Alex Herron’s Horror Thriller ‘Dark Windows’ Sells to Several Territories (EXCLUSIVE)

Thania Garcia Last Friday, Drake surprised the world with his seventh studio album “Honestly, Nevermind.” Since its release, the 14-track album has garnered mixed reviews, with some expressing disappointment over the pulsing dance music that Drake decided to roll out in favor of his more familiar hip-hop. But it seems Drake could care not less about disapproving first impressions.As reported by Complex, a video of Drake talking about the album’s mixed reception during what seems to be an album release party has been circulating the internet. In the dimly lit video, Drake says, “It’s all good if you don’t get it yet.

Drake has previewed two new songs on the debut episode of his new Table For One radio show.On Friday (June 17), the rapper surprised fans with the release of his seventh studio album, ‘Honestly, Nevermind’. The 14-track record arrived on streaming platforms at midnight just hours after announced its arrival on Instagram.Right before the album dropped, Drake premiered it on his brand new SiriusXM Sound 42 show Table For One.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStudiocanal has signed a film output deal with Scanbox Entertainment, one of the Nordics’ leading all-rights distribution banner. The pact will see Studiocanal’s current slate of films released in the Nordics, including Cédric Klapisch’s “Rise” (pictured), Claude Zidi Jr.’s comedy “Tenor,” Eric Lartigau’s coming-of-age story “This One Summer” based on the New York Times bestseller graphic novel of the same name, and Isaki Lacuesta’s “One Year, One Night” which was produced by Studiocanal’s Bambú Producciones and world premiered at Berlin.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorBeta Cinema will handle international sales on “The Fox,” a drama about an Austrian soldier and his friendship with a wounded fox cub, set during World War II. Alamode Filmverleih will release the film in German-speaking territories in early 2023.The film is directed by Adrian Goiginger, whose directorial debut “The Best of All Worlds” became a break-out hit after premiering at the Berlinale in 2017, winning more than 100 awards around the world.Beta Cinema will introduce “The Fox” to select international buyers at the German Previews, the annual industry event organized by German Films in Munich from June 20-23.“The Fox” is the true story of Franz Streitberger, Goiginger’s great-grandfather, a motorcycle courier for the Austrian army, which was incorporated into the German Wehrmacht.

Naman Ramachandran U.K. independent production company Genesius Pictures is debuting in the television space with a brace of projects, complementing its robust film slate.“Shetland” writer David Kane is developing “The Messenger,” a series based on author Anne Zouroudi’s bestselling Greek Detective novels. Genesius has also optioned the rights for Neil Jordan’s seminal 1986 film “Mona Lisa,” starring Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson and Michael Caine.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorDark Star Pictures has acquired distribution rights in North America for Australian gay love story “Lonesome,” directed by Craig Boreham. Following its world premiere at the Seattle Intl.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Banff World Media Festival revealed the winners of the 2022 Rockie Awards International Program Competition on Monday, with big winners including the “Friends” Reunion, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “We Are Lady Parts” and more.The event, held in Banff and hosted by comedian Rakhee Morzaria (“Run the Burbs”) featured winners chosen by a panel of 150 international industry professionals. The Rockie Awards International Program Competition presented awards in 28 categories spanning Documentary & Factual, Arts & Entertainment, Children & Youth, Scripted, and Podcast.The competition featured 148 nominations from 45 countries including the UK, United, Canada, Australia, France, China, Germany, Italy and Norway.

Shaman Durek made sure he received Gwyneth Paltrow’s "stamp of approval" before he proposed to Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. The Los Angeles-based "spiritual guide and gifted healer," whose celebrity clientele includes Paltrow, as well as Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek, among others, confirmed last Tuesday that he and the royal are engaged.

Emiliano De Pablos Montreal and Madrid-based Pink Parrot Media has picked up international distribution rights to 3D CGI animated feature project “Onca & The Protectors of the Amazon” (aka “Arara and the Guardians of the Amazon”).“Onca” is being brought by Pink Parrot onto Annecy Festival’s MIFA market, where the company will look for financial partners.Aimed at 8-12year-old children family audiences, the feature is written and directed by Colombia’s Vlamyr Vizcaya (“Out of Love”). Its story takes place in the Amazon rainforest and aims to raise environmental awareness.The film co-producers take in Belgium’s Walking The Dog (“Another Day of Life,”  “Where is Anne Frank?”), L.A.

Addie Morfoot ContributorHamptonsFilm has unveiled the lineup for its 14th annual SummerDocs series and it includes Sara Dosa’s “Fire of Love,” Daniel Roher’s “Navalny” and Jason Kohn’s “Nothing Lasts Forever.” Presented by Alec Baldwin with co-curation from David Nugent, artistic director of the affiliated Hamptons Intl. Film Festival, each screening will be followed by a conversation with that documentary’s director.The series will kick-off on June 25 with “Fire of Love.” Following a successful Sundance debut, National Geographic Documentary Films acquired the worldwide rights to the docu.

BAFTA Dates 2023 Film Awards, Berlin Clash

Anna Marie de la Fuente Ran Tal’s moving documentary “1341 Frames of Love and War” has won three key awards at DocAviv and been sold to seven territories by sales company Reservoir Docs.Tal took home the best director prize while Nilli Feller snagged the editor award. In addition, the doc won the Kedar Foundation Award for a film inspired by Israel’s history and society, which includes a $15,000 cash prize.Since its world premiere at the Berlinale Special sidebar of the Berlin Film Festival, Reservoir Docs, which handles world sales excluding North America, Israel, Greece and Portugal, has sold the doc to several territories, including Non Stop (Nordic), Tanweer Films (Greece) and Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuais (Portugal).

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Shaman Durek are engaged. The Los Angeles-based "spiritual guide and gifted healer," whose celebrity clientele includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek, among others, took to Instagram on Tuesday and revealed the news. "She said YES!" the 47-year-old captioned a photo of the couple looking into each other’s eyes.The princess, 50, proudly flaunted her engagement ring.

EXCLUSIVE: Dark Dreams Entertainment, the production company owned by Magic Mike and I Am Number Four star Alex Pettyfer, has received backing from an angel investor and has set a three-picture deal with UK, LA and Buenos Aires-based production firm Infinity Hill.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentPulsar Content has closed a raft of major deals on “La Maison,” Anissa Bonnefont’s erotic drama based on Emma Becker’s controversial bestselling novel chronicling the young author’s two-year undercover experience working as a sex worker at a Berlin brothel. The Paris-based company introduced the title to buyers at Cannes and sold it to Wild Bunch for Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain, among other deals. Wild Bunch will team with Capelight for the German release.

EXCLUSIVE: Leonine Studios has taken worldwide rights to German-Norwegian thriller series The Seed (working title), which is set around the explosive takeover of a seed company and comes from Chameleon writer Christian Jeltsch.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentLola Arabia and Dubai’s Charisma Group are readying Agustí Villaronga’s “Arabian Aroma” and Pau Miró’s “Lost Symphony,” the first two titles in a 12-pic production alliance unveiled during the Berlin. FestivalBoth movies are in pre-production, budgeted around $6 million and feature women “who passionately set themselves on a mission,” the partners announced.