Michael Winterbottom Talks Blurring Of Lines Between Documentary & Fiction; Appeals For UK Film Funding Rethink – Qumra Masterclass

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Beijing 2022,” the official documentary about the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, has been set as the opening film of the revived Beijing International Film Festival. It is directed by noted narrative and documentary film maker Lu Chuan (“Kekexili,” “City of Life and Death” and Disney’s “Born in China”) and will have its world premiere at the festival. The festival will run April 22-29 and be based in the Huairou district which has become an out of town hub for the film industry, as well as other venues in the Chinese capital. For the past three editions the BJIFF has been held online due to disruptions caused by China’s strict anti-COVID measures.

Emily Ratajkowski‘s co-star in Robin Thicke‘s Blurred Lines music video is sharing what she saw that day!

Michael Mann is reportedly planning to make a sequel to his 1995 hit Heat, and it looks like Adam Driver might be joining the cast in an essential role.

EXCLUSIVE: It’s been nearly three decades since Michael Mann’s crime classic hit theaters and it now feels like Mann and Warner Bros. are finally feeling more heat around the corner for a sequel to Heat. While rumors have been swirling for weeks, Deadline is hearing Warner Bros. is now in negotiations to come on to develop Heat 2, the sequel to the 1995 classic that Mann recently turned into a novel that became a New York Time #1 best-seller when it was published last August. On top of Warner Bros. in talks to return, insiders add that Adam Driver, who recently starred in Mann’s Ferrari pic, is in discussions with Mann to play young Neil McCauley in the movie.

Sharon Stone has some less than fond memories from when she filmed Basic Instinct.

Twice-impeached former president Donald Trump hasn’t been arrested yet, but Jimmy Fallon is pretty sure he’s starting to feel the heat. During Monday night’s episode of “The Tonight Show,” Fallon joked that the location of Trump’s first official 2024 campaign rally was the clearest sign of that.On Saturday, Trump stopped in Waco, Texas to make his first official campaign bid to the people and, as always, his speech was full of lies and gripes about how he’s being treated unfairly.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent U.S.-Lebanese actor Tony Shalhoub, who played the “defective detective” on “Monk,” is set to star as former auto mogul-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn in a high-profile TV series directed by Michael Winterbottom. Ghosn is the French-Lebanese-Brazilian former CEO of automakers Nissan and Renault who in 2020 jumped bail and absconded to Beirut hidden in a music case on a private jet while on trial in Japan for alleged financial misconduct. Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan. The six-part series titled “Fall of the God of Cars” is written by Winterbottom, the prolific British director of “Welcome to Sarajevo,” whose TV work comprises hit sitcom series “The Trip” and, more recently, “This is England” starring Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson.

A dramatization of the life of Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan/Renault CEO who escaped from arrest hidden in a music case, is in the works from Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón and This England’s Michael Winterbottom.

Daisy May Cooper is said to be in talks to join the James Bond franchise, as spy chief ‘M’, a role previously portrayed by Dame Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes. The This Country creator and star, 36, is thought to be top of the list of potential Ms, with producers looking to take the franchise, and its characters, in a different direction with the upcoming film.The casting would coincide with a new leading man as well, with Daniel Craig departing the franchise following the release of No Time To Die in 2021.

James Bond film.According to The Sun, the This Country star is being eyed to bring a “comedic and quirky” edge to the role, which was previously portrayed by Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench.A source told the publication: “Daisy is a close pal of [writer] Phoebe [Waller-Bridge], whose involvement in Bond was such a success that it sparked an unlikely conversation.“Suddenly the production team were getting excited about the prospect of really taking M in a different direction.“With Daniel [Craig] leaving, it seemed the time to start looking at changes across the board and the dynamic between Bond and M is at the heart of the films.”The source added: “So this opens the door to it being a bit lighter and more comedic going forwards – and will of course impact the direction the new 007 goes in too.”Earlier this week, Taron Egerton dismissed rumours that he could succeed Daniel Craig as the next 007, saying that he doesn’t think he’s “the right choice for it”.“You have to be consistently statuesque to be that guy. And that’s something that I am still striving for.

Michael Douglas conjured up some fond memories on Instagram this week when he posted two photos sparking a major reaction from fans. The celebrated star paid tribute to someone very special on social media as he wished his good friend and Fatal Attraction co-star, Glenn Close, a happy birthday.In one throwback image, Michael had his arm draped around her as they appeared on set of the famous movie. WATCH: Michael Douglas dances up a storm with his family The second was from a 2019 reunion when they presented an award together. Michael was looking adoringly at Glenn and appeared almost emotional.He wrote: "Birthday wishes to my good friend and #FatalAttraction costar @glennclose! Have a great one Glennie! #GlennClose."MORE: Michael Douglas makes X-rated confession about married life with Catherine Zeta-JonesMORE: Catherine Zeta-Jones' £335k engagement ring was inspired by royal scandalFans rushed to comment and said: "Nice to know that you are still friends after all of these years," and, "You both look amazing," while a third added: "Like a fine wine, you two."A post shared by Michael Douglas (@michaelkirkdouglas)Michael wished his good friend Glenn Close a happy birthday Michael is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones and the two share children, Dylan, 22, and Carys, 19.

Katherine Tulich The Australian International Documentary Conference celebrated a record-breaking edition after holding its first expanded in-person event after two previous hybrid and virtual outings. Held at Melbourne’s Australia Centre for the Moving Image on March 5- 8, the lively four-day conference of industry panels, screenings and networking events was followed by a three-day online international marketplace (March 9 – 11) that drew 820 documentary and factual industry delegates. The numbers were the highest in 20 years and the most attendees since the event relocated to Melbourne in 2016. The third annual awards were also announced on March 8 with the top prize for best documentary feature going to “Wash My Soul in the River’s Flow,” director Philippa Bateman’s portrait of musician and activists Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter.

Just one day before his untimely passing, actor Lance Reddick opened up about the death of his former The Wire co-star Michael K. Williams during one of his final interviews.

UK director Lynne Ramsay enjoyed international recognition early on in her career after short films Small Deaths and Gasman were invited to the Cannes and won the Jury Prize in its short film competition in 1996 and 1998 respectively.

Jacqueline West is one of Hollywood’s most respected costume designers with four Oscar nominations for Philip Kaufmann’s Quills, David Fincher’s The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s The Revenant and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One.

Oscar-winning UK producer David Parfitt shared insights from the highs and lows of his 35-year producing career at a masterclass for the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra talent incubator over the weekend.

Oscar-winning screenwriter, playwright and film director Christopher Hampton was on feisty form in a masterclass in Qatar earlier this week as part of the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra talent incubator event (March 10-16).

Angelique Jackson Academy Award-nominee Barry Keoghan is circling his next high-profile role, with the actor in negotiations to join Ridley Scott’s untitled “Gladiator” sequel. If the deal closes, Keoghan would join fellow 2023 Academy Award nominee Paul Mescal, who is set to star in the Paramount Pictures film. Keoghan is in negotiations to play Emperor Geta. Paramount Pictures has dated the film for November 22, 2024. Scott returns to direct the film, which follows 2000’s “Gladiator,” which was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning five including best picture. David Scarpa is penning the script. Scott will also produce with Michael Pruss via Scott Free and Doug Wick & Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald are executive producing. Also returning from the original film are cinematographer John Mathieson, production designer Arthur Max and costume designer Janty Yates.

UK director Michael Winterbottom has suggested that his 2022 Gaza documentary Eleven Days In May had a tougher time securing a UK broadcast partner following an article in the London-based Jewish Chronicle linking his Palestinian co-director to Hamas.

Sir Michael Caine starring in his latest project, The Great Escaper, has been released to celebrate the cinema icon’s 90th birthday. Two-time Oscar winner Sir Michael stars alongside Glenda Jackson in the forthcoming movie, which is based on the true story of a Second World War veteran who escapes from his nursing home to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. The image, released by Pathé in celebration of Sir Michael’s landmark birthday, shows the cockney acting great in character as Bernard Jordan, standing in the foreground adorned with war medals and saluting.