Pathe U.K. Exits Film Distribution as Head of Film Cameron McCracken Retires

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Nabil Ayouch, a leading Moroccan filmmaker whose latest movie as a producer “The Blue Caftan” became the first Moroccan film to ever make it to the Oscars shortlist, is wrapping up his next directorial effort, “Everybody Loves Touda.” Now in post-production, “Everybody Loves Touda” follows the journey of a strong-willed woman, along the lines of some of Ayouch’s best known films, such as “Much Loved” and “Razzia,” which played at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and Toronto, respectively. The movie will mark Ayouch’s directorial follow up to “Casablanca Beats,” which competed at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021 and marked the first Moroccan feature to vie for a Palme d’Or.

Will Smith has revealed that the development of I Am Legend 2 is moving at pace, with both him and Michael B. Jordan on board and a first script delivered.

Mark Shelmerdine, the veteran producer who revived London Films as an indie powerhouse and played a pivotal role in the development of the international TV distribution market, died October 26 in Santa Barbara surrounded by his family. He was 78.

EXCLUSIVE: Married actors Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Mark Menchaca (Ozark) have been set to star in Long Pork, a revenge thriller short helmed by up-and-comer Iris Dukatt, who also wrote the screenplay.

Love Actually, will hit Showcase Cinemas from November 24. Starring Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson among others, it depicts the lives of different people and couples in the run-up to Christmas, and how their paths may cross in more ways than one.For fans of the romantic genre, The Holiday will return on December 8.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Though the Red Sea Film Festival will feature a slew of films from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region – including 11 feature films from Saudi Arabia – there is a rich roster of international fare set to launch locally from Jeddah. Kaleem Aftab, the festival’s director of international programming, says they received lots more submissions for this year’s third edition.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor AGC Intl., the international sales and distribution arm of Stuart Ford’s fast-growing independent content studio AGC Studios, has picked up world rights from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, MBC Studios and VOX Studios on Yasir Al Yasiri‘s “HWJN,” and from O3 Medya and Dhafer L’Abidine’s Double A Productions on L’Abidine’s “To My Son.” Saudi fantasy romance ‘HWJN’ will open the Red Sea Film Festival on Nov. 30, while the emotional family drama “To My Son” will premiere in Red Sea’s Arab Spectacular section.

Stuart Ford’s AGC International has picked up world rights to two Arab-produced titles, HWJN by Yasir Al-Yasiri and To My Son byDhafer L’abidine, ahead of their debuts at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival. 

It’s interesting to think of how cinema fans are often forced to pick sides. You’re either pro-cinema and on the side of folks like Christopher Nolan, or you’re maybe someone who likes major franchises and *gasp* comic book movies, so you’re on the side of Zack Snyder.

During this year’s Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm finally gave some definitive news about what to expect on the big screen with the galaxy far, far away. We have a movie from Dave Filoni, which is expected to be an “Avengers”-style convergence of all the live-action TV shows.

Following the “Star Wars: Ahsoka” series created by writer/director/producer Dave Filoni, who wrote all eight episodes himself and directed two, Lucasfilm has named the filmmaker the Chief Creative Officer at the company. “Now I’m what’s called chief creative officer of Lucasfilm,” Filoni told Vanity Fair this week, and noting the role will place him in the early development process of all “Star Wars” projects and in a much more expansive capacity than his previous advisory duties.

Marvel‘s upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty has just lost it’s director!

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Red Bull Studios and London-based Featuristic Films have partnered on “Art of the Jump,” a feature documentary about the life and career of Sébastien Foucan, a well-known French athlete. Directed by James Kermack (“Knuckledust,” “Hi-Lo Joe”), the documentary follows Foucan’s humble upbringing in the French suburb of Lisses to sports stardom.

K.J. Yossman “Game of Thrones” star Lena Headey has taken the lead in “Long Pork,” a short thriller from Madhouse Films set in a post-Roe v Wade America. Marking the directorial feature debut of Iris Dukatt, “Long Pork” sees Headey play Lily Williams, a chef at a renowned steakhouse whose daughter has died under forced birth laws.

EXCLUSIVE: Cohen Media Group has acquired worldwide rights to Merchant Ivory, a documentary about the cinematic and personal partnership of filmmakers James Ivory and Ismail Merchant. The film directed by Stephen Soucy makes it world premiere on Saturday at DOC NYC.

EXCLUSIVE: Plimsoll Productions is making some changes to its natural history team.

Emma Rigby has reportedly made a dramatic return to the role of Hannah Ashworth, as she was photographed reuniting with actor Kieron Richardson on the Hollyoaks set. The actress, 34, appeared on the Channel 4 soap for five years before exiting in 2010, although it appears that now 13 years later, she is set to make her return.

EXCLUSIVE: Lena Headey (Game Of Thrones) has stepped back from the XYZ Films, Wayward Entertainment, and Resolute Films horror pic Svalta due to what has been described as scheduling conflicts. She was replaced by This Way Up actor Aisling Bea. 

Bangladeshi director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is attending Mumbai Film Festival with feature-length drama Something Like An Autobiography, which is playing in the festival’s Icons: South Asia section after premiering in the Jiseok section at Busan. 

EXCLUSIVE: UTA partner Jim Meenaghan has decided to step down from his dual roles as the Head of Motion Picture Business Affairs and Co-Head of the Independent Film Group at the end of the year. The details of his departure were revealed in a memo that was recently sent out to staff and obtained by Deadline. Sources add that it was Meenaghan’s decision to leave the agency and a very amicable one as he is very well liked at UTA.