Emerging French Animators Preview New Films at Annecy Panel

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are not only a beloved comedy partnership but they are also the very best of friends. So there was no way that Dawn was going to let Jennifer's birthday pass by without a little fanfare.The Vicar of Dibley star shared two tributes – one on Instagram and one on Twitter – in celebration of Jennifer's 63rd birthday on 6 July.

It’s that time of year again, though a little delayed. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival last year, thanks to the global pandemic, Cannes is triumphantly back this year with a whopper of a line-up, And it’s one that’s perhaps overflowing with things that were due to appear at the festival last year (Wes Anderson‘s “The French Dispatch,” Paul Verhoeven’s “Benedetta”) and instead were held for an entire year by the filmmakers and producers.

Ben Croll Dotted by hilltop views and an historic city center, France’s southwestern city of Angoulême had certainly played host to a handful of live-action shoots in recent years.But for the most part, the commune, just under 50,000 strong, had made its name as the country’s cartoonist capital, the place where Gallic scribblers go to burnish their reputation at the Intl.

Charades Films has boarded Carlota Pereda’s rural thriller “Piggy” (“Cerdita”), one of the most awaited feature debuts of the year from Spain.Written and directed by Pereda, “Piggy” is produced by Morena Films and France’s Backup Media, the outfit behind “Still Alice,” “Submergence” and Ari Folman’s Cannes entry “Where Is Anne Frank.” Charades will handle world sales rights on “Piggy,” while Filmax, a frequent backer of first time directors, will distribute the film in Spain.Starring Laura

Dawn French is an incredibly proud mum to daughter Billie and delighted fans on Instagram this week when she shared a very rare snapshot of her only child.The actress shares Billie with her ex-husband Lenny Henry – the former couple were married from 1984 until 2010 – and prefers to keep her daughter out of the spotlight.MORE: Dawn French stuns fans with major change to trademark bob haircut WATCH: Dawn French reveals how her husband proposedBut on Monday, Dawn reposted an image previously sent

Dawn French has released an extremely touching tribute to her late father Denys, who passed away 44 years ago. The 63-year-old star took to Instagram on Father's Day to share a throwback photograph of her younger self alongside her dad and told her followers just how much she misses him."44 years without you but miss you a lot.

Emiliano Granada Following on its acquisition in May of “The Island of Thirty Coffins,” Munich-based Beta Film is doubling down on French production, acquiring international rights to the six-hour France 3 crime thriller “Presumed Guilty.”Written by Franck Ollivier (“Zodiaque”), the limited series follows Lola, played by Garance Thenault (“La Mante”), who travels to a town on the Brittany coast for a job interview.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentUgo Bienvenu (aka Ugo), the popular French illustrator and comics author of “Préférence système,” is partnering up with veteran producer Valerie Schermann (“The Red Turtle,” “Paris, 13th District”) on his animated feature debut “Arco.”An ambitious science-fiction film, “Arco” is being co-developed and co-produced by Remembers, the outfit launched by Bienvenu and Félix de Givry, and Schermann at Akaba.

Irina Shayk is back in New York after returning from her France vacation with her rumoured boyfriend Kanye West. After being spotted on a stroll with her daughter Lea De Seine last week, Shayk was once again spotted in NYC, this time with her ex Bradley Cooper with whom she shares her four-year-old daughter.

France and whom she hadn’t seen for a year and a half.“Happiest place on earth,” she said, with tears in her eyes.“We couldn’t miss the reopening," said Elodie Piedfort, from Haute-Loire region in central France. “Because I’m a nurse it’s been a very difficult year and being here, together with my son, is great.

Wild Bunch is getting deeper into animation with the launch of a new sales company it is setting up with French animation specialist Gebeka.

Every passing day is another day closer to the Cannes premiere of Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” and you can expect plenty of updates regarding the auteur director’s buzzy, star-studded period dramedy in the coming weeks. Today, we were afforded a tantalizing glimpse at the original soundtrack for “The French Dispatch,” which looks to be yet another top-shelf addition to Anderson’s roster of indelible cinematic playlists.

Kanye West is enjoying his time with Irina Shayk.

EXCLUSIVE: In a highly competitive acquisition situation ahead of the documentary’s Tribeca Festival premiere, MSNBC Films has picked up Paper & Glue from Imagine Documentaries, Impact Partners, TIME Studios, and Shark Island.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentDidier Brunner – producer of “The Triplets of Belleville,” “The Secret of Kells” and “Ernest and Celestine” – is readying his next production, ’Prends Garde à toi!,’ an adaptation of the ‘Carmen’ story led by one of France’s freest creative spirits: Sébastien Laudenbach.Laudenbach’s feature debut, “The Girl Without Hands,” an adaptation of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, was acquired by Gkids for North American distribution.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentWhile U.S. blockbusters deserted screens in 2020, French animated features had 10-year record-breaking performance at the local box office last year, according to a study conducted by the CNC (National Film Board) and unveiled on the opening day of Annecy Film Festival.

French Montana has released a music video for his new single ‘FWMGAB’ which arrived on Friday (June 11).The new track – which stands for ‘Fuck With Me Get a Bag’ – samples Jerry Rivera’s ‘Amores Como El Nuestro’, which pop fans may recognise from Shakira and Wyclef Jean‘s 2006 hit single ‘Hips Don’t Lie’.The clip sees French rapping in various New York locations – including, at one point, on the very top of the Statue of Liberty.

Kanye West couldn’t have looked happier in the first photo of the rapper since returning from his getaway with Irina Shayk. The “Famous” rapper, 44, sported a bright grin as he spent some time with friends and confidants at the Golden Heart Ranch in Malibu on June 10. Kanye wore a pair of Yeezys along with dark pants and a blue poncho. Take a look at the photo below!