Studios Extraordinaires Launches With ‘Aurora Noir’ And ‘Space Marshals’ Projects — Cannes Market

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Memento International has closed a raft of deals on “Fremont,” the critically acclaimed film by BAFTA-nominated Iranian-born director Babak Jalali. The movie world premiered at Sundance and was acquired by Music Box for North America in a deal negotiated by CAA. The black-and-white film, laced with wry humor, tells the story of Donya, a young woman working at a Chinese fortune cookie factory in the San Francisco bay. Formerly a translator for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, she struggles to put her life back in order. In a moment of sudden revelation, she decides to send out a special message in a cookie. Following its Sundance premiere, the film played at SXSW and is slated to compete at Karlovy Vary. Other festival lined up include Deauville, Melbourne and Athens.

Netflix has greenlighted an Italian edition of its hit rap competition Rhythm + Flow, following in the wake of the hit U.S. original and the successful French version Nouvelle École which is now in its second season.  

Prince William, Kate, Princess of Wales and Princess Beatrice, demonstrating the strength of the ongoing friendship between the British and Jordanian Royal Families. In turn King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein's parents, were in attendance both at the King's Coronation in May and Queen Elizabeth's state funeral last September. Here Express.

Kate Middleton and Prince William traveled to Amman, Jordan, for the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Alseif. The Prince and Princess of Wales were among those in attendance Thursday to see the future monarch tie the knot in an Islamic marriage ceremony at Zahran Palace.Following the ceremony, a reception is being held at Al Husseiniya Palace, where 1,700 guests are expected.The royal couple dressed to impress for the occasion, with Kate wearing a pink floor-length gown with long sleeves by Elie Saab.

Prince William and Kate Middleton attended a very special wedding on Thursday.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor International sales house Totem Films has closed distribution deals in multiple territories for “Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry,” which had its world premiere in Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. The company also closed a deal for France for another Directors’ Fortnight film, “A Song Sung Blue.” “Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry” was sold to France (Capricci), U.K. (New Wave), Benelux (Vedette), Sweden (Folkets Bio), Greece (Ama Films), Czech Republic (Artcam), and Germany (Eksystent). More deals are in negotiation. The distributor in Switzerland is Frenetic. The film, directed by Elene Navierani, centers on Etero, a 48-year-old woman living in a small village in Georgia. Etero never wanted a husband and cherishes her freedom as much as her cakes. But her choice to live alone is the cause of much gossip among her fellow villagers.

Arctic Monkeys are officially back on the road in support of their 2022 album The Car.

The Karlovy Vary Film Festival has unveiled the official selection for its upcoming 57th edition. The lineup comprises 31 films across three sections and a host of world and international premieres. Scroll down for the full list.

Kaouther Ben Hania’s powerful drama “Four Daughters” which mixes documentary and fiction to tell the story of Tunisian mother whose two elder daughters joined ISIS is scoring a slew of sales following its well-received Cannes competition premiere. French company The Party Films Sales has sealed deals on “Four Daughters” for: Benelux (Cineart); Spain (Caramel Films); Italy (I Wonder); Switzerland (Trigon); Sweden (Triart); Denmark (Camera Film); Norway (Arthaus); Finland (Cinemanse); Poland (New Horizons); Greece (Ama Films); former Yougoslavia (Discovery) and Turkey (Bir Film). Rights to the film for multiple other territories are under negotiations, the company said.

Marta Balaga Debuting Chilean director Felipe Gálvez doesn’t shy away from controversy. On the contrary: he actually welcomes it. “I love to be controversial,” he tells Variety in Cannes, where he is introducing blood-soaked Western “The Settlers,” posing some uncomfortable questions about his country’s colonial past.   “If something is controversial, it’s a good sign. It means it’s interesting. I am trying to provoke with my film, because this conversation is far from over.” Set in 1901, “The Settlers” sees three men (Benjamin Westfall, Mark Stanley and Camilo Arancibia) hired by a rich Spanish landowner (Alfredo Castro) to mark out his immense property. One is American, one Scottish, one of Indigenous descent. But what is really expected of them is to get rid of the Indigenous tribes.

SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan led a market keynote at Cannes this afternoon, during which he shared the streamer’s forthcoming slate, including a series of original European-produced shows set to hit the streamer this year and into 2024.

EXCLUSIVE: AI is in the eye of the storm in LA right now amid the writers’ strike and is also a talking point at the Cannes Film Festival due to the de-aging of Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny.

For the first time in 71 years of the Official Chart (and in the Eurovision Song Contest's 67-year history), this week sees four tracks from the contest gatecrash the Top 10 of the Official Singles Chart - the most Eurovision entries in the Official Chart Top 10 simultaneously ever, the Official Charts Company can confirm.

Eurovision 2023 winner Loreen and her banger Tattoo have moved one step closer to Official Chart domination - creeping up today to outpeak Euphoria and even potentially challenge for Number 1, the Official Charts Company can confirm.

As Liverpool sweeps the last of the stray sequins from its streets, the Eurovision effect continues to impact the Official Chart.

EXCLUSIVE: Magnolia Pictures and mk2 have acquired rights to Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck’s Untitled Ernest Cole Documentary, about South Africa’s first Black freelance photographer.

Eurovision alumni paid tribute to the legendary artists of Liverpool – where this year’s Song Contest was hosted – by performing a medley of classics from the likes of John Lennon, Dead Or Alive and Atomic Kitten.The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest was hosted last night (May 13) at Liverpool Arena; Sweden came in first place with 583 points, followed by Finland and Israel. The event opened with last year’s champions, Kalush Orchestra, performing their winning song ‘Stefania’.

Sweden has won the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, marking a historic double for its victorious artist Loreen. 

Loreen is making history at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest!

Eurovision Song Contest viewers thought a key Manchester City star had swapped the football pitch for the stage as they watched the action unfold live on BBC One.