Tribeca Winner ‘Blind Ambition’ Sold to Samuel Goldwyn for U.S., Curzon for U.K., by Protagonist (EXCLUSIVE)

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaSydney Theatre Company and Michael Cassel Group have signed a commercial first look agreement for all future works produced by the theatre company.As part of the pact, STC’s productions will have the opportunity to be transferred or remounted as commercial productions in new markets, with the intention of touring across Australia and internationally.

Troye Sivan, being a part of Rihanna's new fashion show meant so much more than people might realize.Sivan opened up on the carpet outside Rihanna's star-studded fashion show, and explained why he was «so excited» and «very proud» to be involved in this high-profile project.«I was in lockdown in Australia like three days ago, so to go from 0 to 100 like this is the coolest thing ever,» Sivan shared with a smile. «I got an email that apparently Rihanna wanted me to be in the show.

Marta Balaga Discussing her career at Zurich Film Festival, Sharon Stone also commented on the referendum taking place on the same day in Switzerland, with nearly two-thirds of Swiss voters backing the introduction of same-sex marriage. “It should be more because when is anyone else’s sex life your business? You may not like it, you may not understand it, but it doesn’t belong to you,” she said.

Game, set, match! Duchess Kate showed off her tennis skills in a doubles match with British tennis phenom Emma Raducanu.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentSky has unveiled the official trailer for the fifth and final season of “Gomorrah,” Italy’s cult crime series produced by Sky Studios and ITV-owned Cattleya in collaboration with Germany’s Beta Film, which is the show’s international distributor. “Gomorrah” 5 is set to air locally on Nov.

Morten Steingrimsen Guest ContributorPeter Mullan (“Westworld,” “Top of the Lake”) and Charles Dance (“Mank,” “The Crown”) have joined the cast of “The Hanging Sun,” based on Jo Nesbø’s bestselling novel “Midnight Sun.”Frederick Schmidt (“Angel Has Fallen”) and Raphael Vicas (“Grantchester”) are also boarding the production.The Sky Original film is a U.K.-Italian co-production from Sky, ITV Studios’ Cattleya and Groenlandia.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefAustralia has been so successful in attracting overseas films and international streaming series that the country has deprived it of available sound stages.Russell Crowe who recently made the case for the establishment of new film studios at Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales coast, is not the only one planning to add new capacity.Developers at Ballina, further up the coast, make a similar case and are advancing with plans to develop the Byron Studios where

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentViacomCBS’ Pluto TV, the fast-growing, free, ad-supported, linear TV-style streaming service, is set to launch in Italy on Oct. 28 with 40 thematic channels spanning multiple genres.Pluto TV’s Italy launch will expand the service’s European footprint, segueing from successful bows in the U.K., Germany, France and Spain.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaSaban Films is getting in the Nicolas Cage business.The studio has acquired “Butcher’s Crossing,” a frontier epic that stars the off-beat, Oscar winner as a buffalo hunter. The deal covers rights in North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia.Gabe Polsky, who directed the documentary “Red Penguins,” slides behind the camera on this one.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Pitch Perfect” series has been ordered at Peacock with Adam Devine onboard to reprise his role from the film franchise, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is set several years after the events of the films. Devine returns as Bumper Allen, who moves to Germany to revive his music career when one of his songs becomes big in Berlin.Bumper was the main antagonist of the first film and the leader of the all-male a cappella group The Treblemakers.

Ed Meza @edmezavarDirector Michael Steiner opens this year’s Zurich Film Festival with “And Tomorrow We Will Be Dead,” a timely thriller about a real-life Swiss couple captured by the Taliban while traveling through Pakistan in 2011.The film is sure to generate headlines in view of the recent Taliban victory in Afghanistan that followed the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

The Masked Singer Australia, keeping his identity well-hidden beneath the Piñata costume as the judges guessed everyone from Elon Musk to Jamie Dornan.In the end, it was Lote Tuqiri: rugby legend and, as it turns out, a spectacular performer."You would love to go further, but the fact that I’ve gotten out after an accomplished singer like Ben Lee, I’m pretty happy with that," Lote tells WHO of his dazzling turn on the show."I reckon everyone sounds pretty good singing in the shower, right? And

Emiliano De Pablos Mexico’s Sin Sitio Cine is joining forces with Brazilian company Desvia Produções and Canada’s Notable Content to co-produce Johnny Ma’s project “Chin-Gone.”A major up and coming Chinese-Canadian helmer, Ma’s directorial debut, “Old Stone,” world-premiered at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival and won the Canadian First Feature Award at the Toronto Film Festival.

Dianne Buswell loves to experiment with her hair.

Ann-Marie Corvin Vicente Canales’ Film Factory Entertainment has sold Icíar Bollaín’s San Sebastian Festival-bound Basque reconciliation drama “Maixabel” to Germany, striking a deal with Berlin-based distributor Piffl Medien.The film is set to make its theatrical release in Spain on Sept.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefRegional Australian funding body Screen Queensland has set up two projects, one a feature film, one a TV series, emanating from its relationship with fan-driven literary platform Wattpad Webtoon. Both will enjoy further input from super-fans before heading into production.Writer Dominic Morris and producer Nadine Bates from Brisbane production company Like A Photon Creative have been chosen to adapt “The Bro Code,” into a feature film.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentNewen Group, the TF1-owned French production and distribution outfit, has acquired a 51% stake in the German production company Flare Film, whose slate includes the upcoming Sky Original show “Paradiso” and Ildikó Enyedi’s “Balaton Brigade.”Launched in 2008 by Martin Heisler, the Berlin-based company has been focusing on director-driven documentaries and films that have been showcased on the international festival circuit.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorBerlin-based Picture Tree International has acquired worldwide rights to docu-fiction “The Painter,” a collaboration between German director Oliver Hirschbiegel, best known for Oscar-nominated “Downfall,” and German artist Albert Oehlen.The work stars Ben Becker, whose credits include “Brother of Sleep” and “Comedian Harmonists,” and features the voice of Charlotte Rampling.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorProduction, finance and sales outfit Film Constellation has inked new key deals on psychological thriller “John and the Hole,” directed by one of Variety’s top 10 directors to watch, Pascual Sisto.