Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent French mini-major Pathé has acquired Les Films des Tournelles, the production company founded by Anne-Dominique Toussaint whose recent credits include Louis Garrel‘s Cesar-winning “The Innocent.” Besides Garrel, Les Films des Tournelles has worked with a flurry of auteurs on some of their most successful films, including Riad Sattouf’s “The French Kissers,” which won the Cesar for best first film in 2010; Nadine Labaki’s “Caramel”; Emanuele Crialese’s “Respiro”; Valeria Golino’s “Miele”; and Mona Achache’s “The Hedgehog.” “The Innocent” won two prizes at last year’s Cesar Awards and screened at Cannes on the 75th anniversary of the festival. Toussaint has also worked with Philippe Le Guay and Emmanuel Carrère.
‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Actor Samuel Theis Accused of Rape by Crew Member on New Film He Directed
08.01.2024 - 19:43 / variety.com
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Samuel Theis, who played the husband of Sandra Hüller’s character in Justine Triet’s Golden Globe-winning film “Anatomy of a Fall,” was ousted from the shoot of his third directorial outing, “Je te jure,” after being accused of rape by a crew member, Variety has confirmed. For the remainder of production, Theis remained on location but directed the film remotely. The alleged sexual assault took place halfway through the shoot, in the aftermath of a party held at an apartment with the cast and crew on July 1, according to the French newspaper Liberation.
The crew member spent the night in the flat where the party was held due to his state of inebriation and alleged he was raped by Theis in the early morning hours. The filmmaker, meanwhile, has argued that it was consensual, according to Liberation. Shortly after, the crew member decided to leave the shoot.
“Je te jure” producer Caroline Bonmarchand told Variety that after learning of the alleged incident, she tapped a third-party organization to conduct an internal investigation within the cast and crew. During the ongoing probe, Bonmarchand held meetings to come up with a preemptive solution, which was to remove Theis physically from the set and have him direct it remotely. Theis would come in the morning before the start of the shoot to lay everything out and would go into another room, Bonmarchand said.
‘The Animal Kingdom’ Leads Nominations For France’s 2024 César Awards, Followed By ‘Anatomy Of A Fall’ – Full List
Thomas Cailley’s fantasy drama The Animal Kingdom topped the nominations for France’s César Awards, which were announced in Paris on Wednesday.
Cesar Awards Nominations: Thomas Cailley’s ‘The Animal Kingdom,’ Justine Triet’s Oscar-Nominated ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Lead the Way
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Thomas Cailley’s supernatural drama “The Animal Kingdom” and Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winning “Anatomy of a Fall” are leading the race at the 49th Cesar Awards with 12 and 11 nominations, respectively. Triet’s movie, which just garnered an impressive five Oscar nominations, and “The Animal Kingdom,” which opened at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard and won a prize, will vie for for top Cesar awards, including best director and film.
Anatomy of a Fail: Inside France’s Dysfunctional Oscar Committee
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent By now, even the most hardcore fans of French cuisine and “Chocolat” star Juliette Binoche can agree that Justine Triet‘s “Anatomy of a Fall” – rather than Tran Anh Hung’s “The Taste of Things” — was the one movie that could have given France its first Oscar win for best international feature in over 30 years, since Régis Wargnier’s “Indochine.” Over the last three decades, a number of French movies have earned Oscar recognition, but none have been the official French Oscar submission. Michael Haneke’s “Amour” earned five Oscar noms in 2013 and even won the best foreign-language Oscar but it represented Austria.
‘Anatomy Of A Fall’ & ‘The Zone Of Interest’ Make Oscar History As Academy Reveals Most International Best Picture Selection Ever
The Academy has confirmed to Deadline that this is the first time two international foreign-language movies have been nominated for Best Picture in the same year and the first time that two foreign-language movies have received five Oscar nominations apiece in the same year.
‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Wins Best Film, Actress, Screenplay at France’s Lumiere Awards
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Justine Triet‘s Palme d’Or winning “Anatomy of a Fall” picked up top accolades at the 29th Lumiere Awards, France’s equivalent to the Golden Globes, at a ceremony held Monday at the Forum des Images in Paris. While Triet lost the best director nod to Thomas Cailley for his supernatural family drama “The Animal Kingdom,” “Anatomy of a Fall” won best film, actress for Sandra Huller, and screenplay for Triet and Arthur Harari.
‘Anatomy Of A Fall’ & ‘The Animal Kingdom’ Take Top Prizes At French Lumière Awards
Justine Triet’s Anatomy Of A Fall continued its prize-winning run on Monday at France’s 29th Lumière Awards clinching Best Film and Best Screenplay, while its German star Sandra Hüller won Best Actress.
Isabelle Huppert-Starring Berlin Competition Film ‘A Traveler’s Needs’ Picked Up by Finecut
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Leading Korean rights sales firm Finecut is to handle the international distribution of “A Traveler’s Needs,” which on Monday was confirmed as debuting in the main competition section of next month’s Berlinale. Remarkably, it is director Hong Sang-soo’s sixth selection for Berlin since 2020. The picture is also the third time that French acting icon Isabelle Huppert stars in a film by the Korean veteran director, following their previous joint efforts “Claire’s Camera” and “In Another Country.” A synopsis provided reads: “She came from France.
‘Black Tea’ Trailer: First Look at Abderrahmane Sissako’s Berlinale Competition Film Unveiled by Gaumont (EXCLUSIVE)
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Gaumont has unveiled a first still and trailer for “Black Tea,” Abderrahmane Sissako‘s highly anticipated follow-up to his 2015 Oscar-nominated film “Timbuktu.” The movie will world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival. A lushly-lensed romance drama, “Black Tea” (previously titled “The Perfumed Hill“) tells the story of Joice, who leaves the Ivory Coast after walking out on her wedding day and sets off to start a new life in Guangzhou, China.
French Actor Agnes Jaoui to Receive Honorary Cesar Award
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Agnes Jaoui, a beloved French actor, screenwriter and filmmaker, will receive an honorary Cesar Award during its 49th edition, which will be held at Olympia Concert Hall on Feb. 23. Jaoui formed a duo with the late Jean-Pierre Bacri for over three decades, collaborating on a number of films that were both critical and commercial hits.
International Insider: BAFTA Film Noms; Amazon’s International “Rebalance”; French Cinema Rebounds
Good afternoon Insiders, Jesse Whittock back with you. So much news to get through this week — here’s a pick of the biggest and best stories. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Ex-TF1 Boss Gilles Pélisson Talks New Role Promoting French Film & TV As President Of Unifrance – Paris Rendez-vous
Former TF1 Group CEO and chairman Gilles Pélisson has gone through a baptism of fire this week in his new role of president at French film and TV promotional body Unifrance as he attends his first edition of its annual Paris Rendez-vous.
Justine Triet’s ‘Anatomy Of A Fall’ Clinches Seven BAFTA nominations
Justine Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or Anatomy Of A Fall continued its buzzy awards season career on Thursday as it clocked up seven BAFTA nominations, including best director and film.The drama was also nominated for best original screenplay, film not in the English language, actress for Sandra Hüller, casting and editing.
‘Manta Ray’ Star Wanlop Rungkumjad Heads Cast of Taiwan Drama Film ‘Mongrel,’ Screening at IFFR Darkroom (EXCLUSIVE)
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Mongrel,” a Taiwan-set drama film that has done the round of project markets, will appear at the International Film Festival Rotterdam as a work in progress. In addition to the screening of 15 minutes of footage, Taiwan-based Singaporean director Chiang Wei Liang has confirmed the film’s cast as being headed by Thai actor Wanlop Rungkumjad (“Eternity,” “Manta Ray”) alongside Taiwanese female actor Lu Yi-ching (“The River”, “Stray Dogs”) and rapper Hong Yu-hong (“Bad Education”, “Miss Shampoo”) from Taiwanese hip-hop group Nine One One. Other key cast include Atchara Suwan (“By the Time It Gets Dark”), and Guo Shu-wei in his debut role.
Wang Xiaoshuai, Josh Kim, Fukada Koji Projects Head to Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Leading Asian film directors including Josh Kim, Fukada Koji and Patiparn Boontarig line up to pitch their in-development projects at the March edition of the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). Leading directors Wang Xiaoshuai and Zhang Lu will also be on the ground at HAF, operating as producers. So too will established producers Yamamoto Teruhisa (“Drive My Car”) and Michael J.
Oscars: Members In Record 93 Countries Turn Out To Vote For Academy Award Nominations
The move in recent years to make the Oscars a truly global event in terms of the membership drive by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has paid off particularly well this year: Eligible voters from a record 93 countries submitting ballots in the Academy Awards’ nominating round, which ended Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT.
‘Kina & Yuk,’ an Arctic Fox Adventure Movie From ‘Ailo’s Journey’ Filmmaker, Sells to Key Territories (EXCLUSIVE)
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Newen Connect has closed a raft of sales on “Kina & Yuk,” a live action family adventure from the team behind “Ailo’s Journey,” ahead of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous showcase. Directed by Guillaume Maidatchevsky (“Ailo’s Journey”), the feature is a wild arctic tale following two foxes who are separated by the melting polar ice and must overcome a number of dangers in the hope of being reunited and raise a family together. The movie was released in French theaters by UGC on Dec.
‘Dalida’ Star Sveva Alviti and Newton Mayenge Board Cannes-Set Romance ‘The Other Side of Fame’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italy’s Sveva Alviti (“Dalida”) and U.S. actor Newton Mayenge (“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”) are attached to star in Cannes-set romantic drama “The Other Side of Fame” to be directed by Erik Bernard (“Free Dead or Alive”).
Oscar-Contending Doc ‘Apolonia, Apolonia’ Acquired By Grasshopper Film And Documentary+ For NA Distribution
EXCLUSIVE: Grasshopper Film and streaming platform DOCUMENTARY+ have acquired North American rights to the Oscar-shortlisted feature Apolonia, Apolonia, a deal announced as the nomination voting window opens for the 96th Academy Awards.
New ‘Miraculous’ Seasons and Specials Set at Disney for Fall Global Rollout (EXCLUSIVE)
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Disney Brand Television has acquired two more seasons of “Miraculous — Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir,” as well as three original animated specials from ZAG studio and Method Animation, a label owned by Mediawan Kids & Family. Currently in production, the sixth and seventh seasons, as well as the specials will roll out on Disney Channel worldwide in the fall, and will go on to stream on Disney+ globally thereafter. “Miraculous — Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir” follows the adventures of two teens with secret identities, Marinette and Adrien, who transform into superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir to save Paris from villains.