John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent“There is a new studio Star System…but instead of focusing on acting talent (as it did in the 1930s), it prioritizes those with the skills to create new stories, produce new shows and manage the evolution of new character IP…in other words, to make content that will succeed by the measures important in the new world order,” Ampere Analysis’ Guy Bisson announced at MipTV in a presentation. By that measure, few figures were as important at this month’s buoyant French TV festival Canneseries than German author Ferdinand von Schirach and Constantin TV’s Oliver Berben. Broadcast on ZDF and produced by Berben, 2013’s ”Crime Stories” and 2015’s “Shades of Guilt,” both based on von Schirach best-selling short story anthologies, scored up to 5 million viewers per episode and exceptional market shares of 17%-18%. Inspired by a von Schirach stage play ”The Verdict” punched almost 7 million viewers and a market share of over 20% on a Monday evening.
Audrey Diwan’s ‘Happening’ Wins Alice Guy Award in France
10.04.2022 - 15:49 / variety.com
Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAudrey Diwan’s Venice’s Golden Lion prize-winning “Happening,” has won France’s Alice Guy Award for the best female-directed French film of the year.The Alice Guy Prize, which was named in honor of the first female helmer, was created by veteran film journalist Veronique Le Bris in 2018 to highlight the work of women directors. The other four movies which were vying for the prize were Aissa Maiga’s lushly-lensed documentary feature “Marcher sur l’eau” and Catherine Corsini’s timely social drama “La fracture” which world premiered at last year’s Cannes in the official selection; as well as Aurélie Saada’s uplifting dramedy “Rose” and Charlène Favier’s “Slalom,” a coming-of-age film set in the world of competitive skiing.
These contenders, which are all French movies which were theatrically released within the year, were selected by 3,260 voters, while the final winner was chosen by a jury of filmmakers and professionals, including “Cuties” director Maïmouna Doucouré, who won last year’s Alice Guy prize, Niels Schneider, actor (“Totems”), Béatrice Thiriet, a music composer, Thierry Lacaze, head of distribution at Studiocanal, and Christopher Thompson, actor and director (“Bardot”). The award ceremony took place on April 8 at the Max Linder Panorama theater and gathered more than 200 people.
The evening kicked off with a piano concert by Thiriet who played three songs from three movies directed by Guy, “Sage femme de première classe,” “Chirurgie fin de siècle” and “Falling Leaves.” “Happening” earned Diwan a BAFTA nominaton for best director and won a Cesar award for best female newcomer for Anamaria Vartolomei. The movie will be released the U.S.
British X-Factor Winner Alexandra Burke To Terrorize Dawn French In London Palladium Panto.
Alexandra Burke ,singer,song-writer and British X-Factor winner ,has signed on to play the villainess in this year’s London Palladium pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.
Ozark’s Jessica Frances Dukes Says Julia Garner Is a ‘Shapeshifter’ as Ruth: ‘It’s Magic to Watch’
Leaving the drama onscreen! While the intensity never lets up for the Byrde family (and everyone in their orbit) on Ozark, the actors’ real lives are a little more relaxed — which makes the transformation into their characters awe-inspiring, even for costar Jessica Frances Dukes.
Celine Dion Pays Emotional Tribute To Canadiens Hockey Icon Guy Lafleur: ‘A Great Sports Legend Left Us’
Celine Dion has paid a heartfelt tribute to Montreal Canadiens legend and hockey icon Guy Lafleur, who passed away at age 70 on Friday.
Celine Dion pays emotional tribute to Guy Lafleur with rare photograph of son Rene-Charles
Celine Dion took to social media just before the weekend to mourn the loss of an important Canadian figure with a rare family photo.MORE: Celine Dion surprises fans with exciting career news involving unexpected starsThe singer shared an emotional tribute to Canadian ice hockey player Guy Lafleur, who passed away 22 April at the age of 70.VIDEO: Celine Dion delivers unfortunate news with heartfelt videoShe posted a throwback picture of the beaming sports star alongside her eldest son Rene-Charles Angelil, who was a fan of Guy's.Celine wrote: "A great sports legend left us…. a gentleman who inspired us and was an idol for so many.
Ozark’s Jessica Frances Dukes Threw Final Script Across Room and Cried: ‘It’s an Emotional Roller-Coaster’
Waterworks! Ozark’s Jessica Frances Dukes had quite the emotional reaction to reading the show’s final script — and she wants people to prepare themselves.
Guy Lafleur, Canadiens Hockey Icon, Dead At 70
Montreal Canadiens legend and hockey icon Guy Lafleur has died at the age of 70.
Neon Reteams With Nat Geo On ‘Fire Of Love’ Release
Neon said Wednesday that it has come aboard Fire of Love, Sara Dosa’s documentary that world premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. That’s where Deadline boke the news that National Geographic Documentary Films acquired worldwide rights to the pic, which explores the lives and work of French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft through rare archival footage.
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2022 Lineup Unveiled: Alex Garland, Mia Hansen-Løve, Alice Winocour On List
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight has unveiled its line-up for 2022. Scroll down to see the full list.
‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ screenshot wins Virtual Photographer Of The Year
Red Dead Redemption 2 screenshot won a competition promoting the art of virtual photography.The winning entry was submitted by Joe Meizies and featured a silhouetted figure on horseback. All entries were displayed around Trafalgar Square as part of the London Games Festival, which ends on April 10.“The challenge celebrates the new artistic medium of virtual photography where creators can bring video game design and virtual worlds to life.
Céline Dion updates fans with an emotional at-home video
Céline Dion's fans voiced their concerns about the star's health, but on Friday the singing sensation took to her Instagram with an important update, filmed from inside her family home.DONATE NOW: What can you do to help Ukraine?With a message directed to the World Leaders, who are discussing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine on Saturday, Céline posted an appeal video to her Instagram feed.WATCH: Céline Dion health battle explainedCaptioning the post both in French and English, the star wrote: "I #StandUpForUkraine and for refugees around the world. I’m calling on world leaders to help all those who are forced to leave their homes.
Celine Dion Biopic ‘Aline’ Tweaks Genre As Same Star Plays Singer From Age Five To 50 – Specialty Preview
The face of five-year-old Aline looks weirdly mature and toothy as she crawls from under a table at a family wedding to belt out a song early in the film of the same name. French comedian and actress Valérie Lemercier, 58, wrote, directed and stars in Aline and it’s her head on a body altered by special effects in that scene. Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films open the “fiction freely inspired by the life of Céline Dion” in the U.S. this weekend.
France Televisions Buys Award-Winning Series ‘Jasmine & Jambo’ from Dandelooo
Emiliano De Pablos Emmy Award-winning French toon production-distribution label Dandelooo has clinched a deal with pubcaster France Télévisions for Spanish award-winning 2D animated series “Jasmine & Jambo.”Targeting both upper preschoolers and parents, and bursting with musical notes and humor, “Jasmine & Jambo” is a 27-part series, produced by Barcelona-based company Teidees and Catalan broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya.Directed by Teidees co-founder Silvia Cortés, the show won best international series at the Festival Ecran Jeunesse and was nominated for the Quality in Children’s TV Worldwide award at Prix Jeunesse International.Ensuring a premier broadcast platform, “Jasmine & Jambo” will join the France Télévisions kids and family lineup, available first on streamer Okko from the Fete de la Musique – Music Day – in France on June 21. Also, onboard to bring the music series to Canadian kids are educational networks TFO and Knowledge.
Dawn French posts rare selfie as she shares latest health update with fans
Dawn French delighted fans with a new selfie on Sunday, almost a week after she revealed she tested positive for coronavirus. The Vicar of Dibley actress, 64, revealed that despite still testing positive for COVID-19, she is feeling "springy".MORE: Dawn French reveals the cheeky comment she made when she met Prince Charles"Still with the [COVID-19] but cheerfully Springy as hell here…" she remarked alongside a stunning new selfie which was taken against a beautiful backdrop of primroses and daffodils.WATCH: Dawn French clarifies flippant Strictly Come Dancing remarkFans flocked to the comments section with one writing: "Hopefully soon you will be negative.
How to make natural grey hair look amazing like Dawn French and Cynthia Nixon
Those lockdown months taught us plenty of things about our hair: scrunchies are an acceptable hair accessory at any age, yes we CAN survive without our six-weekly highlights top-ups – and seeing naturally grey hair on display is no longer as taboo as it once was. In fact, in a recent poll Wella Professionals discovered that 57% of women feel that “grey is back in fashion”, with one in five seeing going grey as an “exciting new chapter” in their lives.
‘Sex Education’s’ Gillian Anderson Receives the Variety Icon Award: ‘I’ve Certainly Played Iconic Women’
Gillian Anderson may have lost her usual composure as she searched for words on stage in Cannes on Friday to express what she felt about being given Variety’s 2022 Icon Award.Taking to the stage at the opening ceremony of French TV festival Canneseries to pick up the award, the star – soon to be seen in Showtime’s “The First Lady,” where she plays Eleanor Roosevelt – accepted Variety’s 2022 Icon Award with a mixture of elation and humility. Sporting an elegant multicoloured leather dress, she’d been greeted when walking to the stage by an enormous, heartfelt roar of applause from the packed main auditorium at Cannes’ legendary Palais des Festivals, also site of the Cannes Festival. “I Googled what ‘icon’ actually meant to see how I identified with being given this award,” she said hesitantly, beginning her speech.“What I can certainly say is that I have played a lot of iconic women in my very long career. Women who have come through barriers and decades to stand above the rest in dramas and in our hearts,” Anderson said. And she listed just a few:: Dana Scully, Miss Havisham, Margo Channing, Blanche DuBois, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Margaret Thatcher, Eleanor Roosevelt and David Bowie.