The 15th edition of the co-production section of Agora has selected 15 projects from South-Eastern Europe that are aiming to develop further and expand their international scope. Thessaloniki’s Agora industry section (2-9 November) will, for the 15th year running, host one of its best-known sections, the Crossroads Co-Production Forum, which this year will run from 6-9 November in Warehouse C. The programme includes 15 projects and their attached directors and producers, two of which have been selected as part of Crossroads’ collaborations with Midpoint and Sofia Meetings. The participants will have a chance to introduce their projects to a select group of film professionals through curated meetings and other parallel events while competing for one of the Crossroads awards. The jury that will be tasked with handing out the Crossroads awards consists of French producer Rita Dagher, of Senorita Films; German producer Peter Rommel, of Rommel Productions; and the head...
As streaming giants continue to upend the global film business scenario it’s getting tougher for indie cinema to survive, both as an art form and as entertainment. But smart new strategies are being devised to mount productions that stay true to the indie ethos, and the thrill of theatrical isn’t gone yet.
In broad terms those were the main takeaways from the Locarno fest’s unique StepIn think tank, where the overall theme was “What Are We Afraid Of?” and 40-plus mostly European indie players convened to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions to navigate the onslaught of streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
“Agility” emerged as the keyword during the opening session when French producer Rita Dagher, one of the three keynote speakers, recounted how she packaged Jean-Stephane Sauvaire-directed “A Prayer Before Dawn,” which she described as a mix of: “French director, English material,...
In broad terms those were the main takeaways from the Locarno fest’s unique StepIn think tank, where the overall theme was “What Are We Afraid Of?” and 40-plus mostly European indie players convened to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions to navigate the onslaught of streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
“Agility” emerged as the keyword during the opening session when French producer Rita Dagher, one of the three keynote speakers, recounted how she packaged Jean-Stephane Sauvaire-directed “A Prayer Before Dawn,” which she described as a mix of: “French director, English material,...
- 8/12/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Locarno Film Festival has recruited prominent French indie producer Rita Dagher along with Amazon Studios’ former head of distribution Bob Berney, and CAA agent Maren Olson as keynote speakers for its annual StepIn think tank, which will thrash out some of the most pressing issues preoccupying the independent film community.
“What Are We Afraid Of?” is the overall theme — following “Brave New World” last year — of this year’s sessions of the informal initiative. It will see 40-plus mostly European key players convene to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions and strategies to contend with the challenges posed by streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
The biggest underlying fear is “whether independent filmmaking will continue to be relevant in the future, both as an art form and as entertainment,” as StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo puts it. “What does the future hold for production and theatrical distribution of independent product,...
“What Are We Afraid Of?” is the overall theme — following “Brave New World” last year — of this year’s sessions of the informal initiative. It will see 40-plus mostly European key players convene to share experiences and exchange thoughts for practical solutions and strategies to contend with the challenges posed by streaming platforms and the digital era at large.
The biggest underlying fear is “whether independent filmmaking will continue to be relevant in the future, both as an art form and as entertainment,” as StepIn project manager Marcello Paolillo puts it. “What does the future hold for production and theatrical distribution of independent product,...
- 7/31/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Middle East distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment and production, finance and sales company Rocket Science have entered into a joint venture to form Yalla Yalla, a Dubai-based film and television company focused on Arabic-language entertainment.
Yalla Yalla will develop, package, produce and finance television and feature film projects for the fast expanding Middle East and North Africa market, with a view to expanding beyond the region. The team has already been active in acquiring remake rights as well as developing original content for both theatrical and television with the aim of having four feature films and two television series produced within the first 18 months.
Rocket Science will leverage its talent, producing and financing relationships in the U.S. and Europe, while Front Row and its partner, Kuwait National Cinema Company, will harness their regional relationships with filmmakers, tastemakers and financiers.
The company will collaborate with former Wild Bunch head of acquisitions,...
Yalla Yalla will develop, package, produce and finance television and feature film projects for the fast expanding Middle East and North Africa market, with a view to expanding beyond the region. The team has already been active in acquiring remake rights as well as developing original content for both theatrical and television with the aim of having four feature films and two television series produced within the first 18 months.
Rocket Science will leverage its talent, producing and financing relationships in the U.S. and Europe, while Front Row and its partner, Kuwait National Cinema Company, will harness their regional relationships with filmmakers, tastemakers and financiers.
The company will collaborate with former Wild Bunch head of acquisitions,...
- 5/14/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Film Bridge International has entered into a two-picture production deal with Dublin-based Merlin Films headed by Kieran Corrigan and Deliverance director, John Boorman. Film Bridge founder and CEO Ellen Wander will partner with Corrigan and Boorman to produce two features, heist thriller Underground and gritty action thriller Assassins Club. Boorman, whose latest work as director was 2015’s Queen & Country, will helm the former with Stephen Saint Leger (Vikings) on the latter. Worldwide sales will be handled by Wander in Cannes. Underground is set in Boston where an Irish mob family is struggling to get out of the business, but is tempted by the discovery of an abandoned tunnel beneath Tiffany & Co. Assassins Club centers on a man offered a contract to kill seven people from around the globe. The targets, in turn, are also assassins with contracts to kill him. The only way out is to leave a...
- 5/14/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Former WIld Bunch exec Rita Dagher joins company as a creative producer.
Middle East distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment and London-based sales and financing outfit Rocket Science are partnering to launch Yalla Yalla, a Dubai based film and television company focusing on Arabic language entertainment.
The company will initially develop, package, produce and finance content for the Middle East and North Africa region, with a view to expanding beyond that territory. The aim is to produce four feature films and two television series in the next eighteen months.
Former Wild Bunch head of acquisitions Rita Dagher is serving...
Middle East distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment and London-based sales and financing outfit Rocket Science are partnering to launch Yalla Yalla, a Dubai based film and television company focusing on Arabic language entertainment.
The company will initially develop, package, produce and finance content for the Middle East and North Africa region, with a view to expanding beyond that territory. The aim is to produce four feature films and two television series in the next eighteen months.
Former Wild Bunch head of acquisitions Rita Dagher is serving...
- 5/14/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Cannes Midnight Screenings title gets UK deal.
Altitude Film Distribution has acquired UK distribution rights to A Prayer Before Dawn, Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s Muay Thai boxing thriller that stars 2011 Screen Star of Tomorrow Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Green Room).
The film is set to premiere at Cannes Film Festival next month as part of the Midnight Screenings programme.
Screenplay is by Jonathan Hirschbein and Nick Saltrese and is from Billy Moore’s book, which is based on his own experiences.
This is director Sauvaire’s second feature after Johnny Mad Dog, which premiered at Cannes in 2008.
The UK-France co-pro was produced by Rita Dagher’s Senorita Films along with Nicholas Simon, Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter.
Three-time Oscar nominee James Schamus was an executive producer and helped to close finance through his company Symbolic Exchange’s production deal with China’s Meridian Entertainment.
HanWay Films is handling sales on the title. The UK deal...
Altitude Film Distribution has acquired UK distribution rights to A Prayer Before Dawn, Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s Muay Thai boxing thriller that stars 2011 Screen Star of Tomorrow Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Green Room).
The film is set to premiere at Cannes Film Festival next month as part of the Midnight Screenings programme.
Screenplay is by Jonathan Hirschbein and Nick Saltrese and is from Billy Moore’s book, which is based on his own experiences.
This is director Sauvaire’s second feature after Johnny Mad Dog, which premiered at Cannes in 2008.
The UK-France co-pro was produced by Rita Dagher’s Senorita Films along with Nicholas Simon, Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter.
Three-time Oscar nominee James Schamus was an executive producer and helped to close finance through his company Symbolic Exchange’s production deal with China’s Meridian Entertainment.
HanWay Films is handling sales on the title. The UK deal...
- 4/27/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Altittude moves for Cannes Midnight Screenings title.
Altitude Film Distribution has acquired UK distribution rights to A Prayer Before Dawn, Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s Muay Thai boxing thriller that stars Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Green Room).
The film is set to premiere at Cannes Film Festival next month as part of the Midnight Screenings programme.
Nick Saltrese adapted the screenplay from Bobby Moore’s book, which is based on his own experiences. This is director Sauvaire’s second feature after Johnny Mad Dog, which premiered at Cannes in 2008.
The British-French co-pro was produced by Rita Dagher, Sol Papadopoulos, Roy Boulter and Nicholas Simon. Three-time Oscar nominee James Schamus was an executive producer and helped to close finance through his company Symbolic Exchange’s production deal with China’s Meridian Entertainment.
HanWay Films is handling sales on the title. The UK deal was stuck between Altitude’s Will Clarke and HanWay Films’ Gabrielle Stewart.
A24 previously...
Altitude Film Distribution has acquired UK distribution rights to A Prayer Before Dawn, Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s Muay Thai boxing thriller that stars Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Green Room).
The film is set to premiere at Cannes Film Festival next month as part of the Midnight Screenings programme.
Nick Saltrese adapted the screenplay from Bobby Moore’s book, which is based on his own experiences. This is director Sauvaire’s second feature after Johnny Mad Dog, which premiered at Cannes in 2008.
The British-French co-pro was produced by Rita Dagher, Sol Papadopoulos, Roy Boulter and Nicholas Simon. Three-time Oscar nominee James Schamus was an executive producer and helped to close finance through his company Symbolic Exchange’s production deal with China’s Meridian Entertainment.
HanWay Films is handling sales on the title. The UK deal was stuck between Altitude’s Will Clarke and HanWay Films’ Gabrielle Stewart.
A24 previously...
- 4/27/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Finance secured for Thai boxing feature starring Joe Cole; first-look image.
Chinese financier Meridian Entertainment, through its production deal with James Schamus’ Symbolic Exchange, has boarded finance on action film A Prayer Before Dawn, starring rising actor Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Green Room).
Principal photography got underway in Thailand last week on the sophomore feature from director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, whose debut Johnny Mad Dog premiered in Un Certain Regard in 2008.
Former Wild Bunch exec Rita Dagher (Soy Nero), Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter (Sunset Song) and Nicholas Simon are producing. HanWay handles international sales, CAA reps the Us.
Former Focus CEO Schamus (Brokeback Mountain) will executive produce with Meridian’s Jennifer Dong and Woody Mu, along with Hanway’s Thorsten Schmuacher. Writer is Jonathan Hirschbein (Bad Country), based on a prior draft by Nick Saltrese.
Cole will star as Billy Moore, whose autobiography is the basis for the film, which tells the...
Chinese financier Meridian Entertainment, through its production deal with James Schamus’ Symbolic Exchange, has boarded finance on action film A Prayer Before Dawn, starring rising actor Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Green Room).
Principal photography got underway in Thailand last week on the sophomore feature from director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, whose debut Johnny Mad Dog premiered in Un Certain Regard in 2008.
Former Wild Bunch exec Rita Dagher (Soy Nero), Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter (Sunset Song) and Nicholas Simon are producing. HanWay handles international sales, CAA reps the Us.
Former Focus CEO Schamus (Brokeback Mountain) will executive produce with Meridian’s Jennifer Dong and Woody Mu, along with Hanway’s Thorsten Schmuacher. Writer is Jonathan Hirschbein (Bad Country), based on a prior draft by Nick Saltrese.
Cole will star as Billy Moore, whose autobiography is the basis for the film, which tells the...
- 5/11/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
HanWay Films to sell A Prayer Before Dawn at Afm; shoot to begin April 2016.
Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole is to replace Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim) in true-life Thai kick-boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn.
Cole is a former Screen Star of Tomorrow and has recently completed filming independent feature Woodshock, alongside Kirsten Dunst. Currently filming season three of Peaky Blinders, Cole will next be seen in Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room and Billy Ray’s The Secret In Their Eyes with Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
A Prayer Before Dawn, produced by the UK’s Hurricane Films, is directed by Jean-Stephane Sauvaire (Johnny Mad Dog) and was first announced ahead of last year’s American Film Market (Afm).
HanWay Films will return with the film at this year’s Afm (Nov 4-11) to sell international rights.
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will co-represent the film’s domestic distribution rights with HanWay.
Sauvaire has found...
Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole is to replace Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim) in true-life Thai kick-boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn.
Cole is a former Screen Star of Tomorrow and has recently completed filming independent feature Woodshock, alongside Kirsten Dunst. Currently filming season three of Peaky Blinders, Cole will next be seen in Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room and Billy Ray’s The Secret In Their Eyes with Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
A Prayer Before Dawn, produced by the UK’s Hurricane Films, is directed by Jean-Stephane Sauvaire (Johnny Mad Dog) and was first announced ahead of last year’s American Film Market (Afm).
HanWay Films will return with the film at this year’s Afm (Nov 4-11) to sell international rights.
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will co-represent the film’s domestic distribution rights with HanWay.
Sauvaire has found...
- 10/30/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: HanWay to sell Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s Thai boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn at Afm.
Charlie Hunnam is attached to star in true-life Thai kick-boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn, directed by Jean-Stephane Sauvaire (Johnny Mad Dog).
Hunnam, whose credits include Sons Of Anarchy and Pacific Rim, is in training now for the Muay Thai sequences of the film, set to shoot in summer 2015.
HanWay Films will launch sales on the film at Afm.
The film is described as being crossover genre fare in the vein of Drive and The Raid.
Sauvaire is also casting former prisoners who were Muay Thai champions in Thailand.
Producers are Senorita Films, the new outfit from former Wild Bunch executive Rita Dagher; and Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter’s UK outfit Hurricane Films, which optioned the material. The screenplay is by Nick Saltrese based on the book by Billy Moore.
The film is based on the true-life story of...
Charlie Hunnam is attached to star in true-life Thai kick-boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn, directed by Jean-Stephane Sauvaire (Johnny Mad Dog).
Hunnam, whose credits include Sons Of Anarchy and Pacific Rim, is in training now for the Muay Thai sequences of the film, set to shoot in summer 2015.
HanWay Films will launch sales on the film at Afm.
The film is described as being crossover genre fare in the vein of Drive and The Raid.
Sauvaire is also casting former prisoners who were Muay Thai champions in Thailand.
Producers are Senorita Films, the new outfit from former Wild Bunch executive Rita Dagher; and Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter’s UK outfit Hurricane Films, which optioned the material. The screenplay is by Nick Saltrese based on the book by Billy Moore.
The film is based on the true-life story of...
- 10/31/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: HanWay to sell Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s Thai boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn at Afm.
Charlie Hunnam is attached to star in true-life Thai kick-boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn, directed by Jean-Stephane Sauvaire (Johnny Mad Dog).
Hunnam, whose credits include Sons Of Anarchy and Pacific Rim, is in training now for the Muay Thai sequences of the film, set to shoot in summer 2015.
HanWay Films will launch sales on the film at Afm.
The film is described as being crossover genre fare in the vein of Drive and The Raid.
Sauvaire is also casting former prisoners who were Muay Thai champions in Thailand.
Producers are Senorita Films, the new outfit from former Wild Bunch executive Rita Dagher; and Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter’s UK outfit Hurricane Films, which optioned the material. The screenplay is by Nick Saltrese based on the book by Billy Moore.
The film is based on the true-life story of...
Charlie Hunnam is attached to star in true-life Thai kick-boxing prison thriller A Prayer Before Dawn, directed by Jean-Stephane Sauvaire (Johnny Mad Dog).
Hunnam, whose credits include Sons Of Anarchy and Pacific Rim, is in training now for the Muay Thai sequences of the film, set to shoot in summer 2015.
HanWay Films will launch sales on the film at Afm.
The film is described as being crossover genre fare in the vein of Drive and The Raid.
Sauvaire is also casting former prisoners who were Muay Thai champions in Thailand.
Producers are Senorita Films, the new outfit from former Wild Bunch executive Rita Dagher; and Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter’s UK outfit Hurricane Films, which optioned the material. The screenplay is by Nick Saltrese based on the book by Billy Moore.
The film is based on the true-life story of...
- 10/31/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Updated & Exclusive: Beta closes a number of key deals on Venice award-winner Still Life.
Still Life director Uberto Pasolini has several new projects on the boil as a producer through his company Redwave. One is a UK/French comedy that is being co-scripted by Simon Nye and that he will make with Rita Dagher’s Senorita Films. Another is a British comedy written by comedian Deborah Frances-White. Meanwhile, he is still working with director Alan Taylor (Palookaville, Thor) on The Horseman, a western adapted from David Anthony Durham’s civil war set novel, Gabriel’s Story.
He is also hatching a version of The Odyssey from a script by Edward Bond. (Pasolini nearly made the project a decade ago with Neil Jordan and is re-firing it now.)
Meanwhile, Beta has sold Still Life to Bim for Italy, Wild Bunch for Benelux, Palace in Australia, Filmcoopi in Switzerland, Arthaus in Norway, Folkets Bio in Sweden...
Still Life director Uberto Pasolini has several new projects on the boil as a producer through his company Redwave. One is a UK/French comedy that is being co-scripted by Simon Nye and that he will make with Rita Dagher’s Senorita Films. Another is a British comedy written by comedian Deborah Frances-White. Meanwhile, he is still working with director Alan Taylor (Palookaville, Thor) on The Horseman, a western adapted from David Anthony Durham’s civil war set novel, Gabriel’s Story.
He is also hatching a version of The Odyssey from a script by Edward Bond. (Pasolini nearly made the project a decade ago with Neil Jordan and is re-firing it now.)
Meanwhile, Beta has sold Still Life to Bim for Italy, Wild Bunch for Benelux, Palace in Australia, Filmcoopi in Switzerland, Arthaus in Norway, Folkets Bio in Sweden...
- 9/15/2013
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Check out Andrea Riseborough in the new poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer thriller with Clive Owen starring. Tom Bradby writes the script, adapted from his own novel which is set in Belfast in the 90s, following an active member of the Ira who becomes an informant for MI5 to protect his son. The cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuert Graham and Martin McCann. Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney produce Shadow Dancer, which is executive-produced by Brahim Chioua, Joe Oppenheimer, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry. Shadow Dancer Plot: Shadow Dancer originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom Bradby adapted his novel for the big screen and Shadow Dancer is his first feature film. Single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) is a Republican...
- 12/5/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out Andrea Riseborough in the new poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer thriller with Clive Owen starring. Tom Bradby writes the script, adapted from his own novel which is set in Belfast in the 90s, following an active member of the Ira who becomes an informant for MI5 to protect his son. The cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan, David Wilmot, Stuert Graham and Martin McCann. Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney produce Shadow Dancer, which is executive-produced by Brahim Chioua, Joe Oppenheimer, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry. Shadow Dancer Plot: Shadow Dancer originated as a novel, written by Tom Bradby during his time as a TV correspondent in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Tom Bradby adapted his novel for the big screen and Shadow Dancer is his first feature film. Single mother Collette McVeigh (Andrea Riseborough) is a Republican...
- 12/5/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out the poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer movie starring Clive Owen Adapted by Tom Brady from his own novel, Shadow Dancer is set in 1990s Belfast where an active Ira member becomes an informant for MI5 in order to protect his son. Also in the talented cast are Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan and David Wilmot. Dancer is produced by Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney while Joe Oppenheimer, Brahim Chioua, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry serve as executive producers.
- 12/1/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out the poster for James Marsh's Shadow Dancer movie starring Clive Owen Adapted by Tom Brady from his own novel, Shadow Dancer is set in 1990s Belfast where an active Ira member becomes an informant for MI5 in order to protect his son. Also in the talented cast are Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Brid Brennan and David Wilmot. Dancer is produced by Chris Coen, Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney while Joe Oppenheimer, Brahim Chioua, Rita Dagher, Vincent Maraval and Norman Merry serve as executive producers.
- 12/1/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
- #88.My Enemy's EnemyDirector/Writer: Kevin Macdonald Producer/Production Company: Rita Dagher , Kevin Macdonald Distributor: The Weinstein Company The Gist: This is about Klaus Barbie, the Nazi war criminal known as "the Butcher Of Lyon." Barbie was also the subject of Marcel Ophuls' Oscar winning 1988 documentary Hotel Terminus, but Macdonald's film will have a very different focus. The film will chronicle how Barbie worked with the CIA after the war and how the Nazi felon was protected by the Us.Fact: Equally agile in documentary and narrative storytelling forms, MacDonald has gone back and forth between docu and fiction: Touching the Void (2004), The Last King of Scotland (2006) and is helming studio pic State of Play. See It: This is a perfect companion piece for another doc film Terror's Advocate, and acts as another mind-boggling example of how American foreign policy is cause for many blunders. Release Date/Status?: Presently in the Tba status,
- 1/28/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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