UTA Signs Chinese Producer, Buyer & Investor Fundamental Films

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Brazilian social impact entertainment company Maria Farinha Films has taken a minority stake in Joanna Natasegara’s London-based production company Violet Films, which is known for high-profile docs such as “White Helmets,” “Virunga,” “The Edge of Democracy” and Prince Harry’s Netflix series “Invictus.” Leonardo DiCaprio and Barry Jenkins are involved as producer and writer, respectively, in Violet Films’ upcoming feature film adaptation of “Virugna” for Netflix. São Paulo-based Maria Farinha Films is a leading studio in Latin America, known for its hit Globoplay Original “Aruanas” — created by the company’s co-founders Estela Renner and Marcos Nisti — about four women in a São Paulo environmental NGO battling devastation wrought by a mining corporation.

Fundamental Films chairman Mark Gao and his CEO Ivy Hua are in Cannes to reconnect with the international industry as part of the Shanghai-based company’s return to international acquisitions and production. 

Sundance may be moving out of Utah, Hot Docs may be going away, and the Human Rights Watch Film Festival has dissolved. It’s a challenging time for film festivals in North America, but into this space comes a new cinematic event: the Round Top Film Festival in Texas.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed Swedish screenwriter, series creator and showrunner Lisa Ambjörn (Young Royals) for representation in all areas.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent France’s Les Films du Losange, the iconic distribution company owned by producer Charles Gillibert (“Annette”), has acquired Palmeraie et Desert,” the production company founded by celebrated filmmaker Raymond Depardon. Les Films du Losange, which was bought by Gillibert from longtime manager Margaret Menegoz in 2021, has been dedicated to preserving and promoting cinematic heritage since its inception.

Jamie Lang Catalan titles will be in no short supply at this year’s Cannes Festival and Marché du Film. Below, a near dozen titles that hope to impress at this year’s event. “Blue Sun Palace,” (Constance Tsang) Tsang’s debut feature, shot in New York, world premieres at this year’s Critics’ Week.

CGI movie technology, it is getting harder and harder to deliver that true spine-chilling internal fear that makes horror films so great.Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids may arrogantly scoff at retro scary movies, but it hasn’t always been this way.There was once a time when picture-goers were so viscerally terrified by what they were seeing on the big screen that it would trigger powerful physical reactions right there in the theater.During Jaws (1975) people fainted and vomited in the cinema during some of the gruesome scenes, while others stopped going swimming in the ocean altogether out of pure fear.Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Psycho (1960) sparked mania during the infamous shower stabbing scene, with reports of people hyperventilating and passing out in their cinema chairs.However, one of the most horrifying movies to ever hit the big screen, causing widespread panic, fear and repulsion, is William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973).Based on William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel, the film follows the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s attempt to rescue her through an exorcism by two Catholic priests.With some wildly disturbing scenes, including some bizarre 360 degree head spinning, eerie spider-walking on the stairs and some disgusting projective lime-green vomit, it shocked those 1970s audiences to their core.One particular vulgar scene involving a crucifix — that is too crude to describe here — shocked and upset many, especially considering the percentage of people who were religious back then.The flick was so scary that even renowned Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert was at a loss for words about how it made him feel.“I am not sure exactly what reasons people will have for seeing this movie; surely

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed filmmakers Ryan J. Sloan & Ariella Mastroianni for representation in all areas, with UTA Independent Film Group coming aboard to handle domestic sales for Sloan’s feature directorial debut, Gazer, which is set to premiere as part of Directors’ Fortnight and compete for the Camera d’Or at Cannes.

If cinema is somehow retracting, contracting, or diminishing, don’t tell the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival and all its many sidebars. Thank god for them because when you look at the Cannes 2024 line-up, cinema seems to be in great health and shape.

Robert De Niro.The off-shoot, appropriately titled De Niro Con promises to be a fitting tribute to the Oscar winner. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 80 years of Robert De Niro, my dear friend and co-conspirator for the past 35 years, than by throwing a big bash for his fellow New Yorkers,” Tribeca co-founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal said in a statement.The extravaganza, which takes place from June 14-16, is a De Niro delight.And many famous co-stars and directors will be joining in.Film screenings include “A Bronx Tale” with an introduction by co-star Chazz Palminteri.“Jackie Brown” will be followed by a conversation between Quentin Tarantino and De Niro.Billy Crystal will be chatting with De Niro after a screening of “Analyze This.”“Silver Linings Playbook” will include a convo with director David O.

UTA has signed Southern comedian, writer, and actor Fortune Feimster for representation in all areas.

but actress Faye Dunaway could barely bring herself to film the scene.Dunaway, now 83, famously portrayed silver-screen icon Joan Crawford in the 1981 cult classic “Mommie Dearest.” Directed by Frank Perry, “Mommie Dearest” is based on the tell-all memoir of the same name written by Crawford’s adopted daughter Christina, played in the film by child actor Mara Hobel. The book exposed — and the movie brought to vivid life — the alleged childhood abuse Christina suffered at the hands of her controlling, alcoholic mother. A new book by Hollywood historian A.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Global talent, entertainment, sports and advisory company UTA has signed composer Laura Karpman for representation in all areas. The signing comes on the heels of her Oscar-nominated score for best picture nominee “American Fiction.” In a statement, Karpman who has won five Emmys said, “While I’m at my core a musician and composer, there are so many things that spark me creatively.

Anne Hathaway only heard crickets when she asked the audience a question during her appearance Monday on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”The Oscar winner, 41, was promoting her new rom-com, “The Idea of You,” when she inquired: “Has anybody here read the book?”Spoiler alert: No.The crowd went silent as Fallon interjected, “No, we don’t read. This is ‘The Tonight Show.’ You want to go to Stephen Colbert if you want to get people to read books.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Paris-based international sales and production company Totem Films has revealed its production slate, with projects by Nastia Korkia, Vytautas Katkus, Ernst de Geer and Anna Roller. Totem brought together the directors and writers of the projects they are developing to take part in a Script Circle in Berlin, led by consultants Françoise von Roy and Franz Rodenkirchen. Totem partners Bérénice Vincent and Laure Parleani said that the production companies they are working with, Garagefilm, TamTam and Kalekone, were “enthusiastic about this collaborative idea, so were the directors and scriptwriters.” They added: “It is very nurturing to have a mix of different personalities, countries and backgrounds.

Bella Thorne has signed on to a new film. The actress, director, writer, and producer, has signed on to “Find Your Friends,” a thriller film following a group of friends who take a trip to Joshua Tree, only to find themselves in a hostile environment. Is Bella Thorne on the new season of The White Lotus?Bella Thorne’s latest edgy look includes dark hair and stylish hooded dressThe news were shared by Deadline, with Thorne reposting the news clipping on her Instagram stories, writing “My lovelies” over it.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed Walter Woodman, Patrick Cederberg, Matthew Hornick and Sidney Leeder, the filmmakers behind the creative collective shy kids, for representation in all areas.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Cinephil has sold Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó’s feature documentary “Agent of Happiness” to a wide range of key international territories ahead of the film’s Hot Docs debut this weekend. Deals are confirmed in the U.K.

Cillian Murphy thriller Anna has emerged as a surprise hit on Netflix, with the film becoming the fourth most-watched movie globally on the streaming platform.Anna, which is available to stream on Netflix US, sees Sasha Luss star as a former KGB agent-turned-model who is forced to return to her old profession, become a double agent and avenge the death of her previous employer in exchange for her freedom.Oppenheimer‘s Murphy plays CIA agent Leonard Miller, with Helen Mirren and Luke Evans also starring.The official synopsis reads: “Beneath a Russian woman’s striking beauty lies a hidden secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill and lead to her becoming one of the most feared assassins on the planet.”At the time of its release, Anna performed poorly with critics, receiving a score of 33 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it was far more popular with fans, receiving an audience rating of 81 per cent on the same site.The film is directed by Luc Besson, who is known for the 1994 action-thriller Léon: The Professional, starring Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman.

The subject of a timely new Variety profile praising his versatility, British actor Dan Stevens is having a moment. The actor is currently competing with himself at the box office with two different films: MonsterVerse installment “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” for Warners and directing duo Radio Silence’s new vampire movie “Abigail” for Universal.