Happy Friday readers. Tom Grater here looking back on the week’s top international headlines.
Mip TV Comes To An End
We got there eventually: The first Cannes-based Mip TV for three years took place earlier this week and, after some initial travel chaos that had the entire UK contingent scrabbling to reach Nice airport by Sunday night, things settled into a familiar pattern. In a sense, Mip TV felt like an extension of the previous fortnight’s Series Mania in that streamers and European talent were top of everyone’s talking-point lists. Delivering a keynote, HBO Max Global Boss Johannes Larcher talked up his streamer’s position in Europe, declaring “it’s not always best to be first.” Meanwhile, Candle Media Co-Founder Kevin Mayer, one of the founding fathers of Disney+, gave attendees a window into his strategy and Sony International Production Boss Wayne Garvie detailed grand ambitions to...
Mip TV Comes To An End
We got there eventually: The first Cannes-based Mip TV for three years took place earlier this week and, after some initial travel chaos that had the entire UK contingent scrabbling to reach Nice airport by Sunday night, things settled into a familiar pattern. In a sense, Mip TV felt like an extension of the previous fortnight’s Series Mania in that streamers and European talent were top of everyone’s talking-point lists. Delivering a keynote, HBO Max Global Boss Johannes Larcher talked up his streamer’s position in Europe, declaring “it’s not always best to be first.” Meanwhile, Candle Media Co-Founder Kevin Mayer, one of the founding fathers of Disney+, gave attendees a window into his strategy and Sony International Production Boss Wayne Garvie detailed grand ambitions to...
- 4/8/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello Insiders, Tom Grater here delivering a newsletter packed full of the week’s most important headlines from across the film and TV world.
Series Mania Delivers Optimism
Full of positivity: Series Mania is winding down today (although the prestigious International Competition winner is still to be announced) and it’s been a week full of optimism. European creatives and industry execs were out in droves for the first major festival that was almost entirely restriction-less. There was the odd teething problem (seeking press badges was akin to a joyless treasure hunt and patchy wi-fi was a constant talking point) but gone are the days of tests and masks and the delegates were loving it, with several well attended parties taking place when the sun went down.
Keeping it “local”: The message to take away from the forum sessions was loud and clear. The streamers and studios are in Europe and they want content,...
Series Mania Delivers Optimism
Full of positivity: Series Mania is winding down today (although the prestigious International Competition winner is still to be announced) and it’s been a week full of optimism. European creatives and industry execs were out in droves for the first major festival that was almost entirely restriction-less. There was the odd teething problem (seeking press badges was akin to a joyless treasure hunt and patchy wi-fi was a constant talking point) but gone are the days of tests and masks and the delegates were loving it, with several well attended parties taking place when the sun went down.
Keeping it “local”: The message to take away from the forum sessions was loud and clear. The streamers and studios are in Europe and they want content,...
- 3/25/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders, Tom Grater here with your weekly round-up of our top international headlines.
Ukraine Crisis Intensifies
Covering conflict: It has been another week of tough news from the embattled nation of Ukraine, with Russia’s military assault on the country intensifying and no sign of a peace accord being reached. Here’s a rundown of our coverage of the conflict over the past five days:
Foreign Affairs Correspondent Hollie McKay was back with another special report for Deadline from on-the-ground. Her interviews with people sheltering from the war in Kyiv, including Ukrainian actor-musician Roman Matsyuta, are powerful.
Bekmambetov speaks: It has been difficult for Russians to speak out against the invasion, particularly since a new censorship law was passed, but some have been able to lodge protests. Russian-Kazakh director Timur Bekmambetov spoke to Deadline from Israel this week, condemning the “tragedy” in Ukraine and announcing he is...
Ukraine Crisis Intensifies
Covering conflict: It has been another week of tough news from the embattled nation of Ukraine, with Russia’s military assault on the country intensifying and no sign of a peace accord being reached. Here’s a rundown of our coverage of the conflict over the past five days:
Foreign Affairs Correspondent Hollie McKay was back with another special report for Deadline from on-the-ground. Her interviews with people sheltering from the war in Kyiv, including Ukrainian actor-musician Roman Matsyuta, are powerful.
Bekmambetov speaks: It has been difficult for Russians to speak out against the invasion, particularly since a new censorship law was passed, but some have been able to lodge protests. Russian-Kazakh director Timur Bekmambetov spoke to Deadline from Israel this week, condemning the “tragedy” in Ukraine and announcing he is...
- 3/11/2022
- by Tom Grater and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders. Here is your final dose of the biggest international headlines and analysis of 2021 before we take a break until Jan 6. Thanks so much for your support this year and we hope you have a lovely Xmas and New Year. Oh and, as ever, to get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Scripted Boom Time
Start with the good news: Some good news to end the year before we move onto the bad as a mammoth BFI report showed 2021 is set to be a record-breaking year for high-end TV (Hetv) and film in the UK. Accompanying this week’s 324-page Screen Business report, which focused on 2017-2019, were stats for the first three quarters of 2021 showing spend to be at a whopping £4.7Bn ($6.3Bn), with £6Bn ($8Bn) predicted for the full year as many more projects have been ordered in the past three months.
Scripted Boom Time
Start with the good news: Some good news to end the year before we move onto the bad as a mammoth BFI report showed 2021 is set to be a record-breaking year for high-end TV (Hetv) and film in the UK. Accompanying this week’s 324-page Screen Business report, which focused on 2017-2019, were stats for the first three quarters of 2021 showing spend to be at a whopping £4.7Bn ($6.3Bn), with £6Bn ($8Bn) predicted for the full year as many more projects have been ordered in the past three months.
- 12/17/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders, Tom Grater here delivering your post-Thanksgiving rundown of the week’s top headlines. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
UK Broadcasters In The Crosshairs
License fee drama: BBC Chair Richard Sharp wasn’t mincing words this week when talking about the future of the UK’s primary public broadcaster, stating that “there will be consequences” for program budgets if the license fee stops rising with inflation from next year. Delivering the keynote at the Voice of the Listener & Viewer conference, Sharp suggested that less commercial programming such as local news was likely to take the biggest hit.
Negative culture: The Chair also warned that BBC staff have been left “beleaguered” after “persistent attacks from the press and other sources. His comments came after the Royal Family criticized BBC2 documentary The Princes and the Press for containing “unfounded claims”. “We’ve...
UK Broadcasters In The Crosshairs
License fee drama: BBC Chair Richard Sharp wasn’t mincing words this week when talking about the future of the UK’s primary public broadcaster, stating that “there will be consequences” for program budgets if the license fee stops rising with inflation from next year. Delivering the keynote at the Voice of the Listener & Viewer conference, Sharp suggested that less commercial programming such as local news was likely to take the biggest hit.
Negative culture: The Chair also warned that BBC staff have been left “beleaguered” after “persistent attacks from the press and other sources. His comments came after the Royal Family criticized BBC2 documentary The Princes and the Press for containing “unfounded claims”. “We’ve...
- 11/26/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Friday’s the day: here’s your weekly International Insider and it’s Max Goldbart taking you through the biggest stories of the past seven days. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
‘Rust’ Ripple Effects
Film world mourns: More than a week has now passed since the tragic death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and, as more and more details emerge, the film world is in mourning. Tributes have flooded in from all over for the Ukrainian born DoP, who was accidentally shot in the stomach by Alec Baldwin last Thursday. As time goes on, Hutchins’ name will likely become synonymous with discussion of gun safety on sets and the global community has been looking at what it can do to ensure such an incident never happens again.
Safety is paramount: As U.S. Senators and Councilman call for a complete ban on live guns on set,...
‘Rust’ Ripple Effects
Film world mourns: More than a week has now passed since the tragic death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and, as more and more details emerge, the film world is in mourning. Tributes have flooded in from all over for the Ukrainian born DoP, who was accidentally shot in the stomach by Alec Baldwin last Thursday. As time goes on, Hutchins’ name will likely become synonymous with discussion of gun safety on sets and the global community has been looking at what it can do to ensure such an incident never happens again.
Safety is paramount: As U.S. Senators and Councilman call for a complete ban on live guns on set,...
- 10/29/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders, Tom Grater here delivering your weekly batch of international headlines. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
The Numbers Game
New record: South Korean action drama Squid Game is officially a phenomenon. It was already widely accepted that the show was on its way to becoming one of the biggest original streaming hits of all time, and on Tuesday Netflix confirmed it. The series drew 111 million viewers in its first month on the platform, per internal estimates, which makes it the biggest launch in the company’s history. That’s including all English-language content, with the show surpassing Bridgerton to hit the mark.
What does this mean? Squid Game is yet another example of how global platforms such as Netflix don’t rely on the English language for hit content. The likes of Money Heist, Dark and Lupin have all proven...
The Numbers Game
New record: South Korean action drama Squid Game is officially a phenomenon. It was already widely accepted that the show was on its way to becoming one of the biggest original streaming hits of all time, and on Tuesday Netflix confirmed it. The series drew 111 million viewers in its first month on the platform, per internal estimates, which makes it the biggest launch in the company’s history. That’s including all English-language content, with the show surpassing Bridgerton to hit the mark.
What does this mean? Squid Game is yet another example of how global platforms such as Netflix don’t rely on the English language for hit content. The likes of Money Heist, Dark and Lupin have all proven...
- 10/15/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Fresh from blowing open the London Film Festival with his irrepressible Netflix title The Harder They Fall, director Jeymes Samuel came to Deadline’s Contenders Film: London today for a lively panel with his leading man, Jonathan Majors. Set in the American West around the turn of the last century, the film stars Majors as outlaw Nat Love. When Love discovers that an old enemy is out of prison, he reunites his gang to seek revenge on the man who killed his parents. Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield and Rj Cyler round out the cast — and just to add to the film’s impressive star wattage, the original music was composed by R&b legend Jay-Z, who also produced.
Speaking to Deadline’s Tom Grater, Samuel explained that his intention in making a Western film with a mixed-gender and largely Black cast was to bring...
Speaking to Deadline’s Tom Grater, Samuel explained that his intention in making a Western film with a mixed-gender and largely Black cast was to bring...
- 10/9/2021
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders, Tom Grater here with your weekly overview of our top international news. I’d also like to wish a warm welcome to Max Goldbart, who joined us this week as our new International TV Editor. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
HBO Max’s Euro Ambitions
Across the pond: HBO Max is coming to Europe and don’t we now all know it. At the swankiest of swanky virtual events on Tuesday, a host of WarnerMedia’s top execs surrounded themselves with dragons, pet eagles and Sarah Jessica Parker to unveil more details of the long-awaited Europe push, although there was still no word on a UK launch date.
Where, when and how much?: HBO Max will launch in 27 European territories over the coming year, starting with the Nordics, Spain and Andorra later this month before moving to 14 Central and Eastern European territories,...
HBO Max’s Euro Ambitions
Across the pond: HBO Max is coming to Europe and don’t we now all know it. At the swankiest of swanky virtual events on Tuesday, a host of WarnerMedia’s top execs surrounded themselves with dragons, pet eagles and Sarah Jessica Parker to unveil more details of the long-awaited Europe push, although there was still no word on a UK launch date.
Where, when and how much?: HBO Max will launch in 27 European territories over the coming year, starting with the Nordics, Spain and Andorra later this month before moving to 14 Central and Eastern European territories,...
- 10/8/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Deadline Contenders Film: London, our annual awards-season kickoff that is gearing up for its hybrid in-person/virtual edition this weekend, has finalized its lineup of panelists for this year’s showcase, which will put the spotlight on 19 of the year’s buzziest films and their filmmakers, actors and below-the-line talent for BAFTA, AMPAS and guild voters.
The list of participants for the all-day event Saturday, October 9 at the Ham Yard Hotel, which kicks off at 8 a.m. London time (a virtual edition begins at 9:30 a.m.), features a who’s who of actors and creators behind this year’s top films from nine participating studios and streamers.
Among the 44 confirmed attendees will be The Tender Bar‘s George Clooney and Grant Heslov; Respect‘s Jennifer Hudson; Dune‘s Denis Villeneuve and star Rebecca Ferguson; Palme d’Or winner Titane‘s Julia Ducournau; Encounter‘s Riz Ahmed; A Hero‘s...
The list of participants for the all-day event Saturday, October 9 at the Ham Yard Hotel, which kicks off at 8 a.m. London time (a virtual edition begins at 9:30 a.m.), features a who’s who of actors and creators behind this year’s top films from nine participating studios and streamers.
Among the 44 confirmed attendees will be The Tender Bar‘s George Clooney and Grant Heslov; Respect‘s Jennifer Hudson; Dune‘s Denis Villeneuve and star Rebecca Ferguson; Palme d’Or winner Titane‘s Julia Ducournau; Encounter‘s Riz Ahmed; A Hero‘s...
- 10/5/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Deadline has hired Max Goldbart as International TV Editor, based in London, and promoted International Film Reporter, Tom Grater, also in London.
Goldbart joins Deadline’s growing international team from UK TV trade Broadcast, where he was most recently Chief Reporter. While at Broadcast, he covered the BBC and local indies, breaking well-read stories on bullying at Gobstopper TV, the BBC’s decision to axe channel controllers, Netflix’s UK doc series team, and Disney’s hire of its Europe & Africa content chief. He was previously Senior Reporter at Print Week.
At Deadline, Goldbart will be tasked with maintaining and building on the company’s strong foothold in the UK while also bolstering our TV footprint on the continent and beyond. He can be reached at mgoldbart@deadline.com.
Meanwhile, Deadline has promoted International Film Reporter Tom Grater to Senior Reporter & Deputy Film Editor, International.
Grater joined Deadline from Screen International...
Goldbart joins Deadline’s growing international team from UK TV trade Broadcast, where he was most recently Chief Reporter. While at Broadcast, he covered the BBC and local indies, breaking well-read stories on bullying at Gobstopper TV, the BBC’s decision to axe channel controllers, Netflix’s UK doc series team, and Disney’s hire of its Europe & Africa content chief. He was previously Senior Reporter at Print Week.
At Deadline, Goldbart will be tasked with maintaining and building on the company’s strong foothold in the UK while also bolstering our TV footprint on the continent and beyond. He can be reached at mgoldbart@deadline.com.
Meanwhile, Deadline has promoted International Film Reporter Tom Grater to Senior Reporter & Deputy Film Editor, International.
Grater joined Deadline from Screen International...
- 10/4/2021
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders, Tom Grater here with your news rundown. It was the week of Bond, can Daniel Craig’s final outing as the globe-trotting spy breathe new life into the beleaguered exhibition sector? To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
‘No Time To Die’ Comes Alive
Bond is back: After what has been the most dramatic will-they-won’t-they since Ross and Rachel in Friends, MGM/Eon/Universal finally took the plunge and released Bond 25 this week, a move that will be salve to the wounds of exhibitors all around the globe. No Time To Die started rolling out on Wednesday in Korea before adding majors including Germany, Brazil and Italy on Thursday. Also opening yesterday was Bond’s homeland the UK, traditionally a box office haven for the spy. A first glance at the numbers, collated here by Nancy, look promising – the...
‘No Time To Die’ Comes Alive
Bond is back: After what has been the most dramatic will-they-won’t-they since Ross and Rachel in Friends, MGM/Eon/Universal finally took the plunge and released Bond 25 this week, a move that will be salve to the wounds of exhibitors all around the globe. No Time To Die started rolling out on Wednesday in Korea before adding majors including Germany, Brazil and Italy on Thursday. Also opening yesterday was Bond’s homeland the UK, traditionally a box office haven for the spy. A first glance at the numbers, collated here by Nancy, look promising – the...
- 10/1/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Deadline’s Contenders London is officially back and in person, with the latest edition of the movie awards-season showcase set for Saturday, October 9 at the Ham Yard Hotel. The all-day series of panels with 19 of the buzziest films and their filmmakers, actors and below-the-line talent will begin at 8 a.m. London time. There will also be a virtual edition beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Returning as host and moderator is Executive Awards Editor Joe Utichi, who steers Deadline’s awards-season coverage. He’ll be joined by fellow moderators including Deadline Co-Editor-in-Chief Mike Fleming Jr, Awardsline Deputy Editor Antonia Blyth, Television Editor Peter White, International Film Reporter Tom Grater, International Features Editor Diana Lodderhose, Awards Columnist and Film Critic Pete Hammond (who’ll be joining virtually), Awardsline contributor Damon Wise and Film Critic Anna Smith.
Throughout the event BAFTA, AMPAS and guild voters will hear from the filmmakers, stars and crew...
Returning as host and moderator is Executive Awards Editor Joe Utichi, who steers Deadline’s awards-season coverage. He’ll be joined by fellow moderators including Deadline Co-Editor-in-Chief Mike Fleming Jr, Awardsline Deputy Editor Antonia Blyth, Television Editor Peter White, International Film Reporter Tom Grater, International Features Editor Diana Lodderhose, Awards Columnist and Film Critic Pete Hammond (who’ll be joining virtually), Awardsline contributor Damon Wise and Film Critic Anna Smith.
Throughout the event BAFTA, AMPAS and guild voters will hear from the filmmakers, stars and crew...
- 9/29/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders. Tom Grater here coming to you live from Zurich this week with your round-up of the top international headlines. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
A World Of Pure Imagination
Golden ticket: Netflix landed the big one this week, wrapping up a deal to acquire the full Roald Dahl catalogue of stories, marking one of the streamer’s most significant acquisitions to date and one that the company was understood to have been chasing voraciously. The agreement extends a partnership that began in 2018, initially only covering animated adaptations, with projects to date including Taika Waititi and Phil Johnston’s upcoming series based on the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and an adaptation of Matilda The Musical with Sony and Working Title.
Franchise potential: Financial details weren’t disclosed but general consensus seems to be that this was a...
A World Of Pure Imagination
Golden ticket: Netflix landed the big one this week, wrapping up a deal to acquire the full Roald Dahl catalogue of stories, marking one of the streamer’s most significant acquisitions to date and one that the company was understood to have been chasing voraciously. The agreement extends a partnership that began in 2018, initially only covering animated adaptations, with projects to date including Taika Waititi and Phil Johnston’s upcoming series based on the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and an adaptation of Matilda The Musical with Sony and Working Title.
Franchise potential: Financial details weren’t disclosed but general consensus seems to be that this was a...
- 9/24/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders. Tom Grater here coming to you live from the San Sebastian Film Festival with the week’s top international news. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
A Royal Affair
On the block: One subject above all others dominated this week’s Royal Television Society Convention: the potential sale of iconic UK broadcaster Channel 4. Everyone had an opinion on the sale of The Great British Bake Off, Gogglebox and It’s A Sin channel. Or they tied themselves in knots trying not to have one. The government made its position clear late on Tuesday night with a press release from Dcms and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden laying out the reasons why the Conservatives want privatization. Dowden was meant to deliver a keynote on the subject later that day, however he got the chop as part of Boris Johnson’s reshuffle. His...
A Royal Affair
On the block: One subject above all others dominated this week’s Royal Television Society Convention: the potential sale of iconic UK broadcaster Channel 4. Everyone had an opinion on the sale of The Great British Bake Off, Gogglebox and It’s A Sin channel. Or they tied themselves in knots trying not to have one. The government made its position clear late on Tuesday night with a press release from Dcms and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden laying out the reasons why the Conservatives want privatization. Dowden was meant to deliver a keynote on the subject later that day, however he got the chop as part of Boris Johnson’s reshuffle. His...
- 9/17/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders. Tom Grater in the hot-seat delivering a rundown of the week’s top international news. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Five-Star Power
Andreas reports: It has been a unique start to the fall festival season. Rarely, if ever, can I recall so many movies out of Venice’s first week and the early days of Telluride getting so many positive reviews. It’s not only the ‘Oscar movies’ either. Plenty of arthouse European movies have found favor too. Why might that be? There are multiple factors potentially at play. One is that we may be experiencing a happy coincidence and confluence of quality movies. Another explanation might be that we’re experiencing a bottleneck with more movies for festivals to choose from due to the pandemic holdups. Yet another theory is that critics who have been holed up in...
Five-Star Power
Andreas reports: It has been a unique start to the fall festival season. Rarely, if ever, can I recall so many movies out of Venice’s first week and the early days of Telluride getting so many positive reviews. It’s not only the ‘Oscar movies’ either. Plenty of arthouse European movies have found favor too. Why might that be? There are multiple factors potentially at play. One is that we may be experiencing a happy coincidence and confluence of quality movies. Another explanation might be that we’re experiencing a bottleneck with more movies for festivals to choose from due to the pandemic holdups. Yet another theory is that critics who have been holed up in...
- 9/10/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders. Tom Grater here with the week’s top international news. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Life On The Lido
Andreas reports from Venice: Despite the Covid backdrop, the Venice Film Festival got underway this week with most of its usual glamour and excitement. The festival’s first 24 hours included debuts for new movies from international heavyweights including Pedro Almodovar, Paolo Sorrentino and Jane Campion. A-Listers such as Penelope Cruz, Oscar Isaac, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jessica Chastain are just a few of the names already on the Lido. The gifts keep on coming for those at the festival, with Friday morning’s anticipated double bill comprising Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Pablo Larrain’s Spencer. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for the festival, however. Increased Covid checks on the way into screenings have led to longer-than-usual queues and...
Life On The Lido
Andreas reports from Venice: Despite the Covid backdrop, the Venice Film Festival got underway this week with most of its usual glamour and excitement. The festival’s first 24 hours included debuts for new movies from international heavyweights including Pedro Almodovar, Paolo Sorrentino and Jane Campion. A-Listers such as Penelope Cruz, Oscar Isaac, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jessica Chastain are just a few of the names already on the Lido. The gifts keep on coming for those at the festival, with Friday morning’s anticipated double bill comprising Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Pablo Larrain’s Spencer. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for the festival, however. Increased Covid checks on the way into screenings have led to longer-than-usual queues and...
- 9/3/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Happy Friday International Insiders. Tom Grater here delivering you a round-up of this week’s international news. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Edinburgh TV Fest 2021
High-profile gathering: One arguably positive impact of lockdown life has been how efficient international industry events have become, admittedly after a few bumps in the road. Hats off to organizers of the Edinburgh TV Fest, who this week put on a jam-packed procession of high-profile panels, not just one after the other but even at times overlapping. It was hard to keep up with it all, but no doubt that the overall quality of discussion was high.
Highlights: Where to begin? Jack Thorne set the tone for the event in the prestigious MacTaggart Lecture slot. The National Treasure scribe called out the TV industry, saying it had “failed disabled people. Utterly and totally.” His words echoed throughout the following days,...
Edinburgh TV Fest 2021
High-profile gathering: One arguably positive impact of lockdown life has been how efficient international industry events have become, admittedly after a few bumps in the road. Hats off to organizers of the Edinburgh TV Fest, who this week put on a jam-packed procession of high-profile panels, not just one after the other but even at times overlapping. It was hard to keep up with it all, but no doubt that the overall quality of discussion was high.
Highlights: Where to begin? Jack Thorne set the tone for the event in the prestigious MacTaggart Lecture slot. The National Treasure scribe called out the TV industry, saying it had “failed disabled people. Utterly and totally.” His words echoed throughout the following days,...
- 8/27/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello International Insiders. Tom Grater here with the week’s biggest international headlines, from Nicole Kidman’s Hong Kong shopping trip to an Indian animation milestone. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Afghanistan Evacuation
Chaos in Kabul: Disturbing scenes in Afghanistan this week after a swift Taliban takeover of capital city Kabul caught western governments off-guard and caused panic among international personnel and local residents. Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi hit the headlines on Monday when she released a desperate plea to the international filmmaking community, warning that the new regime would suppress art and that the Taliban had “massacred our people”. Video footage from Kabul airport was particularly troubling, with people so desperate to leave the country they were seen clinging to airplane wheels as they took off from the tarmac. On Tuesday, U.S. and UK troops helped secure the airport which meant...
Afghanistan Evacuation
Chaos in Kabul: Disturbing scenes in Afghanistan this week after a swift Taliban takeover of capital city Kabul caught western governments off-guard and caused panic among international personnel and local residents. Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi hit the headlines on Monday when she released a desperate plea to the international filmmaking community, warning that the new regime would suppress art and that the Taliban had “massacred our people”. Video footage from Kabul airport was particularly troubling, with people so desperate to leave the country they were seen clinging to airplane wheels as they took off from the tarmac. On Tuesday, U.S. and UK troops helped secure the airport which meant...
- 8/20/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello International Insiders. Tom Grater here delivering a bumper edition of this week’s biggest international headlines. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Lotr Leaves Nz
On the move: Amazon has decided to uproot its $1Bn The Lord Of The Rings TV series from the franchise’s longtime home in New Zealand to the UK ahead of filming season two, the streamer announced yesterday. Season one, which recently wrapped, will complete post in Nz through June 2022, while pre-production will happen concurrently, scheduled to begin on Brit shores in January next year.
Reaction: The decision has sent shockwaves through the Nz audiovisual business. Crew only found out about the news just before it went public. David Strong, CEO at the New Zealand Film Commission, said in reaction: “It’s a shame and I feel for everyone who has put their hearts into this production.” As...
Lotr Leaves Nz
On the move: Amazon has decided to uproot its $1Bn The Lord Of The Rings TV series from the franchise’s longtime home in New Zealand to the UK ahead of filming season two, the streamer announced yesterday. Season one, which recently wrapped, will complete post in Nz through June 2022, while pre-production will happen concurrently, scheduled to begin on Brit shores in January next year.
Reaction: The decision has sent shockwaves through the Nz audiovisual business. Crew only found out about the news just before it went public. David Strong, CEO at the New Zealand Film Commission, said in reaction: “It’s a shame and I feel for everyone who has put their hearts into this production.” As...
- 8/13/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello International Insiders. Tom Grater here delivering your weekly dose of the week’s biggest international headlines. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Paramount+ Heading To Europe
Strong quarter: ViacomCBS unveiled its Q2 results this week, painting a rosy streaming picture as the company added 6.5 million subscribers, taking its global digital footprint to 42 million subs. The chief driver of growth is Paramount+, and the studio is eyeing significant international expansion for its premium platform. During the presentation, the company revealed it had struck a deal with Comcast-owned Sky to launch Paramount+ in a roster of European territories, part of a wider multi-year international partnership between the two media giants. Look out for Paramount+ in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 2022.
Bob Bakish: The ViacomCBS chief reaffirmed to Wall Street yesterday that his company favors a 45-day exclusive theatrical window, with...
Paramount+ Heading To Europe
Strong quarter: ViacomCBS unveiled its Q2 results this week, painting a rosy streaming picture as the company added 6.5 million subscribers, taking its global digital footprint to 42 million subs. The chief driver of growth is Paramount+, and the studio is eyeing significant international expansion for its premium platform. During the presentation, the company revealed it had struck a deal with Comcast-owned Sky to launch Paramount+ in a roster of European territories, part of a wider multi-year international partnership between the two media giants. Look out for Paramount+ in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 2022.
Bob Bakish: The ViacomCBS chief reaffirmed to Wall Street yesterday that his company favors a 45-day exclusive theatrical window, with...
- 8/6/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: IFC Films has taken North American rights to Andrea Arnold’s well-received Cannes Film Festival documentary Cow.
Cow, which made its world premiere earlier this month in the newly created Cannes Premiere section, reps IFC and Arnold’s second teaming together after her award-winning Fish Tank, which starred Katie Jarvis and Michael Fassbender.
U.S. sales rep Submarine Entertainment brokered the deal for Cow on behalf of the filmmakers. Submarine sold Todd Haynes’ The Velvet Underground to Apple TV+ back in October; that doc also made its world premiere at Cannes this year.
Cow was shot over seven years, and repped Arnold’s return to Cannes after her 2016 young-adult movie American Honey. It was produced by Kat Mansoor of Halcyon Pictures and executive produced by Rose Garnett of BBC Film and Maxyne Franklin and Sandra Whipham of Doc Society.
This film is an endeavour to consider cows. To move us closer to them.
Cow, which made its world premiere earlier this month in the newly created Cannes Premiere section, reps IFC and Arnold’s second teaming together after her award-winning Fish Tank, which starred Katie Jarvis and Michael Fassbender.
U.S. sales rep Submarine Entertainment brokered the deal for Cow on behalf of the filmmakers. Submarine sold Todd Haynes’ The Velvet Underground to Apple TV+ back in October; that doc also made its world premiere at Cannes this year.
Cow was shot over seven years, and repped Arnold’s return to Cannes after her 2016 young-adult movie American Honey. It was produced by Kat Mansoor of Halcyon Pictures and executive produced by Rose Garnett of BBC Film and Maxyne Franklin and Sandra Whipham of Doc Society.
This film is an endeavour to consider cows. To move us closer to them.
- 7/28/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello, and welcome to International Insider, I’m Jake Kanter. As the Cannes Film Festival draws to a close, join me in reflecting on the past week’s film and TV news. Want to get in touch? I’m on jkanter@deadline.com. And to get this delivered every Friday, sign up here.
Cannes Week Two
Testing times: Cannes was inevitably going to have a high-profile brush with coronavirus, and sure enough it came last weekend when we revealed that Léa Seydoux’s attendance was in doubt due to her testing positive in Paris. She canceled on Wednesday, meaning the Croisette was robbed of its rendezvous with an actress showcasing four features at the fest, including Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch and Arnaud Desplechin’s Deception. Generally, though, organizers did a good job of containing the virus, with our Tom Grater learning that the dreaded spit tests were producing...
Cannes Week Two
Testing times: Cannes was inevitably going to have a high-profile brush with coronavirus, and sure enough it came last weekend when we revealed that Léa Seydoux’s attendance was in doubt due to her testing positive in Paris. She canceled on Wednesday, meaning the Croisette was robbed of its rendezvous with an actress showcasing four features at the fest, including Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch and Arnaud Desplechin’s Deception. Generally, though, organizers did a good job of containing the virus, with our Tom Grater learning that the dreaded spit tests were producing...
- 7/16/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello, and welcome to International Insider. Jake Kanter here, as usual, bringing you everything worth knowing from the past seven days in global film and TV. It’s been a memorable week, with the film biz reuniting for a little-known event by the French seaside and football fever gripping Europe. Apologies to readers in Italy, but Come On England!
- 7/9/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello, and a warm welcome to International Insider. As the film half of the industry prepares to reunite in Cannes next week, here’s what you need to know from the past seven days. Want to get in touch? I’m on jkanter@deadline.com. And to get this delivered every Friday, sign up here.
Cannes We Dig It?
Yes, we can: It’s actually happening, Tom Grater reports. After an unprecedented 26-month gap, Cannes Film Festival returns next Tuesday, and it won’t look like any edition that has come before. Firstly, international travel remains a challenge. The U.S. is on France’s “green list,” which for vaccinated travelers should keep entry barriers to a minimum, though Deadline spoke to people this week who were still unclear how they would demonstrate their vaccinated status due to the lack of a Qr code on the U.S. vax card.
Cannes We Dig It?
Yes, we can: It’s actually happening, Tom Grater reports. After an unprecedented 26-month gap, Cannes Film Festival returns next Tuesday, and it won’t look like any edition that has come before. Firstly, international travel remains a challenge. The U.S. is on France’s “green list,” which for vaccinated travelers should keep entry barriers to a minimum, though Deadline spoke to people this week who were still unclear how they would demonstrate their vaccinated status due to the lack of a Qr code on the U.S. vax card.
- 7/2/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Hi! And welcome to International Insider. I’m Jake Kanter, here to guide you through a lorry load of news from the international film and television sector. My inbox is at your mercy if you have news or views — message me on jkanter@deadline.com. And to get this delivered every Friday, sign up here.
Channel 4 Privatization & Producer Problems
Channel 4 changes: The big news this week was the UK government firing the starting gun on a process that could end with Channel 4 being privatized. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has said an “alternative ownership model” could be better for the broadcaster behind hits including The Great British Bake Off and It’s A Sin. That will be put to the test in a weeks-long consultation, during which the industry is likely to fiercely resist the sale of a prized piece of UK television real estate. Our story.
Why it matters: Channel...
Channel 4 Privatization & Producer Problems
Channel 4 changes: The big news this week was the UK government firing the starting gun on a process that could end with Channel 4 being privatized. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has said an “alternative ownership model” could be better for the broadcaster behind hits including The Great British Bake Off and It’s A Sin. That will be put to the test in a weeks-long consultation, during which the industry is likely to fiercely resist the sale of a prized piece of UK television real estate. Our story.
Why it matters: Channel...
- 6/25/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Hello International Insiders, hope you’re getting into the Christmas spirit. Tom Grater here delivering a sack full of attention-grabbing headlines from this week of film and TV news.
Insuring The Future
World-beating lifeline: Deadline hears that other nations look on enviously at the UK’s £500M ($665M) coronavirus production insurance scheme, so it’s little wonder that British producers want more of a good thing. Led by Pact CEO John McVay, the film and TV industry is in talks with the government to extend the initiative so that shoots are covered up until June next year, rather than the current cut off of February. Given how receptive ministers have been so far, it will be a surprise if the discussions are not successful.
Why the extension matters: The hope is that it will capture a rush of productions that get cameras rolling during the longer daylight hours of spring...
Insuring The Future
World-beating lifeline: Deadline hears that other nations look on enviously at the UK’s £500M ($665M) coronavirus production insurance scheme, so it’s little wonder that British producers want more of a good thing. Led by Pact CEO John McVay, the film and TV industry is in talks with the government to extend the initiative so that shoots are covered up until June next year, rather than the current cut off of February. Given how receptive ministers have been so far, it will be a surprise if the discussions are not successful.
Why the extension matters: The hope is that it will capture a rush of productions that get cameras rolling during the longer daylight hours of spring...
- 12/18/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.