Advertisement
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ADVERTISEMENT BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL DAY2 FRIDAY, FEB. 21, 2020 0221 BD Polish film_CVR1.indd 1 2/18/20 12:01 PM Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India ZZZσRJRYLQ Meet Us at India Pavilion, C5, Martin Gropius Bau Untitled-2 1 2/19/20 12:27 PM BERLIN INT’L FILM FESTIVAL DAY 2 FRIDAY, FEB. 21, 2020 EXCLUSIVE OPENING NIGHT EXCLUSIVE Producers WestEnd Launch New Era Launches ‘Score’ Heist Powerhouse Thriller Shingle at 70th Berlinale By Leo Barraclough WORLD SALES agency West- By John Hopewell End Films has boarded “The SONY PICTURES Intl. Prods. and Score,” a heist musical starring El Estudio, a major new inde- Johnny Flynn (“Emma,” “Star- pendent production player in dust”), Will Poulter (“The Rev- the Spanish-speaking world, enant”), Naomi Ackie (“Star are teaming to produce a Mexi- Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”) can version of breakout Cuban and Antonia Thomas (Net- feature “Juan of the Dead,” with flix’s “Lovesick”), from one Emilio Portés directing. of the producers of Beatles Chronicling a U.S. zombie music themed hit “Yesterday,” invasion of Mexico, the remake which grossed $154 million marks one in a strong first worldwide. slate of titles from El Estudio, “The Score” combines a launched at the Berlin Festival “My Salinger Year” stars heist thriller suspense with by three of the most connected Margaret Qualley (left) offbeat romance. Two small- and Sigourney Weaver producers in the Span- time crooks, Mike (Flynn) and share some joy on the ish-speaking world: Ex-Canana Berlin red carpet. Troy (Poulter), are on a mission producer-partner Pablo Cruz, – the “score” – that they both “The Impossible” producer expect will transform their cir- Enrique López Lavigne and for- By Ed Meza When we sit in the cinema, there is no cumstances. At a roadside café, mer Sony Pictures Intl. Prods. THE 70TH BERLIN Film Festival got off to distinction between class or religion. SCORE CONTINUED P.38 head Diego Suárez Chialvo. a subdued and somber start on Thursday Cinema brings us together.” Based out of Mexico, Los after news of a racially motivated mass This year’s festival marks the first EXCLUSIVE Angeles and Madrid, El Estu- shooting Wednesday night in the Ger- edition for Chatrian and Rissenbeek, dio has 63 projects in develop- man city of Hanau rocked the country. who took over from Dieter Kosslick ment or production. El Estdio is “I wanted to say something about the last year. Memento represented by CAA. Partners 70th anniversary of the Berlinale, but The opening night kicked off with on early titles include Sony Pic- events in Hanau hit us all hard,” said the screening of Philippe Falardeau’s Boards tures Intl. Prods., Netflix, HBO, Berlinale executive director Mariette “My Salinger Year,” starring Sigourney Lionsgate, Viacom Intl. Pictures, Rissenbeek. Weaver, who was in attendance, and Purcell’s Oz Movistar Plus and Beta Film, El Artistic director Carlo Chatrian Margaret Qualley. Drama LAUNCH CONTINUED P.38 added: “We stand here as a community. PREMIERE CONTINUED P.38 By Elsa Keslassy MEMENTO FILMS Intl. (“Call Me REVIEW EXCLUSIVE By Your Name”) has acquired Falardeau’s ‘Year’ Falls Flat the Aussie revenge tale “The EFM Seminar Tackles Drover’s Wife,” the film adap- By Peter Debruge Westberg, who represented tation of Leah Purcell’s suc- A WRITER WRITES, but reclusive writer J.D. Salin- Big Issues Euro Biz Faces cessful Australian stage play. there’s no evidence that ger, we can rest assured that By Ed Meza fast-changing landscape Purcell is on board to adapt, act Joanna Rakoff can even she eventually achieved her THE BERLINALE’S Euro- increasingly dominated by and direct the film which Oom- type when she takes the job goal, but her story is less pean Film Market opened the growing number of U.S. barra Prods. and Bunya Prods. as an assistant working for like Lauren Weisberger’s on Thursday with the inau- streaming giants. (“Sweet Country”) will produce. literary agent Phyllis West- novelized “The Devil Wears gural European Film Pol- The seminar was hosted Memento Films Intl. is han- berg in “My Salinger Year.” Prada” than it is Truman itics Seminar, offering a by Steven Gaydos, execu- dling world sales on the movie Because Rakoff went on to Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffa- look at the pressing chal- tive vice president of global and will introduce the proj- pen a book-length memoir ny’s,” which is to say, it’s lenges facing independent content of Variety. ect to buyers at the EFM in about her time working for YEAR CONTINUED P.36 European producers in a SEMINAR CONTINUED P.38 MEMENTO CONTINUED P.38 RONALD WITTEK/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK RONALD VARIETY 1 NEWS EXCLUSIVE Stanley Tucci (left) and Colin Firth star in romantic drama “Supernova.” Orange Studio Sets 3 New Pics By Elsa Keslassy UNDER THE NEW leadership of industry vet- eran Kristina Zimmermann, Orange Stu- dio, the film/TV division of the French telco group Orange, is launching three new projects at Berlin’s European Film Mar- ket: “Last Film Show,” “Old Fashioned” and “Love Song for Tough Guys.” Directed by Pan Nalin (“Samsara”), “Last Film Show” follows a boy in an Indian village who’s determined to become a filmmaker at all costs after he beocmes entranced by movies at the local cinema. “Love Song For Tough Guys” is a roman- tic comedy directed by Samuel Benchetrit, EXCLUSIVE and is headlined by François Damiens and Vanessa Paradis. The film is produced by Single Man ‘Supernova’ Inks Prods. will be released by UGC Distribu- tion. Orange Studio has worldwide rights. Romantic drama “Old Fashioned” is More Distrib Deals directed by Antonin Peretjatko and stars Josiane Balasko, Anaïs Demoustier and Philippe Katerine. By Leo Barraclough Tusker (Tucci), partners of 20 years, who Atelier de Production and Orange Studio “SUPERNOVA,” a romantic drama starring are traveling across England in their old are producing the film. Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a long- RV visiting friends, family and places from time couple on a road trip, has inked a raft their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with EXCLUSIVE of further distribution deals, closed by the early-onset dementia two years ago, their Bureau Sales. time together is the most important thing Latest buyers for the film, directed by they have. Bispuri Pic Tops Harry Macqueen, include Madman in Aus- The movie marks actor Macqueen’s tralia, CDC for Latin America, Lev in Israel, second feature as a director following his Vivo Film Slate A Really Good Film Company in Hong Kong highly regarded debut, “Hinterland,” in and Bir in Turkey. 2014. By Nick Vivarelli As reported exclusively by Variety, the “Supernova” is produced by Emily Mor- VIVO FILM, the Italian shingle at Berlin film was previously sold to the U.K. (Stu- gan of Quiddity Films (“I Am Not a Witch,” with Abel Ferrara’s “Siberia,” has a robust diocanal), Germany and Austria (Weltkino), “Make Up”) and Tristan Goligher of the slate in various stages including the next Japan (Culture Entertainment), Benelux Bureau (“45 Years,” “Lean on Pete,” “Only drama by Laura Bispuri, whose “Sworn (Cineart), Taiwan (Catchplay), Penny Black You,” “Weekend”). Financiers are BBC Films Virgin” and “Daughter of Mine” both (Airlines) and Scandinavia (Scanbox). and the BFI. Executive producers are Mary launched from the Berlinale. “Supernova” centers on Sam (Firth) and Burke, Vincent Gadelle and Eva Yates. Bispuri later this year will shoot her third feature, which is currently titled “Di Lotta e D’Amore” (“Of Battle and Love”), EXCLUSIVE a love story between two teen girls set against the backdrop of squatters’ houses Endemol Shine Bows Label and other spaces occupied by both Italians and immigrants on Rome’s outskirts. She By Manori Ravindran powerhouse in October. is working with her regular writer Laura “BLACK MIRROR” and “Peaky Blinders” pro- The deal is expected to close this sum- Manieri. ducer Endemol Shine Group has set up a mer. Endemol Shine’s MadeFor will join Vivo toppers Marta Donzelli and Grego- new scripted label in Germany. Banijay’s existing German production rio Paonessa also have “Miss Marx” from Based in Berlin and led by joint CEOs banners, including Brainpool, Good Times Susanna Nicchiarelli (“Nico, 1988”), star- Nanni Erben and Gunnar Juncken, Made- and Banijay Prods. Germany, which have ring Romola Garai as Karl Marx’s activist For Film will focus on both high-end TV largely focused on unscripted content. daughter Eleanor; vampire pic “Non Mi series and feature films for the domes- Ralf Husmann, who adapted “The Uccidere” from Andrea De Sica (Netflix’s tic and international markets, as well as Office” for Germany, will join as showrun- “Baby”) based on books by late cult author co-productions within the wider Endemol ner, while producers Rima Schmidt and Chiara Palazzolo; and “Welcome Venice” Shine Group, as well as with other plat- former Dynamic Television exec Tasja from Andrea Segre (“Li and the Poet”) two forms and partners. Abel will also board the senior team. Venetian brothers who come into conflict Endemol Shine’s expansion into Ger- MadeFor Film will join Endemol Shine’s over the use of their family home — one many follows Banijay’s $2.2 billion acqui- scripted portfolio, which is led by Lars wants to turn it into a bed-and-breakfast sition of the production-distribution Blomgren, head of scripted for EMEA. to exploit tourism. 2 VARIETY JBA PRODUCTION OKTA FILM RAI CINEMA PRESENT a film by DANILO CAPUTO SEMINA IL VENTO SOW THE WIND Head of international sales AGATHE MAURUC - [email protected] International sales executive CONSTANCE POUBELLE - [email protected]