Month: November 2022

Bassem Breche raised controversy with his maternal melodrama “Riverbed” following its world premiere at Cairo Film Festival. The story, a Lebanon and Qatar production shown in the Horizons of Arab Cinema section, sees a mother (Carole Abboud) and her pregnant daughter (Omaya Malaaeb) reunite under dramatic circumstances. While it picked up multiple gongs at the

Italian producer Andrea Iervolino has been officially tapped to help promote film and TV production investment opportunities in the West Indies, specifically in the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda. Iervolino, whose Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment (ILBE) shingle produces feature films such as Bobby Moresco’s just released “Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend”

Disney’s “Strange World,” an animated adventure about a family of legendary explorers, is having trouble discovering a great deal of treasure. The well-reviewed film grossed a disappointing $800,000 in Tuesday previews, which likely means that initial estimates that “Strange World” would pull in between $30 million to $40 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday may

The Torino Film Festival, Italy’s pre-eminent event for young directors and indie cinema where Matteo Garrone and Paolo Sorrentino screened their first works, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with film critic Steve Della Casa – who previously served as the fest’s artistic director from 1999-2002 – back at the helm.  Della Casa, who

“For me, honestly, the most important thing is to focus on Sudanese women,” Suzannah Mirghani tells Variety. “We have so many documentaries about them already and there was a time when these stories were in terrible need of being told. But the culture has shifted. Now, we have to let Sudanese people make their own

JURY DUTY The jury for the 2023 edition of European Shooting Stars has been unveiled and it includes internationally-recognized directors, producers and actors as well as one of Variety‘s own editors, Leo Barraclough. The jury, which was selected by European Film Promotion (EFP), will decide which of the 27 actors nominated for the European Shooting

Celebrated Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui (“Sacred Games,” “Gangs of Wasseypur,” “The Lunchbox”) was in fine fettle at a masterclass at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, on Tuesday. The actor, several of whose films have premiered at Cannes, was outspoken in a candid conversation with actor and festival steering committee member Vani Tripathi,

“Smile” star Caitlin Stasey and Lou Taylor Pucci have joined the cast of Jonathan auf Der Heide’s upcoming horror-thriller film “Devil Inside.” They join the previously announced Ryan Kwanten. Pitched as an elevated genre film in the vein of “28 Days Later” and “It Comes at Night,” the picture explores the ‘what if’ question of

Samantha Morton has been recognized for her contribution to British film by being awarded the Richard Harris Award at the British Independent Film Award (BIFA). She will be handed the award next month on Dec. 4. Morton has appeared in films including “Emma,” “Jane Eyre,” “Under the Skin” and “Jesus’ Son” and appeared alongside Tom

The European Film Academy has unveiled the eight winners of the Excellence Awards spanning the arts and crafts categories. These will receive their prizes during the European Film Awards on Dec. 10 in Reykjavík, Iceland. Best European cinematography went to Kate McCullough for “The Quiet Girl,” an Irish drama directed Colm Bairéad which played at

Annie and César-winning and Oscar nominated animation specialist filmmaker Mark Osborne (“The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” “The Little Prince,” co-director on “Kung Fu Panda”) delivered an inspirational masterclass to a rapt crowd of animators and students at the International Film Festival of India, Goa on Tuesday. Osborne began with a presentation on the process behind the

Palestinian filmmaker Firas Khoury’s fiery feature debut “Alam” (The Flag), which won the top prize this week at the Cairo Intl. Film Festival, sent a charge through the audience at its Middle East premiere, with moviegoers bursting into applause several times during the screening. Khoury, however, was unable to witness the reception firsthand. The director,

Palestinian filmmaker Firas Khoury’s fiery coming-of-age drama “Alam” (The Flag) took home the Golden Pyramid at the Cairo Intl. Film Festival, which wrapped with a glitzy award ceremony in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday night. Khoury’s politically charged debut, which world premiered at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, struck a chord with both the international

“Avatar: The Way of Water” has landed a theatrical release date in China in a victory for the expensive 20th Century Studios production’s box office potential. 20th Century Studios confirmed plans for the release through an official post on Sina Weibo, one of China’s most popular social media platforms. The company also shared a trailer

In the appealing, naturalistic drama “Alam,” a middle-class Arab teen living in a village in the Galilee undergoes a political awakening catalyzed by a pretty, outspoken girl from his high school class. Just like the protagonist, the audience, too, receives a provocative civics lesson on the symbolism — and power — of flags and what

The title character of writer-director Emmanuelle Nicot’s feature debut “Love According to Dalva” is not like other girls her age. The 12-year-old dresses like a “lady,” as one of the girls at the youth shelter she’s been shipped to points out — by which she means like a woman much older. There are lace blouses

Niv Art Movies and Little Lamb Films are joining forces to produce a slate of Malayalam and Bengali films. The first collaboration and co-production “Whispers of Fire & Water” is part of the Viewing Room and Film Bazaar Recommends segments of the National Film Development Corporation’s (NFDC) ongoing Film Bazaar 2022. Written and directed by

Debut film “A Life, A Rose” has attracted a heavyweight international investor in France’s Backup Media. The proposed film is by Kaushik Ray who has previously worked in film finance as a lawyer on projects such as “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Fish Tank.” His first two short films as director are only now in pre-production. Paris-based

Michael Armand Hammer, businessman and father of Armie Hammer, died Sunday after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 67. Hammer’s death was confirmed to People and TMZ. Hammer was known for his involvement with Occidental Petroleum Corporation, the company of his late grandfather, oil tycoon Armand Hammer. He also oversaw the Hammer International Foundation,

In a candid on-stage presentation at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, “RRR” screenwriter, V. Vijayendra Prasad discussed looking to Indian epics for story inspiration. Prasad was speaking on Tuesday at a well-attended session titled ‘The Master’s Writing Process’ that reviewed the octogenarian’s Telugu and Hindi language filmography. This includes “Magadheera,” “Bahubali,”