Update: Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan, whose film “Mommy” received the Cannes Jury Prize in 2014, will head the jury of Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.
Joining him on the jury will be “Cuties” director Maïmouna Doucouré, “The Mother of All Lies” helmer Asmae El Moudir, “Phantom Thread” actor Vicky Krieps and film critic Todd McCarthy.
“I am humbled and delighted to return to Cannes as President of the Un Certain Regard Jury,” he said in a statement. “Even more than making films myself, discovering the work of talented filmmakers has always been at the very heart of both my personal and professional journeys. I see, in this responsibility I’m assigned, the opportunity to focus with the members of the Un Certain Regard Jury on an essential aspect of the art of film : stories told truthfully.”
Dolan wrote, directed, produced and starred in his first feature “I Killed My Mother...
Joining him on the jury will be “Cuties” director Maïmouna Doucouré, “The Mother of All Lies” helmer Asmae El Moudir, “Phantom Thread” actor Vicky Krieps and film critic Todd McCarthy.
“I am humbled and delighted to return to Cannes as President of the Un Certain Regard Jury,” he said in a statement. “Even more than making films myself, discovering the work of talented filmmakers has always been at the very heart of both my personal and professional journeys. I see, in this responsibility I’m assigned, the opportunity to focus with the members of the Un Certain Regard Jury on an essential aspect of the art of film : stories told truthfully.”
Dolan wrote, directed, produced and starred in his first feature “I Killed My Mother...
- 4/24/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Canadian actor and filmmaker Xavier Dolan will be joined on this year’s Un Certain Regard Jury by French-Senegalese filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic and writer Todd McCarthy.
The jury will be in charge of awarding prizes for the Un Certain Regard sidebar. This year, 18 films have been selected, including eight first features. The 2023 Un Certain Regard top prize went to director Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex. When the light breaks by Rúnar Rúnarsson will open the Un Certain Regard section on May 15.
A self-taught filmmaker, Dolan made his feature directorial debut at 19 with I Killed My Mother, an adaptation of his own short story, which was chosen to represent Canada at the Academy Awards. He followed up that film with the 2010 romantic drama Heartbeats, which brought him into the Un Certain Regard section...
The jury will be in charge of awarding prizes for the Un Certain Regard sidebar. This year, 18 films have been selected, including eight first features. The 2023 Un Certain Regard top prize went to director Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex. When the light breaks by Rúnar Rúnarsson will open the Un Certain Regard section on May 15.
A self-taught filmmaker, Dolan made his feature directorial debut at 19 with I Killed My Mother, an adaptation of his own short story, which was chosen to represent Canada at the Academy Awards. He followed up that film with the 2010 romantic drama Heartbeats, which brought him into the Un Certain Regard section...
- 4/24/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Actress Vicky Krieps and filmmaker Maimouna Doucoure are among the jury members for the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Also joining are Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir, and American film critic and writer Todd McCarthy.
Xavier Dolan was announced as jury president earlier this year.
The quintet will watch 18 films as part of the Un Certain Regard selection, including eight debut films.
Last year’s Un Certain Regard jury, headed by John C. Reilly, awarded six prizes including the main award to Molly Manning Walker’s How To Have Sex.
This year’s Un Certain Regard...
Also joining are Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir, and American film critic and writer Todd McCarthy.
Xavier Dolan was announced as jury president earlier this year.
The quintet will watch 18 films as part of the Un Certain Regard selection, including eight debut films.
Last year’s Un Certain Regard jury, headed by John C. Reilly, awarded six prizes including the main award to Molly Manning Walker’s How To Have Sex.
This year’s Un Certain Regard...
- 4/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
It was never Suzy Bemba’s plan to become a professional actress. This year’s European Shooting Star from France had dabbled in performance — “10 years of ballet, maybe six years of singing classes,” she recalls. After a knee injury made it impossible to keep dancing, she switched to acting as “a new way of expression” and started trying out for open auditions, driving with her mother the two and half hours into Paris from their home in the French countryside. Her mother sent out inquiries to French talent agencies, and one agreed to sign Bemba after she graduated high school.
But when Bemba graduated, acting was the last thing on her mind. “I wanted to go to med school, that was always the dream, so when I graduated, that’s what I did,” she says. “I kind of forgot about the idea of acting.”
It was only after her freshman...
But when Bemba graduated, acting was the last thing on her mind. “I wanted to go to med school, that was always the dream, so when I graduated, that’s what I did,” she says. “I kind of forgot about the idea of acting.”
It was only after her freshman...
- 2/16/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In an excoriating opinion issued Monday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against a Texas district attorney’s attempt to prosecute Netflix on bogus child pornography charges over the company’s 2020 film “Cuties.”
Tyler County D.A. Lucas Babin subjected Netflix “to a bad-faith prosecution,” the court said in its unanimous 3-0 opinion. This consituted “an injury we have already deemed ‘irreparable.'”
The court also cited First Amendment concerns, saying in part that “the state has no legitimate interest in a bad-faith prosecution. Our precedent similarly establishes that injunctions protecting First Amendment rights ‘are always in the public interest.’ Netflix has therefore shown that it is entitled to preliminary injunctive relief.”
“We end with what we expressed at the beginning,” the decision concludes. “We do not take accusations of prosecutorial bad faith or harassment lightly. Nor, absent extraordinary circumstances, are we inclined to exercise our jurisdiction in...
Tyler County D.A. Lucas Babin subjected Netflix “to a bad-faith prosecution,” the court said in its unanimous 3-0 opinion. This consituted “an injury we have already deemed ‘irreparable.'”
The court also cited First Amendment concerns, saying in part that “the state has no legitimate interest in a bad-faith prosecution. Our precedent similarly establishes that injunctions protecting First Amendment rights ‘are always in the public interest.’ Netflix has therefore shown that it is entitled to preliminary injunctive relief.”
“We end with what we expressed at the beginning,” the decision concludes. “We do not take accusations of prosecutorial bad faith or harassment lightly. Nor, absent extraordinary circumstances, are we inclined to exercise our jurisdiction in...
- 12/19/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin came short in federal court a year ago in his attempt to hit Netflix with child pornography charges over the controversial Cuties, and now an appeals court has handed the former School of Rock actor another defeat and the streamer another win.
“We do not take accusations of prosecutorial bad faith or harassment lightly,” wrote 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Don R. Willett today of the case from the Woodville, TX-based prosecutor “Nor, absent extraordinary circumstances, are we inclined to exercise our jurisdiction in a way that interferes with ongoing state-court proceedings, he added in a 28-page order from himself and two other judges in Netflix’s favor (read the Cuties appeals court ruling here).
“But the injunction is preliminary, our review is deferential, and existing Supreme Court precedent has calibrated the principles of equity and federalism in a way that authorized the district court’s intervention.
“We do not take accusations of prosecutorial bad faith or harassment lightly,” wrote 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Don R. Willett today of the case from the Woodville, TX-based prosecutor “Nor, absent extraordinary circumstances, are we inclined to exercise our jurisdiction in a way that interferes with ongoing state-court proceedings, he added in a 28-page order from himself and two other judges in Netflix’s favor (read the Cuties appeals court ruling here).
“But the injunction is preliminary, our review is deferential, and existing Supreme Court precedent has calibrated the principles of equity and federalism in a way that authorized the district court’s intervention.
- 12/19/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
An appeals court on Monday blocked a Texas district attorney from pursuing child pornography charges against Netflix for showing the French film “Cuties.”
In a 3-0 ruling, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court injunction that put the prosecution on an indefinite hold.
Netflix released the film in September 2020, sparking immediate controversy over its depiction of a teen dance troupe. Lucas Babin, the elected D.A. in Tyler County, Texas, indicted the streamer for “promotion of lewd visual material depicting a child.”
The film does not contain any sex scenes. The underage actors are shown doing provocative dance steps while clothed, and there is also a brief glimpse of an adult woman’s bare breast.
The streamer took the case to federal court, arguing that Babin was pursuing the case in bad faith and had no hope of obtaining a conviction. In November 2022, a federal judge granted...
In a 3-0 ruling, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court injunction that put the prosecution on an indefinite hold.
Netflix released the film in September 2020, sparking immediate controversy over its depiction of a teen dance troupe. Lucas Babin, the elected D.A. in Tyler County, Texas, indicted the streamer for “promotion of lewd visual material depicting a child.”
The film does not contain any sex scenes. The underage actors are shown doing provocative dance steps while clothed, and there is also a brief glimpse of an adult woman’s bare breast.
The streamer took the case to federal court, arguing that Babin was pursuing the case in bad faith and had no hope of obtaining a conviction. In November 2022, a federal judge granted...
- 12/19/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Following the evolution of mankind, from its humble beginnings to its destructive present, Theo W Scott’s deceptively named short Cuties takes its viewers on an eye-opening journey through the cataclysmic achievements of Homo sapiens. Blending a “cute” faux-naive style to capture the horrors of humanity, Scott joins us to discuss how his short was inspired by a historic embroidered artwork and how he hopes his “dumb characters” will have audiences questioning free will.
The evolution of mankind has been a popular subject in short animation, but you’ve taken quite a dark and twisted look into human history. What made you want to tell this story?
I was initially inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry. I was looking at the nameless little guys stuck in that battle and wondered where they would end up if the tapestry continued to an endpoint.
Why the name Cuties? Where did that come from?...
The evolution of mankind has been a popular subject in short animation, but you’ve taken quite a dark and twisted look into human history. What made you want to tell this story?
I was initially inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry. I was looking at the nameless little guys stuck in that battle and wondered where they would end up if the tapestry continued to an endpoint.
Why the name Cuties? Where did that come from?...
- 10/17/2023
- by Rob Munday
- Directors Notes
Maimouna Doucouré, a French director of Senegalese origins who grew up in a social housing project in Paris and started her career with a screenwriting contest, isn’t one to buckle under any type of pressure or challenge.
She certainly didn’t dwell on the misguided backlash to her film “Cuties.” The controversy was provoked by Netflix’s promotional material for her Sundance prizewinning feature debut, which aimed to shed light the sexualization of children. In her sophomore outing, “Hawa,” Doucouré embarked on another challenging project, a modern-day fable boasting a cast entirely made up of non-professionals, including the celebrated Malian singer-songwriter Oumou Sangaré, astronaut Thomas Pesquet and popular singer Yseult.
As with “Cuties,” which earned Fathia Youssouf a Cesar award for best promising actress, the Amazon original film “Hawa” is headlined by Sania Halifa, a newcomer who delivers a robust performance. Halifa, a teenager with albinism, plays the title role,...
She certainly didn’t dwell on the misguided backlash to her film “Cuties.” The controversy was provoked by Netflix’s promotional material for her Sundance prizewinning feature debut, which aimed to shed light the sexualization of children. In her sophomore outing, “Hawa,” Doucouré embarked on another challenging project, a modern-day fable boasting a cast entirely made up of non-professionals, including the celebrated Malian singer-songwriter Oumou Sangaré, astronaut Thomas Pesquet and popular singer Yseult.
As with “Cuties,” which earned Fathia Youssouf a Cesar award for best promising actress, the Amazon original film “Hawa” is headlined by Sania Halifa, a newcomer who delivers a robust performance. Halifa, a teenager with albinism, plays the title role,...
- 12/9/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A federal judge issued an injunction last month that blocks a Texas prosecutor from bringing child pornography charges against Netflix for distributing the French film “Cuties.”
But the prosecutor, Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin, is not giving up.
In a notice filed on Monday, Babin indicated that he will appeal the ruling to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The fight over “Cuties” began more than two years ago, when Netflix began streaming the film in the U.S. The film tells the story of a 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant girl who joins a dance troupe that performs provocative routines. The film sparked an outcry in the U.S., with some politicians charging that the child actors had been sexually exploited.
Babin, a former soap opera actor and the son of a local congressman, obtained a grand jury indictment against Netflix for allegedly promoting lewd visual material of children. The...
But the prosecutor, Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin, is not giving up.
In a notice filed on Monday, Babin indicated that he will appeal the ruling to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The fight over “Cuties” began more than two years ago, when Netflix began streaming the film in the U.S. The film tells the story of a 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant girl who joins a dance troupe that performs provocative routines. The film sparked an outcry in the U.S., with some politicians charging that the child actors had been sexually exploited.
Babin, a former soap opera actor and the son of a local congressman, obtained a grand jury indictment against Netflix for allegedly promoting lewd visual material of children. The...
- 12/6/2022
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Casting is complete and cameras are currently rolling on Catherine Corsini‘s Le retour. We recently reported that Aïssatou Diallo Sagna was the first to join the project, and now we learned that Esther Gohourou (breakout in Maïmouna Doucouré’s Cuties) and Suzy Bemba will also topline the film and they’ll be supported by Lomane de Dietrich, Cédric Appietto, Marie-Ange Géronimi, Harold Orsoni, Jean Michelangeli, Virginie Ledoyen and Denis Podalydès. Cineuropa reports that Chaz Productions’ Élisabeth Perez will produce. Corsini reteams with cinematographer Jeanne Lapoirie (who has Robin Campillo’s Vazaha to be released next year). Production will last close to two months and a Cannes premiere is entirely possible.…...
- 10/2/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The American French Film Festival, formerly known as Colcoa, will kick off Oct. 10 with the North American premiere of docudrama “Notre-Dame on Fire,” from “Quest for Fire” director Jean-Jacques Annaud. The weeklong festival at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles closes with Dominik Moll’s thriller “The Night of the 12th,” about a cold case where the only certainty is the night it occurred. Moll will also be the focus of the festival’s annual “Focus on a Filmmaker.”
“Every year, The American French Film Festival presents the very best of French cinema and television, and this year is no exception. I am personally excited about the opening night selection of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s ‘Notre-Dame on Fire’ as I think it perfectly embodies the Franco-American Cultural Fund’s mission,” said Andrea Berloff, writer and board member of the Franco-American Cultural Fund.
The festival will screen 75 films and TV series and 20 shorts,...
“Every year, The American French Film Festival presents the very best of French cinema and television, and this year is no exception. I am personally excited about the opening night selection of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s ‘Notre-Dame on Fire’ as I think it perfectly embodies the Franco-American Cultural Fund’s mission,” said Andrea Berloff, writer and board member of the Franco-American Cultural Fund.
The festival will screen 75 films and TV series and 20 shorts,...
- 9/20/2022
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
“Emily,” a biopic starring Emma Mackey as “Wuthering Heights” writer Emily Brontë, will have its world premiere through Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform program, the festival announced Wednesday.
Platform, which was established in 2015 and is named after the 2000 film by Jia Zhang-ke, screens eight to 12 films from a diverse range of global filmmakers with rising careers. After the screenings, the Platform Prize, an award of 20,000 Cad, is given to one film selected by an international jury. Previous Platform selections include acclaimed films such as “Sound of Metal,” “The Death of Stalin,” “Jackie,” “Moonlight,” “Lady Macbeth” and “High-Rise.”
“Emily,” the directorial debut of English actor Frances O’Connor, will be the opening film for this year’s Platform program. The other nine films selected for Platform are: “Carvão” by Brazilian director Carolina Markowicz, “La Gravité” by French director Cédric Ido, “Hawa” by French “Cuties” director Maïmouna Doucouré, “How to Blow Up...
Platform, which was established in 2015 and is named after the 2000 film by Jia Zhang-ke, screens eight to 12 films from a diverse range of global filmmakers with rising careers. After the screenings, the Platform Prize, an award of 20,000 Cad, is given to one film selected by an international jury. Previous Platform selections include acclaimed films such as “Sound of Metal,” “The Death of Stalin,” “Jackie,” “Moonlight,” “Lady Macbeth” and “High-Rise.”
“Emily,” the directorial debut of English actor Frances O’Connor, will be the opening film for this year’s Platform program. The other nine films selected for Platform are: “Carvão” by Brazilian director Carolina Markowicz, “La Gravité” by French director Cédric Ido, “Hawa” by French “Cuties” director Maïmouna Doucouré, “How to Blow Up...
- 8/3/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
The Toronto International Film Festival today revealed the 10 feature films that will make up its Platform section. The festival, which runs September 8 through 18 this year, annually hosts the Platform vertical to shine a light on first-time and veteran filmmakers and their bold directorial visions from around the globe.
The program’s opening night selection is the directorial debut of actor Frances O’Connor, “Emily,” which centers on author Emily Brontë and the years leading up to the publication of her novel “Wuthering Heights.” Notably the selection also includes two Canadian films as well as the latest movie from Maïmouna Doucouré, the director of 2020’s controversial “Cuties.” All 10 films in the program are world premieres.
“We launched Platform to shine a brighter light on some of the most original films and distinct voices at our Festival,” said Cameron Bailey, the CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival. “Now in year seven, it...
The program’s opening night selection is the directorial debut of actor Frances O’Connor, “Emily,” which centers on author Emily Brontë and the years leading up to the publication of her novel “Wuthering Heights.” Notably the selection also includes two Canadian films as well as the latest movie from Maïmouna Doucouré, the director of 2020’s controversial “Cuties.” All 10 films in the program are world premieres.
“We launched Platform to shine a brighter light on some of the most original films and distinct voices at our Festival,” said Cameron Bailey, the CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival. “Now in year seven, it...
- 8/3/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) unveiled the 10 films that will make up the 2022 Platform section, with Frances O’ Connor’s directorial debut, “Emily,” a biopic about “Wuthering Heights” author Emily Brontë, serving as the opening night feature. The “Mansfield Park” actress’ first feature film behind the camera will star Emma Mackey (“Sex Education”) as the storied author.
All 10 films will be making their world premiere at TIFF and include titles from Canada, Iran, France, Switzerland, Brazil and India. Previous films that have debuted in the Platform section include Barry Jenkins’ Best Picture Oscar winner “Moonlight,” Darius Marder’s Best Picture–nominated “Sound of Metal” and Armando Iannucci’s “The Death of Stalin.”
Also Read:
TIFF 2022 Lineup: Films From Tyler Perry, Peter Farrelly, Sam Mendes and Catherine Hardwicke to Premiere
Along with “Emily,” other titles include “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” an environmental thriller from Daniel Goldhaber that shares...
All 10 films will be making their world premiere at TIFF and include titles from Canada, Iran, France, Switzerland, Brazil and India. Previous films that have debuted in the Platform section include Barry Jenkins’ Best Picture Oscar winner “Moonlight,” Darius Marder’s Best Picture–nominated “Sound of Metal” and Armando Iannucci’s “The Death of Stalin.”
Also Read:
TIFF 2022 Lineup: Films From Tyler Perry, Peter Farrelly, Sam Mendes and Catherine Hardwicke to Premiere
Along with “Emily,” other titles include “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” an environmental thriller from Daniel Goldhaber that shares...
- 8/3/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Netflix’s fabled “culture deck,” which over the years has taken on the importance of the Magna Carta in tech and business circles, has gotten some updates reflecting the streaming giant’s current circumstances.
The document, which is based on a PowerPoint deck created by Co-Founder and Co-CEO Reed Hastings, lays out precepts guiding employee priorities and the company’s overall approach. It has been posted publicly for years, revised at various intervals, and viewed more than 20 million times. Its section headings echo some of the pillars of the company’s uniquely articulated culture. Hastings elaborated on many of those tenets in his 2020 book, No Rules Rules.
In a section called “Judgment,” a new bullet point is phrased in the imperative tense: “You spend our members’ money wisely.” At a current level estimated at 20 billion in 2022, Netflix’s content spending is under harsh...
The document, which is based on a PowerPoint deck created by Co-Founder and Co-CEO Reed Hastings, lays out precepts guiding employee priorities and the company’s overall approach. It has been posted publicly for years, revised at various intervals, and viewed more than 20 million times. Its section headings echo some of the pillars of the company’s uniquely articulated culture. Hastings elaborated on many of those tenets in his 2020 book, No Rules Rules.
In a section called “Judgment,” a new bullet point is phrased in the imperative tense: “You spend our members’ money wisely.” At a current level estimated at 20 billion in 2022, Netflix’s content spending is under harsh...
- 5/12/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Prime in France has unveiled its upcoming slate of director-driven Originals, including ‘Hawa,’ a new movie by “Cuties” director Maimouna Doucouré, Nicolas Bedos’ TV debut “Alphonse” and Franck Gastambide’s “”Medellín.”
“Hawa” follows the coming-of-age tale of a teenage girl who lives with her grandmother and worries she will be removed by social services. She sets off to get adopted by someone she admires more than anything, one of the most powerful woman in the world. “Hawa” is produced by Bien ou Bien Productions.
The movie is currently in post-production and is expected to launch globally on the streamer later this year. As with “Cuties,” Doucouré’s feature debut which won the director prize at Sundance and was acquired by Netflix, “Hawa” will be headlined by first-time actors, including Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Oumou Sangaré, as well as the popular singer Yseult and Sania Halifa.
Doucouré discussed “Hawa” along...
“Hawa” follows the coming-of-age tale of a teenage girl who lives with her grandmother and worries she will be removed by social services. She sets off to get adopted by someone she admires more than anything, one of the most powerful woman in the world. “Hawa” is produced by Bien ou Bien Productions.
The movie is currently in post-production and is expected to launch globally on the streamer later this year. As with “Cuties,” Doucouré’s feature debut which won the director prize at Sundance and was acquired by Netflix, “Hawa” will be headlined by first-time actors, including Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Oumou Sangaré, as well as the popular singer Yseult and Sania Halifa.
Doucouré discussed “Hawa” along...
- 4/12/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Audrey Diwan’s Venice’s Golden Lion prize-winning “Happening,” has won France’s Alice Guy Award for the best female-directed French film of the year.
The Alice Guy Prize, which was named in honor of the first female helmer, was created by veteran film journalist Veronique Le Bris in 2018 to highlight the work of women directors.
The other four movies which were vying for the prize were Aissa Maiga’s lushly-lensed documentary feature “Marcher sur l’eau” and Catherine Corsini’s timely social drama “La fracture” which world premiered at last year’s Cannes in the official selection; as well as Aurélie Saada’s uplifting dramedy “Rose” and Charlène Favier’s “Slalom,” a coming-of-age film set in the world of competitive skiing.
These contenders, which are all French movies which were theatrically released within the year, were selected by 3,260 voters, while the final winner was chosen by a jury of filmmakers and professionals,...
The Alice Guy Prize, which was named in honor of the first female helmer, was created by veteran film journalist Veronique Le Bris in 2018 to highlight the work of women directors.
The other four movies which were vying for the prize were Aissa Maiga’s lushly-lensed documentary feature “Marcher sur l’eau” and Catherine Corsini’s timely social drama “La fracture” which world premiered at last year’s Cannes in the official selection; as well as Aurélie Saada’s uplifting dramedy “Rose” and Charlène Favier’s “Slalom,” a coming-of-age film set in the world of competitive skiing.
These contenders, which are all French movies which were theatrically released within the year, were selected by 3,260 voters, while the final winner was chosen by a jury of filmmakers and professionals,...
- 4/10/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Reflecting the growing presence of French players at the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will host a live viewing party in Paris on Sunday for its French members and industry guests for the first time ever.
The Parisian Oscar viewing party will be held at Blanche, a mansion that used to be the oldest and most legendary film school in Paris and was turned into a lavish private club.
Showcasing an Art Nouveau façade in the heart of Paris, Blanche boasts a state-of-the-art projection room, as well as a lively and faceted bar and mirrored tables. Before the ceremony, guests will treated with a dinner at Bb, the venue’s fancy restaurant, and will enjoy Brad Pitt’s Fleur de Miraval, the official champagne of the 94th Oscars, to get ready for the all-nighter.
“After years of hosting an Oscar party in London, we’re...
The Parisian Oscar viewing party will be held at Blanche, a mansion that used to be the oldest and most legendary film school in Paris and was turned into a lavish private club.
Showcasing an Art Nouveau façade in the heart of Paris, Blanche boasts a state-of-the-art projection room, as well as a lively and faceted bar and mirrored tables. Before the ceremony, guests will treated with a dinner at Bb, the venue’s fancy restaurant, and will enjoy Brad Pitt’s Fleur de Miraval, the official champagne of the 94th Oscars, to get ready for the all-nighter.
“After years of hosting an Oscar party in London, we’re...
- 3/25/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Backed against the wall, Netflix wants a Texas District Attorney stopped from hitting the streamer with child pornography charges over the coming-of-age drama Cuties.
“Netflix brings this Complaint to enjoin Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin from abusing his office and infringing Netflix, Inc.’s constitutional rights,” the Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos-run streamer said in a complaint for injunctive relief filed in federal court today (read it here)
“This one prosecutor —out of all the prosecutors in America— has indicted Netflix not just once but five times,” the complaint adds.”Each indictment violates the United States Constitution and comes in retaliation against Netflix’s exercising its First Amendment rights to free speech and to petition the government for redress.”
“Enough is enough.”
Placed in the District Court docket by the Dallas offices of law firm Carter Arnett Pllc and San Antonio-based Prichard Young Llp in the hopes of...
“Netflix brings this Complaint to enjoin Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin from abusing his office and infringing Netflix, Inc.’s constitutional rights,” the Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos-run streamer said in a complaint for injunctive relief filed in federal court today (read it here)
“This one prosecutor —out of all the prosecutors in America— has indicted Netflix not just once but five times,” the complaint adds.”Each indictment violates the United States Constitution and comes in retaliation against Netflix’s exercising its First Amendment rights to free speech and to petition the government for redress.”
“Enough is enough.”
Placed in the District Court docket by the Dallas offices of law firm Carter Arnett Pllc and San Antonio-based Prichard Young Llp in the hopes of...
- 3/3/2022
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has asked a federal judge to prevent a Texas district attorney from bringing child pornography charges against the streamer for its release of the French film “Cuties.”
Tyler County Da Lucas Babin indicted Netflix in September 2020 for distributing “Cuties,” accusing the film of depicting the “lewd exhibition of minors.” The streamer now says “Enough is enough” in its latest legal filing on Thursday and says Babin is trying to stifle Netflix’s First Amendment rights, demanding the case be thrown out.
“As Babin is well-aware, ‘Cuties” violates no laws: it contains nothing obscene, it contains no scenes of children engaged in ‘sexual conduct,’ it contains no ‘lewd depictions of minors.’ Indeed, other prosecutors in Texas have not only refused to take up for his ill-advised indictment(s), they have also conceded that ‘Cuties’ is not criminal but has ‘serious political, literary, and artistic value.’ But this one prosecutor—out...
Tyler County Da Lucas Babin indicted Netflix in September 2020 for distributing “Cuties,” accusing the film of depicting the “lewd exhibition of minors.” The streamer now says “Enough is enough” in its latest legal filing on Thursday and says Babin is trying to stifle Netflix’s First Amendment rights, demanding the case be thrown out.
“As Babin is well-aware, ‘Cuties” violates no laws: it contains nothing obscene, it contains no scenes of children engaged in ‘sexual conduct,’ it contains no ‘lewd depictions of minors.’ Indeed, other prosecutors in Texas have not only refused to take up for his ill-advised indictment(s), they have also conceded that ‘Cuties’ is not criminal but has ‘serious political, literary, and artistic value.’ But this one prosecutor—out...
- 3/3/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Child safety Experts weigh in on children’s exposure to age-inappropriate content and them trying to emulate it.Saradha U Picxy.com/jayantk (Modified Picture)‘Oo Antava’, a popular dance number from Pushpa has gone viral on social media with many dancers and influencers across age groups sharing their performances to the song. One such video featured two children, seemingly under the age of 10. The girl can be seen wearing a saree, and is dancing to the song with a boy. When the video was reshared by the Instagram page Reels Official Tamil in January this year, that aggregates Tamil dance reels and dubbed videos on the platform, it was criticised for being age-inappropriate - Oo Antava is what is popularly called an ‘item song’, and the choreography used by the children had moves which were being seen as too sexualised for children. With social media becoming an indispensable part of people’s lives,...
- 2/24/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Netflix Reportedly Manipulated Search Algorithm to Hide ‘Cuties’ and ‘Minimize Press’ After Backlash
A detailed report from The Verge (via Variety) reveals how Netflix allegedly took deliberate measures to change its algorithm in order to suppress the PR crisis around the controversial French coming-of-age movie “Cuties.” The film, acclaimed out of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, became a national talking point after Netflix released a poster for it depicting its young child characters striking suggestive poses. Netflix apologized for the image, but by that point the film had become the target of nationwide criticisms that Netflix was sexualizing underage children. An online petition encouraging Netflix users to cancel their subscriptions because of “Cuties” garnered over 650,000 signatures.
As reported by The Verge: “Behind the scenes, Netflix scrambled to minimize public backlash by suppressing the film in search results prior to its release. It removed ‘Cuties’ from the ‘coming soon’ and ‘popular searches’ categories and excluded it from queries for ‘cute.
As reported by The Verge: “Behind the scenes, Netflix scrambled to minimize public backlash by suppressing the film in search results prior to its release. It removed ‘Cuties’ from the ‘coming soon’ and ‘popular searches’ categories and excluded it from queries for ‘cute.
- 10/27/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
New reports suggest that Netflix manipulated its own search and recommendations algorithm to help mitigate public backlash in September 2020, suppressing the outreach of the film “Cuties” on the platform after promotional material for the title, deemed inappropriate, sparked a massive wave of criticism against the streamer.
Internal documents obtained and reviewed by The Verge suggest that Netflix dealt with the backlash against “Cuties” by “suppress[ing] promotion and related searching queries.” The report details how the company removed “Cuties” from categories like “coming soon,” “more like this” and “popular searches.” The streamer also excluded the film from appearing in searches for the phrase “cute.” Additionally, Netflix adjusted its own search algorithm so that searches for the term “cuties” would exclude titles deemed “sexual/steamy” as well as titles intended for children.
Netflix did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
The controversy around “Cuties” began when the company released...
Internal documents obtained and reviewed by The Verge suggest that Netflix dealt with the backlash against “Cuties” by “suppress[ing] promotion and related searching queries.” The report details how the company removed “Cuties” from categories like “coming soon,” “more like this” and “popular searches.” The streamer also excluded the film from appearing in searches for the phrase “cute.” Additionally, Netflix adjusted its own search algorithm so that searches for the term “cuties” would exclude titles deemed “sexual/steamy” as well as titles intended for children.
Netflix did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
The controversy around “Cuties” began when the company released...
- 10/27/2021
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Update: GLAAD has issued a response to Netflix’s memo regarding the Chappelle special: “Netflix has a policy that content ‘designed to incite hate or violence’ is not allowed on the platform, but we all know that anti-lgbtq content does exactly that. While Netflix is home to groundbreaking LGBTQ stories, now is the time for Netflix execs to listen to LGBTQ employees, industry leaders, and audiences and commit to living up to their own standards.”
Earlier: In an October 8 memo sent to employees, Netflix’s co-chief executive officer and chief content officer Ted Sarandos defended the controversial release of Dave Chappelle’s new stand-up comedy special “The Closer” (read IndieWire’s review here). Netflix released “The Closer” via streaming on October 5. Chappelle has come under fire since the special’s release for making homophobic and anti-trans jokes. Organizations such as GLAAD and The National Black Justice Coalition condemned “The Closer...
Earlier: In an October 8 memo sent to employees, Netflix’s co-chief executive officer and chief content officer Ted Sarandos defended the controversial release of Dave Chappelle’s new stand-up comedy special “The Closer” (read IndieWire’s review here). Netflix released “The Closer” via streaming on October 5. Chappelle has come under fire since the special’s release for making homophobic and anti-trans jokes. Organizations such as GLAAD and The National Black Justice Coalition condemned “The Closer...
- 10/11/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos has addressed staff members on the streamer’s controversial new Dave Chappelle stand-up special, “The Closer.”
The firebrand comedian has drawn criticism from the LGBTQ+ community in recent days over several jokes, specifically around the “thin skin” of trans people and the effects of so-called “cancel culture.”
In a Friday memo sent after Netflix’s quarterly business review, a two-day gathering of the top 500 employees at the company, Sarandos offered guidance on how managers should handle upset employees and angry talent speaking out against Chappelle. It was the same meeting crashed by three junior staffers, one of whom was an out trans person who was critical of Chappelle on Twitter last week. All three were suspended, an an investigation is pending.
“Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long standing deal with him. His last special “Sticks & Stones,...
The firebrand comedian has drawn criticism from the LGBTQ+ community in recent days over several jokes, specifically around the “thin skin” of trans people and the effects of so-called “cancel culture.”
In a Friday memo sent after Netflix’s quarterly business review, a two-day gathering of the top 500 employees at the company, Sarandos offered guidance on how managers should handle upset employees and angry talent speaking out against Chappelle. It was the same meeting crashed by three junior staffers, one of whom was an out trans person who was critical of Chappelle on Twitter last week. All three were suspended, an an investigation is pending.
“Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long standing deal with him. His last special “Sticks & Stones,...
- 10/11/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
After last year’s scandal over Roman Polanski’s director win, the 46th Cesar Awards, France’s highest film honors, which took place on Friday in the presence of nominees, has been the subject of vitriolic criticism from industry figures.
Some have claimed that the spectacle was so vulgar that it has tarnished the image of French cinema and will discourage audiences from returning to theaters when they finally reopen. But, in fact, the awards were a fitting encapsulation of an industry that’s increasingly at odds with itself.
The 2021 edition marked a new era for the Cesar Awards, which is now headed by Veronique Cayla, former president of Arte, and vice chaired by Eric Toledano, co-director of “The Intouchables,” who took over from Alain Terzian following an industry revolt over the lack of transparency and democracy within the institution. With the last six months, the operating model and corporate...
Some have claimed that the spectacle was so vulgar that it has tarnished the image of French cinema and will discourage audiences from returning to theaters when they finally reopen. But, in fact, the awards were a fitting encapsulation of an industry that’s increasingly at odds with itself.
The 2021 edition marked a new era for the Cesar Awards, which is now headed by Veronique Cayla, former president of Arte, and vice chaired by Eric Toledano, co-director of “The Intouchables,” who took over from Alain Terzian following an industry revolt over the lack of transparency and democracy within the institution. With the last six months, the operating model and corporate...
- 3/16/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Albert Dopontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” (“Adieu Les Cons”) has won the top prizes at France’s Cesar Awards, taking six awards including Best Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.
The black tragicomedy is about a terminally ill woman and a suicidal man on the run who team up in an attempt to locate the child the woman hasn’t seen in almost 30 years. It also won awards for Dupontel’s screenplay and for its cinematography and set design.
The only other film to win more than one award was the documentary “Adolescents,” which won in the Best Documentary and Best Editing categories.
“Bye Bye Morons” went into Friday’s Cesar Awards, France’s version of the Oscars, with 12 nominations, second only to Frederic Niedermeyer’s “Love Affair(s)”. That film won a single award, for supporting actress Emilie Dequenne.
“Two of Us,” France’s entry in this year...
The black tragicomedy is about a terminally ill woman and a suicidal man on the run who team up in an attempt to locate the child the woman hasn’t seen in almost 30 years. It also won awards for Dupontel’s screenplay and for its cinematography and set design.
The only other film to win more than one award was the documentary “Adolescents,” which won in the Best Documentary and Best Editing categories.
“Bye Bye Morons” went into Friday’s Cesar Awards, France’s version of the Oscars, with 12 nominations, second only to Frederic Niedermeyer’s “Love Affair(s)”. That film won a single award, for supporting actress Emilie Dequenne.
“Two of Us,” France’s entry in this year...
- 3/13/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
46th ceremony unfolded amid growing anger within French film industry over cinema closures.
Albert Dupontel’s Bye Bye Morons topped the awards at a politically-charged 46th Césars ceremony on Friday evening (March 12), marked by growing anger within the French film industry over the ongoing closure of cinemas and other cultural spaces as part of anti-Covid-19 measures.
Bye Bye Morons clinched seven Césars including best film, director, cinematography (Alexis Kavyrchine), best original screenplay (Dupontel), best supporting actor (Nicolas Marié), best production design (Carlos Conti) and the fledgeling César des Lycéens, which is voted on by 1,500 high school students.
Dupontel, who previously...
Albert Dupontel’s Bye Bye Morons topped the awards at a politically-charged 46th Césars ceremony on Friday evening (March 12), marked by growing anger within the French film industry over the ongoing closure of cinemas and other cultural spaces as part of anti-Covid-19 measures.
Bye Bye Morons clinched seven Césars including best film, director, cinematography (Alexis Kavyrchine), best original screenplay (Dupontel), best supporting actor (Nicolas Marié), best production design (Carlos Conti) and the fledgeling César des Lycéens, which is voted on by 1,500 high school students.
Dupontel, who previously...
- 3/13/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Albert Dupontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” won seven prizes, including best film and director, at the 46th Cesar Awards which took place as an in-person, yet socially distanced event at the Olympia concert hall in Paris on March 12. The ceremony was held in the presence of nominees only.
“Bye Bye Morons” also won awards for best supporting actor for Nicolas Mairé, original screenplay, cinematography and set design, as well as a prize voted on by high school students. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout. Efira,
Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s),” which was nominated for 13 awards, picked up the best supporting actress nod for Emilie Dequenne.
The best actor nod went to Sami Bouajila for his performance in Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s Tunisian drama “A Son.
“Bye Bye Morons” also won awards for best supporting actor for Nicolas Mairé, original screenplay, cinematography and set design, as well as a prize voted on by high school students. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout. Efira,
Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s),” which was nominated for 13 awards, picked up the best supporting actress nod for Emilie Dequenne.
The best actor nod went to Sami Bouajila for his performance in Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s Tunisian drama “A Son.
- 3/12/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The biggest night on the French film calendar has begun. The 46th César Awards, France’s top film honor, kicked off its mostly virtual ceremony Friday night. French actress Marina Fois (Polisse) and actor Roschdy Zem (The Cold Light of Day) are hosting the event before a small, masked audience in Paris, and the show is being broadcast live on French network Canal Plus.
The first award of the night, for best female newcomer, went to Fathia Youssouf for her debut performance in Maïmouna Doucouré’s Cuties, the Netflix film which became a cause célèbre after it was targeted by online trolls. The 14-year-old Youssouf received ...
The first award of the night, for best female newcomer, went to Fathia Youssouf for her debut performance in Maïmouna Doucouré’s Cuties, the Netflix film which became a cause célèbre after it was targeted by online trolls. The 14-year-old Youssouf received ...
- 3/12/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affairs” is leading the nominations for the Cesar Awards, France’s top film honors. Nominations were announced online on Wednesday.
The film, which was part of Cannes 2020’s official selection, weaves together a series of romantic tales exploring love, friendship and infidelity with an ensemble cast including Camelia Jordana, Niels Schneider, Vincent Macaigne and Julia Piaton. “Love Affairs” earned 13 awards nominations, including for best film, director, as well as nods for Jordana, Schneider, Macaigne and Piaton. The film previously won best film at the Lumieres Awards.
Meanwhile, Albert Dupontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” and Francois Ozon’s “Summer of 85” are each nominated for 12 Cesar Awards, including best film and best director. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout.
The film, which was part of Cannes 2020’s official selection, weaves together a series of romantic tales exploring love, friendship and infidelity with an ensemble cast including Camelia Jordana, Niels Schneider, Vincent Macaigne and Julia Piaton. “Love Affairs” earned 13 awards nominations, including for best film, director, as well as nods for Jordana, Schneider, Macaigne and Piaton. The film previously won best film at the Lumieres Awards.
Meanwhile, Albert Dupontel’s “Bye Bye Morons” and Francois Ozon’s “Summer of 85” are each nominated for 12 Cesar Awards, including best film and best director. A dark comedy, “Bye Bye Morons” stars Virginie Efira as a seriously ill woman on a mission to reunite with her long-lost child with the help of a man who’s having a burnout.
- 2/10/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Gotham Awards for the best in independent film kicked off this unusual awards season on Monday night, January 11. Presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project, these kudos are usually handed out in early December but were pushed back (as were many awards events) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So who won? Scroll down for the complete list of winners, updated live as they were announced.
SEEGotham nominee John Magaro (‘First Cow’) on how Cookie and King-Lu are ‘almost soulmates’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
These awards are limited to American films (apart from Best International Feature ) made with an economy of means, which means no budgets higher than $35 million. Nominees and winners were decided by juries of film experts and insiders. And for the first time in the awards’ history, all five of the nominees for Best Feature were directed by women: “The Assistant” by Kitty Green, “First Cow” by Kelly Reichardt, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” by Eliza Hittman,...
SEEGotham nominee John Magaro (‘First Cow’) on how Cookie and King-Lu are ‘almost soulmates’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
These awards are limited to American films (apart from Best International Feature ) made with an economy of means, which means no budgets higher than $35 million. Nominees and winners were decided by juries of film experts and insiders. And for the first time in the awards’ history, all five of the nominees for Best Feature were directed by women: “The Assistant” by Kitty Green, “First Cow” by Kelly Reichardt, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” by Eliza Hittman,...
- 1/12/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The 2020 Gotham Awards have already made history, with all of this year’s best feature nominees directed by women. The ceremony, which will livestream on the Independent Filmmaker Project and Variety’s Facebook pages beginning at 8 p.m. Et, is sure to offer more of the same.
The 30th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards contenders are led by Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow,” which received all four major noms: best feature, screenplay, actor and breakthrough actor. Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” Kitty Green’s “The Assistant” and Natalie Erika James’s “Relic” are also nominated for best feature.
In the best actor category, Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous nomination for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The other nominees in the category include Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Jude Law (“The Nest”), John Magaro (“First Cow”) and Jesse Plemons (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things...
The 30th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards contenders are led by Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow,” which received all four major noms: best feature, screenplay, actor and breakthrough actor. Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” Kitty Green’s “The Assistant” and Natalie Erika James’s “Relic” are also nominated for best feature.
In the best actor category, Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous nomination for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The other nominees in the category include Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Jude Law (“The Nest”), John Magaro (“First Cow”) and Jesse Plemons (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things...
- 1/11/2021
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- Variety Film + TV
The numbers told an exciting story: For the first time ever, five major tentpole feature films directed by women were set to be released in a single calendar year: Cate Shortland’s “Black Widow,” Chloé Zhao’s “Eternals,” “Cathy Yan’s “Birds of Prey,” Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman 1984,” and Niki Caro’s “Mulan.” The year 2020 was going to show real progress and provide a sign of different things to come, aided by a push for visibility that had so far alluded even the industry’s most well-known female filmmakers. The five films on the schedule — four of which were tied to the biggest active franchises of the moment — were only part of a bigger picture.
You know what happened next: a pandemic.
Its impact shut down whole countries and has claimed over a million lives to date. For the movies, the changes were swift and brutal: postponed and canceled projects,...
You know what happened next: a pandemic.
Its impact shut down whole countries and has claimed over a million lives to date. For the movies, the changes were swift and brutal: postponed and canceled projects,...
- 12/18/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Awards ceremony will take place on January 19, 2021.
Italian director Filippo Meneghetti’s debut feature Two Of Us leads the nominations in the 26th edition of France’s Lumière awards, which were unveiled online today (December 14).
The awards, which are voted on by some 130 international correspondents hailing from 40 countries, are France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes.
In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has delayed numerous releases this year, they have retained their traditional time slot and the awards ceremony will take place on January 19, 2021, in line with previous years.
Meneghetti’s Two Of Us is also France’s submission...
Italian director Filippo Meneghetti’s debut feature Two Of Us leads the nominations in the 26th edition of France’s Lumière awards, which were unveiled online today (December 14).
The awards, which are voted on by some 130 international correspondents hailing from 40 countries, are France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes.
In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has delayed numerous releases this year, they have retained their traditional time slot and the awards ceremony will take place on January 19, 2021, in line with previous years.
Meneghetti’s Two Of Us is also France’s submission...
- 12/14/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has revealed its most popular non-English language films and TV series in the U.S., with the list containing an interesting mix of titles from Europe, Asia and South America, plus a few surprises.
Spanish-language genre pic The Platform, set in a nightmarish vertical-style prison, tops the list of most-watched movies after being released in March this year, when lockdowns first hit America. Netflix does not tend to reveal specific viewing statistics, and these charts do not include solid numbers, but the company did previously note this one was watched by 56 million households in its first four weeks of release, making the title one of its most watched original movies ever.
The most-watched series was German show Barbarians, a historical drama about Germanic warriors fighting the Roman Empire in 9 Ad. The show is arguably...
Spanish-language genre pic The Platform, set in a nightmarish vertical-style prison, tops the list of most-watched movies after being released in March this year, when lockdowns first hit America. Netflix does not tend to reveal specific viewing statistics, and these charts do not include solid numbers, but the company did previously note this one was watched by 56 million households in its first four weeks of release, making the title one of its most watched original movies ever.
The most-watched series was German show Barbarians, a historical drama about Germanic warriors fighting the Roman Empire in 9 Ad. The show is arguably...
- 12/10/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been 25 years since “La Haine” made the banlieue a staple of French cinema. On the back of Mathieu Kassovitz’s cinematic Molotov cocktail, movies such as “Girlhood,” “Divines,” “Cuties” and “Les Miserables” have made the concrete jungles on the outskirts of Paris a haven for cineastes. But none of them are quite like Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s remarkable “Gagarine,” which mixes French social realism with Latin American magical realism before adding a dose of stardust from space movie classics, “Solaris,” “2001” and “Star Wars.”
“Gagarine” was a Cannes Official Selection label, unveiling at the Marché du Film Online, where it was a buzz title for Totem Films, selling out around the planet. The Haut et Court production is currently playing in competition at the Cairo Film Festival.
The film is a skillful blend of reality and fiction, making use of archive material and an exciting young French...
“Gagarine” was a Cannes Official Selection label, unveiling at the Marché du Film Online, where it was a buzz title for Totem Films, selling out around the planet. The Haut et Court production is currently playing in competition at the Cairo Film Festival.
The film is a skillful blend of reality and fiction, making use of archive material and an exciting young French...
- 12/10/2020
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Variety Film + TV
The controversy surrounding the original release of this dark exploration of sexy car accidents now seems quaintly outdated – but the film holds up well
In 1996, David Cronenberg’s movie Crash, now rereleased in 4K digital, became the subject of the last great “banning” controversy for a new film in Britain. His vision of the erotic car crash got brimstone denunciations from the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail. This delayed its BBFC certificate, and Westminster council issued a solemn edict forbidding it in West End cinemas.
But in the 21st century, the press appetite for denouncing shocking films just seemed to vanish, overnight becoming the quaint tradition of a bygone age, perhaps because of a belated realisation that these campaigns were destined to fail and didn’t sell papers, and that, increasingly, nothing sold papers in any case as newsprint lost ground to the internet’s oceanic swell, in which...
In 1996, David Cronenberg’s movie Crash, now rereleased in 4K digital, became the subject of the last great “banning” controversy for a new film in Britain. His vision of the erotic car crash got brimstone denunciations from the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail. This delayed its BBFC certificate, and Westminster council issued a solemn edict forbidding it in West End cinemas.
But in the 21st century, the press appetite for denouncing shocking films just seemed to vanish, overnight becoming the quaint tradition of a bygone age, perhaps because of a belated realisation that these campaigns were destined to fail and didn’t sell papers, and that, increasingly, nothing sold papers in any case as newsprint lost ground to the internet’s oceanic swell, in which...
- 11/27/2020
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Filippo Meneghetti’s feature debut “Two of Us” will represent France in the race for the best international feature film award at the Oscars.
“Two of Us” was selected over Maiwenn’s “DNA,” François Ozon’s “Summer 85,” Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s “Gagarine” and Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties” which were short-listed.
“Two of Us” was released in France on Feb. 12 and was represented in international markets by The Party Film Sales. Magnolia Pictures acquired North American rights to the film and is planning to release it on Feb. 5.
The films follows two older women, played by Barbara Sukowa and Martine Chevallier, who live across the hall from each other in the same apartment building but have kept their romance hidden for decades.
The film held its world premiere as part of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Discovery program. Mark Keizer said in his review for Variety that the...
“Two of Us” was selected over Maiwenn’s “DNA,” François Ozon’s “Summer 85,” Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s “Gagarine” and Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties” which were short-listed.
“Two of Us” was released in France on Feb. 12 and was represented in international markets by The Party Film Sales. Magnolia Pictures acquired North American rights to the film and is planning to release it on Feb. 5.
The films follows two older women, played by Barbara Sukowa and Martine Chevallier, who live across the hall from each other in the same apartment building but have kept their romance hidden for decades.
The film held its world premiere as part of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Discovery program. Mark Keizer said in his review for Variety that the...
- 11/19/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
As most people expected it would, the furor surrounding Netflix releasing Maimouna Doucoure’s Cuties has well and truly blown over after the French coming-of-age drama was added to the streaming service’s content library last month. In the buildup to release, though, there was an absolute firestorm around the movie, all of which stemmed from one ill-conceived and very tasteless poster by the marketing department.
From there, things snowballed at an incredible rate, with social media movements calling on people to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, petitions launched to have Cuties removed from the platform, director Doucoure being sent death threats despite having nothing to do with the marketing strategy and the company even finding themselves indicted in Texas for making it available to their customers.
After briefly appearing in the Top 10 most-watched list as folks rushed to see what all the fuss was about, Cuties was swiftly review bombed...
From there, things snowballed at an incredible rate, with social media movements calling on people to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, petitions launched to have Cuties removed from the platform, director Doucoure being sent death threats despite having nothing to do with the marketing strategy and the company even finding themselves indicted in Texas for making it available to their customers.
After briefly appearing in the Top 10 most-watched list as folks rushed to see what all the fuss was about, Cuties was swiftly review bombed...
- 11/13/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
France’s Oscar selection committee today set a shortlist of five films that are in contention to be the country’s official submission to the International Feature Film category at the 2021 Academy Awards. Among the titles is Cuties, the Sundance award-winning debut drama from Maïmouna Doucouré that was well-received in France when it released this summer, but also was collaterally involved in an online backlash spurred by Netflix’s early marketing campaign.
Bac Films released Cuties in France while Netflix began rollout elsewhere on September 9. The story follows Amy, an 11-year-old girl who joins a group of dancers named “The Cuties” at school, and who rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity — upsetting her mother and her values.
A poster released by Netflix at the same time as the French theatrical rollout, in a bid to begin promoting the movie ahead of its streaming debut, provoked a furious online backlash...
Bac Films released Cuties in France while Netflix began rollout elsewhere on September 9. The story follows Amy, an 11-year-old girl who joins a group of dancers named “The Cuties” at school, and who rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity — upsetting her mother and her values.
A poster released by Netflix at the same time as the French theatrical rollout, in a bid to begin promoting the movie ahead of its streaming debut, provoked a furious online backlash...
- 11/12/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
This year’s awards season, delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, finally got underway with the announcement of the 2021 Gotham Awards nominations on November 12 (last year’s big reveal was on Oct. 24). These awards are presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) and honor the best of the year as determined by small committees of film journalists and festival programmers. The five Best Feature nominees, which were all directed by women, are: “The Assistant,” “First Cow,” “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Nomadland” and “Relic.” Scroll down to see the complete list of contenders.
Will these awards preview the Oscars? Perhaps. Last year’s Best Feature award went to “Marriage Story,” which did go on to reap a Best Picture bid. However, that was the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, its rival Gotham Awards nominees — “The Farewell,” “Hustlers,” “Uncut Gems” and “Waves” — were all snubbed by the Academy Awards.
Why is this?...
Will these awards preview the Oscars? Perhaps. Last year’s Best Feature award went to “Marriage Story,” which did go on to reap a Best Picture bid. However, that was the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, its rival Gotham Awards nominees — “The Farewell,” “Hustlers,” “Uncut Gems” and “Waves” — were all snubbed by the Academy Awards.
Why is this?...
- 11/12/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The starting pistol of awards season has been officially fired with the 30th annual IFP Gotham Awards announcing its nominations and making history. For the first time, women direct all the nominees for best feature. Among them are “The Assistant” from Kitty Green, “First Cow” from Kelly Reichardt, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” from Eliza Hittman, “Nomadland” from Chloé Zhao and “Relic” from Natalie Erika James.
In the best actor category, Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous nomination for his work in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” a performance likely to be shortlisted by many awards bodies over the next few months. The other nominees included Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Jude Law (“The Nest”), John Magaro (“First Cow”) and Jesse Plemons (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things”).
For the actresses, the group gave a very diverse field of cultures and experience. Nicole Beharie’s turn in “Miss Juneteenth” is a riveting portrait, and...
In the best actor category, Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous nomination for his work in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” a performance likely to be shortlisted by many awards bodies over the next few months. The other nominees included Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Jude Law (“The Nest”), John Magaro (“First Cow”) and Jesse Plemons (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things”).
For the actresses, the group gave a very diverse field of cultures and experience. Nicole Beharie’s turn in “Miss Juneteenth” is a riveting portrait, and...
- 11/12/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Kitty Green’s “The Assistant,” Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow,” Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” and Natalie Erika James’ “Relic” have been nominated as the best independent films of 2020 at the 30th annual IFP Gotham Awards, the Independent Filmmaker Project announced on Thursday.
All five nominees in the Best Feature category were directed by women, a first for the Gothams.
With four nominations in the eight film categories, the period drama “First Cow” led all films in nominations. “Nomadland” and “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” each received two nominations, as did six other films that were not nominated in the Best Feature category: “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “Saint Frances,” “The Vast of Night,” “The Nest” and “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.”
Nominees in the new Best International Feature category included Maimouna Doucoure’s “Cuties,” which led to protests by conservative critics when it aired on Netflix.
All five nominees in the Best Feature category were directed by women, a first for the Gothams.
With four nominations in the eight film categories, the period drama “First Cow” led all films in nominations. “Nomadland” and “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” each received two nominations, as did six other films that were not nominated in the Best Feature category: “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “Saint Frances,” “The Vast of Night,” “The Nest” and “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.”
Nominees in the new Best International Feature category included Maimouna Doucoure’s “Cuties,” which led to protests by conservative critics when it aired on Netflix.
- 11/12/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
“The grand jury indictment, ironically, replicates the exact conditions that Cuties aims to criticize.”
Members of the National Film Critics Society (Nfcs) have lambasted a “baseless” indictment of Netflix by a Texan district attorney over its controversial French teen drama Cuties.
The group spoke out on Monday (October 19) in the latest episode surrounding Maïmouna Doucouré’s film, whose depiction of young girl dancers in Paris has become something of a political football in the run-up to next month’s US election.
The backlash began after Netflix apologised in August for a poster of the Sundance premiere depicting scantily clad girls from the film.
Members of the National Film Critics Society (Nfcs) have lambasted a “baseless” indictment of Netflix by a Texan district attorney over its controversial French teen drama Cuties.
The group spoke out on Monday (October 19) in the latest episode surrounding Maïmouna Doucouré’s film, whose depiction of young girl dancers in Paris has become something of a political football in the run-up to next month’s US election.
The backlash began after Netflix apologised in August for a poster of the Sundance premiere depicting scantily clad girls from the film.
- 10/19/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
“The grand jury indictment, ironically, replicates the exact conditions that Cuties aims to criticize.”
Members of the National Film Critics Society (Nfcs) have lambasted a “baseless” indictment of Netflix by a Texan district attorney with regard to its French teen drama Cuties.
The group spoke out on Monday (October 19) in the latest episode surrounding Maïmouna Doucouré’s film, whose depiction of young girl dancers in Paris has become something of a political football in the run-up to the US election.
The backlash began after Netflix apologised in August for a poster of the Sundance premiere depicting scantily clad girls from the film.
Members of the National Film Critics Society (Nfcs) have lambasted a “baseless” indictment of Netflix by a Texan district attorney with regard to its French teen drama Cuties.
The group spoke out on Monday (October 19) in the latest episode surrounding Maïmouna Doucouré’s film, whose depiction of young girl dancers in Paris has become something of a political football in the run-up to the US election.
The backlash began after Netflix apologised in August for a poster of the Sundance premiere depicting scantily clad girls from the film.
- 10/19/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Netflix’s international cancellations dropped to a three-year low during the third quarter, according to new data shared by SimilarWeb, despite facing stiff criticism in the U.S. for the film “Cuties.” The web analytics firm projects Netflix lost 2.5 million international subscribers (excluding Canadian customers) during the third quarter — down 10.3% from last quarter and 27.5% from the same time last year. The 2.5 million cancellations would be the fewest Netflix has lost since Q3 2017, SimilarWeb said. Enlarge Of course, Netflix’s cancellations are usually offset by new customers signing up. The company reported more than seven million international accounts were added last quarter, for instance, despite 3.25 million global customers dropping their service during the same quarter. Also Read: How the Pandemic 'Turbo Charged' Streaming While Customers Paid the Price SimilarWeb’s report said the company did see a jump in cancellations in September, when “Cuties” was released, but overall “Q3 saw negative growth in cancellations.
- 10/16/2020
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
There aren’t enough hours in the day for Ted Sarandos to watch every program on Netflix before it premieres on the streaming behemoth. And he’s okay with that.
On the latest episode of Variety’s podcast “Strictly Business,” Netflix’s co-ceo and chief content officer discusses how the company manages the incredibly high volume of original content produced in multiple languages for its astounding 193 million subscribers from more than 190 countries.
“It’s not unusual for shows to come on Netflix without me having seen any of it,” Sarandos says. “That’s because we’ve got incredible teams in each of our content verticals in each of these countries.”
The exec was feted by Variety and Mipcom on Oct. 12 with the Vanguard Award recognizing individuals and companies that have blazed trails in the global content business. By any measure, Netflix has up-ended the traditional order of television in the U.
On the latest episode of Variety’s podcast “Strictly Business,” Netflix’s co-ceo and chief content officer discusses how the company manages the incredibly high volume of original content produced in multiple languages for its astounding 193 million subscribers from more than 190 countries.
“It’s not unusual for shows to come on Netflix without me having seen any of it,” Sarandos says. “That’s because we’ve got incredible teams in each of our content verticals in each of these countries.”
The exec was feted by Variety and Mipcom on Oct. 12 with the Vanguard Award recognizing individuals and companies that have blazed trails in the global content business. By any measure, Netflix has up-ended the traditional order of television in the U.
- 10/14/2020
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Ted Sarandos, co-ceo of chief content officer at Netflix, weighed in Monday on the streaming giant’s growth in global markets during the past five years and the controversy stirred in the U.S. by the French arthouse movie “Cuties.”
Sarandos participated in a Q&a held in conjunction with the presentation of the Vanguard Award by Variety and Mipcom on the first day of Mipcom, the annual global content conference that shifted to a virtual format this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sarandos reflected on nearly five years of gangbuster global growth for the service since January 2016 when he and CEO Reed Hastings flipped a switch that lit up Netflix in more than 130 countries. In hindsight, Sarandos said, Netflix recognized the opportunity but not the scope of the content possibilities as their field of vision expanded well past North America.
“There was an interesting lack of equilibrium in...
Sarandos participated in a Q&a held in conjunction with the presentation of the Vanguard Award by Variety and Mipcom on the first day of Mipcom, the annual global content conference that shifted to a virtual format this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sarandos reflected on nearly five years of gangbuster global growth for the service since January 2016 when he and CEO Reed Hastings flipped a switch that lit up Netflix in more than 130 countries. In hindsight, Sarandos said, Netflix recognized the opportunity but not the scope of the content possibilities as their field of vision expanded well past North America.
“There was an interesting lack of equilibrium in...
- 10/12/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
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