Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, has always been in the public eye. Her fashion choices and personal style have consistently drawn attention.
09.10.2023 - 14:45 / variety.com
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Memento International has scored further deals on “Omen,” the feature debut of artist and musician turned director Baloji. The film world premiered at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, where it won the New Voice Award, and was acquired by Utopia for North America. “Omen” follows Koffie, who after spending years in Belgium, returns home to the Congo to find himself confronted by his past and culture at a family event.
Koffie visits his birthplace after being mysteriously ostracized by his family and spending years abroad in Europe. With his soon-to-be wife and unborn child in tow, Koffie’s arrival sets in motion a sprawling, nightmarish and psychedelic fairy tale about ancestry, belief, wrestling, witchcraft and sorcery in Africa today. The movie was acquired for France (Pan Distribution), Italy (I Wonder), Spain (Filmin), Germany and Austria (Grandfilm), the U.K.
(Aya Films), Switzerland (Outside the Box) and Eastern Europe (HBO). The movie will be released by Imagine Film Distribution in Benelux on Nov. 15.
Following its world premiere at Cannes, “Omen” went on to play at Sitges, Karlovy Vary, BFI London Film Festival, Filmfest Munchen and Sarajevo Film Festival. Baloji was born in Lubumbashi, Congo, in 1978, and was sent to live with his step family in Belgium when he was 3 years old. Separated from his birth parents, he had a troubled childhood and dropped out of school at 15.
He later discovered hip-hop and rose to stardom via the influential Belgian group Starflam. He released his first solo album, “Hotel Impala,” in 2007. Memento International’s recent slate also includes Venice Competition entry “Women Of…” by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, as well as “Sisterhood” and
.Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, has always been in the public eye. Her fashion choices and personal style have consistently drawn attention.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has just released a new book, and has been promoting it with all manner of outlets. In a new interview, he talked about politics, and shared his opinion about the presidency in the United States. He also shared that he’d make a great President, prompting many to wonder if he could ever put himself as candidate.
Elvis Presley was on the soundtrack to the Disney film Lilo & Stitch.The 26-year-old actor and Euphoria star plays the legendary singer in the new film Priscilla, a biopic of Presley’s ex-wife.Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Elordi disclosed that he did not grow up a fan of Elvis’ music, but did become somewhat familiar with him after watching the 2002 animated film. “The most I knew of Elvis was in Lilo & Stitch,” the Australian actor revealed.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Bhutan’s official Oscar entry “The Monk And The Gun,” Pawo Choyning Dorji‘s follow-up to “Lunana: A Yak in The Classroom,” has been bought by a raft of well-established international theatrical distributors. Following its festival premieres at Telluride, Toronto, Rome and Busan, “The Monk and the Gun” has been sold by Films Boutique to Pyramide Distribution (France), September Films (Benelux), Rialto Distribution (Australia), Future Films (Scandinavia), A Contracorriente (Spain), Lev Films (Israel), Aurora Films (Poland), Trigon (Switzerland), Alambique Films (Portugal) and Impact Films (India and Indian Subcontinent). Earlier this week, the crowdpleaser was also acquired by Roadside Attraction for the U.S.
Ellise Shafer Arnold Schwarzenegger for president? Though the former Governor of California can’t legally run for the United States’ highest office — the position requires one to be a natural-born citizen, and Schwarzenegger hails from Austria — he said in a new interview with the BBC that he thinks he’d be a good fit. “I feel like I would make a great president,” he said, adding that “everything I’ve accomplished was because of America.” “America gave me so many opportunities and the American people were so embracive, and they just received me with open arms.
From bobs to pixie cuts, layers to extensions – the average woman is said to change their hairstyle up to 36 times in their lifetime.
Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” an epic look at the French emperor and military leader’s rise to power, is one of the final potential awards hopefuls awaiting its first reactions from critics and pundits. As awards season approaches, Variety has learned exclusively which Oscar categories the film will be submitted for. Most notably, Vanessa Kirby will vie for best supporting actress.
K.J. Yossman “House of Kardashian,” the documentary about television’s most famous family, is heading to Australia among other territories. FOXTEL have picked up the three-part doc series, made by 72 Films, for the Australian market.
Kevin Spacey is in the headlines for multiple reasons right now.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Warner Bros. Discovery will be launching its streaming service Max in France, one of its top European markets, next summer, Variety has learned. The launch in France will follow a rollout in Northern and Eastern Europe, which is expected to be unveiled by Gerhard Zeiler, president of international at Warner Bros.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Distributor All3Media Intl. has sold “The Long Shadow,” written by “Lupin” creator George Kay, to Sundance Now, which has taken exclusive rights in the U.S. and Canada.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Beta Film’s Channel4/Starz drama series “The Couple Next Door” is moving across European neighborhoods, being sold ahead of Mipcom to Movistar Plus+ in Spain and throughout the Nordics. Public broadcasters NRK for Norway, YLE for Finland, SVT for Sweden, DR for Denmark and RUV for Iceland snagged the thriller, starring Sam Heughan (“Outlander,” “Suspect”) and Eleonor Tomlinson (“Poldark,” “The War of the Worlds”). The show explores the stultifying claustrophobia of suburbia and the fallout of chasing one’s darkest desires.
EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood vet Gianni Nunnari, producer on movies including the 300 franchise, Immortals, and From Dusk Til Dawn, is teaming with producer Simon Horsman (Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers, Magazine Dreams) to launch Euro Gang Entertainment.
EXCLUSIVE: The major U.S. studios heading to Mipcom are proving global streaming and third-party licensing “can co-exist and work together,” says the event’s director.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Bertrand Bonello‘s “The Beast,” a dystopian romance drama starring Lea Seydoux (“No Time to Die”) and George MacKay (“1917”), has been bought by distributors in all major markets following its world premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival. Represented in international markets by Kinology, “The Beast” has sold to the U.K. (Vertigo Releasing), Italy (iWonder), Spain (Caramel), Australia and New Zealand (Rialto), Benelux (Imagine), Scandinavia (NonStop), Latin America (Impacto), Middle East (Front Row), Poland (New Horizons), Greece (Weirdwave), Portugal (Alambique), CIS (Capella), Romania (Transilvania), Bulgaria (Cinelibri), Ex-Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom), India (Superfine) and Indonesia (P.T.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are taking some time to relax and take in the sights while exploring Venice, Italy.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal has closed multiple deals for Cannes Film Festival titles “Power Alley” by Lillah Halla, and “Let Me Go” by Maxime Rappaz, which are both female-led films. Cannes Critics’ Week title “Power Alley,” set in Brazil, follows talented volleyball player Sofia who discovers she is pregnant on the eve of a career-defining game. Seeking an abortion, which is illegal in Brazil, she is confronted by a fundamentalist group who become fixated on stopping her.
Campbell Brown, Meta Platforms Inc.’s head of media and sports partnerships, is stepping down from the post, according to multiple reports.
The Gaslight Anthem have shared news of a 2024 UK and European tour as well as a headline slot at next year’s 2000Trees festival – find ticket info and more below.The New Jersey rockers will head to cities including Stockholm, Brussels, Dublin, Manchester and Glasgow from March 2024, with two stops at London’s Roundhouse venue (March 25-26). Emily Wolfe supports the band for the spring shows.Later that summer the band play Nottingham’s Rock City (July 10) ahead of their headline show at Cheltenham’s 2000trees festival (July 11).Tickets for the 2024 UK and European tour go on sale this Friday (October 6) at 10am BST here.
Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to “Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The documentary, which was acquired by SK Global Entertainment, tells the story of Anita Pallenberg, the model and actress who rose to fame in the 1960s and ’70s after a chance encounter with the Rolling Stones. Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill directed the docu, which features the voice of Scarlett Johansson as Anita, based on the words of her unpublished memoir.