Sundance Hit ‘Luzzu’ Acquired by Kino Lorber For North America; Memento Seals Major Sales (EXCLUSIVE)

Sparks will be released in US and Canadian cinemas later this year.The Sparks Brothers takes a deep dive into the careers of Ron and Russell Mael over five decades, complete with an archive of TV and concert clips. A string of musical guests were interviewed for the documentary, including Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers.The Sparks Brothers premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

EXCLUSIVE: Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to Lisa Immordino Vreeland’s well-received documentary Truman and Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefA North American rights deal for mainland Chinese fantasy action film ‘God of War II, was one of several film sales deals struck by Hong Kong’s Media Asia at the recent European Film Market and the ongoing FilMart.Directed by Cai Cong, and starring Charles Lin, Liu Yuxi and David Wu, the film was completed in 2020.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAfter months of rumors, Paradigm Talent Agency and Casey Wasserman have announced an agreement in principle under which Wasserman will acquire Paradigm’s North American live music representation business and form a new operating unit, reps confirmed to Variety.

EXCLUSIVE: We have learned that motion picture industry distribution vet Jim Zak has been named the SVP, North America of Vista Group’s Numero and Maccs. 

Ted K, the true crime drama that premiered at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, has been snapped up for North American distribution by Neon’s boutique label Super Ltd.

US Weekly, a source said: 'Her parents were sceptical at first. But seeing their daughter happy makes them feel better about their relationship.

Angelique Jackson Oscar winner Viola Davis will receive the Icon Award from the African American Film Critics Assn. during the 12th annual AAFCA awards on April 7.

It’s hard to believe that after a full year and more than 500,000 Americans dead that there are still people out there refusing to wear a mask, and yet…

EXCLUSIVE: Mrs. America and Mad Men writer Dahvi Waller has been set by Sony’s 3000 Pictures to adapt author Kazuo Ishiguro’s latest novel, Klara and the Sun.

Jesse Williams, conceptual artist Glenn Kaino, and former exec at NBA Latin America, Arturo Nuñez. It features diverse categories like cumbia, fiestas, and futbol, regional themes.

Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong’o are about to be co-stars!

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSamuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to “The Drover’s Wife,” an Australian revenge tale written, directed and starring Leah Purcell. Sold by Memento International, the film is an adaptation of Purcell’s successful Australian stage play.

Dysfunctional families make for great television. That’s why the media love stories about divorces, sex scandals and warring political parties. Throw in some celebrity stardust and the British monarchy and you’ve got 17 million Americans watching the latest spectacle with Oprah, who interviewed more than her share of warring couples back when she had a daytime talk show.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFilm Movement has acquired North American rights to Cathy Yan’s feature debut “Dead Pigs” which won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance in 2018. Film Movement will release the film in North America in theaters, virtual cinema, home entertainment and digital platforms in June.“Dead Pigs” is social satire about the trials and tribulations connecting a disparate group of people in the midst of a baffling nationwide mystery.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentU.S indie distributor Film Movement has acquired North American rights from Italian sales company True Colours to Palestinian director Ameen Nayfeh’s drama “200 Meters,” about a Palestinian construction worker who takes huge risks to cross the West Bank wall to reach his hospitalized son.In September, “200 Meters,” which marks Nayfeh’s debut, launched from the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days section, where it won the audience award.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorSaban Films has acquired North American rights to “Long Story Short,” written by, directed by and co-starring Josh Lawson. The romantic comedy also stars Rafe Spall, Zahra Newman, Ronny Chieng and Dena Kaplan.

After working together on the domestic release of Portrait of a Lady on Fire,Neon has acquired the North American rights to Céline Sciamma'sPetite Maman. Petite Maman, which premiered at Berlinale,is a time-travel story that follows 8-year-old Nelly, who has just lost her beloved grandmother and is helping her parents clean out the childhood home of her mother, Marion.

MGM has signed Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, and Peter Kiernan’s label, Free Association, to a first-look film production deal. The news comes after MGM has acquired North American rights to distribute Dog, the directorial debut from Tatum and Carolin that will hit theaters sometime this year.