John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentThe latest from Belgium’s Eyeworks Film & TV Drama and director Wouter Bouvijn – who teamed on Canneseries hits “The Twelve” and “Red Light” – “1985,” sold by Studiocanal, works on multiple levels as a coming-of-age series.Two young Gendarmarie police recruits, Marc and Franky, and his sis Vicky, a law student and pirate radio DJ, move to Brussels. They are soon caught up in police corruption – insider drug trading, heavy fire arms robbery – and the rise of the brutal Nijvel gang.Created by Willem Wallyn (“Albatros”), this is the coming-of-age story of three unbreakable friends loss of innocence, and that of a nation in its leaders.It is also an origins tale, of the forging of the modern age. Belgium’s distrust of its forces of law and order and political class rankles to this day, shared now with other countries, as does its politics of confrontation which Vicky denounces in an on-air monolog in Ep.
Holocaust Informs Coming of Age Tale ‘A Room of His Own’ – HAF
15.03.2022 - 10:19 / variety.com
Naman Ramachandran Celebrated Israeli filmmaker Matan Yair, whose “Scaffolding” has had festival play at Cannes, Zurich and Singapore, is nearly ready with his new film, coming-of-age drama “A Room of His Own.”The film, which is in the work-in-progress strand of Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), follows 17-year-old Uri, who has botched his first army interview. Since Uri’s father moved out, his mother has been sleeping in Uri’s room.
However, Uri is seeking his own path and his own room to deal with this world.“A ‘Room of his Own’ has been accompanying me for many years as a personal story, almost autobiographical, over a period of time when my mother and I shared the same room. My father left home and my mother did not go back to the bedroom that they shared,” Yair told Variety.
“My mother and I continued to stay together and we didn’t not think that there was anything inappropriate or wrong with this arrangement. We gave each other warmth and love and we felt as though we were in a rhapsody of a churning sea.
We shared a huge red blanket and I used to wear the same shirt to school, almost every day. We had our rituals such as going to the beach and swimming in the sea, shopping at the supermarkets, and falling asleep with a book in our hands, to the light of the bedside lamp.”“I was looking for a way to tell this story of the coming of age of a kid who is afraid of the future, of the army, and who wants to be like everyone else but who understands slowly but surely that even if he tries to be like everyone else, that he won’t succeed,” said Yair.“At the time I read vastly about the Holocaust the subject raised my curiosity.
China’s Yi Zhou Launching Metaverse Extract of Upcoming ‘Stars and Scars’ Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefChinese filmmaker, artist and influencer Yi Zhou has launched a cluster of companies that have begun making feature movies for the metaverse.Zhou, who departed China in 2011, trained in Paris and London, before settling in Rome for several years where she worked as an installation artist, fashion influencer for Chinese streaming site Tudou (now part of Alibaba) and short film director. Three of her shorts have played in Sundance, while another played at the Venice Festival.In 2018, Zhou relocated to Los Angeles in order to increase her focus on developing entertainment endeavors.
Maluma helps a fan propose to his girlfriend during his Frankfurt concert
Maluma is in Europe, delighting his fans with his Papi Juancho Tour. During his stop in Frankfurt, the Colombian singer helped a fan propose to his girlfriend.
Disney Plus Sets Launch Dates, Pricing for 42 Countries in Europe, West Asia and Africa
Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorDisney Plus confirmed launch dates — and pricing — for the 42 countries and 11 new territories across Europe, West Asia and Africa.Disney’s flagship streaming service will bow in South Africa on May 18, followed by all other countries listed in June (see below for dates and pricing). The media conglomerate earlier this year announced plans for summer 2022 expansion to countries including Turkey, Poland and the United Arab Emirates.The countries set to get Disney Plus are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine Territories, Poland, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City and Yemen.
Netflix Opens CEE Hub In Poland
Netflix has opened an office in Poland that will serve as its hub for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
‘RRR’ Has Roaring Debut; ‘The Batman’ Rises To $673M WW; ‘Lost City’ Finds Strong Early Start – International Box Office
Refresh for latest…: After setting a new opening day record for a local title in India, S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR (Rise! Roar! Revolt!) continued a strong run in the home market throughout the weekend and picked up an estimated $3.8M from 16 offshore hubs along with $9.5M from North America.
French Hip-Hop Drama ‘Le Monde De Demain’ Scoops Series Mania International Competition Grand Prize
French hip-hop series Le Monde de Demain has scooped the Grand Prize at the Series Mania International Competition.
'Love Is Blind' Is Renewed for Seasons 4 and 5 on Netflix, Plus More Reality Romance Shows Coming Soon
, for up to five seasons.Season 3 of the show, co-hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, has already filmed and will be out this year. For another update on the season 2 cast after this month's reunion special, fans can tune into, which will premiere later this year. Seasons 4 and 5 are also on the lineup and will feature new singles in new cities around the country.
‘Goldfinger’: First Look At Tony Leung & Andy Lau’s ‘Infernal Affairs’ Reunion For New Hong Kong Thriller
Martin Scorsese’s Boston gangster movie “The Departed” was loosely based on the thrilling Hong Kong crime epic “Infernal Affairs” that starred Asian superstars Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Well, the pair of actors are reuniting for a new thriller, “Goldfinger,” aka, “Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong,” that will be written/directed by Felix Chong, who penned the “Infernal Affairs” trilogy.
‘Fire Dance’ Director Rama Burshtein-Shai Is Selling Passion, Not Satisfaction – Series Mania
Marta Balaga Israeli director Rama Burshtein-Shai focuses on an unlikely attraction in her eight-episode series “Fire Dance,” now debuting at TV festival Series Mania in Lille, France. Faigie (Mia Ivryn) is just 18 when she starts paying closer attention to Nathan, thirtysomething married son of their ultra-Orthodox community’s leader. Produced by Yes TV, Firma Productions and Kuma Studios, it has Yes Studios handling international sales.“I don’t think it’s a story about impossible love.
Project Market Winners Unveiled as Online Meetings Soar – HAF
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefColleen Kwok’s “The Stars The Sun The Moon” won the top prize for a Hong Kong-produced in-development project at the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum. Mainland Chinese title “Not Found” by Huang Ningwei won the equivalent prize for the best non-Hong Kong project.A total of 14 prizes were announced at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, with “Silent Ghosts,” another local project, directed by Hang Yeng, collecting the top work in progress award.HAF organizers said that this year’s online platform hosted more than 900 private meetings between filmmakers and potential backers, a figure that was almost double the level of activity in 2020, when COVID forced the project market into a virtual format for the first time.
Trevor Choi Pitches ‘Smashing Frank’ as Meaningful Entertainment From Hong Kong – HAF
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefAfter “Parasite” and “Squid Game” struck planet-wide notes with their critique of elitism, Trevor Choi’s “Smashing Frank” is a timely Hong Kong twist on the revenge-against-the-rich theme. It is being pitched at the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) that this week runs alongside the FilMart rights market.“This is a comedy-drama about four millennials who form a squad to rob the rich. During the course of the crime, they are outraged as they gradually realize that the older generation will never change their ways.
Scott Hall Dies: WWE Hall Of Fame Pro Wrestler AKA Razor Ramon Was 63
Scott Hall, a longtime pro wrestling villain who also fought under the name Razor Ramon and is a double inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame, died today, WWE announced. He was 63. No cause of death was reported.
‘Chungking Mansions’: Anson Lo Joins Cast Of Hong Kong Zombie Thriller
Mirror singer and actor Anson Lo has joined the cast of Bizhan Tong’s upcoming action thriller Chungking Mansions. Billed as Hong Kong’s biggest zombie film ever, the Phoenix Waters Productions pic, in co-production with AMM Global and Salon Films Japan, has also added Hong Kong-Canadian actresses Selena Lee and Jeannie Chan, Korea’s Choi Si-Hun and Hong Kong actor Louis Cheung.
HBO Max International Head Johannes Larcher to Deliver Keynote at MIPTV
Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentHBO Max International head Johannes Larcher is set to give a keynote address at MipTV, the international TV showcase which will make a comeback as in-person market in Cannes after going virtual due to the pandemic. Larcher will discuss the launch of HBO Max, the WarnerMedia-owned streaming platform, in 61 territories worldwide.
Mirror’s Anson Lo Expands Starry Asian Cast of ‘Chungking Mansions’
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefAnson Lo, part of Hong Kong pop sensation Mirror, has joined the cast of “Chungking Mansions,” an ambitious zombie film that is currently in advanced preparation.Alongside Lo, Hong Kong-Canadian actresses Selena Lee and Jeannie Chan, Korean star Choi Si-Hun, and Hong Kong actor Louis Cheung join the previously announced Japanese action star Rina Takeda and Singaporean actors Desmond Tan and Rebecca Lim.Davika Hoorne, who previously starred in “Pee Mak,” Thailand’s highest grossing film of all time, will also join. She takes over a role previously assigned to Angel Locsin as the assistant to the American protagonist’s pregnant wife.Directed by banker turned producer and director Bizhan Tong (“The Escort”), the film tracks a diverse group of people who, following a zombie attack, try to break into Chungking Mansions.
Animation Hit ‘Inu-Oh’ Sells Widely for Fortissimo and Asmik Ace
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Inu-Oh,” the acclaimed Japanese animation that debuted in Venice and Toronto last year, has been sold widely by Fortissimo Films and Asmik Ace.Amsterdam and Beijing based Fortissimo is collaborating with Tokyo-based Asmik Ace on two titles, “Inu-oh” by Yuasa Masaaki and “Missing” by Katayama Shinzo, a former assistant director to “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho on “Mother.”Rock musical animation “Inu-Oh” was licensed to Sun Distribution for Latin America, to Rapid Eye for Germany, Front Row in the Middle East and Cinemaran in Spain. Asmik Ace handles Asian territories, North America, France, U.K. and Benelux.
India’s ‘The Spark’ Shines a Spotlight on Victims of Violence – HAF
Naman Ramachandran Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Rajesh S. Jala, winner of awards at the Montreal and Sao Paolo film festivals for 2008 documentary “Children of the Pyre,” has tackled a universally resonant subject with his latest film “The Spark” (“Chingari”).In the film, a filmmaker on assignment follows a crematorium worker and an old woman in the ancient city of Banaras with his camera. A victim of violence, the filmmaker is burning with anger and hatred and is determined to take revenge for his past trauma.