French producer Dimitri Rassam is enjoying a high-profile Cannes Film Festival as producer of Competition title Limonov: The Ballad and The Count Of Monte Cristo, which scored a rousing 12-minute ovation at its Out of Competition debut.
“It’s my first film in Competition, it has been a tremendous ride,” says Rassam, who is a producer on Limonov under his Paris-based Chapter 2 banner, alongside Italy’s Lorenzo Gangarossa and Mario Gianani as well as director Kirill Serebrennikov’s long-time collaborator Ilya Stewart.
Rassam is no stranger to the Cannes red carpet having regularly accompanied his actress mother Carole Bouquet in his early 20s, before mounting the festival’s famed steps in his own right as the producer of The Little Prince and co-producer of L’Immensità.
Cinema is also in his blood on his paternal side through late producer father Jean-Pierre Rassam, and uncle Paul Rassam, the long-time friend and collaborator...
“It’s my first film in Competition, it has been a tremendous ride,” says Rassam, who is a producer on Limonov under his Paris-based Chapter 2 banner, alongside Italy’s Lorenzo Gangarossa and Mario Gianani as well as director Kirill Serebrennikov’s long-time collaborator Ilya Stewart.
Rassam is no stranger to the Cannes red carpet having regularly accompanied his actress mother Carole Bouquet in his early 20s, before mounting the festival’s famed steps in his own right as the producer of The Little Prince and co-producer of L’Immensità.
Cinema is also in his blood on his paternal side through late producer father Jean-Pierre Rassam, and uncle Paul Rassam, the long-time friend and collaborator...
- 5/24/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Take your pick. There have been countless film and TV productions adapting Alexandre Dumas’ classic 19th century tale of revenge and deception, The Count of Monte Cristo. We have seen it in different versions in 1934, 1954, 1975, 2002 and probably up to 15 more iterations. Now we have the latest, the lavish widescreen French production Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, which had its world premiere Wednesday night Out of Competition to a wildly approving full audience at the Grand Lumiere — an appropriate place to launch this film as the screen might be the best in the world, and this movie is big.
In addition to all those past film versions on the book, there are countless other movies that have stolen from this complexly plotted tale. For some reason I kept thinking of the Ocean’s movies as, like this, they involve lots of complicated plotting, and once our title character begins planning his revenge...
In addition to all those past film versions on the book, there are countless other movies that have stolen from this complexly plotted tale. For some reason I kept thinking of the Ocean’s movies as, like this, they involve lots of complicated plotting, and once our title character begins planning his revenge...
- 5/23/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Laurent Lafitte who stars in the latest version of France’s feature take of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo thinks there’s twentysomething adaptations of the classic, but each one offers something different on the 1,400 page novel.
“You have to make certain choices,” said the pic’s co-director and co-scribe Matthieu Delaporte who sprung to the project with collaborator Alexandre de La Patelliere after their work on the two-part feature version of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers.
“We had a conversation with (our producer) Dimitri (Rassam). He asked ‘What’s your dream? It wasn’t deliberate and dreamt but we walked about The Count of Monte Cristo, and then it took off like a rocket,” says de La Patellliere.
The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of a young man, Edmond Dantes (Pierre Niney), who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding...
“You have to make certain choices,” said the pic’s co-director and co-scribe Matthieu Delaporte who sprung to the project with collaborator Alexandre de La Patelliere after their work on the two-part feature version of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers.
“We had a conversation with (our producer) Dimitri (Rassam). He asked ‘What’s your dream? It wasn’t deliberate and dreamt but we walked about The Count of Monte Cristo, and then it took off like a rocket,” says de La Patellliere.
The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of a young man, Edmond Dantes (Pierre Niney), who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding...
- 5/23/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière’s three-hour French epic The Count Of Monte-Cristo had its world premiere screening Out of Competition at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday night, eliciting an enthusiastic nearly 12 minutes of applause.
This latest adaptation based on the classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas stars Pierre Niney, Anaïs Demoustier, Laurent Lafitte, Pierfrancesco Favino (also a member of the Cannes jury this year), Anamaria Vartolomei and Bastien Bouillon — all of whom were in attendance for the premiere.
Star of ‘Le Comte De Monte-Cristo’ Pierre Niney blows the audience a kiss during an enthusiastic applause after the world premiere of the film #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/CpHOIGXrmz
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 22, 2024
The film tells the story of Edmond Dantes (Niney), a young man who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After...
This latest adaptation based on the classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas stars Pierre Niney, Anaïs Demoustier, Laurent Lafitte, Pierfrancesco Favino (also a member of the Cannes jury this year), Anamaria Vartolomei and Bastien Bouillon — all of whom were in attendance for the premiere.
Star of ‘Le Comte De Monte-Cristo’ Pierre Niney blows the audience a kiss during an enthusiastic applause after the world premiere of the film #Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/CpHOIGXrmz
— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline) May 22, 2024
The film tells the story of Edmond Dantes (Niney), a young man who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After...
- 5/22/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione and Nada Aboul Kheir
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Ahead of its premiere out of competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights to The Count of Monte Cristo, a new French film based on the classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas, which it will release later this year.
Pic is directed Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, who previously scripted two-part Dumas adaptation The Three Musketeers. Samuel Goldwyn Films released both installments, with Part I: D’Atagnan unspooling to critical acclaim in December 2023 before continuing to success on home entertainment and Part II: Milady releasing this past April.
Produced by Dimitri Rassam, who also produced The Three Musketeers, the film tells the story of a young man, Edmond Dantes (Pierre Niney), who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d’If,...
Pic is directed Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, who previously scripted two-part Dumas adaptation The Three Musketeers. Samuel Goldwyn Films released both installments, with Part I: D’Atagnan unspooling to critical acclaim in December 2023 before continuing to success on home entertainment and Part II: Milady releasing this past April.
Produced by Dimitri Rassam, who also produced The Three Musketeers, the film tells the story of a young man, Edmond Dantes (Pierre Niney), who becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d’If,...
- 5/16/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with complete winners list: Despite being up for four acting category awards, The Crown‘s final season left the BAFTA TV Awards empty handed tonight in London.
Elizabeth Debicki, Lesley Manville, Salim Daw and Dominic West were all snubbed, as the the likes of Matthew Macfadyen, Jasmine Jobson, Timothy Spall and Sarah Lancashire all triumphed and the Netflix show went out quietly.
There was also a major surprise in the International category, where little-known French drama Class Act beat the likes of Beef, The Bear and The Last of Us to win the prize. Among the most shocked was the show’s star Laurent Lafitte, who urged the audience to find and watch his show — to the amusement of the audience.
The first award of the night saw Jobson beat off competition from actresses from The Crown, Succession and The Last of Us to win Best Supporting Actress for...
Elizabeth Debicki, Lesley Manville, Salim Daw and Dominic West were all snubbed, as the the likes of Matthew Macfadyen, Jasmine Jobson, Timothy Spall and Sarah Lancashire all triumphed and the Netflix show went out quietly.
There was also a major surprise in the International category, where little-known French drama Class Act beat the likes of Beef, The Bear and The Last of Us to win the prize. Among the most shocked was the show’s star Laurent Lafitte, who urged the audience to find and watch his show — to the amusement of the audience.
The first award of the night saw Jobson beat off competition from actresses from The Crown, Succession and The Last of Us to win Best Supporting Actress for...
- 5/12/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
It was a night of surprises at the BAFTA TV Awards, with “The Crown” and “Black Mirror” failing to pick up any awards while “Succession” walked away with only one for Matthew Macfadyen for best supporting actor.
Macfadyen did not attend the awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall, prompting Helena Bonham Carter, who presented the category, to walk off with the iconic gold BAFTA mask with the promise she would get it to Macfadyen.
The international category also saw upset, with frontrunners “Succession,” “Beef” and “The Bear” all failing to win the award. They were instead beaten by little-known French series “Class Act.” It was a fact acknowledged by the show’s shocked lead actor Laurent Lafitte, who, upon accepting the award, told the audience: “Please watch our show. It’s called ‘Class Act,’ it’s quite good — not just because I’m starring in it.”
In the acting categories,...
Macfadyen did not attend the awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall, prompting Helena Bonham Carter, who presented the category, to walk off with the iconic gold BAFTA mask with the promise she would get it to Macfadyen.
The international category also saw upset, with frontrunners “Succession,” “Beef” and “The Bear” all failing to win the award. They were instead beaten by little-known French series “Class Act.” It was a fact acknowledged by the show’s shocked lead actor Laurent Lafitte, who, upon accepting the award, told the audience: “Please watch our show. It’s called ‘Class Act,’ it’s quite good — not just because I’m starring in it.”
In the acting categories,...
- 5/12/2024
- by K.J. Yossman and Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
"Will you do good or will hate fill your heart?" Pathe in France has revealed the main official trailer for The Count of Monte-Cristo, which is premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival next week. It's yet another new Alexandre Dumas adaptation, written & directed by the two writers who made The Three Musketeers movies recently, though this time they're also directing. A new take on the famous novel by Dumas, about a man who gets revenge after being unfairly imprisoned. It has been adapted many times before, most notably in 2002 with Jim Caviezel & Guy Pearce; in 1975 with Richard Chamberlain & Trevor Howard; and the original classic in 1934 with Robert Donat & Elissa Landi. There's also another new Italian-French TV series version of Monte Cristo in the works. Starring Pierre Niney as Edmond, Anaïs Demoustier as Mercédès, Bastien Bouillon, Anamaria Vartolomei, with Laurent Lafitte, & Julien De Saint Jean. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d'If,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"It isn't vengeance, it's justice." Pathe in France has revealed a first look teaser trailer for yet another new Alexandre Dumas adaptation, following the immensely successful The Three Musketeers - Part I & Part II movies recently. Their new take on The Count of Monte-Cristo is written & directed by the two writers who just adapted The Three Musketeers recently, though this time they're also directing. A new adaptation of the famous novel by Dumas, about a man who gets revenge after being unfairly imprisoned. It has been adapted many times before, most notably in 2002 with Jim Caviezel & Guy Pearce; in 1975 with Richard Chamberlain & Trevor Howard; and the original classic in 1934 with Robert Donat & Elissa Landi. There's also another new Italian-French TV series version of Monte Cristo in the works, but it looks like this film will be out before that is. A film by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Hot on the heels of their success with ‘The Three Musketeers’, Pathé and Chapter 2 are bringing us a thrilling new adventure with ‘The Count of Monte-Cristo’. Starring the talented Pierre Niney, this film dives into the classic tale of Edmond Dantes, a man wrongly imprisoned who emerges to seek revenge as the wealthy Count of Monte-Cristo.
The story unfolds with Dantes arrested on his wedding day, a victim of a cruel plot. After enduring 14 years in the grim Château d’If, he escapes and discovers a fortune that fuels his transformation into the avenging Count. Set to hit French theaters on June 28, this movie promises a mix of adventure, love, and vengeance, making it a must-watch.
According to Variety, the directors Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière describe the film as a blend of genres, with a strong romantic thread. They see Edmond Dantes as a superhero of sorts,...
The story unfolds with Dantes arrested on his wedding day, a victim of a cruel plot. After enduring 14 years in the grim Château d’If, he escapes and discovers a fortune that fuels his transformation into the avenging Count. Set to hit French theaters on June 28, this movie promises a mix of adventure, love, and vengeance, making it a must-watch.
According to Variety, the directors Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière describe the film as a blend of genres, with a strong romantic thread. They see Edmond Dantes as a superhero of sorts,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Hrvoje Milakovic
- Fiction Horizon
Lille-based Series Mania, Europe’s biggest TV festival and forum, has revealed its impressive 2024 main competition, which includes three U.S. streamer bows – from Peacock, and MGM+ and Disney+/HBO Europe world premieres.
The starry lineup features, for example, the much-anticipated new Liane Moriarty adaptation “Apples Never Fall” with Annette Bening as the matriarch who suddenly disappears, leaving her picture-perfect family in disarray. Currently celebrating Oscar nomination for “Nyad,” Bening is joined in the series be by Sam Neill and Alison Brie.
Alex Wolff, recently spotted in another Oscar hopeful “Oppenheimer,” will put on his deepest voice for “So Long, Marianne” about the tumultuous relationship between Leonard Cohen and Norwegian writer Marianne Ihlen, from Norway’s Nrk.
With Wolff currently set to attend, Zal Batmanglij – behind Netflix’s “The Oa” – “The Artist’s” Bérénice Bejo, “Gossip Girl” alumni Kelly Rutherford, novelist Douglas Kennedy and France’s Laurent Lafitte will also deliver masterclasses.
The starry lineup features, for example, the much-anticipated new Liane Moriarty adaptation “Apples Never Fall” with Annette Bening as the matriarch who suddenly disappears, leaving her picture-perfect family in disarray. Currently celebrating Oscar nomination for “Nyad,” Bening is joined in the series be by Sam Neill and Alison Brie.
Alex Wolff, recently spotted in another Oscar hopeful “Oppenheimer,” will put on his deepest voice for “So Long, Marianne” about the tumultuous relationship between Leonard Cohen and Norwegian writer Marianne Ihlen, from Norway’s Nrk.
With Wolff currently set to attend, Zal Batmanglij – behind Netflix’s “The Oa” – “The Artist’s” Bérénice Bejo, “Gossip Girl” alumni Kelly Rutherford, novelist Douglas Kennedy and France’s Laurent Lafitte will also deliver masterclasses.
- 2/7/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Memento International has secured pre-sales to Bruno Dumont’s The Empire to several key territories ahead of its world premiere in Berlin’s main competition and has unveiled the first English-language trailer for the auteur-sci-fi French film.
The Empire has sold to Njuta in Sweden, Vertigo in Hungary, McF Megacom in Ex-Yugoslavia, Scanorama in Baltics, Beta in Bulgaria, and Pt Falcon in Indonesia with more territories in discussions. The film will be released by Arp Selection in France, Cineart in Benelux and Academy Two in Italy.
Set in a quiet fishing village on the Opal Coast in Northern France, The...
The Empire has sold to Njuta in Sweden, Vertigo in Hungary, McF Megacom in Ex-Yugoslavia, Scanorama in Baltics, Beta in Bulgaria, and Pt Falcon in Indonesia with more territories in discussions. The film will be released by Arp Selection in France, Cineart in Benelux and Academy Two in Italy.
Set in a quiet fishing village on the Opal Coast in Northern France, The...
- 1/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Sandrine Kiberlain stars as the French icon in the film that is now in production in France.
Memento International is launching sales of Guillaume Nicloux’s The Divine Sarah Bernhardt starring Sandrine Kiberlain as the titular French stage actresss at Unifrance’s upcoming Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris (January 16-23).
The film is now shooting in France. Produced by Les Films du Kiosque with Bac Films, the romantic biopic will portray the artist and actress renowned for her audacious personality and stage performances. It is based on a script by Nathalie Leuthreau.
TF1 Films Production and Belgium’s Umedia are also co-producing.
Memento International is launching sales of Guillaume Nicloux’s The Divine Sarah Bernhardt starring Sandrine Kiberlain as the titular French stage actresss at Unifrance’s upcoming Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris (January 16-23).
The film is now shooting in France. Produced by Les Films du Kiosque with Bac Films, the romantic biopic will portray the artist and actress renowned for her audacious personality and stage performances. It is based on a script by Nathalie Leuthreau.
TF1 Films Production and Belgium’s Umedia are also co-producing.
- 1/11/2024
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Paris-based sales company is bringing eight new titles to Rendez-Vous.
Julie Delpy’s immigration-themed comedy Meet The Barbarians (Les Barbares) is among eight new titles Paris-based sales company Charades is launching at Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous with French Cinema this month.
The event takes place from January 16-23 in Paris.
Charades extensive Rendez-Vous line-up also includes 3D animation Flow, romantic comedy Just A Couple of Days starring Camille Cottin, Jeremie Sein’s Olympic sports comedy Game Changers, Antoine Raimbault’s political thriller Smoke Signals, Gustave Kervern’s revenge story Enough Is Enough!, dark comedy Plastic Guns plus recently announced adaptation And...
Julie Delpy’s immigration-themed comedy Meet The Barbarians (Les Barbares) is among eight new titles Paris-based sales company Charades is launching at Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous with French Cinema this month.
The event takes place from January 16-23 in Paris.
Charades extensive Rendez-Vous line-up also includes 3D animation Flow, romantic comedy Just A Couple of Days starring Camille Cottin, Jeremie Sein’s Olympic sports comedy Game Changers, Antoine Raimbault’s political thriller Smoke Signals, Gustave Kervern’s revenge story Enough Is Enough!, dark comedy Plastic Guns plus recently announced adaptation And...
- 1/9/2024
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has established itself as a powerhouse of biographical series that spotlight the lives of prominent figures for a worldwide audience. Notable examples include The Crown, a detailed exploration of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign that takes the viewers to the historical era to help us get insight into British royalty’s history, power dynamics, and human drama.
Narcos takes us on a gripping journey through the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, uncovering his connection with the drug trade and law enforcement. The People vs. O.J. Simpson revisits the iconic trial, offering gripping insights into American legal history. Selena: The Series beautifully tells stories of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla’s evolution from a budding musician to a global icon while paying homage to her musical journey and legacy. Furthermore, in recent times as well, we have relished a few intriguing biographical dramas, such as Freud,...
Narcos takes us on a gripping journey through the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, uncovering his connection with the drug trade and law enforcement. The People vs. O.J. Simpson revisits the iconic trial, offering gripping insights into American legal history. Selena: The Series beautifully tells stories of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla’s evolution from a budding musician to a global icon while paying homage to her musical journey and legacy. Furthermore, in recent times as well, we have relished a few intriguing biographical dramas, such as Freud,...
- 9/13/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
"You forgot one thing. I'm indestructible." Netflix has revealed the trailer for the French streaming series Class Act, which is the offical English name. The original French title is Tapie, which is the name of the person this biopic series is about, but he might not be that well recognized outside of France. A relentlessly ambitious working-class man becomes one of France's most controversial public figures in this fictionalized biopic about Bernard Tapie, starring César nominee Laurent Lafitte. "It revisits the origins of the Tapie phenomenon, who didn’t start off quite so well, between a career in music cut short, small business issues, meeting Dominique, and his difficult relationship with his parents... In all this, his relentless determination, carried by a completely possessed performance by Lafitte." The cast includes Joséphine Japy, Ophélia Kolb, Ivan Murphy, Antoine Reinartz, Hakim Jemili, Camille Chamoux, and Fabrice Luchini. Looks like France's version of the businessman's rise & fall story.
- 7/10/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Actress Lily-Rose Depp ("The Idol") poses for "i-d" magazine's "Timeless Issue", wearing Chanel, Converse, Cherry Vintage and a whole lot more, photographed by Karim Sadli:
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
In 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language feature directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in "A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis...
...in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She made her TV debut in the HBO drama series "The Idol".
Click the images to enlarge...
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
In 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language feature directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in "A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis...
...in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She made her TV debut in the HBO drama series "The Idol".
Click the images to enlarge...
- 7/8/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Actress Lily-Rose Depp ("The Idol") poses for "Elle" (US) magazine, photographed by Felix Cooper:
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
IIn 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language film directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in"A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She made her TV debut in the HBO drama series "The Idol".
Upcoming film projects include "The Governesses" and "Nosferatu".
Click the images to enlarge...
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
IIn 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language film directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in"A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She made her TV debut in the HBO drama series "The Idol".
Upcoming film projects include "The Governesses" and "Nosferatu".
Click the images to enlarge...
- 6/30/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Leading French producer Michael Gentile’s Paris-based outfit The Film is about to start shooting Julie Delpy’s next directorial outing, “The Barbarians,” and Laurence Arné’s “Les Hennedricks” starring Dany Boon.
Delpy’s comeback to French filmmaking since “Lolo,” “The Barbarians” is a satirical comedy unfolding in a small town in Brittany which is preparing to welcome Ukrainian refugees after voting unanimously to greet them in exchange for subsidies from the government. But instead of seeing Ukrainians come into town, they see Syrian refugees, causing some tensions among locals and testing their liberal beliefs. Delpy will star in the film opposite Sandrine Kiberlain (“Mademoiselle Chambon”), Laurent Lafitte (“Elle”) and Ziad Bakri (“The Weekend Away”), India Hair (“Angry Annie”), Mathieu Demy (“The Bureau”) and Delpy’s father Albert Delpy.
Delpy penned the script with Matthieu Rumani (“Family Business”), in collaboration with Lea Domenech (“Bernadette”). “The Barbarians” will start filming on...
Delpy’s comeback to French filmmaking since “Lolo,” “The Barbarians” is a satirical comedy unfolding in a small town in Brittany which is preparing to welcome Ukrainian refugees after voting unanimously to greet them in exchange for subsidies from the government. But instead of seeing Ukrainians come into town, they see Syrian refugees, causing some tensions among locals and testing their liberal beliefs. Delpy will star in the film opposite Sandrine Kiberlain (“Mademoiselle Chambon”), Laurent Lafitte (“Elle”) and Ziad Bakri (“The Weekend Away”), India Hair (“Angry Annie”), Mathieu Demy (“The Bureau”) and Delpy’s father Albert Delpy.
Delpy penned the script with Matthieu Rumani (“Family Business”), in collaboration with Lea Domenech (“Bernadette”). “The Barbarians” will start filming on...
- 5/19/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Paris-based Playtime has unveiled a strong Cannes film market sales slate, which includes competition titles “About Dry Grasses” and “Homecoming.”
“About Dry Grasses” is by Turkish auteur Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who won the Palme d’Or in 2014 for “Winter Sleep.” The film follows Samet, a young art teacher, who is finishing his fourth year of compulsory service in a remote village in Anatolia. After a turn of events he can hardly make sense of, he loses his hopes of escaping the grim life he seems to be stuck in, and hopes that his encounter with fellow teacher Nuray will help him overcome his angst. Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar and Musab Ekici are among the cast.
“Homecoming,” by French director Catherine Corsini who won the 2021 Queer Palm for “The Divide,” follows Khédidja, who minds a wealthy Parisian family’s children for a summer in Corsica. She brings along her own two...
“About Dry Grasses” is by Turkish auteur Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who won the Palme d’Or in 2014 for “Winter Sleep.” The film follows Samet, a young art teacher, who is finishing his fourth year of compulsory service in a remote village in Anatolia. After a turn of events he can hardly make sense of, he loses his hopes of escaping the grim life he seems to be stuck in, and hopes that his encounter with fellow teacher Nuray will help him overcome his angst. Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar and Musab Ekici are among the cast.
“Homecoming,” by French director Catherine Corsini who won the 2021 Queer Palm for “The Divide,” follows Khédidja, who minds a wealthy Parisian family’s children for a summer in Corsica. She brings along her own two...
- 5/2/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A flamboyant man who was once a sales clerk, singer, actor, sports impresario, business mogul and government minister, Bernard Tapie led a rollercoaster life wilder than most fictional characters depicted in pop culture, even those created by Martin Scorsese.
No wonder that it took a decade for Tristan Seguela (“A Good Doctor”) and Olivier Demangel (“November”) to create and pen “Tapie,” a Netflix original series charting the swaggering man’s epic rise, from his blue-collar origins to his glorious days as a wealthy businessman and president of one of France’s biggest soccer clubs, Olympique de Marseille. The limited series tells intimate parts of his life, including his relationship with loved ones and business partners, as well as some of his setbacks and legal problems. Tapie died in 2021.
The first two episodes of “Tapie” world premiered at Canneseries TV festival and were warmly received with a standing ovation. Based on...
No wonder that it took a decade for Tristan Seguela (“A Good Doctor”) and Olivier Demangel (“November”) to create and pen “Tapie,” a Netflix original series charting the swaggering man’s epic rise, from his blue-collar origins to his glorious days as a wealthy businessman and president of one of France’s biggest soccer clubs, Olympique de Marseille. The limited series tells intimate parts of his life, including his relationship with loved ones and business partners, as well as some of his setbacks and legal problems. Tapie died in 2021.
The first two episodes of “Tapie” world premiered at Canneseries TV festival and were warmly received with a standing ovation. Based on...
- 4/19/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Sandrine Kiberlain and Laurent Lafitte will re-team once again this time as the faces of surprise and dismay representing a small (minded) folk of a Brittany village in Julie Delpy‘s Les barbares. Production on the actress-filmmaker’s eighth feature will take place this June-July. Michael Gentile is producing. In a recent interview with Variety, the filmmaker called the refugee comedy both “funny and dark.”
The municipality of a small Breton village has decided to welcome a family of Ukrainian refugees. To their surprise, the receive Fayad family – coming from Syria. They thwart all the clichés that the French expected: they are friendly, refined, educated… So much so that, in this small, humming village, it is no longer clear which side the barbarians are on…
…...
The municipality of a small Breton village has decided to welcome a family of Ukrainian refugees. To their surprise, the receive Fayad family – coming from Syria. They thwart all the clichés that the French expected: they are friendly, refined, educated… So much so that, in this small, humming village, it is no longer clear which side the barbarians are on…
…...
- 4/17/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Actress/model Lily-Rose Depp poses for "i-d" magazine's Spring 2023 "Timeless Issue", wearing Chanel, Converse, Cherry Vintage and a whole lot more, photographed by Karim Sadli:
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
In 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language feature directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in "A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She will be making her TV debut in the upcoming HBO drama series "The Idol".
Upcoming film projects include...
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
In 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language feature directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in "A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She will be making her TV debut in the upcoming HBO drama series "The Idol".
Upcoming film projects include...
- 2/22/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Feature inspired by work of René Goscinny, Jean-Jaques Sempé to open December 16.
Annecy best feature film winner Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be from France’s Foliascope and Luxembourg’s Bidibul Productions has secured a key distribution deal and will open in the US through Buffalo 8 on December 16.
Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre (I Lost My Body) directed the feature based on the bestselling French children’s book series Le Petit Nicholas. The 2D film takes place in 1960s Paris and weaves together the adventures of schoolboy Nicholas and his legendary creators, writer René Goscinny and cartoonist Jean-Jaques Sempé.
Goscinny...
Annecy best feature film winner Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be from France’s Foliascope and Luxembourg’s Bidibul Productions has secured a key distribution deal and will open in the US through Buffalo 8 on December 16.
Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre (I Lost My Body) directed the feature based on the bestselling French children’s book series Le Petit Nicholas. The 2D film takes place in 1960s Paris and weaves together the adventures of schoolboy Nicholas and his legendary creators, writer René Goscinny and cartoonist Jean-Jaques Sempé.
Goscinny...
- 12/9/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Feature inspired by work of René Goscinny, Jean-Jaques Sempé to open December 16.
Annecy best feature film winner Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be from France’s Foliascope and Luxembourg’s Bidibul Productions has secured a key distribution deal and will open in the US through Buffalo 8 on December 16.
Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre (I Lost My Body) directed the feature based on the bestselling French children’s book series Le Petit Nicholas. The 2D film takes place in 1960s Paris and weaves together the adventures of schoolboy Nicholas and his legendary creators, writer René Goscinny and cartoonist Jean-Jaques Sempé.
Goscinny...
Annecy best feature film winner Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be from France’s Foliascope and Luxembourg’s Bidibul Productions has secured a key distribution deal and will open in the US through Buffalo 8 on December 16.
Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre (I Lost My Body) directed the feature based on the bestselling French children’s book series Le Petit Nicholas. The 2D film takes place in 1960s Paris and weaves together the adventures of schoolboy Nicholas and his legendary creators, writer René Goscinny and cartoonist Jean-Jaques Sempé.
Goscinny...
- 12/9/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
In the early days of the Academy’s animated feature Oscar, there were questions as to whether enough films would qualify each year for the award to be given. Not anymore! This year sees a record number of contenders across a wide variety of genres, styles and audiences, from serious, adult-targeted films (like “Charlotte” and “Eternal Spring”) to boffo offerings from Hollywood’s top toon studios — and that doesn’t even count such anime franchise sensations as “One Piece Film: Red” and “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” which didn’t submit but further illustrate the vitality of the form.
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
Director: Richard Linklater
Voices: Glen Powell, Zachary Levi, Jack Black
Studios: Minnow Mountain, Submarine, Detour Filmproduction
Distributor: Netflix
A time capsule made possible through a sophisticated blend of 2D, 3D and rotoscope techniques, allows the “Boyhood” director to revive the style of “Waking Life” and his own 1960s Texas boyhood.
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
Director: Richard Linklater
Voices: Glen Powell, Zachary Levi, Jack Black
Studios: Minnow Mountain, Submarine, Detour Filmproduction
Distributor: Netflix
A time capsule made possible through a sophisticated blend of 2D, 3D and rotoscope techniques, allows the “Boyhood” director to revive the style of “Waking Life” and his own 1960s Texas boyhood.
- 12/6/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
A new French late show, fronted by popular actor, director and writer Alain Chabat launched on France’s TF1 amid much fanfare this week in the country’s latest attempt to crack the late-night talk show format.
Running Monday to Friday from 10.55 pm, Le Late Avec Alain Chabat kicked off on Monday (November 21), with the host joking in his opening spiel: “I nearly did this show in 2018, but it was during the World Cup in Russia, so it was a bit touchy. But now, it’s in Qatar, so tout va bien.”
The show was commissioned by TF1 Executive Vice President, Content Ara Aprikian to fill a late-night slot that opened up due to the timing of the Qatar World Cup soccer matches, earlier in the evening.
Chabat is no stranger to TV studio shows, having first found fame in the late 1980s as co-creator of popular Canal+ comedy sketch program Les Nuls,...
Running Monday to Friday from 10.55 pm, Le Late Avec Alain Chabat kicked off on Monday (November 21), with the host joking in his opening spiel: “I nearly did this show in 2018, but it was during the World Cup in Russia, so it was a bit touchy. But now, it’s in Qatar, so tout va bien.”
The show was commissioned by TF1 Executive Vice President, Content Ara Aprikian to fill a late-night slot that opened up due to the timing of the Qatar World Cup soccer matches, earlier in the evening.
Chabat is no stranger to TV studio shows, having first found fame in the late 1980s as co-creator of popular Canal+ comedy sketch program Les Nuls,...
- 11/24/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Prolific French director François Ozon has released the first image for his upcoming period drama My Crime and confirmed the presence of rising actresses Nadia Tereszkiewicz and Rebecca Marder in the cast.
Ozon posted the image on his Twitter account and also announced that Gaumont would release the film in France on March 3, 2023.
The release date suggests a potential world premiere at the 73rd Berlinale, running February 16-26 2023.
Ozon’s last film Peter von Kant world premiered there as the opener this year and he also debuted Water On Burning Rocks (2000), 8 Women (2002) Angel (2007), Ricky (2009) and By The Grace Of God (2019) at the festival.
1ère photo de #MonCrime avec #NadiaTereszkiewicz & #RebeccaMarder Rdv le #8mars2023 @Gaumont @MandarinProd pic.twitter.com/BZu4lk7FEW
— François Ozon (@francois_ozon) November 22, 2022
Other cast members in the high-profile ensemble cast include Isabelle Huppert, Fabrice Luchini, Dany Boon and regular collaborator André Dussollier, according to the website...
Ozon posted the image on his Twitter account and also announced that Gaumont would release the film in France on March 3, 2023.
The release date suggests a potential world premiere at the 73rd Berlinale, running February 16-26 2023.
Ozon’s last film Peter von Kant world premiered there as the opener this year and he also debuted Water On Burning Rocks (2000), 8 Women (2002) Angel (2007), Ricky (2009) and By The Grace Of God (2019) at the festival.
1ère photo de #MonCrime avec #NadiaTereszkiewicz & #RebeccaMarder Rdv le #8mars2023 @Gaumont @MandarinProd pic.twitter.com/BZu4lk7FEW
— François Ozon (@francois_ozon) November 22, 2022
Other cast members in the high-profile ensemble cast include Isabelle Huppert, Fabrice Luchini, Dany Boon and regular collaborator André Dussollier, according to the website...
- 11/22/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Actress/model Lily-Rose Depp poses for the January 2023 issue of "Elle" (US) magazine, photographed by Felix Cooper:
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
IIn 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language film directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in"A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She will be making her TV debut in the upcoming HBO drama series "The Idol".
Upcoming film projects include "The Governesses" and "Nosferatu".
Click the images to enlarge.
Depp began her acting career with a small role in "Tusk" (2014), and went on to star in the period drama "The Dancer" (2016), "Planetarium" (2016) and "The King" (2019).
IIn 2018, Depp starred opposite Laurent Lafitte in "Les Fauves" ("Savage"), a French language film directed by Vincent Mariette.
In the same year, Depp starred in"A Faithful Man", directed by Louis Garrel.
Depp next appeared in the Oscar-winning Netflix short "Period. End of Sentence".
June 2019, Depp starred alongside her aunt Alysson Paradis in the French independent short film "Quel Joli Temps Pour Jouer Ses Vingt-ans" ("My Last Lullaby").
In 2021, Depp starred in the opioid thriller "Crisis" and in "Voyagers".
She will be making her TV debut in the upcoming HBO drama series "The Idol".
Upcoming film projects include "The Governesses" and "Nosferatu".
Click the images to enlarge.
- 11/17/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Update: French actors Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard, Melanie Laurent, Isabelle Huppert and Charlotte Gainsbourg are among those who have cut off locks of their hair in support of the Iranian protests against the death of Mahsa Amini.
In a video posted to Instagram, the actors are among a number of French industry members who are seen trimming locks of their hair. In Binoche’s case, the “Both Sides of the Blade” actor defiantly lobs off entire inches of her dark hair, while declaring “For freedom!”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Soutien Femmes Iran (@soutienfemmesiran)
The video campaign, which uses the hashtag #HairForFreedom, was organized by Richard Sedillot, with Julie Couturier and Christiane Feral Schuhl.
“It is impossible not to denounce again and again this terrible repression,” reads a statement posted with the video. “There are already dozens of dead men and women, including children. The arrests only swell,...
In a video posted to Instagram, the actors are among a number of French industry members who are seen trimming locks of their hair. In Binoche’s case, the “Both Sides of the Blade” actor defiantly lobs off entire inches of her dark hair, while declaring “For freedom!”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Soutien Femmes Iran (@soutienfemmesiran)
The video campaign, which uses the hashtag #HairForFreedom, was organized by Richard Sedillot, with Julie Couturier and Christiane Feral Schuhl.
“It is impossible not to denounce again and again this terrible repression,” reads a statement posted with the video. “There are already dozens of dead men and women, including children. The arrests only swell,...
- 10/5/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
“Candy is better in France,” says a small boy to his brother in a flashback scene in For My Country (Pour La France), Rachid Hami’s personal drama premiering in Horizons at the Venice Film Festival. The boy’s Algerian family is considering moving to France, and his simplistic response sums up his innocent, optimistic view of his new home. But — as we have already discovered — France will bring tragedy to the family in this moving account based on Hami’s memories of his late younger brother.
As a young adult, Aïssa (Shaïn Boumedine) has enlisted in the prestigious military academy of Saint-Cyr, dreaming of serving the country he has become devoted to: France. But Aïssa dies during a fresher hazing initiation that takes place in freezing water.
His elder brother Ismaël (Karim Leklou) tries to comfort their distraught mother Nadia (Lubna Azabal) and to help her navigate the changing attitudes of officials,...
As a young adult, Aïssa (Shaïn Boumedine) has enlisted in the prestigious military academy of Saint-Cyr, dreaming of serving the country he has become devoted to: France. But Aïssa dies during a fresher hazing initiation that takes place in freezing water.
His elder brother Ismaël (Karim Leklou) tries to comfort their distraught mother Nadia (Lubna Azabal) and to help her navigate the changing attitudes of officials,...
- 9/3/2022
- by Anna Smith
- Deadline Film + TV
Sébastian Marnier’s psychological thriller Origin of Evil, starring Call My Agent! actress Laure Calamy as a factory worker who discovers the father she never knew is a wealthy businessman, opens Venice’s Horizons Extra sidebar on Thursday.
Embarrassed by her humble background when she meets her father and stepmother and sister in their luxury Mediterranean mansion, Calamy’s character pretends she is an entrepreneur on the verge of success. But nothing is as it seems and the lies begin to pile up.
Calamy was in Venice last year in Horizons title A Plein Temps for which she won the best actress award for her performance as a single mother trying to get to a job interview during a transport strike. Marnier was previously at Venice with the chilling drama School’s Out, starring Laurent Lafitte as a teacher in charge of a class of disturbed teenagers who witnessed his predecessor commit suicide.
Embarrassed by her humble background when she meets her father and stepmother and sister in their luxury Mediterranean mansion, Calamy’s character pretends she is an entrepreneur on the verge of success. But nothing is as it seems and the lies begin to pile up.
Calamy was in Venice last year in Horizons title A Plein Temps for which she won the best actress award for her performance as a single mother trying to get to a job interview during a transport strike. Marnier was previously at Venice with the chilling drama School’s Out, starring Laurent Lafitte as a teacher in charge of a class of disturbed teenagers who witnessed his predecessor commit suicide.
- 8/31/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
One year after merging with the promotion org TV France International, Unifrance is preparing a series of strategic events in key markets across Europe, the U.S., China and Japan to fast-track the global distribution of local series and movies.
The French film and TV advocacy banner will host trade shows bringing together French sales outfits and international distributors in Paris in January, Biarritz (Southwestern France) in September, as well as in Roma in April, Madrid in June, Berlin in November, New York in March and Yokohama in December. The 13th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival, the online fest dedicated to French movies will be held in January and February.
While the French box office has suffered a decline due to the pandemic, Unifrance highlighted the recent critical success of French productions at major festivals, for instance Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winning “Titane,” as well as the series “Call My Agent!” winning an International Emmy,...
The French film and TV advocacy banner will host trade shows bringing together French sales outfits and international distributors in Paris in January, Biarritz (Southwestern France) in September, as well as in Roma in April, Madrid in June, Berlin in November, New York in March and Yokohama in December. The 13th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival, the online fest dedicated to French movies will be held in January and February.
While the French box office has suffered a decline due to the pandemic, Unifrance highlighted the recent critical success of French productions at major festivals, for instance Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winning “Titane,” as well as the series “Call My Agent!” winning an International Emmy,...
- 6/22/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Every time someone takes a comic book character the world adores and decides to make an animated movie, there’s a risk they won’t do justice to the original designs. “The Adventures of Tintin” comes immediately to mind, since Spielberg and company made the bold choice of swapping artist Hergé’s appealing clean-line designs with appalling performance-capture zombies. Or 2019’s disappointing “The Addams Family” reboot, which effectively turned Charles Addams’ macabre sketches into benign, generic-looking balloon animals.
It’s a problem the folks at On Entertainment take seriously. They’re the ones who translated Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince” to the screen, erring on the side of overdoing the CG equivalent in that case. Now, the same studio has done right by Jean-Jacques Sempé and René Goscinny’s Petit Nicolas — or Little Nicholas to English speakers, who are almost certainly less familiar with the source material (essentially...
It’s a problem the folks at On Entertainment take seriously. They’re the ones who translated Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince” to the screen, erring on the side of overdoing the CG equivalent in that case. Now, the same studio has done right by Jean-Jacques Sempé and René Goscinny’s Petit Nicolas — or Little Nicholas to English speakers, who are almost certainly less familiar with the source material (essentially...
- 6/19/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Directors Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre take home the top prize for their animated film Little Nicholas–Happy as Can Be at the annual Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.
Co-produced French/Luxembourg film takes place towards the end of the1950s in Paris, René Goscinny (voiced by Alain Chabat) and Jean-Jacques Sempé (voiced by Laurent Lafitte) invented the character Nicholas, a small boy and prankster with a smile on his face whose days are punctuated by games with his band of friends, fights, joking around, and learning. When the fictional character is invited into the workshop of his “dads,” the roles are reversed, and it’s the creators who recount their childhoods, their careers, and their friendship to Little Nicholas.
In 2021, Flee won top prize at the Annecy festival and then went on to grab three Oscar nominations, with one being for best animated film. Will Little Nicholas follow in the same path?...
Co-produced French/Luxembourg film takes place towards the end of the1950s in Paris, René Goscinny (voiced by Alain Chabat) and Jean-Jacques Sempé (voiced by Laurent Lafitte) invented the character Nicholas, a small boy and prankster with a smile on his face whose days are punctuated by games with his band of friends, fights, joking around, and learning. When the fictional character is invited into the workshop of his “dads,” the roles are reversed, and it’s the creators who recount their childhoods, their careers, and their friendship to Little Nicholas.
In 2021, Flee won top prize at the Annecy festival and then went on to grab three Oscar nominations, with one being for best animated film. Will Little Nicholas follow in the same path?...
- 6/19/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
This delightful family-friendly animation blends tales of Little Nicholas - a sort of French equivalent of the likes of Just William or The Perishers - with the biography of his creator René Goscinny (voiced by Alain Chabat) and Jean-Jacques Sempé (Laurent Lafitte at the mic). Goscinny is the more internationally famous of the two, having also co-created Asterix and Obelix, who are nicely referenced, but here the focus is on the bond between him and Sempé, which though it weakened down the years lasted until Goscinny's untimely death from a heart attack at just 51.
The dialogue between the fictional life of Nicholas and the lives of his creators is achieved by having Nicholas (voiced by Simon Faliu) step off the page to engage in conversation with the two men as they first begin to create his family and friends before moving on to a series of tales, including -...
The dialogue between the fictional life of Nicholas and the lives of his creators is achieved by having Nicholas (voiced by Simon Faliu) step off the page to engage in conversation with the two men as they first begin to create his family and friends before moving on to a series of tales, including -...
- 5/30/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
“The Little Nicholas: Happy as Can Be” by Benjamin Massoubre and Amandine Fredon is having its world premiere at a Special Screening at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20.
Several years in the making, the film brings together the world-famous French schoolboy and his creators, author René Goscinny and cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé, as it goes back and forth between their world and his imaginary world.
Translated into more than 30 languages, the Little Nicholas short stories have been adapted to fiction but never to animation until now. For the creative team, it was essential to stay true both to Goscinny’s short stories and to Sempé’s drawings.
“The main challenge was to create the Little Nicholas’ world in animation and, at the same time, remain faithful to Sempé’s style – his drawings are very small, they’re made in ink, which gives them a sort of awkward but very lively energy,...
Several years in the making, the film brings together the world-famous French schoolboy and his creators, author René Goscinny and cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé, as it goes back and forth between their world and his imaginary world.
Translated into more than 30 languages, the Little Nicholas short stories have been adapted to fiction but never to animation until now. For the creative team, it was essential to stay true both to Goscinny’s short stories and to Sempé’s drawings.
“The main challenge was to create the Little Nicholas’ world in animation and, at the same time, remain faithful to Sempé’s style – his drawings are very small, they’re made in ink, which gives them a sort of awkward but very lively energy,...
- 5/19/2022
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: As international delegates touch down on the Croisette for what feels like the first “real” Cannes market since the pandemic struck, Olivier Albou is getting ready to hit the ground running. The veteran exec, who heads up sales and production house Other Angle with his wife Laurence Schonberg, has four new films on his slate this year that he’s offering up to international buyers.
The company will be showing footage for Mélanie Auffret’s Sweet Little Things (Les Petites Victoires), starring Julia Piaton and Michel Blanc, about a busy young teacher who’s faced with the challenge of a new student in her class – an explosive 60-year-old man who has finally decided to learn to read and write. Then there’s Jennifer Devoldère’s male midwife feature The Midwife (Sage Homme) starring Karin Viard and Melvin Boomer as well as Jonathan Barré’s Serial Driver (Bonne Conduit) starring...
The company will be showing footage for Mélanie Auffret’s Sweet Little Things (Les Petites Victoires), starring Julia Piaton and Michel Blanc, about a busy young teacher who’s faced with the challenge of a new student in her class – an explosive 60-year-old man who has finally decided to learn to read and write. Then there’s Jennifer Devoldère’s male midwife feature The Midwife (Sage Homme) starring Karin Viard and Melvin Boomer as well as Jonathan Barré’s Serial Driver (Bonne Conduit) starring...
- 5/17/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
The “Lupin” duo of filmmaker Louis Leterrier and star Omar Sy reunites in the new Netflix action film “The Takedown,” but unfortunately the result is seriously underbaked and awkwardly problematic.
A sequel to the 2008 French film “On the Other Side of the Tracks”, “The Takedown” stars Laurent Lafitte as Francois Monge, Omar Sy as Diakité Ousmane and French rock singer Izïa Higelin as Alice. Louis Leterrier (“Lupin,” “Now You See Me”) directs the film, leading Netflix’s new slate of French-language originals coming to the streaming service.
Both films pay homage to ’80s classics like “Lethal Weapon” and “Beverly Hills Cop,” and Sy even regularly sports Axel Foley’s signature baseball jacket and jeans. Occasionally buddy cop movies, when given good ingredients like a proper script, good physical comedy, and well-executed action scenes, can be a recipe for a comedic blockbuster.
“The Takedown,” unfortunately, didn’t stay in the oven long enough.
A sequel to the 2008 French film “On the Other Side of the Tracks”, “The Takedown” stars Laurent Lafitte as Francois Monge, Omar Sy as Diakité Ousmane and French rock singer Izïa Higelin as Alice. Louis Leterrier (“Lupin,” “Now You See Me”) directs the film, leading Netflix’s new slate of French-language originals coming to the streaming service.
Both films pay homage to ’80s classics like “Lethal Weapon” and “Beverly Hills Cop,” and Sy even regularly sports Axel Foley’s signature baseball jacket and jeans. Occasionally buddy cop movies, when given good ingredients like a proper script, good physical comedy, and well-executed action scenes, can be a recipe for a comedic blockbuster.
“The Takedown,” unfortunately, didn’t stay in the oven long enough.
- 5/6/2022
- by Karama Horne
- The Wrap
It’s easy to see why Netflix wanted to reteam actor Omar Sy and director Louis Leterrier in something, anything, given the popularity of their previous collaboration, the French thriller series “Lupin.” But U.S. viewers may be a tad puzzled by the streamer’s decision to green-light as their follow-up a popcorn movie as nondescript as “The Takedown” — a sequel to “On the Other Side of the Tracks” (“De l’autre côté du périph”), a lightweight 2012 French-produced buddy-cop action-comedy that, whatever its popularity in its home territory, received only (very) limited release by The Weinstein Company in this county.
On the other hand: Leterrier — whose credits also include “Now You See Me” and the first two entries in the “Transporter” franchise — has just this week been given the keys to “Fast X,” replacing the creatively distanced Justin Lin as director for the next installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
On the other hand: Leterrier — whose credits also include “Now You See Me” and the first two entries in the “Transporter” franchise — has just this week been given the keys to “Fast X,” replacing the creatively distanced Justin Lin as director for the next installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
- 5/6/2022
- by Joe Leydon
- Variety Film + TV
Critics’ Week, the sidebar dedicated to first and second films running alongside the Cannes Film Festival, will be kicking off with Jesse Eisenberg’s feature debut “When You Finish Saving the World” and showcase four female-directed movies.
Selected out of 1100 submitted movies, the full roster includes 11 feature films, seven of which will compete and four will play as special screenings.
“When You Finish Saving the World,” which is headlined by Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard, revolves around the relationship between a politically-engaged mother and her fame-obsessed teenage son, who is also a burgeoning musician. The A24 movie is based on Eisenberg’s 2020 audio drama of the same name and was part of the Sundance 2022 selection.
“We already adored Eisenberg as an actor and discovered him as a true auteur with this film that’s both tender and contemporary and exposes a generational gap between a mother and her son,” said Ava Cahen,...
Selected out of 1100 submitted movies, the full roster includes 11 feature films, seven of which will compete and four will play as special screenings.
“When You Finish Saving the World,” which is headlined by Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard, revolves around the relationship between a politically-engaged mother and her fame-obsessed teenage son, who is also a burgeoning musician. The A24 movie is based on Eisenberg’s 2020 audio drama of the same name and was part of the Sundance 2022 selection.
“We already adored Eisenberg as an actor and discovered him as a true auteur with this film that’s both tender and contemporary and exposes a generational gap between a mother and her son,” said Ava Cahen,...
- 4/20/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut ’When You Finish Saving The World’ will open the section focused on first and second films.
Cannes Critics’ Week, the parallel section focused on first and second films, has unveiled the line-up for its 61st edition, running May 18-26.
The section will showcase 11 features, seven of them in competition, and another 13 shorts.
It is the first selection piloted by incoming Critics’ Week artistic director Ava Cahen, since taking over the reins from Charles Tesson, who stepped down at the end of last year’s 60th edition after 10 years at the helm.
At 36, she is the...
Cannes Critics’ Week, the parallel section focused on first and second films, has unveiled the line-up for its 61st edition, running May 18-26.
The section will showcase 11 features, seven of them in competition, and another 13 shorts.
It is the first selection piloted by incoming Critics’ Week artistic director Ava Cahen, since taking over the reins from Charles Tesson, who stepped down at the end of last year’s 60th edition after 10 years at the helm.
At 36, she is the...
- 4/20/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has dropped a trailer for “The Takedown,” a cop comedy directed by “Lupin” helmer Louis Leterrier and starring Omar Sy and Laurent Lafitte. The movie is a sequel to the French comedy “On The Other Side Of The Tracks.”
Sy and Lafitte star as two cops with very different styles and backgrounds who are reunited for criminal investigation across France. What seems to be a simple drug deal turns out to be a high level case wrapped in danger and unexpected comedy. The script is penned by Stéphane Kazandjian.
“‘The Takedown’ is the logical continuation of a close relationship with Omar Sy: we got along so well on Lupin that we were looking for other projects,” said Leterrier, adding that he found the script “extremely funny and dynamic on topical subjects that are difficult to tackle in a comedy.”
Leterrier said he wanted the film to be positioned between...
Sy and Lafitte star as two cops with very different styles and backgrounds who are reunited for criminal investigation across France. What seems to be a simple drug deal turns out to be a high level case wrapped in danger and unexpected comedy. The script is penned by Stéphane Kazandjian.
“‘The Takedown’ is the logical continuation of a close relationship with Omar Sy: we got along so well on Lupin that we were looking for other projects,” said Leterrier, adding that he found the script “extremely funny and dynamic on topical subjects that are difficult to tackle in a comedy.”
Leterrier said he wanted the film to be positioned between...
- 4/13/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
"What'd you say before? A real team, a real duo." Netflix has debuted the full-length main trailer for the French action comedy movie called The Takedown, the latest from Hollywood director Louis Leterrier. This is actually a sequel to the film On the Other Side of the Tracks from 2012, following Omar Sy and Laurent Lafitte - two cops with very different lives. The unlikely pair are reunited once again for a new investigation that takes them across France. This seems a bit like France's Rush Hour series, about these two goofballs getting entangled in taking down a big crime syndicate while crazy things keep happening. "What seemed to be a simple drug deal turns out to be a high scale criminal case wrapped in danger and unexpected comedy." The cast includes Izïa Higelin & Luka Quinn. This looks like all-out fun, ...
- 4/13/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Netflix has dropped the first full trailer for its upcoming buddy cop action comedy The Takedown. Lupin’s Omar Sy reteams with Laurent Lafitte in the follow-up to their 2012 On The Other Side Of The Tracks. In another reunion, Lupin director Louis Leterrier has the reins. The French film is part of Netflix’s drive to ramp up local feature productions and launches globally on the streamer on May 6. Check out the dubbed trailer above.
The story centers on Ousmane Diakité (Sy) and François Monge (Lafitte), two cops with very different styles, backgrounds and careers. When the unlikely pair is reunited for a criminal investigation that takes them across France, what seemed to be a simple drug deal turns out to be a high level case wrapped in danger and unexpected comedy. Izia Higelin also stars.
Leterrier commented that the film is a “logical continuation of a close relationship with Omar Sy.
The story centers on Ousmane Diakité (Sy) and François Monge (Lafitte), two cops with very different styles, backgrounds and careers. When the unlikely pair is reunited for a criminal investigation that takes them across France, what seemed to be a simple drug deal turns out to be a high level case wrapped in danger and unexpected comedy. Izia Higelin also stars.
Leterrier commented that the film is a “logical continuation of a close relationship with Omar Sy.
- 4/13/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
"You didn't say first warning..." Netflix has revealed a teaser trailer for an action comedy film called The Takedown, the latest from Hollywood director Louis Leterrier. This time he returns to his home country France to make an action comedy about two cops getting into all kinds of trouble. This is actually a sequel to the film On the Other Side of the Tracks from 2012. Omar Sy and Laurent Lafitte are two cops with very different lives. The unlikely pair are reunited once again for a new investigation that takes them across France. This seems a bit like France's Rush Hour series, about these two goofballs getting entangled in taking down a big crime syndicate while ridiculous things keep happening. Most of all I can't stand the English dubbing in this trailer. That's not Omar Sy's voice - he sounds like Will ...
- 3/15/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
French hub confirms €200m investment in French series and features this year.
Netflix France has given a taster of the 25 original French series and films due to be launched on the platform this year at a press event in Paris on Thursday (March 10) and revealed a further 20 titles are in production.
The French hub, which officially opened on the eve of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020, also confirmed it would be investing €200m in French content this year.
The Paris team announced two new French feature projects, the presidential election comedy En Place and Le Roi Des Ombres, a family...
Netflix France has given a taster of the 25 original French series and films due to be launched on the platform this year at a press event in Paris on Thursday (March 10) and revealed a further 20 titles are in production.
The French hub, which officially opened on the eve of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020, also confirmed it would be investing €200m in French content this year.
The Paris team announced two new French feature projects, the presidential election comedy En Place and Le Roi Des Ombres, a family...
- 3/10/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Netflix today provided a taste of its slate of original French productions coming up in 2022, which includes 25 new titles for launch this year and 20 projects currently in production. The slate, selected and developed by the Netflix France creative team, reps a total investment of more than 200M euros ($221M) across 2022. The streamer recently signed a deal with the French industry in which it committed to producing at least 10 local films per year, investing about 40M euros ($45M).
Among the projects highlighted during a presentation in Paris today was Romain Gavras’ formerly untitled feature, which is now called Athena. An immersive and modern tragedy, it stars Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon and is co-written with Oscar nominee Ladj Ly (Les Misérables) and Elias Belkeddar. The logline reads: In the space of a few hours following the tragic death of their younger brother in troubling circumstances, the men’s lives will tip over into chaos.
Among the projects highlighted during a presentation in Paris today was Romain Gavras’ formerly untitled feature, which is now called Athena. An immersive and modern tragedy, it stars Dali Benssalah, Sami Slimane, Anthony Bajon and is co-written with Oscar nominee Ladj Ly (Les Misérables) and Elias Belkeddar. The logline reads: In the space of a few hours following the tragic death of their younger brother in troubling circumstances, the men’s lives will tip over into chaos.
- 3/10/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Austria Selects Great Freedom For Oscars
Austria has selected Sebastian Meise’s Great Freedom as its official submission for Best International Feature Film for the 94th Academy Awards. Set in post-war Germany, the movie tells the story of Hans who is imprisoned time and time again for being homosexual. Due to Paragraph 175, which prohibited homosexual acts in Germany, his desire for freedom is systematically destroyed. The one steady relationship in his life becomes his long-time cellmate, Viktor (Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer. The film stars Franz Rogowski (Victoria) and Berlinale Silver Bear awardee Georg Friedrich (The Piano Teacher) in leading roles, with a screenplay by Thomas Reider and Meise. Producers are Sabine Moser, Oliver Neumann, and Benny Drechsel. The 2021 Cannes entry and Un Certain Regard Jury Prize winner will be released by Mubi theatrically in the U.S. and UK on March 4, 2022. Meanwhile, per the Japanese Filmmakers Federation, Japan has...
Austria has selected Sebastian Meise’s Great Freedom as its official submission for Best International Feature Film for the 94th Academy Awards. Set in post-war Germany, the movie tells the story of Hans who is imprisoned time and time again for being homosexual. Due to Paragraph 175, which prohibited homosexual acts in Germany, his desire for freedom is systematically destroyed. The one steady relationship in his life becomes his long-time cellmate, Viktor (Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer. The film stars Franz Rogowski (Victoria) and Berlinale Silver Bear awardee Georg Friedrich (The Piano Teacher) in leading roles, with a screenplay by Thomas Reider and Meise. Producers are Sabine Moser, Oliver Neumann, and Benny Drechsel. The 2021 Cannes entry and Un Certain Regard Jury Prize winner will be released by Mubi theatrically in the U.S. and UK on March 4, 2022. Meanwhile, per the Japanese Filmmakers Federation, Japan has...
- 10/12/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman and Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Rolling off the smashing success of “Lupin,” Netflix and French star Omar Sy have entered a multi-year feature film deal. It’s the streamer’s first deal with a French talent or filmmaker.
The partnership will see Sy’s Paris and L.A.-based production company develop original films for Netflix, with Sy starring in and acting as executive producer on the projects.
“I have experienced Netflix’s collaboration with artists and their passion to bring unique and diverse stories to homes all over the world,” said Sy, who was a creative producer on some episodes of “Lupin.”
Sy added that he was “happy to have the opportunity to extend the relationship and look forward to this next step of our journey together.” Sy broke through with Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano’s hit comedy “The Intouchables” a decade ago, which marked his first leading role after many years in acting.
The partnership will see Sy’s Paris and L.A.-based production company develop original films for Netflix, with Sy starring in and acting as executive producer on the projects.
“I have experienced Netflix’s collaboration with artists and their passion to bring unique and diverse stories to homes all over the world,” said Sy, who was a creative producer on some episodes of “Lupin.”
Sy added that he was “happy to have the opportunity to extend the relationship and look forward to this next step of our journey together.” Sy broke through with Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano’s hit comedy “The Intouchables” a decade ago, which marked his first leading role after many years in acting.
- 10/12/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy and Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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