ZDF Enterprises Takes On Distribution of ‘Between Two Worlds’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterRobert Pattinson’s “The Batman” towered over international box office charts, collecting $120 million from 74 overseas markets.After debuting to $128.5 million in North America, the Warner Bros. comic book adventure has generated $248.5 million globally to date.

Manuel Betancourt To say “My Best Part,” the directorial debut of “Call My Agent” assistant Nicolas Maury, revels in cringe-worthy moments is, perhaps, an understatement. The opening moments alone find a bowl-cut-sporting Jérémie (Maury) flummoxed by the very straightforward GPS directions spouted at him by his phone.

The popular burger chain will start selling the burger from tomorrow – Tuesday, February 22 – encouraging customers to ‘eat like a billionaire’ with the packed snack.

President Joe Biden is making an announcement about the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

EXCLUSIVE: Saban Films is continuing to expand its international footprint, having recently inked a deal with distribution partners in Switzerland and Benelux. The L.A.-based company has signed with WW Entertainment in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) and Ascot Elite in Switzerland, which it will add to deals it already has in place in the UK and Ireland (Altitude), Germany and Austria (Splendid), France (ACE Entertainment), Spain (Key2Media), Scandinavia (Mis.Label) and Australia and New Zealand (Defiant Screen Entertainment).

Queen Elizabeth is out and about after a COVID-19 scare.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentRolling off its Oscar nomination in the international feature category, Pawo Choyning Dorji’s Bhutanese feature debut “Lunana: A Yak in The Classroom” has been sold by Films Boutique in further territories. Bhutan’s first Oscar entry in 23 years, “Lunana: A Yak in The Classroom” follows a young teacher who dreams of emigrating to Australia to become a singer and instead finds himself assigned to a school in the most remote village in Northern Bhutan, where he unexpectedly bonds with local children and finds happiness.Berlin-based company Films Boutique has already sold the movie in most major markets including North America with Samuel Goldwyn Films and recently closed deals with leading distributors in Spain (A Contracorriente), Benelux (September Films) and Portugal (Alambique).

Many Brits will be looking to get away on a holiday abroad as coronavirus travel restrictions continue to ease.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorStudio Hamburg Enterprises has signed its first-ever co-production deal with Germany’s Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion to produce high-end documentary series “Reeperbahn Special Unit 65.” The show is the first non-fiction series to receive an invitation to present at the Berlinale Series Market showcase Up Next: Germany, which runs from Feb. 14-16.Now in production, “Reeperbahn Special Unit 65” is a cop series that tells the story of FD65, Germany’s first-ever police unit dedicated to fighting organized crime.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentZDF Enterprises, a key production-distribution component of one of Europe’s biggest public broadcaster powerhouses, Germany’s ZDF, is set to operate under the new name of ZDF Studios.Effective from April 1, the title, announced by ZDF Enterprises President and CEO Fred Burcksen on Monday in Mainz, captures much better ZDFE’s current business reach, scale and ambitions.“We are a studio, we cover all elements of our industry, from early development to longtail sales. The new name fits our business model much better and reflects our production and distribution expertise,” Burcksen said.ZDF Enterprises was launched in 1993 to handle worldwide program distribution as new content-avid private TV networks sprang up in Europe and beyond and also to deal with the business affairs of the acquisition of programs from around the world.

Jamie Lang After a banner 2021 for high-end genre films, industry vets are hopeful that the fantastic can resurrect the corpse of pre-COVID theatrical distribution.As bolts of lightning reanimated the body of Frankenstein’s monster, Julia Ducournau’s “Titane,” which turned heads when it took the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and Sundance Grand Jury prize-winner “Nanny,” a supernatural tale from director Nikyatu Jusu, have revitalized the festival scene.While “Nanny” may have been the jewel in the genre crown at Sundance, the influence that genre cinema held over 2022’s first major festival was wide-ranging and undeniable. Chloe Okuno’s psychological thriller “Watcher” impressed — segueing into several sales deals — as did Hanna Bergholm’s psycho-horror feature “Hatching,” sold by Wild Bunch and Charades-sold Spanish standout “Piggy,” the follow-up to Carlota Pereda’s 2019 Spanish Academy Award-winner “Cerdita.” Among genre titles at Berlin this year are Dario Argento’s serial killer thriller “Dark Glasses” in the Berlinale Special section, while Bertrand Bonello’s subconscious voyage “Coma” and Peter Strickland’s gory “Flux Gourmet” (pictured above) feature in Encounters.

President Joe Biden’s puppy Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentNewen, the Paris-headquartered production and distribution outfit owned by TF1 Group, has upped Karine Atlan to the position of executive VP of Newen Connect. Under her new role, Atlan will spearhead co-productions and international acquisitions for Newen Connect, the company’s distribution arm.

Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas added a stop on their musical tour to meet President Joe Biden. On Wednesday, Eilish and her brother stopped by the White House and took a photo with President Biden, who, like all of us, is a fan.Billie Eilish stops concert to help fan who had trouble breathingJoe Biden welcomes Commander the German Shepherd puppy to the White HouseA post shared by President Joe Biden (@potus)Biden shared a photo of their meeting, showing the three of them wearing their face masks and huddling close for the camera. “When I heard my friends @billieeilish and @finneas were in town for a show, I knew I had to invite them over to the White House.

As Billie Eilish, 20, continues her Happier Than Ever world tour, she and her brother Finneas decided to make a brief pit stop at the White House — to visit President Joe Biden of course! The newly Oscar nominated singer and her sibling posed with the 46th president as he shared the moment to social media. “When I heard my friends @billieeilish and @finneas were in town for a show, I knew I had to invite them over to the White House,” he captioned the post. “Great to see you and your family — and I’m glad you got to meet Commander,” he wrote, speaking of the family’s new German Shepard puppy.

Manori Ravindran International EditorSky executive Jane Millichip, a distribution leader and a driving force behind the company’s sustainability drive, is leaving the company after almost 10 years.News of the executive’s departure was revealed to staff in a memo from Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz on Tuesday morning. Millichip, who currently serves as chief content officer for Sky Studios, is leaving the company after nine years.