International Insider: AFM Trends; Climate Content Pledge; Middle East In The Spotlight; Midas Man

cheered Sherrilyn Ifill, president and diretor-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.Journalist Aditi Tyagi tweeted, “That’s history being made in USA!!”Some tweeted gifs of Harris with other female lawmakers, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, or just of her. Others imagined how effective Harris could be with the full powers of the presidency behind her.

Good afternoon International Insiders, Max Goldbart here with the headlines and major talking points of the week. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.

Good afternoon International Insiders. Max Goldbart here with your weekly batch of headlines and analysis. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.

Tuareg rock sensation Mdou Moctar announced his 2022 international tour dates today and shared a video of a live performance with his band on the banks of the Niger River. The tour will begin on February 27 at The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina and end May 1 at De Post in Oostende, Belgium, with 42 more stops along the way.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Giancarlo Nasi’s Quijote Films, one of the lead producers of Chile’s current Oscar entry “White on White,” has closed a co-production deal with France’s Les Valseurs at the American Film Market for “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,” the first feature from Diego Cespedes, the Cannes Festival’s 2018 Cinefondation first prize winner.Mexico’s Varios Lobos, led by Pablo Zimbron, is also a co-producer.In addition, the pact includes the financing and co-production of a

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorMickey Rourke is joining the cast of action movie “Section Eight.” Sales agent The Exchange is introducing the movie to international buyers during the virtual American Film Market, which wraps Friday.The cast also includes actors Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, Ryan Kwanten, Dermot Mulroney, and Blue October’s lead singer Justin Furstenfeld, as previously announced.The movie is the story of a former soldier who, after avenging the murder of his

Rebecca Davis editorChinese Animation firm Winsing is participating in the American Film Market this year for the first time, stepping out to present its flagship “GG Bond” animated film series and its derivatives.The company is also seeking to introduce its subsidiary Iron Fan Studio, a CG animation studio established under Winsing in 2019 that specializes in outsourced animation production services, including work in AR and VR.

EXCLUSIVE: Saban Films has picked up North American rights to K. Asher Levin’s thriller Dig, starring Thomas Jane, Harlow Jane, Emile Hirsch and Liana Liberato.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorSpeaking at the American Film Market about his second feature film as writer-director, “Lost and Found in Paris,” Rupert Everett says: “Sex is quite an important feature [of the movie], but I’m not a big fan of full on sex in films.

EXCLUSIVE: Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North American rights to Paul Riccio’s dramedy Give or Take, toplined by Norbert Leo Butz (Fosse/Verdon, Bloodline), Joanne Tucker (American Rust, The Report) and Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live), with plans to release it in theaters in multiple markets in February.

EXCLUSIVE: Film Mode Entertainment has sold North American rights to horror-thriller They Crawl Beneath to Well Go USA.

Manori Ravindran International EditorA timely new documentary chronicles a British solder’s return to Afghanistan, just as U.S.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorIn a presentation delivered to buyers this week during the virtual American Film Market, the stars of biopic “McCarthy,” Michael Shannon and Emilia Clarke, as well as its director Václav Marhoul and screenwriter Tom O’Connor, explained why the story of the venomous demagogue Joseph McCarthy had to be told now.The film, now in development, follows McCarthy’s journey from being an ambitious Republican Senator to the most powerful and feared man in the

Carole Horst Taiwan has come up with ambitious plans for the American Film Market this year by presenting a virtual pavilion headlined by award-winning titles and recent film festival favorites, in the hope of boosting the self-governed island’s visibility internationally as a production hub as well as a choice of location shootings.The growing appeal of Asian content in recent years, whether it is films or TV series streaming on international platforms, has made it possible to further promote

EXCLUSIVE: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American VOD rights to Slater Brothers Entertainment’s horror-thriller, The Darker The Lake, with plans to release it across internet, cable, and satellite platforms on March 1, 2022.

Jamie Lang Leading Spanish indie sales outfit Filmax has scooped the international rights to “Seve: One Man Army,” a new feature-length documentary about legendary Spanish golfer Severiano Ballesteros, arguably the top golfer of his era and a Spanish icon on and off the course.

Loki star Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Girl on the Train’s Edgar Ramírez are to star in passionate love story Nobody’s Heart from The Bookshop director Isabel Coixet.

Manori Ravindran International EditorGugu Mbatha-Raw and Edgar Ramírez have teamed up for romantic drama “Nobody’s Heart,” directed by Isabel Coixet (“The Bookshop,” “The Secret Life of Words”).WestEnd Films has launched international sales on the film, which will be presented to buyers at the virtual American Film Market this week.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefMegaton Entertainment, an indie distribution and film sales firm, has picked up a pair of titles from Hong Kong production entities AMM Entertainment and Phoenix Waters.