Sera Tabb Joins Wattpad Webtoon As Global Head Of TV & Company Launches Animation Division

Alissa Simon Film Critic This fall, Arab filmmakers will be out in force at such prestigious international fests as Venice and Toronto. Venice alone boasts six features from first- and second-time Arab directors in its official sections, plus an additional six works-in-progress at its Final Cut Production Bridge. Meanwhile, Toronto opens with “The Swimmers,” a drama from U.K. helmer Sally El Hosaini based on the journey of Syrian sisters and Olympic hopefuls Yusra and Sara Mardini, who fled the war in their home country for Germany. Yusra competed in the 2016 and 2021 Summer Olympics. An additional six Arab films will screen at the Canadian fest. Dek: Arab filmmakers embrace genres and issues as festivals and distributors take notice

It’s a tale almost too astonishing to believe: two sisters flee their war-torn country and save sixteen other people’s lives through their champion swimming skills. But it’s the true story of Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini and her sister Sara and the basis for “The Swimmers,” set for its world premiere as the opening film at the Toronto International Film Festival this month.

EXCLUSIVE: British producer Rabia Sultana (Sour Milk) has announced the launch of her production company, Sultana Film, unveiling details on two projects that she has in development.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor The Toronto Film Festival will honor composer Hildur Guðnadóttir with the Variety Artisan Award at this year’s Tribute Awards. Along with Guðnadóttir, Welsh Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Sally El Hosaini will receive the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM at the annual TIFF Tribute Awards. This awards season, Guðnadóttir composed the scores for two films, Todd Field’s “Tár” and Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking.” Guðnadóttir cemented her place in Oscar history when she became only the fourth woman to win an Academy Award for original score for “Joker.”

The Toronto International Film Festival will honor composer Hildur Guðnadóttir and writer-director Sally El Hosaini at this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards. Guðnadóttir, who has received a BAFTA, Grammy and Emmy award for her score for HBO’s “Chernobyl” along with an Oscar for “Joker,” will receive TIFF’s Variety Artisan Award, the festival said Thursday.

Thania Garcia WME has elevated Lucy Dickins to global head of contemporary music and touring, where she will steer the respective departments across Beverly Hills, New York, Nashville, London and Sydney.Dickins, who recently re-located to WME’s Beverly Hills office from London, joined the agency in 2019 from ITB (International Talent Booking). Since her arrival, she has helped bring in new clients including Adele, Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, James Blake and Mabel, whom WME represent globally.“Lucy is a dynamic leader who brings strategic vision, energy and passion to every artist and colleague she encounters,” said Lloyd Braun, chairman of WME and president of Endeavor Client Group. “Lucy is the ideal leader to guide WME’s contemporary music business as we continue to expand our offerings and opportunities for our clients.”

Selena Gomez's relationship with her little sister, Gracie Elliot Teefey, is anything but sour.

“SEALTeam” is headed to Northern Syria in the heart-pounding trailer for Season 6 of the Paramount+ series, which dropped Friday.In addition to the trailer, which shows Clay (Max Thieriot) in bad shape, the streamer announced the 10-episode season will premiere Sept. 18.The military drama follows the professional and personal lives of the “most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them.

Manori Ravindran International EditorReese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine has launched an unscripted unit in the U.K.The Candle Media-backed studio has appointed former Channel 4 head of features and formats Sarah Lazenby to lead the division as executive VP of unscripted U.K. She will report into Hello Sunshine’s head of unscripted Sara Rea, who joined the studio following the acquisition of her company SKR Productions.As part of the expansion, Hello Sunshine Unscripted U.K.

Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine is headed for Britain. The Candle Media-owned production company is launching an unscripted division in the UK, and is already developing its first production with terrestrial network Channel 4.

There are certain things that people do on airplanes which annoy flight attendants to no end.

À la vie à l’amor – Emilie Mannering | CanadaWorld PremiereAgainst Reality – Olivia Peace | United States of AmericaWorld PremiereAirhostess-737 – Thanasis Neofotistos | GreeceNorth American PremiereAll-inclusive (Todo incluido) – Duván Duque Vargas | Colombia, FranceWorld PremiereAnastasia (Анастасия) – Sarah McCarthy | UKCanadian PremiereBaba – Mbithi Masya | KenyaWorld Premierebackflip – Nikita Diakur | Germany, FranceNorth American PremiereCANARY – Pierre-Hugues Dallaire, Benoit Therriault | CanadaNorth American PremiereDiaspora – Tyler Mckenzie Evans | CanadaWorld PremiereGary Screams For You – Cody McGlashan, Nolan Sordyl | United States of AmericaWorld PremiereHills and Mountains (Koha wa Tapaha) – Salar Pashtoonyar | Afghanistan, CanadaWorld PremiereI’m On Fire – Michael Spiccia | United States of America, AustraliaWorld PremiereIce Merchants – João Gonzalez | Portugal, France, United KingdomNorth American PremiereIt’s What Each Person Needs – Sophy Romvari | CanadaWorld PremiereLay Me by the Shore – David Findlay | CanadaNorth American PremiereLe Pupille – Alice Rohrwacher | Italy, United States of AmericaCanadian PremiereLiturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles (Літургія протитанкових перешкод) – Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk | Ukraine, United States of AmericaNorth American PremiereMirror Mirror – Sandulela Asanda | South AfricaWorld PremiereMunicipal Relaxation Module – Matthew Rankin | CanadaWorld PremiereN’xaxaitkw – Asia Youngman | CanadaWorld PremiereNanitic - Carol Nguyen | CanadaWorld PremiereNo Ghost in the Morgue (Pas de fantôme à la morgue) – Marilyn Cooke | CanadaCanadian PremierePleasure Garden – Rita Ferrando | CanadaWorld PremiereQuiet Minds Silent Streets – Karen Chapman | CanadaWorld PremiereRest Stop –

EXCLUSIVE: Ebon Moss-Bachrach is set to join Sarah Paulson and Annaleigh Ashford in horror thriller Dust. Will Joines and Karrie Crouse are directing the pic, which was penned by Crouse. The film will stream on Disney’s DTC platforms as a Hulu Original in the U.S., with additional release plans to be announced.  Principal photography is set to commence late August. Paulson is also exec producing.

Carson Burton Wattpad Webtoon Studios has expanded its structure with a new animation division and a variety of hires and promotions across international film and television departments. The expansion marks the first large reorganization the company has undergone since veteran TV executive David Madden joined the studio as head of global entertainment in July.Television executive Sera Tabb has joined Wattpad Webtoon Studios as head of global television, and Lindsey Weems Ramey has been elevated to head of global film.

K.J. Yossman When “The Real Mo Farah,” a documentary about the Olympic gold-winning athlete, aired on the BBC in the U.K.

Marvel’s workplace superhero comedy “She-Hulk: Attorney At Law” arrives later this month on Disney+ and the studio is continuing to churn out even more shows as filming has already started on “Ironheart” in Atlanta.

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Leo Barraclough International Features EditorThe Match Factory will launch sales on the debut film by Ehab Tarabieh, “The Taste of Apples Is Red,” at the Toronto Film Festival, where the film will be premiering in the Discovery section. Tarabieh’s previous short films have won several prizes, including Best Short Film at Doha Tribeca Festival for “The Forgotten” (2012) and a nomination for a European Academy Award for “Smile and the World Will Smile Back” (2015).