RASA Film Group Launches Collective Focusing on Strong Female Protagonists and Positive Muslim Characters (EXCLUSIVE)

Annika Pham Once upon a time, there was the Swedish queen of crime Camilla Läckberg, steadily delivering international best-selling adult/children’s books, cook books and song lyrics. Some of her books have turned into series –“The Fjällbacka Murders” – or soon will be – “The Golden Age,’ optioned by Legendary Entertainment.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Comedian Bert Kreischer is sticking with Netflix, signing with the streamer to film two more stand-up comedy specials. This reps the fourth and fifth specials for Kreischer at Netflix, following “Razzle Dazzle” (2023), “Hey Big Boy” (2020), and “Secret Time” (2018). The first of the two specials will be filmed by Kreischer at the Mahaffey Theater in St.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Discovery Channel’s hit franchises, like “Gold Rush” and “Deadliest Catch,” featured plenty of blood and sweat. But where were the tears? That’s something Howard Lee immediately began asking, upon taking control of the network at the end of 2022. After Lee was handed the keys to Discovery that December, “I spent my entire Christmas vacation devouring, scrutinizing, every single Discovery Channel show and familiarizing myself with it, like a fanboy.

EXCLUSIVE: James Vanderbilt has rounded out the cast for his historical drama Nuremberg, toplined by Russell Crowe, Rami Malek and Michael Shannon. New additions to the pic, commencing production in Hungary in February, include Richard E. Grant (Saltburn), Leo Woodall (The White Lotus), John Slattery (Mad Men), Lydia Peckham (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), Wrenn Schmidt (For All Mankind), Lotte Verbeek (Outlander) and Andreas Pietschmann (Dark).

EXCLUSIVE: The Ford Foundation is coming through for documentary filmmakers in a big way.  

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Three Japanese films enjoying their world premieres, along with festival favorites “City of Wind” and “Solids by the Seashore,” are set to appear in the 13-title competition section of the Osaka Asian Film Festival in March. The event will be held March 1-10 at venues including ABC Hall, Cine Libre Umeda, T-Joy Umeda and the Nakanoshima Museum of Art. The opening and closing films will be announced in early February. The 19th edition of the festival, which will eventually contain 55 feature and short films, is set to also include three special programs – a “Thai Cinema Kaleidoscope,” “Taiwan: Movies on the Move,” and “Special Focus on Hong Kong” – as well as its regular Spotlight Section on underrated Asian films and the Indie Forum of more challenging and innovative works. The competition titles are: “City of Wind,” by Mongolia’s Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir; “Fire on Water,” by Malaysia’s Sun-J Perumal; “Hyphen,” by The Philippines Joy Arnaldo; “The Lyricist Wannabe,” by Hong Kong’s Norris Wong; “The Missing,” by The Philippines’ Carl Joseph E.

Marta Balaga Cecilia Mato and Lucas Vivo García Lagos, founder of Navajo Films Argentina and Intro Pictures Brazil, have joined forces to launch Navajo Films Uruguay. “We interpret the idea of ‘bringing a fresh perspective to the industry’ as infusing new ideas, creativity and a unique approach into our work. Despite being two young individuals, we bring a wealth of experience to the table.

Sofia Coppola is opening up about why Apple canceled The Custom of the Country series.

Maya Jama tells us there’s not an easy way to her heart as she shimmers beneath the South African sunshine at the sumptuous Love Island villa, before adding coyly, “There shouldn’t be an easy way to anyone’s heart.” She’s the glamorous host of the nation’s favourite dating show, but Maya’s lessons in love have all been learned firsthand from her own roller-coaster love life.The TV presenter, 29, is once again wrapped up with her soulmate Stormzy, 30, four years after their romance first ended following rumours he’d cheated. Maya cut him out of her life but, in Love Island parlance, Stormzy didn’t stop grafting, writing songs about Maya and telling the world, “I want to marry her, I want to have her children.” For a while his declarations fell on deaf ears and in 2021, NBA player Ben Simmons proposed to Maya with a dazzling emerald-cut diamond ring worth £800,000.

K.J. Yossman Stephen van Rooyen, CEO of Sky U.K. and Ireland, is stepping down after almost 17 years at the company.

Addie Morfoot Contributor In 2013, Angela Patton gave a TEDWomen talk that described a father-daughter dance for incarcerated dads and their daughters. That talk was viewed over a million times and inspired the documentary “Daughters,” which has its world premiere Monday at the Sundance Film Festival. In the film, Patton, who in the past decade has helped arrange approximately 15 Daddy Daughter Dances across the nation, and co-director Natalie Rae follow four young girls preparing for the event with their fathers in a prison in Washington, D.C.

This is the first photograph of Gumma, the American XL bully dog who mauled two pensioners, leaving one needing surgery.

lifeless “Captain Marvel,” their latest movie has, um, flecks of the supernatural heroism and urban vigilante justice that we associate with the comic book genre. Running time: 106 minutes. Rated R (strong bloody violence, language throughout including slurs, sexual content and drug use).However, unlike many of those bland caped behemoths, “Freaky Tales,” which had its world premiere Thursday night at the Sundance Film Festival, also boasts enough forceful, nerdy personality to fill the San Francisco Bay.

Angelique Jackson Kobi Libii knew “The American Society of Magical Negroes” would be controversial. After all, the film is a critique of the “magical negro,” the cinematic trope where Black characters are constructed to support white protagonists without internal lives of their own. Libii grew up in Gary, Ind.

Oppenheimer leading the way with no less than 13 nominations, including best film. Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things is a close second with 11 nods, and then Killers of the Flower Moon and The Zone of Interest which both bagged 9.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor September Film has acquired all rights for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg for “In the Land of Brothers,” which has its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section. The film is written and directed by Iranian filmmakers Raha Amirfazli and Alireza Ghasemi. Alpha Violet is handling world sales.

June Givanni, the British film curator and writer best known for her work chronicling African and African diaspora cinema, will receive the honorary Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema award at this year’s BAFTAs.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Tan France has partnered with Madison Wells to incubate and grow his newly-founded production company, French Tuck Media, Variety has learned exclusively. Madison Wells, the production company founded by Gigi Pritzker, will work with France and French Tuck to develop a content slate that will be co-produced by both companies.

Angelique Jackson SPOILER ALERT:This story contains spoilers from “The Book of Clarence,” now in theaters. “The Book of Clarence” begins with a misdirect. The sophomore feature of British musician-turned-filmmaker Jeymes Samuel, a biblical epic, opens with a crucifixion. The camera sweeps across a sun-streaked landscape where a dozen men are nailed to crosses.

Ben Croll Jessica Palud’s showbiz drama “Being Maria” reframes the short career and tragic life of “Last Tango in Paris” star Maria Schneider in a post-#MeToo light. “Happening” breakout Anamaria Vartolomei plays Schneider, while Matt Dillon takes on the role of her co-star Marlon Brando. Currently in post-production and aiming for a festival premiere later this year, the film in part tracks the controversial production and wrenching fallout of Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1972 masterpiece — a landmark that made Schneider an icon while locking her into a sexualized image she never could escape.