James Erskine Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Addie Morfoot Contributor Chris Smith‘s “Devo” will open the ninth edition of Chicago’s Doc10 documentary film festival on May 2. The film, which premiered at Sundance 2024, charts the life of the art-movement-turned-band Devo from Akron, Ohio, through archival footage of the band and candid sit-down interviews with band members.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Running April 4-7, the IFF Panama brings to this year’s edition a rich mix of standout director driven titles from Europe, the Spanish-speaking world and beyond, spangled by highlights from Central America, including Panama: “Bila Burba,” (Duiren Wagua, Panama) Documentary. Wagua’s debut feature. The Gunadule nation’s ties with the Panamanian government were fraught with territorial and cultural disputes.

EXCLUSIVE: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to Copa 71, a documentary about the pioneering “Unofficial Women’s World Cup” that created a sensation in 1971 but has since been virtually erased from history. Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine (Billie) directed the film, which is executive produced by tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams and soccer star Alex Morgan.

Polygram Entertainment, the film and television division of Universal Music Group, has announced that Daniel Inkeles will become the new senior vice president of film and television development and production. Prior to his promotion, Inkeles was the vice president of scripted film and television for UMG.

Altitude has boarded sales on the Village Roadshow Pictures thriller The Prize, starring Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) and Haley Bennett (Till). The London-based company will present the project to buyers at AFM this week, with additional support and review from Village Roadshow Pictures’ international sales team. 

EXCLUSIVE: London-based Dogwoof has boarded world sales, excluding North America, on The Last Rider, the latest documentary from MRC Non-Fiction and filmmaker Alex Holmes on the story of cyclist Greg LeMond.

Naman Ramachandran London-based documentary specialist Dogwoof has deepened its involvement with “Copa ’71,” directed by Rachel Ramsay (“Clarkson’s Farm”) and James Erskine (“Billie”). Dogwoof financed the project’s development through its production vehicle TDog and will now take it to market at the upcoming CPH:FORUM, CPH:DOX’s financing and co-production event, in March.“Copa ’71” recounts the story of the 1971 Women’s World Cup, one of the most successful female soccer tournaments of all time, where lavish sponsorship, extensive TV coverage, merchandise on every street corner and over 100,000 fans turned the historic Azteca stadium in Mexico City into a cauldron of noise while a fawning media treated the players like rock stars.

Australian cricketer Shane Warne had just completed a 14-day 'extreme' liquid diet before he died of a suspected heart attack, friends say. The 52-year-old was with pals at the luxury Samujana Villa resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, when he was found unresponsive in his room about 5pm local time on Friday.Thai police earlier confirmed an autopsy found he died of "natural causes" and a full summary will follow.

Shane Warne after the cricketing great died of a suspected fatal heart attack in Thailand on Friday. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Sunday Warne's family had accepted the state government's offer, with more details in coming days. 'It will be an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to his contribution to his sport, to our state and the country,' Andrews said.

Billie Holiday is one of the most iconic and influential singers of all time. However, she was also one of the most tragic, as her life was cut short due to years of being addicted to hard drugs.

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorHiroshima and Nagasaki: 75 Years Later, the two hour documentary co-produced by A+E Networks International, History U.S. and Hulu Japan, will premiere on Hulu Japan and History in the U.S.

By Patrick Hipes