‘Northern Comfort:’ Dark Comedy From ‘Triangle Of Sadness’ Producer Inks Key International Deals Following SXSW Debut

Mubi has snapped up rights to the acclaimed feature Fallen Leaves, written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki, in a competitive situation, following its world premiere in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Kaouther Ben Hania’s powerful drama “Four Daughters” which mixes documentary and fiction to tell the story of Tunisian mother whose two elder daughters joined ISIS is scoring a slew of sales following its well-received Cannes competition premiere. French company The Party Films Sales has sealed deals on “Four Daughters” for: Benelux (Cineart); Spain (Caramel Films); Italy (I Wonder); Switzerland (Trigon); Sweden (Triart); Denmark (Camera Film); Norway (Arthaus); Finland (Cinemanse); Poland (New Horizons); Greece (Ama Films); former Yougoslavia (Discovery) and Turkey (Bir Film). Rights to the film for multiple other territories are under negotiations, the company said.

McKinley Franklin editor Dweck Productions has joined Joel Potrykus’ upcoming dark comedy feature “Vulcanizadora” which will star Joshua Burge. “Vulcanizadora” will be written and directed by Potrykus, marking his fifth feature and fourth collaboration with Burge following “Ape,” “Buzzard” and “Relaxer.” Plot details for the feature have been kept under wraps with production commencing this summer in Michigan. Dweck joins the project as both producer and financier.  “‘Vulcanizadora’ is a mind bending ride of comedy, suspense and utter devastation, and we are thrilled to be producing the bold and daring fifth feature of the great Joel Potrykus,” said Dweck founder Hannah Dweck. “This is the exact type of boundary pushing, genre bending film we love to help bring to the screen. We can’t wait to watch this with an audience.”

Emiliano De Pablos Santiago-based Clara Films and Colombian sound post house-producer Centauro-Productora LAP are joining forces to co-produce Chilean Ricardo Valenzuela Pinilla’s debut “What Was Left Unsaid,” a social drama with hints of dark comedy.   Produced by Camila Bascuñán at Chilean company Delavida Films, “What Was Left Unsaid” is currently at post-production stage.  The deal completes funding for the film and marks a significant milestone in the journey of bringing Valenzuela Pinilla’s first feature to audiences worldwide.     The story of “What Was Left Unsaid” is set in rural Chile, in the early 2000s, when communications’ modernization started. Margarita, a 43 year-old field sales executive, stands out for her undeniable connection with people in contrast with her 40 year-old sales colleague Cucho.

immediate reactions to “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Dial of Destiny” with the mixed-negative reviews that dropped hours later.See reactions below:MAY DECEMBER: honestly the best movie that premiered at #Cannes2023 today might just be Todd Haynes' tabloid melodrama about Natalie Portman studying to become Julianne Moore. a heartbreakingly sincere piece of high camp. and so funny.my review: https://t.co/rYf13qgPeV pic.twitter.com/0HkCY5STGaMAY DECEMBER: Todd Haynes is back!! Juicy, funny, campy and immediately the most quotable movie of Cannes.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent German producer Silvana Santamaria has come on board as a lead producer on “The Witness,” the new Tehran-set project reuniting Jafar Panahi and Nader Saeivar that Arthood entertainment is selling in Cannes. Saeivar will direct “The Witness.” Saeivar wrote “3 Faces,” the Panahi-directed drama that premiered in 2018 in Cannes where it won the award for best screenplay. Panahi, who is one of Iran’s most prominent auteurs, was recently released from Tehran’s Evin prison after being incarcerated for “propaganda against the system.” He is expected to work very closely with Saeivar on “The Witness” shoot and be on set every day, as he did for Saeivar’s previous films “No End” and “Namo,” according to Santamaria. Panahi will also serve as editor on this previously announced film that is expected to start shooting soon.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Paris-based company Indie Sales has closed further sales on “Richard the Stork 2,” and expects to sell the last remaining territories during the Cannes Film Market. The film, also known as “Richard the Stork and the Mystery of the Great Jewel,” is a follow up to “Richard the Stork” (released in North America as “A Stork’s Journey”), which was widely distributed in 155 countries and grossed more than $20 million worldwide. Indie Sales, which sold Oscar nominee “My Life as a Zucchini” to more than 80 territories, is increasingly focusing on acquiring big budget animation.

EXCLUSIVE: Dekanalog has picked up North American rights to the Sundance competition title Mami Wata, the third feature film from Nigerian filmmaker C.J. “Fiery” Obasi.

taking it all, or mostly all, off as a cover girl for Sports Illustrated’s new sexy annual swimsuit issue.Like Norma Desmond, played by Gloria Swanson in the film Sunset Boulevard, Martha, 81, loves being on camera, looks spectacular, and probably believes as Desmond did, “The stars are ageless, aren’t they.” She calls being a sex symbol “fantastic.”But Martha’s decision to pose where once young bikini-clad beauties like Kate Upton, Tyra Banks and Christie Brinkley graced SI’s cover should not come as a surprise to Martha insiders.Long before the public ever heard of her, Martha was considered a very hot and desirable lady — holding sex-themed parties in her Westport estate, Turkey Hill, that would not have been appropriate for inclusion in her first big book that made her a star, “Entertaining.”Those parties, involving a very small select group of couples and singles shocked some of Martha’s close friends who were invited to her sexy get-togethers for the first time.They were also usually held when her attorney husband and later New York publisher, Andy Stewart, was out of town.“My husband was sort of horrified at the behavior he saw going on,” recalled Martha’s close friend, NormaCollier, a former model and Martha’s catering business partner for a time. “Martha, for instance, was on [another man’s] lap.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Global Screen has closed further presales for “Lassie — A New Adventure,” the sequel featuring the most famous dog in the history of cinema. The film, directed by Hanno Olderdissen, has sold to A Contracorriente for Spain; ADS Service for Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Moldavia; Turkey’s Bir Film; GPI for the Baltic states; Bulgaria’s Pro Films; Karantanija for ex-Yugoslavia; and Greece’s Zinos Panagiotidis. Poland and Benelux are in negotiation. Sales were previously concluded with Lucky Red (Italy), AB Svensk Filmindustri (Scandinavia) and Film House (Israel).

EXCLUSIVE: LA-based production, finance, and sales company Premiere Entertainment have picked up international rights to the military action thriller Warhorse One, starring actor Johnny Strong (Black Hawk Down).

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Global Screen has racked up presales to multiple territories for the animated family adventure movie “Niko — Beyond the Northern Lights,” the third in the box office hit franchise about a flying reindeer. The sales agency will be showing a first scene to buyers at Cannes Film Market. The animated movie has been picked up Kino Swiat for Poland, Bluelabel for South Korea, Just4Kids for the Benelux, GPI for the Baltic states, Karantanija for ex-Yugoslavia, Zinos Panagiotidis for Greece, Bad Unicorn for Romania, Bohemia Motion Pictures for Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Pro Film for Bulgaria and Bir Film for Turkey.

True crime has exploded in popularity over the past several years. Every week, Netflix seemingly releases a new murder doc, while there are countless podcasts devoted to old cases.

Well, this is a big bummer and perhaps an unfortunate sign that Universal has lost faith in the project, at least on the theatrical level. “Please Don’t Destroy,” the new upcoming comedy from the “Saturday Night Live” trio Please Don’t Destroy, produced by Judd Apatow, is no longer going to be released theatrically by Universal.

Universal Pictures has changed its release plans for its as-yet-untitled buddy comedy from comedians Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy — the SNL writing trio collectively known as Please Don’t Destroy. While the film was previously set to hit theaters on August 18th, it will now debut exclusively on Peacock on November 17th.

EXCLUSIVE: Actors Mark McKinney (Superstore, Kids in the Hall) and Daniel Ings (I Hate Suzie, Love Sick, Sex Education) have signed on to star in the comedy road movie A Rush of Blood.

A man who was said to be the head of an organised crime group was a former "trusted lieutenant" in an international cocaine smuggling ring. William Marsh, 36, was involved in the conspiracy while still on licence after serving time for previous convictions.

EXCLUSIVE: With the Frasier sequel series for Paramount+ wrapping production, star and executive producer Kelsey Grammer and his Grammnet NH Productions has closed a first-look television deal with CBS Studios, the studio behind the Cheers/Frasier franchise.

Jessie Ware revealed some very exciting news on last night's episode of The Record Club. 

EXCLUSIVE: UK sales outfit SC Films International has acquired world rights to the thriller Captive from producer Antony I. Ginnane (Screamers), and to be directed by Louise Alston (Back of the Net).