Month: June 2020

Picturehouse Entertainment will kick off the reopening of U.K. cinemas with the theatrical release of Alice Winocour’s “Proxima” from July 10. Cinemas across the U.K. closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Picturehouse and Cineworld cinemas are confirmed to reopen from July 10, subject to government guidelines. “Proxima” opened this year’s Glasgow Film Festival
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The worldwide disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic is creating both massive challenges and unprecedented opportunities for the animation industry, according to a panel presented Tuesday as part of a weekly discussion series hosted by UniFrance. The session, “Successful Strategies to Promote French Animation Worldwide,” included Benoit Berthe Siward, of the curated screening event The
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Several major North American LGBTQ film festivals are forming an alliance so that they can continue to highlight the works of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer filmmakers during the coronavirus pandemic. To that end, Frameline (San Francisco), Inside Out (Toronto), NewFest (NYC), and Outfest (Los Angeles) have formed NAQFA: the North American Queer Festival
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Constance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “Hustlers”) and Sam Heughan (“Outlander,” “The Spy Who Dumped Me”) have joined the cast of romantic comedy “Mr. Malcolm’s List,” where they will star alongside Freida Pinto, Sope Dirisu and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Wu also joins as an executive producer. International rights of the film are being repped by WestEnd Films,
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South Africa’s Triggerfish has announced it’s setting up its first international studio in Galway, Ireland. The award-winning animation studio is a rising powerhouse behind projects like the Oscar-nominated Roald Dahl adaptation “Revolting Rhymes,” as well as the International Emmy-winning “Zog,” the British Animation Awards winner “The Snail and the Whale” (pictured), and the Rose d’Or-winning
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Sales agent Beta Cinema is launching its Cannes Market slate, which is headlined by psychological thriller “Corvidae,” with a playful and novel approach. The company has produced an entertainment show, in the style of a late-night chatshow, featuring its sales team pitching its films and presenting exclusive clips from them. Variety has been given an
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Using immersive storytelling to tackle issues such as mental health, trans identity and end-of-life care featured heavily in the pitches in this year’s Digital Experience category at Annecy. Aimed at showcasing the best interactive animated film projects in development, the category’s strong contenders included U.K-Ghanaian branching narrative short “Unwanted Guest,” which tackles depression and anxiety.
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It’s strange that as mannered a film as Carl Hunter’s Scrabble-loving debut feature “Sometimes Always Never” should yield one of Bill Nighy’s very least mannered — and best — performances, but then, these are strange times. They were strange back in 2018 when this British production, based on a screenplay by celebrated screenwriter Frank Cottrell
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In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix reveals a first look at Season 2 of “The Umbrella Academy,” and Showtime will host a virtual concert on June 21 benefitting the Equal Justice Initiative.  CASTING Nickelodeon has signed an overall deal with 13-year-old social media influencer and hip-hop artist Alaya “That Girl Lay Lay” High. Nickelodeon and High
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The 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been postponed until April 24. The announcement follows the news that the Oscars are being pushed back two months — from Feb. 28 to April 25. The Spirit Awards traditionally take place the day before the Academy Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. “The Film Independent Spirit Awards will
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In today’s film new roundup, “Broken Hearts Gallery” moves back, “Burnt Orange Heresy” gets a release date, “Summertime,” “2 Hearts” and “The Mechanic” find homes and Helen Mirren is narrating “Escape from Extinction.” RELEASE DATES Sony Pictures has moved back the release of romantic comedy “The Broken Hearts Gallery” from July 10 to July 17.
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“Live From Here With Chris Thile,” the weekly radio show that began as a continuation of “A Prairie Home Companion” before taking on its own name and identity, has been canceled, American Public Media Group announced Tuesday. The St. Paul-based company blamed the economic effects of the COVID-18 for that and other cuts that resulted
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The CW announced Tuesday an additional four series acquisitions as part of its summer lineup. Making their U.S. debuts on The CW are: the horror whodunnit competition “Killer Camp,” debuting July 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; , the docu-series “Being Reuben,” debuting on Aug. 7 at 9; the comedy panel game show “Taskmaster,” debuting on
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As the Emmy race heads toward the first phase of voting (with nomination ballots open starting July 2), Variety senior editors Michael Schneider and Danielle Turchiano break down the drama lead actress category for this edition of Variety’s “Awards Heat” video series. Among the top contenders: Olivia Colman, “The Crown” (Netflix); Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning
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Robert De Niro, Oscar Isaac, Anne Hathaway and Donald Sutherland are joining Cate Blanchett in the period drama “Armageddon Time.” Wild Bunch International will introduce the film to buyers at this year’s virtual Cannes market and represent its international rights. CAA Media Finance, which arranged financing for the movie, represents the film’s domestic distribution rights.
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