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21.06.2024 - 12:47 / deadline.com
Take your seats, Insiders. We’re back with the biggest film and TV news of the past seven days. Jesse Whittock here taking you through. Sign up here.
Cannes Lions Uncaged
Musk enters Lions’ den: While we at Deadline know the Côte d’Azur best for the annual film and TV festivals, every year we have boots on the ground at the grand advertising confab Cannes Lions to get the latest from the wider world of entertainment. This year, the big, unexpected headliner was X and Tesla owner and free speech proponent Elon Musk, who zoomed into town for a talk on everything from the potential for global AI disaster to an explanation for why he told advertisers to “go fuck themselves” last year. Caroline Frost navigated one of the longest queues I’ve ever seen for a conference talk — her video footage on our WhatsApp group is quite something — and managed to bag a spot in the Palais des Festivals main hall to hear the human social media catnip talk. On the AI debate, the ‘Musketeer’ said there is a “10 to 20%” chance of an Artificial Intelligence-related global disaster, but cheerfully framed that as, “the glass is 80% full. Look on the bright side.” He didn’t specify what that disaster might look like, but did add: “The most likely outcome is one of abundance, where goods and services are available to anyone… Work would be optional.” This could all lead to an “existential crisis” where AI is better at everything we can do, added the Tesla mogul. Up until the point AI can stand up a half-baked rumor whispered in the corner of a screening room, I think I’ll take my chances Elon. Later in the chat with Mark Read, boss of ad giant WPP, Musk got on to his favorite topic, free speech. Since he’s taken over X, criticism of how he’s allowed
Here we are Insiders, the sun is shining and Max Goldbart is present to guide you through the week’s headlines. Read on, and sign up here.
Manchester United's stalled summer transfer window has been affected again by a shock move for former England international Ben Godfrey. The Everton defender is on the verge of a bargain transfer to Serie A side Atalanta.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor “Baby,” which premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week where it won the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for joint acting lead Ricardo Teodoro, has closed further sales. Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal have sold the distribution rights to Ama Films for Greece, Mezipatra z.s for Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Falcon for Indonesia.
Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor The Palm Springs International ShortFest has announced the juried and audience award winners for its 2024 edition, which took place June 18-24. Over $25,000 in cash prizes and five Academy Award-qualifying honors were presented to the winning films, which included Esteban Pedraza’s “Bogotá Story” and Jadwiga Kowalska’s animated film “The Car That Came Back from the Sea.” See a full list of winners below.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent A raft of high-concept unscripted formats from the likes of Yes Yes Media, Keshet International and Fulwell 73 were informally presented this week at the first edition of the International Creative Alliance Days hosted by Satisfaction Group, the Paris-based outfit founded by entrepreneur and famed TV host Arthur Essebag. The two-day event brought together creatives and industry players who are either part of Satisfaction or doing business with the company, notably acquisition executives from M6, France Televisions and Amazon Prime Video, among others.
Lexi Carson Variety is back to host the second annual Executive Interview Studio, presented by Canva. The industry’s top business and marketing execs stopped by during the 2024 Cannes Lions Festival to chat about how they are navigating the ever-expanding worlds of media and entertainment.
The Kelce brothers are taking over Cannes!
Refresh for latest…: Wednesday was yet another joyous day for Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 as the sequel set opening benchmarks in new overseas releasing markets. The full offshore day was $29M (22% of the weekend), lifting the international box office cume to $203.3M in 42 markets, and global to $438.7M. The half a billion worldwide mark is around the corner.
Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios has upped Chase Brisbin to EVP, International SVOD Sales and Head of Global Channels.
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Lionsgate has upped Chase Brisbin to exec VP of international SVOD sales and head of global channels. The news was announced Tuesday by Lionsgate’s worldwide TV distribution prexy Jim Packer.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Coralie Fargeat’s Demi Moore-starring feminist body horror film “The Substance” has been set as the closing night title for the New Zealand International Film Festival. The picture is one of 16 which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last month selected for the NZIFF which is now under the artistic leadership of Paolo Bertolin.
Marta Balaga Spanish Animation is ready for more international collaborations in the near future, but there is one stipulation: “Passion is mandatory,” said Hampa Studio’s Álvaro García González. Behind “The Treasure of Barracuda,” the company is currently eyeing Latin America. “Anybody who makes animation needs passion.
Michael Ouweleen, president of Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, a major force behind the rise of adult animation, has signalled at Annecy the company’s intention to ramp up its presence in Europe and international markets at large. “We very much want to see Adult Swim originals coming from anywhere in the world,” Ouweleen told Variety at the French festival. The stars are aligning for the overseas drive.
Good afternoon Insiders. We’ve been all over Europe this week, so here’s Max Goldbart, back in the London-shaped saddle, to walk you through the major stories of the past seven days. Scroll on. And sign up here.
Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 had its first full day of play at the international box office on Wednesday with No. 1 starts in each of its eight material markets, including strong debuts in majors Korea and Germany as well as the Philippines. The total through day one overseas is $4.9M. Majors joining through Friday include Australia, Mexico and the UK.
Welcome to Deadline’s International Disruptors, a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies outside of the U.S. shaking up the offshore marketplace. This week we’re talking to leading German producer Fabian Gasmia, whose credits include Olivier Assayas’ Personal Shopper, Leos Carax’s Annette and, more recently, Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry starrer Treasure, which has its North American premiere at Tribeca last weekend. Gasmia, who set up production banner Seven Elephants in 2018 with directors Julia von Heinz, Erik Schmitt and David Wnendt, talks us through building that outfit, his “special relationship” with France and why he thinks German cinema is having a “renaissance.”
Pnina Blayer, the honorary president and former artistic director of the Haifa International Film Festival (HIFF) has died. She was 77.
One of the biggest-budget Czech drama series to date is getting a second run, with the focus on another real-life rescue mission.
Prime Video Italy is taking a leap “not only at national level but at international level” with its originals strategy, its scripted boss has said.
EXCLUSIVE: The Munich International Film Festival has set an eclectic trio of world premieres for its upcoming 41st edition. Harley Chamandy’s Allen Sunshine, Jamie Kastner feature doc The Spoils and Davi Pretto’s Continente will each premiere, Deadline can reveal.