Tina Gharavi Guest Contributor Last summer, I was living in Venice Beach and had decided, due to a friend’s persistence, to visit a fortune teller. Me, ever the sceptic but game for a laugh, agreed to go along. What the fortune teller said made me roll my eyes: “I am not saying you are Cleopatra but somehow you share her story and are connected.” Less than a month later, I got a call from a production company making Jada Pinkett Smith’s “African Queens” and was subsequently hired to direct four episodes of a drama-documentary on the life of the controversial leader. The joke was on me. I remember as a kid seeing Elizabeth Taylor play Cleopatra. I was captivated, but even then, I felt the image was not right. Was her skin really that white? With this new production, could I find the answers about Cleopatra’s heritage and release her from the stranglehold that Hollywood had placed on her image?
VMI Releasing Acquires Director Gabriele Mainetti’s Venice Prize Winner ‘Freaks Vs. The Reich’
03.04.2023 - 15:57 / deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: VMI Releasing has picked up North American rights to the fantastical WWII drama Freaks vs. the Reich (formerly Freaks Out), which won eight awards at the Venice Film Festival in 2021, including the Grafetta d’Oro for Best Film, and went on to land six David di Donatello Awards from the Academy of Italian Cinema the following year. The second feature from director Gabriele Mainetti (They Call Me Jeeg) will bow in theaters and on digital on April 28th.
The film set in 1943 Rome opens on an artisanal circus owned by elderly magician, Israel (Giorgio Tirabassi). The performers, essentially his adopted family, are a curious bunch: There’s Matilde (Aurora Giovinazzo), a young beauty who’s electrically charged; the albino Cencio (Pietro Castellitto), who has the ability to control insects; the diminutive Mario (Giancarlo Martini), graced with magnetic powers; and Fulvio (Claudio Santamaria), a strongman who’s covered from head to toe with hair.
As the Nazis begin to occupy their city, Israel recognizes their best chances for survival are to escape to America where they can continue their careers. Unfortunately, he disappears and the rudderless “freaks,” left to fend for themselves, join together to search for their missing friend. Along the way, they cross paths with Franz (Franz Rogowski), a psychotic, ether-addicted, six-fingered Nazi who runs the nearby ZirkusBerlin and entertains his higher ups with lavish piano recitals. He also has visions of the future that show him the war’s end, Hitler’s suicide and 21st century inventions, and believes that the talented quartet of circus performers will help him deliver victory for the Reich. Will the “freaks” find Israel first and manage to escape the grasp of the Nazis,
‘L’immensità’ Trailer: Emanuele’s Crialese’s Exuberant Transgender Family Drama From Venice Hits Theaters In NYC/LA On May 12
How can happiness flourish amid domestic chaos and cultural intolerance? Emanuele Crialese’s film “L’immensità” explores a transgender youth’s journey toward acceptance. And now the movie hits US theaters after its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year.
‘The Goodbye Girl’ Oscar Winner Richard Dreyfuss Signs With Innovative Artists
EXCLUSIVE: Veteran actor Richard Dreyfuss, best known for his Oscar-winning turn in The Goodbye Girl, has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.
Anne Rice Spinoff Series Set In Talamasca In The Works At AMC From John Lee Hancock
The Anne Rice Cinematic Universe is potentially getting bigger.
Brittney Griner to Release Memoir Recounting Journey From Olympic Champion to Russian Prisoner
Brittney Griner is opening up about being held for months in Russian prisons on drug charges in an upcoming memoir. On Tuesday, Alfred A.
First female director of GCHQ announced
The first female director of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has been announced, and will take over the top job next month.
Douglas Ross suggests Tories should vote Labour to oust SNP
Tory voters should vote Labour at the next election if their candidate is best placed to beat the SNP, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives has suggested. Douglas Ross risked a split with Tory leader Rishi Sunak as he said people should “do what’s best for the country” to help loosen the nationalists’ grip on Scotland.
Owen Wilson, Impeccably Permed, Channels Vermont PBS Host Bob Ross In Comedy ‘Paint’ – Specialty Preview
Owen Wilson is back, with brushes, as the longtime host of a beloved but fading Burlington, Vermont-based PBS instructional art show. Paint from IFC Films opens on 800+ screens.
Luke Hemsworth Action Pic ‘Gunner’ Adds Three; Freddie Stevenson Doc ‘Trials To Triumph’ Acquired By Gravitas Ventures; ‘BlackBerry’ Nabs SFFILM Prize; More – Film Briefs
EXCLUSIVE: Grant Feely (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Connor DeWolfe (The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers) and Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Double Jeopardy) have been tapped for roles alongside Luke Hemsworth, Morgan Freeman and Joseph Baena in the upcoming actioner, Gunner.
‘The Eight Mountains’ Trailer: Cannes 2022 Jury Prize Winner Hits NYC Theaters On April 28
Felix van Groeningen‘s last film, 2018’s “Beautiful Boy” with Steve Carrell and Timothée Chalamet, was his English-language debut. But Groeningen returns to his roots, at least artistically, for his latest.
Britney Spears Documentary Director Fenton Bailey Shares What People Get Wrong About the Singer
Britney Spears' real-life personality is very different from her onstage persona. That's according to Fenton Bailey, who directed the singer's 2013 documentary , and discussed the experience during an appearance on SiriusXM's .«Because of 'Oops, I Did It Again' or 'Slave 4 U' we think she's just, like, [a] charged up sex strumpet,» Bailey told host Andy Cohen of Spears' 2000 and 2001 hit songs.«That's not who she is,» he said.
Neopol Film, The Playmaker Reteam With ‘Holy Shit!’ Director Lukas Rinker on Eco-Horror ‘Paws’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Neopol Film, a production company based in Frankfurt, and Munich-based sales agency The Playmaker have teamed for a second time with writer and director Lukas Rinker, following their collaboration on his debut feature, black comedy “Holy Shit!,” which was sold by The Playmaker to multiple territories last year. Producers Tonio Kellner, Andrea Simml and Jakob Zapf will be pitching Rinker’s latest feature film project, eco-horror “Paws,” at Frontières, a market and networking platform focused on genre film financing and co-production between Europe and North America. Frontières is organized by the Fantasia Intl. Film Festival, in partnership with the Cannes Film Market, and takes place on May 20 and 21 in Cannes.
‘Paint’ Review: Owen Wilson Channels a Fictional Bob Ross in Timid and Underpowered Comedy
What could the future possibly hold for an artist if they have grown too comfortable with success? If they have stayed put in that snug place of glory, but the times have moved on fast without them? These are the hefty considerations at the heart of “Paint,” a slight comedy that sadly embraces neither the worthwhile questions that surround its central premise nor the story’s dark humor potential.That’s too bad, because writer-director Brit McAdams’ narrative feature debut is rooted in a genuinely fascinating subject that apparently served as an inspiration for “Paint.” McAdam’s muse is Bob Ross, a real-life American public television mainstay of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Being the host of a successful PBS show called “The Joy of Painting” during that time, Ross built a loyal audience who loved and were mesmerized by his soothing voice, and even haunted by his creative process and ease with a brush, as Ross slowly created his art in front of curious eyes, narrating it softly and philosophically.
Rosie Perez Tells Feminists Their Fight for Equality Must Include Women of Color: ‘Consider That We Can Do Better’
Tatiana Siegel When it comes to activism, Rosie Perez isn’t one to merely lob a tweet. She was arrested for disorderly conduct in 2000 while protesting the U.S. Navy’s deadly air bomb training off the coast of Puerto Rico. And the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress, whose mother died of AIDS, served on President Obama’s Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, beginning in 2010. On Tuesday, she put the spotlight on first responders at Variety‘s Power of Women luncheon, presented by Lifetime, in New York City. The “White Men Can’t Jump” actor highlighted the Heart 9/11 charity organization, which was founded in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terror attack that crippled Perez’s hometown, New York City.
Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band rock MSG at first NYC concert in 7 years
Bruce Springsteen concerts in NYC have been stripped-down shows with the New Jersey legend performing solo and telling stories in a Broadway theater.But on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, the Boss was back in all his arena-rocking glory — with the E Street Band by his side once again.In the first of his area concerts on a 2023 trek that kicked off in February, Springsteen and his beloved backing band played together in NYC for the first time since “The River” tour in August 2016.And you could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air even before Springsteen and crew took the stage just 10 minutes after the scheduled 7:30 start time — the better to play those marathon, three-hour-plus concerts they’re famous for.Chants of “Bruuuuuce!” rippled through the arena until the band hit the stage, one by one, but they reached peak roar when Springsteen himself finally made his entrance.“New York City!” he shouted as if he was just as happy to be back home with his musical family.And as he launched into the “Born in the USA” anthem “No “Surrender,” it was clear that the ever-buff Boss was not backing down to Father Time — even at 73.Even when he went into “Ghosts” — from 2020’s “Letter to You,” which found him confronting his own mortality — Springsteen sounded as vital as ever.And you could feel some love from the other side when Clarence Clemons’ nephew Jake channeled the spirit of his late uncle on saxophone.Although Springsteen’s latest album, 2022’s “Only the Strong Survive,” is a solo affair — which he nodded to with the soulful swagger of his Commodores cover “Nightshift” — this tour is definitely all about those special E Street moments like him sharing the mic again with ace sidekick Steven Van Zandt again
Myke Towers on release of fourth album La Vida Es Una: "I felt burnt out, but I had to get out of my comfort zone"
Myke Towers has just released his fourth album, La Vida Es Una, which finds the Latin superstar experimenting with a wide variety of genres from all over the world.
Emilio Estevez On Long Trip To Recapture ‘The Way’ Rights, Fathom Re-Release & Plans For Another One
EXCLUSIVE: After a two year journey to gain back the rights to The Way, Emilio Estevez has arranged with Fathom Events to re-release the film nationwide on May 16 on about 800 screens or more. The effort has led to not only a chance to dust off a 12-year old film, but also to start progress on a sequel.
‘Dune: Part Two’ Won’t Have A Venice Debut But Could Still Show Up At A Later Festival
It would appear that Warner Bros. Discovery is changing things up with the release of “Dune: Part Two” later this year.
‘Dune: Part Two’ Won’t Be Debuting At Venice But A Festival Launch Is Still In Play
EXCLUSIVE: Unlike its predecessor, Dune: Part Two won’t be debuting at the Venice Film Festival, we can reveal.
Sundance Prize Winner ‘The Pod Generation’ Starring Emilia Clarke & Chiwetel Ejiofor Set For Release By Roadside Attractions, Vertical
EXCLUSIVE: Roadside Attractions and Vertical have nabbed North American rights to the futuristic fable The Pod Generation, starring 4x Emmy nominee Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave), which opened this year’s Sundance Film Festival and claimed its Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. It’s slated for release exclusively in theaters this summer.