Coming out of the public relations week from hell, the studios and streamers are looking for the firm that fought off Pizzagate to help them in the war of words against the striking Writers Guild.
07.08.2023 - 10:21 / variety.com
Naman Ramachandran Germany’s ZDF Studios has secured worldwide distribution rights for documentary series “Hitler’s Power” (3 x 50’), an exploration of how and why Hitler rose to power and the terrible events that followed. On Jan. 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany.
The series examines why the Nazi leader was confident of the approval of most Germans, even when the war was clearly lost, and what led Germans to support the Holocaust. Eco Media, History Media and ZDF Digital, a ZDF Studios subsidiary, teamed to co-produce “Hitler’s Power” in association with ZDF Studios. Ralf Rückauer, VP, unscripted, ZDF Studios, said: “’Hitler’s Power’ is very much a modern look at this period of German history, designed for a young audience that is disconnected from the generation who experienced the war or its aftermath.
With the extensive research undertaken and its high production values, the series offers a distinctive and compelling narrative on the rise of Hitler.” *** Elsewhere, Indian exhibitor and distributor PVR Inox Pictures has recognized the fact that in a post-pandemic scenario the country’s audience now consumes content from across the region and not just their own. It will now distribute Bengali-language films across India. Dev’s “Byomkesh O Durgorahasya,” releasing Aug.
Coming out of the public relations week from hell, the studios and streamers are looking for the firm that fought off Pizzagate to help them in the war of words against the striking Writers Guild.
Naman Ramachandran Emmy -winning actor Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”) will present the Fantasy, Myths and Legends Prom at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Aug. 28. The event is an evening of orchestral works from film, television and gaming, from titles including “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “Game of Thrones” and “World of Warcraft.” The BBC Concert Orchestra led by their new chief conductor, Anna-Maria Helsing, will be joined by mezzo soprano Felicity Buckland and The Huddersfield Choral Society.
Naman Ramachandran The European premiere of Kristoffer Borgli‘s satire “Dream Scenario,” starring Nicolas Cage, will open the 19th Zurich Film Festival (Sept. 28-Oct. 8).
Naman Ramachandran An estimated £617.4 million ($781.8 million) was spent on the production of film, TV and other audiovisual content in Scotland in 2021, compared to £398.6 million in 2019, up 55%, a new report has revealed. Commissioned by Screen Scotland and produced by Saffery Champness and Nordicity, the independent report titled The Economic Value of the Screen Sector in Scotland in 2021 found that significant growth was found in all areas of production, particularly inward investment film and High-End TV (HETV) production.
Naman Ramachandran Evanna Lynch, the actor best known for portraying Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter franchise, will star in “Influenced!,” a black comedy set in the world of social media influencers that has been inspired by Oscar Wilde’s classic 1891 novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Lynch will play Dora, a makeup sales assistant who goes on to become one of the world’s biggest influencers. But the more ruthless Dora becomes in her pursuit of insta-fame the more grotesque and distorted her social media profile photo also becomes.
Ellise Shafer Warner Bros. Discovery Europe has announced that it will air every match from this year’s U.S. Open on Eurosport and Discovery+ across 45 markets.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Production begins next month on “Black Tide Island,” a historical drama series that presents a Taiwanese insight into the Korean War. Production is headed by Hakka TV and Go Inside. Halla TV is the local Hakka-language linear satellite television channel operated by Taiwan Broadcasting System.
NATPE, under new management after encountering turbulence during the pandemic, has appointed a new advisory board and is firming up plans for the return of its signature U.S. conference next January in Miami.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Noted Japanese director Ando Momoko (“Kakera: Pieces of Our Life,” “0.5mm”) has been named as the ambassador for this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival. She also features, alongside her father Okuda Eiji in the festival’s newly-released poster, which recreates a scene from Ozu Yasujiro’s “Tokyo Story” and in which Okuda and Ando represent the classic film’s Ryu Chishu and Hara Setsuko characters. The poster image, shot at the rooftop garden of Kitte Marunouchi Building, with Tokyo Station in the background, was designed by Koshino Junko, who has created the festival’s key visuals for the past three years.
Naman Ramachandran World Productions (“Vigil,” “Line of Duty”) is producing a new season of hit series “Showtrial” for BBC One and iPlayer. Writer and creator Ben Richards (“The Diplomat”) returns for the series. In the show, when high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to identify his killer – a serving policeman.
Naman Ramachandran Amazon Freevee has unveiled the first trailer for the new chapter of long-running Australian soap “Neighbours.” The continuation of the series – about the lives, loves and challenges of the residents on Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne – will pick up two years after the finale in 2022. “Neighbours” ran for more than three decades and nearly 9,000 episodes before being canceled in 2022 when the show’s primary funder, U.K.’s Channel 5, pulled out. Freevee then picked up the rights from “Neighbours” producer and distributor Fremantle.
Naman Ramachandran Kudos Knight, the creative partnership between scripted producer Kudos and “Peaky Blinders” and “SAS Rogue Heroes” creator Steven Knight, has appointed “Sex Education” producer Rem Conway as development producer to spearhead their plans to grow a scripted production hub in the U.K.’s West Midlands region. This new role is designed to support the Kudos Knight management team in developing a drama slate to be produced in Birmingham. Identifying and nurturing emerging local voices and proven writers from the area, Conway will work closely with the Kudos creative team with a particular focus on championing under-represented and previously unheard voices.
Naman Ramachandran James Hawes‘ Holocaust drama “One Life” will be the American Express Gala at the 67thBFI London Film Festival. The film tells the true story of Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to WWII, rescued 669 children from the Nazis. Fifty years later, in 1988, Winton is haunted by the fate of the children he wasn’t able to bring to safety in England.
K.J. Yossman Patty Jenkins Set to Appear at HollyShorts Film Festival For Q&A “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins is set to open the Shorts on Film Program at the upcoming HollyShorts Film Festival with a Q&A. Jenkins, who is also know for films including “Monster” and television including “The Killing” finale, will appear in conversation with Steve Bellamy, president of Kodak Motion Picture, on August 11 at TLC Chinese 6 theatre.
Naman Ramachandran Fremantle and Ukraine’s STB are teaming on “Power of Talent,” a feature documentary on the lives of previous “Ukraine’s Got Talent” contestants, revealing the obstacles they face amidst the ongoing conflict. The documentary will follow the journeys of Ukrainian acts including Light Balance Kids, Natasha Korotkina and Artem Fesko as they take to various “Got Talent” stages across the world.
Naman Ramachandran Celine Dion‘s 1995 album “D’eux,” the bestselling French-language album of all time, written and produced by Jean-Jacques Goldman, is being paid homage to by top Canadian and French musicians. Amuz Distribution has secured the international distribution rights to the TV show “Pour toi Céline – Tribute to the album D’Eux,” produced by SISMYK as part of the Super Franco Fête. The tribute will be recorded on the Agora stage in the Port of Quebec on Sept.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Gerhard Zeiler, president of international at Warner Bros. Discovery, will give the opening keynote at the 39th edition of TV market Mipcom, which runs Oct. 16-19 in Cannes.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Heavens: The Boy and His Robot,” a Singapore-produced movie, will have its world and commercial premiere in Japanese cinemas this November. The film is Singapore’s first live-action feature film of the mecha genre, a genre of Japanese manga and anime that features or focuses on mechanical innovations such as robots and cyborgs.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Zurich Film Festival will honor the chief executive of German film and TV company Leonine Studios, Fred Kogel, with its Game Changer Award, which is presented to a leading personality from the film industry whose “extraordinary efforts serve to advance the sector.” Kogel set up Leonine four years ago, and it has grown rapidly to become Germany’s leading independent film company, as well as a major TV producer. Its successes as a film distributor have included the release of “The School of Magical Animals,” “Knives Out” and the “John Wick” franchise.
Naman Ramachandran The Indian parliament has passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, which aims to curb piracy that causes losses of INR200 billion ($2.4 billion) to the film industry, according to government estimates. Those found guilty of film piracy by way of camcording in theaters or unauthorized copying and online transmission and exhibition of a pirated copy of any film will now face punishment of minimum three months imprisonment and a fine of $3,650, which can be extended up to three years imprisonment and fine up to 5% of the audited gross production cost.