Grindstone Acquires 'The Gardener' Action Thriller

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerEXCLUSIVE: Gravitas Ventures has secured the North American rights to distribute Elyse, the directorial debut drama from Stella Hopkins starring her husband, Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins.  Lisa Pepper, Aaron Tucker, Tara Arroyave, Fran Tucker, Anthony Apel, Julieta Oritiz, and Danny Jacobs also star in the film, which will get a theatrical and on-demand release on December 4.Written by Stella, the drama follows the titular character (Pepper) who, in a psychotic

HBO Max, the streaming-video hub of WarnerMedia, has acquired anticipated Studiocanal title “Possessions,” a psychological thriller series created by Shachar Magen (“Sirens”) and directed by BAFTA-nominated Thomas Vincent (“Bodyguard”).As an international Max Original, the series will be made available on the U.S. streaming platform in December.Commissioned for Canal Plus’s Creation Original and Israel’s Yes TV, the series was shot in Israel in French, Hebrew and English.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: MTV Documentary Films has acquired North American rights to 76 Days, a raw and emotional look at the struggles of the people of Wuhan, China, in the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak. Directed by New York filmmaker Hao Wu (People’s Republic of Desire) and China-based journalists, Weixi Chen and “Anonymous,” 76 DAYS made its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.

Aston Martin revealed the first house designed as part of its Automotive Galleries and Lairs residential design service, which launched last year.Designed as a collaboration between US studio S3 Architecture and the luxury carmaker, the angular black-cedar home is set to be built in Hudson Valley, New York.It will be the first property built as part of the carmaker's service that aims to design bespoke spaces for its clients to show off their most cherished motors.This week saw two high-profile

Bleecker Street has acquired the North American rights to Supernova, starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci. Firth plays Sam and Tucci plays Tusker, partners of 20 years, who are traveling across England in their old campervan visiting friends, family and places from their past.Following a life-changing diagnosis, their time together has become more important than ever until secret plans test their love like never before.

Bleecker Street has acquired the North American rights to “Supernova,” the romantic drama starring Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth as a married couple coping with one partner’s dementia.Harry Macqueen’s directs the film that made its premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival and will be released in the U.K. by STUDIOCANAL.

Nellie Andreeva, Patrick Hipes ICM Partners is expanding into athlete representation in sports. In its latest move in the European marketplace, ICM has acquired London-based powerhouse soccer and sports agency Stellar Group.

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorScreen Media has acquired all North American rights to the Simon West-directed Skyfire.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSid Gentle Films, the BAFTA and Emmy award-winning producers behind “Killing Eve” and “The Durrells,” headed by Sally Woodward Gentle (pictured below), has acquired the rights to develop Cash Carraway’s “Skint Estate” for TV, and has lined up a lead writer for previously announced “Taking Up Space.” Both projects are in formal development with British broadcasters.“Skint Estate” is a darkly funny, searingly political, debut memoir from Carraway,

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentKino Lorber has acquired North American rights to “Born To Be,” Tania Cypriano’s critically acclaimed documentary which world premiered at the New York Film Festival. Kino Lorber is planning to release the documentary in virtual and physical cinemas on Nov.

Dino-Ray Ramos editorEXCLUSIVE: Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to Bao Tran’s action comedy  The Paper Tigers and has slated a theatrical release in Spring 2021.Written and directed by Tran, the movie is an homage to Seattle’s martial arts scene from the 1970s and 1980s as well as the legendary Bruce Lee.

Andreas Wiseman, Jake Kanter Lonon Film Festival Lineup Revealed The LFF has revealed its industry program, with speakers including Ava DuVernay, Jane Tranter, Ted Hope and Sundance director Tabitha Jackson. James Schamus will be take part in a panel discussion as part of the production finance market and there will also be spotlights on first films and new UK producers.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorEXCLUSIVE: Virgil Films & Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Nasrin, a documentary about activist Nasrin Sotoudeh narrated by Oscar winner Olivia Colman.Sotoudeh is a human rights activists and an outspoken leader of Iran’s women’s rights movement. Last week, she cited serious health concerns in ending a six-week hunger strike in Evin Prison, where she has been serving a nearly four-decade sentence.

Dave McNary Film ReporterNeon has acquired North American rights to Michel Franco’s dystopian social thriller “New Order.” The movie was this year’s winner of the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.Set in a near-future Mexico City while protests rage, “New Order” focuses on a high society family preparing for a wedding when a former employee seeking emergency medical funds intrudes on the festivities.

Gravitas Ventures has picked up the North American rights to director Van Maximilian Carlson's foster child drama Princess of the Row, which is executive produced by Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary. A Nov.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFilm Movement has acquired North American rights to “My Little Sister,” a poignant drama that will represent Switzerland in the international feature film race at the Oscars. “My Little Sister,” penned and directed by Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond, is handled in international markets by Beta Cinema.