Universal Pictures Wins Big At 2022 BASE Awards; Asacha Indie Wag Entertainment Hires UK Development Boss; ‘Wallander’ Producer Yellow Bird Names New CEO — Global Briefs

It was a very good day for A24 as the mini-major dominated the film nominations announced for the 2022 Gotham Awards. In fact, the studio had two Best Feature nominees, “Aftersun” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” The other nominations in the top category are “TAR,” which landed five nominations overall, Sundance premiere “Dos Estaciones” and “The Cathedral” which debuted at the Venice Film Festival in 2021.

The Gotham Film & Media Institute will honor Adam Sandler with a Performer Tribute at its annual ceremony, presented by Josh and Benny Safdie, co-writers and directors of the actor’s 2019 crime thriller Uncut Gems.

EXCLUSIVE: The award-winning production company and creative studio Riverside Entertainment has appointed Cynthia Graner as Head of Production and Brendon Nelson as Managing Director, as part of its continued expansion into scripted, unscripted and commercial content. 

Michelle Williams will be honored with a Performer Tribute during the 32nd annual Gotham Awards, taking place live and in-person on November 28, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. 

Little Simz has won the 2022 Mercury Prize for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’.The London rapper was favourite to take the prize and beat off competition from fellow favourites Self Esteem and Wet Leg at a live ceremony at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith tonight (October 18).Accepting the trophy, she said: “Wow, I’m very, very overwhelmed. I’m very grateful, glory to God.

Drake is racking up accolades for his lyrical talent.

Mipcom promises to be busier than ever with record levels of attendance as the world returns to 2019 levels of dealmaking following the pandemic. Variety’s top picks reflect global content in its myriad forms: From disgraced princes and gymnasts to religious leaders, dinosaurs and precocious children, these shows are a microcosm of the world in 2022, much like Mipcom itself. While the world lurches from crises to conflicts, there is a reassuring constant — the business of entertainment.  Blowing L.A. (FIFTH SEASON)  Ted Gibson and Kim Vō are big names in celebrity hairdressing and the show goes behind the scenes at high-profile hair salons — Starring Ted Gibson and Kim Vō Salon — catering to the famous and fabulous. The stakes are high, the stylists are ambitious, and this being Los Angeles, a famous client can make or break the establishment. With a glimpse into the rarefied world of $2,400 haircuts, the series goes behind the glossy facade to reveal creative visionaries, heightened ambition and a fight to stay at the top. The show is produced by Fulwell 73, whose credits include “The Late Late Show With James Corden,” “The Kardashians” and “Friends: The Reunion.” 

Joe Otterson TV Reporter ABC Entertainment has hired Felicia Joseph to serve as senior vice president of casting, Variety has learned. Joseph joins ABC from MRC, where she most recently served as the independent studio’s senior vice president of casting. In her new role, she will report to Sharon Klein, the executive vice president of casting for Walt Disney Television. She will oversee casting for all ABC pilots and series as well as unscripted casting for Hulu and other WDTV brands. The role marks a homecoming for Joseph, who began her career in the casting department at ABC. “I’ve had the good fortune of collaborating with Felicia in the past and know how well she cultivates relationships with talent who are at the top of their craft,” Klein said. “Her passion, instinct and deep understanding of our business make her ideal for this role and, quite frankly, the only person I wanted for the job. We’re overjoyed to be welcoming her back to ABC, where she started her career.”

BreAnna Bell Billie Eilish and her mom Maggie Baird, Nikki Reed and Bill Nye were among the notable names recognized at the 2022 Environmental Media Association Awards Gala presented by Toyota on Saturday night at Sunset Las Palmas Studio. The group was acknowledged for their contributions to making the planet a healthier space for future generations and Eilish and Baird, who founded and serves as president of the national nonprofit Support+Feed, kicked off the show by accepting the Missions in Music Award. Eilish took the stage in a green ensemble alongside her mother, beginning her speech with a humble tribute to her parent. “I work with brands and we make things in the fashion industry — which I’m such a big fan of and really involved with — it’s just horribly upsetting the way that people aren’t really thinking about it first,” Eilish shared. “I mean, people kind of think about it, or are pretending to think about it, and I would just say that my mom has been … she’s always thinking about it in this way that I’m just so in awe.”

According to Vin Diesel, there are pretty big plans for Groot in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

K.J. Yossman The British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE) honored distributors, retailers, media owners, producers and suppliers across the home entertainment spectrum on Thursday evening (Oct. 6). Hosted by BBC presenter Ayo Akinwolere, winners on the night included Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery and Altitude Film. Every year, the BASE awards are a fantastic opportunity for the home entertainment community to come together and celebrate the successes but also the resilience and agility of our industry,” said Liz Bales, chief executive for BASE. “I’d like to extend my huge congratulations to everyone who entered and won last night; the standard of submissions, once again, demonstrates the brilliance of our category, and completely blew us and the judges away. A massive thank you, as always, to the BASE team for putting together such a memorable night and of course, to our fantastic judges and supporters who make evenings like this possible.”

EXCLUSIVE: It’s a fairy-tale ending for Universal Pictures, which emerged from a heated auction to win Fairy Tale, an adaptation of the new Stephen King bestseller that Paul Greengrass will adapt and direct.

EXCLUSIVE: Skybound Entertainment, the company founded by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, is staffing up.

Pretoria Pride once again took over the Centurion Rugby Club for the 2022 edition of one of South Africa’s biggest queer gatherings.