K.J. Yossman A forum for directors and producers has launched in the U.K. Founded by directors body Directors U.K., producers body Pact, ITV Studios and BBC Studios, the joint working group will have its inaugural meeting on Dec.
21.11.2023 - 15:07 / variety.com
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Brazilian talents to track Enock Carvalho and Matheus Farias, selected for 2021’s Sundance with short “Unliveable,” are teaming with Janaina Bernardes, a co-producer of Karim Ainouz’s “Nardjes A.” and Argentina’s Frutacine, behind Tribeca player “Initials S.G.,” to produce “Burning Land” (“Terra de Fuego”), Carvalho and Farias’ awaited feature debut. “Unliveable” was voted by Brazil’s Abraccine critics’ assn. as the best short of the year.
Part of Pernambuco’s building film scene, Carvalho and Farias will produce “Burning Land” via their Recife-based Gatopardo Filmes. Frutacine is headed by Iván Eibuszyc, whose credits also include Santiago Loza’s “La Paz” and Alejandro Fadel’s “Murder Me, Monster.” It forms part of Pitching Paradiso, a six feature project showcase which will unspool on Nov. 30 at Buenos Aires’ Ventana Sur.
Written by Carvalho and Farias, “Burning Land” is set at a sugar cane mill in Brazil’s North-East, which is hit by financial crisis, with many employees left unpaid. As workers threaten to strike, they begin to disappear. Young new employee Fabiana determines to investigate, unveiling a dark universe that surrounds the mill, the town of Queimadas, and Fabiana herself, whose grandfather also disappeared 40 years before.
A local legend tells of similar events happening many times in the last 200 years, incidents that remain unsolved. Viewers may well be trapped, wondering if the cause of the disappearance is, for example, supernatural, or product of down-the-centuries class struggle or lies elsewhere. “Burning Land” has secured funding from Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, Fundo Setorial Audiovisual, Ancine and Ibermedia.
K.J. Yossman A forum for directors and producers has launched in the U.K. Founded by directors body Directors U.K., producers body Pact, ITV Studios and BBC Studios, the joint working group will have its inaugural meeting on Dec.
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Mexican Rigoberto Pérezcano’s “Lovers Fare Goodbye,” a poignant, exquisitely shot tale of star-crossed young love dominated prizes at Primer Corte, Ventana Sur’s key arthouse pic competition. The prize and dozens of others were announced Friday at Latin America’s most important film-TV mart-meet.
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent BUENOS AIRES — In one of the first deals to close at this week’s Ventana Sur market, Spain’s Latido Films has boarded “Lo Que Quisimos Ser,” written-directed by Alejandro Agresti, produced by Fernando Sokolowicz at Aleph Media, and Gastón Duprat, who have teamed as producer and co-writer-director on “The Distinguished Citizen,” “The Man Next Door,” and “The Artist.” “Lo Que Quisimos Ser” marks the latest film from Agresti, one of Argentina’s most international talents best known for a Hollywood sojourn which saw him directing Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves in “The Lake House” and writing Argentina-set, English-language “No somos animales,” with John Cusack. Of his Argentine film, “Valentín” weighs in as a big-hearted coming of age tale of a cross-eyed and very lonely young kid.
EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of a huge week for their Adam Sandler-led Netflix animated feature Leo, co-directed with Robert Smigel, David Wachtenheim and Robert Marianetti have signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent BUENOS AIRES — Delivering a masterclass in Buenos Aires just days after the election victory of far-right libertarian Javier Milei on Nov. 18, Cannes Film Festival head Thierry Frémaux voiced his support for Argentina’s INCAA public sector film-TV agency, which Milei has promised to destroy. Frémaux’s one and brief direct reference to the INCAA – which oversees Argentina’s crucial federal film funding, without which much of Argentine filmmaking would wither – came towards the end of a 90-minute masterclass entitled Cinema (of) Tomorrow.
The much-anticipated Royal book, Endgame by Omid Scobie was released in the UK on 28 November.The book, which promised to "have the world talking", has done just that and is packed with many shocking allegations against the Royal Family.The book features bombshell revelations about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Royal Family is yet to comment on any of the claims made by Omid in the book despite its numerous attacks on several members of the family. So what are the most shocking stories to emerge in the book? Take a look below...
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent BUENOS AIRES — Paris-based sales agency MPM Premium has has closed its second major territory deal on “On the Go,” toplining “Elite” star Omar Ayuso in an Andalusia-set road movie with lashings of sun, sex and sensuality. Directed by Maria Gisèle Royo and Julia de Castro, and one of Spain’s most memorable feature debuts, “On the Go” has been licensed to Outplay Films which plans a theatrical release in Sumer 2024 after the film’s French premiere in premiere in Chéries Chéris.
UK agency Casarotto Ramsay & Associates has hired Sara Johnson and Julie Fernandez, co-founders of Bridge06.
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Jointly organized by Cannes’ Marché du Film with a Thierry Fremaux Cannes Film Week adding star auteur glamor, Ventana Sur turns 15 this week unspooling Nov. 27-Dec.1 at its usual venue of the Universidad Católica Argentina in Buenos Aires’ Puerto Madero, its most modern and most chic of districts.
Sarah Ramos is playing Georgia in the new movie Christmas in Notting Hill for Hallmark Channel and it’s time to learn more about her!
The White Lotus season two stars Meghann Fahy and Leo Woodall have confirmed that they are in a real-life relationship.Following months of speculation, the pair were recently pictured kissing while taking a walk in the rain in New York City.While both Fahy and Woodall have shared photos of each other on Instagram and commented “I love you” on each other’s posts, neither has publicly confirmed the relationship.When Fahy was asked in January on Watch What Happens Live, she told host Andy Cohen, “Oh, I don’t kiss and tell. Come on, guys… For you, I’ll say sure.
After a period of speculation prolonged by the double strike, A24 has officially confirmed the cast set for its erotic thriller Babygirl, marking a reteam with Bodies Bodies Bodies helmer Halina Reijn. Nicole Kidman (The Undoing), Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory) and Harris Dickinson (The Iron Claw) lead an ensemble that also includes Talk to Me‘s Sophie Wilde and Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional).
After 2023’s earlier surprise comedic family gem, You Are Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, Adam Sandler and his Happy Madison productions does it again for Netflix, this time in the delightful and remarkably wise CGI animated feature, Leo. It is a charmer for kids and their parents who get a few lessons here along the way as well.
Adam Sandler and his wife, Jackie Sandler, are no strangers to the red carpet, but lately, they’ve been joined by their daughters Sadie, 17, and Sunny, 15. The happy family has been making movie magic together, releasing their second film this year, “Leo.” On Sunday, the Sandler family was all smiles at the premiere at the Regency Village Theater in Westwood, California.Each member of the family showed off their unique style.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent “Green Border,” Agnieszka Holland’s Venice Special Jury Prize-winning refugee drama, has been acquired by Kino Lorber in the U.S. (“Scrapper”) and Modern Films in the U.K. (“Drive My Car”).
John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent For its first Pitching Paradiso, to be held at Ventana Sur on Nov. 30, Brazil’s Projeto Paradiso is looking to Brazil’s North-East and a new more diverse generation of filmmakers which is bringing a sense of urgency and excitement to Brazilian cinema.
Alexander Buttner has admitted he was in a local chip shop with a group of friends when he discovered Manchester United wanted to sign him, confessing that he thought it was a prank.
Alexander Payne, director of The Holdovers, said he gets pushback for the kinds of films that he makes but he plans to persevere and hopes there will be more space for “human” stories in theaters.
It's been a busy time for Elle Mulvaney as she finds her soap alter-ego back at the forefront of the action in Coronation Street. The actress, famed for playing Amy Barlow, has grown up in front of viewers' eyes having joined the ITV soap in 2010.
Pep Guardiola has been dealt yet another injury scare during the international break as Manchester City await an update on Erling Haaland before their impending Premier League showdown with Liverpool.