XYZ Films Moves Into Distribution, Hires Former Neon COO

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentDidier Lupfer, the former CEO of Studiocanal, has launched the Paris-based production banner The Media Company with a lineup comprising high-concept films and series, including “The Quest of Fire” and “Front Row.”The outfit is also developing about 10 feature films, including Russian helmer Michael Idov’s “Aspiration,” which is co-produced with Artem Vassiliev at Métrafilms, and thriller “Override,” directed by Dmitry Glukhovsky (“Tekst”).Lupfer said he

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentLes Films Pelleas, the Paris-based production banner behind Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s “Anais in Love” at Cannes’ Critics Week, is powering a female-driven slate with new projects by Justine Trier (“Sibyl”), Katell Quillévéré (“Heal the Living”) and Danielle Arbid (“Suzanne et Osmane”).“Anatomie d’une chute” marks Triet’s follow up to “Sibyl,” which competed at Cannes in 2019.

Nadia Sawalha has had a very difficult week with her "very poorly" pet dog Chi Chi – but there was cause for celebration on Friday when she shared an uplifting update.The Loose Women star returned from her social media break to reveal that the Cockapoo has finally been diagnosed after undergoing "every test and scan imaginable".MORE: Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha's rebellious family home - photosPosting several adorable photos of Chi Chi with different members of the family, Nadia had her fans

EXCLUSIVE: Former Wayfarer COO/CFO Labid Aziz is launching LA-based film and TV company PoC Studios with a slate of projects including Tokyo-set TV series Tokyo Undernight, written by Oscar-winner Ron Bass (Rain Man)

Zachary Levi pulls out all his superhero moves while filming an action scene for the upcoming Shazam! Fury of the Gods movie in Atlanta, Ga., on Wednesday afternoon (July 7).

 sequel is in the works with a few familiar faces! Leading lady Charlize Theron confirms to that she and co-stars Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli are «definitely» returning for another movie installment, which is well on its way.Theron tells the trade publication that the script is already done and that they plan to start shooting the action flick early next year. The first film, an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name, followed Andy (Theron) and a covert team of immortal

William Earl Executives Elissa Federoff, President Distribution, Neon; Arianna Bocco, President, IFC Films; Marissa Hanafi, Head of OTT, Pops; Thomas Hughes, CEO of The Americas, Vuulr; and Lauren DeVillier, Co-Founder and CEO, Struum, will join “The State of Independent Film in the Streaming Era” panel on July 13 in the first-ever Variety & Indiewire Streaming Room presented by Vuulr. The conversation, moderated by Eric Kohn, Executive Editor, IndieWire, will take place at 9:30 a.m.

EXCLUSIVE: Trevor Noah is bolstering the TV side of his production company Day Zero Productions.

When indie production companies begin to work in the distribution space, it’s important for them to launch with something great. And for XYZ Films, the company is setting its first feature distribution to be the new film, “Something in the Dirt,” from two of the most exciting directors working today.

Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave is no stranger to speaking his mind on social media, but the multi-millionaire put his thoughts on politics and policy aside to gush about his wife and long-time love Faye Dinsmore.

Cartel Pictures, the company behind Shudder’s Creepshow and Syfy’s upcoming Day of the Dead series, is moving into global distribution.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorMichelle Lee, Allure’s top editor for the last five and a half years, is joining the Netflix marketing team in a newly created editorial and publishing role.Lee announced her jump to Netflix, where she will be global VP of editorial and publishing, in an Instagram post Monday.Lee in late July will join the Netflix marketing group headed by chief marketing officer Bozoma Saint John, the market veteran who previously worked at companies including Apple and Endeavor.

XYZ Films, the indie studio, financier, producer and global sales company, has expanded into distribution, launching on the first day of the Cannes market with a U.S. distribution arm that will be led by former Neon executive James Emanuel Shapiro.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSamuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights to “American Sausage Standoff” (“Gutterbee”), a comedy by Danish actor-turned-filmmaker Ulrich Thomsen who stars in “Banshee.” The movie is represented by REinvent International Sales.

EXCLUSIVE: Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions have acquired North American rights to writer/director Evan Jackson Leong’s Snakehead.

Angelique Jackson Actor, writer, producer and stand-up comedian Jimmy O. Yang has signed with CAA.Best known for the Emmy-nominated HBO series “Silicon Valley,” Yang currently writes for and stars in the Netflix series “Space Force,” opposite Steve Carell and John Malkovich.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefRising Chinese-Singapore entertainment group GHY Culture & Media is to acquire majority control of independent Singapore film distributor Clover Films. The move was described as a “strategic investment” and leaves current management in charge of operations at Clover.Stock market-listed GHY is to buy 51% of the shares of privately-owned Clover, but it did not reveal a valuation.

The streets are crowded these days!