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The Busan International Film Festival drew its largest film audience in more than a decade at its 31st edition, which ran Oct. 6–15, while a political firestorm over a Korean box office hit and an Iranian director’s war speech kept politics in the spotlight. These are Variety’s takeaways from the festival and its Asian Contents […]
The Singapore Media Festival will add a dedicated creator economy event to its lineup this year, launching the Asia Creator Summit alongside the long-running Asia TV Forum & Market when its next edition takes place Dec. 1–5. The festival is hosted by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The new summit (ACS) and ATF will […]
Industrial Light & Magic animation supervisor Hal Hickel approached Jon Favreau’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” with a deceptively simple question: “What would Phil do?” The Phil in question was stop-motion pioneer Phil Tippett, whose work on the original “Star Wars” trilogy provided a template for everything from lumbering AT-AT walkers to a spectacular battle involving […]
Carmen Machi, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Hagai Levi, Steven Moffat, Sue Vertue, Victoria Martín, Ferran Adrià. All will bring star power to Barcelona’s leading series festival Serielizados which is set to kick-off Oct. 19 with the Catalan premiere of the 3Cat-HBO Max “In Vitro.” A prime launching pad for Spanish premieres, the festival will showcase six international […]
LYON, France — Short films by Brady Corbet, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Céline Sciamma are joining the international sales catalogue of Paris-based MK2 Films, which is expanding its collection of lesser-seen works by established filmmakers. The acquisitions, unveiled during Lyon’s Lumière Film Festival, headed by Cannes director Thierry Frémaux, and its International Classic Film Market […]
Marvel and Sony’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” involved nearly 2,000 VFX shots and just 24 weeks of post-production, with 445 shots delivered in a single week, overall VFX supervisor Jerome Chen revealed at View Conference in Turin on Wednesday. “In one week, we did about 445 shots,” Chen said, comparing the feat with his first […]
“Zodiac” with sex clubs, but a case also seen from the POV of the perpetrator and a victim, “The Castle” “El Castillo”) a big hit at San Sebastián, marks the series creator debut of Isabel Peña, part with Rodrigo Sorogoyen of one of the most exciting tandems not only in Spain, but Europe, behind “The […]
Karla Sofía Gascón, Oscar-nominated for “Emila Perez,” and Itziar Ituño of “Money Heist” have committed to star in the good vs. evil Spanish TV show “When Devils Rule” (“Los demones mandan”), to be pitched at Tallinn’s TV Beats Co-Financing Market running Nov. 16-17. The six-parter, currently in development, will reunite Ituño with helmer Rodrigo Susarte […]
A new virtuous circle is emerging for media and entertainment giants that promises to harness the advantages of disparate platforms, digital and linear, powered by the connective tissue of YouTube. This was one of the dominant themes that emerged in four whirlwind days of panel sessions, closed door meetings, networking and schmoozing events up and […]
What’s trending in Spanish drama series and how the sector fares abroad and at home were some of the points briefly outlined by Gloria Saló from Spanish consultancy firm GECA on Tuesday during a Mipcom presentation sponsored by Audiovisual from Spain. The report “Spanish Fiction 2026, Between New Stories and New Seasons,” which covers data […]
Gersh is stepping up its international content ambitions with the launch of Victoria House, the new identity of Emmy-winning Spanish production outfit You First Originals, as the U.S. talent agency completes the integration of You First under its global brand on Oct. 15. The move gives Victoria House access to Gersh’s international talent network and […]
As a filmmaker, Markus Schleinzer owes much to his 17-year career as a casting director. “Directing a movie and being a casting director are quite similar jobs,” he tells Variety. Both require making the right choices under pressure and persuading others to believe in them. For a casting director, that means convincing a filmmaker or […]
Packed to its entirety by first and second-time directors, the 12 projects at this year’s Ventana Sur Proyecta co-production forum delivers a new generation snapshot backed by some of Latin America’s finest producers which delivers a searing portrait of the contemporary realities. In key casting Brazil’s Maeve Jinkings, renowned for her pivotal role in Walter […]
“Where’s Wanda?” Apple TV’s first German series, proved a major hit for the streamer. The show’s creative team at UFA Fiction have now raised the stakes with Season 2. Set in the town of Sundersheim, the series’ first season followed parents Carlotta (Heike Makatsch) and Dedo (Axel Stein) Klatt on their desperate search for their […]
LYON, France — French distributor Malavida has picked up Wang Chao’s “A Woman,” the Chinese filmmaker’s 2022 drama that won the screenplay prize at San Sebastián but has never received a theatrical release in France. Malavida is also preparing a wider retrospective of his work for spring 2027. The acquisitions, announced during Lyon’s International Classic […]
Brazil’s Maeve Jinkings, renowned for her pivotal role in Walter Salles’ Oscar-winning “I’m Still Here,” leads the cast in the upcoming prison convent escape drama “Cabildo 71,” which is selected to participate in Ventana Sur’s Proyecta Co-Production Forum. Jinkings is also best known for her roles in “The Secret Agent” director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s lauded […]
France’s Luxbox and Spain’s Amore Cine have boarded the Peruvian drama “Portrait Huaco” (“Huaco retrato”) by Melina León, best known for her debut feature “Song Without a Name” (“Canción sin nombre”), which world premiered at the 2019 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. “After the incredible journey we shared with ‘Song Without a Name,’ I’m thrilled to continue […]
A new Philippine-Italian sales alliance aims to put independent films in front of buyers in Asia, Europe and North America. Fire & Ice Media, the Philippine producer and sales agent, and Italy’s Coccinelle Film Sales unveiled the strategic partnership at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market. The pair will work together on a handpicked group […]
“Little Princess,” the British pre-school animation classic, is heading to Sky UK, in a deal struck with Banijay Kids & Family which sees the pay TV buying its complete catalog. Further new distribution deals on “Little Princess,” a four-time BAFTA nominee, have been struck with Nordisk Film, RTV Slovenia and Italy’s TIM. Based on the […]
LYON, France — When Mexican costume designer Anna Terrazas told Todd Haynes that the most important thing about a costume was what it smelled like, the filmmaker had just one response: “You’re hired.” The Oscar-nominated director shared the anecdote about his upcoming Pedro Pascal-starring romantic noir drama “De Noche” at the Lumière Film Festival on […]
