Picture Tree Int’l Boards Alireza Golafshan’s ‘Everything’s Fifty Fifty’ & Posts Deals For German B.O. Hit ‘Weekend Rebels’ – AFM

EXCLUSIVE: Amidst the continuing tragedy of the Israel-Hamas war, Leviathan Production has entered development on a feature adaptation of Henry Ford’s War on Jews and the Legal Battles Against Hate Speech, a historical work penned by Victoria Saker Woeste.The film will tell the story of the campaign of antisemitism waged by automotive pioneer Henry Ford throughout the 1920s. It was in 1925 that Aaron Sapiro, a self-made lawyer and activist, sued Ford for libel. After a dramatic court case that gripped the nation, Sapiro forced Ford to shut down his antisemitic newspaper, The Dearborn Independent, and apologize publicly to the Jewish people.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor More than 800 film industry professionals in Germany and Austria have signed an open letter opposing antisemitism, with the number of signatories continuing to grow. The signatories include a wide range of directors, writers, producers and other film industry professionals.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Beta Cinema has sold the North American rights for “Adios Buenos Aires” to Outsider Pictures, which plans to release the charming comedy drama in spring 2024 throughout the U.S. and Canada.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures International has acquired French rights for Italian actress and screenwriter Paolo Cortellesi’s feature directorial debut hit There’s Still Tomorrow, in a deal brokered by Vision Distribution.

Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 has seen its financial picture stabilizing as the local TV advertising market began to show signs of recovery.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Polish actress and singer Joanna Kulig (“Cold War,” “The Eddy”) and French icon Fanny Ardant are co-starring in “Island,” a psychological thriller by Italian-German writer director Nora Jaenike filmed on the Italian island of Elba. Filming on the mostly English-language atmospheric noir wrapped on Nov. 4 on the island, which is located off the coast of Tuscany.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Jasmina Kuhnke, a German-born writer, actor, author and activist, has signed with CAA for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. Kuhnke’s debut novel, “Black Heart,” is a bestseller. The semi-autobiographical book recounts her experience growing up on the outskirts of the Ruhr region in Germany in the ’90s, and how she grappled with racism.

BBC Acquires Aussie Spin-Off Of ‘Death In Paradise’

If it’s an understatement to call film and television challenged, amidst the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, in the world of comedy, the story is very different.

This year's John Lewis Christmas advert comes with a big range of merchandise, including ‘Snapper, The Perfect Tree.' The department store's festive advert is an exciting sign for many TV watchers that the festive season has finally begun.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent MK2 Films has boarded Bernhard Wenger’s feature debut, “Peacock,” a tragicomedy headlined by Albrecht Schuch, the German actor who starred in “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “System Crasher.” An up-and-coming Austrian director, Wenger developed the script at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation residency and was part of Berlinale Talents in 2020. His shorts, including “Keeping Balance,” “Guy Proposes to His Girlfriend on a Mountain” and “Excuse Me, I’m Looking for the Ping-Pong Room and My Girlfriend,” have played at festivals in Chicago, Palm Springs and Nashville, among others.

EXCLUSIVE: A feature film about the escapades of little-known Canadian spy Winthrop Bell is in development.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent 2023’s American Film Market may be shaping up for “a rather quiet year,” says Martin Moszkowicz, chairman of the executive board at Germany’s Constantin Film. That said, Moszkowicz will stay in Los Angeles for around 10 days. “We have so much business there – and much of it is not related directly to the market,” he says.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor A24 has forged an exclusive output deal with Happinet Phantom Studios covering the distribution in Japan of A24’s upcoming releases, including Alex Garland’s action film “Civil War,” starring Kirsten Dunst, which has a highly anticipated launch at AFM this week. Happinet and A24 have worked together on the release of a number of films in Japan, including triple Oscar winner “Moonlight,” and “Midsommar,” whose gross in the territory was the biggest outside North America.

Emiliano De Pablos In standout results that suggests the strength of select Spanish arthouse films on the current international market, Bendita Films Sales, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife-based boutique world sales agency, has closed a formidable raft of deals to Galician auteur Lois Patiño’s multisensory journey film “Samsara.” Winner of a Special Jury Award at Berlin’s 2023 major sidebar Encounters and the Audience Award at Mexico’s Ficunam festival, “Samsara” has just screened in main competition gathered “Samsara”(Oct. 20-28), running up more than a dozen international film festival selections. Bendita Film Sales has clinched commercial release pacts in the U.K.

Kanye West‘s antisemitism has been known to Adidas since the very beginning?!

Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, has always been in the public eye. Her fashion choices and personal style have consistently drawn attention.

EXCLUSIVE: A pair of German production houses has teamed for animated adventure feature Tafiti — Across the Desert, which Sola Media is launching at AFM.

Elvis Presley was on the soundtrack to the Disney film Lilo & Stitch.The 26-year-old actor and Euphoria star plays the legendary singer in the new film Priscilla, a biopic of Presley’s ex-wife.Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Elordi disclosed that he did not grow up a fan of Elvis’ music, but did become somewhat familiar with him after watching the 2002 animated film. “The most I knew of Elvis was in Lilo & Stitch,” the Australian actor revealed.

EXCLUSIVE: Christine Günther and Chevy Chen, the co-founding heads of Berlin and Los Angeles-based production company Fireglory Pictures, first met in Germany via Doug Liman’s executive produced series Covert Affairs.