Gaumont Ventures into Italy With Industry Veteran Marco Rosi and a Slate of Talent-Driven Shows (EXCLUSIVE)

Christopher Vourlias Germany’s Sola Media has closed a wave of international sales for the animated feature “Finnick,” produced by Riki Group, which will be released by Sony Pictures Russia in Russia and CIS on March 24.The CGI-animated comedy follows the adventures of 13-year-old Christine, who befriends the young prankster Finnick – one of the furry and usually invisible beings known as Finns. The odd couple has to team up as detectives to solve the mysterious events happening in their city.The Stuttgart-based sales agency has inked deals with Eagle Pictures (Italy), Independent Films (Benelux), Koch Films (German/Austria/Switzerland), Vertigo Releasing (U.K.), Tanweer (Greece), Selmer Media (Scandinavia), Myndform (Iceland), Rialto (Australia and New Zealand), and Black Sheep Films (South Africa), and holds exclusive distribution rights in multiple additional territories.

Elizabeth Banks Pic Sells For Protagonist

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentAward winning film director and historian Mark Cousins (“The Story of Film: A New Generation”) is at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios making a doc titled “March on Rome” that will explore the roots of fascism by analyzing films, photographs, and other documents found in Italian archives.The high-profile documentary — pegged to the centennial of the infamous late October 1922 insurrection by which Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy — will take its cue from the Fascist propaganda film “A Noi” by director Umberto Paradisi, produced in 1923 as an official Fascist party document celebrating the March on Rome.Italian writer and director Tony Saccucci (“The Duce’s Boxer”), who originated the project and did meticulous research for it, serves as a co-writer with Cousins. Saccuci cross-checked Paradisi’s film with other sources of the time to reveal details of the pic that provide a completely new take on the history of those dramatic days, according to the synopsis.

Gianluca Vacchi is one of the most charismatic social media personalities. The Italian entrepreneur, DJ, and author have thousands of friends from the highest entertainment spheres, including Marc Anthony.

So much for those Spidey senses! After Tom Holland revealed that he thought his Uncharted costar Mark Wahlberg gifted him a toy for “self-pleasure,” the Boogie Nights actor set the record straight.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Gucci family saga isn’t quite over.Just months after the release of Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” — a film that could see Lady Gaga nominated for her second Oscar — a TV drama and documentary focusing on the Gucci family is in the works from Comcast-backed Sky Studios.The company is in early stages of development on a high-end TV series, and is in pre-production on a documentary series, both of which will tell “the story of a great family and a great brand,” says producer Nils Hartmann, senior VP for Sky Studios Germany and Italy.Both projects were brought to Sky by Leone Film Group, which has an agreement with several members of the Gucci family, including Alessandro Gucci, Guccio Gucci Jr. and Giorgio Gucci.

ROME -- The Vatican and an Italian Catholic bishop on Wednesday protested a performance at Italy’s Sanremo music festival that featured a “profane” faux baptism on stage, lamenting in particular that it was broadcast on public television.On the opening night of the annual song contest, a tattooed, bare-chested and barefoot singer named Achille Lauro gyrated and grabbed his crotch as he sang “Domenica” (“Sunday”), backed up by singers from the Harlem Gospel Choir. He finished by kneeling on stage, hands clasped in front of him as if in prayer, and poured water from a bowl over his forehead.Sanremo Bishop Antonio Suetta said the performance contained “words, attitudes and gestures that are not just offensive to religion, but to human dignity.”In a statement, Suetta said he considered not saying anything, knowing that his protest would only draw attention to the performance.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentItaly’s Vision Distribution has boarded Berlin Panorama title “Swing Ride,” directed by Chiara Bellosi, and will launch sales at the upcoming EFM on the pic about an overweight teenager named Benedetta who is pining for attention.“Swing Ride” (“Calcinculo”) is set in a tiny southern Italian town where Benedetta meets Armando, aka Amanda, a young transvestite who runs the carousel and sells drugs.

Rose Ayling-Ellis has had fans making a demand as she gave them another look behind-the-scenes.

Annika Pham Stockholm-based Momento Film, the company behind “Tiny King for a Day” and Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market-bound work in progress “Dogborn,” has confirmed start of production and E.U. partners on Daniel Espinosa’s “Madame Luna,” its biggest project ever.Principal photography in Sicily and Calabria is set to begin May 5 on the €5 million ($5.6 million) refugee drama, penned by Maurizio Braucci (“Gomorrah”) and Suha Arraf (“Lemon Tree”) from an idea by Binyam Berhane.David Herdies is producing for Momento Film, with co-production partners Marco Alessi and Massimiliano Navarra of Italy’s Dugong Films, Peter Nadermann of Germany’s Nadcon and Katja Adomeit and Pål Røed of Denmark’s Adomeit Film.

Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice are wowing Strictly Come Dancing fans across the country as they take the live tour to various cities.MORE: Giovanni Pernice talks sizzling chemistry with Rose Ayling-Ellis after dedicating tattoo to herBut away from the limelight, the pair - who made Strictly history when they lifted the glitterball trophy in December - are still finding some downtime, taking pictures behind-the-scenes of backstage antics.WATCH: Giovanni Pernice kisses Strictly partner Rose Ayling-EllisTaking to her Instagram Stories on Monday following the Birmingham leg of the tour, Rose posted a snapshot of a polaroid with her dance partner and fellow pro Luba Mushtuk.MORE: Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice spark reaction with near kiss during rehearsalsREAD: Giovanni Pernice says the sweetest thing about dancing with Rose Ayling-Ellis againAlongside the post, the EastEnders star added a gif of a lizard and wrote: "@giovannipernice The classic lizard [laughing face emojis]."During Strictly rehearsals last year, Rose often referred to Giovanni as a "lizard". When asked why, she explained on It Takes Two: "It's a joke that we have.

Strictly Come Dancing fans have said the 'fairy tale is still alive' as Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice get another chance to dance together.