Latvia Showbiz Latest News and Updates

FIFA+ & Others License Football Doc ‘Brazil 2002: The Real Story’

Naman Ramachandran Collective Media Group and Entourage Sports and Entertainment‘s soccer documentary feature “Brazil 2002: The Real Story,” recounting the story of the 2002 World Cup on its 20th anniversary, has sold a raft of territories worldwide. The film uses six hours of unseen archive material shot by Brazilian soccer player Juliano Belletti during the tournament, and also features interviews with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cafu and Gilberto Silva from the World Cup winning Brazil team; and, from the opposing teams across the tournament, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Oliver Kahn, Hasan Şaş and Marc Wilmots as well as referee Pierluigi Collina. FIFA has taken the film for its own streamer FIFA+, for territories including Asia (excluding Japan), Turkey and New Zealand. This is complemented by deals confirmed by distribution partner Abacus Media Rights including: Canal+ Group for Canal+ Foot and myCanal (France); Sky Deutschland (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg); Sky Italia (Italy, Republic of San Marino, Vatican City, Malta, Capodistria, Montecarlo and Italian speaking Switzerland); DBS Satellite Services (Israel and West Bank); Supersport Africa (for Africa); NOS Portugal (Portugal and PALOPs); Movistar Plus+ (Spain); and Stan Entertainment Pty (Australia).

Christopher Vourlias Warsaw-based New Europe Film Sales has closed a raft of deals on the animated feature film “Yuku and the Himalayan Flower,” from directors Rémi Durin and Arnaud Demuynck. The children’s animated feature, with graphics by Paul Jadoul, tells the story of Yuku, a little mouse who lives with her family in the basement of a castle and decides to embark on a quest to find the legendary Himalayan flower. The film, which premiered at the Annecy fest and played in the Locarno Kids strand of the Locarno Film Festival, is produced by Artémis Prods. (“Mandibules”) and co-produced by Vivement Lundi! (“Flee”), La Boîte Prods. (“March of the Penguins”), Les Films du Nord and Nadasdy Film. 

After a lifetime spent creating outrage and offence, both on and off screen, Korean master Kim Ki-duk has left the world with this final film, finished by his friends after his death. The story of a passionate affair that curdles almost immediately into jealousy and hate – but ends on a lyrically wistful note – is a startlingly appropriate rogue’s epitaph.

K.J. Yossman “The English” is set to get a star-studded red-carpet premiere in Cannes this October during Mipcom. Emily Blunt, Chaske Spencer and writer/director Hugo Blick are all set to attend the Oct. 16 premiere of the high-octane Western, which will open the festival. Mipcom runs from Oct. 17-20. The six-part series is set to air in November on BBC Two and iPlayer in the U.K. and on Prime Video in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand Drama Republic, a Median company, and Eight Rooks produce the show in association with All3Media, who are distributing the series. “Dancing With The Stars” is coming to Latvia and returning to Estonia after BBC Studios upped its deal with All Media Baltics.

The latest piece of the international Warner Bros. Discovery management puzzle has slotted into place, as the wider reshaping of the business continues. WBD General Manager Warner Bros. Discovery CEE, Baltics and Middle East (CEE MENAT) Jamie Cooke, who took on his post in June, has unveiled his team. Senior roles have gone to the likes of Lee Hobbs and long-serving Warner Bros. sales exec Roni Patel.

Naman Ramachandran Magnolia Pictures International has acquired worldwide rights, including U.S. sales rights, to “Neon Spring” by writer-director Matīss Kaža (“One Ticket Please”). The film will have its world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival on Aug.

Palaye Royale have unveiled details of an extensive European and UK tour for 2023 – check out the dates below.The band will tour from January to March and in the UK, they will play a night at London’s Brixton Academy.You can get tickets for the shows here from August 12 onwards.Palaye Royale European and UK Tour 2023:JANUARY21 – Krakow, Poland22 – Warsaw, Poland24 – Berlin, Germany26 – Copenhagen, Denmark28 – Stockholm, Sweden29 – Oslo, NorwayFEBRUARY5 – Cologne, Germany7 – Manchester, UK8 – Glasgow, UK10 – London, UK12 – Wolverhampton, UK13 – Paris, France15 – Barcelona, Spain17 – Lisbon, Portugal19 – Stuttgart, Germany20 – Zurich, Switzerland25 – Munich, GermanyMARCH1 – Vilnius Lithuania2 – Riga, Latvia3 – Tallinn, Estonia4 – Helsinki, Finland7 – Sofia, Bulgaria8 – Bucharest, Romania10 – Istanbul, TurkeyIt comes after the band recently announced the release of their fourth studio album ‘Fever Dream’, their first since 2020’s ‘The Bastards’.The band have released four singles in support of the album so far, including, its title track, ‘No Love In LA’, ‘Punching Bag’, ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Broken’.The album is out on October 28 via Sumerian Records and was made in collaboration with producer Chris Greatti, who has worked with the likes of Yungblud and Willow.Speaking about the new album recently, the band said: “Making this record felt like getting back to when we first fell in love with music.“This record is very much about self-belief and self-empowerment, and overcoming all the obstacles that life throws at you. It’s the first time we’ve really taken a hopeful approach in our music.”The band are currently playing festivals in Europe before they head on their North American from September.

Neringa Kažukauskaite Pay TV company Sky’s drama-documentary series “The Royal Mob,” directed by Fraser McDonald, is shooting in Lithuania. The show tells the saga of an extended royal family that once ruled large parts of Europe, and how their loves, marriages and feuds triggered World War I, Film New Europe reports.

rushnyk, a piece of fabric that is embroidered with traditional Ukrainian symbols. Something to note: During her arrival, Zelenska held pieces of wheat, one of Ukraine's main exports and a national symbol for the country. This comes at a moment when the Russian invasion .When Zelenska met with the Bidens, she chose a skirt suit of the palest yellow by Litkovskaya, along with a pair of heels in robin’s egg blue. The look’s jacket was double-breasted with a square neckline, following Litkovskaya’s signature geometric silhouette.

Monty Norman was a prolific singer-songwriter, best known for composing the iconic theme to the James Bond movie franchise. Norman, who has died aged 94, composed the music for 11 films and contributed to the soundtrack of more than 120, but it is for the memorable Bond signature tune that he will always be remembered.

In partnership with Amex Gold UnsignedNME and American Express have announced the final shortlist for their American Express Gold Unsigned initiative, with the six selected artists set to play at a decisive live showcase in London this week – check out the unsigned artists below.Launched back in May as a new partnership between NME and American Express, Amex Gold Unsigned will give one new artist the chance to soundtrack and feature in a forthcoming American Express advertising campaign.The chosen artist will also receive a £10,000 sync fee, mentoring from music industry professionals and a slot at Wilderness Festival on August 5.The six shortlisted artists for Amex Gold Unsigned are:Hailing from Reading, Split The Dealer – real name Sam Brett – describes his sound as “fundamentally honest, walking the wire between 90s influence and modern pop”. Brett recently became an official Sennheiser artist, while his single ‘Dreamstate’ featured on the popular gaming app Dream League Soccer 2022.The music of Megan Buckley, AKA Megzz, spans R&B, pop and neo-soul.

The cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis will be back in action defending his cruiserweight championship belts once again. Breidis reigns supreme in the division - only being defeated by Oleksandr Usyk who has now gone up to heavyweight and remains champion following his win over Anthony Joshua.

Neringa Kažukauskaite The second season of the German TV series “Sisi,” which follows the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (also known as Sisi), is currently shooting in Lithuania, Film New Europe reports.The series is produced by Story House Pictures GmbH for RTL+ and serviced by the Lithuanian company UAB Nordic Productions. The shoot is benefiting from Lithuanian Film Center’s tax incentives.The six-part second season is directed by Sven Bohse (“Dark Woods”) and Miguel Alexandre (“Spy City”), and it is written by Elena Hell, Svenja Rasocha, Robert Krause and Andreas Gutzeit.More than 100 Lithuanians are part of the international team, including production designer Algirdas Garbačiauskas and costume designer Daiva Petrulytė.

here.) The New York City fest began June 8 and concludes June 19.Read below for the full list of competition winners.U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITIONThe Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature: Good Girl Jane (United States)Dir.

Coming-of-age drama Good Girl Jane, written and directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz, took the Tribeca Festival Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature on Thursday while its star Rain Spencer won for Best Performance at the fest, which announced its winners ahead of wrapping this weekend.

Dennis Harvey Film CriticSticking to the thriller genre that’s been his stomping ground on both the big and small screen, Stephan Rick’s second English-language film “The Good Neighbor” is a remake of his 2011 German-language debut feature of the same title. The setting has changed (to Latvia, presumably for financing reasons), but the story remains largely untouched.

Naman Ramachandran The Walt Disney Company’s streamer Disney+ will be available in 42 new countries and 11 new territories this week following the launch on Tuesday in Greece, Turkey and countries in Central Eastern Europe, including Poland, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic and Croatia. Tuesday’s series of launches follow the arrival of the service in South Africa on May 18 and across West Asia and North Africa on June 8.

Dennis Harvey Film CriticHistory currently repeating itself lends a particular frisson to Latvian theater, opera and film director Viesturs Kairiss’ “January.” It takes place in early 1991, when the nation’s push for independence (alongside other Baltic states) met with armed Soviet resistance even as the U.S.S.R. was falling apart. Those historical events are interwoven with vaguely autobiographical fiction revolving around a mildly nonconformist Riga film school student, one admittedly drawn much as the director was himself in that time and place.With Moscow leadership again hawkish toward retaining and/or regaining territories of a former empire, this flashback has particular resonance, amplified by the use of archival news and activist-shot footage.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent“January,” Viesturs Kairiss’s autobiographical film set in the former Soviet Union, has been acquired for world sales by The Yellow Affair. The movie will have its world premiere at Tribeca in the international narrative competition. The coming-of-age film sheds light on the political upheaval in the early 1990’s.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s removal from being a dictator is reportedly being discussed by the Russian elite, according to an incriminating new report.

Marta Balaga Polish-born Dagmara Domińczyk, who stars in “Succession” as Karolina Novotney, the head of PR for Waystar Royco, embraces her Eastern European heritage in the upcoming animation “My Love Affair With Marriage.” Directed by Signe Baumane, also behind 2014’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” the film – inspired by Baumane’s turbulent past relationships – will premiere at Tribeca and Annecy.New Europe Film Sales is handling sales at the Cannes Market, alongside Un Certain Regard title “Godland,” Berlinale premieres “Beautiful Beings” and “A Piece of Sky,” as well as two other animations, “The Peasants” and “Yuku and the Himalayan Flower.” The actor, who voices main character Zelma, torn between traditional views on marriage, a women’s role and her own happiness, felt “an instant connection” with the Latvian animator.“We understood each other. We both come from the Eastern Bloc – it’s something we have in our genes, in our DNA.

Christopher Vourlias Riding the high of a production-servicing boom, Estonia’s domestic industry has likewise shown no signs of slowing down. Here’s a roundup of top local productions in the pipeline, from producers who are searching for international partners in Cannes:The Invisible Fight Director: Rainer Sarnet Producers: Katrin Kissa, Homeless Bob Production (Estonia), Alise Gelze, White Picture (Latvia), Amanda Livanou, Neda Film (Greece), Helen Vinogradov, Helsinki-filmi (Finland) Sarnet, whose fantasy-drama “November” played at Tribeca in 2017, returns with a ‘70s-set kung-fu comedy about a guard on the Soviet-Chinese border who, after surviving a deadly attack, decides to become a monk but must continually prove along the way that he’s capable of becoming the enlightened man he set out to be.

Eurovision Song Contest has returned for another year, bringing with it more musical drama and excitement. So far this year, Russia has been banned from the contest, while Latvia has been stamped with a censorship order and the UK afforded a rare shot at first place in the bookies. Every year, the show is presented by showbiz stalwarts from the hosting nation – and this year is no exception.

EXCLUSIVE: Two-time BAFTA nominee Maxine Peake (The Village) is set to star as renowned Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya in the timely Cannes market package Mother Russia.

The Mirror reports that the chef is one contestant BBC bosses are very keen to get on the show. The cheeky Italian has a big fanbase after becoming a star on fellow BBC show Ready, Steady, Cook before he went onto claim the I'm A Celebrity crown.

The Eurovision Song Contest is edging ever closer, with 10 excited acts winning their way to grand final last night (Tuesday May 10).

On a grey morning in Oldham town centre, Susan takes a quick cigarette break after shopping for her sister who is coming out of hospital. She's only 58-years-old but will now require 24-hour care.

A twisted brute who killed his Scots neighbour and another man claimed they had a button for an atomic bomb.

Kristine Simsone “Samuel’s Travels,” directed by Latvian/Armenian filmmaker Aik Karapetian, has been acquired by HBO Central Europe. The deal was signed by the Copenhagen-based LevelK, who picked up international sales rights on the film in September, according to Film New Europe.