European Film Market Puts Polarized Dealmaking in Sharp Relief

Ashton Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis always look like the most adorable, loved-up couple! The A-list pair stepped out in Los Angeles for a lunch date on Saturday (March 5), and were spotted wearing twinning ensembles. The Ranch actor rocked a gray tee and black joggers, while the Bad Moms vet donned a simple gray hoodie over shorts.

A collection of Russian film distributors and industry executives have braved potentially dangerous consequences by calling for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Naman Ramachandran The European Film Academy (EFA) has issued an unequivocal condemnation of President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and excluded Russia from the European Film Awards.In a statement released on Tuesday, the EFA said: “The Academy strongly condemns the war started by Russia – Ukraine’s sovereignty and territory must be respected. Putin’s actions are atrocious and totally unacceptable, and we strongly condemn them.”“What concerns us most is the fate of the Ukrainians, and our hearts are with the Ukrainian filmmaking community. We are fully aware that several of our members are fighting with arms against the aggressor.

The European Film Academy (EFA) has joined growing calls in the international cinema community for a boycott of Russian films.

Naman Ramachandran The European Film Academy (EFA) has issued an unequivocal condemnation of President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine after Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa expressed his dissatisfaction with their earlier statement and resigned his EFA membership.On Feb. 24, after Russia invaded Ukraine, the EFA had issued a statement pledging their support to the Ukrainian filmmaking community.

Andrew Garfield suits up sharp in a pinstripe ensemble for the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday (February 27) at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

Naman Ramachandran The European Film Academy has pledged support to its members in Ukraine and is looking for practical ways to help them. “We need to immediately move beyond ‘thoughts and prayers’ and start to concentrate on what practical help can be given to our membership and community,” European Film Academy chair and board member of the International Coalition for Film makers at Risk, Mike Downey, told Variety.

The European Film Academy (EFA) has contacted its members in Ukraine pledging support amidst today’s assault on the country by Russian forces.

The nominees for the 2022 Critics Choice Super Awards are finally here!

European studio Mediawan has signed a strategic partnership with Death of Stalin producer Laurent Zeitoun and Gregory Ouanhon’s nascent creative studio Good Hero to co-develop and produce high-end international TV shows and feature films.

The Berlin Film Festival’s industry wing, the European Film Market (EFM), has confirmed that 600 exhibitors from 62 countries took part in this year’s virtual edition, up from last year’s figure of 504.

a real hot girl.Megan Thee Stallion is taking her act from arena stages to the big screen as she makes her film debut in the raunchy musical comedy “F- -king Identical Twins.”The project also stars Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”), two-time Emmy-winner Megan Mullally (“Will & Grace”) and Tony-winner Nathan Lane (“The Producers”), and is directed by “Seinfeld” veteran Larry Charles, according to multiple outlets on Thursday.The A24 film stars comedians Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp in what a Hollywood Reporter insider described as “a subversive spin on ‘The Parent Trap,'” about two career adversaries who learn they are twins separated at birth. The story is based on a two-man live set developed and performed by Jackson and Sharp in 2014.

Ben Croll Fueled in no small part by international streamers looking to entrench their market share, production days skyrocketed across the European continent in 2021. But if the last year marked a gold rush for both service providers and content hungry viewers, independent producers have been feeling the squeeze.“It’s not a golden age when it comes to IP retention,” said Katharina Hiersemenzel, senior VP public policy of German mini-major Constantin Film.

Johnny Depp shows off his medal during Serbia’s Statehood Day celebration on Tuesday (February 15) in Belgrade, Serbia.

Smilegate and Amazon Game Studios are working on “an entirely new region of servers in Europe” to accommodate demand for Lost Ark at launch, however many European players are leaving negative reviews on Steam to show their dissatisfaction with the current server state.Yesterday (February 13), Smilegate announced via a blog that it is “working as quickly as possible to set up an entirely new region of servers in Europe.”According to Smilegate, this is a joint expansion between itself and publisher Amazon Game Studios, and it’s “the only way to accommodate more players in Europe.”At the moment, the demand for Lost Ark in Europe is causing players in that region to suffer from lengthy queue times. Many of these players are leaving negative reviews on Steam, with some reviews stating queue times in Europe can be upwards of four hours.“While we understand lengthy queue times may persist, we will need time to ensure everything is set up to be in top shape to help accommodate all players to get in game.

Margot Robbie. Robbie will play Barbie and Gosling will play Ken, but it is not yet known which role Ferrera will play.Gerwig wrote the screenplay, along with her partner Noah Baumbach, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap. This will be Gerwig’s third feature film following her debut, “Lady Bird,” and her adaptation of “Little Women,” both of which scored Best Picture nominations at the Oscars.Executive producers are Josey McNamara for LuckyChap Entertainment.

Simu Liu (Shang-Chi, Kim’s Convenience) is in negotiations to star alongside Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film for Warner Bros., Deadline has confirmed.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentCannes’ Marché du Film, the world’s biggest film market, is set to change leadership in 2023 with its long-time, charismatic executive director Jerome Paillard due to exit after this year’s edition. Guillaume Esmiol has been named co-executive director for this edition and will fully take over in 2023. Esmiol joined the Marché du Film in 2020 to spearhead the development.

EXCLUSIVE: Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla cast member Ken Watanabe has joined his upcoming New Regency film True Love in a role originally to have been played by Benedict Wong, following the latter actor’s departure due to scheduling conflicts.