“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3” enjoyed a second weekend on top of the mainland China box office, as all top five placed films remained unchanged and audiences await “Fast & Furious 10.” “Guardians Vol 3” earned $19.0 million between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That was a decent week-on-week…
Anthony Chen’s Snowy China-Set ‘The Breaking Ice’ Unveils First Clip (EXCLUSIVE)
Ten years after winning the Camera d’Or in Cannes for “Ilo Ilo,” director Anthony Chen is back with “The Breaking Ice.” The film, which premieres in Un Certain Regard on May 20, is set in Yanji, a border city in north China, and follows a budding relationship between three 20-somethings as they spend a few…
Viggo Mortensen, Shia LaBeouf, Courtney Love Board David Mamet’s JFK Thriller ‘Assassination’
David Mamet’s JFK assassination thriller is taking shape, with Courtney Love, Viggo Mortensen, Shia LaBeouf, Al Pacino and John Travolta joining the cast. The newly titled “Assassination” (the pic was previously called “2 Days/1963”) will be presented to buyers at the film market in Cannes this week, with Arclight Films handling international sales. Here’s the…
Panique! and Pájaro Board ‘Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake,’ as KMBO Lands French Distribution (EXCLUSIVE)
Belgium’s Panique! (“Adoration,”), and Chile’s Pájaro have joined Oscar-nominated Vivemant Lundi! (“Flee,” “Mémorable,”) and Spanish collective Terremoto AIE to round out the co-production force behind the animated feature, “Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake.” Filmax will handle distribution in Spain. KMBO will handle its domestic release in France. The Gallic distributor is on a roll with…
Vice Media Formally Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Struggling media company Vice Media Group said on Monday it had filed for Chapter 11 protection to facilitate its sale. The company said in a court filing that it listed both assets and liabilities in the range of $500 million to $1 billion, according to the Reuters news service. The statement also said that the…
Hansal Mehta Talks Netflix Crime Drama ‘Scoop’: Watch First Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for hard hitting crime drama series “Scoop” from acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta (“Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”). Based on journalist Jigna Vora’s 2019 memoir “Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison,” the series is created by Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul (“Thappad”). The book recounts how renowned…
How Italy Drew ‘White Lotus’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ to Its Shores
As high-profile international productions continue to flock to Italy, its film commissions have joined forces, leaving producers’ old divide-and-conquer playbook in the dust. “We believe that the success of one member is the success of all members,” says Cristina Priarone, president of the Italian Film Commissions Assn. The organization was created — alongside the Italy…
‘French Model’ Boosts Production
While welcoming nearly 80 international productions in 2022, the local film and television industry in France continued its own substantial output, helping fuel what Vincent Florant, director of digital at France’s National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC), calls “the French model.” “We like to have the best of both worlds,” says Florant….
From ‘Franklin’ to ‘Raise the Dead,’ France Entices With Competitive Tax Rebates and Iconic Locales
If once lured for brief visits by the panoply of iconic locations, international projects now linger in France to claim a competitive tax rebate and set down roots to benefit from an ever-expanding production infrastructure. And so, fuelled by mammoth shoots like Apple TV+’s upcoming Benjamin Franklin in Paris limited series, “Franklin,” the Christian Dior-Coco…
World’s First ‘Jumanji’ Land Opens at Chessington in U.K.
The world’s first “Jumanji”-themed land has opened at Chessington World of Adventures in the U.K. The land, which consists of three new rides as well as an interactive experience, represents the single largest investment in Chessington’s history. World of Jumanji includes the world’s first “Jumanj” rollercoaster, titled Mandrill Mayhem, a winged, launch, shuttle rollercoaster consisting…