France Lures International Productions Via Incentives, Amenities

A record number of international distributors will be at the London TV Screenings in 2024.

EXCLUSIVE: European toon Nate is Late is returning to class.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent More than 180,000 people across France, including approximately 105,000 in Paris, took part in a civic march against antisemitism on Sunday, according to figures released by the interior ministry and police prefecture. Major political figures such as former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, as well as prime minister Elisabeth Borne and culture minister Rima Abdul Malak attended the march.

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for passengers heading to France. Brits are being warned about demonstrations taking place in the country and the government has urged anyone travelling there to 'stay aware'.

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.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “Consent,” an adaptation of Vanessa Springora’s bestselling book which sparked a belated #MeToo moment in France, has lured major distributors while thriving at the local box office and stirring social media buzz. Represented in international markets by Paris-based outfit SND, the film marks the sophomore outing of Vanessa Filho whose debut feature “Angel Face” stars Marion Cotillard and played at the Cannes Film Festival. Inspired by Springora’s real-life story, “Consent” tells the story of a teenage girl who is manipulated and sexually abused by a celebrated writer in his 50s.

Swedish director Ruben Östlund has been announced as a guest of honor at the 15th edition of France’s Les Arcs Film Festival, in the role of its Talent Village Ambassador.

Tan France has defended Marks & Spencer after a Christmas Instagram post sparked social media backlash.The controversy started when the high-street retailer posted a photo showing Christmas hats in green, red and silver being burned in a fireplace – with some social media users branding the post "disgusting" as the colours are similar to those of the Palestinian flag. Queer Eye star Tan, 40, who appears in the brand's Christmas advert alongside Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham, has now taken to social media to defend the post.Taking to his Instagram Story, Tan shared a close-up photo of his face, to which he added the text: "The ad was shot in AUGUST, so.....

Emiliano De Pablos In standout results that suggests the strength of select Spanish arthouse films on the current international market, Bendita Films Sales, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife-based boutique world sales agency, has closed a formidable raft of deals to Galician auteur Lois Patiño’s multisensory journey film “Samsara.” Winner of a Special Jury Award at Berlin’s 2023 major sidebar Encounters and the Audience Award at Mexico’s Ficunam festival, “Samsara” has just screened in main competition gathered “Samsara”(Oct. 20-28), running up more than a dozen international film festival selections. Bendita Film Sales has clinched commercial release pacts in the U.K.

After focusing on Taiwanese projects for its first three years, the pitching section of Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) opened its doors to international projects for the first time this year. 

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “Funny Birds,” an heartwarming comedy-drama starring Andrea Riseborough, Catherine Deneuve and Morgan Saylor, has sold in key territories in the run up to the AFM. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, the movie is directed by Marco La Via and Hanna Ladoul.

Ben Croll The push for greater studio capacity and more ambitious large-scale facilities — both in the Paris region and throughout the country — is a key element of the France 2030 plan. As it stands, France is on track to offer more than two dozen studios by 2024, with flagship developments including the TSF Backlot 77. That sprawling installation, built on the site of a one-time airbase 38 miles east of Paris, will offer Parisian street facades and a number of standing sets encompassing different neighborhoods and architectural styles.

Ben Croll France’s VFX workforce has grown by leaps and bounds over the past three years, with much credit due to a 10% across-the-board tax rebate bonus for international productions that spend more than $2.1 million with local digital outfits. Of course, the fact that American studios could also benefit from the full 40% tax rebate wholly on post-production expenditures has only helped matters further, affording top-trained talent the chance to stay in (or, in many cases, return to) France, proving their mettle on lavish blockbusters shot elsewhere.

EXCLUSIVE: Fox‘s international expansion has taken another step forwards following a deal with Canada’s Bell Media.

PBS is delving into the question – how can we become the great ancestors the future needs us to be? The public broadcaster is set to air A Brief History Of The Future, a new six-part non-fiction documentary series that explores how re-thinking tomorrow can bring long-term change.

Europol claimed that in an “action week” between October 16 and October 20 led by the French National Gendarmerie, officers arrested one of the main actors in the group in Paris. His home in Czechia was searched and five separate suspects were interviewed in Spain and Latvia.The “key target” who had been located in Paris was presented to the examining magistrates of the Paris Judicial Court and the Ragnar Locker ransomware infrastructure was seized in Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.Also, its associated data leak website on Tor was taken down in Sweden.

The B-52s will perform at the White House State Dinner on Wednesday for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon.

Wim Wenders introduced the cast and crew of “Perfect Days” at an outdoor stage, giving the opening ceremony of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival a moment of European cool. Inside the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, Wenders was brought on stage twice more. “I had a dream that with ‘Perfect Days,’ I’d make a film that would play at the Cannes Film Festival. I dreamed that it would win the best acting prize.

There were two major new entries this weekend at the international box office, one local (Tamil thriller Leo: Bloody Sweet) and one from Hollywood. Starting with the latter, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon from Apple, Paramount and Imperative Entertainment, had a big opening with $21M in 63 offshore markets and No. 1s in 24 of those, including France, Germany, Australia, Spain, Netherlands and Switzerland. The global bow, factoring in its strong domestic opening, was $44M; great for a period movie with a long running time and at a moment when talent could not promote it due to the actors strike.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar and BAFTA-winning VFX firm Framestore has hired industry veteran and former MPC exec Gary Brozenich. He will take up the new position of international production supervisor.