Production Forum to Discuss How to Prevent Sexual Harassment on Set

By Andreas Wiseman

The Walt Disney Co. has set March 24 as the new launch date for Disney Plus in the U.K. and other key markets across Western Europe.

For the French industry, the drive to open up additional studio spaces has gone hand-in-hand with the push for green production, because for the most part, they share the same root cause: The international streamers that are causing a surge in audiovisual production tend to have strict criteria when it comes to sustainable development.

Speaking at an industry round-table at the Paris-based Production Forum on Thursday, Dominique Boutonnat, president of France’s National Film Board (CNC), announced a new plan to update local production studios in order to make them more internationally competitive.

French director Christophe Ruggia, who was accused in November by the actress Adele Haenel of having sexually harassed her from the age of 12, has been indicted by French authorities after being held in custody for 48 hours, Variety has confirmed.

When Séréna Zouaghi was named deputy mayor in charge of cinema for the French city Marseille in 2014, the local official knew she would have to pack her bags and hit the road. Though the coastal metropolis had always benefited from a healthy production infrastructure, and was second only to Paris as an industry hub, the newly named councilor intended to make her city a starry destination all on its own.

Executives at Film Paris Region, the dedicated production commission for France’s Ile-de-France region, hope to make 2020 a transformative year in their ongoing push to promote sustainability as an innate industry practice.

French filmmaker Christophe Ruggia, 55, was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexual harassment stemming from accusations made by actress Adèle Haenel.French police said Ruggia was arrested as part of an investigation into "sexual aggression on a minor."Haenel, now 31, has accused Ruggia of sexual harassment spanning several years and starting back when she was 12 years old and cast to star in the director's second film, The Devils, in 2002.

PARIS — French movie director Christophe Ruggia was taken into custody on Tuesday, Paris prosecutors said, over allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl who was cast in one of his movies nearly two decades ago.

French director Christophe Ruggia, who was accused in November by the actress Adele Haenel of having sexually harassed her from the age of 12, has been placed in custody by French police on Tuesday, Variety has confirmed.

Running from Jan. 16-17 in Paris’ Parc Floral, what was previously known as the Paris Images Location Expo will enter its 10th edition with a changed name, a different locale, and an expanded, industry focus.

Showcasing the wide scope and many nuances of French comedies, Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius’s “The Lost Prince,” “Mama Weed” with Isabelle Huppert (pictured), “The Lion” with Dany Boon, and “Welcome to the Jungle” with Catherine Deneuve are set to have their market premieres at the 22nd edition of the UniFrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris.

MADRID  —  Giant network TF1, pubcaster France Televisions, upscale channel Arte France, free-to-air network M6 and European TV-film force Studiocanal, owned by Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group, are among companies confirmed for June’s Conecta Fiction in Spain, where France has been chosen as its European Country Focus.

Katie Price is set to make her singing comeback after facing a difficult year in 2019 which saw her being declared bankrupt.The mother-of-five looks prepared to be relaunching her music career after confirming a performance in an upcoming festival which will take place in France later this month. Katie, 41, will join the likes of Lisa Maffia and MC Romeo from So Solid Crew at the Klub Summit UK Garage Festival in Thorens on January 19.

BTS hit the red carpet at the Golden Disc Awards in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday (Jan. 4) wearing head-to-toe Givenchy.