Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Prizewinner ‘A Prince’ Finds North American Distribution (EXCLUSIVE)

Shygirl and Tinashe are going on tour together. Their co-headline tour of North America will take place in October and November, with tickets going on sale at 10 a.m.

Dexys – formerly known as Dexys Midnight Runners – have announced details of their first North American tour in 40 years.The band, who returned this week with new album ‘The Feminine Divine’, will hit the road later this year.After a UK tour that takes place in September, the band will then head to Europe in October before hitting the US on October 26 for a gig in Los Angeles.The 14-date tour will then take them through until November 15 when the tour will wrap up with a show in Glenside, Pennsylvania.See the full list of tour dates below – buy UK tickets here and North American tickets here.Dexys will play:SEPTEMBER 2023 5 – York, Barbican7 – Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall8 – Manchester, Bridgwater Hall10 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall11 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall13 – Cardiff, St David’s Hall14 – Ipswich, Regent Theatre16 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall17 – Southend, Cliffs Pavilion19 – Brighton, Dome20 – London, Palladium22 – Bath, Forum (early show)22 – Bath, Forum (late show)25 – Dublin, Olympia TheatreOCTOBER 20231 – Borgerhout, DE ROMA2 – Munich, Muffathalle4 – Berlin, Admiralspalast – Theater5 – Hamburg, Kampnagel7 – Uppsala, Katalin10 – Lillehammer, Maihaugsalen12 – Dortmund, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Stadtfoyer13 – Amsterdam, Paradiso Noord, Tolhuistuin15 – Dudelange, Kulturzentrum Opderschmelz16 – Paris, La Cigale18 – Madrid, Teatro Barceló20 – Estoril, Casino Estoril26 – Los Angeles, The Theatre at Ace Hotel27 – San Francisco, Palace of Fine Arts29 – Portland, Aladdin Theater30 – Vancouver, Vogue TheatreNOVEMBER 20231 – Salt Lake City, The Union2 – Denver, Paramount Theatre4 – St. Paul, Palace Theatre6 – Chicago, Vic Theatre8 – Toronto, Queen Elizabeth Theatre10 – Patchogue, Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts11 –

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent An edgy new voice within the world of French genre, Adrien Beau worked as a designer and scenographer for the likes of Dior, John Galliano and Agnes B before making his feature debut with the offbeat vampire movie “Vourdalak.” Produced by Judith-Lou Levy at Les Films du Bal, “Vourdalak” will world premiere at Venice Critics’ Week and will likely be one of its boldest entries. At a time when horror has become a mainstream genre overloaded with special effects, “Vourdalak” couldn’t be more radical.

Sam Smith has arrived in North America for the latest leg of their Gloria Tour, and they’re playing a slightly different setlist than the one that was used in Europe!

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent In one of the big deals announced out of Canada’s Fantasia Film Festival, XYZ Films has boarded North American sales rights to “New Life,” John Rosman’s feature directorial debut which is hailed by Fantasia itself as “one of the major discoveries of Fantasia 2023.” “New Life” stars Sonya Walger (“For All Mankind,” “Lost”) and Hayley Erin (“Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists,” “General Hospital”) and Tony Amendola (“Annabelle,” “Curse of Llorona”). XYZ Films has also dropped the film’s first teaser, shared in exclusivity with Variety, ahead of “New Life’s” world premiere on Aug.

Naman Ramachandran XYZ Films will represent documentary “London Recruits” for North American sales, it was revealed at the ongoing Durban FilmMart. Directed by Gordon Main, the film sheds light on a pivotal moment in South Africa’s history. In 1970, the struggle against the apartheid government in South Africa developed a new secret weapon. Oliver Tambo hatched a plan to infiltrate young British activists into the country, posing as tourists. Their mission, in the face of brutal lockdown by the racist regime, was to help inspire ordinary South Africans to join a liberation movement that would never give up till freedom was won. To mark the partnership, Ronnie Kasrils, now 86, the former underground African National Congress (ANC) freedom fighter at the heart of the story, participated in detonating a bucket “leaflet bomb” outside the market hotel. These were the devices deployed in 1970 by amateur secret agents that Kasrils recruited in London on orders from Tambo. The devices brought messages of hope from the banned ANC to the South African population at large.

A new era dawns in Washington. NFL owners have unanimously approved the Commanders’ sale from the Dan Snyder family to a group led by Josh Harris for a record $6.05 billion.

EXCLUSIVE: Anonymous Content has partnered with New Europe Film Sales to handle North American rights for animated feature The Peasants, directed by Oscar-nominated Loving Vincent filmmakers D.K. Welchman and Hugh Welchman. 

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent French actor-director Nicolas Bedos, who is facing trial in February 2024 for an alleged sexual assault under the influence of alcohol dating from June 1, is now being investigated on rape and sexual assault charges after three complaints were filed with the Paris prosecutor. News of the preliminary investigation was first reported in a bombshell investigative report published by French outlet Mediapart. The investigation cites four women, two of whom addressed a letter to the public prosecutor. The prosecutor’s spokesperson confirmed to Variety that a preliminary investigation was opened on July 5 on charges of alleged sexual assault and rape “after receiving three distinct complaints against Nicolas Bedos.”

EXCLUSIVE: Frank Grillo action film MR-9: Do or Die has struck a North American distribution deal with Canadian outfit Swapna Scarecrow.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Les Films du Losange has unveiled the trailer for “Un Silence,” Joachim Lafosse’s thought-provoking film starring Daniel Auteuil and Emmanuelle Devos that will world premiere in competition at San Sebastian Film Festival. Tackling themes of abuse, the timely film revolves around Astrid (Devos), the wife of an acclaimed lawyer (Auteuil). Silenced for 25 years, her family balance suddenly collapses when her children initiate their own search for justice. One of Belgium’s leading filmmakers, Lafosse is best known internationally for 2012’s “Our Children,” a heart-wrenching drama based on a true story starring Emilie Dequenne and Tahar Rahim. “Our Children” represented Belgium in the Oscars race. “Un Silence” will mark Joachim’s follow up to “The Restless,” which competed at Cannes in 2021 and also explored imploding family dynamics.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Mélanie Laurent, who broke through in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” and has since made a name for herself as a filmmaker, is back in the director’s chair with “Wingwomen,” coming to Netflix Nov. 1. The movie, in which Laurent stars alongside Adèle Exarchopoulos, Manon Bresch and Isabelle Adjani, is a rare breed of action-comedy driven by fearless female characters. Laurent and Exarchopoulos star as high-profile thieves and best friends who decide to retire from their life on the run. They recruit Sam, a young and feisty car racer (Bresch) to assist them with one last job, but quickly clash with their godmother’s will (Adjani).

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Cesar-winning French actor Roschdy Zem (“Days of Glory”) and “Fauda” star Laëtitia Eïdo are co-starring in “Fatum,” a timely action film directed by Florent-Emilio Siri (“Hostage”) and scored by Oscar-winning Alexandre Desplat. “Fatum,” which started filming on July 4 in Morocco, is produced by Mathias Rubin at Récifilms (“November,” “Möbius”). Orange Studio is co-producing and has French distribution rights, as well as handles international sales. The film is also co-produced by France 2 Cinéma which pre-bought it along with Canal+, Disney+ and Palatine Etoile 21. Zem, one of France’s most bankable actors who previously won a Cannes prize with “Days of Glory” and recently won a Cesar Award with “Oh Mercy!” stars in “Fatum” as Elyas, a former Special Forces soldier who has become solitary and paranoid since serving Afghanistan. Elyas is recruited to provide the security for Amina (Eido) and her daughter Nour who fled the Emirates and found refuge in a French castle. When a commando tracks down Amina and Nour, Elyas once again becomes the fearless soldier he was on the frontlines to rescue the pair.

Following her recent health scare, Madonna has canceled her summer and fall North American tour, with plans to reschedule the dates later.

Madonna is speaking out after her recent hospitalization.«Thank you for your positive energy, Prayers and words of healing and encouragement,» Madge shared in an Instagram update on Monday. «I have felt your love.» The 64-year-old artist continued, «I'm on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life.»The «Like a Prayer» singer is recovering after she spent several days in the ICU due to a bacterial infection.

Thania Garcia Madonna’s “Celebration” tour has been delayed again after being postponed after the singer developed a serious bacterial infection. The tour was originally scheduled to begin July 15 in Vancouver though the 64-year-old was rushed to the hospital on June 24 due to the infection, according to an Instagram post from her manager Guy Oseary. For the first time since her hospitalization, Madonna addressed the tour and her health writing that she was “on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life.” She additionally added that she was going to reschedule the North American leg of the tour and bein in October in Europe.

Lil Uzi Vert has shared details of their upcoming headlining tour of the United States in support of their third studio album, ‘Pink Tape’.The tour, announced on Friday (July 7), will begin on October 21 at The Armory in Minneapolis. It will continue for another month, wrapping in Philadelphia at the city’s Wells Fargo Center.

Thania Garcia Lil Uzi Vert will be performing in venues across the U.S. later this fall for the newly-announced “Pink Tape” tour in support of their latest, 26-track album album “Pink Tape.” The 17-date trip will be Uzi’s first headlining jaunt since 2018’s “Endless Summer Tour,” and is slated to begin on Oct. 21 in Minneapolis, before making numerous stops across major cities like Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, New York City, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Denver, among other cities. They will close the tour with a special hometown performance in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 22. “Pink Tape,” the follow-up to the rapper’s 2020 record, “Pluto x Baby Pluto,” is expected to be one of the top rap releases of the year when it arrives on U.S. charts next week. It features guest verses from Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, Bring Me The Horizon and more.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Kino Lorber has picked up North American rights to Pham Thien An’s debut feature “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell.” The Vietnamese drama appeared in Cannes’ Director’s Fortnight section and was winner of the Camera d’Or. The company plans a theatrical release as well as a digital and home video releases on all major platforms after the film makes multiple stops on the international film festival circuit. “The sudden death of his sister-in-law brings unexpected responsibilities to Thien (Le Phong Vu), who is reluctantly tasked with bringing his five-year-old nephew Dao to their countryside hometown. On the road, Thien is drawn into a search for his long missing older brother, haunted and spurred forward by a series of sublime dreams that reignite suppressed memories, forbidden desires, and specters of his own youth. What began as a journey home becomes a pilgrimage marked by visual splendor and mystical overtones, a quest for understanding and certainty in a Vietnam that seems unable to provide any clear answers. As Thien battles with his own existential question of what is worth living for, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell interrogates the persistence and complexity of faith, not only in the spiritual but in the delicate beauty of earthly existence,” said Kino Lorber by way of a long synopsis.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Florian Zeller, the Oscar-winning director and playwright of “The Father” and “The Son,” received the Medal of Honor, France’s highest decoration, at an intimate ceremony in Paris on Wednesday. The event, hosted in the gardens of the French authors and composers guild (SACD), gathered a flurry of talent and luminaries from the worlds of film, TV, theater and literature — reflecting the breadth of Zeller’s body of work. Zeller was appointed Knight of the Legion of Honor by France President Emmanuel Macron. Guests included Isabelle Huppert, Pierre Arditi, Catherine Frot and Elodie Navarre who have starred in Zeller’s plays; Christopher Hampton, with whom he shares a best adapted screenplay Oscar for “The Father;” “Simone” actor Elsa Zylberstein; Mediawan boss Pierre-Antoine Capton, with whom he launched the L.A.-based company Blue Morning Pictures; Victoria Bedos (“La famille Belier”); Orange Studio’s Kristina Zimmermann and Sebastien Cauchon, who distributed both “The Father” and “The Son” in France; French singer Julien Clerc; French director Anne Fontaine and producer Philippe Carcassonne; as well as Zeller’s wife, Marine Delterme, an actor who was recently signed by WME.