This is Scotland’s biggest bankrupt Gregory King pictured in public for the first time since he went bust more than six years ago.
19.10.2023 - 07:49 / variety.com
Christopher Vourlias Slovak directors Ivan Ostrochovsky and Pavol Pekarčík’s Ukraine war drama “Photophobia,” which won the Europa Cinemas Label Award after its Venice Days premiere and is Slovakia’s entry in the best international feature film Oscar race, has been acquired by Prague-based sales agent Filmotor. Set on a cold February morning in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, “Photophobia” follows 12-year-old Niki and his family as they arrive at the Kharkiv metro station to take shelter from the terrifying war raging outside.
For Niki’s family, daylight is synonymous with mortal danger, and the boy is not allowed to leave the station premises, living under the constant glow of their neon lights. While aimlessly wandering around the abandoned cars and full platforms, Niki meets 11-year-old Vika, and a new world opens up to him.
As their bond strengthens, the children find the courage once again to feel the sun on their faces. In a directors’ note provided to Variety, Ostrochovsky and Pavol Pekarčík said: “When we arrived in Ukraine with humanitarian aid in the spring of 2022, and settled into a life alongside the metro refugees, we realized that the eyes of the world would be on the front line.
That was why we decided to find something most closely approaching ‘ordinary life’ and preserve it to the best of our abilities: to find a moment of genuine humanity at a time of devastating horror.” They continued: “We decided to juxtapose the timeless, aimless life lived by Niki and his family with the chilling scenes playing out on ground level, using the format of Super 8mm film footage. We’ve filmed observations of a war-ravaged country that might seem as the distant ideas of a traumatized child — a fever dream
.This is Scotland’s biggest bankrupt Gregory King pictured in public for the first time since he went bust more than six years ago.
EXCLUSIVE: Guy Pearce (Prometheus) and DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion) are attached to star in supernatural thriller Killing Faith, with Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) in final negotiations to join.
Jirair Ratevosian, is Armenian and identifies as gay, is a candidate in the 2024 election for the House of Representatives in California’s 30th Congressional District, which has the largest population of Armenian Americans in the nation. Photo: Provided by Jirair Ratevosian campaign
The BBC has launched an emergency radio service for Gaza.
Marta Balaga Visions du Réel winner Tomasz Wolski will focus on “A Year in the Life of the Country” next, Variety can reveal exclusively. The Polish helmer – whose latest film “In Ukraine,” co-directed with Piotr Pawlus, premiered in Berlin – is set to explore the turbulent period of martial law, imposed on Dec. 13, 1981 by General Wojciech Jaruzelski in Communist Poland after a wave of strikes.
EXCLUSIVE: Picture Tree International (PTI) has boarded sales on German Iranian director Alireza Golafshan’s comedy Everything’s Fifty Fifty about a divorced couple who embark on a family vacation, ahead of the AFM.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “Funny Birds,” an heartwarming comedy-drama starring Andrea Riseborough, Catherine Deneuve and Morgan Saylor, has sold in key territories in the run up to the AFM. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, the movie is directed by Marco La Via and Hanna Ladoul.
Marta Balaga Pepa Lubojacki’s “If Pigeons Turned to Gold” was named the most promising European project at Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival. The Czech-Slovak co-production follows four family members, including Lubojacki’s own brother and cousins, unhoused for over a decade and struggling with addiction. “I don’t use the word ‘homeless,’ because it has really negative connotations.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has announced he is joining broadcaster GB News.
It appears to be a busy year for Boris Johnson as the former UK prime minister not only became a father again with wife Carrie, but has accepted a new career venture. It's been revealed that the 59-year-old is set to join GB News, where he promises to share his "unvarnished views" on a variety of topics.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” series currently in the works at Amazon MGM Studios has found its showrunner. Variety has learned exclusively that Veena Sud will head up the series, which will be set in the world of the so-called Millennium novels originally written by Stieg Larsson. Variety previously reported that the series was in development in May 2020, though no showrunner was attached at that time.
Marta Balaga Péter Kerekes will follow “107 Mothers” – which won Venice’s Horizons Award for best screenplay – with “Marathon,” currently in production and eyeing a winter 2024 release. Set in his Slovak hometown and revolving around the Košice Peace Marathon, established in 1924, the doc will clock in at exactly 2 hours and 7 minutes, mirroring its current record. “It’s not just about people who run, get to the finish line and that’s it, end credits.
A man from Wythenshawe has completed the massive achievement of cycling just under 1200 miles across 11 countries in just over two weeks.
EXCLUSIVE: New Europe Film Sales has boarded international sales on Northern Irish director Aislinn Clarke’s second feature Fréwaka ahead of the AFM, where it will unveil first footage.
Joe Biden called for a massive new aid package for Israel and Ukraine, linking the wars in both countries to American security, while denouncing a rise in anti-semitism and Islamophobia in the U.S.
The documentary festival DOC NYC has unveiled the full lineup for its 14th edition. It will be a total of 114 features and 129 short films. The festival runs in-person November 8-16 at IFC Center, SVA Theatre and Village East by Angelika and continues online through November 26 with films available to viewers across the U.S.
Katie Price has proudly shown off her new '3D lips' as she got yet more filler and declared 'I love them'. The 45 year old mum of five is known for her love of plastic surgery, and she recently took to Instagram to show off the results of her latest lip filler procedure. On her Instagram stories, Katie, the ex-wife of Peter Andre, reposted her aesthetics company's post, where she could be seen sitting on a sofa wearing a pink hoody, with her dark hair tied back.
David de Gea has congratulated former Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes after he helped his native Portugal qualify for next year's European Championship.
Christopher Vourlias Beta Film has released a moving trailer for the Ukrainian war drama “In Her Car,” a gripping series about the ongoing crisis told through the eyes of those who are living it, the company announced ahead of Mipcom. “In Her Car” (10 x 30’) is produced by Starlight Media and Gaumont in co-production with France Télévisions, ZDF (Germany) and Swiss public broadcaster SRF. The show was also boarded in its early stages by Nordic public broadcasters SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), NRK TV (Norway) and RÚV (Iceland).
England Under-21s are aiming to keep their winning record in Group F going with a victory over Serbia tonight as they push to qualify for the European Championships.