HBO Max Signs Up Former ARTE France Drama Commissioner As French Creative Exec

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFrance TV Distribution has boarded “Sugar and Stars” (“À la belle étoile”), an inspirational drama based on the true story of an underdog who became a famed pastry chef.The film marks the feature debut of Sébastien Tulard, who has directed several shorts and worked as assistant director on hit French comedies such as Tarek Boudali’s “30 jours max,” Frank Gastambide’s popular show “All The Way Up,” Dany Boon’s “Supercondriaque” and Philippe Lacheau’s “Babysitting.”Penned by Cédric Ido, “Sugar and Stars” is based on Yazid Ichemrahem’s autobiographical book “Un rêve d’enfant étoilé.” The story revolves around Yazid, who spends his childhood moving from one foster home to another while dreaming of becoming a pastry chef. Nothing predestines him for such a career, but Yazid’s fierce determination and resourcefulness allow him to thrive in the elitist arena of patisserie.

EXCLUSIVE: Frances Haugen, who last year revealed herself as the Facebook whistleblower and testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, has signed with CAA.

HBO Max has lined up the second phase of its international launch, with 15 further European nations set to receive WarnerMedia’s streaming platform from March 8.

Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”) and Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”) sat down for a virtual chat for Variety’s Actors on Actors, presented by Amazon Studios. For more, click here.Since their first meeting, Jamie Dornan and Kirsten Dunst have followed similar trajectories. They initially played off one another in Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film “Marie Antoinette” — his eligible Swedish count set off sparks with her teen queen of France.

Ben Croll Speaking at a panel organized by Paris Images Online, Hélène Dudragne, film commissioner at Film Paris Region, confirmed that four new studios are to be built in Paris and the surrounding area. The announcement came on the heels of a round-table – and weeklong industry gathering – where all too many conversations circled back to the same point: That in order to ensure a continued boom in international production, the country needs new studios, and needs them fast.Shortly after the first lockdowns hit in March 2020, the local industry was able to stabilize rather quickly production output by instituting a rigorous set of safety protocols, earmarking €100 million in insurance funds via private and public backers, and introducing a measure called the “talent passport,” which allowed international citizens to travel back and forth to France with the same ease and requirements as a local.

The deals keep coming at the 2022 Virtual Sundance Film Festival. MUBI closed the docu Free Chol Soo Lee, including North America, and Warner Bros is negotiating a near $7 million WW rights deal for the Tig Notaro/Stephanie Allynne film Am I Ok? to place the film on HBO Max. The Lauren Pomerantz-scripted film stars Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Molly Gordon, June Diane Raphael, and Sean Hayes.

The January transfer window deadline is quickly approaching and as yet Manchester City are yet to sign any new players.

Welcome to this week’s International Insider. Max Goldbart here bringing you the latest in what’s been a busy seven days in the world of international TV and film.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe third season of the RAI and HBO series “My Brilliant Friend” is ready to air in Italy and in the U.S., where the high-end show based the third book in Elena Ferrante’s quadrilogy has been set for a Feb. 28 debut on HBO and HBO Max.The eight-episode adaptation of Ferrante’s 1970s-set novel, “Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay,” was unveiled Wednesday during an online presser held in Rome by RAI, ahead of its premiere on Feb.

Sevilla have officially announced Anthony Martial has joined the club on loan from Manchester United.

As usual, the Art Directors Guild spread the love among numerous films, programs, commercials, and music videos with the announcement of the 2022 ADG Awards nominations. “The French Dispatch,” “Cruella,” “Nightmare Alley,” “Licorice Pizza,” “West Side Story” and “Dune” were among the films nominated.

Feature Film categories:PERIOD FEATURE FILM  The French Dispatch         Production Designer: Adam StockhausenLicorice Pizza         Production Designer: Florencia MartinNightmare Alley         Production Designer: Tamara DeverellThe Tragedy of Macbeth Production Designer:Stefan DechantWest Side Story        Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen FANTASY FEATURE FILM  Cruella Production Designer: Fiona CrombieDune Production Designer: Patrice VermetteGhostbusters: Afterlife Production Designer: François AudouyThe Green Knight  Production Designer: Jade HealyShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings   Production Designer: Sue Chan          CONTEMPORARY FEATURE FILM Candyman Production Designer: Cara BrowerDon’t Look Up     Production Designer: Clayton HartleyIn the Heights Production Designer: Nelson CoatesThe Lost Daughter Production Designer:Inbal WeinbergNo Time to Die Production Designer: Mark Tildesley           ANIMATED FEATURE FILM Encanto Production Designers: Ian Gooding, Lorelay BovéLuca Production Designer: Daniela StrijlevaThe Mitchells vs. the Machines Production Designer: Lindsey OlivaresRaya and the Last Dragon Production Designers: Paul Felix, Mingjue Helen Chen, Cory LoftisSing 2 Art Director: Olivier AdamTelevision categories:ONE-HOUR PERIOD OR FANTASY SINGLE-CAMERA SERIESFoundation: “The Emperor’s Peace” Production Designer: Rory CheyneThe Great: “Dickhead,” “Seven Days,” “Wedding” Designer: Francesca di MottolaLoki: “Glorious Purpose”                   Production Designer: Kasra FarahaniLost In Space: “Three Little Birds”  Production Designer: Alec HammondThe Witcher: “A Grain of Truth”  Production Designer: Andrew LawsONE-HOUR CONTEMPORARY SINGLE-CAMERA SERIESThe Handmaid’s Tale: “Chicago”     

Ben Croll For the past two decades, Raphael Benoliel has been Hollywood’s man in France. With more than 40 projects under his belt, the Nice-born Benoliel has turned his Firstep production banner into a kind of one-stop-shop for international shoots, amassing line producer credits on projects as varied as “Les Miserables,” “Stillwater” and “The Marvelous Mrs.

Martin Dale ContributorBrad Pitt has teamed up with Emmy-award winning music producer Damien Quintard to relaunch the historic Miraval Studios, where Pink Floyd, Sting, The Cure and AC/DC recorded their albums. It is being redesigned as an exclusive film and music production and post-production facility in a beautiful setting.The studio is located in a majestic vineyard estate, Château Miraval, that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie leased in 2008, purchased in 2011 and held their wedding there in 2014.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorOlivier Bibas is to join the French pay TV giant Canal Plus as head of its fiction label Création Originale. As such, Bibas will be responsible for Canal Plus’ French drama and international co-productions.

EXCLUSIVE: Samuel Arnold, the French actor who stars opposite Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu and Ashley Park in Emily in Paris, has signed with APA for representation.

A social media interaction between Paul Pogba and ex-Juventus teammate Claudio Marchisio ended with the latter sending a cryptic message to his friend.

Gaspard Ulliel.The actor, who stars in Marvel’s upcoming “Moon Knight” series, died on Wednesday following a skiing accident. He was 37.Gaspard began acting while still at school. At the age of 12 he appeared in French TV movie “Une Femme En Blanc” (“A Woman in White”) in an uncredited role.

died Tuesday at a hospital in White Plains, New York. He was 73; his cause of death has not been made public.Talley became a widely celebrated fashion icon during his 6-decade career, most notably at Vogue, where he served as fashion news director from 1983-1987 and then as the magazine’s creative director until 1995.