Movies

Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid play father and son in Disney’s new animated movie “Strange World,” but it’s not the first time the actors have played family members on screen. Not that Gyllenhaal would remember, apparently. A recent “Strange World” junket interview with Yahoo Entertainment has gone viral for depicting Gyllenhaal seemingly forgetting that Quaid

When James Gunn was 20 years old, he ran into Kevin Bacon at a New York City screening. The aspiring filmmaker was floored and approached the movie star with an important message. “I went up to him and said, ‘Mr. Kevin Bacon, you’re my favorite actor, along with Mr. Peter Falk,’” Gunn remembers. Sadly, Falk

American Film Institute Announces AFI Conservatory Grant Award Winners The American Film Institute announced the recipients of the AFI Conservatory Alumni Awards at the 2022 AFI Alumni Reunion. The awards recognize achievements in directing and screenwriting at AFI, and include the Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Award with a $15,000 grant; the William J.

The American Cinema Editors (ACE) has announced its new board. Current president Kevin Tent will serve another two-year term. Lillian Benson will continue to serve alongside him as will vice president Sabrina Plisco and treasurer Andrew Seklir. Former associate board members Dana Glauberman and Nancy Richardson have been bumped up to the board, replacing outgoing

Moviegoers are pretty psyched to return to Pandora. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” James Cameron’s next epic adventure, is poised to open to at least $150 million domestically when it debuts in theaters in December. Early tracking indicates that opening weekend figure could fly even higher, reaching $175 million or more. “Avatar: The Way of

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

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”

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

“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

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

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

“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

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,

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

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

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,

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 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

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

“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

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

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,”

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,

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

XYZ Films has boarded horror film “In Flames” and will handle North American sales rights. In the Karachi-set film,  after the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter’s precarious existence is ripped apart by figures from their past – both real and phantasmal. They must find strength in each other if they are

Margot Robbie has said she didn’t know the definition of sexual harassment in the workplace before making “Bombshell”, Jay Roach’s 2019 drama following the women at Fox News who exposed CEO Roger Ailes for his misconduct. The actor opened up about her career and experience of the film industry during a BAFTA Life in Pictures

“Bruce Almighty” remains one of Jim Carrey’s biggest hits with $484 million at the worldwide box office, so it’s no wonder co-screenwriters Steve Koren and Mark O’Keefe cracked an idea for a sequel that would bring back Carrey’s Bruce Nolan. In a recent interview with Syfy, Koren and O’Keefe revealed their plans for “Brucifer,” a

Variety and Whistler Film Festival have teamed for 10 Canadians to Watch, a new program unique to WFF that celebrates top Canadian talent in the film and entertainment industry. The 10 Canadians to Watch honorees will be celebrated at the Whistler Film Festival on Dec. 3. “The Whistler Film Festival has proven to be a

Anna Camp and Rob Mayes have paired up for an emotional project. “5,000 Blankets,” which debuts in theaters for two nights only (Dec. 12 and 13), is inspired by the real events that led to the Phillip’s Wish foundation. The film follows a determined woman, Cyndi Bunch (Camp), who sets out to find her husband,