For Jakob and Jonas Weydemann, “Systemsprenger” (“System Crasher”), a social drama about a troubled young girl caught in the revolving door of Germany’s child welfare services, is exactly the kind of film the sibling producer duo is keen to make. Nora Fingscheidt’s feature film debut, which screens in competition in Berlin, explores the difficult and
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Noomi Rapace has boarded Valdimar Jóhannsson’s supernatural drama “Lamb,” which New Europe Film Sales is selling at Berlin’s European Film Market. The pic marks Rapace’s return to Scandinavian moviemaking following Hollywood movies like Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus,” with Michael Fassbender, and
The things we see on the runway dictate the trends we’ll wear in the future, so start taking notes on the biggest accessories of 2019. Tom Ford brought back bucket hats, and they’re bigger than ever. We’re also seeing the return of bangle stacks courtesy of Ulla Johnson and an affirmation that statement earrings aren’t
If this were a magazine spread, the title would blare something nuts like “YES SHUI CAN!” and picture Kim Shui looking very cool, very capable, and wrapped in a yellow snakeskin jacket. The texture is one of her signatures, and helped make the 28-year-old’s brand into a street style must-shoot, not to mention a go-to
Hollywood talent agents have given a downbeat reaction to their first meeting with the Writers Guild of America to discuss the guild’s proposals to revamp key rules for agents. The meeting took place on Tuesday — two months before the current agreement expires. During the past year, the WGA has been pressuring Hollywood’s agencies to
In today’s film news roundup, a Joni Mitchell documentary generates solid business and indie films “Cristina” and “Dreamcatcher” are moving ahead. BOX OFFICE Trafalgar Releasing is reporting a strong box office of $568,000 at 414 North American locations for its one-night screening on Feb. 7 of “The Music Center Presents Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration.”
February 8, 2019 5:47PM PT Keeping up its buying spree, Amazon Studios has acquired Kristen Stewart’s independent political thriller “Against All Enemies.” The deal was closed Friday at the Berlin Film Festival with UTA Independent Film Group negotiating with Amazon on behalf of the filmmaking team and financiers. Amazon Studios was the most active buyer
Ana de Armas says she’s still trying to find the right words to describe her latest project, a cinematic collaboration with Italian liqueur brand Campari that has catapulted the Cuban-born actress into a conversation about diversity, creativity, and taking risks. “I don’t think I can even describe the feeling,” De Armas says of becoming the
While Grammy Week is traditionally loaded with parties and showcases and every stripe of event, many veterans agreed that 2019 might be the most event-filled one to date. The week started off with events like Bebe Rexha’s Women in Harmony brunch, a BMG party headlined by Margo Price, Willie Nelson being honored by the Grammy
Leslie Moonves, the former CBS chairman-CEO who was brought down last year by allegations of sexual misconduct, has set up a new business venture that appears to be targeting production, distribution and streaming. Moonves’ plan to launch Moon Rise Unlimited LLC came to light in a filing to register the Moon Rise name with the
The Newport Beach Film Festival U.K. Honors evening celebrated its fifth anniversary on Thursday with several honorees and the presentation of Variety’s 10 Brits to Watch at the Langham Hotel in London. The star-studded celebration marks the kickoff of BAFTA Awards weekend and included icon award honors for Julian Fellowes, Lesley Manville, and John Lloyd. Artists
Homer Simpson has had a long love affair with television (“Teacher! Mother! Secret lover”), so it’s probably no surprise he’s a major proponent of binge TV. And Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos is more than happy to indulge “The Simpsons” character. As a matter of fact, Sarandos appears in Sunday’s episode of “The Simpsons,”
February 8, 2019 4:41PM PT Following stops in Paris, New York, and Rio, the ‘Cities of Love’ series finds its way to Berlin, where a global mix of talent invent stories that could have taken place anywhere. If you truly love Berlin, and belong to the film industry, chances are you’re there right now attending
In today’s roundup, “Free Solo” gets a Nat Geo premiere date and E! reveals the premiere date for ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ Season 16. DATES The Oscar-nominated documentary “Free Solo” will debut commercial free on National Geographic on March 3 at 9 p.m. From documentary filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, the
February 8, 2019 4:24PM PT Alexander Payne has found his next feature, as the “Sideways” and “The Descendants” filmmaker is attached to direct the comedic horror-thriller “” with Gary Sanchez Productions. Will Tracy and Seth Reiss penned the script with Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, and Betsy Koch producing under the Gary Sanchez banner. The pic
February 8, 2019 4:24PM PT “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi shared fond thoughts about late “Top Chef” star Fatima Ali, who recently lost her battle with cancer at the age of 29. Known as Chef Fati on Season 15 of the Bravo series, the “Top Chef” contestant died in late January from a rare form of
Albert Finney was destined to play Winston Churchill. That was the view of the producers behind the 2002 HBO movie “The Gathering Storm,” which earned Finney his first and only Emmy Award. Finney, who died Thursday in London at the age of 82, was envisioned for the role of Churchill in “Storm” from the outset,
February 8, 2019 4:19PM PT HBO has begun offering voluntary buyouts to older employees who have been with the company for at least 10 years. “In the interest of costs and operating efficiencies, HBO has offered voluntary early retirement packages to a segment of our employees,” the company confirmed in a statement. HBO sources emphasized
As debate continues to rage over Liam Neeson’s racially-charged remarks, many in Hollywood are wondering anxiously what the fallout might mean for his upcoming films and the future of his career. Some observers even think the interview could permanently damage his career. After he shared this week that, decades ago, a close friend revealed she was
HBO is looking to go big — and small — with its programming this year. HBO programming president Casey Bloys spoke with Variety at the Television Critics Assn.’s winter press tour on Friday about company’s increased investment in original programming and its embrace of “intimate” shows alongside blockbusters such as “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld.”
HBO is sticking with its decision to release a controversial documentary about Michael Jackson in the face of criticism from the late pop singer’s estate. “It doesn’t change our plans,” HBO programming president Casey Bloys told Variety Friday. “We announced the air date. It will air as planned.” Earlier Friday, the Jackson estate sent a
One day after Susan Lucci revealed she underwent emergency heart surgery, the soap star stepped out at the American Heart Association’s 15th annual Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection runway event. Moments before she took a tumble on the runway (and expertly recovered), Lucci spoke to Variety about why she decided to come forward and open
The first season of “Big Little Lies” may have come to an end with an answer to the murder mystery, as well as a sense of the Monterey Five solid in their friendship. But when the cast and producers realized they wanted to reunite, and they saw there was equal audience demand for more of
Albert Finney was not yet 50 when he earned his third Oscar nomination playing a volatile ball of ego and insecurity in Ronald Harwood’s brilliant backstage drama “The Dresser.” At one point, the character — a high-maintenance Shakespearean stage actor slowly collapsing in upon himself like some kind of dying sun — bellows, “I can’t
The richest person in the world, Jeff Bezos, publicly leveled accusations that the National Enquirer and its parent company engaged in a scheme to blackmail and extort him with a threat of publishing compromising photos. What happens next? A key question is whether American Media, the National Enquirer’s publisher, broke any laws over the course
Janelle Monáe said that her Grammy nominations for her album “Dirty Computer” are for her “trans brothers and sisters.” The recording artist scored two Grammy nominations, one for album of the year with “Dirty Computer,” and another for best music video for her track “Pynk.” Monáe’s album was lauded for its exploration of sexuality, and the
February 8, 2019 2:57PM PT Warner Bros. is developing “The Trench” as a spinoff horror movie to its mega-hit “Aquaman.” The studio has hired Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald to write a script centered on the Trench, the deadly amphibious creatures who attacked Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Mera (Amber Heard) in the movie. The project
February 8, 2019 2:23PM PT Ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham underwent an emergency open heart surgery last week, his wife Kristen Buckingham confirmed in a statement Friday. “He is now recuperating at home, and each day he is stronger than the last,” she wrote in the statement. “While he and his heart are doing well, the surgery resulted
February 8, 2019 2:02PM PT BBC America will serve up a third installment of its popular “Planet Earth” series in 2022 after setting a five-year extension with BBC Studios for high-end natural history programming. The deal covers BBC America’s rights to the ambitious “Planet Earth III” production as well as “Frozen Planet II” in 2021
“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” is dominating North American moviegoing but opening well below forecasts with about $40 million at 4,303 sites this weekend, early estimates showed Friday. Paramount Pictures’ launch of the comedy “What Men Want” will lead the rest of the pack with about $20 million at 2,912 locations, in line