‘Birthday Girl’: TrustNordisk Boards Cruise Ship Drama Starring Trine Dyrholm

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThough Iran is in the throes of a deep economic crisis, battered by hard-line politics and a mismanaged pandemic, it’a shaping up to be a great year for Iranian cinema.Paradoxically, Iran’s cinematic landscape is bursting with powerful, fresh films likely to make an international splash just as talks between Tehran and world powers continue to be deadlocked on reviving the nuclear deal that could lift the country’s crippling sanctions that block exports.This filmmaking fervor is reflected in the fact that Iranian pics have scored two Cannes competition berths, plus one in the Cannes Critics’ Week, which marks Iran’s first presence in this section dedicated to first and second works in almost two decades.

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a first look image from supernatural horror-mystery The Queen Mary, starring Alice Eve and Joel Fry. The title, which is from The Woman In Black outfit White Horse Pictures, is directed by Dracula Untold helmer Gary Shore.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAlexander Skarsgard will star in “The Tiger” as the leader of a group of men tasked with protecting the endangered cats from poachers and loggers.The actor recently headlined the blood-drenched viking epic “The Northman,” receiving a great deal of attention for his physical transformation into a chiseled Norse avenger. He will team here with Ukrainian filmmaker Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi, who wrote and will direct “The Tiger” based on the book by John Vaillant.

Simone Biles has been named as the Godmother for the Celebrity Beyond cruise ship. Celebrity Cruises have announced that the US gymnast - who has won seven Olympic medals and 19 world championships - has been given the honour for the ship, which embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton on April 27. Simone's role is to inspire all guests and crew who sail on the shop, and it is considered to be a lifetime title and honour.

A man has denied being involved in an alleged armed robbery of a group of football agents at a Moss Side café. Talleko Lemonious, 26, pleaded not guilty to the robbery of five men, including the brothers of United forward Marcus Rashford and Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentDubai-based distribution and production outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment has boarded Arab-language comedy “Abdelinho,” directed by Morocco’s Hicham Ayouch and toplined by Ali Suliman (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”).The move comes as Front Row, which is a prominent MENA region indie distributor, ramps up its production side following its Arabic adaptation of Italian dramedy “Perfect Strangers” that it produced in tandem with Egypt’s Film Clinic. The redo was recently acquired by Netflix and is being touted as a local hit.“Abdelinho” is a coming-of-age-comedy set in a small town in Morocco.

EXCLUSIVE: Altitude Film Sales has boarded worldwide sales rights to high-concept survival thriller Quicksand and will introduce first footage to buyers in Cannes next week.

With the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 final in Turin fast approaching, last year's winners Måneskin are set to return to the stage with their new single Supermodel.

Exclusive: The 2022 Cannes Film Festival is right around the corner (things kick off on May 17), and that means the Olympics of filmmaking with the best filmmakers worldwide competing for the coveted Palme d’Or. One of those filmmakers will be Iranian-Danish film director and screenwriter Ali Abbasi, whose new film “Holy Spider” will play in the official competition section during the festival.

Exclusive: The 2022 Cannes Film Festival is right around the corner (things kick off on May 17), and that means the Olympics of filmmaking with the best filmmakers worldwide competing for the coveted Palme d’Or. One of those filmmakers will be Iranian-Danish film director and screenwriter Ali Abbasi, whose new film “Holy Spider” will play in the official competition section during the festival.

Colin Firth and Patrick Schwarzenegger were just two of the stars who stepped out for the premiere of their new series, The Staircase, held at Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday night (May 3) in New York City.

K.J. Yossman “Come on Barbie, let’s go party!” is the immortal refrain from Aqua’s 1997 song “Barbie Girl” but when it comes to the upcoming Margot Robbie movie, Aqua haven’t been invited to join the fun.Despite fans insisting that the Europop banger – which has clocked up over a billion views on YouTube – should appear in the soundtrack to the Mattel and Warner Bros.

JD Linville High in the north Atlantic, nestled between Iceland and Norway, lie the moss-covered basalt cliffs of the Faroe Islands: a Danish fishing archipelago and the perfect setting for Viaplay’s new original series “Trom.” Based on Danish writer Jógvan Isaksen’s bestselling crime novels, and adapted for screen by creator and head writer Torfinnur Jákupsson and Donna Sharpe, “Trom” is a six-episode Nordic Noir produced and distributed by Denmark’s REinvent Studios in co-production with Faroe Islands-based Kyk Pictures, Iceland’s Truenorth and Germany’s ZDF/Arte.In what has signalled a breakthrough for many Scandinavian series, the BBC acquired “Trom” in a deal announced just before the series’ premiere at February’s Berlinale Series Market Selects. Co-directed by Kasper Barfoed (“The Chestnut Man”), Davið Óskar Ólafsson (“The Valhalla Murders”), and Peter Ahlén, “Trom”follows rogue journalist Hannis Martinsson, played by Ulrich Thomsen (“The New Pope”).

Scandinavia’s TrustNordisk has picked up international sales rights to an upcoming Zentropa dramedy series about a struggling Danish agent to the stars.

Fans have praised Ashley Graham as “beautiful” and “perfect” as she posted a topless selfie on social media showing off her post-pregnancy body.

Brass Against have been reminded that they’re performing in a “no pee zone” on their current European tour with Tool.Last November, footage emerged of Brass Against singer Sophia Urista urinating on a willing fan’s face during the band’s set at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida.It was subsequently reported that local police were investigating the incident, as Urista may have broken indecent exposure laws. The group were also permanently banned from the venue in question (via Consequence).Later, the frontwoman issued an apology on social media and claimed that she’s “not a shock artist”.

Sam Heughan has teased fans with his brand new Channel 4 show which sees him star beside James Nesbitt.