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For the next 10 days, Miami will be known for sun, sea – and cinema.

The 42nd annual Miami Film Festival got underway Thursday night and before it wraps on Sunday, April 13, it will have presented almost 200 narrative, documentary and short films, hailing from 45 countries. The program includes 35 world premieres.

The festival kicked off with the Florida premiere of Meet the Barbarians (Les Barbares), the latest film directed by Julie Delpy. The French actor-filmmaker was expected to be on hand for the event – as well as for a 30th anniversary screening of Before Sunrise today – but as Deadline reported, she was just cast in Ruben Östlund’s upcoming movie The Entertainment System Is Down.

“We’re obviously very sad that [Julie] can’t join us tonight,” Mff Director of Programming Lauren Cohen told the audience at the Olympia Theater. “She really, really wanted to be here… She was so, so sad to miss...

I’m a sucker for a good vampire film, whether it features a sexy vampire like Bram Stoker’s Dracula or a nasty one like 30 Days of Night. But one of my personal favorite tales about bloodsuckers is an underrated 2010 release by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig titled Daybreakers. Boasting an all-star cast and an interesting twist on vampire lore, it didn’t make waves upon initial release. And yet, I still find myself banging the proverbial drum for this film, especially today, because the movie is now streaming for free on Vizio WatchFree+.

Daybreakers takes place in 2019 (ten years in the future upon the film’s initial release) where a plague has transformed a majority of the human population into vampires. But without any humans from which to feed, the vampires are now facing a food crisis. Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a hematologist working on creating a blood substitute to save humanity.

Getting an international TV show made these days is a tough business.

Rising production costs are meeting falling budgets and even the deep-pocketed streamers — who had turbo-charged the global business with big-budget commissions for the past several years — are shifting gears, making fewer shows and focusing more on lower-cost crime shows and less on big-budget drama.

But Sabine de Mardt continues to find a way. Since taking over as head of the German division of legendary French studio Gaumont in 2018, the veteran producer has delivered a wide range of high-end series, from historic epic Barbarians for Netflix (executive produced by Gaumont’s Andreas Bareiss), to the post-war drama The Interpreter of Silence (created by Annette Hess) for Disney+/Hulu, to In Her Car, a Ukrainian-set psychological drama, also exec produced by Bareiss, with some eight broadcasters across as many European countries, and shot amid the ongoing war.

Her upcoming slate...

International series do not lack scale and ambition.

The lineup of this year’s Series Mania, the TV festival and industry meet that runs through March 28 in Lille, France, includes historic epics like Joe Wright’s rise-to-fascism biography Mussolini: Son of The Century, real-life action thriller Kabul, which traces the fall of Afghan capital to the Taliban in 2021, and Liongate’s spy drama The German, from the creators of Fauda and Tehran, about Holocaust survivors recruited to track down Nazi war criminals.

Add to that the screenings at the festival’s upfront event, held Monday, March 24, where top-tier buyers get a sneak peek at upcoming international series. The 10 featured upfront shows include German fantasy epic War of the Kingdoms, Korean sci-fi series S Line and Swiss thriller The Deal, starring The Broken Circle Breakdown star Veerle Baetens as a diplomat tasked with brokering last-chance nuclear negotiations between the U.S.

Berlin ER is four episodes into the season on Apple TV+. Ahead of the premiere of episode five on the streaming platform, Cbr can unveil an exclusive sneak peek clip.

The episode, called "Side-effects," is set to premiere on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. In the episode, per the official logline, "Ben’s addiction becomes even more dangerous, whilst at the same time Zanna faces serious consequences of a decision; Emina’s family life comes crashing into Krank." The sneak peek clip, which sees Dr. Parker preparing for what seems to be a very complicated surgery, can be viewed below.

Berlin ER, also known as Krank Berlin, is a German series that's co-created by former emergency room physician turned screenwriter Samuel Jefferson alongside Viktor Jakovleski. The show stars Haley Louise Jones and Slavko Popadić (Crooks) in the lead roles, with other cast members including Şafak Şengül (Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush), Aram Tafreshian...

It's been five long years since Vikingspremiered its final season, but fans of the award-winning Norse drama will finally have their next Viking obsession. Sure, the sequel seriesVikings: Valhalla from Netflix did enough to quench the thirst of the loyal fanbase, but the short-lived drama was canceled by the streamer last year. Now, Prime Video will set sail on their own Norse adventure, this time outside the Vikings franchise.

Prime Video has granted a series order for Bloodaxe, a new Norse drama from the creative mind behind Vikings, Michael Hirst, alongside Horatio Hirst. Despite the behind-the-scenes connections to Vikings, it will be a standalone series set in a new universe. But like the aforementioned show, it will be based on real-life historical figures. A plot description, as provided by Amazon MGM Studios:

"Bloodaxe is an epic historical drama that chronicles the rise of one of history’s most famous Viking warriors,...

Before Whoopi Goldberg became a powerhouse of political commentary and comedy on The View, she lit up the big screen with unforgettable movie roles.

While Whoopi quickly settled into her role as moderator on The View, she often continues her acting career on Broadway or the big screen for movies.

Everyone remembers her for her roles in Ghost, alongside Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, Sister Act, and The Color Purple.

Whoopi won an Academy Award for her role in Ghost, then went on to win Golden Globes for both Ghost and The Color Purple, but not all of her roles were fan favorites.

One of her lesser-known roles in a television miniseries is getting noticed before Whoopi’s presentation at the Oscars this year.

A Facebook group brought up one of Whoopi’s roles, this time in the 1999 fantasy television miniseries The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns, where she plays the Grand Banshee.

Austrian filmmaker Daniel Hoesl and German partner Julia Niemann have made a name for themselves by focusing their black comedy and documentary movies on money and capitalism and how the resulting power imbalances cause social inequality. Hoesl’s 2016 film Winwin, for example, is a comedy about a U.S. investment fund that buys Austrian companies but also takes over politics in its capital Vienna. And the 2020 documentary Davos, co-directed by the two and written by Niemann, puts a spotlight on the contrast between the lives of those who live in the Swiss town of Davos year-round and the business and political elite that gathers there for the annual World Economic Forum.

Their latest film, Veni Vidi Vici, which debuted at Sundance 2024 and is getting its U.K. premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on Saturday, with another screening on Sunday, looks to slay the excesses of capitalism with dark humor.

Today, BritBox announced the greenlight of new Original series A Taste for Murder. The six-part crime procedural produced by Eagle Eye Drama and in association with ITV Studios, commences filming on location in Croatia and later in Italy. Set amidst the steep cliffs and fast tides of Capri, A Taste for Murder features classic Italian cuisine as the main ingredient to each episode’s central murder mystery, revealing the power of food to foster connection, community, and healing after devastating loss.

Warren Brown (The Responder, Trigger Point, Ten Pound Poms) stars as Dci Joe Mottram, a star detective with the Metropolitan police. After a personal tragedy, he retreats to Capri with his daughter to stay with his Italian in-laws for the summer. Unsure how to face his own grief, let alone help heal his daughter’s broken heart, he quickly becomes immersed in the local murder cases on the island.

Today, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the gritty new German-language series Berlin ER, the fast-paced drama co-created by former emergency room physician turned screenwriter Samuel Jefferson with Viktor Jakovleski.

Starring Haley Louise Jones and Slavko Popadić (Crooks), the complex eight-episode drama will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on February 26 with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly every Wednesday through April 9.

Managing a chaotic emergency room in the toughest and most overcrowded hospital in Berlin is no small task for the young Dr. Parker (Jones), who is seeking a fresh start in the big city after her private life implodes in Munich.

When she tries to implement necessary reforms, Parker is confronted with resistance from the underpaid, ill-equipped and chronically fatigued hospital staff who only survive with an indispensable dose of black humor.

But in the face of an increasingly merciless healthcare system, the battered team must...

Updated: Apple has dropped the trailer for its upcoming, German-language medical drama Berlin ER from Samuel Jefferson and Viktor Jakovleski. Premiering Haley Louise Jones and Slavko Popadić, it will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, Feb. 26 with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly.

Previously: A new ER is expected to open its doors on Apple: The streamer has set a February 26 premiere date for Berlin ER, a German-language medical drama co-created by former emergency room physician-turned-screenwriter Samuel Jefferson, together with Viktor Jakovleski.

Here’s the official logline for the eight-episode series: managing a chaotic emergency room in the toughest and most overcrowded hospital in Berlin is no small task for the young Dr. Parker (Haley Louise Jones of Dear Child), who is seeking a fresh start in the big city after her private life implodes in Munich. When she tries to implement necessary reforms, Parker is...

In an unprecedented move, Gaumont, the Paris-based TV & Film production house behind such global hits as “Narcos” and “Lupin,” has forged a co-production deal with Brazilian media powerhouse, Globo.

The new pact was announced as Miami confab Content Americas wrapped on Thursday. First out the gate is a still-untitled project that will “explore the universe of haute couture.” The project will be produced by leading Brazilian indie production company Conspiração, producer of the 2025 Oscar-nominated Walter Salles film “I’m Still Here,” and developed by Ventre Studios (“Godless John”).

‘We are celebrating Globo’s 100th anniversary while Gaumont turns 130 in 2025, which highlights the strength and tradition of both companies on the international sphere,” said Manuel Belmar, Globo chief financial officer and head of digital products, who expressed his delight at the alliance “which will bring premium content not only to Brazilians, but also to audiences in other countries.”

The agreement underscores the...

Netflix has developed a reputation for canceling shows prematurely, and 2024 only bolstered this idea. Netflix canceled the most shows of any major network or streaming platform last year, including some surprise cancelations that left fans disappointed. Netflix seems to know fairly quickly whether a show will be a hit or not, so it cancels shows after only a few weeks if they don't achieve their targets. Some Netflix shows wrapped things up on their own terms in 2024, like Arcane, but this is a rare luxury.

Many of the shows Netflix canceled in 2024 only had a single season to prove their worth. Some of the shocking cancelations include Dead Boy Detectives, The Brothers Sun and Kaos. All of these shows received positive reviews and could have developed as they continued, but Netflix's ruthless approach struck them down. One major complaint from fans during the streaming era is that new shows aren't...

There's a running joke online about Netflix canceling an amazing new series after just one season, while the streamer-turned-production studio spends millions every couple of years on the latest season of Stranger Things or Big Mouth. While fans once had one or two examples to throw at Netflix when making the argument, we're opening Pandora's Box, as new data has confirmed what we all knew about the monolith of streaming services. TV shows get canceled all the time, mainly due to poor ratings or excessive costs that cannot be maintained in the long-run. But, especially in 2024, Netflix had a habit of canceling some of their best new shows.

According to data from Watch In America, Netflix culled the most original programming of any streamer, or network in general, last year. The study counted new and ongoing shows that Netflix either canceled outright, or renewed for final seasons last year. 16 shows were properly canceled last year,...

Netflix led the pack in cancellations for 2024, ending more shows than any other network or streaming platform. Altogether, Netflix bid farewell to 22 series in 2024, a mix of outright cancellations and planned conclusions, reaffirming its reputation for high turnover in original programming after the outcry over the seemingly abrupt axing of beloved series like Kaos.

According to a new study by Watch In America, the streaming giant cancelled 16 English-language shows outright this year, with an additional six being granted final seasons to conclude their stories. Here's a full list of Netflix shows cancelled in 2024:

Arcane Avatar Blood of Zeus (Renewed for third and final season) Bad Dinosaurs Barbarians Break Point The Brothers Sun Buying Beverly Hills Buying London Dead Boy Detectives Everything Now Girls5eva Kaos My Dad the Bounty Hunter Obliterated Outer Banks (Renewed for fifth and final season) Ratched Scott Pilgrim Takes Off That ’90s Show Unstable The...

Netflix led the pack in cancellations for 2024, ending more shows than any other network or streaming platform. Altogether, Netflix bid farewell to 22 series in 2024, a mix of outright cancellations and planned conclusions, reaffirming its reputation for high turnover in original programming after the outcry over the seemingly abrupt axing of beloved series like Kaos.

According to a new study by Watch In America, the streaming giant cancelled 16 English-language shows outright this year, with an additional six being granted final seasons to conclude their stories. Here's a full list of Netflix shows cancelled in 2024:

Arcane Avatar Blood of Zeus (Renewed for third and final season) Bad Dinosaurs Barbarians Break Point The Brothers Sun Buying Beverly Hills Buying London Dead Boy Detectives Everything Now Girls5eva Kaos My Dad the Bounty Hunter Obliterated Outer Banks (Renewed for fifth and final season) Ratched Scott Pilgrim Takes Off That ’90s Show Unstable The...

Now that 2024 has come to a close, it’s official, Netflix once again handed out the most cancellations in the calendar year – though at this point, I don’t think anyone will find this surprising. While the streaming platform has gotten better as the years have gone by in giving shows final seasons and the chances to establish themselves with audiences, the streaming platform continues to have some of the biggest cancellation rates in the business and 2024 was no different.

In total, Netflix canceled 16 shows in 2024 while also handing six additional shows their walking papers with final season orders which are about as close to cancellations as you can get the only difference being that those lucky six shows will get to actually wrap up their runs with proper sendoffs. So when you combine the two groups, Netflix decided to end a whopping 22 shows in 2024 be it by canceling them directly or ordering final seasons.

Today, Apple TV+ revealed the premiere date for Berlin ER (formerly known as “Krank Berlin”), the upcoming edgy German-language medical drama co-created by former emergency room physician-turned-screenwriter Samuel Jefferson together with Viktor Jakovleski.

The dynamic eight-episode series will make its global debut with the first two episodes on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 on Apple TV+, followed by one episode weekly on Wednesdays through April 9, 2025.

In the series, managing a chaotic emergency room in the toughest and most overcrowded hospital in Berlin is no small task for the young Dr. Parker (Haley Louise Jones), who is seeking a fresh start in the big city after her private life implodes in Munich.

When she tries to implement necessary reforms, Parker is confronted with resistance from the underpaid, ill-equipped and chronically fatigued hospital staff who only survive with an indispensable dose of black humor.

But in the face of an increasingly merciless health care system,...

Oscar nominee Clive Owen is set to play a police office in Germany on the brink of WWII in historical thriller “Kristallnacht.”

The feature — being launched at the American Film Market by International Film Trust — comes from Oscar-winning filmmaker Stefan Ruzowitzky, who will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Julius Grützke, based on an original script by Jonathan Frank and Scott Mann.

“Kristallnacht” was announced by Michael Benaroya, the CEO of Benaroya Pictures and co-founder of International Film Trust, who will serve as producer alongside Danny Krausz, Marcelo Gandola and Daniel Zuta.

Based on a true story, “Kristallnacht” is set in Berlin on the eve of war and follows police lieutenant Wilhelm Krützfeld (Owen) over the course of 24 hours as he navigates a city turned into a powder keg. Following the assassination of a German attaché in Paris, which is wrongfully labeled a “Jewish terrorist attack” by Nazi propaganda,...

The Platform 2 has become a hit on Netflix's global top 10 chart. The Platform 2 is the sequel film to the 2019 film The Platform, which first introduced audiences to a world that as constructed a prison wherein the inmates are fed via a descending platform that starts on the top level and proceeds to the bottom. The Platform 2 picks up with another story about this prison, expanding the first film's lore. This Spanish-language thriller is directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, and features a leading cast including Milena Smit, Hovik Keuchkerian, Natalia Tena, Oscar Jaenada, and Ivan Massague.

Now, The Platform has found success on Netflix's streaming chart. The film was no. 1 on the non-English language chart for the week of September 30 to October 6, amassing 19.4 million views. The Platform also made it onto the global chart for non-English language films, making it to no. 5. Looking at the English-language chart as well,...

By the time he shared his jaw-dropping, pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat horror film, Barbarian, in 2022, filmmaker Zach Cregger already had a handful of titles under his belt. But this one was different as the blossoming director struck out on his own to both write and direct the project. The payoff was huge, as the movie quickly solidified itself to be one of the most shocking horror flicks in recent years, nabbing the bragging points of becoming Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an incredibly impressive 92% critics approval rating. Like its director, Barbarians leading lady, Georgina Campbell had also been around in the industry for quite some time, having made waves in 2015 with a BAFTA TV Award win for Best Actress in the film, Murdered by My Boyfriend, and appearing in episodes of Broadchurch and Black Mirror. But, it was through her role in Creggers inventive production that she would rise to her rightful position of scream queen.

Gaumont’s vice CEO Christophe Riandee has exited the company, it was confirmed today.

In a short statement, the “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” producer said: “After more than 20 years within the company, Christophe Riandee is leaving his position as Vice CEO, effective today, to devote himself to his personal projects. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Variety understands Riandee will not be replaced in the short term. CEO Sidonie Dumas will take charge of all ongoing projects that Riandee previously was overseeing.

“The staff who previously reported to Christophe Riandee will now report to Sidonie Dumas,” a spokesperson confirms.

Riandee has been with the French film and TV producer since 2003, after a diverse career working in accountancy, animation and telecoms. He went on to oversee Gaumont’s television arm, ascending to the position of Vice CEO last year, shepherding projects including “Lupin,” “Barbarians” and “Narcos: Mexico.”

Founded in...

Gaumont vice CEO Christophe Riandee is leaving the French major.

Gaumont issued a short statement this morning confirming his departure: “Gaumont informs that, after more than 20 years within the company, Christophe Riandee is leaving his position as Vice CEO, effective today, to devote himself to his personal projects. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Gaumont CEO Sidonie Dumas will take over his responsibilities.

Riandee joined Gaumont in 2003 and was named vice CEO in 2004. He spearheaded the launch of Gaumont International Television in 2010 and the launch of the company’s Los Angeles office in 2011. The company also has hubs in London,...

Diablo 4 is bringing far more changes to the sandbox than expected, especially given the shorter length of Season 5. However, this is great news for players looking to get back into the game before the Vessel of Hatred expansion releases in Season 6. Blizzard has made massive changes for each class, such as substantially buffing skills and nerfing some outliers.

While this list may categorize some classes over others, that is in no way to say that any classes are not viable to play this season. However, some options may be more appealing if you are trying to reach high endgame levels. The class you choose is incredibly important, as it will influence what items and aspects you grind for throughout the season. While the community is still determining the meta, Blizzard's changes are visible to all.

All of this is subject to change as the season progresses, as the community discovers new build options and synergies.

Horror fans are a different breed of followers. We not only exalt our favorite killers and franchises, but we also hold their stars in the highest of regards, dubbing them final girls, scream queens, and scream kings. One of the earliest examples of a scream queen was Fay Wray, who starred in 1933s King Kong, with names like Psychos Janet Leigh, The Exorcists Linda Blair, A Nightmare on Elm Streets Heather Langenkamp, Halloweens Jamie Lee Curtis, and Screams Neve Campbell picking up the torch and marching onward. In recent years, new names have risen to the top, like Abigail and Screams Melissa Barrera and Barbarians Georgina Campbell.

Today, Apple TV+ announced, in partnership with ZDFneo, the new fast-paced, eight-episode medical drama Krank Berlin from Violet Pictures and Real Film Berlin, co-created by former emergency room physician turned screenwriter Samuel Jefferson and Viktor Jakovleski.

Krank Berlin stars Haley Louise Jones as Dr. Parker and Slavko Popadić (Crooks), alongside an ensemble cast including Şafak Şengül (Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush), Aram Tafreshian (Dogs of Berlin), Samirah Breuer (The Gryphon), Bernhard Schütz (Barbarians), and Peter Lohmeyer (I don’t work here).

Managing a chaotic emergency room in the toughest and most overcrowded hospital in Berlin is no small task for the young Dr. Parker, who is seeking a fresh start in the big city after her private life implodes in Munich.

When she tries to implement necessary reforms, Parker is confronted with resistance from the underpaid, ill-equipped, and chronically fatigued hospital staff, who survive only with an indispensable dose of black humor.

Exclusive: Apple TV+ has boarded the fast-paced German medical drama Krank Berlin.

Apple has joined ZDFneo on the eight-part series, which is from Violet Pictures and Real Film Berlin and co-created by former British emergency room physician turned screenwriter Samuel Jefferson and Brimstone and Glory maker Viktor Jakovleski. Apple will take global rights, with pubcaster Zdf showing it in Germany.

The show stars Haley Louise Jones, who recently appeared in Netflix Germany breakout series Dear Child. She plays Dr. Parker, a young medic managing a a chaotic emergency room in the toughest and most overcrowded hospital in Berlin while seeking a fresh start after her private life implodes in Munich.

Trying to implement necessary reforms, she meets resistance from the underpaid, poorly equipped and chronically fatigued hospital staff who only survive with an indispensable dose of black humor. But in the face of an increasingly merciless healthcare system, the battered...

Barbarians earns an impressive eight out of 10 for historical accuracy with its portrayal of the Battle of Teutoberg Forest. The show features accurate tactics and correct costuming based on what has been found in archaeological digs. Barbarians season 1 was a critical and viewership hit, but season 2 has been less of a success, casting doubt on season 3.

Historian Michael Taylor analyzes a key battle scene from Netflix's Barbarians, praising it for its historical accuracy. First released on Netflix in 2020, Barbarians is a German series that chronicles the Roman Empire's occupation of Germania, and the rebellion this sparks from some key tribes. The Netflix show, which was created Andreas Heckmann, Arne Nolting, and Jan Martin Scharf, earned mostly positive reviews from critics and currently sports an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.

In a recent video for Insider, Taylor analyzes a scene from Barbarians season 1, episode 6, depicting the events of the Battle of Teutoberg Forest.

If we know anything, it’s that Viking movies and shows can certainly fit into many genres but if we are talking about it seriously, Vikings on its own is a separate genre because there is a different feel to any Viking-related movie or show that can only come from this specific genre. So, if you like Vikings-related movies or shows here are the absolute best movies and shows you can find on Netflix right now.

Norsemen (Series) Credit – Netflix

Norsemen is a Norwegian historical comedy series created by Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgersen. The Netflix series is set in the 8th century and it follows the Vikings village people as they experience political rivalries, social change, and the deaths of their fellow warriors in a pretty comedic manner. Norsemen stars Jon Iver Helgaker, Silje Torp, Kåre Conradi, Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, Kristine Riis, Trond Fausa Aurvåg, Jon Øigarden, Marian Saastad Ottesen,...

Following “The Zone of Interest,” Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” and Berlinale offering “Treasure,” about a Holocaust survivor, the latter starring Stephen Fry and Lena Dunham, Poland might be welcoming more foreign shoots in the future.

“I would always be willing to return and shoot in Poland,” says “Treasure” director Julia von Heinz.

“Our co-producer Mariusz Włodarski from Lava Films realized that during the tenure of the Law and Justice [PiS] government, there was no chance of obtaining public funding for a story where Polish people are portrayed not just as victims and heroes, but as complex human beings. Now, our film is embraced there.”

General director of the Polish Film Institute, Radosław Śmigulski, was dismissed in April, after parliamentary elections ended the domination of the right-wing party. Kamila Dorbach will be temporarily taking over his duties.

“This restriction limited us to eight days in Poland, but we were...

NBC has given a series order to “The Hunting Party,” a drama series from JJ Bailey and Jake Coburn.

Per the official logline, “The Hunting Party” is “a high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators who are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that’s not supposed to exist.”

“The Hunting Party” is produced by Universal Television. Bailey, who is under an overall deal at the studio, created the series and wrote the pilot. He serves as co-showrunner and executive producer along with Coburn, who has a first-look deal with Utv.

This is Bailey’s first series order since entering his Utv deal in 2022, though he previously set up drama pilot “Echo” at NBC. Though the series never made it to air, it was set to star “Veep” actor...

European giant Beta Film, known for ambitious titles such as “Babylon Berlin” and “The Swarm,” has shared with Variety in exclusivity a first-look picture of 1o-part series “Rise of the Raven,” which it hails as “one of the most epic European TV productions of all time.”

“Rise of the Raven” weighs in as a passion project of Hungarian-born and Canada-based producer Robert Lantos, behind “Sunshine,” “The Sweet Hereafter,” “Barney’s Version,” “Eastern Promises” and “Crimes of the Future.”

A highlight at Beta Film’s showcase this Tuesday at the London TV Screenings, “Rise of the Raven” turns on the extraordinary feat of Hungarian army commander Janos Hunyadi, played by discovery Gellért L. Kádár, who in 1456 won a bloody, brutal Battle of Belgrade against a vast Ottoman force twice the size of his troops who were often farm labourers armed with just slings and patriotic fervor.

Hunyadi largely halted a full Ottoman...

Ahead of the UK premiere of graphic and disturbing supernatural horror film The Well at FrightFest Glasgow 2024, director Federico Zampaglione talks about returning to hardcore horror, working with the late, great Giovanni Lombardo Radice and emerging from the shadow of Italian masters of the genre.

So, Federico, The Well has its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival, as part of the popular FrightFest event. Are you excited?

Frightfest is the place where everything started in 2009 and it’s one of the best festivals in the world. I can’t wait to show The Well to the UK fans.

What inspired you to make the movie?

Wanting to get back on the horror horse! I deeply love this genre, because it speaks to the human soul, investigates our unknown fears and gets lost in deep darkness whilst clinging to a blade of light. The Well pushes at the most extreme emotions,...

Since its establishment in 2018, Gaumont Germany has produced a wide range of series and TV movies, among them such timely shows as the critically acclaimed “Deutsches Haus” (“The Interpreter of Silence”), which was nominated for the Critics Choice Awards, and the Ukrainian series “In Her Car.”

A subsidiary of the French entertainment powerhouse, the Cologne and Berlin-based company also created such ambitious shows as Netflix’s historical epic “Barbarians” – the first season of which was one of the streamer’s most successful non-English-language series worldwide – and the award-winning Sky Original comedy “The Wasp,” about a professional dart player seeking to return to his former glory.

Discussing the company’s latest productions, Gaumont Germany President Sabine de Mardt says it’s important to combine broader entertainment with relevance, something both “The Interpreter of Silence” and “In Her Car” offer.

“’The Interpreter of Silence,’ in particular, even though it’s a period story,...

Exclusive: Joel Kinnaman (The Suicide Squad) and Cara Jade Myers (Killers of the Flower Moon) are set to star in the thriller Ice Fall.

Stefan Ruzowitzky, director of Oscar-winning crime-drama The Counterfeiters, will helm the film which is written by George Mahaffey (Chief Of Station). Production is set to start in March in Europe.

Pic is produced by Arclight Films, Top Film, Addam Bramich, Ryan Hamilton and Rob Van Norden. Top Film is also financing. Arclight Films is handling worldwide rights and will commence sales at the European Film Market.

The story follows a young Indigenous game warden who arrests an infamous poacher only to discover that the poacher knows the location of a plane carrying millions of dollars that has crashed in a frozen lake. When a group of criminals and dirty cops are alerted to the poacher’s whereabouts, the warden and the poacher team up to fight...

It’s a story — the attempted genocide of Europe’s Jews by the Nazis and their willing executioners — that has been told many times before. But, say the creators of the new German TV drama The Interpreter of Silence, it’s a story that needs to be told again and again.

The five-part limited series, which bowed on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ worldwide Nov. 15, is up for this year’s Critics Choice Awards in the best foreign-language TV series category. The period drama will go up against the South Korean series Bargain, The Glory, Mask Girl and Moving, the French crime series Lupin, and the Italian mafia drama The Good Mothers.

Set in Frankfurt in 1963, The Interpreter of Silence follows the events of Eva Bruhns, a 24-year-old German woman, played by Katharina Stark, who gets a job as a Polish-to-German interpreter in the Auschwitz trials, the...

Magnify, which was formally known as Magnolia Pictures International, has acquired global and U.S. sales rights to “Veni Vedi Vici,” an Australian social satire from directors’ Daniel Hoesl and Julia Niemann. Written by Hoesl, the film will debut in the World Dramatic Competition section of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. It marks the first title acquired for sales under the newly rebranded Magnify label.

In “Veni Vedi Vici,” the Maynards and their children lead an almost perfect billionaire family life. Amon is a passionate hunter, but doesn’t shoot animals, as the family’s wealth allows them to live totally free from consequences.

“Daniel and Julia have crafted an exquisite, sophisticated and timely satire that delves into the dynamics of privilege. Fuelled with dark humor, psychotic absurdity, and hyper-realistic violence, ‘Veni Vedi Vici’ promises a captivating watch in Park City, that we are thrilled to launch under the freshly rebranded Magnify label,...

Shudder is nothing if not a goldmine of content, with basically something to watch for everyone, and today we are making a list of the best 7 new movies on Shudder in December 2023 that you can watch right now. The movies included in this list are Shudder’s exclusives and resurrected. The titles are ranked according to their availability dates.

It’s A Wonderful Knife (December 1)

Synopsis: A year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful — but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality. It’S A Wonderful Life by way of Scream.

Black Christmas...

Stefan Ruzowitzky is set to direct the thriller Ice Fall, produced by Arclight Films and Addam Bramich.

Arclight is handling international rights and launched sales at the American Film Market. UTA Independent Film Group will be handling domestic rights.

Production is set to start in early 2024 with casting underway shortly.

The film was written by George Mahaffey (upcoming Chief of Station starring Olga Kurylenko and Aaron Eckhart). It centers on a young Indigenous game warden who arrests an infamous poacher only to discover that the poacher knows the location of a plane carrying millions of dollars that has crashed in a frozen lake. When a group of criminals and dirty cops are alerted to the poacher’s whereabouts, the warden and the poacher team up to fight back and escape across the treacherous lake before the ice melts.

“Ice Fall promises to be a nail-biting...

Any new show by producer Frank Doelger – whose credits include “Game of Thrones,” “The Swarm,” “John Adams” and “Rome” – must rate as an event. That event takes place Oct. 17 at Cannes Mipcom trade fair, with the world premiere of “Concordia,” on which Doelger serves as executive producer and showrunner.

Produced by Intaglio Films, a joint venture of Zdf Studios and Beta Film, which share international distribution, “Concordia” is backed by a powerful partnership of Zdf, Mbc, France Télévisions and Hulu Japan. Shot in English, the six-part series is directed by Barbara Eder.

“Concordia” begins in classic Noir style cutting from a seeming suicide on a windswept moor to the discovery of a young man’s dead body, found beside a road just outside Sweden’s Concordia, a attempt to create a utopia powered by AI surveillance to ensure a fairer, more humane and safer society.

Near 20 years old, Concordia is...

Now that the Roman Empire trend has swept across the Internet, it's possible that some scripts that take place in that period are ready to become the next Rome or Vikings. Roman drama television and films have been popular for some time, but since HBO's Rome, very few productions about the civilization have surfaced. Barbarians on Netflix and Domina on Sky have promising stories to tell despite going unnoticed. One promising future show is Those Who Are About To Die, which is being made by Peacock. It's based on the book that inspired Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott.

The question "How often do you think about the Roman Empire?" has passed from couple to couple across the Internet. But the answers shouldn't be a surprise because, through modern media history, the Roman Empire has graced big and small screens with classic movies and television. In fact, from ancient art to modern cinema,...

Driven by a TikTok trend in September, the Roman Empire became a popular topic online, especially fueled by a trend that emerged on TikTok in early September. The trend consists of women asking their boyfriends and husbands how frequently they think about the Roman Empire and being surprised by the answer.

The TikTok trend primarily suggests a male inclination towards the Roman Empire. Looking at the audience demographic breakdown of popular shows in the genre, we can see that their audiences are mostly made up of men, but not overwhelmingly. Beside Starz’s “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” and UK’s “Britannia,” shows that men made up almost two-thirds of the audience, the other shows on our list below have a balanced gender breakdown. In the case of Netflix’s docudrama “Roman Empire,” the audience is even slightly female-skewed.

Analyzing the generational demographics, it’s evident that the majority of...

Would you like a silent action film with little to no dialogue, or would you like the return of action-giant John Woo to the stage of American action cinema? And hey, how about both? Because that’s what you’ll get in Lionsgate’s “Silent Night,” a nonstop, action-packed thrill ride starring Joel Kinnaman (“The Killing,” “RoboCop,” “Suicide Squad”), with Catalina Sandino Moreno (“Barbarians,” “The Affair”), and Grammy award-winning musician and actor Scott Mescudi (aka “Kid Cudi”)

Read More: Fall Film Preview: 60+ Most Anticipated Movies To Watch

“It was a very smart script, and the story really touched me [because] I have three children,” Woo, whose legendary action bonafides include 1989’s “The Killer” and 1997’s “Face/Off,” told Entertainment Weekly this week.

Continue reading ‘Silent Night’ Trailer: Joel Kinnaman & Scott Mescudi Star In John Woo’s Epic Return To American Action Filmmaking at The Playlist.

Amazon is diving into The Swarm, snatching up rights for its Prime Video service across sub-Saharan Africa for the ecological thriller from Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger.

The limited series, adapted from Frank Schätzing’s international best-seller, tells the story of a series of escalating disasters emerging from the world’s oceans. As scientists around the globe rush to discover their cause, it becomes clear that there is something bigger at play: an intelligent life force, dwelling in the deeps that is manipulating all life below the surface.

Barbara Eder (Barbarians, Concordia), Luke Watson (Ripper Street) and Philipp Stölzl (The Physician) directed the series, which features an ensemble cast including Alexander Karim (Dying of the Light), Cécile de France (The New Pope), Leonie Benesch (Babylon Berlin, The Crown), Barbara Sukowa (Hannah Arendt) and Takuya Kimura (2046, I Come With The Rain). Doelger produced through his Intaglio Films, together with Eric Welbers,...

Barbarians season 2 explores the tensions between the Romans and the Germanic tribes, with the Roman Empire launching a full-scale invasion to end the rebellion once and for all. Arminius forms an alliance with Marbod, the leader of the Macromanni tribe, but their conflicting principles on dealing with the Romans create further conflict between them. Thusnelda and her son Thumelicus are taken as prisoners of war to Rome, while Arminius's brother Flavus and son Gaius seek revenge by plotting against him.

Following the success of its first season, Barbarians season 2 expands upon the characters while also adding more tension between the Romans and the Germanic tribes. Streaming on Netflix, Barbarians is a fictionalized retelling of Germanic tribes' rebellion, led by Arminius, during the Roman Empire's occupation of Germania. The show has established itself as an epic drama that, like other great historical TV shows, intertwines history and myth. The Romans have...

Thusnelda in Netflix's Barbarians is based on a real-life Germanic noblewoman from the Cherusci tribe, but her portrayal as a warrior and powerful figure is fictionalized for the series. Barbarians incorporates real historical figures like Thusnelda, Arminius, Segestes, and Segimer to bring authenticity to the story, despite some inaccuracies in the facts. Though the real Thusnelda was a victim of war and violence, her fictional counterpart in Barbarians portrays her as a strong and influential character, playing a significant role in the depicted history and relationships.

The Germanic warrior Thusnelda (Jeanne Goursaud) in Netflix’s Barbarians is actually based on a real-life figure. Barbarians is a German-language historical war drama that takes a fictionalized look at the Roman Empire’s invasion of Germania at the start of the first millennium. Arminius (Laurence Rupp) is a member of the Cherusci tribe but was sent to Rome as a hostage when he was young.

Playtest 7 of Unearthed Arcana for Dungeons & Dragons introduces tweaks to classes, focusing on spell lists and resource management. Updates affect Barbarians, Fighters, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards, offering changes for both martial and magical classes. Changes include improved Barbarian Reckless Attacks, new Battle Master Maneuvers, revamped Sorcerer features, and new subclasses like Archfey Warlock and Brawler Fighter.

The newest batch of Unearthed Arcana changes for Dungeons & Dragons has arrived with Playtest 7, with plenty of tweaks to classes and subclasses in the mix. Some overarching goals for the newest set appear to be the return to a focus on class-specific spell lists and easing up some restrictions on resource management. Many of the changes put more power in the hands of players, although Playtest 7 is a little more complicated than unilateral buffs.

The newest DnD updates focus on Barbarians, Fighters, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards, offering interesting changes for martial and magical classes alike.

Domina is a British-Italian historical drama series created by Simon Burke. The drama series follows the story of Livia Drusilla (Kasia Smutniak) in the wake of Julius Caesar’s assassination, and her rise to power after she becomes the wife of Emperor Augustus’ wife. So, if you loved Domina here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Troy: Fall Of A City (Netflix) Credit – BBC One

Synopsis: An epic story of love and war, intrigue and betrayal. When Helen and Paris fall in love, they trigger a chain of events that threatens their families and the city of Troy. The myths surrounding the Trojan War are over 3,000 years old but have emotional depths and timeless themes of identity, love, revenge and belonging. Troy: Fall of a City grounds these primal myths in vivid psychological truth and explores the universal questions of human existence- how people battle to retain their...

As one of the best combat classes in Baldur’s Gate 3, Barbarians can easily earn a spot in just about every kind of party. Of course, you won’t get the most out of your Barbarian if you don’t pick the best subclass for you.

Once again, the phrase “for you” should hover over this entire discussion. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a remarkably well-balanced game, which means that you have a fair chance of guiding any kind of Barbarian through this expansive adventure however you see fit. Wrong decisions in this game are certainly possible, but they’re relative to what you’re trying to get out of the experience.

Having said that, those who are trying to “min/max” and get the most mileage out of the Barbarian class from a statistical standpoint should certainly consider some subclasses to be more viable than others. So far as that goes,...

Over the decades, viewers have enjoyed many historical-fiction shows, as it is not just a great way to learn about the subject matter, but the indulgence factor works well in such shows. There is drama, treachery, lust, love, killing, and, most of all, historical accuracy as well. Vikings, Marco Polo, The Tudors, Reign, Downton Abbey, Versailles, and Barbarians are some examples of popular television shows in the historical fiction genre, and all of them have one thing in common: a focus on the politics and the drama of the era. Domina, created and written by Simon Burke for Sky Atlantic (UK and Italy), is about the infamous Roman Empire, which in its early turbulent period was ruled by Augustus Caesar and his wife Livia Drusilla, the protagonist of this show. The power of this woman made sure she and her husband would remain undefeated for a long time.

For your context,...