Curated in coordination with the Annecy International Animation Festival and its MIFA market, Animation! at Ventana Sur will feature five productions for its 2020 Works in Progress sidebar, including its first-ever non-Latin American production. Adult animation is booming, and one figure at the forefront of the movement is Spain’s Alberto Vazquez, the mastermind behind festival
15 minutes into “Good, Better, Best,” the latest original from Spain’s Movistar Plus, soccer player Michael Robinson has hit the headlines as the subject of the second-biggest transfer fee in British soccer history, with Manchester City paying $970,000 in 1979 for the 20-year-old striker. One hour later in the doc feature, Robinson, who died of
“I don’t think that the Second Amendment is ever going to get changed,” said U.S. documentary filmmaker Todd Chandler at Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival during an online Q&A on Sunday, admitting it’s an intense time to be addressing such questions just before the election. His film “Bulletproof” is screening at the festival. “I don’t
In an out-of-the-box move, the Cannes-backed Ventana Sur, Latin America’s biggest movie market, looks set for a game changing seven city on-site roll-out to run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 in Madrid, Paris, Rome, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile and Colombia’s Bogotá. Launched in 2009 by the Cannes Festival and Film Market
Judge Andrew Nicol has ruled against Johnny Depp in the actor’s libel case against News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and the tabloid’s executive editor Dan Wootton over a 2018 article alleging he was a “wife beater.” Depp’s lawyers said it is highly likely he will appeal against the ruling. In his conclusion, the
Malaysian cinema operators have closed their doors for at least a month, following escalation of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The decision was a voluntary one announced by the Malaysian Association Of Film Exhibitors (MAFE). While the actual date of closure may vary slightly, the two largest chains Golden Screen Cinemas and TGV ceased
It’s always been about discovering the next generation of documentary filmmakers and getting them the tools and connections they’ll need at the 24th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. So it’s only fitting that the section on experimental films – another innovation that was a first, according to fest organizer Andrea Slovakova – is themed on
Stockholm-based production company Dramacorp is developing Cold War mini-series “Whiskey On The Rocks,” based on a real-life diplomatic incident. In 1981, a Soviet U-137 ‘Whiskey’-class submarine ran aground on rocks deep inside Swedish territorial waters — in the middle of a sensitive Swedish naval exercise. This breach of sovereignty led to a Cold War stand-off
An ambitious scheme to make the Mexican region of Jalisco the production capital of Latin America, a Jallywood so to speak, has launched with the introduction of a new state film law. “We want to send a clear message that with or without federal help or despite the federal government, we pledge to direct more
Fernanda Valadez’s feature debut “Identifying Features” (“Sin Señas Particulares”) has collected the 18th Morelia Int’l Film Festival’s Best Film Ojo prize as well as Audience Award and best actress plaudit for its lead, Mercedes Hernandez. In a spare and sparsely attended closing ceremony on Sunday evening, Hernandez was among only two winners who were present to
U.K./U.S. production outfit Lightbox, and U.K. sales agent and distributor Altitude, have announced “Diana,” the first theatrical release documentary about Princess Diana. The documentary is set for a summer 2022 theatrical release worldwide to mark the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. The film, produced in association with HBO and Sky, will have its television
“Demon Slayer,” the megahit animation that has singlehandedly revived the limping Japanese box office, passed the $150 million mark on its 17th day of release, according to figures compiled by co-distributor Aniplex. Total admissions amount to 11.9 million. Overall, for the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 weekend the film made $24 million on 1 million admissions. Cumulative gross revenues
Hipgnosis Songs has acquired 42 catalogs, comprising more than 33,000 songs, from Kobalt Music Copyrights S.à.r.l. for a total consideration of $322.9 million. The catalogs were owned and sold by investors in Kobalt Capital Limited — which is distinct from the music company itself — and the songs will continue to be administered by Kobalt.
Patriotic and gritty war film “The Sacrifice” topped the mainland Chinese box office for the second week. It earned $28.6 million over the weekend, lifting its ten-day cumulative score to $106 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Of that weekend score, some $1.6 million was earned from 670 Imax screens. The Imax box office
The achievements of indigenous sportsman Artie Beetson are to be detailed in large-scale Australian movie “The Underdogs” directed by Neil McGregor (“The Little Things”). Production is set to begin in late 2021. Beetson was in the twilight of his Rugby League career in 1980 when he was called upon by local politician Ron McAuliffe to
Exclusive Details One of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter chapter in New York was arrested this weekend … and the takedown is on video. Hawk Newsome was on the front lines of a protest in NYC Sunday, where BLM demonstrators were reportedly facing off with Trump supporters in the streets … with cops
The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, operating for the first time this year as part of TIFFCOM, has given hope to some filmmakers who are struggling to fund their projects. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many normal financing channels. The TGFM enables producers to meet potential investors, sales agents and post-production outfits over a three-day period (Nov.
“Underdog,” the two-part boxing film that opens the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival, is the second movie on the subject by director Take Masaharu. The first, “100 Yen Love” in 2014 won the Japanese Cinema Splash Award at the 27th TIFF and was selected as Japan’s nominee for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. Take
Actor Eddie Hassell, best known for his roles in the 2010 Oscar-nominated film “The Kids Are All Right” and the NBC TV show “Surface,” has died after being shot in Texas, Hassell’s manager tells Variety. He was 30. According to his representative, Hassell was shot Sunday morning in what appears to be a carjacking, although
Charles Gordon, a film and television producer who earned an Oscar nomination for his work on 1989’s “Field of Dreams,” has died of cancer. He was 73. Gordon’s brother, Lawrence Gordon, who he shared the Oscar nomination with, confirmed his death. “Although he was 11 years younger, he was more like an older brother to
Elvis Costello has released a Spanish-language version of his 1979 song “Crawling to the USA,” seemingly timed as an implicit commentary on current American politics, days before the U.S. presidential election. It’s the first song to be released from “Spanish Model,” an album to be released this year that has prominent singers from the Latin
Voters expected the nation’s big TV-news outlets to go late into the night on Election Day. But they may not have anticipated any of them starting up very early Sunday, several days ahead of the big event. CNN anchor Kate Bolduan normally holds forth late mornings on the cable-news outlet, when many of her viewers
Media, entertainment and communications activities have been unwitting collateral damage from the mounting tensions between the U.S. and China that many these days characterize as a cold war. Journalists working for American media have been expelled from China. In retaliation, the U.S. has recategorized certain Chinese media and personnel as state agents, only one rung
David Rodriguez, a producer and director for shows like “The Chi,” “Animal Kingdom” and “Chicago P.D.,” died on Oct. 29 due to complications from a stroke, Variety has confirmed. He was 50. In addition to his work in television, Rodriguez wrote, produced and directed several films, including “Push,” “American Bully” and “Once Upon a Time
Beverly Hills is bracing itself for the upcoming presidential election by boarding up store windows and covering community art pieces. Several art pieces in Beverly Gardens Park, as well as the iconic Beverly Hills sign, have been covered with tarp in preparation for Election Day unrest. The famed Rodeo Drive is especially on high alert,
Joining Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival‘s online audience on Friday from his hotel room in Spain, Hubert Sauper – behind Oscar-nominated “Darwin’s Nightmare” – discussed his career and latest film “Epicentro,” also shown at the Czech event following its Sundance premiere. Born in the Austrian Tyrol in 1966, he also addressed his past. “I was
Audiences did not heed the title of “Come Play,” a terrifying thriller from Focus Features and Amblin that debuted in U.S. theaters this weekend. The PG-13 horror film generated just $3.15 million from 2,183 screens, enough to lead sleepy box office charts in pandemic times. Moviegoing has been incredibly slow in North America because theaters
“American Idol” alum Nikki McKibbin, who reached the final three on the show’s inaugural season in 2002, has died at the age of 42. Season one runner-up Justin Guarini broke the news on his Instagram on Oct. 31. The Grand Prairie, Texas native famously finished third in the competition behind Guarini and winner Kelly Clarkson
With just days to go before Election Day in the U.S., the Biden-Harris campaign kicked off a new get-out-the-vote effort in “Fortnite,” Epic Games’ popular battle royale game. The former Democratic VP’s presidential campaign late Friday launched “Build Back Better With Biden,” a custom map in “Fortnite” located in “Reboot City” that encourages players to
The wondrous, sometimes bizarre work of the celebrated Czech animator and surrealist Jan Svankmajer has inspired admirers far and wide for two generations, from Terry Gilliam to the Brothers Quay. A new doc, “Alchemical Furnace,” about the maestro’s processes and inspirations played at the Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival, made by two close colleagues of