Movies

As a cinematographer, if you spend the bulk of your career shooting classy big-budget productions for Hollywood heavyweights, it’s conceivable that you might occasionally get a B-movie hankering: Even gourmet chefs crave the sloppy pleasures of a Big Mac now and then. Janusz Kaminski gets the urge rarely, it seems, but when it strikes, he

Swedish helmer Johannes Nyholm, best known for 2019 Sundance pic “Koko-di Koko-da,” is re-teaming with producer Maria Møller Christoffersen of Copenhagen-based Beofilm on the surrealistic comedy “Firehawks,” which is set to start production this summer in Sweden. It’s one of a number of films Møller Christoffersen has in the works at Beofilm, where she’s also

UTA announced today that Jason Richman will co-lead its Media Rights Group, which represents an expansive roster of authors, books, articles, podcasts, journalists, estates and life rights. Richman will co-run the division alongside long-time motion picture literary partner Keya Khayatian, who has helped lead the group since 2017. “I am thrilled to co-lead the Media

With “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Warner Bros. (and now HBO Max) has the makings of a dynamic and refreshing awards contender on their hands. Knowing the tastes of Oscar voters, including the newer members that have changed the landscape of nominees and winners in the past few years, it could rally support in all

Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee’s children, Satchel and Jackson, have been named the 2021 Golden Globe ambassadors by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The news was announced at a virtual event by last year’s Golden Globe ambassadors, Dylan and Paris Brosnan. Jackson Lee is the first Black man and the two are the first

In today’s Global Bulletin, Inclusive Cinema addresses racism; Sky goes green; Sovereign acquires “Verdict”; Blackstone buys “Stars Wars” building; and Swipe pops champagne documentary. The U.K.’s Inclusive Cinema project has launched a guide for improving the cinema experiences of ethnically diverse audiences and staff — a directive that challenges institutions to make good on their

Netflix has made good on its high-profile promise to deliver new movies every week. Teased last October in national commercial spots, the streaming monolith is guaranteeing its roughly 193 million subscribers unseen features every week in 2021. Largely compromised of original productions as well as some splashy acquisitions, the slate has 71 titles across genres

There have, on occasion, been terrific dramas built around the relationship between a crusty adult and a spiky kid. “True Grit” (1969) was good, with the firebrand tomboy Kim Darby a perfect foil for the aging cowpoke John Wayne (and it was a more memorable movie than the Coen brothers’ remake). “Paper Moon” (1973) was

Sad news for fans of Netflix’s “The Kissing Booth” and “To All the Boys” franchises – both will be coming to a close this year. Along with Netflix’s announcement of its 2021 movie slate, the streaming platform confirmed that each franchise’s third film — “The Kissing Booth 3” and “To All the Boys: Always and

Bruce LaBruce’s queer comedy fantasy “Saint-Narcisse” has been sold by the Brussels-based company Best Friend Forever to the U.S., along with a string of other key territories. Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights to “Saint-Narcisse,” which was the closing film of Venice’s Giornate Degli Autori (Venice Days) and played as part of Toronto’s Industry Selects.

Rolling off a strong year for Scandinavian filmmaking, the virtual 44rd edition of the Goteborg Film Festival will kick off with Zaida Bergroth’s “Tove,” which will compete alongside Thomas Vinterberg’s “Another Round” and Ninja Thyberg’s “Pleasure,” among other Nordic pics. Telling the story of one of Finland’s most beloved and inspiring artists, “Tove” broke box

As BAFTA prepares for its first Film Awards since concluding its sweeping diversity review last fall, the organization is rolling out “conscious voter” training ahead of its first round of voting. Voting in round 1 begins Jan. 12 and closes Jan. 26, and will be followed by an inaugural longlist of all categories set to

Films by women writer-directors including Rose Glass, Sarah Gavron, Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell scored the most nominations for the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, which were announced on Tuesday. Glass’s horror film “Saint Maud” earned eight nominations, including film, director, screenwriter, actress (Morfydd Clark), supporting actress (Jennifer Ehle) and British/Irish film of the

Agnieszka Holland’s “Charlatan,” the Czech Republic’s official entry in the International Feature Film category of the 93rd Academy Awards, has been acquired for distribution in the U.K. and Ireland by AX1 from international sales agency Films Boutique. Variety spoke to the Oscar nominated filmmaker – who was recently elected president of the European Film Academy

Indie Sales has acquired Constance Meyer’s feature debut “Misfit,” a drama-comedy headlined by Gérard Depardieu and Déborah Lukumuena, the rising star of Houda Benyamina’s “Divines.” Shot in Paris, the film revolves around George, an aging and lonely film star in decline, and Aïssa, a semi-pro wrestler earning a living as a security officer. When Aïssa

European Film Promotion has revealed the 10 actors who will take part in the 24th edition of European Shooting Stars. The program, which launches emerging European thespians onto the world stage, has boosted the careers of actors like Carey Mulligan, Alicia Vikander, Riz Ahmed and George MacKay. For the first time, EFP will present the

Stacy Title, a director, writer and producer known for her films “The Bye Bye Man” and “The Last Supper,” died on Monday of complications due to ALS, her manager Dannie Festa confirmed to Variety. She was 56. Title’s husband, “Survivor” alum Jonathan Penner, announced her death on Twitter Monday night. Stacy Beth Title 2/21/64 –

Malaysian film project “Oasis of Now” was named as the winner of the $15,000 SEAFIC award at the end of the fourth edition of the Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab on Monday. The project, to be directed by Chia Chee Sum and produced by Lee Yve Vonn, is the story of a Vietnamese housekeeper living

The 2020 Gotham Awards made history, with all of this year’s best feature nominees directed by women for its 30th celebration. The annual event, which is typically held in early December, and is hosted by the Independent Filmmakers Project, moved its ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is taking place in a virtual

MONDAY, Jan. 11 Andy Samberg, “Palm Springs” Screenwriter Andy Siara and Ben Stiller Team for Untitled Apple Project Andy Samberg and “Palm Springs” screenwriter Andy Siara are teaming up again for a new comedy sci-fi film. This time around Ben Stiller, Noah Hawley, and Raphael Bob-Waksberg are also involved. Details for the project are unknown,

Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY has announced six executive additions and the promotion of veteran exec Mercedes Cooper ahead of the narrative change collective’s 10th anniversary. Founded in 2011 by DuVernay, ARRAY is a multi-platform arts and social impact collective, made up of ARRAY Releasing (the film distribution arm), content company ARRAY Filmworks, ARRAY Creative Campus (the

Sony has postponed the theatrical release of “Morbius,” the comic book thriller starring Jared Leto, as studios continue to grapple with the pandemic’s impact on the film industry. The movie, which has been delayed numerous times amid the COVID-19 crisis, was most recently scheduled to debut on March 19. It will now premiere in theaters

Darren Aronofsky will direct Brendan Fraser in “The Whale,” an adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter’s play about a morbidly obese recluse. A24 has global rights to the film. “The Whale” was critically acclaimed when it debuted Off-Broadway in 2012, winning both the Drama Desk Award and the Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding play. It’s the

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem are in negotiations to play the iconic Hollywood couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, respectively, in the upcoming film “Being the Ricardos,” directed by Aaron Sorkin. The movie will take place during a production week on the set of “I Love Lucy,” starting with a Monday table read through an

William Morris Endeavor agent Tanya Cohen, known as a rising star and champion of female directors, is leaving the agency to pursue a management career. Cohen recently made partner, and has a roster that includes helmers Gabriela Cowperthwaite (“Blackfish”), Jennifer Yuh Nelson, (“Kung Fu Panda 2”) and comedy veteran Paula Pell. She is said to

The first trailer for Paramount’s “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” explores the tragic story of singer Billie Holiday, the racial inequalities of 1940s America and her encounters with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. The jazz singer, portrayed by Andra Day, came under fire by the agency after performing the song “Strange Fruit,” which condemns

Ben Affleck has added another adaptation to his growing directorial slate. Affleck and his Pearl Street Films production company are set to take on the bestselling book series “Keeper of the Lost Cities,” with Affleck on board to direct and produce the project for Disney. Based on Shannon Messenger’s novel, Affleck will adapt the project’s

Black Bear Pictures and Plan B Entertainment have acquired the feature film rights to Richard Powers’ upcoming novel, “Bewilderment,” in a highly competitive situation. There were multiple bidders circling the project, a degree of interest that’s probably due to the fact that Powers’ previous novel, “The Overstory,” won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and was critically

Contact Film, a well-established Dutch distribution company specializing in arthouse films, is preparing to fold after a 30-year run, Variety has confirmed. The company, whose past releases include the Oscar-nominated documentary “Honeyland” and Oliver Laxe’s Cannes prize-winning “Fire Will Come,” has ceased acquiring films, said founder and CEO Gérard Huisman, who is retiring this year.

Kevin Hart is taking his talents to Netflix. The comedian-turned-actor-turned-producer forged a first-look film production deal with the streamer for his HartBeat Production banner. Kicking off the nascent pact, Hart is producing and starring in four new movies that will play exclusively on Netflix. “Partnering with Netflix is an amazing opportunity for HartBeat and myself,”