Tunisia Showbiz Latest News and Updates

France’s 2-1 victory in the World Cup group stage over Denmark on Saturday evening drew an average 11.6 million viewers to TF1 from the 5PM hour local time. This is second best audience score of the year for all programs and across all channels in the Hexagon. Upon entering the tournament last week,  Les Bleus set a record for viewership in 2022, and since June 2021.

Australia and Hibs winger Martin Boyle has flown in to Qatar to back the Socceroos following knee surgery which has edned his campaign.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival Unveils Jury

EXCLUSIVE: Sony has rounded out its cast for The Equalizer 3, with Eugenio Mastrandrea (From Scratch), Remo Girone (Ford v Ferrari), Sonia Ammar (Scream), Daniele Perrone (Baaria), Andrea Scarduzio (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One) and Andrea Dodero (Blocco 181) signing on for roles. 

Hearts hero Cammy Devlin was reduced to tears after he was told he had made Australia's 26-man squad for the World Cup.

SF Studios Acquires Johan Rundberg’s ‘Moonwind & Hoff’ Book SeriesSF Studios has acquired the film rights to Johan Rundberg’s book series Moonwind & Hoff. The series includes the novels The Night Raven, The Queen of Thieves, The Angel of Death, and The Blood Pact. The Night Raven is the first novel that will be adapted, produced, and distributed by SF Studios. The film is expected to start shooting at the beginning of 2024 with a theatrical release in 2025. Stefan H. Lindén and Alexandra Thönnersten, producers at SF Studios, said: “The Night Raven and the entire series about Moonwind & Hoff are exactly in the realm of magical realism that we both dreamed of producing. In many ways, both the world and the characters feel inspiring and exciting. We want to create a grand series of films that can enthrall cinema audiences.”

Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age drama The Fabelmans has been announced as the opening film of 44th Cairo International Film Festival, running from November 13 to 22.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent In what is being hailedas a milestone, Egyptian director Mohamed Diab recently became the first Arab helmer to direct a Marvel project when he took the reins of the limited series “Moon Knight,” while Netflix launched its latest Arab original show, “Finding Ola,” toplining Cairo-based Tunisian star Hend Sabry. Sabry plays a happy divorcee who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting changing female roles in the region and the streamer’s thematically groundbreaking Middle East strategy.   Meanwhile, Egyptian producer Mohammed Hefzy, whose production company Film Clinic was behind Netflix’s first Egyptian original skein, “Paranormal,” became a member of the 2022 Intl. Emmy Awards jury.

Arriving at Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who won the Champions League five times with Los Blancos, probably expected to come in as a starter. Even if he thought that it would take him a few weeks to settle in, the 30-year-old certainly will not have pictured himself sat on the bench for the Manchester derby in early October.

Roberto Carlos has named Manchester United's Fred and Casemiro as the Brazilian players he would have liked to play alongside.

Christian Eriksen has made an encouraging start to life at Manchester United.

Manchester United midfielder Fred has admitted that he 'misses' Brazil teammate Alex Telles, with the defender currently out on loan with Sevilla.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Freevee has picked up Icons Unearthed: Star Wars for the UK, the doc series that features the first tell-all on-camera interview with George Lucas’ former wife Marcia Lucas.

Eva Mendes knows how to make anything exciting. The retired actress recently shared a video promoting her Skura Style sponge. “No egg on my face - no egg on my sponge,” she wrote in the caption.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “Ashkal,” following its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. The murder mystery is the second feature from Tunisian director Youssef Chebbi and had its world premiere earlier this year at Cannes as part of the Directors’ Fortnight section. Yellow Veil Pictures plans to release the film theatrically in 2023. “Ashkal” is set amongst derelict, half-finished apartment complexes of a former regime, where a mysterious burnt body is discovered by two police officers. The corpse reveals a puzzling repetition of events. As the investigation progresses, a network of violence and corruption is uncovered throughout the city. Fatma Oussaifi and Mohamed Houcine Grayaa star in the picture.

EXCLUSIVE: Tunisia has submitted Erige Sehiri’s bucolic coming-of-age tale Under The Fig Trees, about a group of teenagers working as fig pickers over the summer, as its entry for the best international film Oscar.

A Ryanair flight bound for Scotland had a near miss with another flight over a Spanish city at the weekend.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Prominent arthouse sales company The Match Factory has closed multiple sales on Italian auteur Gianni Amelio’s Venice competition title “Lord of the Ants” ahead of its Venice premiere on Tuesday. The Match Factory has sealed deals on Amelio’s latest work – which is a biopic of Italian poet, playwright and director Aldo Braibanti, who was jailed in 1968 due to a Fascist-era anti-gay law – that will ensure the film’s theatrical release in: Australia/New Zealand (Palace Films); Japan (Zazie Films); Spain (Surtsey Films); Sweden (TriArt Film) and Greece (Ama Films). Further deals are in negotiation, the company said. Braibanti was convicted after a complaint from his partner’s father, who later forced his son to be treated with electroconvulsive therapy in an ill-conceived attempt to rid him of his homosexuality. The Fascist-era law that punished Braibanti, which made it a crime to lead innocent or unwary people “morally” astray, was repealed in 1981.

A boss at Scotland’s controversial detention centre for immigrants needed hospital treatment after an attack by an inmate.

Marta Balaga Final Cut, a workshop supporting films in post-production from African and Arab countries – launched by the Venice Film Festival’s industry section, Venice Production Bridge – celebrates its 10th anniversary this week. Its goals have remained the same, however, as it continues to provide emerging filmmakers with concrete assistance as well as visibility, all the while strengthening Venice’s role as “bridge builder,” says Alessandra Speciale, its curator. The final selection features titles made by directors from nine different countries: Algeria, Jordan, Guinea, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Central African Republic and Tunisia.

Manchester United are hopeful of finalising the permanent sale of Tahith Chong on deadline day.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentStreamer subscriptions across the Arab world are expected to more than double over the next five years  with current regional market leader Netflix remaining firmly ahead of the pack.According to a study conducted across 13 Arabic countries by London-based research firm Digital TV Research paid SVOD subs in the Middle East region are set to rise from 9.49 million in 2021 to 21.5 million by 2027.Amid this double digit growth “Netflix will continue to lead the market, although Disney+ has provided a strong challenge since [entering the market in] June,” the firm’s chief analyst Simon Murray said.Murray interestingly added that “We assume that Netflix and Disney+ will add hybrid ad-supported tiers in a pan-Arabic platform [starting] from 2024.” Digital TV Research projects that by 2027 Disney+ will reach roughly 3,3 million subs across Arab territories.That means that, despite its fast growth, Disney+ will remain behind StarzPlay Arabia – which was launched in 2015 as the first Starz-branded SVOD outside the U.S. – and is now expected to rise to 3,4 million customers by 2027 from roughly 2 million subs in 2021.Meanwhile Netflix is projected by the study to rise to more than 5,4 million customers in Arab countries by 2027 from 3.5 million subs in 2021.The U.S.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentFranco-Tunisian film entrepreneur Tarak Ben Ammar’s Italian distribution and production outfit Eagle Pictures is beefing up its production side with the purchase of film and TV startup 302 Original Content.The Milan-based 302 is headed by emerging producer Giuseppe Saccà who shepherded the 2020 Berlin-prizewinning drama “Bad Tales” by Italy’s Damiano and Fabio D’Innocenzo when he was working with his father, veteran producer and former RAI head of drama Agostino Sacca, under their Pepito Produzioni shingle.Saccà, who left Pepito and joined 302 Original Content in July 2021, will stay on board as its managing director.302, which was founded by veteran TV exec Piero Crispino — who has since exited — got traction in Italy’s kids’ space by producing shows for Disney that have travelled internationally, such as “Alex & Co” and “Penny on M.A.R.S.,” but also various types of content for local broadcasters RAI, Mediaset, Sky, Viacom and Discovery. Under Saccà’s guidance, the company broadened its scope into the film space.302 Original Content’s credits to date include Calabria-set rom com comedy “My Brother And I,” directed by young adult pics specialist Luca Lucini, about a brother and sister fighting for the love of the same woman, whom the brother is about to marry.

For Alejandro Garnacho and his fellow Manchester United academy graduates, the 2022/23 campaign will be a big season.

The summer fixture schedule is often an opportunity for new signings to take centre stage, but just as important for Manchester United is having a platform to give their most promising youngsters a chance to shine.

LIVE – Updated at 19:33Follow all the action as the women’s semi-finals take place on Thursday at Wimbledon. Ons Jabeur, the No 2 seed, opened the action on Centre Court against her good friend Tatjana Maria. Both players had reached a grand slam semi-final for the first time in their careers, but Jabeur was clear favourite.

EXCLUSIVE: French film sales powerhouse Wild Bunch International (WBI) has unveiled a slew of deals on key titles on its 15-title Cannes 2022 slate.

Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri is among the nominees for the 2022 CAF Young Player of the Year award.

Naman Ramachandran The Walt Disney Company’s streamer Disney+ will be available in 42 new countries and 11 new territories this week following the launch on Tuesday in Greece, Turkey and countries in Central Eastern Europe, including Poland, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic and Croatia. Tuesday’s series of launches follow the arrival of the service in South Africa on May 18 and across West Asia and North Africa on June 8.

Daizen Maeda has opened up on why he didn't do his trademark celebration despite scoring his first-ever senior goal for the Japanese national team on Friday.

Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Ford had agreed to a cameo as Elliott’s school principal. Played by Henry Thomas, Elliott is the young boy who befriends E.T. before trying to help him get back home.In the deleted footage, Ford admonishes Elliott for freeing frogs in class.“Elliot is in the principal’s office after the frog incident,” Spielberg told Entertainment Weekly.

Manchester United prospect Amad has furiously denied reports that claimed he does not want to play for the Ivory Coast national team and has refused call-ups.

Star Wars fans, this one’s for you! In honor of the 45th anniversary of the beloved franchise gracing the silver screen, Yahoo Entertainment has created the first 3D immersive AR experiences of sets featured in George Lucas’ space opera — and Us Weekly has all the details!

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAndres Ramirez Pulido’s “La Jauria” won the Grand Prize at Critics’ Week, the Cannes Film Festival’s sidebar dedicated to first and second features. The Colombian film also won the SACD prize.

Lise Pedersen As the boundaries in cinema become increasingly fluid, emerging filmmakers whose films have been selected at the Cannes Film Festival have been discussing their journey from documentary to fiction at the Cannes Market’s Cannes Docs sidebar.Curated by the Documentary Assn. of Europe, the panel on Sunday brought together Ukrainian director Maksym Nakonechnyi, the director of Un Certain Regard title “Butterfly Vision,” and Erige Sehiri (“Railway Men”), the Tunisian director of “Under the Fig Leaves,” which had its world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar.The titles are fiction debuts for Nakonechnyi and Sehiri, who are both experienced documentary filmmakers.Inspired by the conflict in Ukraine’s Eastern Donbas region that has been ongoing since 2014, “Butterfly Vision” is the story of a young Ukrainian soldier who returns home after being held captive for months and discovers she is pregnant after being raped by her Russian warden.

Manori Ravindran International EditorLotfy Nathan, the director of Un Certain Regard title “Harka,” is set to make an elevated horror feature with the producers of “Armageddon Time.”Following the Cannes premiere of “Harka,” Nathan is moving forward with his sophomore film, which is tentatively titled “Son,” based on the apocryphal infancy gospel of Thomas, about the childhood of Jesus.The film continues the relationship between the U.S. director, Spacemaker Prods.