Momo Film Co Sets Partnership With The Philippines’ Nathan Studio

EXCLUSIVE: MindRiot Entertainment, the transatlantic indie behind Danielle Deadwyler’s Parallel, and the upcoming OceanGate pic Salvaged has acquired the rights to adapt the life stories of former US marines Bryan Seely and Robert Hudock for a feature project. 

Amazon Prime Video has removed a film from its library after receiving one Ofcom complaint.Filipino film Pamasahe, which was released in 2022, was found to be in breach of the regulator’s code, with the removal coming after the recent passing of the Media Bill in the UK’s House of Lords.The new law means streamers must be regulated the same as traditional broadcasters in Britain in areas such as harmful content.According to Deadline, one person complained to Ofcom after initially writing to Amazon about a scene in Pamasahe that “concerned about the inclusion of a baby in scenes depicting sexual activity between adults”.After reportedly receiving no response – and then an unsatisfactory response from the streamer – they contacted the regulator, who in turn then contacted the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).They advised that “the sequence…contains a frame that would contravene the Protection of Children Act 1978….on the basis that it shows a child in the same frame as sexual activity”. After the BBFC contacted Amazon, the film was removed.The streamer said in response that it believed that it had “robust, complete and effective” checking measures in place, evidenced by “over a decade of content distribution under the supervision of Ofcom without any prior formal investigations from Ofcom.”They added: “These sorts of content policies are nuanced and we regularly evaluate where we can make improvements.”Pamasahe follows the story of “a penniless mother, with her infant child” who “takes on a journey by land and sea to find her husband in Manila”.

It's been described by various leading TV critics, as 'bleak', an 'evil version of First Dates' and 'sure to end in tears'. But that hasn't stopped everyone watching, open-mouthed, Channel 4's latest reality dating show, The Nevermets, a show where long-distance lovers turn their virtual romance into reality as they meet face-to-face for the first time and immerse themselves in their real worlds.

The Nevermets is the latest dating show to land on TV screens, featuring a string of couples who have never met face to face before.The new Channel 4 programme sees lovers who have fallen in love online finally meet each other in person and get to know each other properly. The contestants' decision to travel to their other half's location could be life-changing, or could result in their romance being over.The moment the couples meet for the first time is shown on The Nevermets, and the show then follows them as they learn about each other's real lives, including friends and family, their lifestyle and day to day lives. Five couples feature on the series; Dumebi and Mazi, Matt and Maria, Leah and Chad, Sarah and Jgoy, Jay and Veena.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Los Angeles- and Bangkok-based film sales joint venture EST N8 is expanding into theatrical distribution in parts of Southeast Asia. As a first step, it will release the Michael Mann-directed “Ferrari” in Thailand on Thursday and in Myanmar on June 21. The film, which premiered in Venice in September last year, was released in other territories between December and February.

Naman Ramachandran Indonesia’s KawanKawan Media has boarded Singaporean filmmaker Nelson Yeo‘s sophomore feature “The Drought,” it was announced at the Cannes Film Festival. Yeo’s debut feature “Dreaming & Dying” debuted at last year’s Locarno Film Festival where it won the Golden Leopard – Filmmakers of the Present and Best First Feature awards.

The Splendour of Life” (“Une splendeur de vivre”) is set to start principal photography at locations across Canada and the Philippines, the producers revealed at the Cannes Film Festival. The ensemble cast includes Camille Rutherford (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Garance Marillier (“Raw”), Sue Prado (“Your Mother’s Son”), Kyrie Samodio (“Hito”) and Amaryllis Tremblay (“Genesis”). Set against a lush countryside backdrop, Marie (Rutherford) questions her relationship, while Noée (Marillier) grieves her father.

The third season of The Cleaning Lady just ended, so it’s time to think ahead to season four!

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Dolly De Leon, who rocked the Cannes Film Festival two years ago in “Triangle of Sadness,” has joined the cast of “Severino: The First Serial Killer,” an upcoming series from Philippines outfit CreaZion Studios. While “Severino” is the highest profile project, the producer is building a larger slate of feature films. “Severino” De Leon is a large-scale period thriller series, chronicling the tale of Catholic priest Severino Mallari, who killed 57 people during the Spanish colonization era of the country. Producers RJ Agustin and Real Florido have tapped Yam Laranas known for his horror films “The Echo” and “The Road” as series director.

EXCLUSIVE: Filipino producer-distributor CreaZion Studios is unveiling a slate of film and TV productions here in Cannes, including Severino: The First Serial Killer, which has Dolly De Leon joining Dennis Trillo in the cast.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The 27-member European Film Agency Directors Association and the Asian Film Alliance Network, which was established this time last year and currently has seven members, have agreed to work together on topics of common interest and to jointly develop a better world film ecosystem. At a meeting this week held on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, EFAD and AFAN promised to enhance understanding and collaboration between Asian and European national film agencies. Topics included: dialog on policy and regulations; the development of the film industry in both regions; and addressing new media and challenges ahead. Separately, the founding AFAN members convened for a closed-door roundtable discussion on May 16.

XG have added new dates to their 2024 ‘The First Howl’ world tour, featuring concerts in Asia, North America, Europe and more.In March, XG announced that they would be embarking on their first-ever world tour, title ‘The First Howl’. It kicked off with a two-date show at the Osaka-Jo Hall in Osaka, Japan on May 18 and 19.

EXCLUSIVE: The Philippines‘ Star Cinema and GMA Pictures are teaming up to produce Hello, Love, Again, the sequel to blockbuster hit Hello, Love, Goodbye.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Manila-based production outfit Parallax Studio and entertainment company Saga Film Studios have formed a joint venture that will distribute the two-part Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga” in the Philippines. The deal is the first of a number of acquisitions planned by the joint venture. The “Horizon: An American Saga” films are directed by and star Academy Award winner Kevin Costner.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Korea’s Barunson E&A has picked up world sales rights to Vietnamese horror-comedy “Don’t Cry Butterfly.” Sales will be launched this week at the Cannes Market. Written and directed by Duong Dieu Linh, the Hanoi-set film follows a housewife who uses voodoo to try and get her cheating husband fall back into love with her, but instead invites a mysterious presence into the house.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Los Angeles- and Bangkok-based sales firm EST N8 has bulked up its Cannes Market film sales slate with a trio of completed Asian titles. “Mash Ville” stars Jeon Sin-hwan (“The Housemaid,” “Time Renegades”) and Park Jong-hwan (“Concrete Utopia,” “Hell Is Other People”) and weaves together the lives of pseudo-religious believers and eight strangers in a rural area. When their paths cross they must fight for survival.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Bona,” one of the landmark films of Philippines cinema, is headed for release in France and the U.S. later this year. Directed by Lino Brocka, considered one of the pioneers of Philippines cinema, a restored version of the film returns to Cannes after an absence of more than 40 years.

Lily Collins and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu are spending another day on set.

Michaela Zee “The Cleaning Lady” has been renewed for Season 4 at Fox, Variety has confirmed. The news comes ahead of the two-hour Season 3 finale, which will air May 21 at 8 p.m. ET.

EXCLUSIVE: Actor-director Chris Soriano has announced that production for The Master Chief: Subic Bay will commence in August, with top Filipino actress Heart Evangelista set to appear in the film.