It’s official. Summer is over.
The second day of Life Is Beautiful inaugurated the Fall season with a diverse lineup of performers across the festival’s stages in Downtown Las Vegas, with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Reneé Rapp, the 1975, and Omar Apollo performing throughout the evening. (It might be the start of fall, but the sun sure was blazing for much of the day.)
Saturday night served as the perfect example as to why many call Las Vegas the entertainment capital of the world: down the street, on the Vegas strip,...
The second day of Life Is Beautiful inaugurated the Fall season with a diverse lineup of performers across the festival’s stages in Downtown Las Vegas, with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Reneé Rapp, the 1975, and Omar Apollo performing throughout the evening. (It might be the start of fall, but the sun sure was blazing for much of the day.)
Saturday night served as the perfect example as to why many call Las Vegas the entertainment capital of the world: down the street, on the Vegas strip,...
- 9/24/2023
- by Tomás Mier and Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Carly Rae Jepsen has officially released her seventh studio album, The Loveliest Time. Stream it below.
Featuring production from former-Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij, the album boasts some of the uber-singable pop hooks and danceable tracks you’d expect from Jepsen. The James Ford-produced single, “Shy Boy,” which dropped last month, was evidence of this, offering an irresistibly catchy chorus.
Jepsen first announced the album earlier this month, explaining that it will be a thematic follow-up to her 2022 album, the similarly-titled The Loneliest Time. “It’s sort of the completion to The Loneliest Time,” she said in a statement. “I had these fantasies that I wanted to put to song about what it would be like when the world opened up and we could travel again and fall madly in love and live life like it’s an adventure. So, I’m really looking forward to this next project,...
Featuring production from former-Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij, the album boasts some of the uber-singable pop hooks and danceable tracks you’d expect from Jepsen. The James Ford-produced single, “Shy Boy,” which dropped last month, was evidence of this, offering an irresistibly catchy chorus.
Jepsen first announced the album earlier this month, explaining that it will be a thematic follow-up to her 2022 album, the similarly-titled The Loneliest Time. “It’s sort of the completion to The Loneliest Time,” she said in a statement. “I had these fantasies that I wanted to put to song about what it would be like when the world opened up and we could travel again and fall madly in love and live life like it’s an adventure. So, I’m really looking forward to this next project,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
The So So Glos singer/bassist Alex Zarou Levine has revealed he has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma and started a GoFundMe to help out with medical costs.
“Almost immediately following The So So Glos sold-out show at Bowery Ballroom, I began to experience the same sinus issues that had led to emergency surgery the week prior. After a series of tests, I found out that I have a cancerous tumor,” Levine wrote in a lengthy note on Instagram, before touching on his lifelong battle with the rare metabolic disorder homocystinuria. “Navigating health is something I have all too much experience with. My whole life I’ve been guided down hospital hallways, held by rebel music. What’s gotten me this far is the endless desire to create. This cancer is rare & the treatment outcome is uncertain, but I’m 100% committed to using...
“Almost immediately following The So So Glos sold-out show at Bowery Ballroom, I began to experience the same sinus issues that had led to emergency surgery the week prior. After a series of tests, I found out that I have a cancerous tumor,” Levine wrote in a lengthy note on Instagram, before touching on his lifelong battle with the rare metabolic disorder homocystinuria. “Navigating health is something I have all too much experience with. My whole life I’ve been guided down hospital hallways, held by rebel music. What’s gotten me this far is the endless desire to create. This cancer is rare & the treatment outcome is uncertain, but I’m 100% committed to using...
- 7/25/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Conor Oberst has reunited with his longtime pals The So So Glos. The Bright Eyes frontman features on “Everywhere Is War,” the new single out now from the Brooklyn rockers.
Rather than the garagey, surfy punk by which The So So Glos made their name, “Everywhere Is War” is a poppier number primarily backed with a spunky piano riff. It’s difficult to even recognize Oberst’s trademark constantly-on-the-verge-of-tears vocals, too, as it’s been doused in T-Pain levels of Auto-Tune. Soon enough, though, the track has you humming along.
But despite its sunny exterior, “Everywhere Is War” has a much darker meaning, its title paying homage to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie’s 1963 address to the Un (which also served as the basis for Bob Marley’s song “War”).
“The cover, shot by Bill Biggart, documents a rioter in Northern Ireland in 1989,” The So So Glos said of the song on Instagram.
Rather than the garagey, surfy punk by which The So So Glos made their name, “Everywhere Is War” is a poppier number primarily backed with a spunky piano riff. It’s difficult to even recognize Oberst’s trademark constantly-on-the-verge-of-tears vocals, too, as it’s been doused in T-Pain levels of Auto-Tune. Soon enough, though, the track has you humming along.
But despite its sunny exterior, “Everywhere Is War” has a much darker meaning, its title paying homage to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie’s 1963 address to the Un (which also served as the basis for Bob Marley’s song “War”).
“The cover, shot by Bill Biggart, documents a rioter in Northern Ireland in 1989,” The So So Glos said of the song on Instagram.
- 3/3/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Click here to read the full article.
Warner Bros. Discovery has taken the axe to its European staff, chopping 29 jobs in Europe, among them top programming positions, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed Thursday.
Among the executives on the way out are Johnathan Young, vp, original programming and production at HBO Max Emea (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Christian Wikander, vp and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordic region; and Annelies Sitvast, who heads up the studios’ unscripted original programming slate. Mia Edde, who joined Wbd last year to run content acquisitions for Turkey, has already left.
The rest of the 29 employees, all of whom will be leaving Wbd over the next 15 months, come from these executives’ teams.
The cuts were expected following the merger of Discovery and Warner Bros. and the announcement by studio boss David Zaslav that the company was looking to find 3 billion in savings across its global business.
Warner Bros. Discovery has taken the axe to its European staff, chopping 29 jobs in Europe, among them top programming positions, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed Thursday.
Among the executives on the way out are Johnathan Young, vp, original programming and production at HBO Max Emea (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Christian Wikander, vp and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordic region; and Annelies Sitvast, who heads up the studios’ unscripted original programming slate. Mia Edde, who joined Wbd last year to run content acquisitions for Turkey, has already left.
The rest of the 29 employees, all of whom will be leaving Wbd over the next 15 months, come from these executives’ teams.
The cuts were expected following the merger of Discovery and Warner Bros. and the announcement by studio boss David Zaslav that the company was looking to find 3 billion in savings across its global business.
- 8/25/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Warner Bros. Discovery is letting go of 29 staff in Europe, including key programming execs, as it moves to phase out HBO Max European originals and shift towards a new local commissioning model, Deadline can reveal.
Among the top level execs leaving the business are HBO Max Emea VP Original Programming and Production Cee Johnathan Young; VP and Commissioning Editor of Original Programming, Nordics Christian Wikander; and Head of Unscripted Original Production Annelies Sitvast. Mia Edde, who joined last year as Executive Director, Content Acquisitions in Turkey has already left.
In total, 29 will depart over the next 15 months, with the other departures coming from the teams of the exiting executives.
Deadline understands Wbd will continue to invest in local commissions and acquisitions in Europe, but that original programming responsibilities will now be handled by the company’s local linear and streaming teams, and no commissions will be made purely for streaming.
Among the top level execs leaving the business are HBO Max Emea VP Original Programming and Production Cee Johnathan Young; VP and Commissioning Editor of Original Programming, Nordics Christian Wikander; and Head of Unscripted Original Production Annelies Sitvast. Mia Edde, who joined last year as Executive Director, Content Acquisitions in Turkey has already left.
In total, 29 will depart over the next 15 months, with the other departures coming from the teams of the exiting executives.
Deadline understands Wbd will continue to invest in local commissions and acquisitions in Europe, but that original programming responsibilities will now be handled by the company’s local linear and streaming teams, and no commissions will be made purely for streaming.
- 8/25/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
This year’s Banff World Media Festival is set to be one of the most international yet and will go beyond TV trends to address some of the globe’s biggest topics, according to Executive Director Jenn Kuzmyk.
Speaking to Deadline in the lead-up to the annual event, which takes place in-person after two years online from Sunday 12 June to Wednesday 15 June, Kuzmyk pointed to a flurry of non-North American delegates journeying to the beautiful Rockie Mountains from the likes of Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Amazon, the BBC and production companies based in Nigeria, France, Sweden and Korea.
“Going virtual during the pandemic has widened our reach and that’s definitely represented in the breadth of participation,” she added. “We’ve always been represented well internationally but perhaps a bit more this year.”
She pointed to big international hits in line for the prestigious Rockie Awards such as BBC comedy Motherland,...
Speaking to Deadline in the lead-up to the annual event, which takes place in-person after two years online from Sunday 12 June to Wednesday 15 June, Kuzmyk pointed to a flurry of non-North American delegates journeying to the beautiful Rockie Mountains from the likes of Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Amazon, the BBC and production companies based in Nigeria, France, Sweden and Korea.
“Going virtual during the pandemic has widened our reach and that’s definitely represented in the breadth of participation,” she added. “We’ve always been represented well internationally but perhaps a bit more this year.”
She pointed to big international hits in line for the prestigious Rockie Awards such as BBC comedy Motherland,...
- 6/8/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
“La heterosexualidad puede ser curada” (“Heterosexuality can be cured”) read an orange-and-yellow billboard in Zona Rosa, the historically gay neighborhood of Mexico City, to promote Omar Apollo’s May 31st visit to Auditorio BlackBerry.
It was a simple, eye-catching marketing strategy to promote a cultural homecoming for the 24-year-old son of Mexican immigrants. Apollo was returning to a city that spawned much of his creativity while making his latest LP, Ivory: Aided by his righthand creative director, Alberto Bustamante, known by the alias Mexican Jihad, the singer spent weeks perfecting...
It was a simple, eye-catching marketing strategy to promote a cultural homecoming for the 24-year-old son of Mexican immigrants. Apollo was returning to a city that spawned much of his creativity while making his latest LP, Ivory: Aided by his righthand creative director, Alberto Bustamante, known by the alias Mexican Jihad, the singer spent weeks perfecting...
- 6/1/2022
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
Rebranding
Endeavor Content‘s U.K.-based content studio The Story Company, which was launched in 2021, has rebranded as The Story Collective and made three senior hires.
Former ITV Studios producer Kate Lewis (“Vera”) joins as executive producer and brings with her a slate of projects she has been developing under her Neon Ink banner. Lewis will manage and expand the company’s slate of scripted projects, and provide creative support to their portfolio of invested production companies and writer partnerships. Former Tiger Aspect executive Amy Mobley joins as head of production from Fremantle’s label Euston Films, where she was responsible for overseeing all of the company’s productions, including “Baghdad Central” and “The Sister.” Natasha Neill, who has had previous stints at Entertainment One, Greenbird Media and Shine TV, joins as CFO from her previous role at Lookout Point.
The executive management of The Story Collective includes former Lookout Point MD Damian Keogh,...
Endeavor Content‘s U.K.-based content studio The Story Company, which was launched in 2021, has rebranded as The Story Collective and made three senior hires.
Former ITV Studios producer Kate Lewis (“Vera”) joins as executive producer and brings with her a slate of projects she has been developing under her Neon Ink banner. Lewis will manage and expand the company’s slate of scripted projects, and provide creative support to their portfolio of invested production companies and writer partnerships. Former Tiger Aspect executive Amy Mobley joins as head of production from Fremantle’s label Euston Films, where she was responsible for overseeing all of the company’s productions, including “Baghdad Central” and “The Sister.” Natasha Neill, who has had previous stints at Entertainment One, Greenbird Media and Shine TV, joins as CFO from her previous role at Lookout Point.
The executive management of The Story Collective includes former Lookout Point MD Damian Keogh,...
- 4/29/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Priya Dogra, president of WarnerMedia Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia (excluding China), took the stage on Thursday to deliver a keynote speech at the Series Mania TV fest in Lille, France, and the message was clear: the U.S. conglomerate is ramping up production in Europe.
“Our industry is becoming more global,” said Dogra. “As players launch services across the world, competition is intensifying, and we are seeing record levels of investment in high-quality content in all markets, and no more so than in Europe,” she noted in her opening remarks.
The top WarnerMedia exec went on to add that amid the ongoing global rollout of HBO Max, “In Europe, we have gone from producing around 10 HBO titles in 2019 to having over 40 in the pipeline for 2023 for HBO Max across scripted and unscripted,” she said.
Five months after its launch HBO Max is now available in 21 European territories...
“Our industry is becoming more global,” said Dogra. “As players launch services across the world, competition is intensifying, and we are seeing record levels of investment in high-quality content in all markets, and no more so than in Europe,” she noted in her opening remarks.
The top WarnerMedia exec went on to add that amid the ongoing global rollout of HBO Max, “In Europe, we have gone from producing around 10 HBO titles in 2019 to having over 40 in the pipeline for 2023 for HBO Max across scripted and unscripted,” she said.
Five months after its launch HBO Max is now available in 21 European territories...
- 3/24/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
In one of its first major overtures to the European drama community since expanding across the continent, HBO Max commissioners used a rare Series Mania presentation to lay out their strategies and wish lists for the platform.
The team was speaking as part of a panel on Wednesday that drew a queue of at least 500 people who were snaked around the Lille Grand Palais in hopes of getting in. HBO Max is, for many a drama producer in town, the ideal partner in Europe given its existing track record as HBO Europe.
Antony Root, executive VP and head of original production for WarnerMedia Emea, presented the streamer’s four pillars for local originals: Local first; broad appeal; distinctive storytelling; and a diverse slate.
The task at hand, he said, is to drive subscriber acquisitions and “get people in who might not otherwise subscribe to the HBO channel, by having a broader slate.
The team was speaking as part of a panel on Wednesday that drew a queue of at least 500 people who were snaked around the Lille Grand Palais in hopes of getting in. HBO Max is, for many a drama producer in town, the ideal partner in Europe given its existing track record as HBO Europe.
Antony Root, executive VP and head of original production for WarnerMedia Emea, presented the streamer’s four pillars for local originals: Local first; broad appeal; distinctive storytelling; and a diverse slate.
The task at hand, he said, is to drive subscriber acquisitions and “get people in who might not otherwise subscribe to the HBO channel, by having a broader slate.
- 3/23/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon’s Jack Ryan season four is set to shoot in Gran Canaria and Tenerife from March.
A new 21,000m2 studio complex is expected to open in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria in summer 2022, Canary Islands Film confirmed to Screen’s sister site Kftv.
Construction has been completed on the complex, which will offer two independent soundstages of 1,200m2 and 1,800m2, 12m high with built-in lighting and scenic bridges. There will also be workshops, storage buildings, and space for the art department, hair and make-up and costume departments, offices, meeting rooms and backlots.
The Canary Islands archipelago...
A new 21,000m2 studio complex is expected to open in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria in summer 2022, Canary Islands Film confirmed to Screen’s sister site Kftv.
Construction has been completed on the complex, which will offer two independent soundstages of 1,200m2 and 1,800m2, 12m high with built-in lighting and scenic bridges. There will also be workshops, storage buildings, and space for the art department, hair and make-up and costume departments, offices, meeting rooms and backlots.
The Canary Islands archipelago...
- 2/22/2022
- by Chris Evans
- ScreenDaily
Launch also includes several central European territories
HBO Max has confirmed plans to launch in a further 15 European countries on March 8, taking its global footprint to 61 territories.
The 15 additional European countries are: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Later this year, HBO Max will expand to a further six European countries including Greece and Turkey.
However, HBO Max will not be available in the UK, Germany and Italy for the next few years due to an existing HBO output deal with Sky.
The WarnerMedia-owned streaming...
HBO Max has confirmed plans to launch in a further 15 European countries on March 8, taking its global footprint to 61 territories.
The 15 additional European countries are: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Later this year, HBO Max will expand to a further six European countries including Greece and Turkey.
However, HBO Max will not be available in the UK, Germany and Italy for the next few years due to an existing HBO output deal with Sky.
The WarnerMedia-owned streaming...
- 2/1/2022
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
HBO Max is continuing a steady roll-out in Europe with its second wave of countries.
The WarnerMedia-owned streaming service is launching in an additional 15 nations on March 8, this time targeting Central and Eastern Europe. This covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Christina Sulebakk, general manager for HBO Max Emea, says it has been a “cautious choice” to get the markets launched in Europe, where the HBO Max roll-out began in earnest in October with launches in the Nordics as well as Spain and Andorra.
Those countries were obvious choices as the company had solid streaming customer bases that were already familiar with HBO Nordic and HBO España VOD services. “[We had to] make sure we could migrate over that customer base and get them on HBO Max first,” says Sulebakk.
Similarly, HBO has been operating different brands...
The WarnerMedia-owned streaming service is launching in an additional 15 nations on March 8, this time targeting Central and Eastern Europe. This covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Christina Sulebakk, general manager for HBO Max Emea, says it has been a “cautious choice” to get the markets launched in Europe, where the HBO Max roll-out began in earnest in October with launches in the Nordics as well as Spain and Andorra.
Those countries were obvious choices as the company had solid streaming customer bases that were already familiar with HBO Nordic and HBO España VOD services. “[We had to] make sure we could migrate over that customer base and get them on HBO Max first,” says Sulebakk.
Similarly, HBO has been operating different brands...
- 2/1/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
WarnerMedia International has appointed Arte France executive Clémentine Bobin as senior creative executive for HBO Max in France. Bobin will be working across development and creative production for Max Originals that are commissioned and produced in France.
She will work alongside former Canal Plus executive Vera Peltekian, who joined the company in October and is responsible for all Max Originals commissioned and produced in France for HBO Max.
“I’m excited to welcome Clémentine to the team. She brings a wealth of experience in producing world-class stories which resonate in France and beyond,” said Peltekian, adding that “Clémentine’s appointment is a major milestone in building our development capability in France.”
Bobin said she was “honored and delighted to be joining HBO Max, and to work with Vera Peltekian to help develop a slate of French original programming that is bold, talent-driven, distinctive and exciting.”
Prior to joining HBO Max,...
She will work alongside former Canal Plus executive Vera Peltekian, who joined the company in October and is responsible for all Max Originals commissioned and produced in France for HBO Max.
“I’m excited to welcome Clémentine to the team. She brings a wealth of experience in producing world-class stories which resonate in France and beyond,” said Peltekian, adding that “Clémentine’s appointment is a major milestone in building our development capability in France.”
Bobin said she was “honored and delighted to be joining HBO Max, and to work with Vera Peltekian to help develop a slate of French original programming that is bold, talent-driven, distinctive and exciting.”
Prior to joining HBO Max,...
- 1/13/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Variety has been given exclusive access to the trailer (below) for Danish horror film “Speak No Evil,” which has its world premiere at Sundance. Sales are being handled by TrustNordisk.
The film follows a Danish family on vacation in Tuscany, where they befriend a Dutch family. Months later the Danish couple receive an invitation to visit the Dutch and decide to go for the weekend. However, it doesn’t take long before the joy of reunion is replaced by misunderstandings. Things gradually get out of hand, as the Dutch turn out to be something different than what they have pretended to be.
The film was directed by Christian Tafdrup, and written by Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup.
Christian Tafdrup describes “Speak No Evil” as a satirical horror movie. “Satirical, because it revolves around ordinary people’s absurdly recognizable ways of behaving. A horror movie, because the film is dark, evil and willingly foul.
The film follows a Danish family on vacation in Tuscany, where they befriend a Dutch family. Months later the Danish couple receive an invitation to visit the Dutch and decide to go for the weekend. However, it doesn’t take long before the joy of reunion is replaced by misunderstandings. Things gradually get out of hand, as the Dutch turn out to be something different than what they have pretended to be.
The film was directed by Christian Tafdrup, and written by Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup.
Christian Tafdrup describes “Speak No Evil” as a satirical horror movie. “Satirical, because it revolves around ordinary people’s absurdly recognizable ways of behaving. A horror movie, because the film is dark, evil and willingly foul.
- 1/13/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
European Film Promotion has announced the 10 rising young actors selected for the 25th edition of European Shooting Stars, the promotional event held during the Berlinale that has been instrumental to boosting careers of top talents such as Alicia Vikander, Riz Ahmed, Alba Rohrwacher and George MacKay.
Due to Omicron-related constraints, this year’s Shooting Stars is taking place as a hybrid edition comprising some online events being scheduled before the Berlinale, while others will take place on-site during the festival. One of the program’s highlights will be the European Shooting Stars Awards Ceremony set for Feb. 14 at the Berlinale Palast.
The 10 selected European Shooting Stars for 2022 are: Gracija Filipović (Croatia); Marie Reuther (Denmark); Anamaria Vartolomei (France); Emilio Sakraya (Germany); Clare Dunne (Ireland); Hanna van Vliet (The Netherlands); João Nunes Monteiro (Portugal); Timon Sturbej (Slovenia); Evin Ahmad (Sweden); and Souheila Yacoub (Switzerland).
This year’s roster – three men and seven women – of standout actors,...
Due to Omicron-related constraints, this year’s Shooting Stars is taking place as a hybrid edition comprising some online events being scheduled before the Berlinale, while others will take place on-site during the festival. One of the program’s highlights will be the European Shooting Stars Awards Ceremony set for Feb. 14 at the Berlinale Palast.
The 10 selected European Shooting Stars for 2022 are: Gracija Filipović (Croatia); Marie Reuther (Denmark); Anamaria Vartolomei (France); Emilio Sakraya (Germany); Clare Dunne (Ireland); Hanna van Vliet (The Netherlands); João Nunes Monteiro (Portugal); Timon Sturbej (Slovenia); Evin Ahmad (Sweden); and Souheila Yacoub (Switzerland).
This year’s roster – three men and seven women – of standout actors,...
- 1/13/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Wake up, Neo.
It’s December 2021 and to celebrate HBO Max is bringing back a classic sci-fi franchise for one last ride. The list of new releases on HBO Max this month is highlighted by The Matrix Resurrections on Dec. 22. This is the long-awaited return to the reality-bending saga from The Wachowskis. Writer/director Lana Wachowski returns as do stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as Neo and Trinity, respectively. This time around it’s 20 years after The Matrix Revolutions and “Neo lives a seemingly ordinary life as Thomas A. Anderson in San Francisco where his therapist prescribes him blue pills. Neither he nor Trinity recognize each other. However, Morpheus offers him the red pill and reopens his mind to the world of the Matrix.”
While The Matrix Resurrections is the big draw this time around, HBO Max has some other intriguing originals to speak of. The David Thewlis and...
It’s December 2021 and to celebrate HBO Max is bringing back a classic sci-fi franchise for one last ride. The list of new releases on HBO Max this month is highlighted by The Matrix Resurrections on Dec. 22. This is the long-awaited return to the reality-bending saga from The Wachowskis. Writer/director Lana Wachowski returns as do stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as Neo and Trinity, respectively. This time around it’s 20 years after The Matrix Revolutions and “Neo lives a seemingly ordinary life as Thomas A. Anderson in San Francisco where his therapist prescribes him blue pills. Neither he nor Trinity recognize each other. However, Morpheus offers him the red pill and reopens his mind to the world of the Matrix.”
While The Matrix Resurrections is the big draw this time around, HBO Max has some other intriguing originals to speak of. The David Thewlis and...
- 12/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Before embarking on its eight-episode journey, be warned: “Kamikaze” is fixated on two of the ideas attached to its title you’re likely to think of first: death and flying. The HBO Max original series — the streamer’s first Danish-language original, as well as its first global day-and-date release to be commissioned and produced in Europe — revolves around a young woman determined to end her life, in a way similar to how the rest of her family recently died, and opens with Julie (played with pensive purpose by newcomer Marie Reuther) attempting suicide by crashing a small plane in the desert.
For those who don’t balk at the dire central premise, what awaits is a thoughtful personal exploration via extravagant choices, an attuned, moving lead performance, and lots and lots of flying. “Kamikaze” may not be revelatory in its overarching story, but it moves with an assured pace (half-hour...
For those who don’t balk at the dire central premise, what awaits is a thoughtful personal exploration via extravagant choices, an attuned, moving lead performance, and lots and lots of flying. “Kamikaze” may not be revelatory in its overarching story, but it moves with an assured pace (half-hour...
- 11/14/2021
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Eleven months in to 2021, and Warner Bros. movie streaming strategy on HBO Max is still going strong. Now the list of new releases for November 2021 on HBO Max is highlighted by yet another big ticket film.
King Richard, starring Will Smith, is set to arrive on HBO Max and in theaters on Nov. 19. The movie will tell the story of Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. Smith is already getting some early awards buzz for the role so Oscar-heads may want to check this one out.
Read more TV Peacemaker: All the DC Heroes and Villains in that HBO Max Trailer By Jim Dandeneau TV House of the Dragon: Game of Thrones Prequel Trailer Breakdown By Alec Bojalad
Aside from that, it’s a relatively light month for originals on HBO Max. The streamer is clearly attempting to step up its non-English...
King Richard, starring Will Smith, is set to arrive on HBO Max and in theaters on Nov. 19. The movie will tell the story of Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. Smith is already getting some early awards buzz for the role so Oscar-heads may want to check this one out.
Read more TV Peacemaker: All the DC Heroes and Villains in that HBO Max Trailer By Jim Dandeneau TV House of the Dragon: Game of Thrones Prequel Trailer Breakdown By Alec Bojalad
Aside from that, it’s a relatively light month for originals on HBO Max. The streamer is clearly attempting to step up its non-English...
- 11/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
It’s a once in a lifetime offer, literally. From today through to Nov. 30, HBO Max will offer new subscribers in parts of Europe the chance to sign up for the lifetime of their subscription at half the monthly retail price, for as long as they don’t unsubscribe.
The offer is being made as HBO Max launches on Oct. 26 in its first six European territories: Spain and Andorra and the four Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
It’s a highly aggressive offer, undercutting Netflix and Disney Plus for new subscribers. In Spain and Finland, for example, where the monthly subscription fee is tabbed at €8.99 ($10.40), new subscribers now have the chance to sign up for HBO Max for just €4.49 ($5.20) a month.
That compares to €7.99 ($9.30) a month for a basic one-screen Netflix subscription in Spain and €7.50 ($8.70) per month for customers paying an annual Disney Plus subscription, with up to 10 devices.
The offer is being made as HBO Max launches on Oct. 26 in its first six European territories: Spain and Andorra and the four Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
It’s a highly aggressive offer, undercutting Netflix and Disney Plus for new subscribers. In Spain and Finland, for example, where the monthly subscription fee is tabbed at €8.99 ($10.40), new subscribers now have the chance to sign up for HBO Max for just €4.49 ($5.20) a month.
That compares to €7.99 ($9.30) a month for a basic one-screen Netflix subscription in Spain and €7.50 ($8.70) per month for customers paying an annual Disney Plus subscription, with up to 10 devices.
- 10/26/2021
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
With November quickly approaching, HBO Max subscribers can expect plenty of new movie and television releases coming to the streaming service, along with the returns of fan-favorite series. Continuing the same-day theatrical and streaming release model, the Will Smith-led, Venus and Serena Williams biopic King Richard will premiere simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max for those with an ad-free subscription. Other new additions include the Mindy Kaling series The Sex Lives of College Girls, the film 8-Bit Christmas, the documentary Black and Missing, the new drama series Kamikaze, and the second season of South Side. HBO Max favorites Gossip Girl and Sesame Street will return with new seasons next month, though their exact release dates have yet to be announced. Other unknown releases include the documentaries A Choice Of Weapons: Inspired By Gordon Parks and Life of Crime 1984-2020, Music Box: Jagged, and Music Box: Dmx: Don’t Try to Understand.
- 10/23/2021
- TV Insider
Happy Friday International Insiders. Max Goldbart here for the very first time giving you all the international film and TV insight you need to round off the week. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Halyna Hutchins Tributes
“A brilliant talent”: The film community was mourning Friday as tributes flooded in for Ukrainian-born cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died on Thursday after a prop gun was discharged on the set of Rust by actor Alec Baldwin. Director Adam Egypt Mortimer said he was “sad and infuriated” at her death and called Hutchins “a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film.” The AFI Conservatory, of which Archenemy and Blindfire cinematographer Hutchins was an alum, followed up by stating “words alone cannot capture the loss of one so dear to our community. At AFI, we pledge to see that Halyna Hutchins will live...
Halyna Hutchins Tributes
“A brilliant talent”: The film community was mourning Friday as tributes flooded in for Ukrainian-born cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died on Thursday after a prop gun was discharged on the set of Rust by actor Alec Baldwin. Director Adam Egypt Mortimer said he was “sad and infuriated” at her death and called Hutchins “a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film.” The AFI Conservatory, of which Archenemy and Blindfire cinematographer Hutchins was an alum, followed up by stating “words alone cannot capture the loss of one so dear to our community. At AFI, we pledge to see that Halyna Hutchins will live...
- 10/22/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
WarnerMedia has been rolling out HBO Max around the world over the last few months and has been ramping up the number of international originals that it orders.
The company has now revealed that it is launching its first international original day-and-date in the U.S. and globally and has plans for more.
Danish drama series Kamikaze will be the first show, commissioned and produced out of Europe, that will bow on the service everywhere HBO Max is available at the same time.
It brings the streamer in line with rivals such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple in terms of launching shows in all of its markets at the same time, giving series the opportunity to create a global buzz on social media and replicate the success of breakout local-language hits such as Netflix’s Squid Game.
Kamikaze, which is based on the novel Muleum by Erlend Loe, follows the fierce and charming 18-year-old Julie,...
The company has now revealed that it is launching its first international original day-and-date in the U.S. and globally and has plans for more.
Danish drama series Kamikaze will be the first show, commissioned and produced out of Europe, that will bow on the service everywhere HBO Max is available at the same time.
It brings the streamer in line with rivals such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple in terms of launching shows in all of its markets at the same time, giving series the opportunity to create a global buzz on social media and replicate the success of breakout local-language hits such as Netflix’s Squid Game.
Kamikaze, which is based on the novel Muleum by Erlend Loe, follows the fierce and charming 18-year-old Julie,...
- 10/21/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Investment
Media group Vivendi has acquired a stake in France and U.K. headquartered Pernel Media, the independent production company behind “Legends of the Pharaohs,” “The Real War of Thrones,” “Wheeler Dealers France,” “Attila’s Forbidden Tomb” and “Ancient Superstructures.
Pernel will remain an autonomous entity led by Samuel Kissous and will keep expanding the range of broadcast partners and platforms it is working with in France and internationally. The company goal aims to accelerate its international business, consolidate factual output with premium global series, and firm up its scripted projects.
As part of the financing restructure, previous shareholders Alliance Entreprendre and Odyssee Venture are exiting the company.
In July, Pernel hired former head of Arte Distribution Celine Payot Lehmann as international executive producer.
Streaming
HBO Max will stream original drama series “Kamikaze” on Nov. 14 in 46 countries and territories where the streamer is available across Europe, the U.S. and Latin America.
Media group Vivendi has acquired a stake in France and U.K. headquartered Pernel Media, the independent production company behind “Legends of the Pharaohs,” “The Real War of Thrones,” “Wheeler Dealers France,” “Attila’s Forbidden Tomb” and “Ancient Superstructures.
Pernel will remain an autonomous entity led by Samuel Kissous and will keep expanding the range of broadcast partners and platforms it is working with in France and internationally. The company goal aims to accelerate its international business, consolidate factual output with premium global series, and firm up its scripted projects.
As part of the financing restructure, previous shareholders Alliance Entreprendre and Odyssee Venture are exiting the company.
In July, Pernel hired former head of Arte Distribution Celine Payot Lehmann as international executive producer.
Streaming
HBO Max will stream original drama series “Kamikaze” on Nov. 14 in 46 countries and territories where the streamer is available across Europe, the U.S. and Latin America.
- 10/15/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
WarnerMedia’s burgeoning streaming platform will launch in first European territories on October 26.
HBO Max has announced that Warner Bros films will be available on its new European services just 45 days after their theatrical release.
WarnerMedia’s burgeoning streaming platform unveiled the release strategy at a virtual event on Tuesday (Oct 5) marking its launch in its first six European territories of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Spain and Andorra on October 26.
“I have another amazing piece of news to drop. For the first time, in the Nordics at launch, and next year in Spain, Portugal and central and eastern Europe, HBO...
HBO Max has announced that Warner Bros films will be available on its new European services just 45 days after their theatrical release.
WarnerMedia’s burgeoning streaming platform unveiled the release strategy at a virtual event on Tuesday (Oct 5) marking its launch in its first six European territories of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Spain and Andorra on October 26.
“I have another amazing piece of news to drop. For the first time, in the Nordics at launch, and next year in Spain, Portugal and central and eastern Europe, HBO...
- 10/5/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
French TV event Series Mania came to a close yesterday with the handing out of its awards. Scroll down for the full list of winners.
In the International Competition, Icelandic series Blackport took the top prize, while in the French Competition, Jeune Et Golri was crowned best series. The audience award also went to a French series, Germinal. Croatian show The Last Socialist Artefact took best series in the International Panorama strand.
The event unveiled its audience numbers for this year, with more than 54,000 participants across its physical and digital platforms for the festival, and 2,500 across its physical and digital incarnations of the Forum program.
“Given the fantastic response we have received the last few days, we can say with certainty Series Mania was a tremendous success and far exceeded our expectations,” said Laurence Herszber, President of Series Mania. “Additionally, we are delighted to announce that two of our big winners tonight,...
In the International Competition, Icelandic series Blackport took the top prize, while in the French Competition, Jeune Et Golri was crowned best series. The audience award also went to a French series, Germinal. Croatian show The Last Socialist Artefact took best series in the International Panorama strand.
The event unveiled its audience numbers for this year, with more than 54,000 participants across its physical and digital platforms for the festival, and 2,500 across its physical and digital incarnations of the Forum program.
“Given the fantastic response we have received the last few days, we can say with certainty Series Mania was a tremendous success and far exceeded our expectations,” said Laurence Herszber, President of Series Mania. “Additionally, we are delighted to announce that two of our big winners tonight,...
- 9/3/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Period tragicomedy “Blackport,” backed by Icelandic public broadcaster Ruv and European network Arte, won top honors on Thursday at leading European TV festival Series Mania taking its Grand Prize.
The biggest plaudit at Lille’s Series Mania represents the festival’s second prize for the series after it awarded it best pitch kudos at the Berlinale Co-Pro Series in 2018.
“Blackport” represents a deep-dive into recent Icelandic history, kicking off in 1983 as a quota system is introduced in Iceland to protect fish stock, with ships being granted fishing rights based on their most recent three-year history.
Half family saga, half tragic farce, “Blackport” records how Harpa, a village council secretary builds a local fishing empire in a stunning western fjord but at an ever larger cost as the decade plays out.
Shot on location and based on true fact, “Blackport” oozes two of the calling cards of contemporary drama series: a...
The biggest plaudit at Lille’s Series Mania represents the festival’s second prize for the series after it awarded it best pitch kudos at the Berlinale Co-Pro Series in 2018.
“Blackport” represents a deep-dive into recent Icelandic history, kicking off in 1983 as a quota system is introduced in Iceland to protect fish stock, with ships being granted fishing rights based on their most recent three-year history.
Half family saga, half tragic farce, “Blackport” records how Harpa, a village council secretary builds a local fishing empire in a stunning western fjord but at an ever larger cost as the decade plays out.
Shot on location and based on true fact, “Blackport” oozes two of the calling cards of contemporary drama series: a...
- 9/2/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
One moment, Julie, just 18, a fashion influencer, 159,258 followers, is swanning down a street in Copenhagen, with her BFFs Constanze, Micke and Sofia. The next, her parents and big brother are dead, killed in a plane crash in Africa.
Julie gets the family mansion, but can’t think of any good reasons for living.
There’s a before and after, Julie says in “Kamikaze,” HBO Max’s first Danish original. “Before when I thought of time, that would bring me closer to whatever I was looking forward to. And now I only think of time as something between myself and all the things I will never get back,” she reasons.
Over the course of eight energetic half-hour episodes, Julie seeks a reason to live, while attempting comic and dramatic life-exits in a journey which takes her to Seoul, London, Mexico and finally, in an narrative stretch which punctuates the whole series,...
Julie gets the family mansion, but can’t think of any good reasons for living.
There’s a before and after, Julie says in “Kamikaze,” HBO Max’s first Danish original. “Before when I thought of time, that would bring me closer to whatever I was looking forward to. And now I only think of time as something between myself and all the things I will never get back,” she reasons.
Over the course of eight energetic half-hour episodes, Julie seeks a reason to live, while attempting comic and dramatic life-exits in a journey which takes her to Seoul, London, Mexico and finally, in an narrative stretch which punctuates the whole series,...
- 9/1/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Top European TV fest Series Mania bowed with a bang at Thursday’s opening night in-person gala in Lille, northern France hosting the international premiere of the ITV Studios-sold “Vigil.”
Juries and programming were presented to a hugely enthusiastic 1,200 spectator audience packing out Lille’s main Nouveau Siècle theater.
The bang, when it came to “Vigil,” a BBC nuclear submarine thriller, came via a tremendous opening scene of a Scottish fishing trawler being pulled into the icy depths of the North Sea by an unseen force caught up in its cables – a terrific calling card for current U.K. TV production values.
Tightly written and muscularly directed by James Strong (“Broadchurch”) – as you’d expect from World Productions, producer of “Bodyguard” and “Line of Duty” – episode one of “Vigil”played to admiring audience applause on Thursday night.
More potential Series Mania’s hits await. Running Aug. 26 – Sept. 3, Series Mania...
Juries and programming were presented to a hugely enthusiastic 1,200 spectator audience packing out Lille’s main Nouveau Siècle theater.
The bang, when it came to “Vigil,” a BBC nuclear submarine thriller, came via a tremendous opening scene of a Scottish fishing trawler being pulled into the icy depths of the North Sea by an unseen force caught up in its cables – a terrific calling card for current U.K. TV production values.
Tightly written and muscularly directed by James Strong (“Broadchurch”) – as you’d expect from World Productions, producer of “Bodyguard” and “Line of Duty” – episode one of “Vigil”played to admiring audience applause on Thursday night.
More potential Series Mania’s hits await. Running Aug. 26 – Sept. 3, Series Mania...
- 8/27/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Streaming
Lionsgate‘s on-demand film content will be available on streaming aggregator platform ScreenHits TV thanks to a new partnership that was revealed on Thursday. The content will be available via Lionsgate’s AVOD and linear channel, Moviesphere.
“Our collaboration not only builds on the studio’s international rollout initiatives in new markets but clearly demonstrates its strong support for innovative, diverse, female-led media tech companies,” said Rose Adkins Hulse, founder and CEO of ScreenHits TV. “Because of its forward-thinking mindset, founders of young startups like myself have a chance to bring new ideas, technology and products to the market with a fair chance at achieving great success. Lionsgate is setting a great example, paving the way for new talent to become stakeholders in this new evolution of TV.”
Territories covered by the deal currently include the U.K., Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man and Malta.
The ScreenHits TV...
Lionsgate‘s on-demand film content will be available on streaming aggregator platform ScreenHits TV thanks to a new partnership that was revealed on Thursday. The content will be available via Lionsgate’s AVOD and linear channel, Moviesphere.
“Our collaboration not only builds on the studio’s international rollout initiatives in new markets but clearly demonstrates its strong support for innovative, diverse, female-led media tech companies,” said Rose Adkins Hulse, founder and CEO of ScreenHits TV. “Because of its forward-thinking mindset, founders of young startups like myself have a chance to bring new ideas, technology and products to the market with a fair chance at achieving great success. Lionsgate is setting a great example, paving the way for new talent to become stakeholders in this new evolution of TV.”
Territories covered by the deal currently include the U.K., Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man and Malta.
The ScreenHits TV...
- 7/1/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Series Mania has announced its line-up ahead of the television festival taking place in Lille, France, on August 26-September 2.
World Productions’ BBC series Vigil will get its international premiere at the gathering. Starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie, it tells the fictional story of how the disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board a Trident nuclear submarine create conflict between the police, the Royal Navy, and intelligence services.
Series in the international competition include Kamikaze, HBO Max’s first Danish original, and Anna, a Sky Studios original in which a 13-year-old girl contends with a viral contagion that kills off all adults in Sicily. Hagai Levi, co-creator of Golden Globe-winning The Affair, chairs the international jury.
Series Mania will host guests of honor including Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, Dexter showrunner Clyde Philipps, and The Good Fight actress Audra McDonald. Other premieres include Season 5 of Netflix’s Money Heist.
World Productions’ BBC series Vigil will get its international premiere at the gathering. Starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie, it tells the fictional story of how the disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board a Trident nuclear submarine create conflict between the police, the Royal Navy, and intelligence services.
Series in the international competition include Kamikaze, HBO Max’s first Danish original, and Anna, a Sky Studios original in which a 13-year-old girl contends with a viral contagion that kills off all adults in Sicily. Hagai Levi, co-creator of Golden Globe-winning The Affair, chairs the international jury.
Series Mania will host guests of honor including Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, Dexter showrunner Clyde Philipps, and The Good Fight actress Audra McDonald. Other premieres include Season 5 of Netflix’s Money Heist.
- 7/1/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
French television festival Series Mania has announced the lineup for its 2021 event, which will run in Lille from Aug. 26 – Sept. 2.
The selection includes world premieres of some of the most hotly-anticipated international series this year, including Kamikaze, the first Danish original from HBO Max; buzzy Israeli shows Jerusalem and The Echo of Your Voice; and Furia, a Norwegian-German crime drama about a police officer who goes undercover in a neo-Nazi group, from Babylon Berlin producers X Filme and Norway’s Monster Scripted (Noble).
Also picked for this year’s competition lineup are Sky Italia’s Anna, French-Italian literary epic Germinal, Icelandic drug-smuggling drama ...
The selection includes world premieres of some of the most hotly-anticipated international series this year, including Kamikaze, the first Danish original from HBO Max; buzzy Israeli shows Jerusalem and The Echo of Your Voice; and Furia, a Norwegian-German crime drama about a police officer who goes undercover in a neo-Nazi group, from Babylon Berlin producers X Filme and Norway’s Monster Scripted (Noble).
Also picked for this year’s competition lineup are Sky Italia’s Anna, French-Italian literary epic Germinal, Icelandic drug-smuggling drama ...
French television festival Series Mania has announced the lineup for its 2021 event, which will run in Lille from Aug. 26 – Sept. 2.
The selection includes world premieres of some of the most hotly-anticipated international series this year, including Kamikaze, the first Danish original from HBO Max; buzzy Israeli shows Jerusalem and The Echo of Your Voice; and Furia, a Norwegian-German crime drama about a police officer who goes undercover in a neo-Nazi group, from Babylon Berlin producers X Filme and Norway’s Monster Scripted (Noble).
Also picked for this year’s competition lineup are Sky Italia’s Anna, French-Italian literary epic Germinal, Icelandic drug-smuggling drama ...
The selection includes world premieres of some of the most hotly-anticipated international series this year, including Kamikaze, the first Danish original from HBO Max; buzzy Israeli shows Jerusalem and The Echo of Your Voice; and Furia, a Norwegian-German crime drama about a police officer who goes undercover in a neo-Nazi group, from Babylon Berlin producers X Filme and Norway’s Monster Scripted (Noble).
Also picked for this year’s competition lineup are Sky Italia’s Anna, French-Italian literary epic Germinal, Icelandic drug-smuggling drama ...
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.