Public Initiatives Spur Boom In French Animation

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAfter breaking ground in France, Franck Gastambide’s hit Canal Plus show “All the Way Up” (“Validé”), a comedy drama series unfolding on France’s vibrant rap scene, is set to roll out around the world.

Sandra Oh is hitting the red carpet!

Clayton Davis Audrey Diwan’s “Happening,” one of the three shortlisted films to represent France for the upcoming 94th Academy Awards, will make its North American premiere at the Chicago Film Festival as part of the Global Currants and Women in Cinema program on Saturday, Oct.

Phil HarrisonThe hoofers have barely touched the dancefloor and it’s time for movie week. Costumes, wigs and song choices can do a lot of the work in the legendary themed bonanza, but there are plenty of contenders to make it as fabulous as the time Ed Balls went full green-faced Jim Carrey for a samba.

Rebecca Souw Thursday saw the world premiere of the French-made, Korea-set romantic thriller, “Vanishing” at the Busan International Film Festival. Its director Denis Dercourt said that the movie attempts to straddle both cultures.Adapted from the Peter May novel, “The Killing Room,” the script was in the works for eleven years, according to Alexis Dantec, the film’s producer.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentElodie Polo-Ackermann, who runs the Mediawan-owned Paris-based banner Imagissime, has become one of Europe’s key documentary producers since delivering “Who Killed Little Gregory?,” a different kind of true crime series which marked Netflix’s first documentary original in France.

During our second COVID-19 lockdown here in Paris this time last year, I began researching for a book I’m writing about the history of gay Paris (and if you are a regular reader of this column, you will probably enjoy the book when it comes out, so follow me at MonsieurBuckJones.Substack.com to find out when it is published). One of the fascinating bits of history I came across pertains to the origin of the modern French gay pride movement.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentWhile France has a deep-entrenched cinema tradition, drama series have been gaining tremendous ground within the country’s cultural landscape within the past few years, with some of the country’s biggest producers, stars and filmmakers venturing into ambitious television projects.

Angelina Jolie has sold off her share of the $164 million French estate she co-owns with ex-husband Brad Pitt. As the couple’s custody battle rages on, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that she’s offloaded her stake in their Chateau Miraval winery in Correns, France.

Gene Hackman is a Hollywood legend, but he typically keeps to himself after retiring in 2004.

While the movies never truly left if you knew where to look for them and looked outside of theatrical releases, there’s no denying that, for good or not, cinemas are getting as close to “normal” as they can be, all things considered.

Comedian Dawn French has shared an update on phase two of her hair transformation, just weeks after discussing her “greying hair process” with fans. In a new tweet Dawn, 61, explains the next phase of her transformation was to cut off the best part of her hair to allow her greys to grow out in full.The Vicar of Dibley star can be seen showing the top of her head in the selfie, with her new crop on full display.