Switzerland Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Lise Pedersen Berlinale Forum entry “Shahid,” the debut feature of Iranian-German filmmaker Narges Kalhor, has been picked up by Prague-based doc specialist Filmotor ahead of its premiere at Swiss documentary festival Visions du Réel, where it is competing in the more experimental Burning Lights section. Described by Kalhor as a collective work between herself and other artists, including a costume artist and a painter from Iran, a German music composer and a choreographer from Berlin, “Shahid” shifts playfully between genres, challenging conventional filmmaking rules.

Annika Pham Talent-driven doc sales outfit Rise & Shine has boarded “Fire Fire Fire” (“Feu Feu Feu”), the feature debut of Swiss rising voice Pauline Jeanbourquin (“Dusk”), due to world premiere in the national competition strand of Nyon’s Visions du Réel docu festival. Variety has had exclusively access to the international trailer. The poetic and captivating coming-of-age story of a young girl with healing talents, is produced by high-profile Geneva-based Close Up Films, credited for the 2023 Swiss Oscar entry “Thunder” and as co-producer of the Oscar-nominated “I Am Not Your Negro.” “I enjoy working on first features, meeting a new voice, exploring and questioning what it means to direct, figuring things out together.

Lise Pedersen Zagreb-based doc specialist Splitscreen has boarded Argentinian gaucho tale “Where the Trees Bear Meat” by Alexis Franco ahead of its world premiere at Swiss documentary film festival Visions du Réel. It is one of 15 films vying for the top prize in the main international competition. Set in the Argentine Pampas, the film follows Omar, a farmer, whose cows are dying as a result of a prolonged drought.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor In Luca Guadagnino’s latest cinematic endeavor, “Challengers,” Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist form a dynamic, throuple-esque trio, each delivering performances that scream Oscar-worthy. The real question is, will Academy voters look beyond the palpable sexual chemistry to acknowledge the film’s artistic merit? That’s a challenge for the marketing maestros. Penned by newcomer Justin Kuritzkes, the spouse of “Past Lives” writer-director Celine Song, “Challengers” weaves through a 13-year narrative, chronicling the life of Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a tennis wunderkind-turned-coach, who hatches a plan for her husband Art’s (Faist) comeback.

Celtic keeper Benji Siegrist's partner Brittany Hockley opened up on the couple's fertility issues as she admitted that she's running out of time to have kids.

Lise Pedersen In her first media interview published ahead of the world premiere of her debut feature “Fragments of Ice” at Swiss documentary film festival Visions du Réel, Ukrainian director Maria Stoianova tells Variety how her film’s intention shifted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Based entirely on archival footage shot on a camcorder by her father, a figure skater in former Soviet Ukraine, the film is voiced by the director, who was born in 1986 and takes the viewer back to the mid 80s and early 90s through her family’s story, as they experience the dissolution of the Soviet Union and of their dreams of a Western paradise.

When the teamsheets were distributed at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night, few will have been surprised to see Sarina Wiegman ring the changes for England's clash with the Republic of Ireland.

EXCLUSIVE: Swiss distribution and production group Ascot Elite Entertainment has announced the start of shoot for Austrian filmmaker Gerald Salmina’s hi-octane sports doc and four-part mini series Downhill Skiers – Ain’t No Mountain Steep Enough.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Leading European distributor Global Screen, part of Telepool, has secured further international sales of high-end drama “Davos 1917” at MipTV. New acquisitions of the six-part thriller include SBS Australia, TVP in Poland and Big Tree Entertainment in India and the subcontinent. “Davos 1917,” which launched at the end of last year on SRF in Switzerland and ARD in Germany, has already been bought by a strong lineup of premium international broadcasters and streamers across North America, Europe and Asia.

Don’t expect to see Sandra Oh back on Grey’s Anatomy anytime soon.

After three successful seasons, the supernatural drama series, “Evil” will return for its fourth and final installment this summer. Yesterday, Paramount+ revealed the official trailer and premiere date for the critically acclaimed original series.

The Challenge: All Stars is nearly here!

AC/DC has claimed that he was the legendary rock band’s “best” singer.The former frontman was one of the founding members of the iconic Australian rock band in 1973 alongside Malcolm and Angus Young, drummer Colin Burgess and bassist Larry Van Kriedt.Evans provided lead vocals on AC/DC’s first official single ‘Can I Sit Next To You, Girl’ and it’s B-side ‘Rocking in the Parlour’. In 1974, Evans was replaced by Bon Scott.

Annika Pham Copenhagen-based DR Sales has secured major sales on the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner and Visions du Réel Grand Angle entry “A New Kind of Wilderness.” The film, directed by Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, has been acquired by ZDF and Arte for Germany and France, Cinema Delicatessen for the Netherlands, Dalton Distribution for Belgium, Against Gravity for Poland, Kino Pavasaris for the Baltics and Stardust for Japan. “From the moment ‘A New Kind of Wilderness’ was presented to us, we fell in love with the film,” said DR Sales’ Freja Johanne Nørgaard Sørensen.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer The “Jet Lag: The Game” creators Sam Denby, Ben Doyle and Adam Chase have set their next reality travel competition series, “The Getaway,” to debut this summer on indie streamer Nebula. The show, which unlike “Jet Lag” (where episodes drop later on YouTube) will be available exclusively on Nebula, follows six creators on a road trip through the American West as they compete in a game of social strategy and deception. While the majority of the details surrounding “The Getaway’s” format are being kept under wraps by Denby’s Wendover Productions, Variety has confirmed the cast includes Foreign Man in a Foreign Land, Matt Krol, Morning Brew’s Dan Toomey, Georgia Dow, Patrick “Patch” Lacey and Steven Bridges.

Annika Pham On the heels of its successful world launch at IDFA, the critically-acclaimed anti-colonial pic “Our Land, Our Freedom,” sold by First Hand Films, has landed a deal with BBC Africa Eye. “Our Land, Our Freedom,” a Kenyan/U.S./Portuguese co-production, and the upcoming India-set “Kalari,” to be pitched in Visions du Réel docu festival’s Swiss Preview showcase, epitomize what First Hand Films stands for.

Lise Pedersen “The Return of the Projectionist,” which is running in the main competition at Swiss doc fest Visions du Réel, where it will have its world premiere, has been picked up by Paris-based doc specialist Cat&Docs. The feature debut of Orkhan Aghazadeh, it tells the story of Samid, a former projectionist in Azerbaijan’s remote Talysh mountains, who is determined to bring cinema back to life in his village using his old Soviet film projector.

began dating Prince William in 2003 following their meeting at St. Andrews University in Scotland.The couple subsequently married in 2011 after several years of courtship, later welcoming children Prince George, 10, Prince Louis, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 8. Because of her longterm bond with William, 41, the now-Princess of Wales, 42, had been thrust into the spotlight as a young adult, having an up and down relationship with the British press.

Movistar Plus+ original film and the awaited next feature from Spain’s Iciar Bollaín (“Take My Eyes,” “Maixabel”), has closed its earliest pre-sales, struck by Film Factory Entertainment, including a bellwether deal in France. The deals come as “I’m Nevenka” has wrapped production, shooting in the Basque city of Bilbao before transferring to rural Zamora, western Spain.

Annika Pham On the eve of the global content market MipTV in Cannes, Viaplay Group’s Vanda Rapti, EVP Viaplay Select and Content Distribution, has offered a confident outlook on the Scandi streamer’s international activities and content sales. The sales executive, who joined the group in 2003, was able to announce exclusively to Variety a string of new deals on Viaplay’s premium Nordic scripted content.

King Charles sent a heartfelt message to retiring BBC reporter Nicholas Witchell last month after the monarch reportedly called the journalist an “awful man” back in 2005. In the video, which was shown at the 70-year-old journalist’s retirement party, the British monarch joked about the “ups and downs” the pair had during Witchell’s stint as a reporter covering the royal family.“It did come as a surprise to everyone there including Nicholas,” one attendee told The Daily Mail. “I think it would be fair to say the King’s message was generous and warm-hearted.” A second source told the outlet that: “The feeling within the Corporation is that everyone is pleased the King has buried the hatchet.” “What happened between them is a long time ago and both men are of an age now where it’s better not to bear grudges.” Withell, who worked at the BBC for nearly 50 years, did not divulge any other information about the message from the 75-year-old king.

Manchester City were forced into an early change in their crucial title fight against Arsenal on Sunday with Nathan Ake being replaced by Rico Lewis after just 25 minutes.

Olly Alexander and a number of other performers have released a joint statement about their participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after calls to boycott the competition in solidarity with Palestine.Yesterday (March 28) hundreds of queer artists, individuals and organisations called on Alexander to pull out of the competition this year, after its refusal to expel Israel.Now, Alexander, alongside Ireland’s Bambie Thug, Norway’s Gåte, Portugal’s Iolanda, San Marino’s Megara, Switzerland’s Nemo, Denmark’s SABA, Lithuania’s Silvester Belt and Finland’s Windows95Man, have signed a letter outlining their response.“We want to begin by acknowledging the privilege of taking part in Eurovision,” it begins.pic.twitter.com/VBNQWwPe46— olly alexander (@alexander_olly) March 29, 2024“In light of the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and particularly in Gaza, and in Israel, we do not feel comfortable being silent. It is important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages.

Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival will celebrate the centennial of Columbia Pictures with an expansive retrospective titled The Lady with the Torch, mounted in collaboration with the studio’s parent company, Sony. 

official finance report published by the Danish Palace Tuesday shows that the majority of the couple’s income — paid for by the state — covered their housing and staff costs.It also covered other “dependent” members of the Danish royal family.Of the nearly $2 million they raked in, $323,000 was set aside as a “grant” for Mary, who was the Crown Princess at the time ahead of Queen Margrethe II’s abrupt abdication in January.This left them with just under $415,000 to spend on leisure travel, shopping, and personal expenses.Margrethe, who stripped her youngest son’s family of their royal titles before her abdication, received an eye-watering sum of $8.4 million, with a private allowance of $5.7 million, in 2023.Frederik and Mary will be looking to cash in even more this year.The pair are also owners of a luxury ski lodge in Switzerland, which they list on AirBnB for up to $20,000 per week.The Danish royal family’s appanage system is set to be challenged by the government, which hopes to overhaul the current arrangement, according to local outlet DR News.This means that the royal family’s finances will be more transparent to the public, and will indicate the exact amount the royal household is given, as well as how they choose to divvy up the sum.Unlike the British royals, the Danish royal family does not need to pay taxes.Frederik and Mary ascended to the throne after Queen Margrethe — third cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II — revealed in her New Year’s speech on Dec. 31 that she would be stepping down on Jan.

Pep Guardiola is facing the biggest game of Manchester City's season without three of his most valuable defenders available.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival is set to celebrate the centennial of Columbia Pictures with a retrospective featuring classic titles spawned by the Hollywood studio between the dawn of sound and the late 1950s. The Locarno retro, titled “The Lady With the Torch –– The Centenary of Columbia Pictures,” is being curated by Ehsan Khoshbakht, co-director of Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato festival, which is dedicated to cinematic treasures of the past and organized in partnership with Switzerland’s Cinémathèque Suisse.

A Scottish hotel has been named amongst "the most stylish on the planet".

The news from the national team camps has been mixed as Pep Guardiola readies himself for the home straight of the season.