Cohen Media Group Acquires Domestic Rights to Toronto Film ‘Driving Madeleine’

streaming, the action-thriller (which Fox also produces) is a dystopian story set in a world where a disruption to the petroleum supply chain sparks a global crisis.Fox, 56, stars as Andy Yeats, an American chemist who lives in London with his wife Elena (Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”), their 8- year-old son Sam (Taylor Fay) — who’s losing his vision — and college-aged climate activist daughter Laura (Alyth Ross), who’s scornful of her dad’s work (since it involves the fossil fuel industry).When the family is about to go to Paris for Sam’s experimental eye surgery, Andy’s work calls him away him to deal with an oil-related emergency in Luzrah (a fictional place in the Middle East). This angers Elena — who thinks he’s prioritizing work over family — and Laura (because of her principles).As power grids shut down all over Europe and social unrest breaks out, the family scatters to the wind, with Andy in Luzrah, his wife and son in France and his daughter still in England.

Singer Matt Goss has been reunited with his beloved pet dog as he was flooded with support after making his Strictly Come Dancing debut. The Bros heart-throb, who has performed a residency of more than 10 years in Las Vegas with shows at The Palms, Caesars Palace and The Mirage, melted hearts as he was seen with his pooch Reggie after returning to the UK.

Strictly Come Dancing, he knew in a heartbeat that it was his father he wanted to join him.REVEALED: Ola & James Jordan's Strictly verdict on Will's jive, Ellie's emotional performance and winner predictions"Dad always worried about me when fame first struck. I was young then, but I need him just as much now and always will," says the star, who achieved huge chart success in the 1980s in pop band Bros alongside his twin brother Luke."When they said I could have somebody on the studio floor with me, I immediately knew I needed my dad.

Liza Foreman Spanish production and distribution company Bteam Pictures has picked up all rights for Spain to San Sebastián competition title “Los Reyes del Mundo” (“Kings of the World”). Film Factory Entertainment brokered the deal with Bteam partners Ania Jones, Alex Lafuente and Lara Pérez Camiña. Film Factory’s Vicente Canales confirmed to Variety that the company is handling worldwide sales for the film, excluding France, Benelux, Colombia and Mexico.  “Bteam is well known for distributing quality films in Spain and has already released several of our Spanish pictures,” said Canales. “We believe they are the best match for ‘Kings of the World,’ which is one of the most important Colombian films of the year.”

EXCLUSIVE: Manila-based TBA Studios has acquired Philippines theatrical rights to award-winning drama Plan 75, which is Japan’s submission for the best international feature category of the Academy Awards.

Disney yesterday began overseas rollout on the remastered rerelease of James Cameron’s Avatar in five early markets with the Na’vi seeing a collective $877K gross. The 4K high dynamic range version was No. 1 in France at $513K, coming in 8% ahead of the comparable 3D rerelease of Titanic in 2012.

The Cube producer Objective Media Group and The Traitors creator IDTV are forging an under-the-wraps format in the UK and U.S. titled The Unknown, a psychological social experiment that will be unveiled at next month’s Mipcom market.

Star Wars’ characters, they aren’t real. Hobbits, they aren’t real.

Emma Corrin just gets it. The actor delivered drama at the Toronto International Film Festival, stepping out in nothing but a high-cut bodysuit.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Barcelona-based Film Factory Entertainment has picked up world sales rights to “El Otro Hijo,” the feature debut of Colombia’s Juan Sebastián Quebrada. The Evidencia Films production adds to the growing list of Colombian pickups by Film Factory, including last year’s sweeping Premios Platino winner, “Memories of My Father” (“El Olvido que Seremos”) by Fernando Trueba. and Laura Mora’s “Kings of the World,”which competes at the upcoming San Sebastian Film Festival and is part of Toronto’s Industry Select section. “Film Factory is excited to be on board; Colombian cinema is very strong and we are eager to discover new talents from the country. We believe we found one in Juan Sebastián Quebrada,” Film Factory’s Vicente Canales told Variety.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Cohen Media Group has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “Driving Madeleine,” a stirring new drama directed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Christian Carion (“Joyeux Noel”), and starring Dany Boon (“Bienvenue chez les ch’tis”). The film is playing in the Official Selection at the Toronto Film Festival. Besides “Joyeux Noel,” Carion’s wide-ranging films include the Cold War spy thriller “Farewell,” the World War II tale “Come What May,” the mystery “My Son,” and the rural drama “The Girl from Paris.”  “Driving Madeleine” stars Boon as Charles, a taxi driver in Paris who is struggling under mounting stress. His debts are coming due, his driver’s license is in danger of being suspended because of numerous fines, and his marriage is falling apart. He has no way of knowing his life is about to be transformed when he picks up Madeleine, a 92-year-old woman who is soon to move into a care facility. She asks Charles to make certain stops during what may be her last ride through the city. Charles grumbles but is slowly charmed by Madeleine’s warmth and fascinated by her tales as she slowly reveals the dramatic and shocking story of her life.

Ben Croll French filmmakers and sales agents will hit Toronto looking for a sale, great buzz and, above all, a lasting foothold into the U.S. market. Because a welcome perch across the pond can make all the difference, especially given the recent crunch on the international scene.  “Today, the market is extremely polarized,” says Alice Lesort, who heads sales for Les Films du Losange. “There are still films that perform extremely well abroad, but the number of films has shrunk; there are still films that take the spotlight, but the spotlight now focuses on fewer of them.” Bringing the Léa Seydoux-led “One Fine Morning” to Toronto after previous berths in Cannes and Telluride and an upcoming slot in New York, director Mia Hansen-Løve has proven an outlier several times over. For one thing, at only 41-years-old, she’s already made eight features; for another, all but one of those features has seen U.S. distribution.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Altice USA is making changes at the top: The cable operator announced that it has recruited Comcast veteran Dennis Mathew as CEO. Matthew takes over effective Oct. 3, assuming the CEO role from Dexter Goei, who has been named executive chairman of the board of directors. All of Goei’s direct reports will report to Mathew. Altice USA founder and current chairman Patrick Drahi will remain a director on the board. The No. 4 U.S. cable operator said it made the move to hire a new CEO “given Mr. Goei’s intention to return to Europe with his family.” Goei has worked for France’s Altice since 2009, leading the telecom company’s entry into the U.S. market through the acquisitions of Cablevision Systems and Suddenlink Communications, which now comprise Altice USA.

Variety Staff Follow Us on Twitter After introducing the project at MipTV earlier this year, distributor Newen Connect is bringing its crime thriller series “Syndrome E” to the Unifrance Rendez-Vous, the international sales event for French shows in Biarritz, South-West France, which runs Sept. 4-8. “Syndrome E” is the first TV series adapted from the work of international best-selling thriller writer and screenwriter Franck Thilliez. The French author was the fourth most read writer in France in 2020, with more than 7 million books sold in France and translated in more than 20 countries. “Syndrome E” is the first TV series adapted from international best-selling thriller writer and screenwriter Franck Thilliez. The French author was the fourth most read writer in France in 2020, with more than 7 million books sold in France and translated in more than 20 countries.

Ed Meza @edmezavar Coming off a year of major international growth, Paris-based animation giant Cyber Group Studios is presenting a wide-ranging lineup of new and returning shows at this year’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous in the French seaside town of Biarritz. Among Cyber Group’s current high-profile titles is the new super-powered kid comedy series “50/50 Heroes,” which has sold to ITV in the U.K. and Discovery in Latin America. Commissioned by France Televisions and Disney, “50/50 Heroes” follows the high jinks of Mo and Sam, a half-brother and sister duo, aged 11 and 9, who share super powers. Cyber Group has been expanding its global operations over the past year with a number of major acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures that have resulted in a number of new projects.

Matt Damon is enjoying his family vacation. The actor has been photographed throughout Buenos Aires, enjoying the city’s sights and cuisine accompanied by his daughters and his wife, Luciana Barroso, who was born in Argentina.Ben Affleck spotted leaving with Matt Damon after wedding with Jennifer LopezMatt Damon and his family enjoy their vacation in ArgentinaThis week, he was photographed in the restaurant Don Julio, ranked as one of the year’s 15 best restaurants in the word.

ARMAGEDDON TIME (d. James Gray, U.S., 2022) BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS (d. Alejandro González Iñárritu, Mexico-U.S., 2022) BOBI WINE, GHETTO PRESIDENT (d.