Carlos Santana Doc ‘Carlos’ Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics

Netflix continues to lead the way with their documentaries reevaluating the cultural impact and personal lives of controversial blondes (“Britney v Spears” and “Pamela, A Love Story“). Their latest is director Ursula Macfarlane’s “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me,” which seeks to tell the real story behind the voluptuous blonde bombshell who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007. The documentary reveals that Smith was no angel, whose excesses ended up putting her on a path of destruction.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Magnolia Pictures and MK2 Films have acquired rights to Roaul Peck’s documentary about renowned photographer Ernest Cole. The untitled documentary chronicles the life and work of Cole, the first Black freelance photographer in South Africa, whose early work revealed to the world the shocking, brutal realities of Black life under apartheid. Magnolia will release the film in North American theaters, while MK2 will handle the rollout internationally. “Ernest Cole’s long and, at times, painful and tedious journey in America brings me back to a period of my life when my political commitment and artistic stamina were forged,” Peck said in a statement. “I profoundly feel, cherish and treasure his human eye on the facts of life and his piercing acuity over our terrible contradictions.”

Jennie Punter Last year, during an online panel at Hot Docs film festival featuring Ukrainian documentary filmmakers who were staying in place, Oksana Karpovych told attendees how she’d gained knowledge working alongside foreign media crews covering the war, and was now applying that to her own creative documentary projects. This year, at the festival’s 30th anniversary edition, Karpovych attended the in-person Forum market event to pitch “Intercepted” — her observational doc exploring the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — which ended up winning the 2023 CMF-Hot Docs Canadian Pitch Prize. With Ukraine in the spotlight at Hot Docs this year, both audiences and industry attendees are getting wide exposure to the films and ideas of leading Ukrainian documentary creators. The timing of this programming is perfect, said Hot Docs programmer Myrocia Watamaniuk, not only for the obvious reason.

the Wall Street Journal.The journal cited people familiar with the matter who it did not name. Vice did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.

mostly positive reception from its Sundance premiere, will launch theatrically on August 4. “Shortcomings,” starring Justin H.

EXCLUSIVE: Following a successful collaboration with Voltage Pictures on the April U.S. release of Beautiful Disaster, Vertical has picked up U.S. rights to See You On Venus, another YA romance from the company. The film from rising Spanish filmmaker Joaquín Llamas (Sorry If I Call You Love), which stars Beautiful Disaster‘s Virginia Gardner and Alex Aiono (Beautiful Wedding), is slated for release in theaters on July 21.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Amazon Studios has landed worldwide rights to the U.S. naval aviation documentary “The Blue Angels,” which is backed by production companies of J.J. Abrams and “Top Gun: Maverick” star Glen Powell. The film, shot with Imax cameras, chronicles a year in the cockpit with one of the world’s top aviator teams, the Navy and Marine Corps flight squadron, through their intense training and aerial touring show. Abrams’ Bad Robot, Powell’s Barnstorm Productions, Zipper Bros Films and Dolphin Entertainment produced the project. “This fascinating and layered documentary is wholly representative of the kind of work ethic, teamwork, and perseverance that goes into being a Blue Angel,” said Brianna Oh, Amazon’s head of documentary features. “We are incredibly honored to join this talented filmmaking team in bringing their story to audiences around the world.”

Selome Hailu Sony Pictures Television has optioned “Is it Hot in Here? (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth),” the debut collection of essays from comedian and writer Zach Zimmerman, for TV adaptation. “Is it Hot in Here?” is described as a “memoir-esque exploration of selfhood” chronicling Zimmerman’s journey from being a “straight, meat-eating, Southern Baptist to a queer, vegetarian, atheist socialist,” including stories about them learning to overcome their religious guilt or reminiscing over Tinder dates gone wrong. Published by Chronicle Books, “Is it Hot in Here?” was released on April 18. The option is the second commitment between Sony Pictures Television and Zimmerman, who secured a blind script deal at the studio in 2022.

Few authors have established as powerful a bond with their fans as Judy Blume. That incredible connection first manifested with the publication of her debut novel for young adults, 1970’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, which shattered taboos by candidly addressing subjects like menstruation and masturbation.  

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Without a “Spider-Man” movie during the last financial year, Sony’s pictures division was unable to keep up with previous levels of profitability. Games and network services was another weak spot for Sony Group Corporation.

Sony Pictures Entertainment saw operating income dip by nearly $1BN for the fiscal year to March 31, 2023, as a lack of tentpole franchise launches bit.

EXCLUSIVE: Insecure alumna Yvonne Orji has signed a two-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television. Under the pact, the Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, writer, author and producer will develop scripted drama and comedy series for cable and streaming. There is a possibility for her to star in any of the projects she develops for the studio.

Jennie Punter The Changing Face of Europe, which is presented by European Film Promotion (EFP) in collaboration with Hot Docs, returns to Toronto with the sixth edition of its festival-within-a-festival program—nine features and one mid-length film—exploring themes around identity, belonging and struggle. “Over the years, the Changing Face of Europe has become one of the more impactful programs in the lineup, and also an essential component of our festival programming,” Hot Docs artistic director Shane Smith told Variety in advance of the festival. “Europe has a rich history of and strong connection to the art of documentary filmmaking,” he said. “We are delighted to showcase the powerful work coming out of the continent that sheds light on crucial issues facing Europeans today.”

Sony Pictures Classics on Thursday announced their pickup of worldwide rights (outside of the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Latin America) to Strange Way of Life, the buzzy Pedro Almodóvar short, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, which will premiere as an official selection of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Sony Pictures Classics have acquired worldwide rights (excluding the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and Latin America) to Pedro Almodóvar’s short film, “Strange Way of Life,” starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, the company announced on Thursday. This follows the news that the short will premiere as an official selection at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.Here is the trailer for the short:It is Almodóvar’s second English-language project after “The Human Voice,” which was also distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to Pedro Almodóvar’s short Western “Strange Way of Life,” excluding the territories of the U.K., France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and Latin America. Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal star in the short that will premiere in official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. The short is now in pre-production and Sony Pictures Classics will release this fall. It’s Almodóvar’s second English-language project after “The Human Voice,” which was also distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. “Strange Way of Life” is produced by Almodóvar’s El Deseo and presented by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. It also stars Pedro Casablanc, Manu Ríos, George Steane, José Condessa, Jason Fernández and Sara Sálamo. It’s produced by Agustín Almodóvar, with Esther García as executive producer and Bárbara Peiró, Diego Pajuelo, and Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello as associate producers.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Sony Pictures Television has appointed Matthew Justice as executive VP and head of U.K. and Europe. In the newly created role, he will report into Wayne Garvie, president of International Productions. Justice will directly manage SPT’s international studio operations and European co-productions business, as well as work closely with SPT International Production’s wholly-owned and joint venture production companies in the region, which includes Bad Wolf, Eleven Films and Left Bank Pictures. Justice most recently served as managing director at ITV Studios-backed Big Talk. He will start at SPT later this year.

Sony Pictures Television has bolstered its international team with the hire of respected UK scripted producer Matthew Justice.

Sony Pictures Classics has snapped up worldwide rights to Carlos, a new documentary about the father of Latin American jazz fusion, Carlos Santana. A release date for the film directed by Emmy winner Rudy Valdez (The Sentence) has not yet been disclosed.

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Television is adapting NFL vet R.K. Russell’s memoir The Yards Between Us into a half-hour comedy series from Russell, Saeed Crumpler (Flatbush Misdemeanors) and Gabrielle Union (Truth Be Told).