Peter Caranicas, a Variety editor for 16 years who was respected for his expertise in production and technology, died Sunday in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.
Caranicas covered film and TV production, the birth of cable and satellite TV and much more over his long career as a writer and editor at Variety and other entertainment business publications. For years, Caranicas spearheaded Variety‘s annual Legal Impact Report as well as its year-end Dealmakers issue.
The affable and level-headed editor was remembered by his colleagues for his wide knowledge of technology and its impact on the entertainment business. He was well traveled and worldly, having lived and worked in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He was a graduate of Yale University and the London School of Economics.
“Peter Caranicas was the consummate professional, an entertainment business journalist who passionately cared about the industry he covered and...
Caranicas covered film and TV production, the birth of cable and satellite TV and much more over his long career as a writer and editor at Variety and other entertainment business publications. For years, Caranicas spearheaded Variety‘s annual Legal Impact Report as well as its year-end Dealmakers issue.
The affable and level-headed editor was remembered by his colleagues for his wide knowledge of technology and its impact on the entertainment business. He was well traveled and worldly, having lived and worked in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He was a graduate of Yale University and the London School of Economics.
“Peter Caranicas was the consummate professional, an entertainment business journalist who passionately cared about the industry he covered and...
- 5/20/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
The 44th edition of genre film festival Fantasporto, which runs in Portugal’s second city Porto from March 1-10, has bestowed its best film award on Japanese sci-fi fantasy pic “From the End of the World,” directed by Kaz I Kiriya.
The movie follows 10-year-old Hana, whose dreams transport her across various eras in Japanese history, and have the ability to save humanity.
The jury’s special award went to “The Complex Forms,” Italian director Fabio D’Orta’s debut feature. The sci-fi horror centers on a man who has sold his body so it can be possessed by a creature of unknown nature.
The prize for best direction was nabbed by Spanish filmmaker Gonzalo López-Gallego for horror movie “The Shadow of the Shark” (La Sombra del Tiburon). In the film, a young woman, Alma, is undergoing therapy as she is unable to sleep. With the help of surveillance cameras, she...
The movie follows 10-year-old Hana, whose dreams transport her across various eras in Japanese history, and have the ability to save humanity.
The jury’s special award went to “The Complex Forms,” Italian director Fabio D’Orta’s debut feature. The sci-fi horror centers on a man who has sold his body so it can be possessed by a creature of unknown nature.
The prize for best direction was nabbed by Spanish filmmaker Gonzalo López-Gallego for horror movie “The Shadow of the Shark” (La Sombra del Tiburon). In the film, a young woman, Alma, is undergoing therapy as she is unable to sleep. With the help of surveillance cameras, she...
- 3/9/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Fantasporto, the Oporto Intl. Film Festival, kicked off Friday in Portugal’s Porto — a city famed for its elegant Romanesque cathedral, a bookstore that inspired “Harry Potter,” and the heady alcoholic drink — with an eclectic mix of titles but an emphasis on fantasy films.
Typifying the broad tastes of the festival chiefs, film critics Beatriz Pacheco Pereira and Mário Dorminsky, Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand’s satire “Testament” opened the event’s 44th edition at Batalha Centro de Cinema, and Chinese fantasy epic “Creation of Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” directed by Wuershan, closes it.
Although Pacheco Pereira and Dorminsky, who compete with the Brussels Intl. Fantastic Film Festival and Sitges for fantasy films in Europe, know they can’t please everyone in Porto with their selection “what is really important to us is whether the audiences applaud the films,” Dorminsky says. “This is not a job for us. It is a pleasure.
Typifying the broad tastes of the festival chiefs, film critics Beatriz Pacheco Pereira and Mário Dorminsky, Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand’s satire “Testament” opened the event’s 44th edition at Batalha Centro de Cinema, and Chinese fantasy epic “Creation of Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” directed by Wuershan, closes it.
Although Pacheco Pereira and Dorminsky, who compete with the Brussels Intl. Fantastic Film Festival and Sitges for fantasy films in Europe, know they can’t please everyone in Porto with their selection “what is really important to us is whether the audiences applaud the films,” Dorminsky says. “This is not a job for us. It is a pleasure.
- 3/2/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
After a starry awards gala kicked off the Palm Springs Film Festival, several of this year’s awards contenders and friends reconnected at Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch & Creative Impact Awards Presented by Directv, Friday at the Parker Palm Springs hotel.
Before the presentation, the honorees posed on the red carpet and stopped for questions with Variety’s senior culture & events editor Marc Malkin. Anna Kendrick, a new member of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch, recalled the first time she yelled action on set for her film “Woman of the Hour.”
“Day one I was really worried about moving slowly on the first shot, of the first day, of the first Monday because it always sets the tone for the week,” the star-turned-director said. “And certainly, the very first one sets the tone for the whole shoot. I really raced through the first couple of setups because I was like,...
Before the presentation, the honorees posed on the red carpet and stopped for questions with Variety’s senior culture & events editor Marc Malkin. Anna Kendrick, a new member of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch, recalled the first time she yelled action on set for her film “Woman of the Hour.”
“Day one I was really worried about moving slowly on the first shot, of the first day, of the first Monday because it always sets the tone for the week,” the star-turned-director said. “And certainly, the very first one sets the tone for the whole shoot. I really raced through the first couple of setups because I was like,...
- 1/6/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will honor “Poor Things” director Yorgos Lanthimos with the Creative Impact in Directing Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The award, which is for the director’s body of work including “The Favourite”, “The Lobster” and “The Killing of A Sacred Deer,” will be presented as part of Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch presented by Directv on Jan. 5 at the Parker Palm Springs. “Poor Things” star and frequent collaborator with Yorgos, Emma Stone, will be on hand to present him the award at the brunch.
“Poor Things” debuted at this year’s Venice Film Festival where it won the Golden Lion. The Searchlight Pictures film has continued to wow audiences after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. It won the Bronze Frog for cinematographer Robbie Ryan and the Audience Award at CamerImage, as well as...
“Poor Things” debuted at this year’s Venice Film Festival where it won the Golden Lion. The Searchlight Pictures film has continued to wow audiences after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. It won the Bronze Frog for cinematographer Robbie Ryan and the Audience Award at CamerImage, as well as...
- 12/14/2023
- by Whitney Cinkala
- Variety Film + TV
Fun fact: “Emily in Paris,” which films all across the city of Paris and throughout France, was originally slated to film in New York. The idea was to shoot the majority of the Netflix series in the U.S. and head to France for a few weeks to film exteriors of iconic locations. Upon discovering showrunner Darren Starr’s plans, director and executive producer Andy Fleming exclaimed, “This is crazy, you have to shoot [in Paris].”
Referencing the charmingly worn doors in Parisian apartments that would be difficult to recreate in the States, Fleming talked about how he pushed for production to cross the ocean. “I thought, if the writers go over there, they will get in a taxicab going the wrong way around the Louvre, and they will be embarrassed in a restaurant and they will do all of the things that Emily would do, and [that] will inform the writing,” said Fleming.
Referencing the charmingly worn doors in Parisian apartments that would be difficult to recreate in the States, Fleming talked about how he pushed for production to cross the ocean. “I thought, if the writers go over there, they will get in a taxicab going the wrong way around the Louvre, and they will be embarrassed in a restaurant and they will do all of the things that Emily would do, and [that] will inform the writing,” said Fleming.
- 11/15/2023
- by Caroline Brew, Jaden Thompson and Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
“Poor Things,” starring Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, has already generated a substantial amount of Oscars buzz, becoming a major contender for next year’s awards season. What less people might know about the film is that it was shot in Budapest, Hungary — a location that appealed to the “Poor Things” filmmakers for its “abundant studio space,” “highly skilled crew base,” “favorable costs” and “attractive 30% cash rebate,” according to Christopher Vourlias of Variety.
Not only that, but Hollywood filmmakers have historically used Hungary in their productions, with films like “Dune,” “Blade Runner 2049” and “Black Widow” all being shot in Budapest. That appeal has made Budapest one of the largest production hubs in all of Europe, coming second to only the U.K.
As for what makes Budapest and Hungary such a draw for the film industry, Hungarian commissioner of film Csaba Kael and Variety‘s EVP of global content...
Not only that, but Hollywood filmmakers have historically used Hungary in their productions, with films like “Dune,” “Blade Runner 2049” and “Black Widow” all being shot in Budapest. That appeal has made Budapest one of the largest production hubs in all of Europe, coming second to only the U.K.
As for what makes Budapest and Hungary such a draw for the film industry, Hungarian commissioner of film Csaba Kael and Variety‘s EVP of global content...
- 11/5/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Director David Fincher debuted his first film in three years Sunday at the Venice Film Festival and the results are rapturous, if a bit muted.
“The Killer” tells the story of a hitman (Michael Fassbender) dealing with a botched job. As TheWrap’s Ben Croll said in his review, “The Killer” is “like a sideways follow-up to ‘The Social Network’ than anything else.” That cold formalism is being pointed out in several top critics reviews, with Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri saying, “David Fincher’s The Killer seems to be about its own pointlessness.”
Croll explained in his review that “For all the wit and satirical shadings, “The Killer” gets down to business with ruthless efficiency. Like new installments in an ongoing series, the film is split into chapters, each set in a new locale, each named for a new target, and each playing up a slightly different set of skills.
“The Killer” tells the story of a hitman (Michael Fassbender) dealing with a botched job. As TheWrap’s Ben Croll said in his review, “The Killer” is “like a sideways follow-up to ‘The Social Network’ than anything else.” That cold formalism is being pointed out in several top critics reviews, with Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri saying, “David Fincher’s The Killer seems to be about its own pointlessness.”
Croll explained in his review that “For all the wit and satirical shadings, “The Killer” gets down to business with ruthless efficiency. Like new installments in an ongoing series, the film is split into chapters, each set in a new locale, each named for a new target, and each playing up a slightly different set of skills.
- 9/3/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
The Filming Italy Sardegna Festival that kicks off Italy’s summer moviegoing season will play a prominent role in the ongoing push to lure Italians back into movie theaters, just as the country’s box office is starting to gain traction.
A robust roster of talents from Hollywood and Italy and a solid lineup of premieres are booked for this event, which combines film and TV and unspools June 22-25 in the Forte Village resort near Cagliari, capital of Sardegna (Sardinia in English). The fest is set to take place just as the Italian government starts to invest €20 million ($22 million) to promote moviegoing through a campaign called Cinema Revolution, under which cinema tickets will be half-price for a limited time.
“While in past years I struggled to find films, this time around I have 50 titles,” notes Tiziana Rocca, the marketing guru and former Taormina Film Festival chief who launched the Sardinia event six years ago.
A robust roster of talents from Hollywood and Italy and a solid lineup of premieres are booked for this event, which combines film and TV and unspools June 22-25 in the Forte Village resort near Cagliari, capital of Sardegna (Sardinia in English). The fest is set to take place just as the Italian government starts to invest €20 million ($22 million) to promote moviegoing through a campaign called Cinema Revolution, under which cinema tickets will be half-price for a limited time.
“While in past years I struggled to find films, this time around I have 50 titles,” notes Tiziana Rocca, the marketing guru and former Taormina Film Festival chief who launched the Sardinia event six years ago.
- 6/22/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has named its 10 Comics to Watch for 2023. This year’s honorees will be profiled in a special comedy issue of Variety on July 19. They will then be honored at this year’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, held in Montreal July 14-29. There will be a panel and cocktail reception held on July 28, followed by a performance showcase July 29.
Variety has been presenting the 10 Comics to Watch list since 2000 and has included such names as Tiffany Haddish, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt and Quinta Brunson.
The list comprises stand-up comedians, writers and content creators selected by a panel that includes Variety editors and those in the comedy community that scout, book, cast and represent comics.
“That sound you hear is laughter — mixed with sighs of relief — as the live comedy scene has finally returned to something approaching pre-pandemic full- throttle funny,” says Steven Gaydos, senior VP global content/executive editor of Variety.
Variety has been presenting the 10 Comics to Watch list since 2000 and has included such names as Tiffany Haddish, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt and Quinta Brunson.
The list comprises stand-up comedians, writers and content creators selected by a panel that includes Variety editors and those in the comedy community that scout, book, cast and represent comics.
“That sound you hear is laughter — mixed with sighs of relief — as the live comedy scene has finally returned to something approaching pre-pandemic full- throttle funny,” says Steven Gaydos, senior VP global content/executive editor of Variety.
- 6/8/2023
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
The film shot on location in Kentucky and now in post-production at Lipsync Studios in London.
Veteran Dutch filmmaker Ate De Jong’ Heart Strings, a romantic drama set in the world of US reality television, has been picked up by Los Angeles and Rome-based House of Film.
The film shot on location in Kentucky and now in post-production at Lipsync Studios in London.
It is produced by Mulholland Films and coproduced and co-written by Steven Gaydos.
The film’s theme song, Americana, co-written by the film’s star, Sam Varga and Nashville recording artist Kalie Shorr, has been recorded for...
Veteran Dutch filmmaker Ate De Jong’ Heart Strings, a romantic drama set in the world of US reality television, has been picked up by Los Angeles and Rome-based House of Film.
The film shot on location in Kentucky and now in post-production at Lipsync Studios in London.
It is produced by Mulholland Films and coproduced and co-written by Steven Gaydos.
The film’s theme song, Americana, co-written by the film’s star, Sam Varga and Nashville recording artist Kalie Shorr, has been recorded for...
- 5/18/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Variety will bestow its International Achievement in Film Award on German production, licensing and distribution company Leonine Studios at a ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival next month.
This award is the most prestigious honor Variety can bestow on an international film company or executive, and is designed to spotlight the honoree’s achievements over the past few years.
Steven Gaydos, Executive Vice President, Global Content, Variety, said: “Building on the links to a storied, successful history, Leonine Studios has rapidly established itself in the past few years as one of the world’s leading producers, licensors and distributors of premium movies and series.
“The Leonine Studios name is now known for its brave and highly informed decision-making, as well as its innovation, and its allegiance to high-quality product. In a challenging and complex global entertainment business environment, Leonine is steering a dynamic, creative course that is serving as a...
This award is the most prestigious honor Variety can bestow on an international film company or executive, and is designed to spotlight the honoree’s achievements over the past few years.
Steven Gaydos, Executive Vice President, Global Content, Variety, said: “Building on the links to a storied, successful history, Leonine Studios has rapidly established itself in the past few years as one of the world’s leading producers, licensors and distributors of premium movies and series.
“The Leonine Studios name is now known for its brave and highly informed decision-making, as well as its innovation, and its allegiance to high-quality product. In a challenging and complex global entertainment business environment, Leonine is steering a dynamic, creative course that is serving as a...
- 4/12/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will present Nicolas Cage with the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award at the Miami Film Festival on March 5. Previous recipients of the prestigious award include Francis Ford Coppola, Hans Zimmer and Ron Howard.
“Year after year, Nicolas Cage proves to be an actor of great range, exhibiting dramatic power and great comedic verve, making his work surprising, delightful and moving,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety EVP global content & executive editor. “We’re excited to see the Oscar-winner’s turn in Universal Pictures’ ‘Renfield’ this year and celebrate his entire career at the Miami Film Festival.”
“Nicolas Cage is the very definition of a legend. An Academy Award-winning actor, a global superstar, and a cult icon, everyone the world over is familiar with his inimitable persona and larger than life presence,” said Lauren Cohen, Miami Film Festival Director of Programming. “He is truly one of a kind — the very essence of what...
“Year after year, Nicolas Cage proves to be an actor of great range, exhibiting dramatic power and great comedic verve, making his work surprising, delightful and moving,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety EVP global content & executive editor. “We’re excited to see the Oscar-winner’s turn in Universal Pictures’ ‘Renfield’ this year and celebrate his entire career at the Miami Film Festival.”
“Nicolas Cage is the very definition of a legend. An Academy Award-winning actor, a global superstar, and a cult icon, everyone the world over is familiar with his inimitable persona and larger than life presence,” said Lauren Cohen, Miami Film Festival Director of Programming. “He is truly one of a kind — the very essence of what...
- 2/17/2023
- by Shalini Dore
- Variety Film + TV
Variety is set to honor “Fruitvale Station” producer and Significant Productions co-founder Nina Yang Bongiovi with its Creative Impact in Producing Award at the Sun Valley Film Festival in Idaho in recognition of her many achievements.
At 10 a.m. March 31, she will participate in a Coffee Talk, which is the crown jewel of the festival, and a moderated conversation to discuss her career. The event is open to the public. The festival will also celebrate Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch event; they will be announced on March 15.
“Nina Yang Bongiovi is a compelling storyteller with an impressive filmography, and we are excited to celebrate her career achievement at the Sun Valley Film Festival,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety EVP global content and executive editor.
Working under the banner of Significant Productions with producing partner Forest Whitaker, Bongiovi’s credits include “Dope,” “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” “Roxanne Roxanne” and “Passing.” “Fruitvale Station...
At 10 a.m. March 31, she will participate in a Coffee Talk, which is the crown jewel of the festival, and a moderated conversation to discuss her career. The event is open to the public. The festival will also celebrate Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch event; they will be announced on March 15.
“Nina Yang Bongiovi is a compelling storyteller with an impressive filmography, and we are excited to celebrate her career achievement at the Sun Valley Film Festival,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety EVP global content and executive editor.
Working under the banner of Significant Productions with producing partner Forest Whitaker, Bongiovi’s credits include “Dope,” “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” “Roxanne Roxanne” and “Passing.” “Fruitvale Station...
- 2/17/2023
- by Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has selected its list of 10 Brits to Watch for 2023, an honor the publication has been bestowing since 2013 on artists across all entertainment media. Past honorees include Harry Styles, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jodie Turner-Smith.
The honorees will be profiled in the Feb. 8 issue of Variety and feted at the seventh annual Newport Beach Film Festival U.K. Honors, to be held at the Londoner Hotel in London.
“With film and television production roaring in the U.K., the royals constantly garnering international chatter and the search for a new James Bond heating up, there’s another fact of U.K. entertainment life that shouldn’t be overlooked: the U.K. new-creatives well is fairly overflowing,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s senior VP of global content and executive editor. “Always a dynamic source of exciting fresh voices, one look at Variety’s 2023 10 Brits to Watch proves that Britannia remains a vital center of artistic regeneration.
The honorees will be profiled in the Feb. 8 issue of Variety and feted at the seventh annual Newport Beach Film Festival U.K. Honors, to be held at the Londoner Hotel in London.
“With film and television production roaring in the U.K., the royals constantly garnering international chatter and the search for a new James Bond heating up, there’s another fact of U.K. entertainment life that shouldn’t be overlooked: the U.K. new-creatives well is fairly overflowing,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s senior VP of global content and executive editor. “Always a dynamic source of exciting fresh voices, one look at Variety’s 2023 10 Brits to Watch proves that Britannia remains a vital center of artistic regeneration.
- 1/13/2023
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Brian Tyree Henry is getting more comfortable being vulnerable.
“For a long time, I used acting as a shield. I was like, ‘Well, that’s them. That’s not me,’” Henry tells Variety, assessing the defense mechanism he’s used to separate himself from his characters.
“Now, it’s gotten to a point where people can see the performance, but they’re also getting closer to seeing me at the same time. And it feels bizarre,” he admits. “But it also feels necessary, because then there’s a care that goes into what people want for me, instead of what they want from me. It really touches me every day.”
The change in perspective began during the making of his latest film “Causeway,” where Henry plays James Aucoin, an amputee who bonds with a soldier recovering from a traumatic brain injury (played by Jennifer Lawrence). Directed by Henry’s longtime...
“For a long time, I used acting as a shield. I was like, ‘Well, that’s them. That’s not me,’” Henry tells Variety, assessing the defense mechanism he’s used to separate himself from his characters.
“Now, it’s gotten to a point where people can see the performance, but they’re also getting closer to seeing me at the same time. And it feels bizarre,” he admits. “But it also feels necessary, because then there’s a care that goes into what people want for me, instead of what they want from me. It really touches me every day.”
The change in perspective began during the making of his latest film “Causeway,” where Henry plays James Aucoin, an amputee who bonds with a soldier recovering from a traumatic brain injury (played by Jennifer Lawrence). Directed by Henry’s longtime...
- 1/9/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
“Have I not given everything?” These words, filled with all of the pain and grief of a mother who has lost not only her son, but also her husband, and given of herself to and for her people, are those of Queen Ramonda, played regally by Angela Bassett in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
When you see the name Angela Bassett in any cast list, you know that each scene she’s in will be one in which she captivates the audience, telegraphing everything felt through her words and body. With an acting career that spans four decades, and over a hundred acting credits to her name, Bassett has become a Hollywood screen legend in her own right, and as such is the honoree of Variety’s Creative Impact Award in Acting.
In selecting Bassett for this recognition of her work and impact on the film industry, Variety senior VP global...
When you see the name Angela Bassett in any cast list, you know that each scene she’s in will be one in which she captivates the audience, telegraphing everything felt through her words and body. With an acting career that spans four decades, and over a hundred acting credits to her name, Bassett has become a Hollywood screen legend in her own right, and as such is the honoree of Variety’s Creative Impact Award in Acting.
In selecting Bassett for this recognition of her work and impact on the film industry, Variety senior VP global...
- 1/9/2023
- by Carolyn Hinds
- Variety Film + TV
On the heels of crowning the class of 2023, Variety is marking 25 years of keeping a keen eye on the next generation of filmmakers with its annual 10 Directors to Watch franchise.
Over the past quarter-century, the editorial initiative has cast an important career spotlight on such future boldface-name directors as Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Nolan, Ava DuVernay, Wes Anderson, Chloé Zhao, Barry Jenkins, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Steve McQueen, Taika Waititi, Kasi Lemmons, Michael Winterbottom, Sarah Polley, Catherine Hardwicke, Lulu Wang, Jay Chandrasekhar, David Gordon Green and Fernando Meirelles.
The scouting for 10 Directors to Watch goes on all year among Variety‘s editorial staff. The series was birthed in January 1997 by veteran Variety editor Steven Gaydos, executive VP of global content and leader of the Focus features department. The goal is to identify hot helmers before they pick up any significant hardware — aka major award wins, Gaydos said.
Variety‘s Steven Gaydos
“We look for a distinctive voice,...
Over the past quarter-century, the editorial initiative has cast an important career spotlight on such future boldface-name directors as Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Nolan, Ava DuVernay, Wes Anderson, Chloé Zhao, Barry Jenkins, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Steve McQueen, Taika Waititi, Kasi Lemmons, Michael Winterbottom, Sarah Polley, Catherine Hardwicke, Lulu Wang, Jay Chandrasekhar, David Gordon Green and Fernando Meirelles.
The scouting for 10 Directors to Watch goes on all year among Variety‘s editorial staff. The series was birthed in January 1997 by veteran Variety editor Steven Gaydos, executive VP of global content and leader of the Focus features department. The goal is to identify hot helmers before they pick up any significant hardware — aka major award wins, Gaydos said.
Variety‘s Steven Gaydos
“We look for a distinctive voice,...
- 1/8/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will honor “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” actor Angela Bassett with the Creative Impact in Acting Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The award will be presented on Friday, Jan. 6, as part of the annual 10 Directors to Watch brunch at the Parker Palm Springs.
Bassett is an actor, director and executive producer known for her captivating, emotional performances in treasured films such as “Malcolm X,” “Boyz n the Hood,” “Waiting to Exhale,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and, of course, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” for which she won a Golden Globe Award and received an Academy Award nomination. She has since made star turns in the historic “Black Panther,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “Bumblebee” from Paramount, as well as the television hits “9-1-1” and “Master of None.”
Her other recent projects include Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award-winning animated feature “Soul,” for which she...
Bassett is an actor, director and executive producer known for her captivating, emotional performances in treasured films such as “Malcolm X,” “Boyz n the Hood,” “Waiting to Exhale,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and, of course, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” for which she won a Golden Globe Award and received an Academy Award nomination. She has since made star turns in the historic “Black Panther,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “Bumblebee” from Paramount, as well as the television hits “9-1-1” and “Master of None.”
Her other recent projects include Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award-winning animated feature “Soul,” for which she...
- 12/14/2022
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Rian Johnson will be honored by Variety with the Creative Impact in Screenwriting Award at the upcoming Palm Springs International Film Festival.
“The promise of Rian Johnson’s breakthrough neo-noir thriller ‘Brick’ was realized with Johnson’s wickedly smart sci-fi hit ‘Looper’ and breakthrough mainstream success followed with his joining the hallowed ‘Star Wars’ franchise team,” Steven Gaydos, Variety’s executive vice president of content, said in an announcement. “But it’s Johnson’s creation and direction of the sensational ‘Knives Out’ comic crime film series that makes him one of world cinema’s most elegantly accomplished cinema stylists and a worthy heir to Agatha Christie and all the other greats of the ‘whodunit’ genre.”
Johnson is currently promoting his new sequel, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” a follow-up to his 2019 breakout hit “Knives Out” that features the return of his leading man, Daniel Craig, as the Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc.
“The promise of Rian Johnson’s breakthrough neo-noir thriller ‘Brick’ was realized with Johnson’s wickedly smart sci-fi hit ‘Looper’ and breakthrough mainstream success followed with his joining the hallowed ‘Star Wars’ franchise team,” Steven Gaydos, Variety’s executive vice president of content, said in an announcement. “But it’s Johnson’s creation and direction of the sensational ‘Knives Out’ comic crime film series that makes him one of world cinema’s most elegantly accomplished cinema stylists and a worthy heir to Agatha Christie and all the other greats of the ‘whodunit’ genre.”
Johnson is currently promoting his new sequel, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” a follow-up to his 2019 breakout hit “Knives Out” that features the return of his leading man, Daniel Craig, as the Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc.
- 12/13/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will honor “Elvis” director Baz Luhrmann with the Creative Impact in Directing Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The award, for the director’s body of work including “Elvis,” will be presented on Jan. 6 as part of the annual 10 Directors to Watch brunch at the Parker Palm Springs. The film’s star, Austin Butler, will be on hand to present Luhrmann with the award.
Luhrmann, a writer, director and producer, has worked across film, opera, theatre, events and music. His most recent film, “Elvis,” which opened in theaters this summer, has become the filmmaker’s highest grossing film in the U.S. and in 22 international territories. In Australia, “Elvis” became the fourth-highest grossing Australian film of all time. “Elvis” is also the second-highest grossing musical biopic of all time, globally.
Luhrmann entered the world filmmaking scene with the first of the Red Curtain Trilogy, “Strictly Ballroom” (1992), followed...
Luhrmann, a writer, director and producer, has worked across film, opera, theatre, events and music. His most recent film, “Elvis,” which opened in theaters this summer, has become the filmmaker’s highest grossing film in the U.S. and in 22 international territories. In Australia, “Elvis” became the fourth-highest grossing Australian film of all time. “Elvis” is also the second-highest grossing musical biopic of all time, globally.
Luhrmann entered the world filmmaking scene with the first of the Red Curtain Trilogy, “Strictly Ballroom” (1992), followed...
- 12/7/2022
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Lauded “Capernaum” director Nadine Labaki was presented with the Variety International Filmmaker Award at the sophomore edition of the Red Sea Film Festival. During an in-depth conversation with Variety’s senior vice president of global content and executive editor Steven Gaydos, the Lebanese filmmaker and actor spoke about her passion for uplifting female voices to the great applause of an audience filled with young aspiring female filmmakers.
“It’s important because the world needs this other vision of the world,” she said of the importance of creating opportunities for women in film. “There are many things that we need to express and we need to talk about deeply. Things that we don’t share with men, things that we feel as women. There’s so much that has been unsaid and what better way to say it than cinema?”
“We learn to censor ourselves so much as women. It’s our shared history,...
“It’s important because the world needs this other vision of the world,” she said of the importance of creating opportunities for women in film. “There are many things that we need to express and we need to talk about deeply. Things that we don’t share with men, things that we feel as women. There’s so much that has been unsaid and what better way to say it than cinema?”
“We learn to censor ourselves so much as women. It’s our shared history,...
- 12/5/2022
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
Variety and Whistler Film Festival have teamed for 10 Canadians to Watch, a new program unique to Wff that celebrates top Canadian talent in the film and entertainment industry.
The 10 Canadians to Watch honorees will be celebrated at the Whistler Film Festival on Dec. 3.
“The Whistler Film Festival has proven to be a wonderful destination for Variety, first with a focus on screenwriters and now with the 10 Canadians to Watch,” says Steven Gaydos, Variety executive VP of content. “It’s inspiring to be able to celebrate the diverse talent in this convivial atmosphere where international film professionals gather to experience the best in the screen industry.”
Meet the honorees:
Bilal Baig
Credit: Tyler J. Sloane
Bilal Baig
Playwright, Performer, Showrunner, Producer
In 2018, not long after the well-received premiere of their first full-length play, “Acha Bacha,” at a prestigious alternative theater, Baig was making ends meet by working as a nanny. That fall,...
The 10 Canadians to Watch honorees will be celebrated at the Whistler Film Festival on Dec. 3.
“The Whistler Film Festival has proven to be a wonderful destination for Variety, first with a focus on screenwriters and now with the 10 Canadians to Watch,” says Steven Gaydos, Variety executive VP of content. “It’s inspiring to be able to celebrate the diverse talent in this convivial atmosphere where international film professionals gather to experience the best in the screen industry.”
Meet the honorees:
Bilal Baig
Credit: Tyler J. Sloane
Bilal Baig
Playwright, Performer, Showrunner, Producer
In 2018, not long after the well-received premiere of their first full-length play, “Acha Bacha,” at a prestigious alternative theater, Baig was making ends meet by working as a nanny. That fall,...
- 11/22/2022
- by Jennie Punter and Katherine Brodsky
- Variety Film + TV
Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection Arrives December 13 on Blu-ray™ + Digital: "Killer Santa Claus comes to town for the first time on Blu-ray™ as the Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection arrives December 13 on Blu-ray™ + Digital from Lionsgate. Featuring all-new special features and starring Academy Award® nominee Mickey Rooney, the Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection will be available on Blu-ray + Digital for the suggested retail price of 22.99."
Official Synopsis
Prepare for a trilogy of pure terror with this collection of films from the Silent Night, Deadly Night series. In Better Watch Out!, it’s a very bloody Christmas after Ricky Caldwell, the notorious “Killer Santa Claus,” awakens from a six-year coma with one thing on his mind: murder. In Initiation, a reporter’s investigation into a mysterious death leads her into the clutches of a cult that’s chosen her as its new queen, and The Toy Maker stars entertainment legend Mickey...
Official Synopsis
Prepare for a trilogy of pure terror with this collection of films from the Silent Night, Deadly Night series. In Better Watch Out!, it’s a very bloody Christmas after Ricky Caldwell, the notorious “Killer Santa Claus,” awakens from a six-year coma with one thing on his mind: murder. In Initiation, a reporter’s investigation into a mysterious death leads her into the clutches of a cult that’s chosen her as its new queen, and The Toy Maker stars entertainment legend Mickey...
- 10/19/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
As Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias marks the 25th anniversary of the start of his career, the comedian reminisces about the origins of his act.
In the first episode of Variety’s new docuseries “My Comedy Journey,” created by Variety’s Alex Castro and Steven Gaydos, Iglesias visits his hometown of Long Beach, Calif., where he recalls his journey from selling cell phones to becoming a renowned stand-up comedian.
“I love how I can drive five minutes and see my childhood,” Iglesias says while driving through his old neighborhood. He adds, “This is home for me, and I feel like if I were to leave, I would be losing touch with what’s real.”
In Variety’s ride-along, Iglesias starts off at the very beginning pulling up next to his childhood home: an apartment building he lived in with his mother in the ’80s.
“My mom used to yell at me from that window,...
In the first episode of Variety’s new docuseries “My Comedy Journey,” created by Variety’s Alex Castro and Steven Gaydos, Iglesias visits his hometown of Long Beach, Calif., where he recalls his journey from selling cell phones to becoming a renowned stand-up comedian.
“I love how I can drive five minutes and see my childhood,” Iglesias says while driving through his old neighborhood. He adds, “This is home for me, and I feel like if I were to leave, I would be losing touch with what’s real.”
In Variety’s ride-along, Iglesias starts off at the very beginning pulling up next to his childhood home: an apartment building he lived in with his mother in the ’80s.
“My mom used to yell at me from that window,...
- 10/18/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection: Vestron Video announces triple feature Blu-ray bonus features
That didn’t take long. Just last week, we heard that the sequels Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation, and Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker were getting the Blu-ray treatment as a triple feature in the Vestron Video Collector’s Series. Now Vestron has revealed the list of bonus features that will be included in this release – and Amazon is already accepting pre-orders at This Link!
Here’s the info on Vestron’s Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection:
Prepare for a trilogy of pure terror with this collection of films from the Silent Night, Deadly Night series. In Better Watch Out!, it’s a very bloody Christmas after Ricky Caldwell, the notorious “Killer Santa Claus,” awakens from a six-year coma with one thing on his mind: murder. In Initiation, a reporter’s investigation into a mysterious death leads her...
Here’s the info on Vestron’s Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection:
Prepare for a trilogy of pure terror with this collection of films from the Silent Night, Deadly Night series. In Better Watch Out!, it’s a very bloody Christmas after Ricky Caldwell, the notorious “Killer Santa Claus,” awakens from a six-year coma with one thing on his mind: murder. In Initiation, a reporter’s investigation into a mysterious death leads her...
- 10/18/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Joining the other two movies in the world of Blu-ray, Lionsgate has officially announced that the Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection is joining the Vestron Video Collector’s Series.
Featuring all-new special features, the Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection includes Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation, and Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker. All three movies are worth watching for their own reasons – Sndn 3 stars Bill Moseley as the killer, while Sndn 4 is just plain bonkers and has very little to do with the franchise or even Christmas at all – but in my personal opinion it’s Sndn 5 – starring Mickey Rooney! – that is the true underrated gem of this oddball franchise.
You can expect to own the collection on December 13, 2022.
The Special Features package includes…
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!
Audio Commentary with Film Historian Jarret Gahan...
Featuring all-new special features, the Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection includes Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation, and Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker. All three movies are worth watching for their own reasons – Sndn 3 stars Bill Moseley as the killer, while Sndn 4 is just plain bonkers and has very little to do with the franchise or even Christmas at all – but in my personal opinion it’s Sndn 5 – starring Mickey Rooney! – that is the true underrated gem of this oddball franchise.
You can expect to own the collection on December 13, 2022.
The Special Features package includes…
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!
Audio Commentary with Film Historian Jarret Gahan...
- 10/18/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
“Americana Dream” has started production in Louisville, Ky., with all key roles cast in the forthcoming indie musical film. New Orleans-based singer Maggie Koerner will play Billie Carton, starring opposite Nashville-based music artist Sam Varga in the role of Lucky Fontana.
“With this amazing cast of real-life Americana music artists, we are on an exciting creative journey that will seem both familiar and completely unsettling to the millions of people around the world who watch reality TV music competitions,” said director and co-writer Ate de Jong.
The cast of “Americana Dream” also includes singer-songwriter Stephan Said as Ray Pursell, jazz vocalist Carly Johnson as Precious Blue, Aj Haynes as Lee Post and Michelle Malentina as Gabe. DJ Bombshell, Sylvia Walters, David Domine and Ian McConnell will play supporting roles in the film.
Variety exclusively reported in July that “The Voice” alum Mary Sarah was set to play Billie alongside Varga...
“With this amazing cast of real-life Americana music artists, we are on an exciting creative journey that will seem both familiar and completely unsettling to the millions of people around the world who watch reality TV music competitions,” said director and co-writer Ate de Jong.
The cast of “Americana Dream” also includes singer-songwriter Stephan Said as Ray Pursell, jazz vocalist Carly Johnson as Precious Blue, Aj Haynes as Lee Post and Michelle Malentina as Gabe. DJ Bombshell, Sylvia Walters, David Domine and Ian McConnell will play supporting roles in the film.
Variety exclusively reported in July that “The Voice” alum Mary Sarah was set to play Billie alongside Varga...
- 10/11/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has selected its 10 Actors to Watch for 2022, an honor that dates back to 1998.
Past honorees include many future Oscar winners and nominees including Mahershala Ali, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Adam Driver, Brie Larson and Lupita Nyong’o.
This year’s honorees will be feted in the Oct. 12 issue of Variety and at the Newport Beach Film Festival Honors, a brunch reception held on Oct. 16 that also celebrates some of the best and brightest in the entertainment world. The event will be held in conjunction with Visit Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Film Festival.
“With a significant amount of guild and Academy voters attending, the Newport Beach Film Festival Honors event has become a must-stop for the awards campaign season,” says Gregg Schwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival. “The annual celebration hosts industry legends side-by-side with rising stars from Variety‘s 10 Actors to Watch.”
Adds Steven Gaydos, senior...
Past honorees include many future Oscar winners and nominees including Mahershala Ali, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Adam Driver, Brie Larson and Lupita Nyong’o.
This year’s honorees will be feted in the Oct. 12 issue of Variety and at the Newport Beach Film Festival Honors, a brunch reception held on Oct. 16 that also celebrates some of the best and brightest in the entertainment world. The event will be held in conjunction with Visit Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Film Festival.
“With a significant amount of guild and Academy voters attending, the Newport Beach Film Festival Honors event has become a must-stop for the awards campaign season,” says Gregg Schwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival. “The annual celebration hosts industry legends side-by-side with rising stars from Variety‘s 10 Actors to Watch.”
Adds Steven Gaydos, senior...
- 9/8/2022
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has promoted Manori Ravindran to Executive Editor of International and Senior Writer.
Ravindran joined Variety in 2020 as International Editor. In her new role, Ravindran will continue to lead Variety’s award-winning team of correspondents based around the world, while expanding the brand’s presence at key festivals and markets and growing Variety’s events outside the U.S., working closely with executive VP of content, Steven Gaydos. Covering both film and television, she will also continue her work as a reporter breaking industry news and contributing to a growing pipeline of investigative stories out of international.
“Under Manori’s great leadership, Variety has substantially grown our international business,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, Variety‘s CEO. “Variety is committed to covering the movie and TV industries around the world as the authoritative voice in entertainment journalism.”
Ravindran, who is based in London, reports to Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton and incoming co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh.
Ravindran joined Variety in 2020 as International Editor. In her new role, Ravindran will continue to lead Variety’s award-winning team of correspondents based around the world, while expanding the brand’s presence at key festivals and markets and growing Variety’s events outside the U.S., working closely with executive VP of content, Steven Gaydos. Covering both film and television, she will also continue her work as a reporter breaking industry news and contributing to a growing pipeline of investigative stories out of international.
“Under Manori’s great leadership, Variety has substantially grown our international business,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, Variety‘s CEO. “Variety is committed to covering the movie and TV industries around the world as the authoritative voice in entertainment journalism.”
Ravindran, who is based in London, reports to Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton and incoming co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh.
- 7/20/2022
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Producers of the indie film musical “Americana Dream” have tapped Nashville-based music artists Mary Sarah and Sam Varga to play the story’s central couple, Billie Carton and Lucky Fontana.
Sarah and Varga nabbed the leading roles after an extensive nationwide search for singer-songwriters to act in the original musical written and directed by Ate de Jong and co-written by Variety’s Steven Gaydos.
“Americana Dream” takes viewers behind the scenes of the film’s titular reality TV music competition program, where Lucky and Billie transition from imposters willing to do anything for money and fame, to a real couple, willing to sacrifice their dreams of success for real love and their real music.
Sarah was a finalist on season 10 of NBC’s “The Voice” and is set to star in Justin Ward’s upcoming film comedy “Paradise: The Movie.” Sarah recorded her first album “Bridges,” when she was only...
Sarah and Varga nabbed the leading roles after an extensive nationwide search for singer-songwriters to act in the original musical written and directed by Ate de Jong and co-written by Variety’s Steven Gaydos.
“Americana Dream” takes viewers behind the scenes of the film’s titular reality TV music competition program, where Lucky and Billie transition from imposters willing to do anything for money and fame, to a real couple, willing to sacrifice their dreams of success for real love and their real music.
Sarah was a finalist on season 10 of NBC’s “The Voice” and is set to star in Justin Ward’s upcoming film comedy “Paradise: The Movie.” Sarah recorded her first album “Bridges,” when she was only...
- 7/19/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has named its 10 Comics to Watch for 2022. This year’s honorees will be profiled in the July 20 issue of Variety and be honored at this year’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, held in Montreal July 13-31. There will be a panel and cocktail reception held on July 29, followed by a performance showcase July 30.
Variety has been presenting the 10 Comics to Watch list since 2000 and has included such names as Tiffany Haddish, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt and Quinta Brunson.
The list is comprised of stand-up comedians, writers and content creators selected by a panel that includes Variety editors and those in the comedy community that scout, book, cast and represent comics.
Says Christine Walters, creative director, Just For Laughs ComedyPRO and ComedyCON: “We look forward to welcoming the hilarious new class of Variety 10 Comics to Watch in this, our 40th anniversary year of the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.
Variety has been presenting the 10 Comics to Watch list since 2000 and has included such names as Tiffany Haddish, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt and Quinta Brunson.
The list is comprised of stand-up comedians, writers and content creators selected by a panel that includes Variety editors and those in the comedy community that scout, book, cast and represent comics.
Says Christine Walters, creative director, Just For Laughs ComedyPRO and ComedyCON: “We look forward to welcoming the hilarious new class of Variety 10 Comics to Watch in this, our 40th anniversary year of the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.
- 6/3/2022
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
The 2022 Sundance Film Festival featured a Regina Hall double bill: “Master,” a thriller following three Black women at a predominantly white college; and “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul,” a mockumentary exploring the inner workings of a Southern Baptist megachurch. Hall was pumped to take Park City by storm this year — at least, before the Covid surge derailed the festival.
“I was so looking forward to it being in person,” Hall says. “When they said virtual I was like, ‘Damn you Omicron!’”
Hall is receiving the second annual Voice of Inspiration Award from Variety on May 25 at the annual Reel Works ChangeMakers Gala. Also being honored is MacRo founder and CEO Charles D. King with the Reel Works ChangeMaker Award.
Established in 2001, Reel Works provides more than 1,600 New York City youth with free filmmaking and mentoring programs each year. The org includes an intensive after-school program for high schoolers who...
“I was so looking forward to it being in person,” Hall says. “When they said virtual I was like, ‘Damn you Omicron!’”
Hall is receiving the second annual Voice of Inspiration Award from Variety on May 25 at the annual Reel Works ChangeMakers Gala. Also being honored is MacRo founder and CEO Charles D. King with the Reel Works ChangeMaker Award.
Established in 2001, Reel Works provides more than 1,600 New York City youth with free filmmaking and mentoring programs each year. The org includes an intensive after-school program for high schoolers who...
- 5/24/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has been nominated for 72 Southern California Journalism Awards, including best website, two for print journalist of the year, three for entertainment journalist of the year, and six for criticism of TV, music and books.
The awards, given out by the Los Angeles Press Club, honor outstanding journalism in the region across print, digital, radio and broadcast platforms.
Executive editor Ramin Setoodeh and deputy music editor Jem Aswad are both up for print journalist of the year. TV critic Daniel D’Addario, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman and senior writer/chief music critic Chris Willman are all nominated for entertainment journalist of the year. And Variety had a whopping three nominees for music criticism including Steven Gaydos, Gleiberman and Aswad. Chief TV critic Caroline Framke and D’Addario were also both nominated for criticism of television honors.
Aswad leads all Variety staffers with 14 total nominations, followed by Willman with eight nominations.
The awards, given out by the Los Angeles Press Club, honor outstanding journalism in the region across print, digital, radio and broadcast platforms.
Executive editor Ramin Setoodeh and deputy music editor Jem Aswad are both up for print journalist of the year. TV critic Daniel D’Addario, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman and senior writer/chief music critic Chris Willman are all nominated for entertainment journalist of the year. And Variety had a whopping three nominees for music criticism including Steven Gaydos, Gleiberman and Aswad. Chief TV critic Caroline Framke and D’Addario were also both nominated for criticism of television honors.
Aswad leads all Variety staffers with 14 total nominations, followed by Willman with eight nominations.
- 5/23/2022
- by Meredith Woerner
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has struck an exclusive editorial agreement with news service Film New Europe to augment its coverage of growing content markets across Eastern and Central Europe.
The partnership gives Variety access to Film New Europe’s roster of top journalists dedicated to reporting on the rapid expansion of media and entertainment in 18 countries, including Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria and Croatia. At a time when global markets have never been more vital to the business of Hollywood, the alliance with Film New Europe allows Variety to bring more essential news and analysis to its audience of industry professionals.
The pact is “a continuation of Variety‘s commitment to covering global show business which began, in essence, with our very first issue in 1905,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s Executive Editor of Global Content, who spearheaded the deal. “If you study the history of Hollywood you see that the ties between Central...
The partnership gives Variety access to Film New Europe’s roster of top journalists dedicated to reporting on the rapid expansion of media and entertainment in 18 countries, including Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria and Croatia. At a time when global markets have never been more vital to the business of Hollywood, the alliance with Film New Europe allows Variety to bring more essential news and analysis to its audience of industry professionals.
The pact is “a continuation of Variety‘s commitment to covering global show business which began, in essence, with our very first issue in 1905,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s Executive Editor of Global Content, who spearheaded the deal. “If you study the history of Hollywood you see that the ties between Central...
- 4/6/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will shine a spotlight on the controversy over changes to this year’s Academy Awards telecast with a virtual panel featuring Oscar winners and current nominees in the award categories that will be removed from the live telecast.
“Variety Artisans: Special Report” will be available for viewing Friday, March 4 on Variety.com. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Editor for Variety, the lineup features past Oscar winners and current nominees in the eight craft- and technology-focused categories that will no longer be presented live as part of ABC’s March 27 telecast of the 94th Academy Awards.
“Variety pioneered deep coverage of the artisans of the entertainment world back in the 1990s. Every year we’ve increased our commitment to insightful crafts coverage and broadening readers’ understanding of its importance to the entertainment arts,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety’s executive vice president of global content. “Behind the current headlines about the 2022 Oscar telecast changes,...
“Variety Artisans: Special Report” will be available for viewing Friday, March 4 on Variety.com. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Editor for Variety, the lineup features past Oscar winners and current nominees in the eight craft- and technology-focused categories that will no longer be presented live as part of ABC’s March 27 telecast of the 94th Academy Awards.
“Variety pioneered deep coverage of the artisans of the entertainment world back in the 1990s. Every year we’ve increased our commitment to insightful crafts coverage and broadening readers’ understanding of its importance to the entertainment arts,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety’s executive vice president of global content. “Behind the current headlines about the 2022 Oscar telecast changes,...
- 3/2/2022
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has promoted Dea Lawrence to Chief Operating and Marketing Officer.
Lawrence has dramatically expanded Variety‘s business operations since she rejoined the brand in 2015 as Chief Marketing Officer. She led the reimagining of Variety’s thriving roster of annual events and summits by pivoting at the start of the pandemic to the creation of the Variety Streaming Room virtual franchise.
Along with Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s Executive Vice President of Global Content, Lawrence created the Variety Content Studio, which includes both brand storytelling and sponsored video series. Through savvy technology vendor alliances, she has improved the infrastructure and productivity across creative, event production, ticket sales and social media.
“Dea is an innovative and exceptional executive with a varied and deep digital skill set which has been invaluable to Variety as the worlds of technology and media are now inseparable,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, Variety CEO and Group Publisher. ”Her leadership...
Lawrence has dramatically expanded Variety‘s business operations since she rejoined the brand in 2015 as Chief Marketing Officer. She led the reimagining of Variety’s thriving roster of annual events and summits by pivoting at the start of the pandemic to the creation of the Variety Streaming Room virtual franchise.
Along with Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s Executive Vice President of Global Content, Lawrence created the Variety Content Studio, which includes both brand storytelling and sponsored video series. Through savvy technology vendor alliances, she has improved the infrastructure and productivity across creative, event production, ticket sales and social media.
“Dea is an innovative and exceptional executive with a varied and deep digital skill set which has been invaluable to Variety as the worlds of technology and media are now inseparable,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, Variety CEO and Group Publisher. ”Her leadership...
- 1/19/2022
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Each year, Variety honors individuals who have offered a notable contribution to the film landscape for the year. The 2021 Creative Impact Award honorees have made their mark in awards hopefuls.
Javier Bardem, Creative Impact in Acting Award
Academy Award winner Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) will be feted, celebrating a busy year that includes roles in Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” and Fernando León de Aronoa’s “The Good Boss,” Spain’s entry for the international film Oscar. “It is a huge honor that I take it with lots of gratitude and humility,” says Bardem.
In “Being the Ricardos,” he portrays real-life Desi Arnaz, alongside Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball. The entire film takes place in one pressure-cooker week during the shooting of their classic CBS sitcom “I Love Lucy,” specifically when gossip columnist Walter Winchell reports that Ball registered as a member of the Communist Party back in the 1930s.
Javier Bardem, Creative Impact in Acting Award
Academy Award winner Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) will be feted, celebrating a busy year that includes roles in Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” and Fernando León de Aronoa’s “The Good Boss,” Spain’s entry for the international film Oscar. “It is a huge honor that I take it with lots of gratitude and humility,” says Bardem.
In “Being the Ricardos,” he portrays real-life Desi Arnaz, alongside Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball. The entire film takes place in one pressure-cooker week during the shooting of their classic CBS sitcom “I Love Lucy,” specifically when gossip columnist Walter Winchell reports that Ball registered as a member of the Communist Party back in the 1930s.
- 1/9/2022
- by Shalini Dore and Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will honor Academy Award-winning actor Javier Bardem at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Friday, Jan. 7 as part of their annual “10 Directors to Watch” and Creative Impact Awards brunch at the Parker Palm Springs.
Bardem will be celebrated for his recent film, Amazon Studios’ “Being the Ricardos,” as well his entire body of work, which includes “No Country for Old Men,” “Dune,” “Skyfall,” “Biutiful” and “The Good Boss.”
“It’s been 30 years since Bardem emerged as a major international star in Bigas Luna’s ‘Jamón Jamón,'” said Variety’s executive vice president of content Steven Gaydos. “In that time, he’s garnered acting honors around the world, including the European Film Award, the Cannes Festival best actor award and three Oscar nominations, including a win for his powerful role in the Coen Brothers’ best picture winner, ‘No Country for Old Men.’ Along the way, Bardem has worked...
Bardem will be celebrated for his recent film, Amazon Studios’ “Being the Ricardos,” as well his entire body of work, which includes “No Country for Old Men,” “Dune,” “Skyfall,” “Biutiful” and “The Good Boss.”
“It’s been 30 years since Bardem emerged as a major international star in Bigas Luna’s ‘Jamón Jamón,'” said Variety’s executive vice president of content Steven Gaydos. “In that time, he’s garnered acting honors around the world, including the European Film Award, the Cannes Festival best actor award and three Oscar nominations, including a win for his powerful role in the Coen Brothers’ best picture winner, ‘No Country for Old Men.’ Along the way, Bardem has worked...
- 12/15/2021
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Asghar Farhadi to Receive Variety’s Creative Impact in Directing Award at Palm Springs Film Festival
Variety will honor two-time Academy Award-winning director Asghar Farhadi at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Friday, Jan. 7 as part of the publication’s annual “10 Directors to Watch” and Creative Impact Awards brunch at the Parker Palm Springs.
Farhadi will be celebrated for his recent film “A Hero”, released by Amazon Studios, as well his entire body of work which includes “A Separation,” “Everybody Knows” and “The Salesman.”
“With ‘A Hero,’ Oscar-winning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi reaffirms his place at the forefront of international writer-directors,” said Variety’s executive vice president of content, Steven Gaydos. “The film’s Grand Prix award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival was only the beginning of its international acclaim. As with ‘A Separation’ and ‘The Salesman,’ Farhadi has again elicited praise from film critics and awards voters who value Farhadi’s now-trademark virtues of densely layered screenplays and complex, sophisticated performances, all in the hands...
Farhadi will be celebrated for his recent film “A Hero”, released by Amazon Studios, as well his entire body of work which includes “A Separation,” “Everybody Knows” and “The Salesman.”
“With ‘A Hero,’ Oscar-winning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi reaffirms his place at the forefront of international writer-directors,” said Variety’s executive vice president of content, Steven Gaydos. “The film’s Grand Prix award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival was only the beginning of its international acclaim. As with ‘A Separation’ and ‘The Salesman,’ Farhadi has again elicited praise from film critics and awards voters who value Farhadi’s now-trademark virtues of densely layered screenplays and complex, sophisticated performances, all in the hands...
- 12/10/2021
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Firearms remain commonplace in major blockbusters but industry figures say Hollywood is led by audience demand
As police investigations continue into the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins as a result of a shooting during production of the Alec Baldwin film Rust, calls to ban real firearms on film and TV sets have intensified, with legislators in California and New Mexico threatening to take action if the entertainment industry does not.
The continuing presence of guns on sets has also reopened the wider debate over the prevalence of gun violence on our screens, and its potentially harmful effects. For Steven Gaydos, executive VP of content for Variety, the nature of screen violence is dictated less by American gun culture than the realities of the international film market. “Gunplay in movies is arguably bigger now than it’s ever been,” he says. “If you try finance a movie you will quickly discover...
As police investigations continue into the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins as a result of a shooting during production of the Alec Baldwin film Rust, calls to ban real firearms on film and TV sets have intensified, with legislators in California and New Mexico threatening to take action if the entertainment industry does not.
The continuing presence of guns on sets has also reopened the wider debate over the prevalence of gun violence on our screens, and its potentially harmful effects. For Steven Gaydos, executive VP of content for Variety, the nature of screen violence is dictated less by American gun culture than the realities of the international film market. “Gunplay in movies is arguably bigger now than it’s ever been,” he says. “If you try finance a movie you will quickly discover...
- 10/29/2021
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Variety has selected its annual list of 10 Brits to Watch, an honor the publication has been bestowing since 2013. Honorees, which will be profiled in the Nov. 24 issue of Variety, include writers, actors, singers and other creatives working in all forms of media. Previous honorees include Sam Claflin, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jodie Turner-Smith.
Said Steven Gaydos, Senior VP Global Content/Executive Editor of Variety: “Never far from the center of global film and television creativity and accolades, in 2021 U.K. talent has reasserted its power and primacy with dynamic results. The recent Emmy awards were dominated by British wins across comedies and dramas and this year’s Fall Awards Season is packed with Brit contenders. It’s a perfect time for Variety’s annual 10 Brits to Watch, the must-read showcase for up-and-coming talents who are at the heart of the U.K.’s constant renewal and the replenishment of creativity behind the headlines.
Said Steven Gaydos, Senior VP Global Content/Executive Editor of Variety: “Never far from the center of global film and television creativity and accolades, in 2021 U.K. talent has reasserted its power and primacy with dynamic results. The recent Emmy awards were dominated by British wins across comedies and dramas and this year’s Fall Awards Season is packed with Brit contenders. It’s a perfect time for Variety’s annual 10 Brits to Watch, the must-read showcase for up-and-coming talents who are at the heart of the U.K.’s constant renewal and the replenishment of creativity behind the headlines.
- 10/7/2021
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
The Toronto Film Festival will honor cinematographer Ari Wegner with the Variety Artisan Award at this year’s Tribute Awards, co-heads Joana Vicente and Cameron Bailey announced.
Each year, the award recognizes a creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. The Tribute Awards will be broadcast on the final day of the festival, Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. Et on CTV. They will also be streamed to a global audience by Variety, the exclusive trade media partner of the event.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins and composer Terence Blanchard are previous recipients of the award.
Wegner has worked on both television and film projects, and her career started to take off with Zia Mandviwalla’s “Night Shift,” which screened in Cannes in 2021. She has also shot “The Girlfriend Experience,” “True History of the Kelly Gang,” “In Fabric,” “Stray,” “Ruin” and “Lady Macbeth.”
Most recently,...
Each year, the award recognizes a creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. The Tribute Awards will be broadcast on the final day of the festival, Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. Et on CTV. They will also be streamed to a global audience by Variety, the exclusive trade media partner of the event.
Cinematographer Roger Deakins and composer Terence Blanchard are previous recipients of the award.
Wegner has worked on both television and film projects, and her career started to take off with Zia Mandviwalla’s “Night Shift,” which screened in Cannes in 2021. She has also shot “The Girlfriend Experience,” “True History of the Kelly Gang,” “In Fabric,” “Stray,” “Ruin” and “Lady Macbeth.”
Most recently,...
- 9/2/2021
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has announced its 10 Actors to Watch for 2021, an honor the publication has bestowed since 1998.
Past honorees include many future Oscar winners and nominees including Mahershala Ali, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Adam Driver, Brie Larson and Lupita Nyong’o.
This year’s honorees will be feted in Oct. 22 issue of Variety as well as at a reception on Oct. 24 outdoor at the Balboa Bay Resort in conjunction with Visit Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Film Festival. In addition to the 10 Actors to Watch, the Newport Beach Film Festival will bestow industry honors.
Says Gregg Schwenk, executive director and CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival, “We are thrilled to host Variety‘s 10 Actors to Watch as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Honors program. Our seaside location, along with our laid-back luxury lifestyle, is the perfect backdrop to highlight some of the incredible performances of both up & coming...
Past honorees include many future Oscar winners and nominees including Mahershala Ali, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Adam Driver, Brie Larson and Lupita Nyong’o.
This year’s honorees will be feted in Oct. 22 issue of Variety as well as at a reception on Oct. 24 outdoor at the Balboa Bay Resort in conjunction with Visit Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Film Festival. In addition to the 10 Actors to Watch, the Newport Beach Film Festival will bestow industry honors.
Says Gregg Schwenk, executive director and CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival, “We are thrilled to host Variety‘s 10 Actors to Watch as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Honors program. Our seaside location, along with our laid-back luxury lifestyle, is the perfect backdrop to highlight some of the incredible performances of both up & coming...
- 9/1/2021
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Miami Film Festival Announces Return of Variety Partnership and New November Dates for Gems Festival
Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival has announced that it will extend its multi-year partnership with Variety for its 39th edition. The festival will partner with Variety’s Streaming Room on an International Feature Film Nominees Roundtable scheduled for next year before final voting begins on March 17, 2022. The five directors that receive Oscar nominations for the International Feature Films category will be invited to participate in a panel moderated by Variety’s Film Awards editor Clayton Davis. Additional panel details will be announced at a later date.
In addition, the festival’s Miami Gems will serve as a key fall showcase for International Feature Film contenders, this year moving to November 4-7, 2021. Confirmed titles for this year that are considered to be strong contenders for International Feature Film submissions are “Norway’s “The Worst Person in the World,” directed by Joachim Trier and Iran’s “A Hero,” directed by Asghar Farhadi.
In addition, the festival’s Miami Gems will serve as a key fall showcase for International Feature Film contenders, this year moving to November 4-7, 2021. Confirmed titles for this year that are considered to be strong contenders for International Feature Film submissions are “Norway’s “The Worst Person in the World,” directed by Joachim Trier and Iran’s “A Hero,” directed by Asghar Farhadi.
- 8/19/2021
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has been nominated for 62 Southern California Journalism Awards, including two for entertainment journalist of the year, one for print journalist of the year, traditional news website, and in-house or corporate publication.
The awards, given out by the Los Angeles Press Club, honor outstanding journalism in the region across print, digital, radio and broadcast platforms.
Features editor Chris Willman and chief film critic Owen Gleiberman are both up for entertainment journalist of the year, and senior TV editor Brian Steinberg is up for print journalist of the year. Willman leads all Variety staffers with eight total nominations, followed by Gleiberman and Steinberg with five apiece.
Variety‘s “Hitmakers” issue featuring Harry Styles and “The Great Depression” issue, about the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Hollywood, are both nominated for best single issue. “An Earth-Shattering Year,” reflecting on the industry-shaking events of 2020, is up for best in-house or corporate publication.
The awards, given out by the Los Angeles Press Club, honor outstanding journalism in the region across print, digital, radio and broadcast platforms.
Features editor Chris Willman and chief film critic Owen Gleiberman are both up for entertainment journalist of the year, and senior TV editor Brian Steinberg is up for print journalist of the year. Willman leads all Variety staffers with eight total nominations, followed by Gleiberman and Steinberg with five apiece.
Variety‘s “Hitmakers” issue featuring Harry Styles and “The Great Depression” issue, about the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Hollywood, are both nominated for best single issue. “An Earth-Shattering Year,” reflecting on the industry-shaking events of 2020, is up for best in-house or corporate publication.
- 8/11/2021
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will bestow its Intl. Achievement in Film Award on Alberto Barbera and La Biennale di Venezia at a ceremony at the Venice Film Festival next month. It is the first time that Variety is honoring an organization with this laurel.
Barbera, who has been the topper of the festival since 2012, extended his contract till 2024. The former critic spent March through June 2020 selecting films for Venice not knowing if the event would go forward or not. But in the end, it was one of the few festivals to pull off an in-person event successfully.
This year, Barbera has added another section, Horizons Extra, of films that need to be at least an hour long and will be judged by a jury of the audience.
One of the longest-serving artistic directors of Venice, Barbera has helped turn the festival into a major international event that Hollywood studios use as a springboard for awards hopefuls.
Barbera, who has been the topper of the festival since 2012, extended his contract till 2024. The former critic spent March through June 2020 selecting films for Venice not knowing if the event would go forward or not. But in the end, it was one of the few festivals to pull off an in-person event successfully.
This year, Barbera has added another section, Horizons Extra, of films that need to be at least an hour long and will be judged by a jury of the audience.
One of the longest-serving artistic directors of Venice, Barbera has helped turn the festival into a major international event that Hollywood studios use as a springboard for awards hopefuls.
- 7/30/2021
- by Shalini Dore
- Variety Film + TV
Sharpened Iron Studios has acquired the original musical screenplay “Amarillo” and has enlisted European filmmaker Ate de Jong to direct the film.
“Amarillo,” written by Variety’s executive VP of global content Steven Gaydos, is set behind the scenes of a reality TV music competition series and tells the story of two young singer-songwriters who pretend to be lovers for the camera and end up becoming a real-life couple.
“Amarillo” will feature 16 original songs written by a team that includes singer-musician Rob Kolar, who most recently scored the TV comedy series “The Detour,” along with the Nashville-based Michael Kosser, Gregg Stewart and Terrance Dwyer.
Production is slated to begin in Amarillo, Texas, this fall and the project will be filmed on a sound stage at Sharpened Iron Studios.
“The team we’ve assembled to make this film knows and loves music and they are all dedicated to the spirit of truly independent cinema,...
“Amarillo,” written by Variety’s executive VP of global content Steven Gaydos, is set behind the scenes of a reality TV music competition series and tells the story of two young singer-songwriters who pretend to be lovers for the camera and end up becoming a real-life couple.
“Amarillo” will feature 16 original songs written by a team that includes singer-musician Rob Kolar, who most recently scored the TV comedy series “The Detour,” along with the Nashville-based Michael Kosser, Gregg Stewart and Terrance Dwyer.
Production is slated to begin in Amarillo, Texas, this fall and the project will be filmed on a sound stage at Sharpened Iron Studios.
“The team we’ve assembled to make this film knows and loves music and they are all dedicated to the spirit of truly independent cinema,...
- 7/27/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
With his feature directorial debut, “Boogie,” Eddie Huang wanted to challenge his audience.
“It was always white people in school that were like, ‘Oh, I love “Catcher in the Rye,” I love Holden Caulfield,’” says Huang. “And I’m like, well, let me present you with a quite unlikable Asian character and see if you love him in the same way.”
“Boogie” is the coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin (Taylor Takahashi), a teenage basketball phenom in Queens, New York, with ambitions to make it to the NBA. He struggles with on-court rivals, his identity as a Chinese American and the pressure from his parents to earn a full-ride scholarship to an elite university, all the while navigating his first experience with love. The film was released via Focus Features in March.
“All of us kind of suck as teens,” Huang says. “None of us are really that good at being people yet.
“It was always white people in school that were like, ‘Oh, I love “Catcher in the Rye,” I love Holden Caulfield,’” says Huang. “And I’m like, well, let me present you with a quite unlikable Asian character and see if you love him in the same way.”
“Boogie” is the coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin (Taylor Takahashi), a teenage basketball phenom in Queens, New York, with ambitions to make it to the NBA. He struggles with on-court rivals, his identity as a Chinese American and the pressure from his parents to earn a full-ride scholarship to an elite university, all the while navigating his first experience with love. The film was released via Focus Features in March.
“All of us kind of suck as teens,” Huang says. “None of us are really that good at being people yet.
- 5/25/2021
- by Haley Bosselman
- Variety Film + TV
The Big Screen Is Back on May 19 was, in effect, CinemaCon concentrate: the annual four-day Las Vegas event in which studios and other distributors woo thousands of exhibitors and hundreds of press, boiled down to less than four hours in Century City to an audience of about three dozen journalists. Scale aside, it was remarkably similar to the classic CinemaCon: Thirteen distributors, touting endless trailers. Major producers and filmmakers declaring their dedication to the theatrical experience. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Celebrating movies, and our ability to see them in public after a pandemic, is normal. What made it strange was the real world was not on display. Everyone knows that the theatrical release is an option, not a necessity.
Consider everything that’s happened in the two years since the last CinemaCon in 2019:
We’ve seen the launch of Disney+, Apple+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Discovery+, and more. The 90-day theatrical window,...
Celebrating movies, and our ability to see them in public after a pandemic, is normal. What made it strange was the real world was not on display. Everyone knows that the theatrical release is an option, not a necessity.
Consider everything that’s happened in the two years since the last CinemaCon in 2019:
We’ve seen the launch of Disney+, Apple+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Discovery+, and more. The 90-day theatrical window,...
- 5/21/2021
- by Anne Thompson and Dana Harris-Bridson
- Thompson on Hollywood
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