Switzerland Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Lise Pedersen “The Return of the Projectionist,” which is running in the main competition at Swiss doc fest Visions du Réel, where it will have its world premiere, has been picked up by Paris-based doc specialist Cat&Docs. The feature debut of Orkhan Aghazadeh, it tells the story of Samid, a former projectionist in Azerbaijan’s remote Talysh mountains, who is determined to bring cinema back to life in his village using his old Soviet film projector.

began dating Prince William in 2003 following their meeting at St. Andrews University in Scotland.The couple subsequently married in 2011 after several years of courtship, later welcoming children Prince George, 10, Prince Louis, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 8. Because of her longterm bond with William, 41, the now-Princess of Wales, 42, had been thrust into the spotlight as a young adult, having an up and down relationship with the British press.

Movistar Plus+ original film and the awaited next feature from Spain’s Iciar Bollaín (“Take My Eyes,” “Maixabel”), has closed its earliest pre-sales, struck by Film Factory Entertainment, including a bellwether deal in France. The deals come as “I’m Nevenka” has wrapped production, shooting in the Basque city of Bilbao before transferring to rural Zamora, western Spain.

Annika Pham On the eve of the global content market MipTV in Cannes, Viaplay Group’s Vanda Rapti, EVP Viaplay Select and Content Distribution, has offered a confident outlook on the Scandi streamer’s international activities and content sales. The sales executive, who joined the group in 2003, was able to announce exclusively to Variety a string of new deals on Viaplay’s premium Nordic scripted content.

King Charles sent a heartfelt message to retiring BBC reporter Nicholas Witchell last month after the monarch reportedly called the journalist an “awful man” back in 2005. In the video, which was shown at the 70-year-old journalist’s retirement party, the British monarch joked about the “ups and downs” the pair had during Witchell’s stint as a reporter covering the royal family.“It did come as a surprise to everyone there including Nicholas,” one attendee told The Daily Mail. “I think it would be fair to say the King’s message was generous and warm-hearted.” A second source told the outlet that: “The feeling within the Corporation is that everyone is pleased the King has buried the hatchet.” “What happened between them is a long time ago and both men are of an age now where it’s better not to bear grudges.” Withell, who worked at the BBC for nearly 50 years, did not divulge any other information about the message from the 75-year-old king.

Manchester City were forced into an early change in their crucial title fight against Arsenal on Sunday with Nathan Ake being replaced by Rico Lewis after just 25 minutes.

Olly Alexander and a number of other performers have released a joint statement about their participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after calls to boycott the competition in solidarity with Palestine.Yesterday (March 28) hundreds of queer artists, individuals and organisations called on Alexander to pull out of the competition this year, after its refusal to expel Israel.Now, Alexander, alongside Ireland’s Bambie Thug, Norway’s Gåte, Portugal’s Iolanda, San Marino’s Megara, Switzerland’s Nemo, Denmark’s SABA, Lithuania’s Silvester Belt and Finland’s Windows95Man, have signed a letter outlining their response.“We want to begin by acknowledging the privilege of taking part in Eurovision,” it begins.pic.twitter.com/VBNQWwPe46— olly alexander (@alexander_olly) March 29, 2024“In light of the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and particularly in Gaza, and in Israel, we do not feel comfortable being silent. It is important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages.

Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival will celebrate the centennial of Columbia Pictures with an expansive retrospective titled The Lady with the Torch, mounted in collaboration with the studio’s parent company, Sony. 

official finance report published by the Danish Palace Tuesday shows that the majority of the couple’s income — paid for by the state — covered their housing and staff costs.It also covered other “dependent” members of the Danish royal family.Of the nearly $2 million they raked in, $323,000 was set aside as a “grant” for Mary, who was the Crown Princess at the time ahead of Queen Margrethe II’s abrupt abdication in January.This left them with just under $415,000 to spend on leisure travel, shopping, and personal expenses.Margrethe, who stripped her youngest son’s family of their royal titles before her abdication, received an eye-watering sum of $8.4 million, with a private allowance of $5.7 million, in 2023.Frederik and Mary will be looking to cash in even more this year.The pair are also owners of a luxury ski lodge in Switzerland, which they list on AirBnB for up to $20,000 per week.The Danish royal family’s appanage system is set to be challenged by the government, which hopes to overhaul the current arrangement, according to local outlet DR News.This means that the royal family’s finances will be more transparent to the public, and will indicate the exact amount the royal household is given, as well as how they choose to divvy up the sum.Unlike the British royals, the Danish royal family does not need to pay taxes.Frederik and Mary ascended to the throne after Queen Margrethe — third cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II — revealed in her New Year’s speech on Dec. 31 that she would be stepping down on Jan.

Pep Guardiola is facing the biggest game of Manchester City's season without three of his most valuable defenders available.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival is set to celebrate the centennial of Columbia Pictures with a retrospective featuring classic titles spawned by the Hollywood studio between the dawn of sound and the late 1950s. The Locarno retro, titled “The Lady With the Torch –– The Centenary of Columbia Pictures,” is being curated by Ehsan Khoshbakht, co-director of Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato festival, which is dedicated to cinematic treasures of the past and organized in partnership with Switzerland’s Cinémathèque Suisse.

A Scottish hotel has been named amongst "the most stylish on the planet".

The news from the national team camps has been mixed as Pep Guardiola readies himself for the home straight of the season.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “Dahomey,” the Berlinale Golden Bear-winning film helmed by French-Senegalese director Mati Diop, has been sold to a raft of international territories by Les Films du Losange. Along with being acquired by Mubi in key markets, “Dahomey” has been acquired in Australia & New Zealand (Rialto), China (Hugoeast), Spain (Filmin), Portugal (Nitrato Filmes), Greece (One From the Heart), Scandinavia (NonStop Entertainement), Benelux (Cinéart), Bulgaria (Beta Films), Ex-Yugoslavia (Discovery), Hungary (Mozinet), Czech Republic (Film Europe), Romania (Voodoo), Baltic Countries (Taip Toliau), Poland (New Horizons), Ukraine (Kyivmusicfilm), Taiwan (Joint Entertainment), Indonesia (PT Falcon) and Sudu Connexion in Africa.

Manchester City's preparations to face Arsenal this weekend have suffered another setback with news of a fifth player withdrawing from international duty.

AC/DC have confirmed the support act that will join them on their upcoming 2024 European tour. Find ticket details below.The Pretty Reckless will be joining the rock veterans for all 24 of their upcoming shows across the UK and Europe later this summer.Comprised of frontwoman Taylor Momsen, alongside Jamie Perkins, Ben Phillips and Mark Damon, the support slot will mark the first time that the New York rock group have performed in the UK since autumn 2022 – when they came across the pond for their ‘Death By Rock And Roll’ tour.The tour dates with AC/DC are set to kick off in Germany on May 17, and will see them play numerous shows across Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland, before heading to the UK.Two UK shows are lined up, both of which taking place at London’s Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, July 3 and Sunday, July 7.From there, Brian Johnson and co.

Club football may be on pause at the moment but that doesn't mean Manchester United's star men have had their feet up.

Georgian director Elene Naveriani’s late-coming-of-age, female empowerment drama Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry topped the prizes at the Swiss Film Awards in Zurich over the weekend.

Prince George has already taken after his parents in many ways, whether its due to his looks, his interest in sports or the way he is learning what is future role will involve. As well as this, George has clearly inherited a passion for art from his mother - something which was seen when his parents shared a painting he had done of a reindeer and robins in a snowy scene to celebrate Christmas Day in 2022.The young royal's talent shocked and impressed those on social media - but he is certainly not the only member of his family with an artistic side.

French commercial broadcast giant TF1 is taking its streaming service international. CEO Rodolphe Belmer told Series Mania on Thursday that TF1+ will start rolling out in the middle of this year before a wider series of launches in 2025.

Holly Jones Premiering in January to a Sundance Dramatic World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, “Sujo” from “Identifying Features” filmmakers Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez has expanded its global reach, closing multiple distribution deals forged by Paris-based Alpha Violet, who heads international distribution. Paris-based Damned Films has picked up the title for France while Twelve Oaks Pictures, Trigon Films, Cinobo and MCF Megacom have swooped on the film for Spain, Switzerland, Greece and Cyprus and Ex-Yugoslavia territories respectively, with Auckland’s Vendetta Films securing rights to the title for the Australia and New Zealand markets.

Lise Pedersen Swiss documentary film festival Visions du Réel has unveiled the program for its 55th edition, which includes 10 first films out of 15 in the main international competition, cementing its reputation as a springboard for emerging talent. The official selection includes 165 films from 50 countries, with gender parity for the second-year running, and no fewer than 88 world premieres, making VdR the place to be in April on the international non-fiction film calendar.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Paris-based film sales agency Cat&Docs has acquired “Kamay,” the debut feature documentary from filmmakers Ilyas Yourish and Shahrokh Bikaran. The film will world premiere at Visions du Réel, which runs in Nyon, Switzerland, April 12-24. Variety has been given exclusive access to the trailer (below).

Thirty Seconds To Mars have announced rescheduled dates for their 2024 UK tour and some European shows.The band – fronted by Jared Leto – have shared the partial rescheduling of their European and UK leg of their 2024 ‘Seasons World Tour’. All previously purchased tickets for the dates will be honoured for the rescheduled shows.Speaking about rescheduling dates in a press release, the band shared: “Due to the SAG-AFTRA Actors’ strike and subsequent delays in Jared’s filming schedule, some of the EU/UK dates of our Seasons World Tour have been rescheduled.

Naman Ramachandran Markus Breitenecker, currently CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 PULS4, has been appointed to the group’s executive board, with effect from April 1. Together with CEO Bert Habets, Breitenecker will take over the management of the German giant’s entertainment segment as chief operating officer.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Fantastic Pavilion, the genre hub launched last year in Cannes, saunters back to the Croisette for its second edition, returning with a host of activities that include the Fantastic Galas, cocktails, and a showcase of genre video games as well as the second edition of the Fantastic Latido Award. Welcomed by the Marché du Film as part of its ecosystem, the Fantastic Pavilion will pay tribute to this year’s country of honor with a cocktail celebration alongside the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFF) as well as a spotlight on Swiss films and Switzerland as a filming location in The Fantastic Pavilion Rue Morgue special edition magazine.

Lise Pedersen Swiss documentary film festival Visions du Réel has unveiled its program for film professionals, VdR-Industry, which includes 29 projects in various stages of production. These will be pitched during the four-day event that runs April 14 through April 17, alongside the fest.

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds have today (March 15) announced details of a UK and European tour – check out the full dates below.The tour will take place this autumn and follows on from the recent announcement that the band will release a new album this summer, ‘Wild God’. The band will kick off their tour on September 24 in Oberhausen, Germany, and will end in Paris, France on November 17.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has already confessed he would prefer to avoid Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in today's Champions League quarter-final draw.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has pointed out two "cocky" Champions League teams that he thinks Arsenal should steer clear of.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Memento International has closed a raft of deals on “Fremont,” a critically acclaimed film starring Anaita Wali Zada, an Afghan refugee and first-time actor, and featuring “The Bear” actor Jeremy Allen White. Directed by BAFTA-nominated Iranian-born director Babak Jalali, the black-and-white movie tells the story of Donya, a young woman working at a Chinese fortune cookie factory in the San Francisco bay. Formerly a translator for the U.S.

Ed Meza @edmezavar Confirming Germany’s importance as a growth market, Netfix on Wednesday announced 17 new and returning shows and movies produced by some of the country’s leading producers, including docuseries “Kaulitz & Kaulitz,” about the Tokio Hotel popstar siblings, and sci-fi drama “Cassandra,” about an overzealous electronic household helper. Netflix presented 17 feature films, series, documentaries and reality shows at a special event in Berlin.

“Choices, choices…,” says the narrator, a young seamstress, in this strange and striking debut from Freddy Macdonald. A neo-noir in the early Coens tradition, Sew Torn also features a bold tri-part structure in which the heroine, Barbara (Eve Connolly) — like Lola before her in Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run — gets three standalone chances to pursue a different destiny after stumbling on the bloody aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong on a quiet country road.  

Chocolate maker Lindt has warned shoppers that the company has 'no choice' but to increase the prices of their products.

Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand has hinted that Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund will feature in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool at Old Trafford.