Luiz Toledo, the formerly highly active director of investments and strategic partnerships at Spcine, the São Paulo Film Commission, has launched Filomena Productions, a private sector consultancy which aims to help supply missing links between burgeoning audiovisual hubs in Brazil, Latin America and the global South and established international markets.  A mover and shaker on
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The eagerly anticipated TV Drama Vision showcase in Göteborg has unveiled its 2025 program, where 50+ series from some of the best Nordic and European creatives will be showcased over Jan. 28-29, next to a full program of inspiring talks. “Our curated program is a true team effort. We’ve worked hard and enjoyed every bit of
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Early on in their accaimed TV series adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” Netflix and Bogota-based producer Dynamo (“Narcos”) set out to find Macondo.  First, writers, producers and location managers visited Aracateca, the Nobel Prize winner’s birthplace on Colombia’s Caribbean seaboard. Later they toured Colombia’s Guajira peninsula, its Pacific Coast and
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MEDIA MAVEN Japanese broadcasting powerhouse Nippon TV has elevated longtime exec Hiroyuki Fukuda to the top spot, naming him representative director, president and COO. The former rugby player, who joined the network in 1985, steps into the role as the broadcaster faces stiff competition in ratings despite maintaining its golden-time viewership crown in 2024, though
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President Joe Biden has issued preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the Jan. 6 House committee just hours before Donald Trump‘s inauguration. Biden made the move to guard against possible “revenge” from Trump’s administration, according to the Associated Press. “The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken
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Paul Schrader is sounding off in support of using ChatGPT to come up with ideas for films. In a recent Facebook post, the “Taxi Driver” writer and “First Reformed” director said he asked the AI platform to generate plots for movies by famous filmmakers, including himself, and was impressed by the results. “I’M STUNNED,” Schrader
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“Kneecap,” Rich Peppiatt’s acclaimed comedy-biopic about the Belfast rap trio of the same name, is heading back to Irish cinemas this week after landing six BAFTA nominations. Wildcard Distribution — which also co-produced the film — is re-releasing “Kneecap” across Ireland exactly a year after it became the first Irish-language film to world premiere in Sundance 2024,
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Hong Kong International Film Festival Society’s (HKIFF) Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has unveiled a slate of 25 in-development projects for its 23rd edition, with renowned auteur Kore-eda Hirokazu among the heavyweight filmmakers backing emerging talent. Among the highlights is “Yellow,” directed by newcomer Yamaura Miyoh and produced by Kore-eda. The film
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Dubai-based sales agent Cercamon has boarded “Perla” ahead of its premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Tiger Competition. Directed by Alexandra Makarová, it focuses on a painter who – after fleeing Communist Czechoslovakia – lives in 1980s Vienna with her new partner Josef and teenage daughter Julia. But when Julia’s father contacts her,
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Pope Francis had quite a busy weekend. In a rare TV interview, he slammed President-elect Donald Trump’s call for the mass deportation of immigrants in the U.S. as a “disgrace.” He also made his first appearance on TikTok, which was briefly banned in the States on Sunday, to promote his new autobiography “Hope.” The 88-year-old
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Norwegian actor turned TV writer-director Henriette Steenstrup says she “adooores” “Ted Lasso,” and it’s easy to see why. Her first gig as showrunner “Pørni,” the Viaplay comedy hit, recommissioned by Netflix for Seasons 4-5, displays similar qualities: a rare ability to mix comedy with heart-warming drama, without shying away from serious issues. With her upcoming
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The Chinese box office continued to be dominated by “Octopus With Broken Arms,” which held its top spot. The crime thriller earned RMB 60.8 million ($8.4 million) over the Jan. 17–19 weekend, bringing its cumulative total to $111.4 million, according to Artisan Gateway. Directed by Jacky Gan, the film remains a steady performer and has
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Syndicado Film Sales has boarded two films selected for Berlinale: “Paul” by Denis Côté, which has its world premiere in the Panorama Dokumente section, and “Sirens Call” by Miri Ian Gossing and Lina Sieckmann, which is part of the Forum lineup. Côté’s documentary focuses on Paul, who suffers from depression and social anxiety. He seeks
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Asian Shadows has acquired international sales rights to “This City Is A Battlefield” (Perang Kota) the upcoming neoclassical war drama from Indonesian director Mouly Surya that will serve as the closing night film at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam. Set in 1946 Jakarta during Indonesia’s struggle for independence, the film follows Isa (Chicco Jerikho),
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As Kevin Costner turns 70, he remembers his once costar Whitney Houston. On his birthday, Jan. 18, Costner shared a photo to his Instagram Stories of himself and Houston on the set of 1992’s “The Bodyguard,” in which the pair costarred. The photo originated from Houston’s account, which is run by her estate. “This photo
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In a recent discussion with The Guardian, Rami Malek detailed his experiences with racism as an Egyptian-American, pointing to one racial profiling incident where he found himself on the hood of a cop car. “I got thrown on the bonnet of an LAPD cop car because someone had robbed a liquor store and stolen a
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Nelly is speaking out against critics who have denounced his performance at tomorrow’s Liberty Inaugural Ball, one of three official balls celebrating Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. The St. Louis rapper addressed the appearance during an interview with Willie D Live, downplaying the political implications of the performance and stating that he’s simply honoring
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“Moana 2,” originally conceived as a television show for streaming, is officially a billion-dollar box office smash. The animated sequel has generated $445 million domestically and $567 million internationally, bringing its grand total to $1.009 billion globally after eight weekends of release. “Moana 2” is Disney‘s third 2024 release to join the billion-dollar club following “Inside Out
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Anthony Hopkins made his first public appearance over the weekend since recently losing his home in the Pacific Palisades fire by traveling to Saudi Arabia. The legendary Oscar-winning actor, who is also a composer, hosted a gala concert featuring his pieces played by Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. While in Saudi Arabia, Hopkins also attended the kingdom’s
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