New Europe Film Sales to Sell ‘Stepne,’ from Cannes Palme d’Or Winner Maryna Vroda (EXCLUSIVE)

Moviegoers already knew that Todd Haynes‘ “May December” would open the 61st annual New York Film Festival this Fall. But now another North American premiere will happen in NYC.  Sofia Coppola‘s “Priscilla” will be the festival’s Centerpiece on October 6 before it hits theaters later that month courtesy of A24.

Film at Lincoln Center has teed up Sofia Coppola’s Priscillaas the Centerpiece selection for the 61st New York Film Festival.

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. 

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” has been tapped as the Centerpiece selection for the 61st New York Film Festival. The biographical drama about the wife of Elvis Presley will make its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Oct. 6. “Priscilla” centers on the life of Priscilla Ann Wagner (“Mare of Easttown” actor Cailee Spaeny) and her life and love affair with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (“Euphoria” breakout Jacob Elordi). It’s based on the 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me” by Priscilla Presley and Sandra Harmon and follows her early years as a teenage army brat stationed in West Germany to her arrival at Graceland, which became her home and prison.

Can one teen end a town’s turmoil or make it much worse? It’s a question that one girl faces in “Perpetrator.” The horror film follows Jonny, a young adult facing personal struggles — reuniting with her Aunt leads to a series of events that will change everything. “Perpetrator” hails from writer and director Jennifer Reeder.

It may be the middle of summer but the weather we’ve been experiencing lately feels unseasonably wet and windy. While it’s miserable in the UK you may be dreaming of holidays in more exotic locations.

Illumination is having a hell of a 2023. Obviously, even without a new ‘Minions’ or ‘Despicable Me’ film in theaters, the dumb Minions characters are omnipresent in the lives of children everywhere.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Having impressed with Peter Hengl’s “Family Dinner,” a 2022 Tribeca world premiere, Vienna-based Capra Film is developing an ever expanding slate of movies and series which establishes it as a growing genre force to keep track of in Europe.  Founded in 2015 by producer Lola Basara and writer-director Hengl, Capra Film was the only production-house to have two titles at October’s Sitges Fanpitch, where Hengl’s  “Krampusnacht” won a Fantasia-Frontières Award, consisting of an invitation to Frontières, Fantasia’s vibrant industry platform, running July 26-29.  As a potential follow-up, Hengl is developing “Bug Boy,” a teenage body horror creature feature. Also in the Capra hopper are period horror film “Dracu,” from Schlegel, horror film “In the Moorland,” by Michael Winiecki, TV series “Newfall,” from Stefano Nurra, and vampire film “Thirst,” by Paul Ertl.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Shawn Finnie, executive vice president, member relations, global outreach and awards for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, is leaving the organization after nearly a decade, Variety has learned exclusively. His final day was Thursday, July 13. Finnie was a beloved figure within the Academy, rising through the ranks and receiving multiple promotions. His departure comes after his most recent promotion to his role in June 2021 by former COO Christine Simmons. He led engagement and outreach initiatives for the organization’s global membership of more than 10,000 artists, filmmakers and executives. In addition, he led a team of more than 20 team members.

Future appears to be coming for the husband of his ex-fiancée, Ciara. The 39-year-old rapper is featured on Quavo's new track, "Turn Yo Clic Up," and pretty much calls out Russell Wilson.«Big dawg status, bill hopper/I ball in his mall for my brothers/Goyard bag, tote the corduroy/I got it out the field, f**k Russell,» Future raps. Before Ciara married Wilson on July 6, 2016, she dated Future for several years, starting in 2012. In October 2013, the two got engaged and welcomed a son, Future Zahir, in May 2014.

Billie Eilish‘s new song featured in the upcoming movie Barbie has been released!

Kevin Costner filed new divorce documents against Christine Baumgartner to insure "an orderly process" as she vacates their shared beachfront estate outside of Santa Barbara, California. In new documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Costner's legal team filed an ex parte application to "prevent Petitioner (Baumgartner) from removing Respondent’s (Costner) separate property from his home, and to insure an orderly process for the removal of her separate property (if any)." The "Yellowstone" actor argued in the application that "under the PMA (pre-marital agreement) there is no community property." Baumgartner was ordered by a judge last week to vacate the separate residence of their $145 million Carpinteria compound by July 31.  "Petitioner’s counsel has stated, in writing, that Petitioner 'plans' to remove many items which are not Petitioner’s separate property," documents stated.  "Petitioner refuses to sign a Stipulation that she will not do so unless and until there is a written agreement between the parties." Costner purchased the property before their marriage, and a pre-marital agreement allegedly stipulated that she would not only move out of the home within 30 days, but also no longer live in any of his properties if they divorced.  Her team argued that the Santa Barbara housing market made it difficult for her to find a new home adequate to suit the needs of her three children, but Judge Thomas Anderle denied Baumgartner's request to move out of the residence by Aug.

Hugh Grant has been spotted in the official trailer for the upcoming movie about Willy Wonka, where he portrays a tiny CGI Oompa-Loompa. In the film titled "Wonka," Four Wedding star Grant features alongside Timothee Chalamet, who takes on the role of the eccentric chocolate factory owner.

Venice may have Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” with Zendaya and Josh O’Connor to open the annual soiree on the Liido, but the New York Film Festival is going to kick off with some Cannes gold. Today, the Film Society of Lincoln Center revealed that Todd Haynes’ “May December,” which premiered on la Croisette, will open the 61st edition of the New York Film Festival.

Todd Hayes’ May December will open the New York Film Festival on September 29, organizers said today.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Todd Haynes’ soapy romantic drama “May December,” starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, will open the 61st New York Film Festival. The movie is scheduled for Sept. 29 at Alice Tully Hall with the director and cast expected to attend in person. Following its NYFF premiere, “May December” will be released theatrically on Nov. 17 before landing on Netflix on Dec. 1. “May December,” which centers on a scandalous age-gap relationship, premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and sold to Netflix for $20 million. Moore and “Riverdale” star Charles Melton play Gracie and Joe, a married couple with a 20-year age gap. Their relationship sparked a national tabloid scandal because Joe was just 13 when the two fell in love. Decades later, their union is put to the test when Portman’s character Elizabeth, a popular TV actress, travels to Georgia to study the life of Gracie, whom she’ll be playing in a movie.

When I write about new trailers that are released, I typically include the studio’s synopsis of the film. It’s just an easy way to concisely provide an explanation for what the film is about and why you should care.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent In a broad-based deal, Netflix and Germany’s Constantin Film, one of Europe’s biggest production-distribution companies behind the “Resident Evil” film franchise and TV series “Shadowhunters,” have struck an exclusive long-term partnership.  The powerful alliance sees Netflix acquiring pay distribution rights pay to Constantin Film’s theatrical productions in the German-speaking region. These include national and international original and co-produced films, as well as films acquired for cinema or straight-to-video (STV) release. German and international theatrical productions.  Titles will be made available to Netflix subscribers on an SVOD basis 10-12 months after their theatrical release. In return, Netflix will contribute significantly to the financing of these productions, Constantin Film announced this week. The new agreement grants Netflix licensed access to Constantin Film’s existing film and series catalog, it added. 

EXCLUSIVE: Deadline spoke to leading international sales firm Playtime about why it made sense to join new European film and TV studio Vuelta Group, which we revealed earlier this morning.

Marta Balaga Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival, Europe’s biggest mid-Summer movie event, has announced its lineup, welcoming recognizable names to its main competition, from Filipino auteur Lav Diaz (“Essential Truths of the Lake”) to Romanian powerhouse Radu Jude, who will show “Do Not Expect Too Much of the End of the World.” As already announced, Cate Blanchett and Zar Amir Ebrahimi are set to attend the Locarno Film Festival’s closing night to promote the European launch of Iranian-Australian director Noora Niasari’s debut film “Shayda.” Among the titles selected for Locarno’s more broad-audience-friendly Piazza Grande lineup, Justine Triet will attend with her Cannes Palme’ d’Or winner “Anatomy of a Fall,” along with Ken Loach and his “The Old Oak.”