Global Distributors Set Virtual London Screenings Schedule – Global Bulletin

Jamie Lang MENA streamer Starzplay Arabia has secured debt financing of $25 million from Abu Dhabi-based independent investment firm Ruya Partners. The funding will be used to reinforce Starzplay’s geographic and customer reach as well as the acquisition and production of new original content.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Korea’s IU joins the cast of Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Broker”; Bertelsmann sells Groupe M6; Red Arrow takes series “Blackout”; Shorts festival sets dates; and ITV commissions game show “Moneyball.”Lee Ji-eun, the popular Korean singer-actor better known as IU, has joined the cast of “Broker,” Japanese auteur Kore-eda Hirokazu’s debut Korean-language movie.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV announce new casting for Season 2 of “Alex Rider,” investment is approved for Bottle Yard Studios in the U.K., the BIFAs announce Tom Felton will host this year’s online ceremony, NENT Studios UK sells three formats in Vietnam and Cruchnyroll picks up “Tsukimichi – Moonlit Fantasy” for streaming outside of Asia.Eleventh Hour Films has announced expanded casting for Season 2 of its popular Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV series

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Alex de la Iglesia is back on set with “El cuarto pasajero,” Laurine Garaude departs Reed Midem, Chinese video app Kuaishou stuns investors in Hong Kong, Tencent finalizes its Universal Music Group share increase, Mopar Studios hire Jessica Pope as creative director and Pluto TV launches six new networks in Latin America.Spanish genre master Álex de la Iglesia, hot off the heels of his hit HBO horror series “30 Coins,” is back on set to shoot road movie

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Miguel judges BBC fashion show; representation plummets across U.K. TV; AMC launches channel in Spain; Synchronicity signs first-look deal with All3Media; WFTN produces Sydney Harbour show; ESPN Plus takes West Indies cricket rights; Patrick Irwin joins Ringside; and U.S.

Jamie Lang One day after announcing new deputy director Clint Dyer, the National Theatre has dropped a first-look image of its upcoming production of “Romeo & Juliet,” produced as a feature film to be broadcast on Sky Arts and PBS this April.Josh O’Connor (“The Crown,” “God’s Own Country”) and Jessie Buckley (“Chernobyl,” “Judy”) will play the young star-crossed lovers, as seen in the image of the couple as they meet on Juliet’s balcony in front of a full moon.Further casting has been announced

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Facebook News launches in the U.K.; Paul Feig begins Netflix shoot in Belfast; Storyglass hires Steve Carsey, Laura Jones joins Blink; The TV Foundation bows Black talent podcast; Conecta Fiction sets dates; Enact invests in post outfit Evolutions; and Locarno sets Alberto Lattuada retrospective.Social media giant Facebook is rolling out Facebook News, an aggregator within the Facebook app that features news from hundreds of national, local and

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, West One International will distribute climate doc “Earth Emergency,” Cheng Cheng Films gets “A First Farewell” for North America, Discovery U.K.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, DJ Khaled signs on to host the MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021, Foxtel snags “The Drew Barrymore Show” in Australia and “SAS: Who Dares Wins” gets a Swedish adaptation.Grammy-winning producer, DJ and record exec DJ Khaled will host the MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 (MAMA), broadcasting globally for the first time on MTV Feb. 20.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Sky reveals diversity goals; Stan pacts with Walter Presents for international drama; LevelK sells “Tove”; and Abacus boards Martin Scorsese-hosted doc “The Oratorio.”Comcast’s pay tv operator Sky has announced a goal for 20% of its U.K. and Ireland workforce to be from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds by 2025, and at least 5% of these to be Black.

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Netflix commissions Telugu-language anthology “Pitta Kathalu” in India and graphic novel adaptation “Heartstopper” in the U.K.; WarnerMedia announces HBO Max Latin America leadership roles ahead of the platform’s rollout in the territory; ITV Studios opens its Factual Pitch program; NewImages Festival strengthens its XR alliances in Taiwan; and Filmzie launches its TV series programming.After 2020 Tamil-language anthology “Paava Kadhaigal,” Netflix India h

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Sky picks up hundreds of hours of Studiocanal feature film content; Banijay aims to raise domestic abuse awareness; GoQuest Media picks pair of Serbian drama series; Oble finds a home on Viu Middle East for “The Outbreak”; Abacus Media Rights snags Kate Beckinsale-narrated dog show doc; Walter Presents acquires three French Canadian series; and Eccho Rights sends a slate of Korean dramas to upstart Turkish streamer Exxen.Sky and Studiocanal have closed a

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, WarnerMedia Latin America makes several leadership team changes; HBO Europe announces new true-crime docuseries “Pray, Obey, Kill”; Amazon Prime Video picks up “I Care a Lot” in several key territories; Piece of Magic hires Charlie Kemball as head of acquisitions and business development; San Sebastián opens the call for key sections; and “Mully” will stream free globally this Valentine’s Day.WarnerMedia Latin America chief content officer Tomás

London TV Screenings Schedule AnnouncedThe London TV Screenings became official last year and organizers have now announced the virtual schedule for this year’s event, which takes place March 1-12. Here’s the schedule: Banijay Rights (March 3), All3Media International (March 4), Fremantle (March 5), eOne (March 9), ITV Studios (March 10).

Jamie Lang The Mediapro Studio Distribution has closed a deal with Starz that will land South-Pole murder mystery series “The Head” on the broadcaster’s streaming platform Starzplay in the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria and German-speaking regions of Switzerland and Luxembourg on Feb. 7.One of the most significant steps into scripted drama production by Spanish producer The Mediapro Studio, “The Head” was executed in partnership with Hulu Japan and HBO Asia.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Inclusive Cinema addresses racism; Sky goes green; Sovereign acquires “Verdict”; Blackstone buys “Stars Wars” building; and Swipe pops champagne documentary.The U.K.’s Inclusive Cinema project has launched a guide for improving the cinema experiences of ethnically diverse audiences and staff — a directive that challenges institutions to make good on their Black Lives Matter and anti-racism statements from 2020.The guide, titled “Dismantling

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, historic snowfall in Madrid delays Spanish Academy Award nominations, Sky announces members of its Diversity Advisory Council, Netflix reveals casting for the next season of “Borgen,” documentary “Daisy Maskell – Insomnia and Me” on the way from BBC Three, Endemol Shine Germany teams with Rainer Laux on a new reality production label, and “COVID vs The World” documentary gets History Channel premiere dates across Asia.The 2021 Spanish Academy Goya Awards n

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, the BBC announced more than 500 complaints about a Black Lives Matter tribute during this year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks; Lux Vide and Arrow Pictures make key appointments; the Nordisk Film & TV Fond announces this year’s prize jury and Mark Lazarus is named as this year’s NATPE opening keynote speaker.The BBC started 2021 with a televised bang as it took London’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display, traditionally held at the London Eye but

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw headlines BBC’s “The Girl Before”; VFX veteran Oikonomopoulou joins Cinesite; Channel 4 appoints Ally Castle as disability lead; Meihodo festival reveals winners; Snipple Animation launches U.K. originals outfit; and “Little Birds” and “My Big Family Farm” sell worldwide.Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“The Morning Show”) is set to star in a BBC adaptation of J.P. Delaney’s best-selling novel “The Girl Before,” with 42 (“Military Wives”)

Alec Baldwin is doing his best to keep his embattled wife Hilaria Baldwin in high spirits despite the onslaught of criticism she's received over the past week for allegedly "pretending" to be Spanish. The yoga expert, 36, is at the center of a scandal after it was revealed that she was actually born and raised in Boston, not Spain as she has implied.