Netflix Strikes $15M North America & Latin America Deal For Colin Firth WWII Movie ‘Operation Mincemeat’ – EFM

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefRakuten Viki, a streaming platform specializing in Asian content and fan-generated sub-titles, is launching a transactional VOD function in North America. The new functionality kicks off with two recent Korean movies, “Josee” and “New Year Blues.”Backed by Japanese e-commerce and entertainment group Rakuten, Viki currently operates an ad-supported video service (AVOD) and two tiers of subscription video (SVOD).

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorARRI Media has closed a deal with Crescendo House – a new boutique distribution company – for North American rights on Marxist vampire comedy “Bloodsuckers,” following its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.The film, which screened as part of the Berlinale’s Encounters section, was written and directed by Julian Radlmaier.Radlmaier’s script was praised by the jury as being “extravagant, bizarre, and hilarious” when he was presented with the

Sparks will be released in US and Canadian cinemas later this year.The Sparks Brothers takes a deep dive into the careers of Ron and Russell Mael over five decades, complete with an archive of TV and concert clips. A string of musical guests were interviewed for the documentary, including Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers.The Sparks Brothers premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentIn a key hire, WarnerMedia Latin America has appointed Mônica Albuquerque to head up the artistic talents area in general entertainment for Latin America, working alongside the general entertainment team led by company Chief Content Officer Tomás Yankelevich.At WarnerMedia Latin America, Albuquerque will focus on leading the search, hiring and management of actors, directors and writers for WarnerMedia Latin America fiction and non-fiction

EXCLUSIVE: Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to Lisa Immordino Vreeland’s well-received documentary Truman and Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefA North American rights deal for mainland Chinese fantasy action film ‘God of War II, was one of several film sales deals struck by Hong Kong’s Media Asia at the recent European Film Market and the ongoing FilMart.Directed by Cai Cong, and starring Charles Lin, Liu Yuxi and David Wu, the film was completed in 2020.

EXCLUSIVE: We have learned that motion picture industry distribution vet Jim Zak has been named the SVP, North America of Vista Group’s Numero and Maccs. 

Benedict Cumberbatch has lined up another movie, and this time it’s with Jurassic World 3 helmer Colin Trevorrow.

Ted K, the true crime drama that premiered at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, has been snapped up for North American distribution by Neon’s boutique label Super Ltd.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has struck a deal in the region of $30M for most worldwide rights to Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man, we can reveal.

She returned to EastEnders in 2018 after twelve years off-screen, but fans will be interested to know that Louisa Lytton starred in the American Pie movie series.The actress, who got engaged to her boyfriend in 2019, appeared in the role of Imogen in the seventh film in the franchise, American Pie Presents: The Book Of Love, back in 2009. Although her appearance was just a cameo, Louisa's character interacted with the lead stars of the movie.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSamuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to “The Drover’s Wife,” an Australian revenge tale written, directed and starring Leah Purcell. Sold by Memento International, the film is an adaptation of Purcell’s successful Australian stage play.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFilm Movement has acquired North American rights to Cathy Yan’s feature debut “Dead Pigs” which won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance in 2018. Film Movement will release the film in North America in theaters, virtual cinema, home entertainment and digital platforms in June.“Dead Pigs” is social satire about the trials and tribulations connecting a disparate group of people in the midst of a baffling nationwide mystery.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentU.S indie distributor Film Movement has acquired North American rights from Italian sales company True Colours to Palestinian director Ameen Nayfeh’s drama “200 Meters,” about a Palestinian construction worker who takes huge risks to cross the West Bank wall to reach his hospitalized son.In September, “200 Meters,” which marks Nayfeh’s debut, launched from the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days section, where it won the audience award.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix’s big spending at the virtual EFM is continuing with a mighty worldwide pre-buy of around $55M for Christian Bale Gothic horror-thriller The Pale Blue Eye, which will reunite the actor with director Scott Cooper.

Amazon Prime Video has swooped on the critically acclaimed Chilean LGBTQ+ drama My Tender Matador for Latin America. The film —which first bowed in the Venice Days sidebar of the 2020 Venice Film Festival —won the audience award in the Open Horizons section of the 2020 Thessaloniki Film Festival.

EXCLUSIVE: UK sales company Parkland Pictures is at the virtual EFM with Paul Morrison rom-com drama 23 Walks, which has been picked up for North America by Vertical Entertainment.

Rupert Everett has worked with Colin Firth on multiple occasions and he’s opening up about something the actor did that left him in shock.

Paul Marquess and Susanne Farrell, who worked together on long-running British cop drama The Bill, have teamed up on a new British crime drama for the BBC and BritBox North America.