In step with Infrared’s goal of building a dynamic supplier of mid-budget mainstream genre titles with franchise potential, Drew Simon has hit the ground running at the FilmNation-owned production label.
Since Infrared launched in November 2022 the president of production has announced two features, with principal photography on the first, the high-concept action title Novocaine starring Jack Quaid of Amazon Studios series The Boys, underway in Cape Town, South Africa.
Paramount snapped up worldwide rights after FilmNation launched sales at AFM last year and has set a March 14, 2025 release date. Robert Olsen and Dan Berk co-direct the story of a...
Since Infrared launched in November 2022 the president of production has announced two features, with principal photography on the first, the high-concept action title Novocaine starring Jack Quaid of Amazon Studios series The Boys, underway in Cape Town, South Africa.
Paramount snapped up worldwide rights after FilmNation launched sales at AFM last year and has set a March 14, 2025 release date. Robert Olsen and Dan Berk co-direct the story of a...
- 4/25/2024
- ScreenDaily
In step with the goal of building a dynamic supplier of mid-budget mainstream genre titles with franchise potential, Drew Simon has hit the ground running at the FilmNation-owned production label.
Since Infrared launched in November 2022 the president of production has announced two features, with production on the first, the high-concept action title Novocaine starring Jack Quaid of Amazon Studios series The Boys, underway in Cape Town, South Africa.
Paramount snapped up worldwide rights after FilmNation launched sales at AFM last year and has set a March 14, 2025 release date. Robert Olsen and Dan Berk co-direct the story of a bank executive...
Since Infrared launched in November 2022 the president of production has announced two features, with production on the first, the high-concept action title Novocaine starring Jack Quaid of Amazon Studios series The Boys, underway in Cape Town, South Africa.
Paramount snapped up worldwide rights after FilmNation launched sales at AFM last year and has set a March 14, 2025 release date. Robert Olsen and Dan Berk co-direct the story of a bank executive...
- 4/25/2024
- ScreenDaily
Sean Baker is officially returning to Cannes with his new rom-com “Anora.”
While the plot details remain under wraps, the feature is billed as an adventure rom-com, with the first look image showing a neon-lit club scene. Baker writes and directs the feature, which will debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
The cast includes Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karen Karagulian, and Vache Tovmasyan. Drew Daniels served as director of photography and shot the feature on 35mm film. The feature was filmed in Brooklyn and will be released by Neon later this year.
“Making an independent film is never easy no matter how many you have under your belt!” Baker said in a 2023 press statement (via Variety). “I feel so fortunate to have been given the resources and support to fulfill my vision in an uncompromised way. Thank you to my collaborators including Glen Basner and the FilmNation team,...
While the plot details remain under wraps, the feature is billed as an adventure rom-com, with the first look image showing a neon-lit club scene. Baker writes and directs the feature, which will debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
The cast includes Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karen Karagulian, and Vache Tovmasyan. Drew Daniels served as director of photography and shot the feature on 35mm film. The feature was filmed in Brooklyn and will be released by Neon later this year.
“Making an independent film is never easy no matter how many you have under your belt!” Baker said in a 2023 press statement (via Variety). “I feel so fortunate to have been given the resources and support to fulfill my vision in an uncompromised way. Thank you to my collaborators including Glen Basner and the FilmNation team,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Focus Features has set a U.S. release date for Edward Berger’s new thriller, Conclave, which stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow.
The film, set in the secretive Vatican meeting of Catholic cardinals who gather in Rome to pick a new Pope, will be released in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2024, before going wider a week later on Nov. 8.
Conclave is German director Berger’s follow up to his 2022 anti-war epic and Oscar winner All Quiet on the Western Front. The Vatican conspiracy thriller, with a screenplay by Peter Straughan and based on Robert Harris’ novel, sees Fiennes play Cardinal Lomeli, tasked with overseeing the Cardinals arriving from across the globe to join the Conclave. But as the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lomeli realizes that the departed Pope had kept a secret from them that he must uncover before a new Pope has been chosen.
The film, set in the secretive Vatican meeting of Catholic cardinals who gather in Rome to pick a new Pope, will be released in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2024, before going wider a week later on Nov. 8.
Conclave is German director Berger’s follow up to his 2022 anti-war epic and Oscar winner All Quiet on the Western Front. The Vatican conspiracy thriller, with a screenplay by Peter Straughan and based on Robert Harris’ novel, sees Fiennes play Cardinal Lomeli, tasked with overseeing the Cardinals arriving from across the globe to join the Conclave. But as the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lomeli realizes that the departed Pope had kept a secret from them that he must uncover before a new Pope has been chosen.
- 3/8/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Focus Features has firmed up release plans for Conclave, the papal thriller marking filmmaker Edward Berger’s follow-up to his 2022 Oscar winner All Quiet on the Western Front. An adaptation of Robert Harris’ same-name bestseller, penned by Peter Straughan, the film releases in theaters in New York and L.A. on November 1st, before expanding on the 8th.
Currently, the 1st is only occupied by an unknown title from Universal Pictures. Titles set to open on the 8th include Sony’s Venom 3 and 20th’s action thriller The Amateur starring Rami Malek.
Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds...
Currently, the 1st is only occupied by an unknown title from Universal Pictures. Titles set to open on the 8th include Sony’s Venom 3 and 20th’s action thriller The Amateur starring Rami Malek.
Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds...
- 3/8/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A long-gestating reboot of the “Naked Gun” franchise with Liam Neeson is finally moving forward at Paramount, landing a release date of July 18, 2025.
The currently untitled project will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, who co-wrote the draft script alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, reprising their partnership from the Emmy-winning film “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers.” Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. The new movie is based off the widely popular “Naked Gun” franchise and television series “Police Squad!” by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.
Meanwhile, two successful animated franchises’ next films have also been added to Paramount’s release schedule. “Paw Patrol 3,” a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, is slated for July 31, 2026 with distribution from Paramount Pictures. The follow-up to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” from director Jeff Rowe and produced by Point Grey Pictures...
The currently untitled project will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, who co-wrote the draft script alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, reprising their partnership from the Emmy-winning film “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers.” Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. The new movie is based off the widely popular “Naked Gun” franchise and television series “Police Squad!” by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.
Meanwhile, two successful animated franchises’ next films have also been added to Paramount’s release schedule. “Paw Patrol 3,” a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, is slated for July 31, 2026 with distribution from Paramount Pictures. The follow-up to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” from director Jeff Rowe and produced by Point Grey Pictures...
- 2/28/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
“Treasure,” a father-daughter road trip drama starring Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry, has sold worldwide rights to Bleecker Street and FilmNation Entertainment.
The movie, formerly titled “Iron Box,” will have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Bleecker Street and FilmNation Entertainment, which recently teamed on “Waitress: The Musical,” will co-distribute the movie theatrically later this year in the U.S. and across the globe.
Julia Von Heinz directed “Treasure” and adapted the screenplay with John Quester. Based on Lily Brett’s novel “Too Many Men,” the 1990s-set story follows American music journalist Ruth (Dunham) and her father Edek (Fry), a Holocaust survivor, on a journey to his homeland of Poland.
As described in the press release, “While Ruth is eager to make sense of her family’s past, Edek embarks on the trip with his own agenda. This emotional, funny culture clash of two New Yorkers exploring post-socialist...
The movie, formerly titled “Iron Box,” will have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Bleecker Street and FilmNation Entertainment, which recently teamed on “Waitress: The Musical,” will co-distribute the movie theatrically later this year in the U.S. and across the globe.
Julia Von Heinz directed “Treasure” and adapted the screenplay with John Quester. Based on Lily Brett’s novel “Too Many Men,” the 1990s-set story follows American music journalist Ruth (Dunham) and her father Edek (Fry), a Holocaust survivor, on a journey to his homeland of Poland.
As described in the press release, “While Ruth is eager to make sense of her family’s past, Edek embarks on the trip with his own agenda. This emotional, funny culture clash of two New Yorkers exploring post-socialist...
- 1/16/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
FilmNation Entertainment and Bleecker Street are teaming up on the worldwide release of Julia von Heinz’s Berlinale Special Gala selection Treasure (formerly Iron Box) starring Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry.
The road trip film takes place in 1990s Poland as American music journalist Ruth and her charming, stubborn Holocaust survivor father Edek take a trip to his homeland.
As Ruth tries to make sense of her family’s past, Edek embarks on the trip with his own agenda.
The film is the third in von Heinz’s ‘Aftermath Trilogy’ exploring the legacy of Germany’s Nazi past following 2013’s...
The road trip film takes place in 1990s Poland as American music journalist Ruth and her charming, stubborn Holocaust survivor father Edek take a trip to his homeland.
As Ruth tries to make sense of her family’s past, Edek embarks on the trip with his own agenda.
The film is the third in von Heinz’s ‘Aftermath Trilogy’ exploring the legacy of Germany’s Nazi past following 2013’s...
- 1/16/2024
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
FilmNation Entertainment and Bleecker Street will partner on the worldwide release of Treasure (fka Iron Box), a road trip pic starring Lena Dunham (Girls) and Stephen Fry (The Sandman) that’s set to world premiere as a special gala presentation at this year’s Berlin Film Festival.
An adaptation of Lily Brett’s bestselling autobiographical novel Too Many Men from director Julia von Heinz (And Tomorrow the Entire World), the film will be the first to be co-distributed globally by the two companies, which have previously collaborated on Waitress: The Musical, as well as Sebastián Lelio’s Disobedience. It’s the third part of Von Heinz’s “Aftermath Trilogy,” examining the legacy of Germany’s Nazi past, on the heels of 2013’s Hanna’s Journey and Germany’s official 2020 Oscar entry, And Tomorrow the Entire World.
The story takes place in 1990s Poland and follows Ruth (Dunham), an American music journalist,...
An adaptation of Lily Brett’s bestselling autobiographical novel Too Many Men from director Julia von Heinz (And Tomorrow the Entire World), the film will be the first to be co-distributed globally by the two companies, which have previously collaborated on Waitress: The Musical, as well as Sebastián Lelio’s Disobedience. It’s the third part of Von Heinz’s “Aftermath Trilogy,” examining the legacy of Germany’s Nazi past, on the heels of 2013’s Hanna’s Journey and Germany’s official 2020 Oscar entry, And Tomorrow the Entire World.
The story takes place in 1990s Poland and follows Ruth (Dunham), an American music journalist,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
FilmNation Entertainment and Bleecker Street will partner on Treasure, the new drama from German director Julia von Heinz (And Tomorrow the Entire World) starring Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry as father and daughter. The two companies will co-distribute the film together in the U.S. and jointly handle worldwide sales.
Set in the 1990s, Treasure is adapted from Lily Brett’s best-selling autobiographical novel Too Many Men. Dunham plays Ruth, a neurotic businesswoman who takes her father Edek (Fry), a charmingly stubborn Holocaust survivor, on a road trip through Poland to make sense of her family’s past. Zbigniew Zamachowski (Three Colors franchise) co-stars. Treasure will have its world premiere as a Berlinale Special screening at the Berlin Film Festival next month and FilmNation and Bleecker will kick off sales talk with international buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market.
Von Heinz is best known for her political drama And Tomorrow the Entire World,...
Set in the 1990s, Treasure is adapted from Lily Brett’s best-selling autobiographical novel Too Many Men. Dunham plays Ruth, a neurotic businesswoman who takes her father Edek (Fry), a charmingly stubborn Holocaust survivor, on a road trip through Poland to make sense of her family’s past. Zbigniew Zamachowski (Three Colors franchise) co-stars. Treasure will have its world premiere as a Berlinale Special screening at the Berlin Film Festival next month and FilmNation and Bleecker will kick off sales talk with international buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market.
Von Heinz is best known for her political drama And Tomorrow the Entire World,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: FilmNation Entertainment has hired television producer Robin Schwartz as President of Television.
Schwartz will be based in Los Angeles and report to FilmNation CEO Glen Basner.
She will oversee all aspects of development and production for the independent studio’s growing television slate and lead the division as the company accelerates its ambitions in the TV space.
FilmNation is currently in production in Ireland on Small Town, Big Story created by Chris O’Dowd starring Paddy Considine and Christina Hendricks which will be distributed by Sky in the UK. FilmNation’s first foray into television, I Know This Much Is True for HBO, garnered Mark Ruffalo an Emmy Award for his lead role.
Most recently, Schwartz had a producing deal with Tomorrow Studios under her Working Bird banner. Before that she headed up the television divisions of Big Beach, Regency, and OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network. She began her...
Schwartz will be based in Los Angeles and report to FilmNation CEO Glen Basner.
She will oversee all aspects of development and production for the independent studio’s growing television slate and lead the division as the company accelerates its ambitions in the TV space.
FilmNation is currently in production in Ireland on Small Town, Big Story created by Chris O’Dowd starring Paddy Considine and Christina Hendricks which will be distributed by Sky in the UK. FilmNation’s first foray into television, I Know This Much Is True for HBO, garnered Mark Ruffalo an Emmy Award for his lead role.
Most recently, Schwartz had a producing deal with Tomorrow Studios under her Working Bird banner. Before that she headed up the television divisions of Big Beach, Regency, and OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network. She began her...
- 11/28/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
“Conclave,” the latest from Oscar-winning director Edward Berger, has been picked up for U.S. distribution by Focus Features, TheWrap has learned. Berger’s follow-up to Netflix’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” remake stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Merab Ninidze, Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini.
Based on Robert Harris’ novel, the Peter Straughan-penned film centers on a secret papal conclave as they go about electing a new Pope — and a conspiracy amid rival factions and self-serving political ambitions. Spoiler: The previous pope was hiding a secret or two.
“Twenty-seven years ago, I landed my first job as an intern at the company that later became Focus,” Berger said. “Ever since I left and embarked on the long path of making movies I have been wanting to return. To now work with Peter Kujawski and his incredibly dedicated team...
Based on Robert Harris’ novel, the Peter Straughan-penned film centers on a secret papal conclave as they go about electing a new Pope — and a conspiracy amid rival factions and self-serving political ambitions. Spoiler: The previous pope was hiding a secret or two.
“Twenty-seven years ago, I landed my first job as an intern at the company that later became Focus,” Berger said. “Ever since I left and embarked on the long path of making movies I have been wanting to return. To now work with Peter Kujawski and his incredibly dedicated team...
- 11/10/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Edward Berger’s upcoming thriller “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes and John Lithgow, has been acquired by Focus Features for U.S. distribution.
Directed by Berger and based on Robert Harris’ novel of the same name, it tells the story of the world’s most secretive event: election of a new Pope.
The script was written by Peter Straughan.
Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence in the film, a Catholic dignitary tasked with running the Vatican’s mysterious papal conclave who finds himself trapped in a treasonous web as groups of ambitious rival cardinals form factions in the hope of swaying the vote.
“As ambitions, divisions and scandals start to boil over and the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lawrence realizes that the departed Pope had kept a secret from them that he must uncover before a new Pope is chosen,” reads the logline.
Joining Fiennes and Lithgow in the feature are Stanley Tucci,...
Directed by Berger and based on Robert Harris’ novel of the same name, it tells the story of the world’s most secretive event: election of a new Pope.
The script was written by Peter Straughan.
Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence in the film, a Catholic dignitary tasked with running the Vatican’s mysterious papal conclave who finds himself trapped in a treasonous web as groups of ambitious rival cardinals form factions in the hope of swaying the vote.
“As ambitions, divisions and scandals start to boil over and the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lawrence realizes that the departed Pope had kept a secret from them that he must uncover before a new Pope is chosen,” reads the logline.
Joining Fiennes and Lithgow in the feature are Stanley Tucci,...
- 11/10/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Edward Berger is coming home to Focus Features with his upcoming film “Conclave.”
The “All Quiet on the Western Front” Academy Award-winning director helms upcoming adaptation “Conclave” about the papal conclave that elects Popes for the Catholic Church. Berger previously interned at the company that later became Focus Features for his first job in Hollywood; Focus Features now has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to “Conclave.”
“Twenty-seven years ago, I landed my first job as an intern at the company that later became Focus. Ever since I left and embarked on the long path of making movies I have been wanting to return,” Berger said in a press statement. “To now work with [Focus Features Chairman] Peter Kujawski and his incredibly dedicated team feels like I have arrived at a home that I‘ve always missed. I am grateful and so cannot wait to share the movie with audiences in the U.
The “All Quiet on the Western Front” Academy Award-winning director helms upcoming adaptation “Conclave” about the papal conclave that elects Popes for the Catholic Church. Berger previously interned at the company that later became Focus Features for his first job in Hollywood; Focus Features now has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to “Conclave.”
“Twenty-seven years ago, I landed my first job as an intern at the company that later became Focus. Ever since I left and embarked on the long path of making movies I have been wanting to return,” Berger said in a press statement. “To now work with [Focus Features Chairman] Peter Kujawski and his incredibly dedicated team feels like I have arrived at a home that I‘ve always missed. I am grateful and so cannot wait to share the movie with audiences in the U.
- 11/10/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
More movies potentially for next year’s starved 2024 theatrical release calendar: Focus Features has taken U.S. distribution rights to Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front filmmaker Edward Berger’s papal thriller Conclave. The movie’s starry cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Merab Ninidze, Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini.
The Peter Straughan-penned script based on Robert Harris’ bestselling novel centers on the secret papal conclave, which is electing a new Pope. After the death of a beloved Pope, Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process inside the back corners of the Vatican. Lawrence quickly finds himself the center of a conspiracy, as the cardinals forge factions and rivalries to serve their own ambitions. As divisions and scandals start to boil over and the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lawrence realizes the departed Pope had...
The Peter Straughan-penned script based on Robert Harris’ bestselling novel centers on the secret papal conclave, which is electing a new Pope. After the death of a beloved Pope, Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process inside the back corners of the Vatican. Lawrence quickly finds himself the center of a conspiracy, as the cardinals forge factions and rivalries to serve their own ambitions. As divisions and scandals start to boil over and the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lawrence realizes the departed Pope had...
- 11/10/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Linda Marric sits down with director Christos Nikou to talk about his latest film, AppleTV+’s Fingernails starring Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, Jeremy Allen White, Annie Murphy and Luke Wilson. The film is out today and very much worth your time.
The film was directed by Nikou, co-written by Nikou & Sam Steiner & Stavros Raptis, and produced by Coco Francini, Andrew Upton, Cate Blanchett, Lucas Wiesendanger and Nikou, with Glen Basner, Milan Popelka, Alison Cohen, Ashley Fox, Kevin Lafferty and Jerome Duboz serving as executive producers.
Fingernails Interview
Plot:
Anna and Ryan have found true love. It’s been proven by a controversial new technology. There’s just one problem: Anna still isn’t sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute, and meets Amir.
The post Fingernails Interview – Christos Nikou on analog love in a digital world, Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed & more appeared first on HeyUGuys.
The film was directed by Nikou, co-written by Nikou & Sam Steiner & Stavros Raptis, and produced by Coco Francini, Andrew Upton, Cate Blanchett, Lucas Wiesendanger and Nikou, with Glen Basner, Milan Popelka, Alison Cohen, Ashley Fox, Kevin Lafferty and Jerome Duboz serving as executive producers.
Fingernails Interview
Plot:
Anna and Ryan have found true love. It’s been proven by a controversial new technology. There’s just one problem: Anna still isn’t sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute, and meets Amir.
The post Fingernails Interview – Christos Nikou on analog love in a digital world, Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed & more appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 11/3/2023
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: As the FilmNation Entertainment team gathered in Santa Monica this week for the American Film Market, some reflection is in order. It has been 15 years since Glen Basner started the venture. Despite the hardships facing everyone at AFM with strikes and uncertainty, what a different a decade and a half makes. The launch happened in 2008, not the most fortuitous time to launch an indie film finance and production company with global ambitions.
“Back then, Summit and Mandate were the two top companies in the space,” Basner recalled when assessing the opportunity to launch a company back then. “Mandate was sold to Lionsgate and became a U.S. distributor, and Summit started their own U.S. distribution company. There was a hole in the marketplace we thought we could fill, and become that leading American international sales agent for feature films that had no connection to the U.S. distribution world.
“Back then, Summit and Mandate were the two top companies in the space,” Basner recalled when assessing the opportunity to launch a company back then. “Mandate was sold to Lionsgate and became a U.S. distributor, and Summit started their own U.S. distribution company. There was a hole in the marketplace we thought we could fill, and become that leading American international sales agent for feature films that had no connection to the U.S. distribution world.
- 11/2/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon has acquired North American rights to the romantic dramedy Anora, the latest feature from award-winning indie filmmaker Sean Baker (The Florida Project). It will be released in theaters sometime next year.
Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian, and Vache Tovmasyan star in the pic, shot on 35mm by DoP Drew Daniels, the synopsis for which remains under wraps. Samantha Quan, Alex Coco, and Baker served as producers. FilmNation Entertainment is handling worldwide rights, having already licensed to Le Pacte in France, Lev in Israel, Kismet in Australia and New Zealand, and Focus Features/Universal Pictures International for the rest of the world.
News of the acquisition follows Neon’s announcement of They Follow, a sequel to David Robert Mitchell’s cult classic horror It Follows, on which Mitchell is set to reteam with star Maika Monroe. Neon will produce, distribute and handle international sales. Other titles on...
Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian, and Vache Tovmasyan star in the pic, shot on 35mm by DoP Drew Daniels, the synopsis for which remains under wraps. Samantha Quan, Alex Coco, and Baker served as producers. FilmNation Entertainment is handling worldwide rights, having already licensed to Le Pacte in France, Lev in Israel, Kismet in Australia and New Zealand, and Focus Features/Universal Pictures International for the rest of the world.
News of the acquisition follows Neon’s announcement of They Follow, a sequel to David Robert Mitchell’s cult classic horror It Follows, on which Mitchell is set to reteam with star Maika Monroe. Neon will produce, distribute and handle international sales. Other titles on...
- 11/2/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon is getting in the Sean Baker business. The indie studio behind Parasite has taken North American rights to Baker’s romantic-dramedy Anora.
Mikey Madison stars in the film, which shot earlier this year in Brooklyn and is in post-production with an eye for a 2024 release. The plot is being kept under wraps, but Baker is known for crafting low-budget features examining people overlooked by society that emerge as critical hits and awards contenders. His filmography includes Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket, which he shot during the pandemic for around $1 million. Baker produced his latest film with Samantha Quan and Alex Coco, with Anora sporting a a slightly heftier budget than his previous features.
FilmNation has global rights to Anora, which also stars Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan. Neon VP of acquisitions Jason Wald negotiated the deal with FilmNation’s CEO Glen Basner.
Neon...
Mikey Madison stars in the film, which shot earlier this year in Brooklyn and is in post-production with an eye for a 2024 release. The plot is being kept under wraps, but Baker is known for crafting low-budget features examining people overlooked by society that emerge as critical hits and awards contenders. His filmography includes Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket, which he shot during the pandemic for around $1 million. Baker produced his latest film with Samantha Quan and Alex Coco, with Anora sporting a a slightly heftier budget than his previous features.
FilmNation has global rights to Anora, which also stars Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan. Neon VP of acquisitions Jason Wald negotiated the deal with FilmNation’s CEO Glen Basner.
Neon...
- 11/2/2023
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Neon has acquired the North American rights to Sean Baker’s latest film, “Anora,” starring Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan. The synopsis is being kept under wraps, but Neon is referring to it as a “romantic dramedy.” The movie was shot in 35 mm by cinematographer Drew Daniels with filming completed earlier this year; it is currently in post-production. It will be released in 2024.
“Anora” follows Baker’s 2021 film “Red Rocket,” which starred Simon Rex and premiered at Cannes and his 2017 film “The Florida Project,” which garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Willem Dafoe’s sensitive turn as the manager of a rundown Orlando motel. Both were released by A24.
The deal was negotiated by Neon’s VP of Acquisitions Jason Wald with FilmNation’s CEO Glen Basner on behalf of the filmmakers. FilmNation Entertainment is handling the worldwide rights, and...
“Anora” follows Baker’s 2021 film “Red Rocket,” which starred Simon Rex and premiered at Cannes and his 2017 film “The Florida Project,” which garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Willem Dafoe’s sensitive turn as the manager of a rundown Orlando motel. Both were released by A24.
The deal was negotiated by Neon’s VP of Acquisitions Jason Wald with FilmNation’s CEO Glen Basner on behalf of the filmmakers. FilmNation Entertainment is handling the worldwide rights, and...
- 11/2/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
FilmNation Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Sean Baker’s new romantic dramedy film “Anora.”
Following the acquisition, FilmNation sold rights internationally to Le Pacte in France, Lev in Israel, Kismet in Australia and New Zealand and Focus Features and Universal Pictures International in the rest of the world, excluding North America.
The film was written and directed by Baker, who is best known for directing “Tangerine” and “The Florida Project.” It shot on location at the beginning of the year in Brooklyn and stars Mikey Madison, who appeared as Manson Family follower Susan “Sadie” Atkins in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Plot details are being kept under wraps.
FilmNation previously worked with Baker on 2021’s critically heralded “Red Rocket.”
“Sean Baker is an American master unafraid to shine a light on the characters that have been left behind by American cinema,” said FilmNation CEO Glen Basner. “Working with Sean and his producers,...
Following the acquisition, FilmNation sold rights internationally to Le Pacte in France, Lev in Israel, Kismet in Australia and New Zealand and Focus Features and Universal Pictures International in the rest of the world, excluding North America.
The film was written and directed by Baker, who is best known for directing “Tangerine” and “The Florida Project.” It shot on location at the beginning of the year in Brooklyn and stars Mikey Madison, who appeared as Manson Family follower Susan “Sadie” Atkins in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Plot details are being kept under wraps.
FilmNation previously worked with Baker on 2021’s critically heralded “Red Rocket.”
“Sean Baker is an American master unafraid to shine a light on the characters that have been left behind by American cinema,” said FilmNation CEO Glen Basner. “Working with Sean and his producers,...
- 10/25/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Lukas Gage and Zachary Quinto are keeping their clandestine meeting on the down low.
“The White Lotus” and “You” star Gage co-wrote queer sex comedy “Down Low” with Phoebe Fisher. Gage stars as a sex worker who is hired by a depressed (and repressed) divorcé to kickstart his new love life. Simon Rex, Audra McDonald, and Judith Light also star.
“Down Low” is directed by “Bonding” series creator Rightor Doyle, who also acted in the final season of “Barry.” The film debuted at 2023 SXSW.
In the film, Gary (Quinto) hires Cameron (Gage), a spirited and boundary-free sex worker to give him an erotic massage. When Cameron learns how inexperienced middle-aged Gary is, he becomes determined to deliver a crash course in unapologetic queer life. Cameron’s agenda of hookup apps and gay nomenclature quickly causes the day to take several riotously obscure turns as the pair endure a nosy, pill-popping neighbor,...
“The White Lotus” and “You” star Gage co-wrote queer sex comedy “Down Low” with Phoebe Fisher. Gage stars as a sex worker who is hired by a depressed (and repressed) divorcé to kickstart his new love life. Simon Rex, Audra McDonald, and Judith Light also star.
“Down Low” is directed by “Bonding” series creator Rightor Doyle, who also acted in the final season of “Barry.” The film debuted at 2023 SXSW.
In the film, Gary (Quinto) hires Cameron (Gage), a spirited and boundary-free sex worker to give him an erotic massage. When Cameron learns how inexperienced middle-aged Gary is, he becomes determined to deliver a crash course in unapologetic queer life. Cameron’s agenda of hookup apps and gay nomenclature quickly causes the day to take several riotously obscure turns as the pair endure a nosy, pill-popping neighbor,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Jessie Buckley has doubts about a futuristic program aimed at finding her perfect match as she balances her feelings for Jeremy Allen White and Riz Ahmed in the first trailer for the Apple TV+ film Fingernails.
Christos Nikou’s sci-fi romance gets a limited theatrical release Oct. 27 before hitting the streaming platform Nov. 3. The movie centers on Anna (Buckley), who works at an institute that uses controversial technology to determine ultimate compatibility in romantic partnerships. However, she begins to question her connection with supposed soulmate Ryan (White) as she gets to know co-worker Amir (Ahmed).
“I founded this institute to take the risk out of love,” says Duncan (Luke Wilson), boss of Anna and Amir, in the trailer. “No more uncertainty, no more wondering if you’ve chosen the right partner, no more divorce.”
Later, Buckley tells Wilson’s character, “I was wondering if it was possible that one person...
Christos Nikou’s sci-fi romance gets a limited theatrical release Oct. 27 before hitting the streaming platform Nov. 3. The movie centers on Anna (Buckley), who works at an institute that uses controversial technology to determine ultimate compatibility in romantic partnerships. However, she begins to question her connection with supposed soulmate Ryan (White) as she gets to know co-worker Amir (Ahmed).
“I founded this institute to take the risk out of love,” says Duncan (Luke Wilson), boss of Anna and Amir, in the trailer. “No more uncertainty, no more wondering if you’ve chosen the right partner, no more divorce.”
Later, Buckley tells Wilson’s character, “I was wondering if it was possible that one person...
- 9/26/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Some people say love is a battlefield, but what if there was a scientific solution to determining your compatibility with your chosen partner? Would the results confirm your evolution from lust to emotional adoration? Could you discover if the person you’re with is better suited for someone else? Some people would prefer to remain in blissful ignorance, but in Apple TV+‘s Fingernails trailer, love gets tested, and the results could destroy even the strongest of bonds.
Christos Nikou directs Fingernails from a script he co-wrote with Stavros Raptis and Sam Steiner. The story focuses on Anna (Jessie Buckley) and Ryan (Jeremy Allen White), a couple who believe they’ve found true love, and a controversial new technology proves it. There’s just one problem. Anna is curious to know if the results are accurate. So, she takes a position at a love testing institute, where she meets Amir (Riz Ahmed), and sparks fly.
Christos Nikou directs Fingernails from a script he co-wrote with Stavros Raptis and Sam Steiner. The story focuses on Anna (Jessie Buckley) and Ryan (Jeremy Allen White), a couple who believe they’ve found true love, and a controversial new technology proves it. There’s just one problem. Anna is curious to know if the results are accurate. So, she takes a position at a love testing institute, where she meets Amir (Riz Ahmed), and sparks fly.
- 9/26/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Christos Nikou’s “Fingernails” challenges the role of technology in modern love stories, with Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed starring as co-workers at a company that specializes in determining people’s soulmates based on their (you’re hearing this right) fingernails. The film first premiered at Telluride.
Buckley plays Anna, a new employee at the Love Institute, where the machines are housed. She starts training with senior instructor Amir (Ahmed), yet Anna is already committed to Ryan (Jeremy Allen White), and the machine has already confirmed they are a perfect match. So why is she developing feelings for Amir?
“Fingernails” is co-written by director Nikou, Stavros Raptis, and Sam Steiner, with Luke Wilson and Annie Murphy also starring.
The film is Nikou’s second feature and first English-language film after making his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed “Apples.” Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is among the producers of “Fingernails,” along with Nikou,...
Buckley plays Anna, a new employee at the Love Institute, where the machines are housed. She starts training with senior instructor Amir (Ahmed), yet Anna is already committed to Ryan (Jeremy Allen White), and the machine has already confirmed they are a perfect match. So why is she developing feelings for Amir?
“Fingernails” is co-written by director Nikou, Stavros Raptis, and Sam Steiner, with Luke Wilson and Annie Murphy also starring.
The film is Nikou’s second feature and first English-language film after making his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed “Apples.” Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is among the producers of “Fingernails,” along with Nikou,...
- 9/26/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Jessie Buckley, Jeremy Allen White and Riz Ahmed find themselves caught in a love triangle in the new Apple film “Fingernails,” which debuted its first trailer Tuesday morning.
Directed by Christos Nikou and produced by Cate Blanchett, the sci-fi film is set in a not-so-distant future. The story follows Anna (Buckley) and Ryan (White) who use a mathematical, machine-determined proceudre to determine if they are truly in love.
Luke Wilson plays Duncan, who heads up the Love Insitute. Anna declares she wants to work at the Institute because “Ginger Spice” studied there. She finds herself mentored by Amir, played by Ahmed. And the more time she spends around Amir and at the lab, she finds herself asking him, and herself “Is it possible that one person could be in love with two people at the same time?”
In addition to Blanchett, the film’s producers are Coco Francini, Andrew Upton,...
Directed by Christos Nikou and produced by Cate Blanchett, the sci-fi film is set in a not-so-distant future. The story follows Anna (Buckley) and Ryan (White) who use a mathematical, machine-determined proceudre to determine if they are truly in love.
Luke Wilson plays Duncan, who heads up the Love Insitute. Anna declares she wants to work at the Institute because “Ginger Spice” studied there. She finds herself mentored by Amir, played by Ahmed. And the more time she spends around Amir and at the lab, she finds herself asking him, and herself “Is it possible that one person could be in love with two people at the same time?”
In addition to Blanchett, the film’s producers are Coco Francini, Andrew Upton,...
- 9/26/2023
- by Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
In his 16th weekly installment of the Deadline Strike Talk Podcast, Billy Ray continues to explore ways that the shifting sands of the entertainment business can settle in a manner that pleases shareholders of the corporations paying for content, and the talent responsible for creating it with the traditional understanding they share in the upside of success. Joining him are two titan producers who make films and TV on independent and blockbuster levels. Gale Anne Hurd’s credits range from the universes of The Walking Dead and Terminator, and many others. Glen Basner’s FilmNation has been a cornerstone catalyst of independent and studio films and TV. Also, Billy Ray has decided that the word “producer’ no longer belongs in the AMPTP, because these cohorts in content creation are not the ones he and other writers and actors are striking against. He explains why, from now forward, the collection of...
- 8/18/2023
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple Original Films announced the release date and unveiled a set of new images for its romantic drama and Toronto International Film Festival selection, ‘Fingernails.’
The feature follows Anna and Ryan, who have found true love. It’s been proven by a controversial new technology. There’s just one problem: Anna still isn’t sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute and meets Amir.
Jessie Buckley and Jeremy Allen White in “Fingernails,” premiering globally on November 3, 2023 on Apple TV+. Courtesy of Apple
Starring Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, Jeremy Allen White and Luke Wilson, ‘Fingernails’ is the second feature and first English-language film from visionary director/writer/producer Christos Nikou, whose directorial debut was the critically acclaimed ‘Apples.’
Also in news – Kiernan Shipka stars in first-look images from ‘Totally Killer’
Jessie Buckley in “Fingernails,” premiering globally on November 3, 2023 on Apple TV+. Courtesy of Apple
Co-written by Nikou,...
The feature follows Anna and Ryan, who have found true love. It’s been proven by a controversial new technology. There’s just one problem: Anna still isn’t sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute and meets Amir.
Jessie Buckley and Jeremy Allen White in “Fingernails,” premiering globally on November 3, 2023 on Apple TV+. Courtesy of Apple
Starring Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, Jeremy Allen White and Luke Wilson, ‘Fingernails’ is the second feature and first English-language film from visionary director/writer/producer Christos Nikou, whose directorial debut was the critically acclaimed ‘Apples.’
Also in news – Kiernan Shipka stars in first-look images from ‘Totally Killer’
Jessie Buckley in “Fingernails,” premiering globally on November 3, 2023 on Apple TV+. Courtesy of Apple
Co-written by Nikou,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed in ‘Fingernails’ (Photo Credit: Apple Original Films)
Apple Original Films has announced that Fingernails, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, will open in Los Angeles and New York on October 27, 2023. Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley lead the cast of the romantic drama that marks the first English language feature film from director, writer, and producer Christos Nikou (Apples).
The drama will expand to additional theaters and will be available on Apple TV+ on November 3, 2023.
In addition to Oscar winner Riz Ahmed (The Long Goodbye short) and Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White and Luke Wilson (Stargirl) star.
Christos Nikou co-wrote the screenplay with Stavros Raptis and Sam Steiner. Nikou, FilmNation Entertainment’s Lucas Wiesendanger, and Dirty Films’ Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton, and Coco Francini produce. Kevin Lafferty, Jerome Duboz, and FilmNation Entertainment’s Glen Basner,...
Apple Original Films has announced that Fingernails, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, will open in Los Angeles and New York on October 27, 2023. Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley lead the cast of the romantic drama that marks the first English language feature film from director, writer, and producer Christos Nikou (Apples).
The drama will expand to additional theaters and will be available on Apple TV+ on November 3, 2023.
In addition to Oscar winner Riz Ahmed (The Long Goodbye short) and Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White and Luke Wilson (Stargirl) star.
Christos Nikou co-wrote the screenplay with Stavros Raptis and Sam Steiner. Nikou, FilmNation Entertainment’s Lucas Wiesendanger, and Dirty Films’ Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton, and Coco Francini produce. Kevin Lafferty, Jerome Duboz, and FilmNation Entertainment’s Glen Basner,...
- 8/16/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Forget reading palms: What if the key to finding your soulmate was at the tip of your fingernail?
Director Christos Nikou’s (“Apples”) feature “Fingernails” offers a sci-fi love triangle rooted in nature over nurture. The film is co-written by Nikou, Stavros Raptis, and Sam Steiner, and is set in an alternate reality where a machine can determine whether a couple is in love or not by studying the makeup of their discarded fingernails.
Jessie Buckley stars as Anna, a new employee at the institute where the machines are housed. She starts training with senior instructor Amir (Riz Ahmed). Yet Anna is already dating Ryan (Jeremy Allen White) and the machine has confirmed they are a perfect match. So why is she developing feelings for Amir?
“Fingernails” is the second feature and first English-language film from visionary director/writer/producer Christos Nikou, whose directorial debut was the critically acclaimed “Apples.
Director Christos Nikou’s (“Apples”) feature “Fingernails” offers a sci-fi love triangle rooted in nature over nurture. The film is co-written by Nikou, Stavros Raptis, and Sam Steiner, and is set in an alternate reality where a machine can determine whether a couple is in love or not by studying the makeup of their discarded fingernails.
Jessie Buckley stars as Anna, a new employee at the institute where the machines are housed. She starts training with senior instructor Amir (Riz Ahmed). Yet Anna is already dating Ryan (Jeremy Allen White) and the machine has confirmed they are a perfect match. So why is she developing feelings for Amir?
“Fingernails” is the second feature and first English-language film from visionary director/writer/producer Christos Nikou, whose directorial debut was the critically acclaimed “Apples.
- 8/16/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Last month, the Croisette, the glamorous boulevard that serves as the central artery of Cannes, was a maze of construction that made it nearly unnavigable in places. Thin wire barriers were the only things separating the sun-speckled tourists and shoppers from gaping holes that exposed a warren of underground pipes being labored over by government crews. But as the Cannes Film Festival rapidly approaches, workers have been racing to finish the job, with city officials confident that the Croisette will be back in glittering form in time for the red-carpet rollout on May 16.
Other problems facing Cannes, though, won’t be as easily paved over. With the Writers Guild of America on strike, film and TV production is expected to taper off. If the Directors Guild or the Screen Actors Guild follow the WGA when their contracts expire in June, that slowdown could become a shutdown. And since Cannes doesn...
Other problems facing Cannes, though, won’t be as easily paved over. With the Writers Guild of America on strike, film and TV production is expected to taper off. If the Directors Guild or the Screen Actors Guild follow the WGA when their contracts expire in June, that slowdown could become a shutdown. And since Cannes doesn...
- 5/9/2023
- by Brent Lang and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
When director Damian Szifron’s serial killer thriller To Catch a Killer was first announced (under the title Misanthrope), Glen Basner – CEO of financier FilmNation Entertainment – said he believed the project could turn out to be “a decade defining film”. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t make much of an impact when it reached theatres in late April. But maybe it will reach its audience when it’s available on home video. Distributor Vertical Entertainment has now announced that To Catch a Killer will be receiving a VOD release later this month. It will be available on all On Demand platforms as of May 16th.
The film stars Shailene Woodley (Divergent), Ben Mendelsohn (Captain Marvel), and Jovan Adepo (the Watchmen TV series).
Directed by Szifron from a script he wrote with Jonathan Wakeham, To Catch a Killer has the following synopsis: A modern-day Clarice Starling, Eleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young...
The film stars Shailene Woodley (Divergent), Ben Mendelsohn (Captain Marvel), and Jovan Adepo (the Watchmen TV series).
Directed by Szifron from a script he wrote with Jonathan Wakeham, To Catch a Killer has the following synopsis: A modern-day Clarice Starling, Eleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young...
- 5/2/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Three weeks ago, we saw a trailer for the serial killer thriller To Catch a Killer, which is set to receive a theatrical release on April 21st. Now a poster for the film has arrived online, and you can take a look at that at the bottom of this article.
To Catch a Killer is a project we first heard about way back in May of 2019, which is when Shailene Woodley (Divergent) signed on to star in and produce the film. More than a year and a half later, Ben Mendelsohn (Captain Marvel) and Jovan Adepo (the Watchmen TV series) were cast alongside Woodley. That was right before production began on the film that was then known as Misanthrope. Two more years down the line, it’s finally ready to make its way out into the world.
Directed by Damian Szifron from a script he wrote with Jonathan Wakeham, To Catch a Killer...
To Catch a Killer is a project we first heard about way back in May of 2019, which is when Shailene Woodley (Divergent) signed on to star in and produce the film. More than a year and a half later, Ben Mendelsohn (Captain Marvel) and Jovan Adepo (the Watchmen TV series) were cast alongside Woodley. That was right before production began on the film that was then known as Misanthrope. Two more years down the line, it’s finally ready to make its way out into the world.
Directed by Damian Szifron from a script he wrote with Jonathan Wakeham, To Catch a Killer...
- 3/27/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Executive most recently served at Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell companies.
Ben Browning is set to return to FilmNation at the end of the month and will serve as president of production after departing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio.
At Archewell Browning produced the Netflix docuseries Harry And Meghan and Spotify’s hit podcast Archetypes With Meghan.
Prior to that he led the production team for FilmNation and oversaw the likes of Promising Young Woman, The Big Sick, and Red Rocket. He will report to FilmNation CEO Glen Basner.
FilmNation recently...
Ben Browning is set to return to FilmNation at the end of the month and will serve as president of production after departing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio.
At Archewell Browning produced the Netflix docuseries Harry And Meghan and Spotify’s hit podcast Archetypes With Meghan.
Prior to that he led the production team for FilmNation and oversaw the likes of Promising Young Woman, The Big Sick, and Red Rocket. He will report to FilmNation CEO Glen Basner.
FilmNation recently...
- 3/20/2023
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Ben Browning is returning to FilmNation Entertainment as President of Production. He comes aboard at month’s end.
Browning will be responsible for developing the studio’s film slate. He last served as head of content for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio, working on Harry and Meghan, which became Netflix’s biggest-ever docuseries debut. He was EP on that and on Spotify’s hit podcast Archetypes with Meghan. Browning will report to CEO Glen Basner and will be based in Los Angeles.
Prior to Archewell, Browning won a BAFTA Film Award and was Academy Award- and PGA Award-nominated, overseeing and producing dozens of successes for FilmNation when he previously led the production team. Films included the Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman, directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Carey Mulligan; Michael Showalter’s The Big Sick starring Kumail Nanjiani; Sean Baker’s Red Rocket...
Browning will be responsible for developing the studio’s film slate. He last served as head of content for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio, working on Harry and Meghan, which became Netflix’s biggest-ever docuseries debut. He was EP on that and on Spotify’s hit podcast Archetypes with Meghan. Browning will report to CEO Glen Basner and will be based in Los Angeles.
Prior to Archewell, Browning won a BAFTA Film Award and was Academy Award- and PGA Award-nominated, overseeing and producing dozens of successes for FilmNation when he previously led the production team. Films included the Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman, directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Carey Mulligan; Michael Showalter’s The Big Sick starring Kumail Nanjiani; Sean Baker’s Red Rocket...
- 3/20/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The serial killer thriller To Catch a Killer is a project we first heard about way back in May of 2019, which is when Shailene Woodley (Divergent) signed on to star in and produce the film. More than a year and a half later, Ben Mendelsohn (Captain Marvel) and Jovan Adepo (the Watchmen TV series) we cast alongside Woodley right before production began on the film that was then known as Misanthrope. Two more years down the line, a trailer for the retitled project has arrived online, and you can check it out in the embed above. To Catch a Killer is scheduled to reach theatres on April 21st.
Directed by Damian Szifron from a script he wrote with Jonathan Wakeham, To Catch a Killer has the following synopsis: A modern-day Clarice Starling, Eleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young police investigator wrestling with the demons of her past when she is...
Directed by Damian Szifron from a script he wrote with Jonathan Wakeham, To Catch a Killer has the following synopsis: A modern-day Clarice Starling, Eleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young police investigator wrestling with the demons of her past when she is...
- 3/8/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: FilmNation Entertainment and Zq Entertainment have finalized a multi-year feature film development fund deal.
The first project to be developed under the initiative is Josephine Decker’s feature adaptation of Karen Russell’s 2011 Pulitzer Prize-nominated bestselling novel Swamplandia!
Decker is best known for her Berlinale- and Sundance-selected features Madeleine’s Madeleine (2013) and Shirley (2020) as well as the recently released The Sky Is Everywhere Else for Apple TV+ and A24.
Russell’s Southwest Florida-set tale follows the story of 13-year-old Ava Bigtree who, after an illness befalls her mother, embarks out of her family’s Everglades theme park to piece her family back together.
Development on the feature is ongoing.
The new fund is the first collaboration between the two like-minded companies and is intended to pay for the development of feature films and create project co-financing opportunities.
The partnership will allow Glen Basner’s FilmNation to further expand its strategy of acquiring early-stage,...
The first project to be developed under the initiative is Josephine Decker’s feature adaptation of Karen Russell’s 2011 Pulitzer Prize-nominated bestselling novel Swamplandia!
Decker is best known for her Berlinale- and Sundance-selected features Madeleine’s Madeleine (2013) and Shirley (2020) as well as the recently released The Sky Is Everywhere Else for Apple TV+ and A24.
Russell’s Southwest Florida-set tale follows the story of 13-year-old Ava Bigtree who, after an illness befalls her mother, embarks out of her family’s Everglades theme park to piece her family back together.
Development on the feature is ongoing.
The new fund is the first collaboration between the two like-minded companies and is intended to pay for the development of feature films and create project co-financing opportunities.
The partnership will allow Glen Basner’s FilmNation to further expand its strategy of acquiring early-stage,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Oscar winner Helen Mirren is set to star as celebrated author Patricia Highsmith in new movie Switzerland, whose plot will mirror one of the Tom Ripley novels for which the American novelist was most famous.
Filmmaker and celebrated music video director Anton Corbijn, whose credits include Control, A Most Wanted Man and The American, is aboard to direct the movie, which FilmNation will be launching for world sales at next week’s EFM.
In Switzerland, Highsmith’s late life solitude in the Swiss Alps is interrupted by Edward, a young literary agent who is sent by the writer’s relentless publishing company to convince her to pen one last novel in her wildly popular Ripley series (which includes the classic The Talented Mr Ripley). Highsmith uses her famously macabre imagination to scare Edward away, but before they know it a collaboration ensues, leaving the world they’ve constructed indistinguishable from their own.
Filmmaker and celebrated music video director Anton Corbijn, whose credits include Control, A Most Wanted Man and The American, is aboard to direct the movie, which FilmNation will be launching for world sales at next week’s EFM.
In Switzerland, Highsmith’s late life solitude in the Swiss Alps is interrupted by Edward, a young literary agent who is sent by the writer’s relentless publishing company to convince her to pen one last novel in her wildly popular Ripley series (which includes the classic The Talented Mr Ripley). Highsmith uses her famously macabre imagination to scare Edward away, but before they know it a collaboration ensues, leaving the world they’ve constructed indistinguishable from their own.
- 2/7/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Stephen Fry has joined the cast of “Iron Box,” a multi-generational comedy about a New York businesswoman who journeys with her father to Poland in an effort to explore their roots.
The film is being directed by Julia Von Heinz, best known for her work on “And Tomorrow the Entire World” and “Isolation.” Principal photography begins this month. Zbigniew Zamachowski (“Three Colors: White”) has also joined the cast. The package is coming together for the European Film Market (EFM) at Berlin.
Fry is an actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director and bon vivant. He starred to great acclaim as Oscar Wilde in “Wilde” and teamed memorably with Hugh Laurie on “A Bit of Fry and Laurie,” “Jeeves and Wooster” and “Blackadder.” On screen, Fry’s credits include “V for Vendetta,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Hobbit” series. He recently appeared on Hulu’s “The Dropout.” He...
The film is being directed by Julia Von Heinz, best known for her work on “And Tomorrow the Entire World” and “Isolation.” Principal photography begins this month. Zbigniew Zamachowski (“Three Colors: White”) has also joined the cast. The package is coming together for the European Film Market (EFM) at Berlin.
Fry is an actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director and bon vivant. He starred to great acclaim as Oscar Wilde in “Wilde” and teamed memorably with Hugh Laurie on “A Bit of Fry and Laurie,” “Jeeves and Wooster” and “Blackadder.” On screen, Fry’s credits include “V for Vendetta,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Hobbit” series. He recently appeared on Hulu’s “The Dropout.” He...
- 2/3/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Will Smith evades cold-blooded hunters and treacherous Louisiana swamps to win his freedom in the trailer for the Apple slavery drama Emancipation, which dropped Wednesday.
The Antoine Fuqua film tells the triumphant story of Peter (Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, that is inspired by the 1863 photos of “Whipped Peter,” taken during a Union Army medical examination, that first appeared in Harper’s Weekly‘s July 4 issue and became indisputable proof of the inhumanity of slavery in America.
In the trailer (below), Peter’s pain and suffering from the cruelty and barbarity of slavery is evidenced by Smith’s clenched-teeth character having to dodge bloodhounds, alligators and slave hunters, only to end up with a bare back covered with scars from the near-fatal whipping.
“They beat me, they whip me, they break the bones in my body more times than I can count.
Will Smith evades cold-blooded hunters and treacherous Louisiana swamps to win his freedom in the trailer for the Apple slavery drama Emancipation, which dropped Wednesday.
The Antoine Fuqua film tells the triumphant story of Peter (Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, that is inspired by the 1863 photos of “Whipped Peter,” taken during a Union Army medical examination, that first appeared in Harper’s Weekly‘s July 4 issue and became indisputable proof of the inhumanity of slavery in America.
In the trailer (below), Peter’s pain and suffering from the cruelty and barbarity of slavery is evidenced by Smith’s clenched-teeth character having to dodge bloodhounds, alligators and slave hunters, only to end up with a bare back covered with scars from the near-fatal whipping.
“They beat me, they whip me, they break the bones in my body more times than I can count.
- 11/16/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Apple has released the official trailer for “Emancipation,” an upcoming historical drama starring Will Smith as an enslaved man named Peter who journeys through the swamps of Louisiana to find freedom.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, “Emancipation” marks Smith’s first film since the actor became the center of controversy after slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in March. Though Smith apologized for his actions in a video posted online in June, he resigned from the Academy and has largely stayed out of the public eye since.
The nearly three-minute trailer shows Smith’s character sprinting through marshes, fighting off an alligator and serving in the Union army with the hopes of eventually returning to his family. “I fight them. They beat me. They whip me. They break the bones in my body more times than I can count,” Smith says in an emotional monologue. “But they never, never break me.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, “Emancipation” marks Smith’s first film since the actor became the center of controversy after slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in March. Though Smith apologized for his actions in a video posted online in June, he resigned from the Academy and has largely stayed out of the public eye since.
The nearly three-minute trailer shows Smith’s character sprinting through marshes, fighting off an alligator and serving in the Union army with the hopes of eventually returning to his family. “I fight them. They beat me. They whip me. They break the bones in my body more times than I can count,” Smith says in an emotional monologue. “But they never, never break me.
- 11/16/2022
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Will Smith’s first role post-Oscars slap and Best Actor win lands just in time for awards season.
Smith collaborates with “Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua for the Apple Original film “Emancipation,” based on the true story of former slave “Whipped Peter.” Smith stars as Peter and produces the film through his Westbrook Studios company.
“Emancipation” tells the triumphant story of Peter (Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom. The film is inspired by the 1863 photos of “Whipped Peter” taken during a Union Army medical examination that first appeared in Harper’s Weekly. One image, known as “The Scourged Back,” showing Peter’s bare back mutilated by a whipping, ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery.
Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Mustafa Shakir,...
Smith collaborates with “Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua for the Apple Original film “Emancipation,” based on the true story of former slave “Whipped Peter.” Smith stars as Peter and produces the film through his Westbrook Studios company.
“Emancipation” tells the triumphant story of Peter (Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom. The film is inspired by the 1863 photos of “Whipped Peter” taken during a Union Army medical examination that first appeared in Harper’s Weekly. One image, known as “The Scourged Back,” showing Peter’s bare back mutilated by a whipping, ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery.
Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Mustafa Shakir,...
- 11/16/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has picked up U.S. rights to Misanthrope, a psychological thriller marking the first English-feature from BAFTA-winning Argentinian director Damián Szifron (Wild Tales). The indie distributor has slated the film starring Emmy nominee Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies), Emmy winner Ben Mendelsohn (The Outsider) and Emmy nominee Jovan Adepo (Babylon) for release exclusively in theaters nationwide in the first half of 2023.
The film written by Szifron and Jonathan Wakeham picks up in Baltimore on New Year’s Eve, as a talented but troubled police officer (Woodley) is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Mendelsohn) to help profile and track down a mass murderer.
Related Story Samuel Goldwyn Films Acquires Swedish Oscar Entry ‘Cairo Conspiracy’ For North America Related Story Vertical Entertainment Appoints Francois Martin To New Role Of Senior Vice President, Content Partnerships Related Story Vertical Entertainment Acquires Multi-Generational Rom-Com 'Maybe I Do' Starring Diane Keaton,...
The film written by Szifron and Jonathan Wakeham picks up in Baltimore on New Year’s Eve, as a talented but troubled police officer (Woodley) is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Mendelsohn) to help profile and track down a mass murderer.
Related Story Samuel Goldwyn Films Acquires Swedish Oscar Entry ‘Cairo Conspiracy’ For North America Related Story Vertical Entertainment Appoints Francois Martin To New Role Of Senior Vice President, Content Partnerships Related Story Vertical Entertainment Acquires Multi-Generational Rom-Com 'Maybe I Do' Starring Diane Keaton,...
- 11/3/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The international feature film race has always been a minefield for international politics and a vehicle for soft power. With no shortage of drama, scandal and diva antics, it’s basically the Eurovision of the film biz.
But in recent years, as international contenders have become more powerful following “Parasite’s” boundary-breaking best picture win, this particular Oscar race has invited more scrutiny than ever. The decisions of national film committees are keenly observed, analyzed, debated and even contested. And what many consider the most deserving film doesn’t always make the cut.
Besides setting submission deadlines and green-lighting selection committees, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is fairly hands off, and its criteria straightforward: A country’s entry has to be in any language but English (which is why Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning “Triangle of Sadness” wasn’t submitted by Sweden); a U.S. theatrical...
But in recent years, as international contenders have become more powerful following “Parasite’s” boundary-breaking best picture win, this particular Oscar race has invited more scrutiny than ever. The decisions of national film committees are keenly observed, analyzed, debated and even contested. And what many consider the most deserving film doesn’t always make the cut.
Besides setting submission deadlines and green-lighting selection committees, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is fairly hands off, and its criteria straightforward: A country’s entry has to be in any language but English (which is why Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning “Triangle of Sadness” wasn’t submitted by Sweden); a U.S. theatrical...
- 11/2/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy, Naman Ramachandran and Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Three weeks after Apple debuted Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation in Washington D.C., the Will Smith-starrer screened for an intimate crowd in Los Angeles that included Rihanna and boyfriend Asap Rocky, Tyler Perry, Kenya Barris, music producer Corey Smyth, celebrity stylist Fawn Boardley and writer-producer Esa Lewis, among others.
Perhaps the most notable guest in the room — aside from Smith himself — was Dave Chappelle.
The superstar comedian recently finished a sold-out European arena tour opposite co-headliner Chris Rock, who was slapped by Smith on stage at the Oscars. The slap seen round the world led eventual best actor Oscar winner Smith to being banned from the show for 10 years.
During stand-up sets in the months since the Oscars, Rock hasn’t shied from addressing the slap though he’s kept most of his comments relatively brief. Just last month at a show in the U.
Three weeks after Apple debuted Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation in Washington D.C., the Will Smith-starrer screened for an intimate crowd in Los Angeles that included Rihanna and boyfriend Asap Rocky, Tyler Perry, Kenya Barris, music producer Corey Smyth, celebrity stylist Fawn Boardley and writer-producer Esa Lewis, among others.
Perhaps the most notable guest in the room — aside from Smith himself — was Dave Chappelle.
The superstar comedian recently finished a sold-out European arena tour opposite co-headliner Chris Rock, who was slapped by Smith on stage at the Oscars. The slap seen round the world led eventual best actor Oscar winner Smith to being banned from the show for 10 years.
During stand-up sets in the months since the Oscars, Rock hasn’t shied from addressing the slap though he’s kept most of his comments relatively brief. Just last month at a show in the U.
- 10/25/2022
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With 2018's "Cold War," Paweł Pawlikowski proved that he had a knack for depicting complicated and sometimes frustrating romances. Now, the Oscar-nominated director is looking to continue this motif with "The Island," his newest film which is slated to begin shooting in 2023. To make things even spicier, The Hollywood Reporter writes that real-life couple Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara will play the couple at the center of this assuredly tense yet romantic film.
The film will seek international distribution at the American Film Market, which will be held from November 1 to November 6. FilmNation Entertainment will handle the international rights, while WME Independent will seek a distributor for the United States. In a statement from FilmNation, CEO Glen Basner called Pawlikowski one of the best directors currently working.
"Paweł bringing this story of jealousy, betrayal, and murder in a Garden of Eden is exactly what we all need to drive audiences back to the cinema,...
The film will seek international distribution at the American Film Market, which will be held from November 1 to November 6. FilmNation Entertainment will handle the international rights, while WME Independent will seek a distributor for the United States. In a statement from FilmNation, CEO Glen Basner called Pawlikowski one of the best directors currently working.
"Paweł bringing this story of jealousy, betrayal, and murder in a Garden of Eden is exactly what we all need to drive audiences back to the cinema,...
- 10/24/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
“Cold War” director Pawel Pawlikowski is set to follow his Best Director Oscar nomination with an even bigger project. The filmmaker has begun to assemble an A-list cast for “The Island,” a new original thriller for FilmNation Entertainment. Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have joined the cast of the film, which is written and directed by Pawlikowski but inspired by true events. The news was first reported by Deadline.
According to the official synopsis, the film “follows an attractive American couple in the 1930s who turn their back on civilization to build their own private paradise on a deserted island and live off the land. But after a millionaire passing by on his yacht inadvertently turns them into a tabloid newspaper sensation, a self-styled Countess arrives out of the blue with her two strange lovers with plans to take over the island and build a luxury hotel. This larger-than-life European...
According to the official synopsis, the film “follows an attractive American couple in the 1930s who turn their back on civilization to build their own private paradise on a deserted island and live off the land. But after a millionaire passing by on his yacht inadvertently turns them into a tabloid newspaper sensation, a self-styled Countess arrives out of the blue with her two strange lovers with plans to take over the island and build a luxury hotel. This larger-than-life European...
- 10/24/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Click here to read the full article.
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have grabbed lead roles in Pawel Pawlikowski’s next feature, with the working title The Island, set to shoot in 2023.
The dramatic thriller, loosely based on real events, will portray an attractive American couple in the 1930s who escape to their own private paradise on a deserted island and live off the land. But after a millionaire passing by on his yacht turns the couple into a tabloid newspaper sensation, a self-styled countess appears with two lovers and plans to build a luxury hotel on the island.
As battle lines are quickly drawn, psychological warfare ensues between the countess and the American couple as sexual infidelity, betrayal and eventually murder takes place among the island interlopers.
“Pawel Pawlikowski is one of the world’s greatest filmmakers working today. Pawel bringing this story of jealousy, betrayal and murder in...
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have grabbed lead roles in Pawel Pawlikowski’s next feature, with the working title The Island, set to shoot in 2023.
The dramatic thriller, loosely based on real events, will portray an attractive American couple in the 1930s who escape to their own private paradise on a deserted island and live off the land. But after a millionaire passing by on his yacht turns the couple into a tabloid newspaper sensation, a self-styled countess appears with two lovers and plans to build a luxury hotel on the island.
As battle lines are quickly drawn, psychological warfare ensues between the countess and the American couple as sexual infidelity, betrayal and eventually murder takes place among the island interlopers.
“Pawel Pawlikowski is one of the world’s greatest filmmakers working today. Pawel bringing this story of jealousy, betrayal and murder in...
- 10/24/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara will star in Pawel Pawlikowski’s next feature, which is tentatively titled “The Island.”
The film is loosely based on a true story and centers on an American couple who turn their backs on civilization to build a secluded paradise on a deserted island, where they decide to live off the land. But Eden proves difficult to pull off, particularly after a European countess finds out about their plans and arrives with her two lovers planning to take over the island and build a luxury hotel. According to the official description, that triggers some good old-fashioned psychological warfare, with “seduction and jealousy” turning into “sexual infidelity, betrayal and eventually murder.”
Pawlikowski is one of the most respected auteurs currently working, having earned an Oscar nomination for directing “Cold War” and winning an Academy Award for best foreign language feature for “Ida.” His other credits include...
The film is loosely based on a true story and centers on an American couple who turn their backs on civilization to build a secluded paradise on a deserted island, where they decide to live off the land. But Eden proves difficult to pull off, particularly after a European countess finds out about their plans and arrives with her two lovers planning to take over the island and build a luxury hotel. According to the official description, that triggers some good old-fashioned psychological warfare, with “seduction and jealousy” turning into “sexual infidelity, betrayal and eventually murder.”
Pawlikowski is one of the most respected auteurs currently working, having earned an Oscar nomination for directing “Cold War” and winning an Academy Award for best foreign language feature for “Ida.” His other credits include...
- 10/24/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara are set to star in Pawel Pawlikowski’s next feature The Island (working title), a dramatic thriller scheduled to start shooting next year. FilmNation Entertainment will launch international sales next month at the American Film Market.
Written and directed by Pawlikowski, the flick is inspired by true events and follows an attractive American 1930s couple who turn their back on civilization to build their own private paradise on a deserted island and live off the land. But after a millionaire passing by on his yacht inadvertently turns them into a tabloid newspaper sensation, a self-styled countess arrives out of the blue with her two strange lovers with plans to take over the island and build a luxury hotel.
The synopsis continues: This larger-than-life European “countess” and her entourage soon begin to threaten the Eden that the couple has built and battle lines are quickly drawn.
Written and directed by Pawlikowski, the flick is inspired by true events and follows an attractive American 1930s couple who turn their back on civilization to build their own private paradise on a deserted island and live off the land. But after a millionaire passing by on his yacht inadvertently turns them into a tabloid newspaper sensation, a self-styled countess arrives out of the blue with her two strange lovers with plans to take over the island and build a luxury hotel.
The synopsis continues: This larger-than-life European “countess” and her entourage soon begin to threaten the Eden that the couple has built and battle lines are quickly drawn.
- 10/24/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
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