TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 23 January 2025
Unifrance's rising talents, Bad Wolf's Welsh writers, Soderbergh's Jaws book, Fremantle's green push, Audiard's Lumière win, Eggers' Werwulf, Gosling's Star Wars, Netflix's Run Away & Runn.
Today’s Highlights:
Unifrance Unveils 10 Talents to Watch for 2025 - Highlighting rising French cinema stars such as Adam Bessa and Megan Northam, this initiative showcases new talent at global events, underscoring France's creative influence.
Bad Wolf Launches Blaidd Writers Programme - The program supports four Welsh screenwriters through mentorship from industry leaders like Russell T Davies, fostering contemporary, Wales-set dramas.
Steven Soderbergh's Jaws Book Explores Directing Insights - Soderbergh’s long-awaited book dissects Steven Spielberg’s decision-making during Jaws, offering a masterclass on creative problem-solving in filmmaking.
New Zealand Film Commission Appoints Industry Veterans - Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon join the NZFC board, bringing decades of expertise in production, media, and governance to the organisation.
Fremantle Names Shaunagh Duncan as Head of Sustainability - Duncan will drive sustainability initiatives across Fremantle's productions, aiming to reduce environmental impact and align with global green goals.
Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez Sweeps Lumière Awards - The Spanish-language musical won five awards, including Best Film and Actress, cementing Audiard's legacy with a record-breaking third Best Film win.
Robert Eggers Directs Werewolf Horror 'Werwulf' - A gritty 13th-century horror film set in England, Eggers reunites with Focus Features for a Christmas 2026 release featuring Old English dialogue.
Netflix's 'Run Away' Cast Announced - James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver, and Alfred Enoch star in this Harlan Coben adaptation, an 8-part thriller set to begin filming in Manchester.
Ryan Gosling in Talks for Shawn Levy’s Star Wars Film - Gosling’s potential role accelerates production on Levy's standalone Star Wars feature, with filming expected to begin soon.
Netflix Acquires Nedd Brockmann Documentary 'Runn' - The documentary about Brockmann's 4,000 km charity run across Australia will stream on Netflix starting February 10, raising awareness for homelessness.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities & Jobs with Disney, Hulu, Wondery & Tubi.
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NEWS
Unifrance Unveils 10 Talents to Watch for 2025
Unifrance has spotlighted 10 rising talents reshaping French cinema, including actors Adam Bessa, Sayyid El Alami, Lou Lampros, and Megan Northam. Honoured at a Paris ceremony, these creatives will be showcased throughout the year at international events. Adam Bessa, known for Mosul and Extraction, gained acclaim for his introspective roles in Who Do I Belong To and Ghost Trail. The program continues its legacy of elevating global French cinema voices. Read More
Bad Wolf Launches Blaidd Writers Programme, Celebrates Welsh Talent
Bad Wolf and Screen Alliance Wales announced four Welsh screenwriters for the inaugural Blaidd Writers Programme. Faebian Averies, Emily Burnett, Alyn Farrow, and Mared Jarman will develop original, contemporary Wales-set dramas under mentorship from award-winning showrunners Russell T Davies, Jack Thorne, Marnie Dickens, and Sam Vincent & Jonathan Brackley. The program includes script commissions, masterclasses, and production shadowing at Wolf Studios Wales, fostering a new generation of Welsh storytelling talent. Read More
INSIGHTS
Icelandic Dramedy The School of Housewives Explores Generational Bonds
Icelandic series Húsó (The School of Housewives), created by Arnór Pálmi Arnarson and Jóhanna Friðrika Sæmundsdóttir, follows Hekla, a young mother in rehab who enrols in a housekeeping school to regain custody of her daughter. The six-part dramedy delves into the generational struggles of Icelandic women, weaving humour and drama. Produced by Glassriver for RÚV, the series highlights redemption, connection, and empowerment themes. Read More
Charades CEO Yohann Comte Highlights Independent Animation Breakthroughs
Charades CEO Yohann Comte reflects on the success of Flow and Memoir of a Snail, two independent animated films that have dominated the 2024 awards season and secured global theatrical releases. Comte attributes their success to treating animation as a "language" rather than a genre, emphasizing proper filmmaker support and strategic marketing. The films signal a potential shift in independent animation distribution, surpassing past streaming-first approaches like I Lost My Body. Read More
Steven Soderbergh Reveals His 15-Year Journey to Write a Book on Directing
Steven Soderbergh has spent 15 years developing a book on directing centred on a granular analysis of Jaws. With access to Universal’s production logs and shooting scripts, he recreates Spielberg’s daily decision-making, offering a deep dive into filmmaking's challenges and creative problem-solving. Soderbergh calls Spielberg "the best problem-solver in modern cinema," praising his calm and mastery of movie grammar during the turbulent Jaws shoot. Read More
Polite Society director Nida Manzoor on her Matrix-inspired action comedy | BFI Q&A
Nida Manzoor visited BFI Southbank to discuss her hilarious and exhilarating action comedy as part of the BFI's Art of Action season. Sixteen-year-old Ria, an aspiring stuntwoman, is alarmed when her sister Lena is swept up by a charming suitor and heads toward marriage at speed. Can Ria use her martial arts training to stop the wedding and rescue Lena? Nida Manzoor’s wonderfully fresh and funny feature directorial debut is a fast-paced Austen-esque comedy packed with smashing action.
NEM ZG 2024 | The Secrets of Music in Films and TV: Why We Cry, Cheer, and Remember
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EXECUTIVE MOVES
TVF International Expands Team with Promotions and New Hires
London-based factual distributor TVF International has promoted Ben Nohr to senior European sales and acquisitions executive, expanding his focus on production partnerships in Iberia, Italy, and Latin America. Zoe Stinson, formerly of Common Room Productions, is now an acquisitions and productions executive, managing Australian partnerships and original productions like Great British Train Journeys From Above. The company also welcomed new sales executives Musa Ali, Zuzanna Lebek, and Ayushi Singh to strengthen its sales team. Read More
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