Canadian director Matthew Rankin’s Persian and French-language drama Universal Language has won the inaugural Audience Award of Directors’ Fortnight.
This is the first official prize launched by Directors’ Fortnight which does not have a jury. The €7,500 cash award, is also the first audience award to be launched in Cannes, across the Official Selection and the parallel sections.
It is being sponsored by the Chantal Akerman Foundation, which preserves the legacy of the director who retained strong ties with Directors’ Fortnight throughout her career, after screening breakthrough film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce – 1080 Brussel in the section in 1975.
Described as taking place “somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg”, Universal Language intertwines multiple characters.
Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it, while Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg and Matthew quits...
This is the first official prize launched by Directors’ Fortnight which does not have a jury. The €7,500 cash award, is also the first audience award to be launched in Cannes, across the Official Selection and the parallel sections.
It is being sponsored by the Chantal Akerman Foundation, which preserves the legacy of the director who retained strong ties with Directors’ Fortnight throughout her career, after screening breakthrough film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce – 1080 Brussel in the section in 1975.
Described as taking place “somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg”, Universal Language intertwines multiple characters.
Gradeschoolers Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to claim it, while Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists through the monuments and historic sites of Winnipeg and Matthew quits...
- 5/23/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Newly launched Dubai-based sales company Mad World has acquired worldwide rights to Lebanese auteur Ghassan Salhab’s genre-bending next project “The Last City,” which is set in a collapsing Beirut that has fallen prey to vampires.
Salhab, 66, who was born in Senegal to Lebanese parents, is considered one of Lebanon’s standout arthouse directors, known for works such as “Terra Incognita” (2002), The Last Man (2006), “The Mountain” (2011) and “The Valley” (2014), which have premiered at top festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Locarno and Toronto.
The narrative structure of Salhab’s latest project – which he plans to start shooting this winter – is divided into five non-consecutive nights that retrace the final weeks of the Lebanese capital, which is “under the sway of vampires in search of new victims who have become increasingly rare,” as the provided synopsis puts it.
“’The Last City’ is in a way – more than 15 years later – a sequel to my film ‘The Last Man,...
Salhab, 66, who was born in Senegal to Lebanese parents, is considered one of Lebanon’s standout arthouse directors, known for works such as “Terra Incognita” (2002), The Last Man (2006), “The Mountain” (2011) and “The Valley” (2014), which have premiered at top festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Locarno and Toronto.
The narrative structure of Salhab’s latest project – which he plans to start shooting this winter – is divided into five non-consecutive nights that retrace the final weeks of the Lebanese capital, which is “under the sway of vampires in search of new victims who have become increasingly rare,” as the provided synopsis puts it.
“’The Last City’ is in a way – more than 15 years later – a sequel to my film ‘The Last Man,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Pedro Pascal‘s career launched to new heights after his appearance on Game of Thrones. And he did so despite the less than impressive presentation of his audition.
How Pedro Pascal was cast in ‘Game of Thrones’ Pedro Pascal | Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Game of Thrones fans may remember Pascal being cast in the series as the quick-witted Oberyn Martell in season four. With a little help from his friend Sarah Paulson, Pascal landed the role that would make him famous. But securing the role alone was no small feat. Showrunner David Benoiff was looking for a peculiar mix of characteristics when casting the Oberyn. And all of these traits might’ve been difficult to find in just one actor.
“That was such a tricky role to cast,” Benoiff told Variety. “Oberyn entered the story mid-stream, but required the swagger of a character who had been sparring with the other players off-screen for years.
How Pedro Pascal was cast in ‘Game of Thrones’ Pedro Pascal | Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Game of Thrones fans may remember Pascal being cast in the series as the quick-witted Oberyn Martell in season four. With a little help from his friend Sarah Paulson, Pascal landed the role that would make him famous. But securing the role alone was no small feat. Showrunner David Benoiff was looking for a peculiar mix of characteristics when casting the Oberyn. And all of these traits might’ve been difficult to find in just one actor.
“That was such a tricky role to cast,” Benoiff told Variety. “Oberyn entered the story mid-stream, but required the swagger of a character who had been sparring with the other players off-screen for years.
- 5/11/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Sydney Film Festival (June 5-16) has unveiled the 12 titles that will play in competition at its 71st edition, including six features that are set to premiere at Cannes this month.
Fresh from playing in Competition at Cannes will be Kinds of Kindness, starring Emma Stone and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who won the Sydney Film Prize in 2012 with Alps. Further Palme d’Or contenders selected for Sydney include Grand Tour from Portugal’s Miguel Gomes, whose Arabian Nights won the Sydney Film Prize in 2015; Christophe Honoré’s French-Italian comedy Marcello Mio; and Payal Kapadia’s Indian romantic drama All We Imagine As Light.
Fresh from playing in Competition at Cannes will be Kinds of Kindness, starring Emma Stone and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who won the Sydney Film Prize in 2012 with Alps. Further Palme d’Or contenders selected for Sydney include Grand Tour from Portugal’s Miguel Gomes, whose Arabian Nights won the Sydney Film Prize in 2015; Christophe Honoré’s French-Italian comedy Marcello Mio; and Payal Kapadia’s Indian romantic drama All We Imagine As Light.
- 5/7/2024
- ScreenDaily
"Stay sharp! Otherwise I'm done for..." Madman Films has revealed the main official trailer for a fun new New Zealand movie called The Mountain, marking the directorial debut of New Zealand actress Rachel House (from Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok and tons of other films). After opening in Nz back in March (first teaser here), it's set to premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June for its Australian premiere. The film explores the journey of three young people as they seek solace under the watchful gaze of the Taranaki mountain (aka "Taranaki Maunga" - see Google Maps) and companionship in the spirit of adventure. Starring Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, and Terence Daniel. They are also joined by Troy Kingi (Muru), Byron Coll, Fern Sutherland, and Sukena Shah. I'm all about this! I want to see it so bad! Looks funny and fresh. Hopefully it'll show up in the US sooner than later,...
- 4/4/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Hannah Waddingham revealed on “The Late Show” that she’s had “chronic claustrophobia” ever since filming that “horrific” waterboarding scene for “Game of Thrones.” The “Ted Lasso” Emmy winner starred in the seres as Unella, one of the Septa of the Faith of the Seven who brutally tortures Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). When Cersei regains her power, she turns the tables by imprisoning and punishing Unella.
“‘Thrones’ gave me something I wasn’t expecting from it, which was chronic claustrophobia,” Waddingham said. “It was horrific. Ten hours of being actually waterboarded. Like actually. I’m strapped to a table with all these leather straps. I couldn’t lift up my head because I said that would be too obvious that it’s loose.”
“I’m on my way back [from set] with grape juice all in my hair so it went purple, I couldn’t speak because the Mountain had his hand...
“‘Thrones’ gave me something I wasn’t expecting from it, which was chronic claustrophobia,” Waddingham said. “It was horrific. Ten hours of being actually waterboarded. Like actually. I’m strapped to a table with all these leather straps. I couldn’t lift up my head because I said that would be too obvious that it’s loose.”
“I’m on my way back [from set] with grape juice all in my hair so it went purple, I couldn’t speak because the Mountain had his hand...
- 4/3/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Two new Australian films, both enjoying their world premiere, are among the first titles confirmed to play at the Sydney Film Festival in June.
“In Vitro,” a sci-fi mystery thriller set on a remote cattle farm in the near future, hails from directors Will Howarth and Tom McKeith (“Beast”) and stars Ashley Zukerman (“Succession”).
With “The Pool,” director Ian Darling (“The Final Quarter”) paints a cinematic portrait of a year in the life of the iconic Bondi Icebergs, the pool and the people who cherish it.
They will be joined by New Zealand actor Rachel House (“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”), who makes her feature directorial debut with “The Mountain,” which centers on three children discovering friendship’s healing power through the spirit of adventure as they trek through spectacular New Zealand landscapes. It is executive produced by Taika Waititi and will be eligible for Sydney’s recently announced First Nations Award,...
“In Vitro,” a sci-fi mystery thriller set on a remote cattle farm in the near future, hails from directors Will Howarth and Tom McKeith (“Beast”) and stars Ashley Zukerman (“Succession”).
With “The Pool,” director Ian Darling (“The Final Quarter”) paints a cinematic portrait of a year in the life of the iconic Bondi Icebergs, the pool and the people who cherish it.
They will be joined by New Zealand actor Rachel House (“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”), who makes her feature directorial debut with “The Mountain,” which centers on three children discovering friendship’s healing power through the spirit of adventure as they trek through spectacular New Zealand landscapes. It is executive produced by Taika Waititi and will be eligible for Sydney’s recently announced First Nations Award,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Neon, the indie studio behind “Parasite” and “Anatomy of a Fall,” has tapped the producers of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Jon Read and Allison Rose Carter, to lead their growing production arm. Read and Carter are the co-founders of Savage Rose Films.
The pact comes as Neon has moved more aggressively into developing and producing its own movies, instead of focusing purely on acquiring completed films. The company’s recent foray into production have included Brandon Cronenberg’s “Infinity Pool,” Bishal Dutta’s “It Lives Inside,” Theda Hammel’s “Stress Positions,” Jazmin Jones’s “Seeking Mavis Beacon” and Tilman Singer’s “Cuckoo.” This new in-house focus also includes upcoming projects from Joshua Oppenheimer, Boots Riley and David Robert Mitchell. Under the terms of the deal, Neon will have a first-look at Savage Rose Films’ roster of projects while Read and Carter will also run Neon’s productions, reporting to Jeff Deutchman,...
The pact comes as Neon has moved more aggressively into developing and producing its own movies, instead of focusing purely on acquiring completed films. The company’s recent foray into production have included Brandon Cronenberg’s “Infinity Pool,” Bishal Dutta’s “It Lives Inside,” Theda Hammel’s “Stress Positions,” Jazmin Jones’s “Seeking Mavis Beacon” and Tilman Singer’s “Cuckoo.” This new in-house focus also includes upcoming projects from Joshua Oppenheimer, Boots Riley and David Robert Mitchell. Under the terms of the deal, Neon will have a first-look at Savage Rose Films’ roster of projects while Read and Carter will also run Neon’s productions, reporting to Jeff Deutchman,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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