Shudder/IFC Films Ink Distribution Deal with Severin Films, Fantastic Latido Award Goes to Witchcraft Drama ‘Ancestral’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Naman Ramachandran “Second Chance,” the directorial debut of Indian filmmaker Subhadra Mahajan, has been picked up for international sales by Thailand-based Diversion ahead of its world premiere at the 2024 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film is set to debut on July 2 in the festival’s Proxima Competition section. The film tells the story of Nia, a young woman from the city who returns to her family home in the western Himalayas after a decade-long absence.

EXCLUSIVE: Following the huge success of Michael Showalter‘s Prime Video rom-com The Idea of You, Showalter and Jordana Mollick‘s Semi-Formal Productions has entered into a multi-year first-look film deal with Amazon MGM Studios, Deadline can exclusively reveal.

EXCLUSIVE: The works of James Baldwin, author and civil rights activist, could be headed to the small and big screen after Fremantle North America struck a deal with The Baldwin Family.

Naman Ramachandran U.K. independent film showcase, the Raindance Film Festival, has partnered with international legal firm Guernica 37 Group (G37) to develop films based on human rights cases. This collaboration aims to produce up to six documentary and fact-based features, using G37’s archive of justice and accountability cases.

EXCLUSIVE: The back and forth over the prospect of a hot-button film on the formative years of Donald Trump is near done, and The Dish hears that backer Kinematics will soon be bought out of Daniel Snyder’s $5 million investment with a premium. Tom Ortenberg, who runs Briarcliff Entertainment and has overseen the distribution of films that included Fahrenheit 9/11, Best Picture winner Spotlight, Nightcrawler and many others, is getting close to acquiring the film for fall release.

K.J. Yossman Fremantle has inked a first-look deal with Nevermind Pictures, the production company set up by Kristen Stewart, Dylan Meyer and Maggie McLean, which will see the super indie become the primary home for all of Nevermind’s projects in film and TV. The new deal, which spans a multi-year period, will see Nevermind working closely with Fremantle’s global drama division and international distribution team, FMI, for TV titles.

When Comcast-owned Sky Deutschland cancelled its usual drama event at the Munich Film Festival at short notice last summer, it came as a surprise. That surprise quickly turned to shock and bitter disappointment when the pay-TV giant revealed it wasn’t simply nixing a networking bash, it was exiting the original drama business full stop. 

The hits just keep coming for Justin Timberlake…

As Loose Women favourite Nadia Sawalha approaches her 60th birthday this year, she’s not taking any moments for granted.The telly favourite has spent years fighting for her friend Hannah Gardner, who has secondary incurable breast cancer, facing off against MPs in Westminster and spending hours by her side while she gets treatment in hospital. As she exclusively tells OK!, it’s given her a whole new perspective on life.

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media has signed a global distribution deal with ADA in anticipation of her upcoming sophomore album “Infinite Icon,” releasing on September 6.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon MGM Studios has closed a multiyear overall writing deal with Oscar nominated American Sniper screenwriter Jason Hall.  

EXCLUSIVE: Alan Cumming, the host and producer of Peacock’s reality phenom The Traitors, has signed a first-look producing deal with NBCUniversal. The pact spans scripted and unscripted content for NBCU’s portfolio of brands.  

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Verzuz, the online platform launched during the pandemic by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, has struck a distribution partnership with Elon Musk’s X. The pair made the announcement during Cannes Lions conference in France on Wednesday. Earlier in the year, Swizz and Timbaland reacquired Verzuz from their previous partner Triller and now own 100% of the platform, while retaining their equity (along with the artists who participated in Verzuz) in Triller, according to the announcement.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Wanda Film, China’s largest cinema operator, has expanded its business relationship with Imax Corp. in a huge deal that straddles technology and content. With 381 Imax installations, Wanda alone operates more Imax venues than most countries.

Thania Garcia Latin Grammy winner Lasso has signed an exclusive management deal with WK Entertainment. This includes a comprehensive 360 contract under the leadership of Andres Gomez, who will support Lasso in touring, brand partnership strategies, A&R, marketing and more on a global scale. Lasso has also announced his first 15-date U.S tour, “Quedarse Solo Para Siempre,” promoted by Live Nation.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Teresa Azcona, a driving force behind the build of the Spain Film Commission’s emergence as one of the key institutional players on Southern Europe’s locations scene, has been named general manager of the Madrid Audiovisual Cluster. While Barcelona has a thriving new generation of auteurist movie directors and producers and a building animation scene, Madrid has reaped the largest benefit of Spain’s building, decade-long TV boom. Spain’s Mediaset, Atresmedia, Movistar Plus+, The Mediapro Studio, Secuoya Group and Netflix’s European Production Hub are all located in a golden triangle stretching from northern Madrid to satellite town Tres Cantos, a 25-minute drive north of the Spanish capital.

Jay-Z made a surprise appearance during Alicia Keys‘ performance at the 2024 Tony Awards last night (June 16) – watch the footage below.Keys’ Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen was nominated for 13 awards at the ceremony, which took place at the Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City.The R&B artist began singing ‘Empire State Of Mind’ – her 2009 collaborative single with Jay-Z – alongside the cast of her show.

EXCLUSIVE: Rolin Jones, developer, executive producer and showrunner of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, has signed a new multi-year overall with AMC Studios, which is behind the gothic horror drama. This is an encouraging sign for the future of the series, which is currently airing its second season on AMC and AMC+.

Luke Newton is opening up again about filming intimate scenes for Bridgerton.

EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of the season two finale of Apple’s critically acclaimed comedy series Loot, starring Maya Rudolph (who also exec produces), Apple TV+ has signed a multi-year, first-look deal with Banana Split Projects, the newly formed production company run by Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens.  Under the deal, Apple TV+ will have a first-look on series and digital features developed and produced by Banana Split.