VFX Giant Framestore Taps Melinka Thompson-Godoy, Chloe Grysole For Expanded Canada Roles (EXCLUSIVE)

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentOne of the hottest European projects on sale at Cannes, “The Pot Au Feu,” Tran Anh Hung’s period romance starring Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel has already been nabbed by major international distributors. Gaumont is handling sales on the movie.The movie, which is currently shooting in a French castle, is set in the world of French gastronomy in 1885 and charts the relationship between Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin, the gourmet she has been working for over the last 20 years.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Thrown into the limelight by the Oscar nomination for Maite Alberdi’s “The Mole Agent” in 2021, Chilean documentaries been growing in stature worldwide for years.At Cannes, venerable Patricio Guzman world premieres his latest doc, “My Imaginary Country” (“Mi País Imaginario”) as a special screening, following on his lauded “The Cordillera of Dreams” which was awarded the 2019 L’œil d’Or award for Cannes’ best documentary. Matias Rojas’ “Our Memory” will be among the spotlighted projects at Cannes Docs.

Naman Ramachandran “The Boy Who Belonged to the Sea,” the multiple award-winning 2001 novel by Canadian author Denis Theriault, has been acquired for film adaptation by fledgeling U.K. outfit the White Lotus Picture Company.Set on the rugged north shore of the Gulf of St.

Manori Ravindran International Editor“Snowpiercer” producer Tomorrow Studios has struck a first-look deal with Frank Spotnitz’s London-based production company Big Light Prods.Under the deal, Tomorrow Studios will tap into Big Light’s network of established and emerging writers and its pursuit of IP for projects to produce together under one development slate.Big Light Prods. specializes in returning and limited dramas for the global market.

Deepa Mehta Toronto-based filmmaker Deepa Mehta has been making films since the 1970s, including the Oscar-nominated “Water,” part of her elements trilogy; “Bollywood/Hollywood” and “Funny Boy.” Her TV credits include “Yellowjackets,” “Little America” and “Leila.”As an immigrant to Canada from India, I felt “seen” twice in my life. And both those moments, ironically, were diametrically antithetical to each other.It was my first foray into North America as a young newlywed documentary filmmaker. I missed my home and family, had no work, couldn’t get the fuss about ice hockey and was frankly surprised at the general questions thrown my way by well-meaning, educated young and old white folk.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorAfter nearly six years at Snap, head of originals Vanessa Guthrie is leaving the company.Guthrie will depart Snap at the end of June 2022. At that point, Anjuli Millan, head of production for Snap Originals for the past three years, will step into the role as head of original content.“During her time with us, Vanessa has been a trailblazer for women in tech and has played an integral role in launching content for the mobile-first generation,” Snap said in a statement.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorRobin Roberts will be honored by Covenant House with this year’s Beacon of Hope Award.The “Good Morning America” host will be recognized by the organization, which fights youth homelessness and trafficking, at the Night of Covenant House Stars Gala on May 23 at Chelsea Industrial in New York City.The evening, which will also celebrate Covenant House’s 50th anniversary, will include a performance from Darren Criss and appearances by Audra McDonald, The Kid Mero, Jason Ralph, Krysta Rodriguez and John Dickerson.“Over the past two years, Covenant House has remained open 24/7 in 33 cities across six countries,” Covenant House president Kevin Ryan said in a statement on Monday morning. “While the pandemic introduced new challenges, we stayed committed to helping homeless youth in any way that we could.

Tamara Podemski, currently starring in Josh Brolin’s neo-Western series “Outer Range,” has been cast as a recurring character in Season 2 of FX’s “Reservation Dogs.”Podemski, one of the most well-known Indigenous actors in both Canada and the U.S., will play the aunt of Bear Smallhill (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) in three pivotal episodes of the show’s sophomore run. Podemski will also be reunited with Sterlin Harjo, co-creator and executive producer on “Reservation Dogs.” Harjo’s directorial debut, “Four Sheets to the Wind,” starred Podemski in a leading role. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.Currently, Podemski plays Deputy Sheriff Joy on “Outer Range.” Last month, Podemski spoke to Variety about Indigenous representation in the Western genre, saying that the traditional Western “does not include Indigenous ideas and truths.” “It served a function of conquering the West.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorBig World Pictures has taken distribution rights in U.S. and Canada to Salomé Jashi’s documentary “Taming the Garden,” which competed at the Sundance Film Festival, and also played in the Forum section of the Berlinale. World sales are being handled by Toronto-based Syndicado Film Sales.In her review for Variety, Jessica Kiang described the film as “quietly magnificent and strange,” adding that it is “surreal, serene and maybe just a little bit sacred.”The opening shot of this environmental tale captures a tree as tall as a 15-story building floating on a barge across the Black Sea.

Embracing parenthood! Maralee Nichols enjoyed her first Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, by hanging out with her and Tristan Thompson’s 5-month-old son, Theo.

Jennie Punter Mila Aung-Thwin, a producer on 2022 Sundance Special Jury Award winner “Midwives,” will direct a feature documentary about Tiberiu Uşeriu (a.k.a. Romania’s Ice Man), an extreme ultramarathon champion who turned his life around after serving time in a German high-security prison for armed robbery, the filmmaker told Variety during Toronto’s Hot Docs festival.Aung-Thwin, a cofounder of the acclaimed documentary production company EyeSteelFilm, is this year’s recipient of Hot Docs’ Don Haig Award, which is given to an outstanding independent Canadian producer with a film in the festival in recognition of their creative vision and entrepreneurship.“Ultra” (working title) producers include Cristian Nicolescu (“Donbass,” “Quo vadis, Aida?”), EyeSteelFilm’s Bob Moore, and Lithium Studios’ Mike MacMillan.

Naman Ramachandran Global studio platform Cinespace Studios has expanded its Toronto team with three new roles.Megan Guy joins as head of client services and studio operations; Magali Simard as director of industry and community relations; and Bill Zacharuk as head of vendor partnerships, North America. Simard reports into Ashley Rice, president and co-managing partner, while Guy and Zacharuk report to Eoin Egan, COO and co-managing partner.Guy will be responsible for managing the day-to-day sales and operations for Cinespace Toronto and also business development and client relations.

Michele Amabile Angermiller Lea Thompson has always been at the top of her acting game, but she’s putting her experience competing on season 19 of “Dancing With the Stars” to use in a new music video. Featured alongside Tyler Posey (of MTV’s ‘Teen Wolf’ series), the clip for Canadian electro-pop artist Riotron, “Life Is What We’re Living,” was directed by Alissa Torvinen, who also helmed the camera for award-winning videos by Phoebe Bridgers, Pink and Black Eyed Peas, as well as Melanie Martinez’s “K-12” feature film, which boasts 100 million views on YouTube.The video, which can be viewed above, follows the emotional story of a man who has recently lost his mother, and is struggling to deal with their unresolved complicated relationship. “The song was inspired by a good friend who lost his mother to cancer,” said Riotron’s Jeff Fettes.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorBerkeley, California-based visual effects and animation production company Tippett Studio, helmed by two-time Oscar winner Phil Tippett, is expanding into Canada with its first satellite office in Toronto, which will be called Tippett Canada. The company’s recent projects include “The Book of Boba Fett,” Season 2 of “The Mandalorian,” Marvel Studio’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” all three on Disney+, and Season 2 of “Locke and Key” on Netflix.Tippett’s Toronto operation, which will house a fully functioning post-production studio, will be headed by Gary Mundell, president of Tippett Canada, and current COO of Tippett Studio.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSND has boarded “The Braid,” an adaptation of Laetitia Colombani’s bestseller which is currently shooting in Italy, Canada and India with Kim Raver (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Fotini Peluso (“Romanzo famigliare”) and Mia Maelzer (“Beyond the Clouds”). Colombani is directing the film based on her book which sold more than two million copies worldwide and was translated in 40 languages.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorComedy “How to Please a Woman,” starring “Veep” and “Bridget Jones Diary” actor Sally Phillips, has generated brisk business for Beta Cinema. Brainstorm Media has taken all rights for the U.S.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorInternational sales company Andana Films has acquired Islamic State documentary “Rojek,” which has its North American premiere in Hot Docs’ Canadian Spectrum section on Saturday.The film, which had its world premiere in the International Competition section at Visions du Réel, will have a theatrical release in Canada through Maison 4:3.In the film, director Zaynê Akyol talks to imprisoned members of the Islamic State, alternating their words with aerial views of the countryside. It is “an unexpected look at a far-reaching current political issue, and a film whose subject matter and rhythm create an impressive cinematic object,” Andana stated.Mariam Zaidi at Hot Docs said: “The Syrian Democratic Forces, mostly Kurdish, as well as the international coalition, have succeeded in dislodging the Islamic State from their last stronghold and ending their project of establishing a caliphate in Syria.

ET Canada has an exclusive first look at Oprah Winfrey’s new programme “The Color of Care”.