Christopher Vourlias Croatia’s Drugi Plan and Bulgaria’s Agitprop, two of the leading production outfits in Southeast Europe, have been attached to co-produce the upcoming drama series “Sabre,” a political thriller revolving around the 2003 assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic produced by Belgrade-based This and That Productions.Created by Goran Stanković and Vladimir Tagić, the series will star Serbian-Danish actress Danica Curcic, known to international audiences for her lead role in the Netflix psychological thriller “The Chestnut Man,” as a reporter investigating the shocking murder.The companies announced the deal on Monday at the Sarajevo Film Festival, where This and That’s “Bad Blood” and Drugi Plan’s “The Silence” were among the top Balkan drama series vying for Heart of Sarajevo TV Awards, which were handed out at a ceremony in the Bosnian capital on Sunday night. “Sabre” was first pitched in Sarajevo three years ago during the CineLink Drama co-financing forum, where it was named best drama project.
Lensing in the Holy Land: Israel Thrives As Prime Production Locale
27.07.2022 - 19:31 / variety.com
Malina Saval Associate Editor, FeaturesAcre, Israel is a city of contrasts and multitudes. Perched on the country’s northern coast, skimming the teal blue Mediterranean, the ancient port town is a convergence of Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Druze cultures stretching back millennia.
On this late June eve, the sun sinks behind Acre’s Old City walls, a network of medieval mosques, citadels and baths. A fisherman planted knee-deep in the sea casts his rod while the sounds of the muezzin echo throughout the city’s pale stone alleyways.
Nearby, a Jewish man sips orange juice at a cafe table. A location site for films ranging from Otto Preminger’s “Exodus” to the Sally Field-starrer “Not Without My Daughter,” Acre exudes cinematic flair.
But it’s the salmon sashimi with wasabi sorbet at Uri Buri that lured Phil Rosenthal to Acre in 2018. The Emmy-winning creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond” visited the city’s famed restaurant, operating since 1989, for the premiere episode of his Netflix documentary series “Somebody Feed Phil.” The eatery’s fabled proprietor and chef, Uri Jeremias, who goes by the moniker Uri Buri, isn’t “one to talk about celebrities.” But Jeremias, who also owns the Efendi, a luxury boutique hotel a two-minute walk from Uri Buri, zealously philosophizes on spices, seafood—“There is no bad fish,” he says, “only bad cooks”— and why Acre, and the entirety of Israel, is ever-expanding as a plum location site for a bevy of tv and film productions, including “Fauda” and “Shtisel,” that have made an impact stateside.German director Maria Shrader shot her 2007 film “Love Life” at the Efendi, a 12-room hotel comprising two restored Ottoman palaces and a Byzantine, Mamluk and Crusader-era basement, since converted
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Former Netflix Exec Katie Judkins Joins ‘Barmageddon’ Firm White Label Productions With Stephanie Wagner Promoted To Production Chief
Barmageddon firm White Label Productions has hired Netflix physical production exec Katie Judkins and promoted Stephanie Wagner to Senior Vice President level.
Zsuzsi Bánkuti Appointed Head Of Locarno’s Open Doors; San Sebastian Unveils Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum Selection – Global Briefs
Zsuzsi Bánkuti Appointed Head Of Locarno’s Open Doors
Indian Government Approves Film Co-Production Agreement With Australia
Naman Ramachandran The Indian government has approved an audiovisual co-production treaty with Australia, designed to promote joint production of films between the two countries.While details are currently scarce, producer contributions from the two countries can vary from 20% to 80% of the final total cost of the jointly produced work.“Australia has emerged as a preferred destination for shooting of Indian films. India is fast emerging as a major content hub for filmmakers looking for new projects.
Prime Video Picks Up U.S. Rights To Duo Of Israeli Dramas Including Original ‘Your Honor’ Series From Yes Studios
EXCLUSIVE: Prime Video has added Israeli dramas Kvodo and Just for Today to its service in the U.S.
Lungyin Lim’s Giant Swordfish Thriller ‘Malice’ Boarded by Lonely Production (EXCLUSIVE)
John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentIn a deal which transforms a local project into an international production, Taiwan’s Tydal Productions has struck a co-production deal with the Czech Republic’s Lonely Production to make “Malice,” a potentially arresting high-sea thriller to be directed by Lungyin Lim.Set up at Lungyin Lim’s Tydal Productions and Aview Images, both based in Taiwan, “Malice” is produced by Aview Images’s SheeHeng Kuek and Ivy Shen Yu-hua.Scheduled to shoot from December 2023, it will now be co-produced by Prague’s Lonely Production, founded by producer-director Michal Sikora.Lonely Production will oversee the post-production package in the Czech Republic and Europe. Lim has a preference for shooting in Super 16 mm with digital VFX, European expertise feeding into the traditional film process.
Lukas Nathrath’s ‘One Last Evening’ Wins Locarno Pro’s First Look Prize; UKTV Seeks Comedy Scripts By Women; Andy Serkis’s Imaginarium Productions, Newen Connect Team On ‘Madame!’ – Global Briefs
Lukas Nathrath’s One Last Evening Wins Locarno Pro’s First Look Prize
Kevin Spacey To Pay ‘House Of Cards’ Production Company $31 Million Over Firing For Alleged Sexual Misconduct
Kevin Spacey has been ordered to pay the “House of Cards” production company, MRC, $31 million after it was determined he breached his contract and was fired for alleged sexual misconduct.
Filipina Acting Star Lovi Poe Launches Production Company C’Est Lovi Productions
EXCLUSIVE: Filipina acting and singing star Lovi Poe has launched her own production company called C’est Lovi Productions.
Netflix Africa Bosses Talk Originals, Co-Production Strategy and Expansion Plans: ‘We Can Only Go Forward and Spend More’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Thinus Ferreira Guest ContributorNetflix’s top executive team in Africa plans to continue spending on scripted and unscripted content across genres until it unearths the big “Squid Game”-like show that captures global buzz.During Tuesday’s “See What’s Next Africa” showcase in Johannesburg, South Africa, the streamer unveiled several African original renewals, some co-production developments, more details around existing projects, and another multi-project output deal with the South Africa filmmaker Mandlakayise Walter Dube for films and series.Under the partnership, Dube — who directed Netflix’s first commissioned African film “Silverton Siege,” released earlier this year — will direct a variety of Netflix-owned projects. He joins Nigeria’s Junle Afolayan of Kunle Afolayan Productions and Mo Abudu of EbonyLife Studios who have similar output deals with the streamer already.
Fire at Italy’s Historic Cinecittà Studios Briefly Pauses Production of Netflix’s ‘Old Guard 2’
Production on Netflix’s “Old Guard 2” was disrupted on Monday after a fire broke out at Cinecittà Studios in Italy. The flames erupted Monday afternoon, in an area of the studio with a renaissance-era Florence set.
Joy, pride and hope after Euro 2022 glory in the Manchester suburb where one Lioness has won locals' hearts... by selling coffee
Football fans old and new have been left awe-stuck by England's newly-crowned European champions. Manchester erupted with joy as the Lionesses defeated Germany 2-1 on Sunday (July 31) while the whole country burst with pride.
Israel Unveils $13m Tax Rebate For Incoming Film And TV Productions
Israel has announced a total $13m (45m shekels) tax rebate aimed at incoming film and TV productions.
Israel Reveals 30% Filming Incentive for International Productions
Naman Ramachandran Israel’s ministries of culture and sports, economy and industry, foreign affairs, finance and tourism have revealed incentives to encourage foreign productions in the country.Over the next two years, the inter-ministry collaboration will grant reimbursement for production expenses of up to 30% to foreign productions of films and TV series shooting in Israel, for an amount up to ILS16.6 million ($4.9 million). The financial aid will be given by the ministries to strengthen Israeli production companies operating in cooperation with foreign production companies in Israel.
'Peaky Blinders' Creator Steven Knight Gives Movie Update As Production Prepares to Begin
Steven Knight is giving fans an update about the forthcoming Peaky Blinders movie.
Israel’s Music Business Has the Ears of the Majors
Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicThe estimated $55 million music market in Israel, like the Middle Eastern country’s comparatively small size, would quantify as the equivalent of a rounding error for a global music company. But its recorded music revenue growth was up 10.2% in 2021, per the IFPI, and the majors are taking notice.In 2021, UMG opened a Tel Aviv office housing a recorded music division and an arm of Universal Music Publishing Group (headed by managing director Yoram Mokady and general manager Itamar Shafrir, respectively).
Scripted Israel: LA Event To Welcome 17 Producers And 12 Writers; Organizers Unveil Partnerships With The JSFL Series Lab And Israeli Production Body
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. execs headed to the inaugural Scripted Israel event in LA in September can expect to meet 17 prominent Israeli producers and a host of talent and writers.
Candle Media & ‘Fauda’ Creators’ Faraway Road Productions Appoints Former Armoza & Keshet Execs To Key Roles
EXCLUSIVE: Faraway Road Productions, the production label founded by Fauda creators Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff and which was acquired this year by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs’ Candle Media, has hired Salome Peillon and Adi Ezroni, as Chief Operating Officer and EVP of Content, respectively.
‘Most hated man on the internet’ doc: How an angry mom took down revenge porn king Hunter Moore
a website called IsAnyoneUp.com.“She says, ‘Hey, I’m really sorry. But you’re on this website [that’s] basically a website of nude photos,” recalls Laws in the Netflix documentary “The Most Hated Man on the Internet,” out Wednesday. The three-part series from Alex Marengo, producer of docs “Bad Sport” and “Killer Ratings,” recounts “king of revenge porn” Hunter Moore’s staggering rise to and shameful fall from digital eminence after launching IsAnyoneUp, or IAU, in the early 2010s. “I was racking my brain.