IFC Films & FilmNation Team On U.S. Rights Deal For Audrey Diwan’s Timely Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Winning Abortion Drama ‘Happening’

Dawn French celebrated her 64th birthday in style with a delicious meal and family and friends in tow. Looking as glamorous as ever, the Vicar of Dibley actress styled her hair in to a quiff and beamed as she posed with pals.

To suggest that France had an abundance of quality candidates for its International Film Oscar submission this year is beyond an understatement.

Paul Webster, the prolific British film producer whose credits include Pride And Prejudice and Atonement, said he broke one of his cardinal rules while making his buzzy Princess Diana biopic Spencer.

Change of plans! When Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon wrote The Last Duel, one scene included a kiss between the actors — but it never made it to the final script.

France at the Oscars in 2022.“Happening's” Golden Lion win surprised many simply because of the high-profile competition which included the likes of Jane Campion and Paolo Sorrentino. Hers was a subtle film about a college student in France in the 1960s who is seeking to terminate an unexpected pregnancy and stars a relative unknown, Anamaria Vartolomei.

A kiss too far? Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s new period drama ‘The Last Duel” is a serious look at 1300s France — but the stars say that some historical accuracy may have been a little too unexpected for audiences.

Sandra Oh is hitting the red carpet!

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's new period drama is a serious look at 1300s France — but the stars say that some historical accuracy may have been a little too unexpected for audiences.ET's Lauren Zima spoke with Affleck, Damon and co-writer Nicole Holofcener about the hotly anticipated historical drama, and they revealed that one scene almost had Damon planting a kiss on Affleck.

Audrey Diwan has emerged as one of the most exciting and relevant new voices of contemporary world cinema with her sophomore outing, “Happening.”Working with a tight budget, a fairly unknown lead actress (Anamaria Vartolomei) and a polarizing topic, Diwan was able to deliver a nuanced and relatable portrayal of Anne, a bright young female student determined to rise above her social upbringing who faces an unwanted pregnancy in 1960’s France — at a time when abortion was considered a

Clayton Davis Audrey Diwan’s “Happening,” one of the three shortlisted films to represent France for the upcoming 94th Academy Awards, will make its North American premiere at the Chicago Film Festival as part of the Global Currants and Women in Cinema program on Saturday, Oct.

Jennifer Yuma editorJanek Ambros and Assembly Line Entertainment have teamed up with Nando Vila and Pop Front Pictures to produce a biopic on Frances Perkins, the true story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor, who was the architect of the New Deal.Known as the “Mother of Social Security,” Perkins made history as the first woman to serve in any presidential U.S. Cabinet, along with serving the longest as the U.S.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterIFC Films and FilmNation have emerged victorious in a bidding war for U.S. distribution rights to “Happening,” a French drama that won the top prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival.IFC Films plans to release the movie in theaters in early 2022, but the company has not set an exact date yet.“Happening” is the sophomore feature of French director Audrey Diwan (“Losing It”).