TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Monday 9 December 2024
European Film Awards, Arab Stars of Tomorrow, BIFA winners, UK drama costs, Nick Frost’s Get Away, Disney shake-up, AI in film, Red Sea insights, Ventana Sur deals, Sakhr biopic announced
Today’s Highlights:
European Film Awards 2024: Emilia Perez Wins Big - Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez dominated the European Film Awards with five wins, including Best Film and Best Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón. Notable wins included No Other Land for Best Documentary and Wim Wenders receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Arab Stars of Tomorrow 2024 Announced—Screen International highlighted five emerging talents from the MENA region, showcasing new actors, directors, and producers in partnership with the Red Sea International Film Festival.
BIFA 2024 Winners Announced - Kneecap won Best British Independent Film, with Rich Peppiatt named Best Director. Other wins included No Other Land as Best International Film and Saoirse Ronan for Best Lead Performance in The Outrun.
UK Drama Industry Faces Rising Costs - UK drama productions face escalating costs, with industry leaders advocating for increased collaboration, co-productions, and leveraging tax incentives to sustain high-end television projects.
Nick Frost Discusses Get Away - Nick Frost’s horror-comedy Get Away, inspired by personal experiences, blends humour with dark themes. The project reflects his signature style, akin to collaborations with Edgar Wright.
Louie Provost Leaves Disney After 17 Years - Disney EVP Louie Provost departs after a career influencing major films like Aladdin. His exit comes amidst leadership shifts and changes at Disney.
Zack Snyder on AI in Filmmaking - Snyder sees AI as a tool for enhancing creative processes while emphasizing the irreplaceability of human direction and performance in storytelling.
Red Sea Film Festival: Focus on Local Stories - Panels at the Red Sea Film Festival highlighted the global resonance of authentic, locally driven stories, emphasizing collaboration and cost-effectiveness in TV production.
Ventana Sur 2024 Highlights Co-Productions - Latin America’s premier market spotlighted breakout female directors, key deals like Dancing in the Ring with Disney+, and successful projects like Baptism.
Sakhr Computers Biopic Announced—A biopic on Mohammed Al-Sharekh, an Arabic computing pioneer, was unveiled at the Red Sea Film Festival, celebrating his impact on technology accessibility.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals and Jobs with WBD & Prime.
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NEWS
European Film Awards 2024: Emilia Perez Dominates with Five Wins
Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez triumphed at Lucerne's 2024 European Film Awards, winning five prizes, including Best Film, Director, Screenplay, and Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón. Abou Sangare earned Best Actor for Souleymane’s Story. The ceremony featured political statements and awarded No Other Land as Best Documentary. The animation prize went to Flow. Wenders received a Lifetime Achievement award, and Rossellini was honoured for European Achievement. Read More
Arab Stars of Tomorrow 2024 Announced
Screen International has revealed the five emerging talents selected for Arab Stars of Tomorrow 2024. This year’s honorees include Moroccan actress Oumaima Barid, Saudi actress Maria Bahrawi, Yemeni producer Mohsen Alkhalfi, Egyptian actor Essam Omar, and Jordanian writer-director Zain Duraie. The initiative, now in its eighth edition, highlights up-and-coming actors, directors, and producers from the MENA region, aiming to showcase their potential on the global stage. The program is in partnership with the Red Sea International Film Festival. Read More
BIFA 2024 Winners Announced
The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) have announced their 2024 winners, including Kneecap as Best British Independent Film, with Rich Peppiatt winning Best Director. No Other Land took Best International Film. Saoirse Ronan won Best Lead Performance for The Outrun, while Barry Keoghan earned Best Supporting Performance for Bird. Best Debut Director went to Peppiatt for Kneecap. Grand Theft Hamlet won Best Feature Documentary, and Delivery was named Best British Short Film. Read More
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INSIGHTS
UK Drama Industry Faces Rising Production Costs
The UK drama industry faces challenges in reducing production costs and shortening the time between project greenlight and production commencement. High-end television productions often have budgets exceeding £1 million per hour, with some reaching £3 million per episode. To address these issues, industry leaders advocate for increased collaboration between broadcasters and independent producers, exploring co-productions to share financial burdens and resources. Additionally, leveraging tax incentives, such as the High-end Television Tax Relief, can alleviate costs and attract investment. Read More
Nick Frost Talks Career and New Project 'Get Away'
Nick Frost’s latest film, Get Away, which he wrote and stars in, centres on a bumbling British family vacationing on the fictional Swedish island of Svälta, where locals stage a cannibalistic pageant. Inspired by Frost’s experiences on a similarly insular Swedish island, the film riffs on horror comedies like The Wicker Man and Midsommar. With dry British humour and over-the-top action, it channels the spirit of Frost’s previous work with Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. Read More
Zack Snyder Advocates for AI Integration in Filmmaking
Zack Snyder isn’t concerned about AI disrupting filmmaking but emphasizes the importance of understanding its potential. He acknowledges that while AI can make shots more accessible, it should be used as a tool rather than relied upon. Snyder is intrigued by AI’s potential to align with a filmmaker’s aesthetic vision, enhancing creative processes. However, he stresses that human performance and direction remain central to compelling storytelling. Read More
'Y2K' Film Explores Turn-of-the-Millennium Culture
In Y2K, Kyle Mooney's directorial debut, he and co-writer Evan Winter explore a comedic horror premise where teens crash a 1999 New Year's Eve party and fight for survival as electronics go haywire. The film’s outrageous moments, like the Thong Song performance and Fred Durst’s epic sing-along, are key highlights. Despite its Gen Z cast, including Rachel Zegler and Jaeden Martell, the film nails the ’90s era, thanks partly to Durst’s cameo. Read More
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