Kathryn Newton channeled her inner “Lisa Frankenstein” for a special screening of the film at the Hollywood Athletic Club, donning a dramatic black corseted Vera Wang gown with exaggerated tulle hips.
“There was no other dress option. I have a little heart I took from my last boyfriend,” Newton told Variety on the black carpet, pointing to her blood-red heart-shaped choker and giggling, “Just kidding – I don’t have a boyfriend!”
In the film from Zelda Williams, Newton’s Lisa and a re-animated corpse dubbed “The Creature” (Cole Sprouse) embark on a murderous journey to make him whole by claiming some of his missing body parts from the living. Even though Sprouse doesn’t speak a single word in Diablo Cody’s campy script, communicating only through grunts, Newton says they had no trouble selling their chemistry.
“Have you looked at Cole Sprouse? It’s very easy to have chemistry.
“There was no other dress option. I have a little heart I took from my last boyfriend,” Newton told Variety on the black carpet, pointing to her blood-red heart-shaped choker and giggling, “Just kidding – I don’t have a boyfriend!”
In the film from Zelda Williams, Newton’s Lisa and a re-animated corpse dubbed “The Creature” (Cole Sprouse) embark on a murderous journey to make him whole by claiming some of his missing body parts from the living. Even though Sprouse doesn’t speak a single word in Diablo Cody’s campy script, communicating only through grunts, Newton says they had no trouble selling their chemistry.
“Have you looked at Cole Sprouse? It’s very easy to have chemistry.
- 2/6/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights to Sean Wang’s popular Sundance coming-of-age tale Didi, winner of the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic special jury award for best ensemble cast.
Didi is set in California’s Bay Area in 2008 and follows a group of first-generation teens seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy.
Izaac Wang stars alongside Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, and Chang Li Hua.
Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush, and Wang served as producers on the Antigravity Academy and Spark Features production, with Chris Quintos Cathcart, Tyler Boehm, Robina Riccitiello,...
Didi is set in California’s Bay Area in 2008 and follows a group of first-generation teens seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy.
Izaac Wang stars alongside Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, and Chang Li Hua.
Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush, and Wang served as producers on the Antigravity Academy and Spark Features production, with Chris Quintos Cathcart, Tyler Boehm, Robina Riccitiello,...
- 1/31/2024
- ScreenDaily
“Dìdi,” a coming-of-age drama that won the U.S. dramatic audience award at Sundance, has sold to Focus Features. The semi-autobiographical film was written, produced and directed by Sean Wang in his feature debut.
The film follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy in the throes of an awkward adolescence, as he enjoys the last month of summer before high school begins. He experiences the pangs of first love, becomes friends with some skaters (after promising to make videos of them), fights with his older sister and gets a hard-earned understanding of his mom. It is set in 2008, when MySpace was still a thing and TikTok had yet to explode.
Wang says he hopes that audiences will be able to see a version of themselves in the film, which stars Izaac Wang as the filmmaker’s cinematic alter-ego and Joan Chen (“The Last Emperor”) as his onscreen mother.
“’Dìdi (弟弟)’ is...
The film follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy in the throes of an awkward adolescence, as he enjoys the last month of summer before high school begins. He experiences the pangs of first love, becomes friends with some skaters (after promising to make videos of them), fights with his older sister and gets a hard-earned understanding of his mom. It is set in 2008, when MySpace was still a thing and TikTok had yet to explode.
Wang says he hopes that audiences will be able to see a version of themselves in the film, which stars Izaac Wang as the filmmaker’s cinematic alter-ego and Joan Chen (“The Last Emperor”) as his onscreen mother.
“’Dìdi (弟弟)’ is...
- 1/31/2024
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for AFI Fest, The Holdovers, Quiz Lady and The Killer.
Bcrf Awards Luncheon
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation held its annual Symposium and Awards Luncheon on Oct. 20, hosted by Alina Cho and honoring both Kendra Scott and Olufunmilayo (Funmi) I. Olopade, MD, Faacr.
Kendra Scott, Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade and Alina Cho
Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event
Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine media company hosted its inaugural Shine Away event on Saturday in Los Angeles, with participants including Jennifer Garner, Mindy Kaling, Tracee Ellis Ross, Fortune Feimster, Allyson Felix and The Home Edit’s Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin.
Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Fortune Feimster Reese Witherspoon and Tracee Ellis Ross
Go Gala
Go Campaign hosted its 17th annual Go Gala at Citizen News in Hollywood on Saturday,...
Bcrf Awards Luncheon
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation held its annual Symposium and Awards Luncheon on Oct. 20, hosted by Alina Cho and honoring both Kendra Scott and Olufunmilayo (Funmi) I. Olopade, MD, Faacr.
Kendra Scott, Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade and Alina Cho
Hello Sunshine’s Shine Away event
Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine media company hosted its inaugural Shine Away event on Saturday in Los Angeles, with participants including Jennifer Garner, Mindy Kaling, Tracee Ellis Ross, Fortune Feimster, Allyson Felix and The Home Edit’s Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin.
Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Fortune Feimster Reese Witherspoon and Tracee Ellis Ross
Go Gala
Go Campaign hosted its 17th annual Go Gala at Citizen News in Hollywood on Saturday,...
- 10/27/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The changing global strategies of streamers and their impact on the independent film sector were front and center for international industry reps at the Zurich Summit on Saturday.
Sasha Bühler, Netflix’s director of film for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Patrick Wachsberger, Black Bear president John Friedberg, John Lesher, Neon CEO Tom Quinn, Focus Features’ Kiska Higgs and CAA’s Roeg Sutherland were among the participants taking deep dives into major issues facing the global entertainment market.
Commenting on changing investment strategies at Netflix, Bühler stated, “We’re available in over 190 countries and we have 238 million subscribers, very diverse, around the world, and we actively produce in 50 countries, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and there are territories that are more saturated than others.”
There are definite growth markets for Netflix and the company has not slowed down its investments at all, she added.
What the company is doing,...
Sasha Bühler, Netflix’s director of film for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Patrick Wachsberger, Black Bear president John Friedberg, John Lesher, Neon CEO Tom Quinn, Focus Features’ Kiska Higgs and CAA’s Roeg Sutherland were among the participants taking deep dives into major issues facing the global entertainment market.
Commenting on changing investment strategies at Netflix, Bühler stated, “We’re available in over 190 countries and we have 238 million subscribers, very diverse, around the world, and we actively produce in 50 countries, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and there are territories that are more saturated than others.”
There are definite growth markets for Netflix and the company has not slowed down its investments at all, she added.
What the company is doing,...
- 10/1/2023
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Neon CEO Tom Quinn has addressed the debate around the new theatrical standards for Best Picture eligibility announced by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the summer.
Talking on a panel on box office strategies at the Zurich summit on Saturday (watch the panel above), the distributor and champion of the theatrical experience gave a surprising take on the new standards.
Under the new rules, which take effect for the 97th Academy Awards, theatrical release eligibility criteria for films put forward for Best Picture consideration will expand beyond the current one-week release in six U.S. qualifying cities.
As per Deadline’s report in June, the move was instigated by members of AMPAS’s Producers Branch, to bolster the org’s core mission of supporting films for the big screen and will impact streamers who have tended to enter films with the minimum release needed to qualify.
The...
Talking on a panel on box office strategies at the Zurich summit on Saturday (watch the panel above), the distributor and champion of the theatrical experience gave a surprising take on the new standards.
Under the new rules, which take effect for the 97th Academy Awards, theatrical release eligibility criteria for films put forward for Best Picture consideration will expand beyond the current one-week release in six U.S. qualifying cities.
As per Deadline’s report in June, the move was instigated by members of AMPAS’s Producers Branch, to bolster the org’s core mission of supporting films for the big screen and will impact streamers who have tended to enter films with the minimum release needed to qualify.
The...
- 9/30/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Speaking at the San Sebastian Festival, 2nd Creative Investors’ Conference, Jeb Brody, Amblin Partners president of production, weighed in on the challenges faced today by film producers aiming for theatrical releases.
“You’re no longer just in competition with whatever else is coming out that weekend, you’re in competition with the fact that the entire history of cinema is in [our pockets] right now,” he said. First and foremost on the panelists minds on Tuesday was the probable writers’ strike deal in the U.S., confirmed the same evening, that will lead to a return of film and television production.
But Brody warned:“The tension between streaming and theatrical remains, the larger studios working with their own streamers and trying to function well and make sure that that’s all making sense, remains.”
“I think a lot of the issues that led to the strikes is still with us. And it...
“You’re no longer just in competition with whatever else is coming out that weekend, you’re in competition with the fact that the entire history of cinema is in [our pockets] right now,” he said. First and foremost on the panelists minds on Tuesday was the probable writers’ strike deal in the U.S., confirmed the same evening, that will lead to a return of film and television production.
But Brody warned:“The tension between streaming and theatrical remains, the larger studios working with their own streamers and trying to function well and make sure that that’s all making sense, remains.”
“I think a lot of the issues that led to the strikes is still with us. And it...
- 9/28/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Amblin Partners President of Production Jeb Brody welcomed the tentative writers’ strike deal during an industry panel at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Tuesday but warned that some of the issues that sparked the industrial action in the first place were still swashing around.
“I think a lot of trickiness in the movie business that led to the strike is still with us, and it’s going to be a couple of years I think until they figure it out,” he said, citing tension between streaming and theatrical and as well as malingering questions around how people are remunerated.
He said the strike had impacted everybody, especially on the development front, but added that he felt Hollywood would soon get back up to speed.
“It’s definitely going to be a problem for the next little while but overall, it’s a strong industry and people will bounce back quickly,...
“I think a lot of trickiness in the movie business that led to the strike is still with us, and it’s going to be a couple of years I think until they figure it out,” he said, citing tension between streaming and theatrical and as well as malingering questions around how people are remunerated.
He said the strike had impacted everybody, especially on the development front, but added that he felt Hollywood would soon get back up to speed.
“It’s definitely going to be a problem for the next little while but overall, it’s a strong industry and people will bounce back quickly,...
- 9/26/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The second annual Creative Investors Conference runs September 26-28.
Executives from Focus Features, Warner Bros, Plan B and Neon are among the speakers at San Sebastian International Film Festival’s second annual Creative Investors Conference running September 26-28 in collaboration with CAA Media Finance.
There will be a series of ‘Fireside chats’ with Mariano César, SVP content Ge Content Latin America at HBO Max (Warner Bros. Discovery), Jeremy Kleiner, co-president at Plan B, and Killer Films co-founders Pam Koffler and Christine Vachon.
Kiska Higgs, president, production & acquisitions at Focus Features, Sarah Colvin, director of acquisitions at Neon, Jeb Brody, president of production at Amblin Partners,...
Executives from Focus Features, Warner Bros, Plan B and Neon are among the speakers at San Sebastian International Film Festival’s second annual Creative Investors Conference running September 26-28 in collaboration with CAA Media Finance.
There will be a series of ‘Fireside chats’ with Mariano César, SVP content Ge Content Latin America at HBO Max (Warner Bros. Discovery), Jeremy Kleiner, co-president at Plan B, and Killer Films co-founders Pam Koffler and Christine Vachon.
Kiska Higgs, president, production & acquisitions at Focus Features, Sarah Colvin, director of acquisitions at Neon, Jeb Brody, president of production at Amblin Partners,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
The conference is taking place from September 26-28.
Mubi’s Bobby Allen, Blueprint Pictures’ Peter Czernin, Killer Films’ Christine Vachon, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates’ Anna Higgs and Netflix’s Teresa Moneo will all attend the second annual Creative Investors’ Conference at the San Sebastian International Film Festival this month.
Organised in collaboration with CAA Media Finance, it is taking place at the festival from September 26-28 and will comprise of a series of panels and discussions open to industry badge holders, under the Spanish Screenings: Financing & Tech strand.
Scroll down for the full list of participants
Roeg Sutherland, Benjamin Kramer and...
Mubi’s Bobby Allen, Blueprint Pictures’ Peter Czernin, Killer Films’ Christine Vachon, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates’ Anna Higgs and Netflix’s Teresa Moneo will all attend the second annual Creative Investors’ Conference at the San Sebastian International Film Festival this month.
Organised in collaboration with CAA Media Finance, it is taking place at the festival from September 26-28 and will comprise of a series of panels and discussions open to industry badge holders, under the Spanish Screenings: Financing & Tech strand.
Scroll down for the full list of participants
Roeg Sutherland, Benjamin Kramer and...
- 9/5/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
San Sebastian Festival’s 2nd Creative Investors’ Conference (Cic), co-organized once more with CAA Media Finance, has lured some of the most prominent names in the international entertainment business, led by CAA Media Finance’s Roeg Sutherland, Goodfellas’ Vincent Maraval and Cinetic Media’s John Sloss.
Sutherland, Nick Ogiony and Sarah Schweitzman from CAA Media Finance will participate in the Conference, held on Sept. 26 and 27 at the Tabakalera, and moderate some of the activities, as will Wendy Mitchell, delegate and advisor of the San Sebastian Festival.
Variety has learned that the VIP international guests will hold private networking lunches/meetings with about 25 leading Spanish producers, includING Mariela Besuievsky of Tornasol Media; Eduardo Carneros, Euskadi Movie Aie; Valérie Delpierre, Inicia Films; Ignasi Estapé, Arcadia; Belén Atienza, Perdición Films; Fernando Bovaira, Mod Prods; Morena Films’ Juan Gordon and Elastica Films’ María Zamora.
Another added bonus is a podcast, jointly produced/hosted by...
Sutherland, Nick Ogiony and Sarah Schweitzman from CAA Media Finance will participate in the Conference, held on Sept. 26 and 27 at the Tabakalera, and moderate some of the activities, as will Wendy Mitchell, delegate and advisor of the San Sebastian Festival.
Variety has learned that the VIP international guests will hold private networking lunches/meetings with about 25 leading Spanish producers, includING Mariela Besuievsky of Tornasol Media; Eduardo Carneros, Euskadi Movie Aie; Valérie Delpierre, Inicia Films; Ignasi Estapé, Arcadia; Belén Atienza, Perdición Films; Fernando Bovaira, Mod Prods; Morena Films’ Juan Gordon and Elastica Films’ María Zamora.
Another added bonus is a podcast, jointly produced/hosted by...
- 9/5/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
In June, Focus Features will release Oscar-nominated director Julie Cohen’s “Every Body,” a documentary about three intersex individuals.
It is estimated that up to 1.7% of the world’s population is born with intersex traits, according to the U.N.’s Human Rights Office. The term intersex is used to describe people born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. These traits may be evident at birth, emerge at puberty, or become apparent later in life.
Produced in partnership with NBC News Studios, “Every Body” investigates the lives of actor and screenwriter River Gallo (they/them), political consultant Alicia Roth Weigel (she/they), and Ph.D. student Sean Saifa Wall (he/him). The docu examines how all three subjects moved from childhoods marked by shame, secrecy, and non-consensual surgeries to thriving adulthoods after each set aside medical advice to keep their bodies a...
It is estimated that up to 1.7% of the world’s population is born with intersex traits, according to the U.N.’s Human Rights Office. The term intersex is used to describe people born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. These traits may be evident at birth, emerge at puberty, or become apparent later in life.
Produced in partnership with NBC News Studios, “Every Body” investigates the lives of actor and screenwriter River Gallo (they/them), political consultant Alicia Roth Weigel (she/they), and Ph.D. student Sean Saifa Wall (he/him). The docu examines how all three subjects moved from childhoods marked by shame, secrecy, and non-consensual surgeries to thriving adulthoods after each set aside medical advice to keep their bodies a...
- 3/9/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for The Mandalorian, Creed III and History of the World, Part II.
Creed III premiere
Michael B. Jordan premiered his directorial debut in Hollywood on Monday alongside costars Tessa Thompson and Jonathan Majors.
Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Mila Davis-Kent and Michael B. Jordan Tessa Thompson and Jonathan Majors Michael B. Jordan and Marsai Martin
History of the World, Part II premiere
Hulu celebrated the premiere of the Mel Brooks sequel series at The Hollywood Legion on Monday with stars Mel Brooks, Nick Kroll, Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes, Jay Ellis, Josh Gad, Dove Cameron, Pamela Adlon, Sarah Silverman, Hannah Einbinder, Jack McBrayer, Jason Mantzoukas, Marla Gibbs, Michaela Watkins, Reggie Watts, Jon Daly, Timothy Simons, Lauren Lapkus, Malcom Barrett, Ken Marino and Sam Richardson.
Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes, Mel Brooks,...
Creed III premiere
Michael B. Jordan premiered his directorial debut in Hollywood on Monday alongside costars Tessa Thompson and Jonathan Majors.
Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Mila Davis-Kent and Michael B. Jordan Tessa Thompson and Jonathan Majors Michael B. Jordan and Marsai Martin
History of the World, Part II premiere
Hulu celebrated the premiere of the Mel Brooks sequel series at The Hollywood Legion on Monday with stars Mel Brooks, Nick Kroll, Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes, Jay Ellis, Josh Gad, Dove Cameron, Pamela Adlon, Sarah Silverman, Hannah Einbinder, Jack McBrayer, Jason Mantzoukas, Marla Gibbs, Michaela Watkins, Reggie Watts, Jon Daly, Timothy Simons, Lauren Lapkus, Malcom Barrett, Ken Marino and Sam Richardson.
Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes, Mel Brooks,...
- 3/3/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Todd Field (“Tár“) was recently honored with three Oscar nominations for Focus Features’ psychological drama: Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. The auteur sat down with Gold Derby’s Daniel Montgomery to discuss every aspect of the movie, including when he originally conceived of the character of Egot-winning composer Lydia Tár (Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett) and the correlation between filmmaking and conducting.
Field talks about there being several rules for the film and breaks down the “four points of view” in which audiences see Lydia at different moments. He was previously nominated at the Academy Awards for “In the Bedroom” and “Little Children”, and he’s now hoping to claim his first golden statue for “Tár.”
Watch the full video above and read the complete interview transcript below.
SEEOscar predictions in all 23 categories
Daniel Montgomery: I’m Gold Derby editor Daniel Montgomery, here with Todd Field, the writer and director of Tár,...
Field talks about there being several rules for the film and breaks down the “four points of view” in which audiences see Lydia at different moments. He was previously nominated at the Academy Awards for “In the Bedroom” and “Little Children”, and he’s now hoping to claim his first golden statue for “Tár.”
Watch the full video above and read the complete interview transcript below.
SEEOscar predictions in all 23 categories
Daniel Montgomery: I’m Gold Derby editor Daniel Montgomery, here with Todd Field, the writer and director of Tár,...
- 2/17/2023
- by Latasha Ford and Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Back in November, Focus Features released three odd teaser posters for their upcoming psychological thriller Inside, posters that showed things like canned food, moldy fruit, and a pigeon instead of the film’s star Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man: No Way Home). Now the company has unveiled a new poster for Inside, and this one actually has Dafoe on it! You can check it out at the bottom of this article.
Focus Features will be giving Inside a theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on March 10, 2023.
Directed by Vasilis Katsoupis, who previously made the 2016 documentary My Friend Larry Gus (about an engineering student who ditches his studies to record a music album), from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins (The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz), Inside tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with...
Focus Features will be giving Inside a theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on March 10, 2023.
Directed by Vasilis Katsoupis, who previously made the 2016 documentary My Friend Larry Gus (about an engineering student who ditches his studies to record a music album), from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins (The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz), Inside tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with...
- 1/17/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
One of the first things you learn about writing screenplays is that, by and large, one page of your script will equate to about one minute of the running time. Obviously, there's some wiggle room in there, but that ends up being a pretty general rule. So, if you have a two-hour movie, chances are strong that the script will be about 120 pages long. Take Rian Johnson's screenplay for "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery." It is 134 pages long, and the film cuts to its closing credits after 131 minutes. Pretty close.
Then there's "TÁR." Todd Field's first film in 16 years has a screenplay that has already won Best Screenplay awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics and earned nominations from other associations and groups still waiting to announce a winner, which could very well be "TÁR." It is an entirely original,...
Then there's "TÁR." Todd Field's first film in 16 years has a screenplay that has already won Best Screenplay awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics and earned nominations from other associations and groups still waiting to announce a winner, which could very well be "TÁR." It is an entirely original,...
- 1/11/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and its subsequent U.S. release on Oct. 7, Todd Field’s “Tár” has become a rare thing: a much-discussed art-house film that demands your attention, if not your obsession. On repeat viewing, Cate Blanchett’s performance as the famous conductor Lydia Tár deepens and becomes more complicated, beautiful and upsetting, as the enigmatic layers of Field’s screenplay continue to unfold for the audience. Now, Variety is exclusively exhibiting the script for the first time.
In Variety’s Jan. 5 cover story, Field and Blanchett discussed the making of “Tár,” why they were interested in this story, and how they created this character. They had met a decade earlier over dinner to discuss a project with Joan Didion that ended up not happening, and Field had written Lydia Tár — a character he’d been thinking about “for about 10 years,” he said — for Blanchett alone.
In Variety’s Jan. 5 cover story, Field and Blanchett discussed the making of “Tár,” why they were interested in this story, and how they created this character. They had met a decade earlier over dinner to discuss a project with Joan Didion that ended up not happening, and Field had written Lydia Tár — a character he’d been thinking about “for about 10 years,” he said — for Blanchett alone.
- 1/9/2023
- by Kate Aurthur
- Variety Film + TV
Yesterday, Focus Features unveiled a trio of strange teaser posters for their upcoming psychological thriller Inside, posters that showed things like canned food, moldy fruit, and a pigeon instead of the film’s star Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man: No Way Home). Those posters seemed to imply that Inside is going to be an odd, quirky film – but now that a trailer for Inside has arrived online, it doesn’t appear to be as off-the-wall as the posters were. Instead, it looks like this thriller is going to be quite intense, carried by another terrific performance from Dafoe. You can watch the trailer in the embed above.
Focus Feature will be giving Inside a theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on March 10, 2023.
Directed by Vasilis Katsoupis, who previously made the 2016 documentary My Friend Larry Gus, from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins (The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz), Inside tells the story of Nemo,...
Focus Feature will be giving Inside a theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on March 10, 2023.
Directed by Vasilis Katsoupis, who previously made the 2016 documentary My Friend Larry Gus, from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins (The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz), Inside tells the story of Nemo,...
- 11/17/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
No one does crazed isolation like Willem Dafoe.
The “Lighthouse” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star leads upcoming Focus Features film “Inside,” directed by Vasilis Katsoupis (“My Friend Larry Gus”).
“Inside” tells the story of Nemo (Dafoe), an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive.
Gene Bervoets, Eliza Stuyck, and Josia Krug also star, but “Inside” is billed as mostly a standalone Dafoe-led feature.
The film is written by Ben Hopkins, and produced by Giorgos Karnavas, Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo. Karnavas’ Heretic production company most recently funded Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness.”
“It’s a dream to have made this film, the way we wanted to, having the privilege to work with Willem and all these amazing filmmakers that supported us,...
The “Lighthouse” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” star leads upcoming Focus Features film “Inside,” directed by Vasilis Katsoupis (“My Friend Larry Gus”).
“Inside” tells the story of Nemo (Dafoe), an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive.
Gene Bervoets, Eliza Stuyck, and Josia Krug also star, but “Inside” is billed as mostly a standalone Dafoe-led feature.
The film is written by Ben Hopkins, and produced by Giorgos Karnavas, Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo. Karnavas’ Heretic production company most recently funded Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness.”
“It’s a dream to have made this film, the way we wanted to, having the privilege to work with Willem and all these amazing filmmakers that supported us,...
- 11/17/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Focus Features will be giving the psychological thriller Inside a theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on March 10, 2023, and today they have unveiled a trio of very strange teaser posters for the film. You can check those out at the bottom of this article.
Directed by Vasilis Katsoupis, who previously made the 2016 documentary My Friend Larry Gus, from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins (The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz), Inside tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive.
The film stars Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Gene Bervoets (The Vanishing), Josia Krug (Commitment Phobia), and Eliza Stuyck (Vincent).
Giorgos Karnavas, Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo produced Inside, with Katsoupis serving as executive producer alongside Jim Stark,...
Directed by Vasilis Katsoupis, who previously made the 2016 documentary My Friend Larry Gus, from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins (The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz), Inside tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive.
The film stars Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Gene Bervoets (The Vanishing), Josia Krug (Commitment Phobia), and Eliza Stuyck (Vincent).
Giorgos Karnavas, Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo produced Inside, with Katsoupis serving as executive producer alongside Jim Stark,...
- 11/16/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Last summer Leos Carax’s long-awaited Annette was finally birthed into the world. As delightfully strange and singular as one would expect a musical written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael of the Sparks to be, it also thankfully will not be the last cinematic creation from the band.
Focus Features, who released Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers, is now reuniting with the Maels for a new project titled X Crucior. While there are no specific details yet on the “musical epic,” the duo will be writing and executive producing the original project and Focus’ Kiska Higgs will oversee production on behalf of the studio. Staying as prolific as ever, Sparks will release their 27th studio album in 2023, following 2020’s A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip and, of course, the Annette album.
“We think it’s a modern musical and something that has intentions of being something special and...
Focus Features, who released Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers, is now reuniting with the Maels for a new project titled X Crucior. While there are no specific details yet on the “musical epic,” the duo will be writing and executive producing the original project and Focus’ Kiska Higgs will oversee production on behalf of the studio. Staying as prolific as ever, Sparks will release their 27th studio album in 2023, following 2020’s A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip and, of course, the Annette album.
“We think it’s a modern musical and something that has intentions of being something special and...
- 11/4/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Exclusive: Focus Features is getting back in business with musicians Ron and Russell Mael, after serving as the distributor for the 2021 Edgar Wright doc The Sparks Brothers, of which the duo were the subjects. The studio has today announced the launch of development on X Crucior, an original musical epic to be written and exec produced by the Maels.
Specifics as to the film’s plot are being kept under wraps, and whether a director has been attached to the project is not yet clear. But Focus’ Kiska Higgs will oversee production on behalf of the studio.
Brothers Ron and Russell Mael are best known for their work as the avant-garde pop-and-rock duo Sparks, and are currently enjoying a career resurgence following the release of two film projects including The Sparks Brothers. That feature takes audiences on a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with the brother bandmates,...
Specifics as to the film’s plot are being kept under wraps, and whether a director has been attached to the project is not yet clear. But Focus’ Kiska Higgs will oversee production on behalf of the studio.
Brothers Ron and Russell Mael are best known for their work as the avant-garde pop-and-rock duo Sparks, and are currently enjoying a career resurgence following the release of two film projects including The Sparks Brothers. That feature takes audiences on a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with the brother bandmates,...
- 11/3/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Black Adam, Halloween Ends, The Watcher and the New York Film Festival.
New York Film Festival
The annual film fest continued its second week at Lincoln Center with screenings for Women Talking, Armageddon Time, She Said and The Inspection.
Claire Foy, Judith Ivey, Michelle McLeod, Sheila McCarthy, Sarah Polley, Rooney Mara, Kate Hallett and Liv McNeil attend the red carpet event for ‘Women Talking’ on Oct. 10 in New York City. Producer Marc Butan, Focus Features vice chairman Jason Cassidy, Jeremy Strong, Anne Hathaway, director James Gray, Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Focus Features president of production and acquisitions Kiska Higgs, Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski and producer Rodrigo Teixeira at the ‘Armageddon Time’ screening on Oct. 12. Jodi Kantor, Zoe Kazan, Megan Twohey and Carey Mulligan attend the red...
New York Film Festival
The annual film fest continued its second week at Lincoln Center with screenings for Women Talking, Armageddon Time, She Said and The Inspection.
Claire Foy, Judith Ivey, Michelle McLeod, Sheila McCarthy, Sarah Polley, Rooney Mara, Kate Hallett and Liv McNeil attend the red carpet event for ‘Women Talking’ on Oct. 10 in New York City. Producer Marc Butan, Focus Features vice chairman Jason Cassidy, Jeremy Strong, Anne Hathaway, director James Gray, Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Focus Features president of production and acquisitions Kiska Higgs, Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski and producer Rodrigo Teixeira at the ‘Armageddon Time’ screening on Oct. 12. Jodi Kantor, Zoe Kazan, Megan Twohey and Carey Mulligan attend the red...
- 10/14/2022
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Being known as the man behind "The Witch" would already cement you as a notable voice in horror, but to immediately follow it up with "The Lighthouse" and "The Northman" shows a filmmaker who won't stop, and thankfully has no plans to. Whichever way you look at it, Robert Eggers just keeps on winning. All three of his films have been period pieces, both intimate and massive in scope, showing how capable he is at transitioning from one to the other.
When Eggers took the leap to work with a major studio outside of A24, "The Northman" was a critically-acclaimed success, but the box office appeal wasn't there to recuperate its 90 million budget. This was bad news for all sorts of reasons, but the most devastating was the unlikely chance of getting his passion project off the ground. It was right around 2019 that Eggers expressed interest in his own adaptation of "Nosferatu,...
When Eggers took the leap to work with a major studio outside of A24, "The Northman" was a critically-acclaimed success, but the box office appeal wasn't there to recuperate its 90 million budget. This was bad news for all sorts of reasons, but the most devastating was the unlikely chance of getting his passion project off the ground. It was right around 2019 that Eggers expressed interest in his own adaptation of "Nosferatu,...
- 10/7/2022
- by Matthew Bilodeau
- Slash Film
Focus Features has picked up the Willem Dafoe psychological thriller Inside and set a theatrical release of March 10, 2023. Focus is handling Inside in the U.S. and Canada while Universal International will distribute overseas.
The movie, which reps the feature directorial debut of Vasilis Katsoupis, tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive. Ben Hopkins wrote the screenplay based on an original idea by Katsoupis.
The film is produced by Giorgos Karnavas of Greek production and sales outfit Heretic, which is behind this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness and Critics Week winner Feathers. Also producing are Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo and executive produced by Katsoupis, Jim Stark, Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Charles E. Breitkreuz,...
The movie, which reps the feature directorial debut of Vasilis Katsoupis, tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive. Ben Hopkins wrote the screenplay based on an original idea by Katsoupis.
The film is produced by Giorgos Karnavas of Greek production and sales outfit Heretic, which is behind this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness and Critics Week winner Feathers. Also producing are Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo and executive produced by Katsoupis, Jim Stark, Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Charles E. Breitkreuz,...
- 10/3/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Bankside represented filmmakers in the deal.
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights from Bankside to the psychological thriller Inside starring Willem Dafoe and has set a March 10 2023 US release date.
Vasilis Katsoupis makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins based on an original idea by Katsoupis. Focus will distribute in the US and Universal Pictures International will release across the rest of the world.
Inside follows Nemo, an art thief who gets trapped in a New York penthouse after the heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, Nemo...
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights from Bankside to the psychological thriller Inside starring Willem Dafoe and has set a March 10 2023 US release date.
Vasilis Katsoupis makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Ben Hopkins based on an original idea by Katsoupis. Focus will distribute in the US and Universal Pictures International will release across the rest of the world.
Inside follows Nemo, an art thief who gets trapped in a New York penthouse after the heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, Nemo...
- 10/3/2022
- by Jeremy Kay¬Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Click here to read the full article.
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Andor, Blonde, Do Revenge and Silent Twins.
Blonde Los Angeles premiere
Following Blonde‘s Venice debut, Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody and director Andrew Dominik brought their Netflix film to Los Angeles on Tuesday, premiering at the Tcl Chinese Theatre.
From left: Andrew Dominik, Ana de Armas and Adrien Brody From left: Ted Sarandos, Ana de Armas and Scott Stuber
Silent Twins special screening
Director Agnieszka Smoczyńska and star Letitia Wright attended a special New York City screening for their film Silent Twins on Tuesday at Metrograph.
From left: Kiska Higgs, Klaudia Smieja-Rostworowska, Letitia Wright, Agnieszka Smoczynska and Ben Pugh Danai Gurira (left) and Letitia Wright
Do Revenge special screening
Stars Maya Hawke, Camila Mendes, Sophie Turner and Sarah Michelle Gellar...
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Andor, Blonde, Do Revenge and Silent Twins.
Blonde Los Angeles premiere
Following Blonde‘s Venice debut, Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody and director Andrew Dominik brought their Netflix film to Los Angeles on Tuesday, premiering at the Tcl Chinese Theatre.
From left: Andrew Dominik, Ana de Armas and Adrien Brody From left: Ted Sarandos, Ana de Armas and Scott Stuber
Silent Twins special screening
Director Agnieszka Smoczyńska and star Letitia Wright attended a special New York City screening for their film Silent Twins on Tuesday at Metrograph.
From left: Kiska Higgs, Klaudia Smieja-Rostworowska, Letitia Wright, Agnieszka Smoczynska and Ben Pugh Danai Gurira (left) and Letitia Wright
Do Revenge special screening
Stars Maya Hawke, Camila Mendes, Sophie Turner and Sarah Michelle Gellar...
- 9/16/2022
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Events include the inaugural Creative Investors’ Conference, a panel on crisis in streaming and a focus on Serbia.
The 70th San Sebastian International Film Festival (September 16-24) will mark a return to full form for its industry programme, with a higher industry attendance expected than ever before and the inaugural edition of the much-anticipated Creative Investors’ conference.
Some 2,009 industry delegates will attend in-person, with 1,956 on site, and just 53 participating online as the festival continues to offer an online-only industry accreditation.
Last year, 1,625 delegates from industry attended, with 140 participating online – a time when strict Covid restrictions were in-place, including mandatory mask wearing,...
The 70th San Sebastian International Film Festival (September 16-24) will mark a return to full form for its industry programme, with a higher industry attendance expected than ever before and the inaugural edition of the much-anticipated Creative Investors’ conference.
Some 2,009 industry delegates will attend in-person, with 1,956 on site, and just 53 participating online as the festival continues to offer an online-only industry accreditation.
Last year, 1,625 delegates from industry attended, with 140 participating online – a time when strict Covid restrictions were in-place, including mandatory mask wearing,...
- 9/16/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
The San Sebastian International Film Festival has long been one of the Spanish-speaking world’s most prominent film festivals and as the 70th edition of the festival is nearly underway, the much-loved European event has looked to beef up its industry components in a bid to attract a wider pool of delegates, notably from North America.
This year will see the launch of the new San Sebastian Festival Creative Investors’ Conference, which is co-organized with CAA Media Finance. The two-day conference, which runs September 19-20, will see a host of top global industry execs from companies such as 30West, A24, Anonymous Content, Focus Features, Mubi, Neon, Netflix and Wild Bunch International among others, touch down in the Basque Country.
“Something we’ve had in mind for some years now is to improve and enlarge our industry activities,” festival director José Luis Rebordinos tells Deadline, who says the initiative was organised...
This year will see the launch of the new San Sebastian Festival Creative Investors’ Conference, which is co-organized with CAA Media Finance. The two-day conference, which runs September 19-20, will see a host of top global industry execs from companies such as 30West, A24, Anonymous Content, Focus Features, Mubi, Neon, Netflix and Wild Bunch International among others, touch down in the Basque Country.
“Something we’ve had in mind for some years now is to improve and enlarge our industry activities,” festival director José Luis Rebordinos tells Deadline, who says the initiative was organised...
- 9/13/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
With few big sales titles available at TIFF this year — a Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin two-hander and Lin-Manuel Miranda-produced YA feature excepted — business coming out of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival looks muted at best.
The vast majority of TIFF films already have domestic distribution in place — with studios and indie players like Neon and A24 looking to use the North America festival as an awards season springboard. What’s left is a smattering of sales titles, Cannes holdovers and a handful of out-of-festival buyers’ screenings to stir up interest.
Focus Features’ production and acquisitions head Kiska Higgs is optimistic that the sluggish indie theatrical market will eventually bounce back from its Covid slump and pull people away from streaming services — “I can’t imagine a world in which I want to be on my couch for any second longer than...
With few big sales titles available at TIFF this year — a Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin two-hander and Lin-Manuel Miranda-produced YA feature excepted — business coming out of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival looks muted at best.
The vast majority of TIFF films already have domestic distribution in place — with studios and indie players like Neon and A24 looking to use the North America festival as an awards season springboard. What’s left is a smattering of sales titles, Cannes holdovers and a handful of out-of-festival buyers’ screenings to stir up interest.
Focus Features’ production and acquisitions head Kiska Higgs is optimistic that the sluggish indie theatrical market will eventually bounce back from its Covid slump and pull people away from streaming services — “I can’t imagine a world in which I want to be on my couch for any second longer than...
- 9/7/2022
- by Mia Galuppo and Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
After a typically eclectic year for the speciality banner that has seen hits, including Kenneth Branagh’s black-and-white semi-autobiographical Oscar winner Belfast, misses such as Robert Eggers’ rampaging 70 million-plus viking revenge thriller The Northman, and releases like the Downton Abbey sequel, Edgar Wright’s creepy 60s time-traveler Last Night in Soho and lo-fi Brit comedy Brian and Charles (featuring perhaps the most ridiculous robot ever seen on screen), Focus Features kicks off its fall festival season with a more classical number.
Or is it? Not a huge deal is known about TÁR, Todd Field’s much-hyped return to the director’s chair 15 years after his last feature Little Children, aside from the fact that it stars Cate Blanchett as a celebrated fictional composer and conductor.
According to Focus’ president of production and acquisitions Kiska Higgs the film is, well, hard to describe exactly,...
After a typically eclectic year for the speciality banner that has seen hits, including Kenneth Branagh’s black-and-white semi-autobiographical Oscar winner Belfast, misses such as Robert Eggers’ rampaging 70 million-plus viking revenge thriller The Northman, and releases like the Downton Abbey sequel, Edgar Wright’s creepy 60s time-traveler Last Night in Soho and lo-fi Brit comedy Brian and Charles (featuring perhaps the most ridiculous robot ever seen on screen), Focus Features kicks off its fall festival season with a more classical number.
Or is it? Not a huge deal is known about TÁR, Todd Field’s much-hyped return to the director’s chair 15 years after his last feature Little Children, aside from the fact that it stars Cate Blanchett as a celebrated fictional composer and conductor.
According to Focus’ president of production and acquisitions Kiska Higgs the film is, well, hard to describe exactly,...
- 8/31/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Margarethe Von Trotta To Receive Lifetime Achievement Honor At The European Film Awards
German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 35th European Film Awards. von Trotta will receive the honor at a ceremony in Reykjavik, Iceland, on December 10 where she will be an honorary guest. Born in Berlin and raised in Düsseldorf, von Trotta started her career as an actress, in theatre and appeared in films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Volker Schlöndorff before moving behind the camera in 1978 with The Second Awakening of Christa Klages, her solo debut as a director. In 1981, her film Marianne and Juliane about the “German Sisters” Christiane and Gudrun Ensslin won the Golden Lion in Venice as well as two German Film Awards and an Italian David di Donatello. Previous winners of the European Film Academy’s lifetime achievement award include Agnès Varda and Judi Dench.
German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 35th European Film Awards. von Trotta will receive the honor at a ceremony in Reykjavik, Iceland, on December 10 where she will be an honorary guest. Born in Berlin and raised in Düsseldorf, von Trotta started her career as an actress, in theatre and appeared in films by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Volker Schlöndorff before moving behind the camera in 1978 with The Second Awakening of Christa Klages, her solo debut as a director. In 1981, her film Marianne and Juliane about the “German Sisters” Christiane and Gudrun Ensslin won the Golden Lion in Venice as well as two German Film Awards and an Italian David di Donatello. Previous winners of the European Film Academy’s lifetime achievement award include Agnès Varda and Judi Dench.
- 8/23/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Films presented include Baltasar Kormákur’s Whaleman (At The Ends Of The Earth) and Gerardo Herrero’s Raqqa.
Executives from Wild Bunch, A24, Netflix and Focus Features are among those who will attend the inaugural two-day Creative Investors’ conference taking place at the San Sebastian International Film Festival (Ssiff), organised in collaboration with CAA Media and running from September 19-20.
Participants will include A24 Europe’s head of film and head of TV, respectively, Rose Garnett and Piers Wenger; Netflix’s head of international original film Teresa Moneo; Focus Features’ president of production and acquisitions Kiska Higgs; Mubi’s VP...
Executives from Wild Bunch, A24, Netflix and Focus Features are among those who will attend the inaugural two-day Creative Investors’ conference taking place at the San Sebastian International Film Festival (Ssiff), organised in collaboration with CAA Media and running from September 19-20.
Participants will include A24 Europe’s head of film and head of TV, respectively, Rose Garnett and Piers Wenger; Netflix’s head of international original film Teresa Moneo; Focus Features’ president of production and acquisitions Kiska Higgs; Mubi’s VP...
- 8/23/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Co-organized with CAA Media Finance, a new San Sebastian Festival Creative Investors’ Conference will see many of the good and great of the international film business descend on September’s fest edition to be pitched 10 higher-budget Spanish movies by their producers.
The Conference will run Sept.19-20. In a cosmopolitan lineup, titles pitched include international co-productions such as “Whalemen (At the Ends of the Earth)” from “Everest” director Baltasar Kormákur as well as the latest from “Amama” helmer Asier Altuna and “Raqa,” from Gerardo Herrero, an Academy Award wining producer for “The Secret in Their Eyes.”
The conference’s high-profile international investors, producers, agents and executives take in Mubi’s Bobby Allen, Piers Wenger at A24 Europe, Focus Features’s Kiska Higgs, 30West’s Trevor Groth, Vincent Maraval at Wild Bunch International and Netflix’s Teresa Moneo.
Also confirmed are the Elysian Film Group’s Danny Perkins, Neon CEO Tom Quinn,...
The Conference will run Sept.19-20. In a cosmopolitan lineup, titles pitched include international co-productions such as “Whalemen (At the Ends of the Earth)” from “Everest” director Baltasar Kormákur as well as the latest from “Amama” helmer Asier Altuna and “Raqa,” from Gerardo Herrero, an Academy Award wining producer for “The Secret in Their Eyes.”
The conference’s high-profile international investors, producers, agents and executives take in Mubi’s Bobby Allen, Piers Wenger at A24 Europe, Focus Features’s Kiska Higgs, 30West’s Trevor Groth, Vincent Maraval at Wild Bunch International and Netflix’s Teresa Moneo.
Also confirmed are the Elysian Film Group’s Danny Perkins, Neon CEO Tom Quinn,...
- 8/23/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to “Brian and Charles,” a quirky and heartfelt comedy about an unlikely friendship that debuted to rave reviews this week at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film centers on Brian, a lonely inventor in rural Wales, who builds unconventional contraptions that rarely work. He soon sets out on his biggest project yet — spending three days to turn a washing machine and various spare parts into Charles, an artificially intelligent robot who learns English from a dictionary and has an obsession with cabbages.
Polygon’s Oli Welsh praised the film’s “warmth and tenderness” while Thrillist’s Esther Zuckerman wrote that the movie is “adorably whimsical and downright touching.”
Director Jim Archer developed the film with Film4, which co-funded the production, and the BFI, which awarded funds from the National Lottery. It is based on a short film that Archer created and written by...
The film centers on Brian, a lonely inventor in rural Wales, who builds unconventional contraptions that rarely work. He soon sets out on his biggest project yet — spending three days to turn a washing machine and various spare parts into Charles, an artificially intelligent robot who learns English from a dictionary and has an obsession with cabbages.
Polygon’s Oli Welsh praised the film’s “warmth and tenderness” while Thrillist’s Esther Zuckerman wrote that the movie is “adorably whimsical and downright touching.”
Director Jim Archer developed the film with Film4, which co-funded the production, and the BFI, which awarded funds from the National Lottery. It is based on a short film that Archer created and written by...
- 1/28/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
As the American Film Market enters its second year of online dealmaking, with films like Arclight’s “The Portable Door,” starring Christof Waltz and Sam Neill (pictured above) looking to seal deals in the virtual market, Variety spoke to four veteran film buyers and sellers about how they’ve navigated virtual markets, the lessons they’ve learned, the online platforms they’ve used and what it all will mean for doing business when (and if) the pandemic ends.
Kristen Figeroid
After nearly three years as senior VP of international sales and distribution at Endeavor Content, Figeroid rejoined film finance, production and sales company Sierra/Affinity in September as its managing director and exec VP.
Are there any effective ways to navigate virtual markets?
Don’t start at 6 a.m. — I tried that once and it was a terrible idea. [Laughter.] The biggest thing is to be entertaining, crack your jokes and not lose your audience,...
Kristen Figeroid
After nearly three years as senior VP of international sales and distribution at Endeavor Content, Figeroid rejoined film finance, production and sales company Sierra/Affinity in September as its managing director and exec VP.
Are there any effective ways to navigate virtual markets?
Don’t start at 6 a.m. — I tried that once and it was a terrible idea. [Laughter.] The biggest thing is to be entertaining, crack your jokes and not lose your audience,...
- 10/29/2021
- by Gregg Goldstein
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features will begin production on “Spoiler Alert,” a film adaptation of Michael Ausiello’s 2017 best-selling memoir titled, “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies.”
Ben Aldridge of “Fleabag” joins the previously-announced Jim Parsons in the movie. Kiska Higgs, president of productions and acquisitions announced the release Thursday. “The Big Sick” helmer Michael Showalter will direct the film.
“Spoiler Alert” revolves around a tragicomic love story between Aldridge and Parson’s characters. Ausiello, played by Parsons, is plunged into an emotional maelstrom during the 11 months after his partner, photographer Kit, played by Aldridge, is diagnosed with cancer and dies. The memoir weaves in the roller-coaster ride that was the couple’s 14-year romance.
“The moment I finished Ausiello’s incredible book, I knew Focus needed to make this film,” said Higgs. “We fell head over heels in love with Michael and Kit, and their classic New York romance, and we can’t...
Ben Aldridge of “Fleabag” joins the previously-announced Jim Parsons in the movie. Kiska Higgs, president of productions and acquisitions announced the release Thursday. “The Big Sick” helmer Michael Showalter will direct the film.
“Spoiler Alert” revolves around a tragicomic love story between Aldridge and Parson’s characters. Ausiello, played by Parsons, is plunged into an emotional maelstrom during the 11 months after his partner, photographer Kit, played by Aldridge, is diagnosed with cancer and dies. The memoir weaves in the roller-coaster ride that was the couple’s 14-year romance.
“The moment I finished Ausiello’s incredible book, I knew Focus needed to make this film,” said Higgs. “We fell head over heels in love with Michael and Kit, and their classic New York romance, and we can’t...
- 7/29/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features has greenlighted Spoiler Alert, its film adaptation of the bestselling memoir by Michael Ausiello, setting Fleabag‘s Ben Aldridge to star opposite Jim Parsons.
In the tragicomic love story, Parsons will portray Ausiello, with Aldridge playing his partner Kit.
Ausiello’s memoir Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies was published by Atria Books in 2017. In it, he unpacks the emotional maelstrom into which his relationship was plunged, in the 11 months that took Kit from his diagnosis with terminal cancer to his passing. Interwoven in the narrative are glimpses of the roller-coaster ride that was the couple’s 14-year romance.
Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) is directing, from a script by David Marshall Grant, Dan Savage and Ausiello, as we told you first.
Showalter is producing the film with Jordana Mollick under their Semi-Formal Productions banner. Parsons is also producing with Todd Spiewak and Alison Mo Massey under their That’s Wonderful Productions banner.
In the tragicomic love story, Parsons will portray Ausiello, with Aldridge playing his partner Kit.
Ausiello’s memoir Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies was published by Atria Books in 2017. In it, he unpacks the emotional maelstrom into which his relationship was plunged, in the 11 months that took Kit from his diagnosis with terminal cancer to his passing. Interwoven in the narrative are glimpses of the roller-coaster ride that was the couple’s 14-year romance.
Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) is directing, from a script by David Marshall Grant, Dan Savage and Ausiello, as we told you first.
Showalter is producing the film with Jordana Mollick under their Semi-Formal Productions banner. Parsons is also producing with Todd Spiewak and Alison Mo Massey under their That’s Wonderful Productions banner.
- 7/29/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
However a slimmed-down US and UK industry presence in general.
All the US buyers who typically look to acquire films in Official Selection are out in force at Cannes this year, despite a slimmed-down US presence overall due to a confluence of pandemic travel concerns, July Fourth holiday, and the recent virtual market.
IFC president Arianna Bocco, who has Benedetta, Bergman Island and Paris 13th District in Competition, is attending, as are Tom Quinn and a small entourage from Neon, who have Memoria and Titane in Competition and The Year Of The Everlasting Storm in Special Screenings.
Michael Barker from...
All the US buyers who typically look to acquire films in Official Selection are out in force at Cannes this year, despite a slimmed-down US presence overall due to a confluence of pandemic travel concerns, July Fourth holiday, and the recent virtual market.
IFC president Arianna Bocco, who has Benedetta, Bergman Island and Paris 13th District in Competition, is attending, as are Tom Quinn and a small entourage from Neon, who have Memoria and Titane in Competition and The Year Of The Everlasting Storm in Special Screenings.
Michael Barker from...
- 7/6/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Focus Features has landed rights to “Silent Twins,” a thriller starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance.
Based on the book by Marjorie Wallace, the film marks the English language debut of director Agnieszka Smoczynska (“The Lure”). Andrea Seigel wrote the screenplay.
Set in the 1970s and ’80s, the story follows June and Jennifer Gibbons (portrayed by Wright and Lawrance), twins from the only Black family in a small town in Wales. Feeling isolated from that unwelcoming community, the pair turn inward and reject communication with everyone but each other, retreating into their own fantasy world of artistic inspiration and adolescent desires. After a spree of vandalism inspired by an American boy they both idolize, the girls, now teenagers, are summarily sentenced to Broadmoor, an infamous psychiatric hospital, where they face the choice to separate and survive or die together.
Focus Features will distribute the film in the U.S., with Universal Pictures handling international distribution.
Based on the book by Marjorie Wallace, the film marks the English language debut of director Agnieszka Smoczynska (“The Lure”). Andrea Seigel wrote the screenplay.
Set in the 1970s and ’80s, the story follows June and Jennifer Gibbons (portrayed by Wright and Lawrance), twins from the only Black family in a small town in Wales. Feeling isolated from that unwelcoming community, the pair turn inward and reject communication with everyone but each other, retreating into their own fantasy world of artistic inspiration and adolescent desires. After a spree of vandalism inspired by an American boy they both idolize, the girls, now teenagers, are summarily sentenced to Broadmoor, an infamous psychiatric hospital, where they face the choice to separate and survive or die together.
Focus Features will distribute the film in the U.S., with Universal Pictures handling international distribution.
- 4/8/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights to feature Silent Twins, which marks the English language debut of director Agnieszka Smoczynska (The Lure).
Starring Letitia Wright (Black Panther) and Tamara Lawrance (The Long Song) as the title twin sisters, the film is based on the haunting true story of June and Jennifer Gibbons, twins from the only Black family in a small town in Wales in the 1970s and ’80s. Feeling isolated from that unwelcoming community, the pair turn inward and reject communication with everyone but each other, retreating into their own fantasy world of artistic inspiration and adolescent desires. After a spree of vandalism inspired by an American boy they both idolize, the girls, now teenagers, are summarily sentenced to Broadmoor, the infamous UK psychiatric hospital, where they face the choice to separate and survive or die together.
Pic is written by Andrea Seigel and is based on book The Silent Twins by Marjorie Wallace.
Starring Letitia Wright (Black Panther) and Tamara Lawrance (The Long Song) as the title twin sisters, the film is based on the haunting true story of June and Jennifer Gibbons, twins from the only Black family in a small town in Wales in the 1970s and ’80s. Feeling isolated from that unwelcoming community, the pair turn inward and reject communication with everyone but each other, retreating into their own fantasy world of artistic inspiration and adolescent desires. After a spree of vandalism inspired by an American boy they both idolize, the girls, now teenagers, are summarily sentenced to Broadmoor, the infamous UK psychiatric hospital, where they face the choice to separate and survive or die together.
Pic is written by Andrea Seigel and is based on book The Silent Twins by Marjorie Wallace.
- 4/8/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to “Silent Twins,” a film starring “Black Panther” actress Letitia Wright.
“Silent Twins” is the English-language debut of “The Lure” director Agnieszka Smoczynska and stars Wright and Tamara Lawrance as twin sisters in Wales who are mute to everyone but themselves.
The film recently wrapped production in Poland. Focus plans to distribute the film in the U.S., while Universal Pictures International will distribute internationally.
“Silent Twins” is based on the book “The Silent Twins” by Marjorie Wallace. It tells the haunting story of June and Jennifer Gibbons, twins from the only Black family in a small town in Wales in the 1970s and ’80s.
Feeling isolated from that unwelcoming community, the pair turn inward and reject communication with everyone but each other, retreating into their own fantasy world of artistic inspiration and adolescent desires. After a spree of vandalism inspired by an American boy they both idolize,...
“Silent Twins” is the English-language debut of “The Lure” director Agnieszka Smoczynska and stars Wright and Tamara Lawrance as twin sisters in Wales who are mute to everyone but themselves.
The film recently wrapped production in Poland. Focus plans to distribute the film in the U.S., while Universal Pictures International will distribute internationally.
“Silent Twins” is based on the book “The Silent Twins” by Marjorie Wallace. It tells the haunting story of June and Jennifer Gibbons, twins from the only Black family in a small town in Wales in the 1970s and ’80s.
Feeling isolated from that unwelcoming community, the pair turn inward and reject communication with everyone but each other, retreating into their own fantasy world of artistic inspiration and adolescent desires. After a spree of vandalism inspired by an American boy they both idolize,...
- 4/8/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” a period drama starring Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert that emerged at this year’s European Film Market.
Anthony Fabian is directing the film that is based on a novella by Paul Gallico. Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams also star in the film, which Focus Features will release domestically while Universal Pictures International handles overseas distribution.
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” was made in partnership with the fashion group the House of Dior, and it tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook,...
Anthony Fabian is directing the film that is based on a novella by Paul Gallico. Jason Isaacs, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Rose Williams also star in the film, which Focus Features will release domestically while Universal Pictures International handles overseas distribution.
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” was made in partnership with the fashion group the House of Dior, and it tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook,...
- 3/31/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Focus Features has struck an eight-figure deal (we hear in the mid-teens) for world rights to feature Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, starring Oscar nominees Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) and Isabelle Huppert (Elle), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Lambert Wilson (The Matrix), Alba Baptista (Warrior Nun), Lucas Bravo (Emily In Paris) and Rose Williams (Reign).
Made in partnership with the House of Dior, the period drama tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady (Manville) in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but also the future of the iconic fashion house.
Based on the popular 1958 novella of the same name by Paul Gallico, the story...
Made in partnership with the House of Dior, the period drama tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady (Manville) in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but also the future of the iconic fashion house.
Based on the popular 1958 novella of the same name by Paul Gallico, the story...
- 3/31/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Focus Features has taken worldwide rights, excluding the UK & Ire and Australia/Nz, to Cannes and TIFF 2020 selection Limbo.
Writer-director Ben Sharrock’s (Pikadero) well-received sophomore feature about the refugee experience is set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland.
BIFA-nominee Amir El-Masry (The Night Manager) stars in the drama which also scored BIFA nominations for Breakthrough Producer, Best Cinematography and Best Casting. Festival play also included San Sebastian, where it won the Youth Jury Award, and the BFI London Film Festival where it was runner-up for the Audience Award.
Supporting cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen) and Kais Nashif (Tel Aviv On Fire).
Sharrock...
Writer-director Ben Sharrock’s (Pikadero) well-received sophomore feature about the refugee experience is set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland.
BIFA-nominee Amir El-Masry (The Night Manager) stars in the drama which also scored BIFA nominations for Breakthrough Producer, Best Cinematography and Best Casting. Festival play also included San Sebastian, where it won the Youth Jury Award, and the BFI London Film Festival where it was runner-up for the Audience Award.
Supporting cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen) and Kais Nashif (Tel Aviv On Fire).
Sharrock...
- 2/10/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Focus Features has promoted Kiska Higgs to president of production and acquisitions, the studio announced Thursday.
In her new position, she will oversee the studio’s films and work on the studio’s development, production and acquisitions for its international titles.
Higgs previously served as Focus’ executive vice president of production and acquisitions. She also spent the last 15 years in the Universal family as a production executive in Los Angeles and the studio’s London office before joining Focus’ new management team in 2016.
During her time at Focus, Higgs was behind the acquisition of films like Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” and Robin Wright’s “Land.” She also worked on key productions like “Downton Abbey,” Morgan Neville’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and Dawn Porter’s “The Way I See It.”
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with Kiska for 10 years, during which time her great taste,...
In her new position, she will oversee the studio’s films and work on the studio’s development, production and acquisitions for its international titles.
Higgs previously served as Focus’ executive vice president of production and acquisitions. She also spent the last 15 years in the Universal family as a production executive in Los Angeles and the studio’s London office before joining Focus’ new management team in 2016.
During her time at Focus, Higgs was behind the acquisition of films like Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” and Robin Wright’s “Land.” She also worked on key productions like “Downton Abbey,” Morgan Neville’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and Dawn Porter’s “The Way I See It.”
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with Kiska for 10 years, during which time her great taste,...
- 2/4/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Focus Features has elevated Kiska Higgs to president of production and acquisitions.
In her new role, she will oversee the studio’s films and team across development, production and acquisition for domestic and international titles. Higgs will continue to work from the Focus Features headquarters in Los Angeles.
Higgs, who previously served as executive VP of production and acquisitions at Focus, has worked at Universal for 15 years. She began as a production executive in Los Angeles at Universal Pictures and at the studio’s London office before joining Focus in 2016.
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with Kiska for 10 years, during which time her great taste, strong relationships, and insights into the marketplace and the culture have been a not-so-secret weapon for Universal and then Focus,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said. “We are extremely fortunate to now have her leading our creative team where she will grow our slate in scope,...
In her new role, she will oversee the studio’s films and team across development, production and acquisition for domestic and international titles. Higgs will continue to work from the Focus Features headquarters in Los Angeles.
Higgs, who previously served as executive VP of production and acquisitions at Focus, has worked at Universal for 15 years. She began as a production executive in Los Angeles at Universal Pictures and at the studio’s London office before joining Focus in 2016.
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with Kiska for 10 years, during which time her great taste, strong relationships, and insights into the marketplace and the culture have been a not-so-secret weapon for Universal and then Focus,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said. “We are extremely fortunate to now have her leading our creative team where she will grow our slate in scope,...
- 2/4/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features has elevated Kiska Higgs to President of Production and Acquisitions.
In her new post, she will oversee the studio’s films and team across development, production and acquisitions for the classic label’s domestic and foreign slate. Higgs will continue to work from the Focus Features headquarters in Los Angeles.
She recently served as EVP of Production & Acquisitions and is a 15-year vet of Universal, having been a production executive in the Los Angles and London offices before transitioning to Focus in 2016.
At Focus she has been involved in such pick-ups as Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman, which recently picked up four Golden Globe nominations including Best Drama Feature, Director, Actress Drama Carey Mulligan and screenplay. Other projects include Robin Wright’s Land which debuted at Sundance, Carnival Films and Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey and Working Title and Edgar Wright’s upcoming Last Night In Soho. Higgs...
In her new post, she will oversee the studio’s films and team across development, production and acquisitions for the classic label’s domestic and foreign slate. Higgs will continue to work from the Focus Features headquarters in Los Angeles.
She recently served as EVP of Production & Acquisitions and is a 15-year vet of Universal, having been a production executive in the Los Angles and London offices before transitioning to Focus in 2016.
At Focus she has been involved in such pick-ups as Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman, which recently picked up four Golden Globe nominations including Best Drama Feature, Director, Actress Drama Carey Mulligan and screenplay. Other projects include Robin Wright’s Land which debuted at Sundance, Carnival Films and Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey and Working Title and Edgar Wright’s upcoming Last Night In Soho. Higgs...
- 2/4/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Executive has spent last 15 years in Universal fold.
Focus Features has promoted Kiska Higgs to president of production and acquisitions working across US and international titles.
Higgs previously served at Focus as EVP of production and acquisitions and has spent the last 15 years in the Universal fold.
She was a Universal Pictures production executive in Los Angeles and worked at the studio’s London office prior to joining Focus’s new management team in 2016.
In her time at Focus, Higgs has worked on Emerald Fennell’s awards contender Promising Young Woman and Robin Wright’s Land, as well as Downton Abbey,...
Focus Features has promoted Kiska Higgs to president of production and acquisitions working across US and international titles.
Higgs previously served at Focus as EVP of production and acquisitions and has spent the last 15 years in the Universal fold.
She was a Universal Pictures production executive in Los Angeles and worked at the studio’s London office prior to joining Focus’s new management team in 2016.
In her time at Focus, Higgs has worked on Emerald Fennell’s awards contender Promising Young Woman and Robin Wright’s Land, as well as Downton Abbey,...
- 2/4/2021
- ScreenDaily
Focus Features has promoted Kiska Higgs to president of production and acquisitions.
In her new role, Higgs will oversee development, production and acquisitions for domestic and international titles as the studio grows its slate. She most recently served at Focus as executive vp production and acquisitions, having been in the Universal family for 15 years and joined the studio’s management team in 2016.
Higgs’ recent film acquisitions at Focus have included Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman and Robin Wright’s Land, which just debuted at Sundance.
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with Kiska for ten years, during which time her great ...
In her new role, Higgs will oversee development, production and acquisitions for domestic and international titles as the studio grows its slate. She most recently served at Focus as executive vp production and acquisitions, having been in the Universal family for 15 years and joined the studio’s management team in 2016.
Higgs’ recent film acquisitions at Focus have included Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman and Robin Wright’s Land, which just debuted at Sundance.
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with Kiska for ten years, during which time her great ...
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