‘Black Mambas,’ About All-Female Anti-Poaching Unit, Acquired by Autlook, Ahead of CPH:DOX Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

Lise Pedersen Norwegian filmmaker Benjamin Ree, whose previous film “The Painter and the Thief” picked up a host of awards including Best Storytelling at Sundance, has given Variety exclusive access to his new doc film project, “Ibelin,” at the Copenhagen Intl. Documentary Film Festival.The film is named after the “World of Warcraft” avatar of Mats Steen, a young Norwegian man who died at the age of 25 from DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), a rare genetic disorder that causes muscle degeneration.After his death, Mats’ parents discovered that their disabled son, who for the last 10 years of his life had been wheelchair-bound and needed constant medical assistance, has led a rich and eventful life online and made friends around the world on the way.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorIcelandic rock documentary “Band,” which is premiering in the Changing Face of Europe section of Hot Docs Film Festival, has debuted its trailer.The comedic film, written and directed by Álfrún Örnólfsdóttir, follows an all-female rock group The Post Performance Blues Band, who give themselves a year to finally breakthrough as rock stars or quit forever. The band members, on the brink of 40, juggle their artistic dreams, the meaning of friendship and the pressures of motherhood.Örnólfsdóttir says she focuses “on the beauty and possibilities that rejection brings” in the film.

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Christopher Vourlias “I Am Greta” director Nathan Grossman will be taking two new projects in development to the Copenhagen Intl. Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX), one of which he’s revealed exclusively to Variety.The documentary feature, with the working title “Amazonia,” follows a series of expeditions into the Amazon led by Sydney Possuelo, considered the leading authority on Brazil’s remaining isolated indigenous peoples.

Instagram post announcing his departure. “My greatest reason for stepping down as Pastor of Hillsong Atlanta is probably not a secret to any of you.

Emily Longeretta More than a week before “The Ultimatum” premieres on Netflix, the dating series has been renewed for a second season, the streamer announced on Thursday amid an avalanche of other dating show news. Season 2 will follow an all-queer, mostly female cast.The Kinetic Content-produced series follows six couples on the verge of marriage.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorNorth American distributor Greenwich Entertainment has released the new trailer for Vincent Kelner’s documentary “A Taste of Whale,” which will screen at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen on March 29, and opens in North American theaters, and on Amazon and Apple TV on May 27.Every year, hundreds of pilot whales are hunted in the fjords of the Faroe Islands, an ancient tradition known as “The Grind.” International animal rights activists, including Sea Shepherd and Pamela Anderson, fight to eradicate this bloody massacre. while the Faroese denounce the hypocrisy of those who eat meat without criticizing what is happening in slaughterhouses.“I wanted to rely on the specific circumstances of the Faroe Islands to reflect on a significant, global issue of our time,” Kelner said.

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Christopher Vourlias Taskovski Films has acquired world sales rights to Nataša Urban’s “The Eclipse,” which has its world premiere in the main DOX:AWARD competition at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX).Focusing on the events of Aug. 11, 1999, when most of Serbia’s population barricaded themselves in their homes and nuclear bunkers in fear of a total solar eclipse, the film uses the rare natural phenomenon as a metaphor for a nation’s unclean conscience about the consequences of its political choices.

Naman Ramachandran U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has picked up South African detective drama “The Cane Field Killings” starring Kim Engelbrecht (“Bullet Proof”) and Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”). The eight-episode series, which launched last year in South Africa, will launch on Channel 4 on Apr.

Shaughna Phillips hasn’t had the best luck when it comes to love after failing to find romance on Love Island and Celebs Go Dating.We all remember the infamous moment when she was mugged off by Callum Jones who came back from Casa Amor with Molly Smith, sparking Shaughna’s iconic “Congrats… hun” catchphrase, then – just months later – the 2020 Islander went on a string of failed Zoom dates when she took part in Celebs Go Virtual Dating in lockdown.However, it seems Shaughna could have coupled up with a mystery man if her latest Instagram posts are anything to go by…The reality star dropped a MAJOR hint she’s dating someone when she took to the ‘gram to post some blurry snaps apparently taken by her other half.Alongside the photos, Shaughna warned, “Don’t get your boyfriend to take your pictures. Ever.”Does this mean you’ve bagged yourself a man then, hun? Ooh, we’re dying to know more.Although the identity of Shaughna’s boyfriend is unknown, she was forced to deny she was in a secret relationship during her time in Love Island after sharing a photo of her soaking up the sun in Dubai with a mystery man in January 2021.Shaughna Phillips boyfriendsCallum JonesShaughna coupled up with Callum Jones on day one of the first ever winter edition of Love Island and they quickly became one of the villa's power couples, before he had his head turned by Molly Smith in Casa Amor that is.

More to say. After Trevor Noah questioned Kanye West’s recent social media behavior — the rapper used a racial slur to defend his perspective.

EXCLUSIVE: Films from Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Uganda have been unveiled in the final selection of North American streamer Topic and Statement Films’ program to support, develop and finance projects from female African filmmakers.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large“The Simpsons” will make history on Sunday, and coincidentally it’s happening during Women’s History Month. For the first time ever, after 33 seasons and 719 episodes (this Sunday is episode 720), the top four key creative roles that guide animation in a “Simpsons” episode are all women.That includes director Jennifer Moeller, as well as assistant director Debbie Spafford, lead timer Esther Lee and background layout lead HeeJin Kim.

Sasha Urban editorStreaming service Shudder has acquired the rights to Australian horror-comedy film “Sissy” ahead of its premiere at SXSW in the Midnighters section on Friday.“Sissy” tells the story of young friends Cecilia (Aisha Dee) and Emma (Barlow), who were inseparable until Alex (Emily De Margheriti) showed up. After Emma and Cecilia run into each other 12 years later, Emma invites Cecilia for weekend at a secluded cabin in the mountains, where Alex turns Cecilia’s weekend into a living nightmare.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorFeature-length documentary “Outside,” directed by the Ukrainian director Olha Zhurba, has debuted its trailer, ahead of its premiere in the main competition section of the Copenhagen Intl. Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX).The film tells the story of the turbulent youth of Roma, a 13-year-old street boy neglected by his family and the state, who becomes a poster boy for the Ukrainian Revolution in 2014.