‘Five Nights At Freddy’s’ Has Super Game With $131M Global Bow; Biggest Horror Start Of 2023 – International Box Office

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor More than 800 film industry professionals in Germany and Austria have signed an open letter opposing antisemitism, with the number of signatories continuing to grow. The signatories include a wide range of directors, writers, producers and other film industry professionals.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Jasmina Kuhnke, a German-born writer, actor, author and activist, has signed with CAA for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. Kuhnke’s debut novel, “Black Heart,” is a bestseller. The semi-autobiographical book recounts her experience growing up on the outskirts of the Ruhr region in Germany in the ’90s, and how she grappled with racism.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Paramount+ has signed a partnership with Microsoft for the streaming service to be available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S across several international markets. Under the deal, Paramount+ will roll out on Xbox consoles in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latin America (including Brazil), Switzerland and the U.K.

New Riyadh-based acquisition and distribution company TwentyOne Entertainment has announced its launch at upcoming the Red Sea International Film Festival, which is due to unfold in the port city of in Jeddah from November 30 to December 9.

Universal/Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s was still plenty game this weekend, crossing $100M at the international box office and $200M worldwide. The sophomore frame overseas, where this is a pure theatrical play, dipped 54% to deliver $35.6M in 74 markets for a $103.5M offshore cume and $217.1M global.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Molly Manning Walker, the English cinematographer-turned-filmmaker whose debut feature “How to Have Sex” won a prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has signed with CAA for representation. Penned and directed by Manning Walker, “How to Have Sex” world premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard where it won best prize and earned unanimous praise. The film follows three British teenage girls who go on a rites-of-passage holiday in sun-drenched Crete and find themselves navigating the complexities of sex, consent and self-discovery.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Leading Saudi advertising and live events company Alamiya has moved into film production by acquiring start up shingle Lyra Pictures, co-founded by experienced media exec Wesam Kattan, who was part of the Viacom team that launched MTV Arabia. Alamiya was founded in 1976 as the first film and TV studio in the kingdom, but was forced to change its business plan in the early 1980s due to the ban on cinema forced by religious conservatives.

The 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival has announced its selection, opening with Richard Linklater’s comedy Hit Man. (scroll down for full list of films)

Sophie Turner appears to have moved on from her husband Joe Jones after the Games of Thrones star was caught kissing aristocrat Peregrine Pearson. Actress, Sophie, 27, and Jonas Brother singer Joe, 34, tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2019 after meeting in 2016, and have gone on to welcome two daughters together. In September this year, the pair confirmed they had "mutually" and "amicably" ended their relationship after "four wonderful years of marriage".

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent WestEnd Films has scored multiple sales, including to North America, on British director Patrick Dickinson’s drama “Cottontail,” which stars Japan’s Lily Franky (“Shoplifters”) and Ciaran Hinds. The film, first announced at the AFM in 2019, won the prize for best first feature last week at the Rome Film Festival, where it had its world premiere.

Heidi Klum has once again outdid herself with her Halloween costume!

Chloe Madeley and James Haskell looked glum as they were both spotted for the first time since their marriage split was confirmed. Earlier this week the pair issued a statement saying they have separated, just 13 months after the birth of their daughter, Bodhi. Speaking to The Sun, Chloe explained: “James and I mutually decided separate at the end of September, 2023.

Zee-Sony Merger Back On Track

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor International sales agency the Playmaker has signed a deal with Blue Finch Film Releasing to distribute the one-shot horror film “Home Sweet Home — Where Evil Lives” in the U.K. and Ireland. Thomas Sieben’s film, which made its world premiere in August at FrightFest in London, has its market premiere at AFM.

Richard Madeley awkwardly avoided mentioning daughter Chloe Madeley's split from husband James Haskell as he presented on Good Morning Britain on Monday, 30 October.The longtime TV presenter's 36 year old daughter announced in a statement over the weekend that she and ex-rugby star James, 38, decided to split in September, amid rumours of strife in their marriage. Whilst Good Morning Britain often discusses the biggest news stories from the weekend, which today included the tragic death of Friends star Matthew Perry, as well as Rebecca Loos talking about her alleged affair with David Beckham, there was no mention of Chloe and James' split. Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice the omission, as they took to X - formerly known as Twitter - to comment.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor A24 has forged an exclusive output deal with Happinet Phantom Studios covering the distribution in Japan of A24’s upcoming releases, including Alex Garland’s action film “Civil War,” starring Kirsten Dunst, which has a highly anticipated launch at AFM this week. Happinet and A24 have worked together on the release of a number of films in Japan, including triple Oscar winner “Moonlight,” and “Midsommar,” whose gross in the territory was the biggest outside North America.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Cornerstone has closed sales on multiple territories including North America and the U.K. for writer and director Daniel Kokotajlo’s “Starve Acre,” a brooding and atmospheric folk horror. “House of the Dragon’s” Matt Smith and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” actor Morfydd Clark star in the film, which is produced by House Productions.

Chloe Madeley, 36, and James Haskell, 38, revealed in a joint statement that they had called time on their five year marriage.The former couple shared that they won't be "speaking about this matter publicly as it is private" as they "have a daughter to co parent." The split comes after Chloe was seen without her wedding ring, plus recent photographs that emerged of James partying with other women. Chloe's father, Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley, 67, was reportedly ready to address the issue before two announced their split.

Pairs Fury has said she feels like the 'world's worst mum' after jetting off to support her husband Tyson five weeks after they welcomed their seventh child into the world.

The phenomenon that is Universal/Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s is currently looking at a global opening of $130M. Fazbear and crew are playing in 64 international box office markets where they are expected to reach $52M through Sunday.