Global Bulletin: BBC Scores ‘Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens’

In today’s Global Bulletin the U.K. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport asks for an extension to the current furlough scheme, San Sebastian will close with Fernando Trueba’s “Forgotten We’ll Be,” ITV looks to invest, MediaWorks sells its TV business to Discovery, ZDF commissions a new WWII factual series and “The Eight Hundred” gets a U.K.

Jamie Lang In today’s global bulletin German VFX company Rise Visual Effects opens London offices, ViacomCBS International, Banijay and ITN make major promotions and BBC Studios sells “Doctor Foster” format in Turkey.Despite holdups caused by COVID 19 and Brexit, leading European visual effects studio Rise Visual Effects will open a new office in London this month, expanding its German-based operations into the U.K.There, Lara Lom, recently appointed as managing director, has been heading the

Tom Grater International Film ReporterSPI International has taken rights for U.S., UK, CEE, Turkey, Benelux, Portugal and China on crime-thriller Watch The Sunset, billed as Australia’s first one-take feature film. The deal was brokered by Australian distribution and international sales company Fighting Chance Films.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin young U.K. directors get a powerful new resource in Director Now from “Humans” director Lewis Arnold, Endemol Shine Poland starts shooting “The Crack,” Starzplay gets “High Fidelity” in Latin America and parts of Europe, plus Australia Media House and Leonine announce major hires.DIRECTORSMore than 100 emerging U.K.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Argentina restarts production with new health and safety regulations, Sovereign Film Distribution picks up Melina León’s award-winning debut “Song Without a Name,” ITV preps for Black History Month and commissions “The Confessions of Frannie Langton,” and IDFA will honor Gianfranco Rosi.After a shutdown of more than five months, the Argentina government this week presented its “General Protocol for the Prevention of COVID-19 in the Filming and/or Recording

Naman Ramachandran This week, French actor Juliette Binoche wins Zurich’s Icon Award, Grasshopper takes “The American Sector” for North America, “Killing Eve” writer Rob Williams creates “Screw” for the U.K.’s Channel 4, and the World Economic Forum at Davos is postponed.The 16th annual Zurich Film Festival, running from Sept. 24 to Oct.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Constantin extends its deal with German hitmaker Bora Dagtekin, San Sebastian finalizes its Perlak section, upstart training program Creative Producer Indaba share details, Endemol Shine sells “Deadwater Fell” in France, and Channel 5 commissions eight new historical programs.Constantin Film has extended its exclusive deal with Bora Dagtekin, one of Germany’s most prolific local filmmakers, to 2025.The writer-director is responsible for several

Jake Kanter International TV EditorMTV Launches BLM Shorts MTV International is today launching a short-form series to support the Black Lives Matter movement, featuring the likes of Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock. Pinnock and other names, including Munroe Bergdorf, Ray BLK, Nathan Henry, Duckie Thot, Serious Klein, will explore issues impacting Black youth and speak about their own experiences and what it takes to create positive change.

Naman Ramachandran Australian streamer Stan and NBCUniversal Global Distribution have announced a long-term, exclusive content partnership that will see Stan become the Australian home of new productions from Sky Studios and NBCUniversal International Studios, as well as Peacock content produced by Universal Studio Group.Stan will also become the exclusive home of new DreamWorks Animation TV shows produced for Peacock, in addition to NBCUniversal’s children’s programming, scripted and

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, ITV’s first post-COVID production starts to shoot, Channel 4 gives diversity a boost with a new program, Cara Delevingne lands on “Planet Sex,” and Swiss festivals come together at Zurich.Production has commenced at locations in Manchester, England on drama series “Viewpoint,” based on an idea by Emmy-winning “Fleabag” director Harry Bradbeer, with a cast headlined by “Bulletproof” star Noel Clarke.Co-created and written by Ed Whitmore (“Manhunt”),

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, San Sebastian announces it will screen all eight episodes of Luca Guadagnino’s “We Are Who We Are” and finalizes its competition sections; Venice selects legendary composer Terence Blanchard as its third Campari Passion for Film winner; Big Light Productions gets a new COO; Small World International licenses “Big in Japan” in Russia; and Fugitive signs on as Topic’s international distribution representative.HBO has doubled down at this year’s San Sebastian

the ITV show will be broadcast from Wales in 2020, rather than the normal Australia, as a result of issues with overseas travel caused by coronavirus.Gwrych Castle has been at the centre of the rumours, which were fuelled earlier this week when the castle posted on its Facebook page: "Gwrych Castle and Estate will be temporarily closing to the public at 5pm on Sunday 23rd August until New Year."Keep checking our website and social media for updates."But the new images were taken around 20 miles

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, the Zurich festival opens with “My Wonderful Wanda,” Philip Garrel, Tsai Ming-liang and Hong Sang-soo are contenders at San Sebastian, a new talent agency launches with “The Crown” actor Emma Corrin, WaZabi picks up Toronto title “Beans,” and the U.K. celebrates returning to cinemas.Bettina Oberli’s “My Wonderful Wanda” will open the 16th Zurich film festival on Sept.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorThe BBC’s youth streaming service BBC Three has acquired the first season of Comedy Central’s hit scripted comedy Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens.The 10-part series will land on BBC Three later this year and is headlined by Awkwafina, who stars in Crazy Rich Asians and won a Golden Globe in January for her role in The Farewell.The show is inspired by her real-life growing up in Queens, New York.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterGlasgow-based Synchronicity Films, which has credits including ABC/BBC miniseries The Cry, is opening Melbourne-based offshoot Synchronicity Australia.Former BBC Drama Development Producer Ruth Underwood has been hired to head up the new outfit, which has locked its debut project as a TV adaptation of The Cry writer Helen FitzGerald’s upcoming noir thriller Ash Mountain.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, El Gouna announces CineGouna Platform finalists, “Decrypted” gets back to filming in the U.K. after a five-month layoff, ZDF boards a Danish co-production and Vice appoints a new VP for its U.K.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, BFI Distribution gets Riz Ahmed’s “Mogul Mowgli,” London’s Dagenham neighborhood gets go-ahead to build new world-class film studios, Banijay Nordics confirms its CEO, Zinc Media Group promotes from within, Endemol Shine Germany sells new singing format, and Koch Films buys Sola Media.“Mogul Mowgli,” co-written, starring and produced by Riz Ahmed and his company Left Handed Films, has been acquired by BFI Distribution.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Maven Screen Media gets backing, Venice unveils its VR offerings, Little Mix teams with BBC Three and AMC Networks International extends ties with Formula 1. U.K. Creative Content EIS Fund has invested in Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler’s media and entertainment development company Maven Screen Media.The investment was made to bolster Maven’s multi-platform strategy, dedicated to increasing representation of female content creators and pushing