Italian Region Of Puglia To Showcase Its Emerging Filmmakers In L.A With First NFMLA Partnership

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The Johnny Depp-directed film “Modì,” about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, has secured a distribution deal in Italy, where it will be released by emerging production/distribution player Be Water. Above is a first-look image from the set of the film, which is now in post.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce had so much to do during their Italian getaway!

is still Bennifering.On May 16, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were seen together for the first time since all this started bubbling up. In new photos and video shared —the same tabloid that first reported their alleged split— can be seen picking up and her 16-year-old child, , in an SUV after 15-year-old Fin Affleck’s school play.While InTouch continues to report that the couple is “no longer sleeping under the same roof” and a source that the pair arrived separately, Affleck can clearly be seen wearing his wedding ring while keeping his left hand on the wheel.

There’s been a huge update on Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck‘s relationship amid rumors of a potential separation.

Well, that was quick!

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The persistent vibrancy of Italian cinema, despite increasing financing difficulties, is undisputable if you look at the range of the country’s current output and what’s percolating in the pipeline. It spans from highly sophisticated new works by maestros such as Paolo Sorrentino and Luca Guadagnino to crassly commercial global megahits like Netflix Italy original “The Tearsmith” and promising fresh fare from Cinema Italiano’s next generation.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italy’s film industry is fighting to stay vibrant amid disruption caused both by politics and market forces.After reaping the rewards of a protracted growth spurt, local producers are facing a forced slowdown as the country’s right-wing government dithers with modifications they plan to make to several key regulations, most significantly to the country’s currently stalled tax incentives for film and TV production. At a packed protest event held in early April at Rome’s Cinema Adriano multiplex, industry figures from all sectors – including producers, writers, actors and big-name directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Marco Bellocchio – lashed out against having to wait endlessly for the culture ministry to approve new guidelines so production companies can apply for the 40% tax credits that basically drive the business.

EXCLUSIVE: Producer Michael Bayer has launched True Case Films, a new production company based in Los Angeles, focused solely on producing and financing stories based on true crime. The newly formed company has secured IP and is actively seeking additional packaged true crime projects to finance, produce and executive produce. Bayer will serve as the new company’s president.

Dean McDermott has officially moved on from Tori Spelling!

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Los Angeles-based Scatena & Rosner Films has acquired worldwide rights to horror film “The Hermit,” starring Lou Ferrigno as a cannibalistic pig farmer in his first role playing a creature since CBS TV series “The Incredible Hulk.” They will be launching sales on the chiller, which is now in post, at the Cannes Marché du Film. “The Hermit” is directed by U.S.-based Italian helmer Salvatore Sclafani and produced by Los Angeles- and New York-based Gerry Pass via his Chrome Entertainment shingle in tandem with Sclafani’s First Child Prods.

Jamie Lang Onza Distribution has closed three new deals for the Italian thriller series “Flowers Over the Inferno,” an Italian crime drama that scored a 25% audience share during its domestic run on RAI 1. Public broadcaster SBS Australia, Walter Presents in the U.K., and Antenaplay in Romania have picked up the show.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent European powerhouse Mediawan has appointed Italian film and TV producer Carlo Degli Esposti – who is founder and chief of its Rome-based Palomar shingle – as a member of its board of supervisors and strategic committee. Degli Esposti in his new role will be involved “in all strategic decisions” at Mediawan, a statement said, adding that he “will make his experience available to the group’s activities in the Italian market and, in particular, for future development operations and acquisitions in this important European territory.” Mediawan, which is a global production conglomerate comprising more than 85 labels around the world — it recently announced its acquisition of German production-distribution outfit Leonine — is clearly in expansion mode in Italy where, besides Palomar, they are in final stages of acquiring a 51% stake in Our Films, the new company being launched by prominent producers Mario Giananani and Lorenzo Mieli after their recent exit from the Fremantle fold.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin-based sales agency Films Boutique has closed first sales and released the first-look image from Oscar-nominated Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland‘s biopic of the Czech novelist Franz Kafka, “Franz.” The project has sold to September Film in Benelux, Filmin in Spain, Vertigo in Hungary, MCF Megacom for the former Yugoslavia and Movies Inspired in Italy. The film was previously acquired for theatrical distribution by Bac Films Distribution in France, X Verleih in Germany and Austria, Bioscop in Czech Republic and TVP in Poland.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent New Italian media company Be Water – which is in Cannes for the first time – has announced its full roster of partners and scope of business activities comprising film, documentary and scripted TV production as well as theatrical film distribution, podcasts and live events. The Rome-based potential powerhouse is operating with what is being described as a holistic approach to content production that is congenial to the digital age, which is certainly a novelty for Italy.

Jack Dunn Technologists Todd Terrazas, Max Einhorn, Mike Gioia and Ian Eck have posed a challenge to nine up-and-coming filmmakers: create short films using generative AI in only 48 hours. The Cinema Synthetica filmmaking competition is the first of its kind, founded in hopes of demonstrating the potential of AI tools to influence the future of filmmaking. The completion is part of the AI on the Lot conference, a one-day summit to be held next week in downtown Los Angeles where Hollywood creatives can collaborate with those at the forefront of artificial intelligence.

Novak Djokovic is seeking medical attention after being struck in the head by a fan’s water bottle.

Prince Harry has given his first interview in Nigeria, following an awkward UK snub.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have been seen in Nigeria for the first time, with Harry delivering a heartfelt speech on mental health. Harry told the audience: "In some places around the world, more than you would believe, there is a stigma against mental health.Too many people don't want to talk about it because it's invisible, it's in your mind and we can't see it.

Sofia Vergara’s son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara has been making headlines recently after the Hollywood star opened up about her motherhood journey, which started when she was 19 years old. The Colombian icon decided to look back at a special moment with her son, reminiscing about the time he was with her in Los Angeles for the very first time.Sofia Vergara is excited to become a grandma: Talks about her son Manolo Gonzalez VergaraSofia Vergara introduces her new puppy Amore, after giving full custody of Bubbles to Joe ManganielloSofia Vergara admits it wouldn’t have been ‘fair’ to have a child with Joe ManganielloThe actress took to Instagram to share a photo of the mother-son duo in Los Angeles, visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Olivia Cooke (Sound of Metal) and BAFTA Award winner Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers) have signed on to lead Italian filmmaker Nathalie Biancheri’s latest pic Takes One To Know One. 

Luca Guadagnino believes filmgoers will endorse his Zendaya movie Challengers because it delivers “a canon of Hollywood golden age comedy – seductive fun with queerness.” The movie’s “big sell” is a shot of Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor kissing one another in various configurations.