David Cronenberg has opened up on putting his film The Shrouds to Netflix executives as a television series, who greenlit writing a first episode before rejecting the director’s project.
The sci-fi drama, which aired in Cannes to a three-and-a-half minute applause before Cronenberg spoke to the audience, follows Karsh (Vincent Cassel), a prominent businessman and widower who, inconsolable since the death of his wife (Diane Kruger) invents a revolutionary and controversial technology that enables the living to monitor the decomposition of deceased loved ones in their graves.
Cronenberg spoke at Cannes’ press conference for the film on Tuesday, explaining how he envisioned the story working well as a series. He flew to Los Angeles to speak with two Netflix execs who financed the writing of a first episode – which they loved. But after the second, they did not want to go any further.
“They said – and this is a...
The sci-fi drama, which aired in Cannes to a three-and-a-half minute applause before Cronenberg spoke to the audience, follows Karsh (Vincent Cassel), a prominent businessman and widower who, inconsolable since the death of his wife (Diane Kruger) invents a revolutionary and controversial technology that enables the living to monitor the decomposition of deceased loved ones in their graves.
Cronenberg spoke at Cannes’ press conference for the film on Tuesday, explaining how he envisioned the story working well as a series. He flew to Los Angeles to speak with two Netflix execs who financed the writing of a first episode – which they loved. But after the second, they did not want to go any further.
“They said – and this is a...
- 5/21/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Emilia Pérez” has some competition on its heels in the Cannes competition: Coralie Fargeat’s body horror feminist industry satire “The Substance” premiered at the Palais last night to ecstatic raves and applause. While I’m not sure another genre film of this one’s gross-out, dare-you-to-lose-your-dinner extremeness can take the Palme d’Or so soon after big winner “Titane” surely paved the way three years ago for “The Substance” to be in the competition at all, this return to form for lead Demi Moore would be a bold choice from the jury.
I’d more expect to see Fargeat in contention for Best Director, as jury president Greta Gerwig might want to support a female filmmaker in a competition lacking in them. There are just four among the 22 films competing for the Palme, and at least one, “Wild Diamond,” feels like Thierry Frémaux’s effort to round that total of women directors up,...
I’d more expect to see Fargeat in contention for Best Director, as jury president Greta Gerwig might want to support a female filmmaker in a competition lacking in them. There are just four among the 22 films competing for the Palme, and at least one, “Wild Diamond,” feels like Thierry Frémaux’s effort to round that total of women directors up,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
As the 77th Cannes Film Festival (May 14-25) arrives at its halfway point, here is THR executive editor of awards Scott Feinberg’s assessment of the awards prospects — at the Cannes closing ceremony and later in the fall — of the films that have screened at the fest so far.
The Two That Popped
One cannot know what the specific preferences and priorities of the Greta Gerwig-led main competition jury are, but one can categorically state that two competition films — both of which are so original and out-there that they have to be seen to be believed — have been particularly well received. Both garnered nine-minute standing ovations and rave reviews, including particular praise for their leading lady.
The first is The Substance, a body-horror flick from French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat that might be described as Sunset Blvd. meets Freaks, and an instant classic. Demi Moore, in a gutsy career-best turn...
The Two That Popped
One cannot know what the specific preferences and priorities of the Greta Gerwig-led main competition jury are, but one can categorically state that two competition films — both of which are so original and out-there that they have to be seen to be believed — have been particularly well received. Both garnered nine-minute standing ovations and rave reviews, including particular praise for their leading lady.
The first is The Substance, a body-horror flick from French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat that might be described as Sunset Blvd. meets Freaks, and an instant classic. Demi Moore, in a gutsy career-best turn...
- 5/20/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Substance, a gruesome body-horror flick, had its world premiere Sunday night in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and was greeted with a nine-minute standing ovation from the crowd at the Grand Lumiere Theatre.
The sophomore directorial effort and English-language debut of the French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat — she also wrote, produced and edited the film — stars Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid and Margaret Qualley (Qualley also appears in another competition title at this year’s fest, Kinds of Kindness), all of whom were on hand for the screening.
A gory fantasia that is a twisted cross between the classic films Sunset Boulevard and Freaks, it is one of the most out-there Cannes competition films since Titane — and, with the right mix of jurors, could follow that film to a major festival award, if not for the film, then perhaps for Moore.
Produced by Working Title’s art house mavens Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner,...
The sophomore directorial effort and English-language debut of the French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat — she also wrote, produced and edited the film — stars Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid and Margaret Qualley (Qualley also appears in another competition title at this year’s fest, Kinds of Kindness), all of whom were on hand for the screening.
A gory fantasia that is a twisted cross between the classic films Sunset Boulevard and Freaks, it is one of the most out-there Cannes competition films since Titane — and, with the right mix of jurors, could follow that film to a major festival award, if not for the film, then perhaps for Moore.
Produced by Working Title’s art house mavens Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cannes film festival
Moore plays a fading Hollywood star whose career is set to be axed by misogynists when she’s offered a secret new medical procedure
Coralie Fargeat, known for the violent thriller Revenge from 2017, now cranks up the amplifier for some death metal … or nasty injury metal anyway. This is a cheerfully silly and outrageously indulgent piece of gonzo body-horror comedy, lacking in subtlety, body-positivity or positivity of any sort. Roger Corman would have loved it. It’s flawed and overlong but there’s a genius bit of casting in Demi Moore who is a very good sport about the whole thing. And as confrontational satire it strikes me as at least as good, or better, than two actual Palme d’Or winners: Julia Ducournau’s Titane and Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness.
The Substance is a grisly fantasy-parable of misogyny and body-objectification, which riffs on the...
Moore plays a fading Hollywood star whose career is set to be axed by misogynists when she’s offered a secret new medical procedure
Coralie Fargeat, known for the violent thriller Revenge from 2017, now cranks up the amplifier for some death metal … or nasty injury metal anyway. This is a cheerfully silly and outrageously indulgent piece of gonzo body-horror comedy, lacking in subtlety, body-positivity or positivity of any sort. Roger Corman would have loved it. It’s flawed and overlong but there’s a genius bit of casting in Demi Moore who is a very good sport about the whole thing. And as confrontational satire it strikes me as at least as good, or better, than two actual Palme d’Or winners: Julia Ducournau’s Titane and Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness.
The Substance is a grisly fantasy-parable of misogyny and body-objectification, which riffs on the...
- 5/19/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Certainly the grossest, most way-out-there, and dare-you-to-lose-your-dinner film to debut in the Cannes competition so far, Coralie Fargeat’s “Revenge” follow-up “The Substance” premiered in the Palais Sunday night after a morning press screening that saw plenty of expected walkouts. Surely the same volume of repulsed exiters carried over to the premiere public screening, where Greta Gerwig’s jury got their first glimpse of the otherwise since-secretive film whose synopses and press notes tell you little. Mubi has distribution rights, which the company purchased just before the festival started. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich calls it an “instant classic.”
In this audacious, two-plus-hour feminist body horror, Demi Moore bares all to play a once-decorated actress quote-unquote past her prime named Elisabeth Sparkle, now resigned to Jane Fonda-esque fitness videos. But her time is finally up. She’s fired for being too old, sent packing home back to her sparse LA apartment,...
In this audacious, two-plus-hour feminist body horror, Demi Moore bares all to play a once-decorated actress quote-unquote past her prime named Elisabeth Sparkle, now resigned to Jane Fonda-esque fitness videos. But her time is finally up. She’s fired for being too old, sent packing home back to her sparse LA apartment,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” is a body horror film with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. It smashes you over the head with its ideas and imagery, making even the fleeting moments of supposed beauty its characters are desperately chasing into something gloriously gruesome. It’s also great fun, pushing itself to greater heights and increasingly ludicrous lows at every turn as it riffs on the perils of youth and aging. It’s a lurid, loud and lewd film that comes at you.
The garishness of it all is Fargeat’s way of taking society’s often painfully narrow beauty standards and turning them all inside out. The filmmaker does so literally and figuratively, making it one of the most utterly ridiculous and unrestrained films to show at a festival this year. Few come even close.
While not as sensational as body horror films of festivals past, namely “Raw” and “Titane,...
The garishness of it all is Fargeat’s way of taking society’s often painfully narrow beauty standards and turning them all inside out. The filmmaker does so literally and figuratively, making it one of the most utterly ridiculous and unrestrained films to show at a festival this year. Few come even close.
While not as sensational as body horror films of festivals past, namely “Raw” and “Titane,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Chase Hutchinson
- The Wrap
Shocking and resonant, disarmingly grotesque and weirdly fun, “The Substance” is a feminist body-horror film that should be shown in movie theaters all over the land. By that, I don’t mean that it’s some elegant exercise in egghead darkness like the films of David Cronenberg, or a patchy postmodern punk curio like “Titane.” Coralie Fargeat, the writer-director of “The Substance,” has a voice that’s italicized, in-your-face, garishly accessible and thrillingly extreme. She draws on much of the hyperbolic flamboyance that’s come to define megaplex horror. But unlike 90 percent of those movies, “The Substance” is the work of a filmmaker with a vision. She’s got something primal to say to us.
“The Substance” tells the story of an aging Hollywood actress-turned-aerobics-workout-host, named Elisabeth Sparkle and played by Demi Moore, who gets fired from a TV network because she is now deemed too old. In a rage of desperation,...
“The Substance” tells the story of an aging Hollywood actress-turned-aerobics-workout-host, named Elisabeth Sparkle and played by Demi Moore, who gets fired from a TV network because she is now deemed too old. In a rage of desperation,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Neon has grabbed North American rights to The Seed of the Sacred Fig, the latest film from Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof.
The thriller is set to debut in competition in Cannes on May 24 and marks Rasoulof’s first return to Cannes after being barred from traveling to serve on last year’s Un Certain Regard jury by Iranian officials. The film stars Setareh Abdolmaleki, Zahra Rostami, Amineh Mazroei Arani, and Niousha AkhshiVardoogh. Neon has said it is planning a North American theatrical release in 2024.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig follows Iman, an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, who grapples with mistrust and paranoia as nationwide political protests intensify and his gun mysteriously disappears. Suspecting the involvement of his wife Najmeh and his daughters Rezvan and Sana, he imposes drastic measures at home, causing tensions to rise. Step by step,...
The thriller is set to debut in competition in Cannes on May 24 and marks Rasoulof’s first return to Cannes after being barred from traveling to serve on last year’s Un Certain Regard jury by Iranian officials. The film stars Setareh Abdolmaleki, Zahra Rostami, Amineh Mazroei Arani, and Niousha AkhshiVardoogh. Neon has said it is planning a North American theatrical release in 2024.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig follows Iman, an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, who grapples with mistrust and paranoia as nationwide political protests intensify and his gun mysteriously disappears. Suspecting the involvement of his wife Najmeh and his daughters Rezvan and Sana, he imposes drastic measures at home, causing tensions to rise. Step by step,...
- 5/18/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon has secured North American rights from Films Boutique to Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed Of The Sacred Fig, ahead of its world premiere in Competition at Cannes on May 24.
Neon is planning a North American theatrical release in 2024.
The story centres on an investigating judge in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, who grapples mistrust and paranoia as nationwide political protests intensify, leading to suspicion of his own family. The cast includes Setareh Abdolmaleki, Zahra Rostami, Amineh Mazroei Arani and Niousha Akhshi Vardoogh.
Production companies are Germany’s Run Way Pictures and France’s Parallel45. Films Boutique is handling worldwide sales rights to the film,...
Neon is planning a North American theatrical release in 2024.
The story centres on an investigating judge in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, who grapples mistrust and paranoia as nationwide political protests intensify, leading to suspicion of his own family. The cast includes Setareh Abdolmaleki, Zahra Rostami, Amineh Mazroei Arani and Niousha Akhshi Vardoogh.
Production companies are Germany’s Run Way Pictures and France’s Parallel45. Films Boutique is handling worldwide sales rights to the film,...
- 5/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Warsaw-based sales agency New Europe Film Sales has teamed up with Spade, the production arm of the French genre label The Jokers, and leading German distribution company Plaion Pictures to create Cherry, a development fund for edgy films with crossover potential.
The partners declined to reveal any figures but emphasised Cherry was a development rather than production fund
The three companies previously worked together on Valdimar Jóhannsson’s folk horror hit Lamb, and will now tighten their collaboration and enter projects at an earlier stage.
Cherry will focus on finding edgy, auteur -driven projects with breakout possibilites. The fund will...
The partners declined to reveal any figures but emphasised Cherry was a development rather than production fund
The three companies previously worked together on Valdimar Jóhannsson’s folk horror hit Lamb, and will now tighten their collaboration and enter projects at an earlier stage.
Cherry will focus on finding edgy, auteur -driven projects with breakout possibilites. The fund will...
- 5/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Babes by Pamela Adlon, co-written and starring Ilana Glazer, debuts in limited release with films by Hang Song-soo and Bertrand Bonello and docs on a controversial Venice Biennale, ground-breaking female clerics, and the Blue Angels Navy Squadron. A trio of festival favorites expand. While eyes now are on fare at Cannes — where Neon has been making high-profile moves — each week Stateside remains a test of indie film’s theatrical boundaries in a post-Covid, streaming-centric marketplace.
There have been notable hits. A24’s I Saw The TV Glow by Jane Schoenbrun is having a nice run so far as is Evil Does Not Exist — Sideshow/Janus Films’ second outing with Ryusuke Hamaguchi after Oscar-winning Drive My Car. (That 2021 Japanese film about a...
There have been notable hits. A24’s I Saw The TV Glow by Jane Schoenbrun is having a nice run so far as is Evil Does Not Exist — Sideshow/Janus Films’ second outing with Ryusuke Hamaguchi after Oscar-winning Drive My Car. (That 2021 Japanese film about a...
- 5/17/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Léa Seydoux’s latest feature will be distributed by Neon.
Seydoux stars in “The Unknown (L’Inconnue),” which will be written and directed by Academy Award-winning “Anatomy of a Fall” screenwriter Arthur Harari. The plot details for the film are still under wraps, with production looking to be completed in early 2026.
Neon will release the film in U.S. and Canadian theaters. “The Unknown” will be produced by Bathysphere, with Pathé co-producing and selling the film internationally in Cannes.
“The Unknown” is the third feature both written and directed by Harari. He previously directed “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle,” which opened Un Certain Regard at Cannes and went on to win numerous awards including the Best Original Screenplay César. He also wrote the screenplay for “Sibyl,” which was directed by “Anatomy of a Fall’s” Justine Triet.
The deal for “The Unknown” was negotiated by Neon’s President of...
Seydoux stars in “The Unknown (L’Inconnue),” which will be written and directed by Academy Award-winning “Anatomy of a Fall” screenwriter Arthur Harari. The plot details for the film are still under wraps, with production looking to be completed in early 2026.
Neon will release the film in U.S. and Canadian theaters. “The Unknown” will be produced by Bathysphere, with Pathé co-producing and selling the film internationally in Cannes.
“The Unknown” is the third feature both written and directed by Harari. He previously directed “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle,” which opened Un Certain Regard at Cannes and went on to win numerous awards including the Best Original Screenplay César. He also wrote the screenplay for “Sibyl,” which was directed by “Anatomy of a Fall’s” Justine Triet.
The deal for “The Unknown” was negotiated by Neon’s President of...
- 5/17/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Neon has picked up North American rights to The Unknown, the next feature from Anatomy of a Fall writer Arthur Harari.
Léa Seydoux is set to star in the film, which Neon has said it will release in U.S. and Canadian theaters in 2026. Harari also serves as director on the pic, which will be produced by bathysphere, with Pathé co-producing and selling the film internationally in Cannes.
The Unknown is the third feature both written and directed by Harari. His previous feature as writer-director was 2021’s critically acclaimed Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle which opened Un Certain Regard at Cannes that year and went on to win the Best Original Screenplay César. He wrote the screenplay for Sibyl (2019), directed by Justine Triet, which was in the Official Competition at Cannes that year.
The deal was negotiated by Neon’s President of Acquisitions & Production Jeff Deutchman with producer Nicolas Anthomé...
Léa Seydoux is set to star in the film, which Neon has said it will release in U.S. and Canadian theaters in 2026. Harari also serves as director on the pic, which will be produced by bathysphere, with Pathé co-producing and selling the film internationally in Cannes.
The Unknown is the third feature both written and directed by Harari. His previous feature as writer-director was 2021’s critically acclaimed Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle which opened Un Certain Regard at Cannes that year and went on to win the Best Original Screenplay César. He wrote the screenplay for Sibyl (2019), directed by Justine Triet, which was in the Official Competition at Cannes that year.
The deal was negotiated by Neon’s President of Acquisitions & Production Jeff Deutchman with producer Nicolas Anthomé...
- 5/17/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The world premiere of Agathe Riedinger’s Wild Diamond in Cannes Competition is the only one by a first-time filmmaker and heralds Riedinger as part of a new wave of French female directors to arrive en force on the Croisette.
The film explores western society’s obsession with beauty and fame and the omnipresence of social media through the story of a 19 year-old girl who sets out to earn a spot on a reality TV show.
Also in Competitoin is France-born Coralie Fargeat’s second feature The Substance. The body horror is produced by the UK’s Working Title Films and stars Demi Moore,...
The film explores western society’s obsession with beauty and fame and the omnipresence of social media through the story of a 19 year-old girl who sets out to earn a spot on a reality TV show.
Also in Competitoin is France-born Coralie Fargeat’s second feature The Substance. The body horror is produced by the UK’s Working Title Films and stars Demi Moore,...
- 5/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
After she won the 2021 Palme d’Or for Titane, in a which a sociopathic stripper becomes a serial killer and has sex with muscle cars, Julia Ducournau was effusive in her gratitude to the Cannes Film Festival. “Thank you for calling for more diversity in our experiences of film and our lives,” she said. “Thank you for letting in the monsters.”
Titane was only her second movie; the first, Raw, made its humble debut in Critics’ Week, but it was recognizably the work of the same artist, being a tender coming of age story about a veterinary student who discovers that she comes from a long line of cannibals.
Although Cannes has a long way to go in terms of gender parity, the festival has been quick to tap into the new wave of female-directed horror that has sprung up in the wake of Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook 10 years ago.
Titane was only her second movie; the first, Raw, made its humble debut in Critics’ Week, but it was recognizably the work of the same artist, being a tender coming of age story about a veterinary student who discovers that she comes from a long line of cannibals.
Although Cannes has a long way to go in terms of gender parity, the festival has been quick to tap into the new wave of female-directed horror that has sprung up in the wake of Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook 10 years ago.
- 5/15/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon has promoted Elissa Federoff from president of distribution to chief distribution officer and Ryan Friscia from EVP, finance & business development to chief financial officer.
Federoff has been with the company since its inception in January 2017 and will continue to oversee the company’s release strategy.
The executive has steered Neon to one of its most successful periods at the box office since inception, with Sydney Sweeney starrer Immaculate earning more than $16m, 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall taking more than $5m to become the highest-grossing specialised foreign-language release post-Covid, and Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days on more than $3.7m.
Federoff has been with the company since its inception in January 2017 and will continue to oversee the company’s release strategy.
The executive has steered Neon to one of its most successful periods at the box office since inception, with Sydney Sweeney starrer Immaculate earning more than $16m, 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall taking more than $5m to become the highest-grossing specialised foreign-language release post-Covid, and Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days on more than $3.7m.
- 5/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
Neon has acquired the North American rights to award-winning filmmaker Julia Ducournau’s (Titane, Raw) genre-defying film Alpha.
Leading the cast are Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone, Paterson) and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian, A Prophet), with principal photography on the film commencing next fall.
Producers are Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film and Eric & Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie, with Frakas Productions co-producing.
Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are handling sales in the rest of the world during the Cannes Film Festival and market.
The deal was negotiated by Neon’s president of acquisitions & production Jeff Deutchman with Charades’ Carole Baraton and FilmNation Entertainment’s CEO Glen Basner on behalf of the filmmakers.
The deal marks Neon’s second collaboration with Ducournau following Titane, which the studio picked up ahead of its premiere in Cannes in 2021 and went on to win the Palme d’Or.
Neon also...
Leading the cast are Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone, Paterson) and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian, A Prophet), with principal photography on the film commencing next fall.
Producers are Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film and Eric & Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie, with Frakas Productions co-producing.
Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are handling sales in the rest of the world during the Cannes Film Festival and market.
The deal was negotiated by Neon’s president of acquisitions & production Jeff Deutchman with Charades’ Carole Baraton and FilmNation Entertainment’s CEO Glen Basner on behalf of the filmmakers.
The deal marks Neon’s second collaboration with Ducournau following Titane, which the studio picked up ahead of its premiere in Cannes in 2021 and went on to win the Palme d’Or.
Neon also...
- 5/15/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Body horror fans, get ready for a new trip into shock cinema as Julia Ducournau, who directed the visceral horror films Raw and Titane, saddles up to release her third film, Alpha. Titane was a milestone for the filmmaker as she became the second woman director to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes. FilmNation and Charades presented Alpha to potential buyers at the Cannes market, and Deadline is reporting that the indie studio Neon would come out with distributing rights to the film. It was recently reported that Golshifteh Farahani of the Extraction films and Tahar Rahim of Madame Web have signed on to star in Alpha.
Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film will be on board as producers of Alpha. Joining them will be Eric & Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie and Frakas Productions will be co-producing. Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are also handling sales...
Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film will be on board as producers of Alpha. Joining them will be Eric & Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie and Frakas Productions will be co-producing. Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are also handling sales...
- 5/14/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
French filmmaker Julia Ducournau has established herself as a true genre visionary with her first two movies, first the cannibal film Raw (2016) and then the wild Titane in 2021.
Up next from Ducournau is a mysterious movie titled Alpha, and Variety reports this afternoon that Neon has picked up the North American rights to the upcoming movie.
Neon previously released Julia Ducournau’s Titane.
Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone) and Tahar Rahim (“The Serpent”) will star.
“Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did,” FilmNation Entertainment and Charades said in a statement. “We can’t wait to bring the film to market in Cannes and to launch sales together for the first time and collaborate in this way.”
“Alpha is a new page in Julia Ducournau’s corpus that is both...
Up next from Ducournau is a mysterious movie titled Alpha, and Variety reports this afternoon that Neon has picked up the North American rights to the upcoming movie.
Neon previously released Julia Ducournau’s Titane.
Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone) and Tahar Rahim (“The Serpent”) will star.
“Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did,” FilmNation Entertainment and Charades said in a statement. “We can’t wait to bring the film to market in Cannes and to launch sales together for the first time and collaborate in this way.”
“Alpha is a new page in Julia Ducournau’s corpus that is both...
- 5/14/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Thriving U.S. indie producer-distributor Neon is no stranger to the Cannes Film Festival with the Tom Quinn-founded banner having acquired a historic four consecutive Palme d’Or wins, thus earning them the nickname “the Palme d’Or whisperers”. This year, while the company has Sean Baker’s new rom-com Anora playing in Competition, it’s also descending upon the Croisette in a new capacity with its recently-launched international sales strand, led by seasoned sales exec and Sierra/Affinity veteran Kristen Figeroid.
International buyers will be hard pressed not to notice the new Neon banner right on the Croisette this year, as the company launches sales on Osgood Perkins’ next genre movie Keeper, starring Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland. Neon is already set to distribute the title in the U.S. (Elevation...
International buyers will be hard pressed not to notice the new Neon banner right on the Croisette this year, as the company launches sales on Osgood Perkins’ next genre movie Keeper, starring Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland. Neon is already set to distribute the title in the U.S. (Elevation...
- 5/14/2024
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon has pre-bought North American rights from Charades and FilmNation to Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, reuniting with the 2021 Palme d’Or-winning director of Titane.
Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim will star in Alpha, which is scheduled to begin production in autumn. Ducournau is writing the screenplay and the plot remains under wraps.
Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film are producing with Eric and Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie, with Frakas Productions co-producing.
Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are collaborating for the first time and continue sales for the rest of the world in Cannes.
Ducournau’s previous films include Raw.
Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim will star in Alpha, which is scheduled to begin production in autumn. Ducournau is writing the screenplay and the plot remains under wraps.
Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film are producing with Eric and Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie, with Frakas Productions co-producing.
Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are collaborating for the first time and continue sales for the rest of the world in Cannes.
Ducournau’s previous films include Raw.
- 5/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Neon, the Oscar-winning distributor of “Parasite,” is getting back in business with “Titane” director Julia Ducournau.
In one of the first big rights deals of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the studio announced it has acquired North American territories for Ducournau’s “Alpha.” Plot details were not immediately disclosed, except that the film will be “genre-defying.” Neon previously released Ducournau’s acclaimed “Titane,” which won Cannes’ highest honor, the Palme d’Or, in 2021. She is only the second woman director to do so, following Jane Campion for “The Piano.”
“Alpha” will star Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim.
Producers are Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film, and Eric and Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie. Frakas Productions is co-producing. Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are handling global sales. The Neon deal was negotiated by its president of acquisitions and production Jeff Deutchman, with Charades’ Carole Baraton and FilmNation...
In one of the first big rights deals of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the studio announced it has acquired North American territories for Ducournau’s “Alpha.” Plot details were not immediately disclosed, except that the film will be “genre-defying.” Neon previously released Ducournau’s acclaimed “Titane,” which won Cannes’ highest honor, the Palme d’Or, in 2021. She is only the second woman director to do so, following Jane Campion for “The Piano.”
“Alpha” will star Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim.
Producers are Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film, and Eric and Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie. Frakas Productions is co-producing. Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are handling global sales. The Neon deal was negotiated by its president of acquisitions and production Jeff Deutchman, with Charades’ Carole Baraton and FilmNation...
- 5/14/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
After serving as the U.S. distributor for Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning 2021 body horror Titane, Neon is getting back into business with the filmmaker as the North American distributor for her next genre-bending feature, Alpha.
Golshifteh Farahani (Paterson) and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian) are set to star, with production on the film to kick off next fall. Details as to the plot of the film are under wraps.
Producers are Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film and Eric & Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie, with Frakas Productions co-producing. Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are handling sales in the rest of the world during the Cannes Film Festival.
Picking up Ducournau’s last feature ahead of its launch at Cannes, Neon most recently acquired worldwide rights to Longlegs helmer Osgood Perkins’ next film Keeper, starring Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland, and Steven Soderbergh’s Presence. In Cannes,...
Golshifteh Farahani (Paterson) and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian) are set to star, with production on the film to kick off next fall. Details as to the plot of the film are under wraps.
Producers are Jean des Forêts and Amelie Jacquis of Petit Film and Eric & Nicolas Altmayer of Mandarin & Compagnie, with Frakas Productions co-producing. Charades and FilmNation Entertainment are handling sales in the rest of the world during the Cannes Film Festival.
Picking up Ducournau’s last feature ahead of its launch at Cannes, Neon most recently acquired worldwide rights to Longlegs helmer Osgood Perkins’ next film Keeper, starring Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland, and Steven Soderbergh’s Presence. In Cannes,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Cannes isn’t Sundance. The movies on offer aren’t generally genre horror box office surprises or heartwarming indie dramedies, and sometimes they’re not even sure-fire Oscar hopefuls.
But as several sales agents and distributors told us, Cannes is slowly shifting back to being a home for discovery. With the audience now unbothered by subtitles, distributors aren’t just looking for the next “May December” but the next “Anatomy of a Fall.” And when it comes to the package titles on the Marché du Film, buyers are demanding more than the latest Nicolas Cage shark movie.
The sources IndieWire spoke to believe there’s more quality than quantity among this year’s official competition sales titles and the packages being shopped to distributors. And that’s a good thing, even though there are still plenty of hot packages trickling in by the day and buyers already scooping up competition...
But as several sales agents and distributors told us, Cannes is slowly shifting back to being a home for discovery. With the audience now unbothered by subtitles, distributors aren’t just looking for the next “May December” but the next “Anatomy of a Fall.” And when it comes to the package titles on the Marché du Film, buyers are demanding more than the latest Nicolas Cage shark movie.
The sources IndieWire spoke to believe there’s more quality than quantity among this year’s official competition sales titles and the packages being shopped to distributors. And that’s a good thing, even though there are still plenty of hot packages trickling in by the day and buyers already scooping up competition...
- 5/13/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The (Extra Hot) Cannes Hot List: Nic Cage, Kristen Stewart and Paul Rudd Films to Heat up the Market
The Cannes Film Festival is bracing for what could be its most disruptive edition in decades, with freelance festival employees threatening strike action that could derail the opening night ceremony, and the entire French industry on tenterhooks ahead of an expected new wave of #MeToo allegations against some of the country’s biggest stars, including a few with films in competition this year.
Well, at least the market looks promising. Judging by the number and quality of projects pitching at the 2024 Cannes film market (May 14-22), this could be a banner year for the Marché du Film.
“The pre-sales market is back in a big way,” notes Janina Vilsmaier, senior vp of sales and distribution at Protagonist Pictures, whose Cannes slate includes Simon Curtis’ best-agers comedy Encore starring Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons, Henry Winkler, and Don Johnson, and Jimpa, the upcoming feature from Good Luck to You, Leo Grande director...
Well, at least the market looks promising. Judging by the number and quality of projects pitching at the 2024 Cannes film market (May 14-22), this could be a banner year for the Marché du Film.
“The pre-sales market is back in a big way,” notes Janina Vilsmaier, senior vp of sales and distribution at Protagonist Pictures, whose Cannes slate includes Simon Curtis’ best-agers comedy Encore starring Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons, Henry Winkler, and Don Johnson, and Jimpa, the upcoming feature from Good Luck to You, Leo Grande director...
- 5/13/2024
- by Scott Roxborough and Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There’s a certain formula that often defines the recipients of the Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious top prize, the Palme d’Or. These films, especially in the last two decades, tend to have a sense of importance about them, frequently due to their sociopolitical awareness of the world (Laurent Cantet’s The Class), or of specific societal ills.
From time to time, the Palme d’Or goes to a bold, experimental, and divisive vision from a well-liked auteur, such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Terrence Malick’s The Three of Life. But more often it’s awarded to a film in the lineup that the majority of the members on the Cannes jury can agree is good. That felt like the case for Ken Loach’s The Wind that Shakes the Barley and I, Daniel Blake, as well as Julia Ducournau’s Titane,...
From time to time, the Palme d’Or goes to a bold, experimental, and divisive vision from a well-liked auteur, such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Terrence Malick’s The Three of Life. But more often it’s awarded to a film in the lineup that the majority of the members on the Cannes jury can agree is good. That felt like the case for Ken Loach’s The Wind that Shakes the Barley and I, Daniel Blake, as well as Julia Ducournau’s Titane,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Slant Staff
- Slant Magazine
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.Newsa Man of Integrity.Having banned producers of and actors in Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024) from leaving the country in an apparent attempt to pressure the director to pull the film from the Cannes Film Festival, Iranian authorities have now sentenced Rasoulof to eight years in prison, whipping, a fine, and confiscation of property, his lawyer announced today, adding that the courts consider the director’s films examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the nation’s security.A group of about 200 French festival workers called Sous les écrans la dèche (“Under the screens the waste”) announced Monday that it will move ahead with plans for a strike during Cannes,...
- 5/8/2024
- MUBI
A24 has acquired North American rights to Paolo Sorrentino’s Cannes Competition entry Parthenope.
Pathé handles international sales and will also distribute in France and Switzerland.
Inspired by the Greek myth of the siren who threw herself to her death in the sea after she failed to seduce Ulysses with her voice, Parthenope marks the Italian auteur’s seventh Competition selection after Youth most recently in 2015, and titles like eventual best foreign language Oscar winner The Great Beauty in 2013, and Il Divo in 2008.
The story centres on the titular character, born in the sea of Naples in 1950, who searches for...
Pathé handles international sales and will also distribute in France and Switzerland.
Inspired by the Greek myth of the siren who threw herself to her death in the sea after she failed to seduce Ulysses with her voice, Parthenope marks the Italian auteur’s seventh Competition selection after Youth most recently in 2015, and titles like eventual best foreign language Oscar winner The Great Beauty in 2013, and Il Divo in 2008.
The story centres on the titular character, born in the sea of Naples in 1950, who searches for...
- 5/3/2024
- ScreenDaily
Alpha: Golshifteh Farahani, Tahar Rahim to star in Raw, Titane director Julia Ducournau’s third film
Golshifteh Farahani of the Extraction films and Tahar Rahim of Madame Web have signed on to star in Alpha, the third film from Raw and Titane director Julia Ducournau, Variety reports. FilmNation and Charades will be presenting the project to potential buyers at the Cannes Film Festival – which is a good place for a Ducournau project to get rolling, since her film Titane won the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top award, a few years ago.
FilmNation Entertainment and Charades provided the following statement: “Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did. We can’t wait to bring the film to market in Cannes and to launch sales together for the first time and collaborate in this way.“
That’s all they would say about Alpha, as the plot...
FilmNation Entertainment and Charades provided the following statement: “Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did. We can’t wait to bring the film to market in Cannes and to launch sales together for the first time and collaborate in this way.“
That’s all they would say about Alpha, as the plot...
- 5/3/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
2021 Palme d’Or winner Julia Ducournau returns to the Cannes Film Festival this year, but not in competition. Instead, Variety reports that she’ll be on the Croisette shopping her next project, entitled “Alpha,” with FilmNation and Charades handling its sales.
Read More: Cannes Critic Weeks Announces 2024 Line-Up
There’s no plot details yet for “Alpha,” but the film stars Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim, two actors who, like Ducournau, are modern Cannes legends in their own right.
Continue reading ‘Alpha’: ‘Titane’ Director Julia Docournau’s Next Film To Hit Cannes Market, Stars Tahar Rahim & Golshifteh Farahani at The Playlist.
Read More: Cannes Critic Weeks Announces 2024 Line-Up
There’s no plot details yet for “Alpha,” but the film stars Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim, two actors who, like Ducournau, are modern Cannes legends in their own right.
Continue reading ‘Alpha’: ‘Titane’ Director Julia Docournau’s Next Film To Hit Cannes Market, Stars Tahar Rahim & Golshifteh Farahani at The Playlist.
- 5/3/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Charades and FilmNation will present Alpha, the latest film from Titane director Julia Ducournau, to buyers at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Tahar Rahim and Golshifteh Farahani lead the cast, with Ducournau also writing the script. The plot is still under wraps.
It is the first partnership for Paris-based Charades and New York-based FilmNation Entertainment.
Producers are Mandarin & compagnie (Eric Altmayer and Nicola Altmayer) and Petit Film (Jean des Forêts and Amélie Jacqu). Frakas Productions (Jean-Yves Roubin and Cassandre Warnauts) are co-producing.
Ducournau’s previous films include Raw and Palme d’Or winner Titane.
The producers said in...
Tahar Rahim and Golshifteh Farahani lead the cast, with Ducournau also writing the script. The plot is still under wraps.
It is the first partnership for Paris-based Charades and New York-based FilmNation Entertainment.
Producers are Mandarin & compagnie (Eric Altmayer and Nicola Altmayer) and Petit Film (Jean des Forêts and Amélie Jacqu). Frakas Productions (Jean-Yves Roubin and Cassandre Warnauts) are co-producing.
Ducournau’s previous films include Raw and Palme d’Or winner Titane.
The producers said in...
- 5/3/2024
- ScreenDaily
French filmmaker Julia Ducournau has established herself as a true genre visionary with her first two movies, first the cannibal film Raw (2016) and then the wild Titane in 2021.
Up next from Ducournau is a mysterious movie titled Alpha, and though we don’t have any plot details at this time, we’re at least *hoping* it’s something of a genre picture.
“FilmNation and Charades are presenting the project in Cannes,” Variety reports.
Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone) and Tahar Rahim (“The Serpent”) will star.
“Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did,” FilmNation Entertainment and Charades said in a statement. “We can’t wait to bring the film to market in Cannes and to launch sales together for the first time and collaborate in this way.”
“Alpha is a...
Up next from Ducournau is a mysterious movie titled Alpha, and though we don’t have any plot details at this time, we’re at least *hoping* it’s something of a genre picture.
“FilmNation and Charades are presenting the project in Cannes,” Variety reports.
Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone) and Tahar Rahim (“The Serpent”) will star.
“Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did,” FilmNation Entertainment and Charades said in a statement. “We can’t wait to bring the film to market in Cannes and to launch sales together for the first time and collaborate in this way.”
“Alpha is a...
- 5/3/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Alpha, the new, still-top-secret film from Titane director Julia Ducournau will be one of the hot projects being shopped to buyers at this year’s Cannes film market.
About Elly and Paterson actress Golshifteh Farahani and French star Tahar Rahim (A Prophet, The Mauritanian) are set to star in the feature, the plot details of which are still under wraps. Eric Altmayer and Nicolas Altmayer are producing for Mandarin & Compagnie, with Jean des Forêts and Amélie Jacquis for Petit Film, in co-production with Jean-Yves Roubin and Cassandre Warnauts of Frakas Productions. Delivery is planned for later this year.
Alpha will be Ducournau’s third feature after the one-two punch of her 2016 breakout debut Raw, which won the international film critics’ Fipresci Prize in its Cannes Critics’ Week debut; and Titane, the surprise Palme d’Or winner of 2021, which became France’s official Oscar contender that year.
Both combined elements...
About Elly and Paterson actress Golshifteh Farahani and French star Tahar Rahim (A Prophet, The Mauritanian) are set to star in the feature, the plot details of which are still under wraps. Eric Altmayer and Nicolas Altmayer are producing for Mandarin & Compagnie, with Jean des Forêts and Amélie Jacquis for Petit Film, in co-production with Jean-Yves Roubin and Cassandre Warnauts of Frakas Productions. Delivery is planned for later this year.
Alpha will be Ducournau’s third feature after the one-two punch of her 2016 breakout debut Raw, which won the international film critics’ Fipresci Prize in its Cannes Critics’ Week debut; and Titane, the surprise Palme d’Or winner of 2021, which became France’s official Oscar contender that year.
Both combined elements...
- 5/3/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Following Raw and Titane, Julia Ducournau has set her third feature with Alpha. Though no plot details have been unveiled this far, Golshifteh Farahani and Tahar Rahim (A Prophet) will lead the film, Deadline reports. “Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did,” said Filmnation and Charades, while the producers added, “Alpha is a new page in Julia Ducournau’s corpus that is both very consistent with the previous ones and entirely new in its tone.”
Following All of Us Strangers, Andrew Haigh is stepping up to a major studio project with a Leonardo da Vinci film set up at Universal Pictures. The film is based on Walter Isaacson‘s 2017 biography, which showed “how Leonardo’s genius was based on skills we can improve in ourselves, such as passionate curiosity,...
Following All of Us Strangers, Andrew Haigh is stepping up to a major studio project with a Leonardo da Vinci film set up at Universal Pictures. The film is based on Walter Isaacson‘s 2017 biography, which showed “how Leonardo’s genius was based on skills we can improve in ourselves, such as passionate curiosity,...
- 5/3/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
FilmNation and Charades are teaming up to present “Alpha,” the new film from Julia Ducournau, to buyers at Cannes.
It’s the same place where Ducournau caused a sensation with 2021’s “Titane,” her subversive and divisive body horror film, which won the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top award. Ducournau became the second female director to win the award, following Jane Campion (“The Piano”). “Anatomy of a Fall” director Justine Triet would become the third female winner in 2023. Ducournau’s other films include 2016’s “Raw,” a coming-of-age film about a young vegetarian who develops a taste for cannibalism.
“Alpha’s” cast includes Golshifteh Farahani, who appeared in “The Patience Stone” and “Paterson,” as well as César award-winning Tahar Rahim, best known for his work in “The Mauritanian,” “A Prophet” and “The Serpent.”
“‘Alpha’ is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global...
It’s the same place where Ducournau caused a sensation with 2021’s “Titane,” her subversive and divisive body horror film, which won the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top award. Ducournau became the second female director to win the award, following Jane Campion (“The Piano”). “Anatomy of a Fall” director Justine Triet would become the third female winner in 2023. Ducournau’s other films include 2016’s “Raw,” a coming-of-age film about a young vegetarian who develops a taste for cannibalism.
“Alpha’s” cast includes Golshifteh Farahani, who appeared in “The Patience Stone” and “Paterson,” as well as César award-winning Tahar Rahim, best known for his work in “The Mauritanian,” “A Prophet” and “The Serpent.”
“‘Alpha’ is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global...
- 5/3/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani and French actor Tahar Rahim are set to star in Julia Ducournau’s new film Alpha, her third feature after Cannes Palme d’Or winner Titane and breakout debut Raw.
Filmnation and Charades, which announced the project on Friday, are co-selling and will launch sales in Cannes.
The project is produced by Eric Altmayer and Nicolas Altmayer at Mandarin & compagnie, Jean des Forêts and Amélie Jacquis at Petit Film, in co-production with Jean-Yves Roubin and Cassandre Warnauts at Frakas Productions.
It has been five years since Ducournau became the then second woman to win the Cannes Palme d’Or, for Titane in 2021, and her third feature is highly anticipated.
She was tied up for much of 2021 and part of 2022 with the film’s festivals run. Since then, she directed two episodes of the Apple TV+ series The New Look, starring Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior...
Filmnation and Charades, which announced the project on Friday, are co-selling and will launch sales in Cannes.
The project is produced by Eric Altmayer and Nicolas Altmayer at Mandarin & compagnie, Jean des Forêts and Amélie Jacquis at Petit Film, in co-production with Jean-Yves Roubin and Cassandre Warnauts at Frakas Productions.
It has been five years since Ducournau became the then second woman to win the Cannes Palme d’Or, for Titane in 2021, and her third feature is highly anticipated.
She was tied up for much of 2021 and part of 2022 with the film’s festivals run. Since then, she directed two episodes of the Apple TV+ series The New Look, starring Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior...
- 5/3/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the year’s most anticipated films will be on sale for independent buyers at the upcoming Cannes market. We can bring you news that French sales company Goodfellas has boarded Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis ahead of the movie’s world premiere in Competition at the festival.
Also confirmed today is the film’s French deal with Le Pacte and the involvement of longtime Coppola collaborator Paul Rassam.
Speculation has been rife around rollout plans for the $120M self-financed epic ever since Coppola showed it for the first time to buyers at L.A.’s Universal CityWalk Imax Theater at the end of March, with the screening followed shortly after by news of its Cannes selection.
Adam Driver stars as an idealistic architect attempting to rebuild New York as an American Utopia, with the ensemble cast also featuring Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voigt,...
Also confirmed today is the film’s French deal with Le Pacte and the involvement of longtime Coppola collaborator Paul Rassam.
Speculation has been rife around rollout plans for the $120M self-financed epic ever since Coppola showed it for the first time to buyers at L.A.’s Universal CityWalk Imax Theater at the end of March, with the screening followed shortly after by news of its Cannes selection.
Adam Driver stars as an idealistic architect attempting to rebuild New York as an American Utopia, with the ensemble cast also featuring Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia Labeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voigt,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Former Youplanet Pictures and Rakuten TV executives Adrian Peña and Alex Marin have launched Spanish independent film distribution company Madfer Films.
Based in Barcelona, Madfer Films’ first acquisitions for the Spanish market include Babak Jalali’s comedy-drama Fremont, Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s box office hit Full River Red and Kristian Mercado’s sci-fi romantic comedy If You Were The Last.
Peña and Marin both worked together at Spanish distributor Youplanet Pictures, which has released films including Academy Award winners Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Whale and Palme d’Or winner Titane. Before Youplanet, the pair also worked at video-on-demand platform Rakuten TV.
Based in Barcelona, Madfer Films’ first acquisitions for the Spanish market include Babak Jalali’s comedy-drama Fremont, Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s box office hit Full River Red and Kristian Mercado’s sci-fi romantic comedy If You Were The Last.
Peña and Marin both worked together at Spanish distributor Youplanet Pictures, which has released films including Academy Award winners Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Whale and Palme d’Or winner Titane. Before Youplanet, the pair also worked at video-on-demand platform Rakuten TV.
- 4/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Updated On April 22, 2024: With the addition of two new films to this year’s competition section, both directed by men, this year’s competition slate now includes 21 films, only four of which are directed by women. That tallies to just 19 percent of this year’s competition titles being helmed by women.
Our original story from April 11, 2024 follows.
Hot off last year’s record-breaking competition lineup — including seven films directed by women, plus an eventual Palme d’Or win for Justine Triet (only the third woman to win the festival’s top prize) — this year’s Cannes Film Festival has returned to old habits. The 77th edition will include (as of today’s announcement) just four films directed by women in the competition section, bringing representation down to 2021 levels (and returning the festival’s female-directed entries to a number that was only hit in 2011).
Among the competition titles announced today:...
Our original story from April 11, 2024 follows.
Hot off last year’s record-breaking competition lineup — including seven films directed by women, plus an eventual Palme d’Or win for Justine Triet (only the third woman to win the festival’s top prize) — this year’s Cannes Film Festival has returned to old habits. The 77th edition will include (as of today’s announcement) just four films directed by women in the competition section, bringing representation down to 2021 levels (and returning the festival’s female-directed entries to a number that was only hit in 2011).
Among the competition titles announced today:...
- 4/22/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Reviews will have to wait till the Cannes Film Festival kicks off on May 14, but it’s not too early for a critic to weigh in on this year’s lineup — or how it looks on paper, at least, and what the selection might say about the state of things.
At the top of the press conference, festival director Thierry Frémaux noted that last year would be a tough edition to top. The two big winners of the 2023 competition, “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Zone of Interest,” went on to score Oscar best picture nominations, alongside Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The festival made strides toward gender parity, with nearly a third of the films in competition directed by women. And to complicate matters, Hollywood has since been hit by two production-stopping guild strikes, delaying films the studios might have sent to Cannes.
Judging by the titles unveiled today,...
At the top of the press conference, festival director Thierry Frémaux noted that last year would be a tough edition to top. The two big winners of the 2023 competition, “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Zone of Interest,” went on to score Oscar best picture nominations, alongside Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The festival made strides toward gender parity, with nearly a third of the films in competition directed by women. And to complicate matters, Hollywood has since been hit by two production-stopping guild strikes, delaying films the studios might have sent to Cannes.
Judging by the titles unveiled today,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Homegrown hits led by A Moroccan Affair and Championext, an explosion of comedies and the solid performance of several European indies have helped the Spanish box office to withstand the lack of US releases following the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.
Local productions were the highest grossing independent films at the Spanish box office in the year ending February 2024, with Álvaro Fernández Armero’s A Moroccan Affair at the top of the list.
The 2023 Spanish box office total was €504 million, with 77.8 million tickets sold, representing a 26% increase on 2022.
The two biggest Spanish films are both part of existing franchises.
Local productions were the highest grossing independent films at the Spanish box office in the year ending February 2024, with Álvaro Fernández Armero’s A Moroccan Affair at the top of the list.
The 2023 Spanish box office total was €504 million, with 77.8 million tickets sold, representing a 26% increase on 2022.
The two biggest Spanish films are both part of existing franchises.
- 3/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Production has wrapped on genre feature Animale, directed by French filmmaker Emma Benestan, with London and Paris-based sales agent Film Constellation unveiling a first-look image.
It is set against the wild backdrop of the southern France bull riding tradition of Camargue, and stars César winning actress Oulaya Amamra (pictured). Producers are French outfit June Films’ Julie Billy and Naomi Denamur; Titane producers Cassandre Warnauts and Jean-Yves Roubin of Belgium’s Frakas Productions; in co-production with broadcaster France 3 Cinema.
In this male-dominated environment, a 22-year-old woman trains hard to fulfil her dream of winning the upcoming annual competition. When...
It is set against the wild backdrop of the southern France bull riding tradition of Camargue, and stars César winning actress Oulaya Amamra (pictured). Producers are French outfit June Films’ Julie Billy and Naomi Denamur; Titane producers Cassandre Warnauts and Jean-Yves Roubin of Belgium’s Frakas Productions; in co-production with broadcaster France 3 Cinema.
In this male-dominated environment, a 22-year-old woman trains hard to fulfil her dream of winning the upcoming annual competition. When...
- 2/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
Playtime (“Son of Saul”) is reteaming with celebrated French directors François Ozon (“By the Grace of God”) and sister duo Delphine and Muriel Coulin (“17 Girls”) on their respective upcoming films, “When Fall Is Coming” and “The Quiet Son.”
“When Fall is Coming” marks Ozon’s follow up to “The Crime Is Mine.” The film stars Hélène Vincent (“The Specials”), Josiane Balasko (“Back to Mom’s”), Ludivine Sagnier (“Lupin”) and Pierre Lottin (“Notre-Dame on Fire”).
The film tells the story of Michelle, who is enjoying a peaceful retirement in a charming Burgundy village near her longtime friend Marie-Claude. She eagerly anticipates her grandson Lucas spending the school vacation with her, but things don’t go as planned. Feeling lonely, Michelle loses her sense of purpose, until Marie-Claude’s son gets out of prison.
The film is self-produced by Ozon through his vehicle Foz. Diaphana Distribution will release it in France.
“When Fall is Coming” marks Ozon’s follow up to “The Crime Is Mine.” The film stars Hélène Vincent (“The Specials”), Josiane Balasko (“Back to Mom’s”), Ludivine Sagnier (“Lupin”) and Pierre Lottin (“Notre-Dame on Fire”).
The film tells the story of Michelle, who is enjoying a peaceful retirement in a charming Burgundy village near her longtime friend Marie-Claude. She eagerly anticipates her grandson Lucas spending the school vacation with her, but things don’t go as planned. Feeling lonely, Michelle loses her sense of purpose, until Marie-Claude’s son gets out of prison.
The film is self-produced by Ozon through his vehicle Foz. Diaphana Distribution will release it in France.
- 1/31/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Andrew McCarthy is getting back together with his fellow Brat Pack alums Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Jon Cryer, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez and more for the feature documentary Brats, a revealing look at the cultural phenomenon they became in the 1980s and how that has impacted their lives ever since.
Brats, from ABC News Studios, Neon, and Network Entertainment, is set to premiere on Hulu later this year. McCarthy, author of the 2021 memoir Brat: An ‘80s Story, writes and directs the documentary, which is now in post-production. He co-starred with fellow Brat Packers in some of the biggest hits of the mid- ‘80s including St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Less Than Zero (1987).
From left: ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’s Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Mare Winningham, Judd Nelson,
Ally Sheedy and Andrew McCarthy
“McCarthy crisscrosses the country to meet up with some of the stars of those beloved films,...
Brats, from ABC News Studios, Neon, and Network Entertainment, is set to premiere on Hulu later this year. McCarthy, author of the 2021 memoir Brat: An ‘80s Story, writes and directs the documentary, which is now in post-production. He co-starred with fellow Brat Packers in some of the biggest hits of the mid- ‘80s including St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Less Than Zero (1987).
From left: ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’s Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Mare Winningham, Judd Nelson,
Ally Sheedy and Andrew McCarthy
“McCarthy crisscrosses the country to meet up with some of the stars of those beloved films,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Indie Sales has boarded Nathalie Najem’s “No Way Back,” a timely feature debut tackling domestic violence with a cast led by Bastien Bouillon (“The Night of the 12th”) and Zita Hanrot (“Angry Annie”).
Now in post, “No Way Back” will be introduced to buyers by the banner Indie Sales at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous showcase next week.
“No Way Back” tells the story of Laura, who is rebuilding her life after years under the toxic influence of Joachim and is raising their daughter on her own. When Joachim’s new girlfriend, Shirine, shows up at her door in dire straits, Laura realizes that they must help each other to get rid of Joachim’s harmful influence. The film appears to be in a similar vein as Xavier Legrand’s Venice prizewinner “Custody,” with an emphasis on sisterhood.
Bouillon won last year’s Cesar Award for best male newcomer for his...
Now in post, “No Way Back” will be introduced to buyers by the banner Indie Sales at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous showcase next week.
“No Way Back” tells the story of Laura, who is rebuilding her life after years under the toxic influence of Joachim and is raising their daughter on her own. When Joachim’s new girlfriend, Shirine, shows up at her door in dire straits, Laura realizes that they must help each other to get rid of Joachim’s harmful influence. The film appears to be in a similar vein as Xavier Legrand’s Venice prizewinner “Custody,” with an emphasis on sisterhood.
Bouillon won last year’s Cesar Award for best male newcomer for his...
- 1/8/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Can You Spoil Something This Surreal?
Few experiences surpass stumbling onto a jaw-dropping moment in film totally unspoiled. The big twist in “One Cut of the Dead.” The Fern Mayo reveal in “Jawbreaker.” Top to bottom, every second of “Titane.” These are scenes across varying genres and eras that live in my bones as electric moments I didn’t expect to see, but that reminded me why I whole-heartedly love the movies when I did. Hence, this column’s spoiler-free/spoiler-filled bifurcation.
Guy Maddin’s “The Saddest Music in the World” contains one such moment,...
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Can You Spoil Something This Surreal?
Few experiences surpass stumbling onto a jaw-dropping moment in film totally unspoiled. The big twist in “One Cut of the Dead.” The Fern Mayo reveal in “Jawbreaker.” Top to bottom, every second of “Titane.” These are scenes across varying genres and eras that live in my bones as electric moments I didn’t expect to see, but that reminded me why I whole-heartedly love the movies when I did. Hence, this column’s spoiler-free/spoiler-filled bifurcation.
Guy Maddin’s “The Saddest Music in the World” contains one such moment,...
- 11/11/2023
- by Alison Foreman and Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Palme d’Or winner ‘Anatomy Of A Fall’ opens in 160 cinemas.
Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels heads the new films in UK-Ireland cinemas this weekend, looking to boost the fortunes of the long-running superhero franchise.
The Marvels opens in 665 cinemas through Disney. This is slightly fewer than recent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) titles Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (708), Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (680) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (704); the last MCU film to open on fewer screens was Chloe Zhao’s Eternals in 2021 (646).
Running for 15 years and counting, the MCU is still the highest-grossing film franchise both in UK-Ireland and worldwide.
Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels heads the new films in UK-Ireland cinemas this weekend, looking to boost the fortunes of the long-running superhero franchise.
The Marvels opens in 665 cinemas through Disney. This is slightly fewer than recent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) titles Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (708), Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (680) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (704); the last MCU film to open on fewer screens was Chloe Zhao’s Eternals in 2021 (646).
Running for 15 years and counting, the MCU is still the highest-grossing film franchise both in UK-Ireland and worldwide.
- 11/10/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Director David Findlay’s ability to create short films and music videos that not only look gorgeous but query the human condition on a deep level is why we can’t get enough of him here at Dn. His latest work, a music video for musician/skateboarder Austyn Gillette, is Leaning into your Palms. This isn’t your typical music video however with Gillette performing his song to camera, instead he and Findlay weave a narrative about two siblings, a brother and a sister, who share a moment of reflection through time. It’s really compelling and through some clever camera tricks Findlay is able to pull off some mesmerising shots. In our interview below Dn chats with Findlay about these shots in addition to his collaborative process with Gillette and the joy of working with Titane’s Agathe Rousselle to create his ruminative music video.
How did you come...
How did you come...
- 11/7/2023
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Exclusive: Hugo Weaving is leading Australian streamer Binge’s first original film, How to Make Gravy.
The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix star will lead an ensemble cast alongside side Daniel Henshall in the feature.
Brenton Thwaites (Titans, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mr Inbetween), Kate Mulvany (The Twelve, Hunters) and French actress Agathe Rouselle (Titane) in her debut English-language performance will also star, with more cast members to be announced. The film will also feature cameo performances from Australian musicians, including Adam Briggs and rising rap talent Dallas Woods.
How to Make Gravy is based on Paul Kelly’s iconic Australian song that tells the story of an inmate writing a letter home as his family prepares to celebrate their first Christmas without him. The 1996 song has such a place in Australian hearts that Gravy Day,...
The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix star will lead an ensemble cast alongside side Daniel Henshall in the feature.
Brenton Thwaites (Titans, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mr Inbetween), Kate Mulvany (The Twelve, Hunters) and French actress Agathe Rouselle (Titane) in her debut English-language performance will also star, with more cast members to be announced. The film will also feature cameo performances from Australian musicians, including Adam Briggs and rising rap talent Dallas Woods.
How to Make Gravy is based on Paul Kelly’s iconic Australian song that tells the story of an inmate writing a letter home as his family prepares to celebrate their first Christmas without him. The 1996 song has such a place in Australian hearts that Gravy Day,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
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