EXCLUSIVE: Sunrise Films and Vertigo Releasing have acquired North American and UK distribution rights on the Danish horror-thriller The Girl in the Trunk. The film will be released on digital download across both territories on May 28.
05.04.2024 - 08:41 / variety.com
Annika Pham Keshet International (KI) has picked up global rights to Finnish sci-fi thriller “Valhalla Project” (“Operaatio Valhalla”), produced by L.A. and Helsinki -based Snapper Films for Finnish streaming service Elisa Viihde.
The Elisa Viihde Original six-part series, currently in post-production, will be sneak peeked April 7 at MipDrama in Cannes, MipTV’s buyers and press’ only showcase for premium dramas.
Toplining the international cast of the high-end series, which is filmed in English, Finnish and Russian, are Sara Soulié (“Conflict,” “The Man Who Died”), Alistair Brammer (“Les Misérables,” “Medieval”), Iben Dorner (“Borgen,” “Thin Ice”), Joonas Saartamo (“Summer of Sorrow,” “Silence”) and Pääru Oja (“Vikings: Valhalla”, “Cold Courage”). The “Valhalla Project” is directed by Snapper Films’s founder and producer Juha Wuolijoki (“King of Los Angeles,” “Lapland Odyssey 4,” “Vinski and the Invisibility Powder”) from a screenplay by award-winning writer Jari Olavi Rantala (“Deadwind”, “The Unknown Soldier”).
The multi-layered story delves into the concept of parallel dimensions, while also exploring themes of humanity, identity, and the limitations of life. We follow climate researcher Alina Railo (Soulié) as she travels to the Finnish Lapland with an international expedition to seek access to a parallel universe, with the hopes of finding a solution to the climate crisis.
The parallel universe was initially investiagted by her father who disappeared in Lapland over 30 years ago. “We are delighted to be partnering with Elisa and Snapper Films on this standout mystery thriller with sci-fi elements and a haunting father-daughter story at its heart,” said Kelly Wright, KI’s managing director of distribution.
EXCLUSIVE: Sunrise Films and Vertigo Releasing have acquired North American and UK distribution rights on the Danish horror-thriller The Girl in the Trunk. The film will be released on digital download across both territories on May 28.
New ITV drama Red Eye is set between an all-night flight from London to Beijing, the streets of London and the corridors of power within Whitehall. The series has been described as a "brilliantly addictive thriller" by ITV bosses.
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British holidaymakers are abandoning their winter trips to the Canary Islands due to European Union rules and rising flight costs.
Tom Holland and his brother Harry Holland were pictured arriving at the opening night of the Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews. The Scottish film festival is set to take place over three days.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the disappointed bride in the failed engagement between Zee and Sony India, has formally ended its quest for a merger. On Tuesday, it withdrew its application before the industry regulator National Company Law Tribunal and said that it will focus instead on internal growth.
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Simon Murray, a popular and respected figure in the international TV business, has died aged 64.
Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Marco Mueller has been appointed artistic director of Italy’s Taormina Film Festival, which will have a top notch selection committee comprising British film curator and former London fest chief Sandra Hebron and former Cannes Directors’ Fortnight boss Edouard Waintrop. As anticipated by Variety, Mueller, who over the past decades has headed both the Venice and Rome fests — among several other events — is taking the reins of the storied Sicilian event that has had its ups and downs over the years. Held since the mid-1950s in the Sicilian resort known to U.S.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Leading European distributor Global Screen, part of Telepool, has secured further international sales of high-end drama “Davos 1917” at MipTV. New acquisitions of the six-part thriller include SBS Australia, TVP in Poland and Big Tree Entertainment in India and the subcontinent. “Davos 1917,” which launched at the end of last year on SRF in Switzerland and ARD in Germany, has already been bought by a strong lineup of premium international broadcasters and streamers across North America, Europe and Asia.
Katcy Stephan Two-time Oscar winner Renée Zellweger is set to return to one of her most beloved roles in Universal Pictures’ and Working Title’s “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” an adaptation of Helen Fielding’s best-selling novel. Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson are confirmed to return alongside franchise newcomers Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall. The film will be directed by Michael Morris (“To Leslie,” “Better Call Saul”).
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Federation Studios has acquired distribution rights to “The Morning After,” an eight-part comedy series headlined by up-and-coming British actor Amara Okereke (“In the Lost Lands”). It filmed on location in Cape Town in South Africa. The show is produced by Paris-based company Paradoxal and Cape Town-based outfit Both Worlds, which previously partnered on “Recipes for Love and Murder.” The series is co-produced by SWR, ARD FabFiction and Prime Video Africa.
AMC Networks International has installed Antonio Ruiz, Warner Bros. Discovery’s former UK and Ireland General Manager, as its boss in Spain and Portugal.
Avatar actress CCH Pounder and Academy Award-nominated producer Paul Garnes will attend the inaugural Cross Continental International Co-production Forum (CCF) in Barbados.
EXCLUSIVE: Israel’s Keshet International (KI) has struck its latest co-development deal, a partnership with British presenter Bettany Hughes‘ indie SandStone Global.
EXCLUSIVE: The company that sells The Traitors format around the world and the Japanese broadcaster behind Ninja Warrior and Takeshi’s Castle have teamed up to create a physical gameshow.
Marta Balaga The votes are in: Atmospheric (and claustrophobic) Finnish mystery thriller “Icebreaker,” already one of the most buzzed of projects hitting the competition, has been crowned the winner of the 8th edition of MipDrama, receiving its Coup de Coeur award. Sold by About Premium Content, created by Mia Ylönen, who exec produces with Aleksi Bardy, the Elisa Viihde-commissioned show “Icebreaker” is set on a stranded boat. As its crew members start to disappear, one by one, coastguard Sanna Tanner (Jessica Grabowsky) is trying to find answers – but what she is dealing with goes way beyond rational explanations.
Could Scottish soccer be the next to benefit from Hollywood investment?
American superstar singer, Taylor Swift, has joined the billionaire club. The 34-year-old's earnings have surpassed $1.1 billion dollars (£875 million), thanks to her successful 'Eras Tour' and her well-regarded music assortment, Forbes magazine reports.
Naman Ramachandran Amazon has struck a deal that will see premium Lionsgate and Starz programming made available to to MGM+ customers in the U.K. Lionsgate+ subscribers who joined via Prime Video Channels in the U.K.