France TV Distribution Racks Up Sales On Intergenerational Comedy ‘Big Kids’

The European Commission and European Investment Fund (EIF) have announced the first investments of its fledgeling MediaInvest equity investment instrument aimed at the audiovisual sector.

The King and Queen’s three-day state visit to France had it all – glitz, glamour and humour. The crowning event was the state banquet at the magnificent 2,300-room Palace of Versailles, where the couple rubbed shoulders with king of romcom Hugh Grant, Sex Education and Barbie star Emma Mackey and music royalty Sir Mick Jagger, among VIP guests from the worlds of sport, business and the arts. Queen Camilla, 76, was the picture of elegance in a midnight blue cape dress by Dior and the dazzling jewels known as the George VI Sapphire Victorian Suite that once belonged to Elizabeth II.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Yellow Veil Pictures, the U.S.-based arthouse genre distribution company, has acquired North American rights to Belgian director Claude Schmitz’s deadpan detective thriller “The Other Laurens.” The feature debut world premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and will have its North American Premiere at Fantastic Fest which kicks off Sept. 23 in Austin, Texas. Yellow Veil Pictures plans for a theatrical release in 2024.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent SAN SEBASTIAN — Paris-based Luxbox has clinched major territory pre-sales on anticipated San Sebastian competition title “Puan,” an original attempt by its writer-directors, María Alche (“A Family Submerged”) and Benjamín Naishtat (“Rojo”) to deliver a state of the nation take on Argentina – and any country in thrall of European ideas – but in a notably lighter tone than most Latin American arthouse fare. Key first major territory buyers take in Condor for France, whose release lineup has featured major auteurs such as Kelly Reichardt, Casey Affleck, Agnieszka Holland, Paul Schrader, Denis Villeneuve, Michel Franco and Ira Sachs.

Queen Camilla just wore Queen Elizabeth II’s most famous sapphire jewellery.

Fans of BBC news presenter Jon Kay were in hysterics after being 'spotted' as the King gave a speech in France. A video of King Charles addressing guests during a State Banquet at the Palace of Versailles was shared on social media after one user thought a member of the waiting staff bore a strong resemblance to the Breakfast show host.

Perhaps the French selection committee knows something we don’t, but they turned the race or the International Film Oscar on its head today. Instead of selecting Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winner, “Anatomy of a Fall,” a likely Best Picture nominee, the group picked Tran Anh Hung’s sublime but terribly re-titled “The Taste of Things” (still known as “The Pot-au-Feu” in the rest of the world) instead.

France has submitted The Taste Of Things as its candidate for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, in a major upset after Justine Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner and hot favorite Anatomy Of A Fall was shut out.

The Taste of Things” over “Anatomy of a Fall,” Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winning film, to represent the country in the international feature film race. “The Taste of Things” (previously titled “The Pot-au-Feu”) won best director at Cannes for French-Vietnamese filmmaker Trần Anh Hùng. Starring Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel, the period movie was bought by IFC Films and Sapan Studios.

Ben Croll Gallic animation house GO-N Productions was named Producer of the Year at the latest edition of Cartoon Forum, while fellow Paris-based house APC Kids claimed the top tribute in the Investor/Distributor category. Rounding out the tributes, Portuguese public broadcaster RTP was exalted and awarded Broadcaster of the Year, very much reflecting the wider industry trends that have seen public broadcasters take pride of place at the Toulouse-set animation co-production forum.

King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped out together for a black tie dinner event in Paris!

King Charles' famous 'hunky' kilt-clad assistant was spotted by his side once again as he and Queen Camilla landed in France.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Paris-based leading distribution company ARP Selection has bought a pair of U.S. indie gems from the fall festival circuit, Shane Atkinson’s feature debut “LaRoy” and Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla.” “LaRoy,” a neo-noir Western comedy with Coen brothers influences, just won three major prizes at the Deauville Film Festival, including the Grand Prize, Audience Award and Critics Prize; while “Priscilla” world premiered at the Venice Film Festival and won best actress for Cailee Spaeny.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Film Constellation has sealed a first raft of pre-sales in key territories on French female-led revenge feature “Animale,” directed by Emma Benestan (“Fragile”) and starring César winner Oulaya Amamra (“Divines”). The pre-sales include Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy (Plaion), Spain (Filmin), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom) and Middle East and North Africa (Falcon). Wild Bunch Distribution will release “Animale” in French theaters next year.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent French TV sales broke an all-time record of €214.8 million ($230 million) in 2022, a 15.4% year-on rise, bolstered by premium TV series such as Newen’s procedural “HPI,” Federation’s spy series “The Bureau” and Banijay’s period show “Marie Antoinette,” according to a study unveiled by the National Film Board and promotion org Unifrance. The French org credited the spike in French TV exports to the end of the pandemic and the delivery of fresh content, as well as the return of in-person markets and business travel. French linear channels still remain the main buyers of local TV content, accounting for 49% of sales, on par with 2021.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent French director Edouard Bergeon, whose Cesar-nominated debut feature “In the Name of the Land” was a box office hit in 2019, has penned another eco-thriller, “The Green Deal.” The movie, which is partly set in the Indonesian forest, has been boarded by Playtime and will be pitched to buyers at the Toronto Film Festival. “The Green Deal” explores crimes and colliding interests in the exploitation of a palm oil and the production of biofuels.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent French director Edouard Bergeon, whose Cesar-nominated debut feature “In the Name of the Land” was a box office hit in 2019, has penned another eco-thriller, “The Green Deal.” The movie, which is partly set in the Indonesian forest, has been boarded by Playtime and will be pitched to buyers at the Toronto Film Festival. “The Green Deal” explores crimes and colliding interests in the exploitation of a palm oil and the production of biofuels.

France’s TV sales market hit record levels thanks to deals such as ABC’s remake of crime drama High Intellectual Potential, as the U.S. became the biggest buyer of content from the European country.

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has reached yet another milestone in the seven weeks since its release – now bringing in over $850million (£671million) from global ticket sales.The dark drama – which saw Cillian Murphy take on the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, ‘father of the atomic bomb’ – arrived in cinemas on July 21, and has since gone on to become one of Christopher Nolan’s most successful films to date.In the seven weeks since its debut, the movie has generated millions globally and continues to surpass expectations – particularly with its genre as an R-rated biographical, historical drama.Now, it has been confirmed that Oppenheimer has hit yet another impressive milestone, and has crossed $850milion in ticket sales globally.According to reports by Variety, around $311million (£241million) of this figure has come from sales across North America, while around $542.7million (£334million) has come in internationally.