Mexico in search of revenge, after his police officer brother is...
- 2/10/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Separate events will take place on the red carpet at the Berlinale Palast.
The Berlin Film Festival will hold separate demonstrations on the Berlinale Palast red carpet in solidarity with the people of Iran and Ukraine, during this month’s festival.
On Saturday, February 18 at 14.55 Cet, a demonstration of solidarity with Iran will take place at the Palast, after a panel earlier in the day on ‘The Role of Cinema and the Arts in the Iranian Revolution’ at the Hebbel am Ufer venue.
The demonstration will be attended by “various film teams, jury members and further filmmakers” according to the Berlinale.
The Berlin Film Festival will hold separate demonstrations on the Berlinale Palast red carpet in solidarity with the people of Iran and Ukraine, during this month’s festival.
On Saturday, February 18 at 14.55 Cet, a demonstration of solidarity with Iran will take place at the Palast, after a panel earlier in the day on ‘The Role of Cinema and the Arts in the Iranian Revolution’ at the Hebbel am Ufer venue.
The demonstration will be attended by “various film teams, jury members and further filmmakers” according to the Berlinale.
- 2/10/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Fresh off a whopping nine Oscar nominations for his Netflix adaptation of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” filmmaker Edward Berger is setting up shop at Fremantle. The company announced on Friday that it has secured a two-year, first-look deal with Nine Hours, the new production label created by Berger and his partner Luke Rivett.
Under the two-year deal, Fremantle will become the primary home for all of Nine Hours’ television projects and will give the global producer and distributor second look access to Berger’s new film pipeline. The new production company was launched by Berger and partner Luke Rivett (“Berlin Station”) with producer Jeanne Tremsal.
“Great drama comes from filmmakers who have an undeniable urge to tell their story,” Berger said in a statement. “We intend to find and nourish these filmmakers in their endeavors to bring their grounded, intelligent and cinematic vision to the screen. We couldn...
Under the two-year deal, Fremantle will become the primary home for all of Nine Hours’ television projects and will give the global producer and distributor second look access to Berger’s new film pipeline. The new production company was launched by Berger and partner Luke Rivett (“Berlin Station”) with producer Jeanne Tremsal.
“Great drama comes from filmmakers who have an undeniable urge to tell their story,” Berger said in a statement. “We intend to find and nourish these filmmakers in their endeavors to bring their grounded, intelligent and cinematic vision to the screen. We couldn...
- 2/3/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Fremantle has struck a two-year, first-look deal with Nine Hours, the new production label set up by Edward Berger, director of the Oscar-nominated “All Quiet on the Western Front,” and his partner Luke Rivett.
Netflix drama “All Quiet on the Western Front” recently scored nine Oscar nominations, including best picture, and a record 14 BAFTA nominations. Berger’s other directing credits include “Patrick Melrose,” “Your Honor,” “ The Terror” and Fremantle’s “Deutschland 83.”
The two-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all of Nine Hours’ television projects. It will also give the super-indie second look access to Berger’s new film pipeline. The new production company was launched by Berger and Rivett with producer Jeanne Tremsal.
The deal with Berger was spearheaded by Fremantle’s Christian Vesper, who was recently promoted to CEO of global drama, and Seb Shorr, executive VP of commercial and business affairs. Lorenzo De Maio assisted on the deal.
Netflix drama “All Quiet on the Western Front” recently scored nine Oscar nominations, including best picture, and a record 14 BAFTA nominations. Berger’s other directing credits include “Patrick Melrose,” “Your Honor,” “ The Terror” and Fremantle’s “Deutschland 83.”
The two-year deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for all of Nine Hours’ television projects. It will also give the super-indie second look access to Berger’s new film pipeline. The new production company was launched by Berger and Rivett with producer Jeanne Tremsal.
The deal with Berger was spearheaded by Fremantle’s Christian Vesper, who was recently promoted to CEO of global drama, and Seb Shorr, executive VP of commercial and business affairs. Lorenzo De Maio assisted on the deal.
- 2/3/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
All Quiet on the Western Front director Edward Berger has launched a new production label, Nine Hours, and signed a two-year first-look deal with production giant Fremantle.
Berger, riding high on the success of All Quiet, which picked up 9 Oscar nominations, including for best picture, launched the new company together with producing partners Luke Rivett (Corner Office, Berlin Station) and Jeanne Tremsal (So Long Daddy, See you in Hell).
Fremantle’s deal will give the company the first crack at Nine Hours’ television projects and second-look access to Berger’s new film pipeline.
All Quiet on the Western Front, made for Netflix, has been a breakout success this awards season. In addition to its 9 Oscar nominations, the German film is the front-runner for this year’s BAFTA awards, with an astounding 14 nominations. The first-ever German adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic anti-war novel, the film stars Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch and Daniel Brühl.
Berger, riding high on the success of All Quiet, which picked up 9 Oscar nominations, including for best picture, launched the new company together with producing partners Luke Rivett (Corner Office, Berlin Station) and Jeanne Tremsal (So Long Daddy, See you in Hell).
Fremantle’s deal will give the company the first crack at Nine Hours’ television projects and second-look access to Berger’s new film pipeline.
All Quiet on the Western Front, made for Netflix, has been a breakout success this awards season. In addition to its 9 Oscar nominations, the German film is the front-runner for this year’s BAFTA awards, with an astounding 14 nominations. The first-ever German adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic anti-war novel, the film stars Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch and Daniel Brühl.
- 2/3/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Berger has just launched new label with partner Luke Rivett.
Fremantle has agreed a two-year, first-look deal with Nine Hours, the new production label set up by All Quiet On The Western Front director Edward Berger and partner Luke Rivett.
German director Berger recently secured nine Oscar nominations and 14 Bafta nominations for All Quiet On The Western Front. He is also the director of BAFTA winner Patrick Melrose as well as Your Honor, The Terror and Fremantle’s Deutschland 83.
The two-year deal sees Fremantle become the primary home for all of Nine Hours’ television projects. The global producer and...
Fremantle has agreed a two-year, first-look deal with Nine Hours, the new production label set up by All Quiet On The Western Front director Edward Berger and partner Luke Rivett.
German director Berger recently secured nine Oscar nominations and 14 Bafta nominations for All Quiet On The Western Front. He is also the director of BAFTA winner Patrick Melrose as well as Your Honor, The Terror and Fremantle’s Deutschland 83.
The two-year deal sees Fremantle become the primary home for all of Nine Hours’ television projects. The global producer and...
- 2/3/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
‘All Quiet On The Western Front’s Edward Berger Launches Production Outfit & Partners With Fremantle
Oscar-nominated All Quiet on the Western Front director Edward Berger has launched a production outfit and struck a first-look deal with Fremantle.
Berger has forged Nine Hours with partner Luke Rivett (The Tomorrow Man) and producer Jeanne Tremsal and the indie will make global TV and film projects.
Fremantle will house Nine Hours’ TV projects for the next two years as well as being given second-look access to Berger’s new film pipeline.
Berger is fresh off the back of nine Oscar nominations for critically-acclaimed Netflix adaptation All Quiet on the Western Front , which has also secured a record 14 BAFTA noms. Other high-profile credits include Patrick Melrose, Your Honor, The Terror and Deutschland 83, the latter of which he made with Fremantle.
“Great drama comes from filmmakers who have an undeniable urge to tell their story,” said Berger. “We intend to find and...
Berger has forged Nine Hours with partner Luke Rivett (The Tomorrow Man) and producer Jeanne Tremsal and the indie will make global TV and film projects.
Fremantle will house Nine Hours’ TV projects for the next two years as well as being given second-look access to Berger’s new film pipeline.
Berger is fresh off the back of nine Oscar nominations for critically-acclaimed Netflix adaptation All Quiet on the Western Front , which has also secured a record 14 BAFTA noms. Other high-profile credits include Patrick Melrose, Your Honor, The Terror and Deutschland 83, the latter of which he made with Fremantle.
“Great drama comes from filmmakers who have an undeniable urge to tell their story,” said Berger. “We intend to find and...
- 2/3/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
ProducerLAND, a curated training and networking program for producers from South Asia, is bowing Ascent – a project accelerator designed to help experienced producers by providing them with global expertise and support to maximize their project’s potential.
Ascent is an immersive three-module program where six selected producers will develop their projects for international markets and audiences. The modules will focus on creative producing, audiences, funding, coproductions, positioning, markets and impact producing.
The first module is a residency in Goa, India from Jan. 29 – Feb. 5 where participants will interact with mentors and industry experts that have been brought on board to suit their specific projects, and develop them to be mounted as international projects.
The program’s lead mentor and curator is France’s Tanja Meissner, who was previously VP International Sales at Celluloid, and head of international sales at Memento.
Mentors also include Ajay Rai, U.K.-based producer and faculty...
Ascent is an immersive three-module program where six selected producers will develop their projects for international markets and audiences. The modules will focus on creative producing, audiences, funding, coproductions, positioning, markets and impact producing.
The first module is a residency in Goa, India from Jan. 29 – Feb. 5 where participants will interact with mentors and industry experts that have been brought on board to suit their specific projects, and develop them to be mounted as international projects.
The program’s lead mentor and curator is France’s Tanja Meissner, who was previously VP International Sales at Celluloid, and head of international sales at Memento.
Mentors also include Ajay Rai, U.K.-based producer and faculty...
- 1/23/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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