“The Crown” could well bow out in style on home soil, with the final outing of the show leading the list of nominees for the 2024 BAFTA TV and TV Craft awards, announced Wednesday.
Netflix’s hit royal drama — which came to an end last year after six seasons — landed eight nominations in total, including for Dominic West, Elizabeth Debecki, Lesley Manville and Salim Daw in the performance categories. However, it missed out for drama series (an award it has been nominated for three times previously).
Just behind “The Crown” and also a Netflix production, the apocalyptic “Black Mirror” episode “Demon 79” earned seven nominations, including limited drama and leading actress for Anjana Vasan.
Further down in a tight group of frontrunners, BBC dramas “Happy Valley” and “The Sixth Commandment and Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses” each have six nominations. Sarah Lancashire’s leading actress nomination for “Happy Valley” could see...
Netflix’s hit royal drama — which came to an end last year after six seasons — landed eight nominations in total, including for Dominic West, Elizabeth Debecki, Lesley Manville and Salim Daw in the performance categories. However, it missed out for drama series (an award it has been nominated for three times previously).
Just behind “The Crown” and also a Netflix production, the apocalyptic “Black Mirror” episode “Demon 79” earned seven nominations, including limited drama and leading actress for Anjana Vasan.
Further down in a tight group of frontrunners, BBC dramas “Happy Valley” and “The Sixth Commandment and Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses” each have six nominations. Sarah Lancashire’s leading actress nomination for “Happy Valley” could see...
- 3/20/2024
- by Alex Ritman and Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Embark on a breathtaking journey through the Norwegian wilderness this Christmas with “Storyville.” Airing at 7:00 Pm on Monday, December 25, 2023, on BBC Four, this epic nature documentary follows the extraordinary expedition of the director’s 85-year-old father. Through all four seasons, he hikes through the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Oldedalen valley in Nordfjord, western Norway.
This meditative exploration captures the raw beauty of nature, immersing viewers in the majestic scenery and the changing hues of the seasons. As the director’s father traverses the mighty landscapes, “Storyville” weaves a captivating narrative that goes beyond a traditional nature documentary, delving into the personal and profound connection between an individual and the untamed beauty of the natural world.
For those seeking a serene escape and a deeper connection with the wonders of the Earth, “Storyville” promises an enchanting experience. Tune in to BBC Four at 7:00 Pm for a Christmas evening filled...
This meditative exploration captures the raw beauty of nature, immersing viewers in the majestic scenery and the changing hues of the seasons. As the director’s father traverses the mighty landscapes, “Storyville” weaves a captivating narrative that goes beyond a traditional nature documentary, delving into the personal and profound connection between an individual and the untamed beauty of the natural world.
For those seeking a serene escape and a deeper connection with the wonders of the Earth, “Storyville” promises an enchanting experience. Tune in to BBC Four at 7:00 Pm for a Christmas evening filled...
- 12/19/2023
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
Piper Laurie, who blossomed as an actress only after extricating herself from the studio system and went on to rack up three Oscar nominations, has died. She was 91.
Laurie’s manager Marion Rosenberg confirmed the news to Variety, writing, “A beautiful human being and one of the great talents of our time.”
Laurie scored her first Oscar nomination for her work opposite Paul Newman in 1961’s classic poolhall drama “The Hustler,” in which she played an alcoholic who memorably tells Newman’s character, “Look, I’ve got troubles and I think maybe you’ve got troubles. Maybe it’d be better if we just leave each other alone.”
Though she informally retired to raise a family for more than a decade, she returned to film and television in the mid-’70s and racked up an impressive roster of characterizations, including Oscar-nominated turns in “Carrie” and in “Children of a Lesser God,...
Laurie’s manager Marion Rosenberg confirmed the news to Variety, writing, “A beautiful human being and one of the great talents of our time.”
Laurie scored her first Oscar nomination for her work opposite Paul Newman in 1961’s classic poolhall drama “The Hustler,” in which she played an alcoholic who memorably tells Newman’s character, “Look, I’ve got troubles and I think maybe you’ve got troubles. Maybe it’d be better if we just leave each other alone.”
Though she informally retired to raise a family for more than a decade, she returned to film and television in the mid-’70s and racked up an impressive roster of characterizations, including Oscar-nominated turns in “Carrie” and in “Children of a Lesser God,...
- 10/14/2023
- by Carmel Dagan
- Variety Film + TV
Brooke Shields became a star and attracted mild controversy in this show, director Louis Malle’s first American production. Co-writer & producer Polly Platt and cinematographer Sven Nykvist collaborated on Malle’s fascinating look at life in a New Orleans brothel early in the 20th century. Prostitute Susan Sarandon raises two children in the upscale bawdy house, and art photographer Keith Carradine becomes an artist in residence. It’s a non-moralizing portrait of a bygone lifestyle. The handsome remastered release co-stars Diana Scarwid and Barbara Steele — and comes with a new interview with Brooke Shields.
Pretty Baby
Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 174
1978 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 109 min. / Street Date November 4, 2022 / Available from / £
Starring: Susan Sarandon, Keith Carradine, Brooke Shields, Frances Faye, Antonio Fargas, Gerrit Graham, Matthew Anton, Mae Mercer, Diana Scarwid, Barbara Steele.
Cinematography: Sven Nykvist
Production Designer: Trevor Williams
Costume Supervisor: Mina Mittelman
Film Editor: Suzanne Fenn, supervisor Suzanne Baron
Music adapted by Jerry Wexler,...
Pretty Baby
Blu-ray
Viavision [Imprint] 174
1978 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 109 min. / Street Date November 4, 2022 / Available from / £
Starring: Susan Sarandon, Keith Carradine, Brooke Shields, Frances Faye, Antonio Fargas, Gerrit Graham, Matthew Anton, Mae Mercer, Diana Scarwid, Barbara Steele.
Cinematography: Sven Nykvist
Production Designer: Trevor Williams
Costume Supervisor: Mina Mittelman
Film Editor: Suzanne Fenn, supervisor Suzanne Baron
Music adapted by Jerry Wexler,...
- 1/24/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It’s Friday again, readers. Jesse Whittock here, taking you through the week’s top headlines.
Cannes Goods
Pre-market deals galore: With Cannes now less than two weeks away, everyone’s in deal mode, and Andreas had the scoop on several big packages. Film Constellation took sales rights to Blue Jean, a BBC Film- and BFI backed identity drama, while Bella Thorne has signed up to lead thriller Saint Clare, co-scripted by American Psycho’s Guinevere Turner. Oscar nominee Felicity Jones and Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey are attached to comedy Maria, which Independent Entertainment will be selling at the festival, XYZ Films took worldwide sales rights to the Frank Grillo/Robert Patrick/Rhona Mitra-starring thriller Hounds of War, and Bankside Films bagged Oren Moverman’s Raised Eyebrows, which brings Geoffrey Rush and Sienna Miller together. Elsewhere, Kate Beckinsale is set for spy thriller...
Cannes Goods
Pre-market deals galore: With Cannes now less than two weeks away, everyone’s in deal mode, and Andreas had the scoop on several big packages. Film Constellation took sales rights to Blue Jean, a BBC Film- and BFI backed identity drama, while Bella Thorne has signed up to lead thriller Saint Clare, co-scripted by American Psycho’s Guinevere Turner. Oscar nominee Felicity Jones and Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey are attached to comedy Maria, which Independent Entertainment will be selling at the festival, XYZ Films took worldwide sales rights to the Frank Grillo/Robert Patrick/Rhona Mitra-starring thriller Hounds of War, and Bankside Films bagged Oren Moverman’s Raised Eyebrows, which brings Geoffrey Rush and Sienna Miller together. Elsewhere, Kate Beckinsale is set for spy thriller...
- 5/6/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Eva Yates has been appointed Director of BBC Film.
The assumed front-runner for the job, Yates will be responsible for the development and production of films backed by the broadcaster.
Yates, who replaces Rose Garnett who is leaving to join A24, will also oversee Storyville, the BBC’s documentary films strand led by Philippa Kowarsky.
Yates is currently Acting Director of BBC Film and joined the broadcaster in 2017. As a BBC commissioner and executive producer, she has commissioned more than 30 features, most recently Aleem Khan’s BAFTA winner After Love; Blue Story by Andrew Rapman Onwubolu; Remi Weekes’s BAFTA winner His House; and Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun which will premiere in Cannes Critics Week 2022.
Prior to joining the BBC, she worked for eight years as an executive at Film4, where she executive-produced movies including Rungano Nyoni’s BAFTA winner I Am Not A Witch, which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight and...
The assumed front-runner for the job, Yates will be responsible for the development and production of films backed by the broadcaster.
Yates, who replaces Rose Garnett who is leaving to join A24, will also oversee Storyville, the BBC’s documentary films strand led by Philippa Kowarsky.
Yates is currently Acting Director of BBC Film and joined the broadcaster in 2017. As a BBC commissioner and executive producer, she has commissioned more than 30 features, most recently Aleem Khan’s BAFTA winner After Love; Blue Story by Andrew Rapman Onwubolu; Remi Weekes’s BAFTA winner His House; and Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun which will premiere in Cannes Critics Week 2022.
Prior to joining the BBC, she worked for eight years as an executive at Film4, where she executive-produced movies including Rungano Nyoni’s BAFTA winner I Am Not A Witch, which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight and...
- 5/4/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Eva Yates has been promoted to the high profile role of director of BBC Film, a position previously held by Rose Garnett, who has moved on to indie studio A24.
Yates, who is currently acting director of BBC Film, will be responsible for the development and production of the 12-15 films the company produces every year. She will also oversee Storyville, the BBC’s flagship feature documentary strand, under the new leadership of Philippa Kowarsky.
Yates joined the BBC in 2017. As a BBC commissioner and executive producer, she has commissioned over 30 feature films, most recently Aleem Khan’s six-time BIFA and BAFTA winning and Cannes selected “After Love.” Previously, Yates worked for eight years as an executive at Film4, where she executive produced Rungano Nyoni’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection “I Am Not A Witch,” which won the BAFTA for outstanding British debut and “Been So Long,” starring Michaela Coel.
Yates, who is currently acting director of BBC Film, will be responsible for the development and production of the 12-15 films the company produces every year. She will also oversee Storyville, the BBC’s flagship feature documentary strand, under the new leadership of Philippa Kowarsky.
Yates joined the BBC in 2017. As a BBC commissioner and executive producer, she has commissioned over 30 feature films, most recently Aleem Khan’s six-time BIFA and BAFTA winning and Cannes selected “After Love.” Previously, Yates worked for eight years as an executive at Film4, where she executive produced Rungano Nyoni’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection “I Am Not A Witch,” which won the BAFTA for outstanding British debut and “Been So Long,” starring Michaela Coel.
- 5/4/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Major role in UK film ecosystem is responsible for £11m yearly budget.
Eva Yates has been confirmed as the new director of BBC Film, taking on one of the major roles in the independent UK film ecosystem.
Yates has been acting director at the development and production body since the departure of Rose Garnett to join US firm A24, announced in early March this year. She will start immediately as director, and will be in Cannes.
Yates will oversee BBC Film’s £11m annual budget for development and production, which goes towards 12 to 15 films a year. Also under her remit is the Storyville documentary strand,...
Eva Yates has been confirmed as the new director of BBC Film, taking on one of the major roles in the independent UK film ecosystem.
Yates has been acting director at the development and production body since the departure of Rose Garnett to join US firm A24, announced in early March this year. She will start immediately as director, and will be in Cannes.
Yates will oversee BBC Film’s £11m annual budget for development and production, which goes towards 12 to 15 films a year. Also under her remit is the Storyville documentary strand,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Channel 4 and Peacock’s “We Are Lady Parts” and Sky Atlantic and HBO Max’s “Landscapers” led the 2022 British Academy Television Craft Awards with three wins each.
“We Are Lady Parts,” a musical comedy about a Muslim female punk band, won writer – comedy for creator Nida Manzoor; PC Williams won for costume design and Aisha Bywaters won for scripted casting.
“Landscapers,” inspired by the story of a couple whose crime of killing her parents remained undiscovered for over a decade, won original music for Arthur Sharpe; photography and lighting; fiction for Erik Wilson; and production design for Cristina Casali, Robert Wischhusen-Hayes and Fabrice Spelta.
“It’s A Sin,” the 1980s set Channel 4 drama about five friends living in the shadow of AIDS, won director – fiction for Peter Hoar and editing: fiction for Sarah Brewerton. Kayleigh Llewellyn won writer – drama for the BBC’s “In My Skin.”
The TV Craft Special Award was presented to TripleC,...
“We Are Lady Parts,” a musical comedy about a Muslim female punk band, won writer – comedy for creator Nida Manzoor; PC Williams won for costume design and Aisha Bywaters won for scripted casting.
“Landscapers,” inspired by the story of a couple whose crime of killing her parents remained undiscovered for over a decade, won original music for Arthur Sharpe; photography and lighting; fiction for Erik Wilson; and production design for Cristina Casali, Robert Wischhusen-Hayes and Fabrice Spelta.
“It’s A Sin,” the 1980s set Channel 4 drama about five friends living in the shadow of AIDS, won director – fiction for Peter Hoar and editing: fiction for Sarah Brewerton. Kayleigh Llewellyn won writer – drama for the BBC’s “In My Skin.”
The TV Craft Special Award was presented to TripleC,...
- 4/24/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Content has advertised for the high powered role of commissioning director, BBC Film and Storyville, a position formerly held by Rose Garnett under the title director of BBC Film.
BBC Film is the feature film-making arm of the BBC, co-producing some 15 films a year. Recent successes include the BAFTA and Critics Choice awards winning “The Power of the Dog” and “The Souvenir” and “The Souvenir: Part II.”
Storyville is the broadcaster’s flagship feature documentary strand and showcases films from around the world including “Welcome to Chechnya” and “Collective.” It moved under the remit of BBC Film in 2020. Storyville was led by Mandy Chang, until the executive left to join Fremantle as global head of factual. “Flee” executive producer Philippa Kowarsky was appointed commissioning editor, reporting into Garnett.
Garnett recently resigned her BBC Film position to join A24 and Eva Yates is currently serving as acting director.
To fill Garnett’s role,...
BBC Film is the feature film-making arm of the BBC, co-producing some 15 films a year. Recent successes include the BAFTA and Critics Choice awards winning “The Power of the Dog” and “The Souvenir” and “The Souvenir: Part II.”
Storyville is the broadcaster’s flagship feature documentary strand and showcases films from around the world including “Welcome to Chechnya” and “Collective.” It moved under the remit of BBC Film in 2020. Storyville was led by Mandy Chang, until the executive left to join Fremantle as global head of factual. “Flee” executive producer Philippa Kowarsky was appointed commissioning editor, reporting into Garnett.
Garnett recently resigned her BBC Film position to join A24 and Eva Yates is currently serving as acting director.
To fill Garnett’s role,...
- 3/15/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC’s Storyville strand, which sets out to showcase the world’s best international documentaries, has picked up a new slate of eight films.
They will be screened on BBC Four and iPlayer over eight weeks starting Jan. 26.
“We’re excited to offer U.K. audiences this eclectic range of documentaries from around the globe,” Philippa Kowarsky, commissioning editor of Storyville, said in a statement.
“These stories deal with the issues of our times, from mistrust of political systems to the challenges of educational attainment, and from class and racial discrimination to the fight for women’s rights. They shine a light on some truly inspirational, and some controversial, characters, as well as some appealing canines!”
Check out the full slate below:
“Final Account” [Pictured above]
About the last living generation of everyday people to participate in the Third Reich
Filmed and Directed by Luke Holland
Produced by John Battsek, Luke Holland,...
They will be screened on BBC Four and iPlayer over eight weeks starting Jan. 26.
“We’re excited to offer U.K. audiences this eclectic range of documentaries from around the globe,” Philippa Kowarsky, commissioning editor of Storyville, said in a statement.
“These stories deal with the issues of our times, from mistrust of political systems to the challenges of educational attainment, and from class and racial discrimination to the fight for women’s rights. They shine a light on some truly inspirational, and some controversial, characters, as well as some appealing canines!”
Check out the full slate below:
“Final Account” [Pictured above]
About the last living generation of everyday people to participate in the Third Reich
Filmed and Directed by Luke Holland
Produced by John Battsek, Luke Holland,...
- 1/21/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Tel Aviv-based sales outfit and advisory firm Cinephil is linking up with London’s WestEnd Films for a new joint venture that will see the companies unite on development, financing and sales.
The deal comes as Cinephil founder and managing director Philippa Kowarsky recently stepped down from the business — a leading sales firm whose credits include the Sundance-winning “Flee” and Oscar-nominated “Collective” — to take up one of the documentary industry’s most prestigious roles, as commissioning editor of BBC documentary strand Storyville.
Under the new pact, WestEnd and Cinephil will collaborate on upcoming projects and films. Maya Amsellem, the Tel Aviv-based co-founder and managing director of WestEnd Films, said “together with the knowledge and expertise of Cinephil, we can bring the best of documentary films and series to the screen. Philippa has built an impressive brand which we are honored to preserve and strengthen even further.”
Following Kowarsky’s departure,...
The deal comes as Cinephil founder and managing director Philippa Kowarsky recently stepped down from the business — a leading sales firm whose credits include the Sundance-winning “Flee” and Oscar-nominated “Collective” — to take up one of the documentary industry’s most prestigious roles, as commissioning editor of BBC documentary strand Storyville.
Under the new pact, WestEnd and Cinephil will collaborate on upcoming projects and films. Maya Amsellem, the Tel Aviv-based co-founder and managing director of WestEnd Films, said “together with the knowledge and expertise of Cinephil, we can bring the best of documentary films and series to the screen. Philippa has built an impressive brand which we are honored to preserve and strengthen even further.”
Following Kowarsky’s departure,...
- 8/16/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Philippa Kowarsky, executive producer of 2021 Sundance winner “Flee,” has been appointed commissioning editor of prestigious documentary brand BBC Storyville.
Kowarsky’s focus will be identifying and co-producing outstanding original documentary feature films from around the world. She will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film.
Kowarsky joins the BBC from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997 and where she is currently MD. At Cinephil she represented and oversaw a diverse slate of films including Joshua Oppenheimer and Christine Cynn’s BAFTA winning “The Act of Killing” and Alexander Nanau’s Academy and BAFTA and Oscar nominated “Collective.”
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s, “Flee,” which Kowarsky executive produced, won the grand jury prize in the world cinema documentary section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and was in the official selection of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. Kowarsky’s credits also include Dror Moreh’s Oscar nominated “The Gatekeepers...
Kowarsky’s focus will be identifying and co-producing outstanding original documentary feature films from around the world. She will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film.
Kowarsky joins the BBC from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997 and where she is currently MD. At Cinephil she represented and oversaw a diverse slate of films including Joshua Oppenheimer and Christine Cynn’s BAFTA winning “The Act of Killing” and Alexander Nanau’s Academy and BAFTA and Oscar nominated “Collective.”
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s, “Flee,” which Kowarsky executive produced, won the grand jury prize in the world cinema documentary section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and was in the official selection of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. Kowarsky’s credits also include Dror Moreh’s Oscar nominated “The Gatekeepers...
- 8/12/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC has appointed Philippa Kowarsky to the role of Commissioning Editor of Storyville, the org’s international documentary strand.
Kowarsky joins from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997. During her time at the company she worked on films including the BAFTA winning The Act Of Killing and the Oscar nominated Collective. Kowarsky has also worked as a producer on the Oscar nominated The Gatekeepers, the Emmy winning Night Will Fall, and the Sundance award winner Flee.
At the BBC she will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film. Her focus will be identifying and co-producing doc features from around the world.
Storyville’s Jo Lapping has been upped to Head of Factual Acquisitions, reporting to Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition. Lapping will acquire both documentary films and factual programming for the BBC, working closely with Kowarsky.
Philippa Kowarsky said: “Crossing over from Cinephil,...
Kowarsky joins from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded in 1997. During her time at the company she worked on films including the BAFTA winning The Act Of Killing and the Oscar nominated Collective. Kowarsky has also worked as a producer on the Oscar nominated The Gatekeepers, the Emmy winning Night Will Fall, and the Sundance award winner Flee.
At the BBC she will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film. Her focus will be identifying and co-producing doc features from around the world.
Storyville’s Jo Lapping has been upped to Head of Factual Acquisitions, reporting to Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition. Lapping will acquire both documentary films and factual programming for the BBC, working closely with Kowarsky.
Philippa Kowarsky said: “Crossing over from Cinephil,...
- 8/12/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
As this documentary opens, a group of Japanese women in their 70s sit around a table, eating and reminiscing. They are the surviving members of a volleyball team, founded at a textile factory, that between the late 1950s and the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, became the best in the world. Dubbed ‘The Witches of the Orient’ by the press during their early 60s world tour, in which they defeated all comers, including their biggest rivals, the Ussr.
Julien Faraut’s film mixes archive footage of the team, of anime inspired by them and of Japan at and before the time of their dominance, with contemporary footage of interviews with the surviving members, as well as bits of their current daily routine. As far as it goes, it’s not an uninteresting subject, but in terms of focus it passes by much of the most provocative material. In (finally) contextualising its anime clips,...
Julien Faraut’s film mixes archive footage of the team, of anime inspired by them and of Japan at and before the time of their dominance, with contemporary footage of interviews with the surviving members, as well as bits of their current daily routine. As far as it goes, it’s not an uninteresting subject, but in terms of focus it passes by much of the most provocative material. In (finally) contextualising its anime clips,...
- 7/15/2021
- by Sam Inglis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The BAFTA Film Awards took place on April 11, and now the time has come for the BAFTA Television Awards to take centre stage. On April 27, the Virgin Media must-see moment award nominees were announced, which saw the likes of Gogglebox, Bridgerton, and Britain's Got Talent featured on the list.
On April 28, the full list of nominees were announced, with The Crown nominated for 10 awards, Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You nominated for eight awards, and Steve McQueen's Small Axe leading the charge with an impressive 15 nominations. On June 6, the full BAFTA Television Awards ceremony took place on BBC One, with I May Destroy You leading the charge after winning two awards.
Comedy Entertainment Programme:
Winner: The Big Narstie Show
Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe
Rob & Romesh Vs
The Ranganation
Daytime
Winner: The Great House Giveaway
Jimmy McGovern's Moving
Richard Osman's House Of
The Chase
Drama...
On April 28, the full list of nominees were announced, with The Crown nominated for 10 awards, Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You nominated for eight awards, and Steve McQueen's Small Axe leading the charge with an impressive 15 nominations. On June 6, the full BAFTA Television Awards ceremony took place on BBC One, with I May Destroy You leading the charge after winning two awards.
Comedy Entertainment Programme:
Winner: The Big Narstie Show
Charlie Brooker's Antiviral Wipe
Rob & Romesh Vs
The Ranganation
Daytime
Winner: The Great House Giveaway
Jimmy McGovern's Moving
Richard Osman's House Of
The Chase
Drama...
- 6/7/2021
- by Navi Ahluwalia
- Popsugar.com
Once seen as rather elitist and niche, the documentary feature market is expanding as audience demand for real life stories continues to grow.
Documentaries have become a huge genre in their own right, says Lia Devlin, head of distribution at Altitude Films, whose slate includes “Tina,” “Zappa,” “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet,” and festival hit “Gunda,” which it releases this June.
“Audiences have reappraised the documentary genre. They are treated very much now as feature films and a solid entertainment format.”
Streamers have played a key part in helping broaden the appeal of feature docs, offering thrilling and emotional real-life stories that are often as dramatic as anything that fiction could dream up. Netflix, in particular, has helped to raise awareness. The streamer, for example, has two hotly tipped Oscar documentary contenders this year, “My Octopus Teacher” and “Crip Camp,” having previously won the category in 2018 with “Icarus” and in 2020 with “American Factory.
Documentaries have become a huge genre in their own right, says Lia Devlin, head of distribution at Altitude Films, whose slate includes “Tina,” “Zappa,” “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet,” and festival hit “Gunda,” which it releases this June.
“Audiences have reappraised the documentary genre. They are treated very much now as feature films and a solid entertainment format.”
Streamers have played a key part in helping broaden the appeal of feature docs, offering thrilling and emotional real-life stories that are often as dramatic as anything that fiction could dream up. Netflix, in particular, has helped to raise awareness. The streamer, for example, has two hotly tipped Oscar documentary contenders this year, “My Octopus Teacher” and “Crip Camp,” having previously won the category in 2018 with “Icarus” and in 2020 with “American Factory.
- 4/20/2021
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
The documentary filmmakers behind Tribeca Film Festival award winner “Island of the Hungry Ghosts” are hitting Visions du Réel film festival with a new project, examining urban migration and the rapid pace at which climate change has impacted the lives of one cattle-herding family.
“The Wolves Always Come at Night” (a working title), from Australian/U.K. director Gabrielle Brady, is one of the projects gaining buzz in the Nyon-based festival’s pitching section, which will feature in VdR’s Industry program next week.
The pitch will be presented online by Berlin-based duo Brady and her producing partner Julia Niethammer, working for Germany production company Chromosom Film.
The narrative focuses on a family of nomadic herders Anktuya and Dorji and their two daughters, who are forced to migrate to a cramped and polluted settlement following the death of their cattle herd, which they discover frozen overnight, like ice sculptures, on the rural Mongolian landscape.
“The Wolves Always Come at Night” (a working title), from Australian/U.K. director Gabrielle Brady, is one of the projects gaining buzz in the Nyon-based festival’s pitching section, which will feature in VdR’s Industry program next week.
The pitch will be presented online by Berlin-based duo Brady and her producing partner Julia Niethammer, working for Germany production company Chromosom Film.
The narrative focuses on a family of nomadic herders Anktuya and Dorji and their two daughters, who are forced to migrate to a cramped and polluted settlement following the death of their cattle herd, which they discover frozen overnight, like ice sculptures, on the rural Mongolian landscape.
- 4/16/2021
- by Ann-Marie Corvin
- Variety Film + TV
Sweden’s Guldbagge Awards
Sweden’s primary national film awards, the Guldbagge Awards, were held in Stockholm last night. Henrik Schyffert’s comedy drama Run Uje Run won Best Film as well as Best Actor (Uje Brandelius) and Best Screenplay (also for Brandelius). Amanda Kernell’s drama Charter was another of the big winners, taking Best Director, Best Actress (Ane Dahl Torp), and Best Cinematography (Sophia Olsson). Waad Al-Kateab’s For Sama won best International Feature, while I Am Greta took Best Documentary Film.
Fremantle-Backed Podcast Producer Storyglass Hires Audible Exec
Storyglass, the Fremantle-backed podcast production company, has hired Audible originals executive Steve Carsey as its managing director. He will report to Storyglass chairman Bob McCourt and will be responsible for overseeing Storyglass’ projects across all scripted and unscripted genres. Storyglass was fully-owned by Fremantle until last year, when it was spun out into a standalone company within the Bertelsmann Group.
Sweden’s primary national film awards, the Guldbagge Awards, were held in Stockholm last night. Henrik Schyffert’s comedy drama Run Uje Run won Best Film as well as Best Actor (Uje Brandelius) and Best Screenplay (also for Brandelius). Amanda Kernell’s drama Charter was another of the big winners, taking Best Director, Best Actress (Ane Dahl Torp), and Best Cinematography (Sophia Olsson). Waad Al-Kateab’s For Sama won best International Feature, while I Am Greta took Best Documentary Film.
Fremantle-Backed Podcast Producer Storyglass Hires Audible Exec
Storyglass, the Fremantle-backed podcast production company, has hired Audible originals executive Steve Carsey as its managing director. He will report to Storyglass chairman Bob McCourt and will be responsible for overseeing Storyglass’ projects across all scripted and unscripted genres. Storyglass was fully-owned by Fremantle until last year, when it was spun out into a standalone company within the Bertelsmann Group.
- 1/26/2021
- by Tom Grater and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
The doc is a co-production between Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media.
Oscar-winning UK director Kevin Macdonald is teaming with Altitude and broadcaster ITV for a feature documentary that delves intothe UK’s ICU wards during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The One Day In September director is working with Canadian film producer Lawrence Elman and founder of BBC’s Storyville strand Nick Fraser on The Year That Changed Britain (working title).
The documentary is a co-production between Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media.
ITV controller of factual Jo Clinton Davis and head...
Oscar-winning UK director Kevin Macdonald is teaming with Altitude and broadcaster ITV for a feature documentary that delves intothe UK’s ICU wards during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The One Day In September director is working with Canadian film producer Lawrence Elman and founder of BBC’s Storyville strand Nick Fraser on The Year That Changed Britain (working title).
The documentary is a co-production between Fraser’s Docsville Studios, Altitude Factual and Expanded Media.
ITV controller of factual Jo Clinton Davis and head...
- 11/6/2020
- by Hannah Bowler Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Industry programme Nebulae was online this year.
Projects from Canada, Argentina and Portugal were the winners the Arché Awards of Doclisboa’s industry platform Nebulae. They were presented in a virtual award ceremony on Sunday evening (November 1).
The Rtp Award for the best project in the editing or first- cut stage went to Sofia Brockenshire’s Canada-Argentina project The Dependents which is based on the diaries of a Canadian immigration officer detailing 30 years of his service in Latin America and Asia.
The award sees broadcaster Rtp pay €25,000 for the TV rights for Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking African countries.
The jury was comprised of Mandy Chang,...
Projects from Canada, Argentina and Portugal were the winners the Arché Awards of Doclisboa’s industry platform Nebulae. They were presented in a virtual award ceremony on Sunday evening (November 1).
The Rtp Award for the best project in the editing or first- cut stage went to Sofia Brockenshire’s Canada-Argentina project The Dependents which is based on the diaries of a Canadian immigration officer detailing 30 years of his service in Latin America and Asia.
The award sees broadcaster Rtp pay €25,000 for the TV rights for Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking African countries.
The jury was comprised of Mandy Chang,...
- 11/2/2020
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
The Storyville commissioning team will report to BBC Film head Rose Garnett.
BBC documentary strand Storyville is moving under the remit of BBC Film, as part of a broader restructuring of the BBC’s filmmaking output.
Storyville commissioning editor Mandy Chang and assistant commissioner Hayley Reynolds will now report to BBC Film director Rose Garnett, effective immediately.
Chang and Jo Lapping will work in factual acquisitions across the BBC’s channels and iPlayer, while co-ordinator Hollie Gibson will work across both teams.
The news was announced in an email to staff from Clare Sillery, head of documentaries commissioning at the BBC.
BBC documentary strand Storyville is moving under the remit of BBC Film, as part of a broader restructuring of the BBC’s filmmaking output.
Storyville commissioning editor Mandy Chang and assistant commissioner Hayley Reynolds will now report to BBC Film director Rose Garnett, effective immediately.
Chang and Jo Lapping will work in factual acquisitions across the BBC’s channels and iPlayer, while co-ordinator Hollie Gibson will work across both teams.
The news was announced in an email to staff from Clare Sillery, head of documentaries commissioning at the BBC.
- 10/26/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The U.K.’s BBC Four has commissioned a feature-length documentary that will investigate what became of the Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s immense wealth in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, which ended his reign.
Produced by Brook Lapping, “The Search for Gaddafi’s Billions” will air as part of the BBC’s long-running documentary banner Storyville, and will follow two Dutch journalists, Misha Wessel and Thomas Blom, as they enter the mysterious world of spies, special forces and political insiders who are hunting Gaddafi’s cash.
Broadcasters Vpro/Npo are the lead commissioners, and the 90-minute film is co-produced with Zdf/Arte and Brook Lapping in association with Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion. Brook Lapping is part of Zinc Media Group.
Greg Sanderson, director of London Television for Zinc Media Group, said: “Enigmatic in life, it is no surprise that Gaddafi’s legacy is a tale of intrigue and violence.
Produced by Brook Lapping, “The Search for Gaddafi’s Billions” will air as part of the BBC’s long-running documentary banner Storyville, and will follow two Dutch journalists, Misha Wessel and Thomas Blom, as they enter the mysterious world of spies, special forces and political insiders who are hunting Gaddafi’s cash.
Broadcasters Vpro/Npo are the lead commissioners, and the 90-minute film is co-produced with Zdf/Arte and Brook Lapping in association with Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion. Brook Lapping is part of Zinc Media Group.
Greg Sanderson, director of London Television for Zinc Media Group, said: “Enigmatic in life, it is no surprise that Gaddafi’s legacy is a tale of intrigue and violence.
- 9/14/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Storyville has acquired U.K. rights to Scandalous, the documentary about U.S. tabloid the National Enquirer.
Storyville, which struck the deal with Agc International, will broadcast the film on BBC Four this month.
The documentary, from director Mark Landsman, charts the publication’s impact on journalism, business, culture and politics. After purchasing the New York Enquirer in the 1950s with funds from his godfather (and reputed mob boss) Frank Costello, Generoso Pope, Jr. rebranded and renamed the publication the National Enquirer. Scandalous explores how Pope, Jr. turned the racing and sporting newspaper into a mass market tabloid stuffed with scandal, medical oddities, conspiracy theories, celebrity gossip and paparazzi photos of the rich and famous, from Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Princess Diana to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
The film dissects why the paper thrived, the impact of its sharp turn into partisan politics, and why the tabloid...
Storyville, which struck the deal with Agc International, will broadcast the film on BBC Four this month.
The documentary, from director Mark Landsman, charts the publication’s impact on journalism, business, culture and politics. After purchasing the New York Enquirer in the 1950s with funds from his godfather (and reputed mob boss) Frank Costello, Generoso Pope, Jr. rebranded and renamed the publication the National Enquirer. Scandalous explores how Pope, Jr. turned the racing and sporting newspaper into a mass market tabloid stuffed with scandal, medical oddities, conspiracy theories, celebrity gossip and paparazzi photos of the rich and famous, from Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Princess Diana to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
The film dissects why the paper thrived, the impact of its sharp turn into partisan politics, and why the tabloid...
- 6/3/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Magnolia Pictures distributed in Us.
BBC Storyville has acquired UK rights from Agc International to Scandalous, the documentary about notorious tabloid the National Enquirer.
BBC Storyville will broadcast the film on BBC Four in June.
Mark Landsman’s film explores the publication’s impact on journalism, and the business, cultural and political landscapes.
Generoso Pope Jr. bought the sports newspaper then known as the New York Enquirer in the 1950s with funds from his godfather and reputed mob boss Frank Costello.
Scandalous looks at how Pope Jr. transformed it into a magazine dedicated to scandal, medical oddities, conspiracy theories, celebrity...
BBC Storyville has acquired UK rights from Agc International to Scandalous, the documentary about notorious tabloid the National Enquirer.
BBC Storyville will broadcast the film on BBC Four in June.
Mark Landsman’s film explores the publication’s impact on journalism, and the business, cultural and political landscapes.
Generoso Pope Jr. bought the sports newspaper then known as the New York Enquirer in the 1950s with funds from his godfather and reputed mob boss Frank Costello.
Scandalous looks at how Pope Jr. transformed it into a magazine dedicated to scandal, medical oddities, conspiracy theories, celebrity...
- 6/3/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
BBC documentary strand ‘Storyville’ has picked up U.K. rights to a film on tabloid The National Enquirer from Agc International.
Co-produced by CNN Films, Agc Studios and This is Just a Test, “Scandalous” traces the National Enquirer’s evolution from when it was first founded by Generoso Pope Jr. — who bought racing and sports newspaper New York Enquirer in the 1950s and rebranded the publication as the National Enquirer — to its current status as one of the world’s most sensational tabloid brands.
Directed by Mark Landsman, “Scandalous” explores how Pope Jr. grew the publication into a mass-market tabloid chock full of various scandals, medical oddities and conspiracy theories, celebrity gossip and paparazzi photos. The doc features interviews with former staff and other media observers, who discuss the tabloid’s success, the impact of its segue into partisan politics, and why the National Enquirer began catching and killing stories...
Co-produced by CNN Films, Agc Studios and This is Just a Test, “Scandalous” traces the National Enquirer’s evolution from when it was first founded by Generoso Pope Jr. — who bought racing and sports newspaper New York Enquirer in the 1950s and rebranded the publication as the National Enquirer — to its current status as one of the world’s most sensational tabloid brands.
Directed by Mark Landsman, “Scandalous” explores how Pope Jr. grew the publication into a mass-market tabloid chock full of various scandals, medical oddities and conspiracy theories, celebrity gossip and paparazzi photos. The doc features interviews with former staff and other media observers, who discuss the tabloid’s success, the impact of its segue into partisan politics, and why the National Enquirer began catching and killing stories...
- 6/3/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
After years producing investigative documentaries that hold the likes of Isis and East African death squads to account, Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff now finds himself in the media glare, pursued by fellow documentarians and acutely aware of optics.
In this “golden age” of nonfiction, where a film on 30-year-old Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sold to Netflix for a reported $10 million at last year’s Sundance, Ossoff, the 33-year-old challenger for a Senate seat in Georgia, in a meta twist, is being courted by an accomplished documentary producer (the campaign declines to name names) who’s eager to follow promising young candidates in this year’s elections.
Ossoff gets it. It’s not often U.S. documentary filmmakers run for office. “It may be that folks who dedicate their careers to digging into the flaws and failures of our political system perhaps view those flaws and failures so starkly that they hesitate to dive in themselves,...
In this “golden age” of nonfiction, where a film on 30-year-old Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sold to Netflix for a reported $10 million at last year’s Sundance, Ossoff, the 33-year-old challenger for a Senate seat in Georgia, in a meta twist, is being courted by an accomplished documentary producer (the campaign declines to name names) who’s eager to follow promising young candidates in this year’s elections.
Ossoff gets it. It’s not often U.S. documentary filmmakers run for office. “It may be that folks who dedicate their careers to digging into the flaws and failures of our political system perhaps view those flaws and failures so starkly that they hesitate to dive in themselves,...
- 3/5/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Mohammed Ali Naqvi’s latest documentary feature, The Accused: Damned or Devoted?, will receive its first UK broadcast on BBC Four on March 2.
The BBC Storyville project focuses on Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws by following ambitious Cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, examining the cases of those accused of disrespecting Islam, including Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent almost 10 years on death row.
Director Ali Naqvi said the project was “the most dangerous film” he had ever worked on.
“When I was initially approached to possibly explore this topic, I refused,” he explained. “As I saw my country falling prey to the political ambitions of a despot, one who was using Islam as a veneer, I wanted to expose Rizvi. Here was a cleric who did not speak for me or other Muslims, he only spoke for his own political ambitions. In doing so, he was also responsible for...
The BBC Storyville project focuses on Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws by following ambitious Cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, examining the cases of those accused of disrespecting Islam, including Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent almost 10 years on death row.
Director Ali Naqvi said the project was “the most dangerous film” he had ever worked on.
“When I was initially approached to possibly explore this topic, I refused,” he explained. “As I saw my country falling prey to the political ambitions of a despot, one who was using Islam as a veneer, I wanted to expose Rizvi. Here was a cleric who did not speak for me or other Muslims, he only spoke for his own political ambitions. In doing so, he was also responsible for...
- 2/17/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Kate Nash is recalling a nightmare she had recently. In the dream, the musician and star of the Netflix series Glow remembers being on a raft in a dark tunnel, surrounded by man-eating killer whales.
“I escaped the tunnel, and I was running around in this carpark, with all these trailers, that looked a little bit like the Glow trailer lot,” she explains. “And I was really scared the killer whales were gonna come for me, even though I was on pavement now. My drummer opened up a trailer door,...
“I escaped the tunnel, and I was running around in this carpark, with all these trailers, that looked a little bit like the Glow trailer lot,” she explains. “And I was really scared the killer whales were gonna come for me, even though I was on pavement now. My drummer opened up a trailer door,...
- 11/23/2019
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
The UK Jewish Film Festival (November 6 – 21) has revealed its 2019 lineup, including galas for Taika Waititi’s Nazi satire JoJo Rabbit and Diane Kruger thriller The Operative.
Toronto Audience Award winner JoJo Rabbit, about a young boy in Hitler’s army who finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home, will be the festival’s closing night gala, a choice that could stir debate. Waititi, who is Jewish, plays Hitler. Also starring are Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson.
The festival’s Centerpiece Gala will be the UK premiere of The Operative, about a woman who is recruited by the Mossad to work undercover in Tehran. Directed by Yuval Adler, the Berlin Film Festival debut stars Diane Kruger and Martin Freeman.
Films in competition for the Dorfman Best Film Award are Dolce Fine Giornata, Flawless, Jojo Rabbit, festival opener My Polish Honeymoon, Stripped and The Unorthodox.
Toronto Audience Award winner JoJo Rabbit, about a young boy in Hitler’s army who finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home, will be the festival’s closing night gala, a choice that could stir debate. Waititi, who is Jewish, plays Hitler. Also starring are Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson.
The festival’s Centerpiece Gala will be the UK premiere of The Operative, about a woman who is recruited by the Mossad to work undercover in Tehran. Directed by Yuval Adler, the Berlin Film Festival debut stars Diane Kruger and Martin Freeman.
Films in competition for the Dorfman Best Film Award are Dolce Fine Giornata, Flawless, Jojo Rabbit, festival opener My Polish Honeymoon, Stripped and The Unorthodox.
- 9/19/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Daniel Schulman’s bestselling nonfiction book Sons of Wichita: How the Koch Brothers Became America’s Most Powerful and Private Dynasty is in the works for the small screen. Stephen Robert Morse’s Observatory and Max Peltz’s Cavendish Pictures have optioned the rights to the book to develop both fiction and non-fiction projects. The plan is likely for a limited series as well as a documentary, they say. The deal comes just days after the passing of billionaire industrialist David Koch.
SmithDehn Llp, is backing the project as production counsel.
With strong positions on issues like climate change denial and small government, the Koch brothers have been a political tour de force for decades. The Libertarian and Republican- supporting Koch brothers have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to right wing causes.
“This is the most...
SmithDehn Llp, is backing the project as production counsel.
With strong positions on issues like climate change denial and small government, the Koch brothers have been a political tour de force for decades. The Libertarian and Republican- supporting Koch brothers have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to right wing causes.
“This is the most...
- 8/26/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Altitude has boarded “The Capote Tapes,” the feature documentary that has never-heard-before interviews with Truman Capote and that will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Altitude will handle international sales on the film, which is directed by Ebs Burnough, a former White House adviser to Michelle Obama. It will co-rep the U.S. with Endeavor Content.
“The Capote Tapes” filmmakers had unprecedented access to taped interviews with Capote made as part of an oral biography of the writer by George Plimpton, co-founder of The Paris Review. Using the tapes, animation, and new on-camera interviews with people who knew him, the film explores the impact of Capote’s explosive unfinished novel “Answered Prayers.”
The first chapter of the novel was released in 1975, revealing the intimate secrets, from adultery to murder, of Manhattan’s high society. There are various theories as to what happened to the full work: did Capote destroy it,...
“The Capote Tapes” filmmakers had unprecedented access to taped interviews with Capote made as part of an oral biography of the writer by George Plimpton, co-founder of The Paris Review. Using the tapes, animation, and new on-camera interviews with people who knew him, the film explores the impact of Capote’s explosive unfinished novel “Answered Prayers.”
The first chapter of the novel was released in 1975, revealing the intimate secrets, from adultery to murder, of Manhattan’s high society. There are various theories as to what happened to the full work: did Capote destroy it,...
- 8/15/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
As his book on the history of factual film is published, the former Storyville editor reveals his favourite docs and books
When 71-year-old Nick Fraser first encountered documentaries in the 1960s, he admits he found them “not very interesting”. That changed, partly because of a cultural shift – Fraser cites Da Pennebaker in the Us and Nick Broomfield here as pioneers – and Fraser played his own part as well. From the late 1990s, for 17 years, he was editor of the BBC strand Storyville and worked on films such as Man on Wire and One Day in September, which both won Oscars. Fraser’s new book, Say What Happened: A Story of Documentaries, traces the history of documentary film-making.
Shortly after finishing the first draft, Fraser was giving a talk in London and had just shown a clip of one of his favourite Storyville docs, the 2007 film The English Surgeon, about the British neurologist Henry Marsh,...
When 71-year-old Nick Fraser first encountered documentaries in the 1960s, he admits he found them “not very interesting”. That changed, partly because of a cultural shift – Fraser cites Da Pennebaker in the Us and Nick Broomfield here as pioneers – and Fraser played his own part as well. From the late 1990s, for 17 years, he was editor of the BBC strand Storyville and worked on films such as Man on Wire and One Day in September, which both won Oscars. Fraser’s new book, Say What Happened: A Story of Documentaries, traces the history of documentary film-making.
Shortly after finishing the first draft, Fraser was giving a talk in London and had just shown a clip of one of his favourite Storyville docs, the 2007 film The English Surgeon, about the British neurologist Henry Marsh,...
- 7/27/2019
- by Tim Lewis
- The Guardian - Film News
The BBC has picked up a slew of feature docs including Oscar-nominated Minding The Gap and Sundance titles One Child Nation and Maiden.
This comes as the British public broadcaster has revamped its feature doc strand Storyville with films launching on youth-skewing network BBC Three for the first time as it looks to appeal to younger audiences.
The pick ups were unveiled today at the Sheffield Doc/Fest by BBC Storyville Commissioning Editor Mandy Chang.
Minding the Gap will air on BBC Three alongside true crime doc Roll Red Roll and music doc Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl.
Bing Liu’s Oscar nominated Minding the Gap is the coming-of-age saga of three skateboarding friends in their Rust Belt hometown, hit hard by decades of recession. In his quest to understand why he and his friends ran away from home as teenagers, Bing tracks 23-year-old Zack as he becomes a...
This comes as the British public broadcaster has revamped its feature doc strand Storyville with films launching on youth-skewing network BBC Three for the first time as it looks to appeal to younger audiences.
The pick ups were unveiled today at the Sheffield Doc/Fest by BBC Storyville Commissioning Editor Mandy Chang.
Minding the Gap will air on BBC Three alongside true crime doc Roll Red Roll and music doc Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl.
Bing Liu’s Oscar nominated Minding the Gap is the coming-of-age saga of three skateboarding friends in their Rust Belt hometown, hit hard by decades of recession. In his quest to understand why he and his friends ran away from home as teenagers, Bing tracks 23-year-old Zack as he becomes a...
- 6/9/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Mystify: Michael Hutchence’
International buyers are circling Mystify: Michael Hutchence, Richard Lowenstein’s revealing portrait of the late Inxs frontman, following the world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Negotiations handled by the international sales agent Dogwoof are expected to continue after the feature documentary screens this week at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto.
“We had great responses at the Tribeca press and industry screenings, which were attended by reps of some really good companies,” Sue Murray, who produced with Lowenstein, Mya Gnyp, John Battsek, Mark Fennessy, Lynn-Maree Milburn and Andrew de Groot, tells If from New York.
“We expect to get a report from Dogwoof in the next few days, and there will be market screenings in Cannes.”
Lowenstein finished the film, a labour of love, just before the festival opened, with the final version shipped to the event as he was en route to NY.
It features...
International buyers are circling Mystify: Michael Hutchence, Richard Lowenstein’s revealing portrait of the late Inxs frontman, following the world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Negotiations handled by the international sales agent Dogwoof are expected to continue after the feature documentary screens this week at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto.
“We had great responses at the Tribeca press and industry screenings, which were attended by reps of some really good companies,” Sue Murray, who produced with Lowenstein, Mya Gnyp, John Battsek, Mark Fennessy, Lynn-Maree Milburn and Andrew de Groot, tells If from New York.
“We expect to get a report from Dogwoof in the next few days, and there will be market screenings in Cannes.”
Lowenstein finished the film, a labour of love, just before the festival opened, with the final version shipped to the event as he was en route to NY.
It features...
- 4/29/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
A mind-bending 1929 silent film is just one gem on the docs-only streaming service from the Storyville stable
Considering what a substantial portion of the streaming sphere they consume, I wrote less about documentaries than I should have done in 2018 – in part because my colleague Charlie Phillips had the nonfiction side of things so authoritatively covered in his series of columns last year. So it was in the spirit of the new year and its accompanying resolutions that I returned to Docsville, a highly regarded docs-only streaming service that I hadn’t really visited since a major rebrand late in 2017.
Docsville entered the scene as a plucky upstart nearly three years ago. Then rather perplexingly named Yaddo, it was founded by Nick Fraser, former editor of the BBC’s Storyville documentary strand, and had a credo to match those credentials: the focus of its programming, much of it plucked from the Storyville files,...
Considering what a substantial portion of the streaming sphere they consume, I wrote less about documentaries than I should have done in 2018 – in part because my colleague Charlie Phillips had the nonfiction side of things so authoritatively covered in his series of columns last year. So it was in the spirit of the new year and its accompanying resolutions that I returned to Docsville, a highly regarded docs-only streaming service that I hadn’t really visited since a major rebrand late in 2017.
Docsville entered the scene as a plucky upstart nearly three years ago. Then rather perplexingly named Yaddo, it was founded by Nick Fraser, former editor of the BBC’s Storyville documentary strand, and had a credo to match those credentials: the focus of its programming, much of it plucked from the Storyville files,...
- 1/7/2019
- by Guy Lodge
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: Netflix is bolstering its London-based commissioning team as factual exec Kate Townsend is moving back to the British capital from Los Angeles.
Townsend, who joined the global streaming platform from the BBC in 2017, is relocating to London as the company grows its presence outside of the U.S. She will be part of Netflix’s doc team and will work closely with British and European producers as it expands its slate of original factual titles. She will work closely in London with former Canal Plus executive Diego Buñuel, who is also moving from La to London as part of the doc unit.
Netflix, which has 72.8M subscribers internationally compared to 57.4M in the U.S., has been increasingly sending execs around the world to be closer to production teams and creators.
During her time at Netflix, Townsend has worked on shows including Explained, the series produced in association Vox...
Townsend, who joined the global streaming platform from the BBC in 2017, is relocating to London as the company grows its presence outside of the U.S. She will be part of Netflix’s doc team and will work closely with British and European producers as it expands its slate of original factual titles. She will work closely in London with former Canal Plus executive Diego Buñuel, who is also moving from La to London as part of the doc unit.
Netflix, which has 72.8M subscribers internationally compared to 57.4M in the U.S., has been increasingly sending execs around the world to be closer to production teams and creators.
During her time at Netflix, Townsend has worked on shows including Explained, the series produced in association Vox...
- 8/9/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Shia Labeouf is starring in “Tax Collector,” Scout Taylor-Compton joins “Abeyance,” and streaming service Docsville is expanding.
Castings
Shia Labeouf and Bobby Soto are starring in David Ayer’s crime thriller “Tax Collector,” which will be shot in Los Angeles this summer.
Cross Creek Pictures is financing “Tax Collector,” a co-production between Cross Creek and Cedar Park Entertainment, Ayer’s production company. Ayer and Chris Long of Cedar Park are the producers. The filmmakers are keeping the logline under wraps.
Ayer’s directing credits include “End of Watch,” “Sabotage,” “Fury,” “Suicide Squad,” and “Bright.” Labeouf worked with Ayer in the World War II action-drama “Fury.” Labeouf’s show business drama “Honey Boy” is in post-production.
Cross Creek is repped by CAA Media Finance and Schuyler Moore of Greenberg Glusker Fields. Cedar Park, Ayer, and Long are repped by CAA. The news was first reported by Deadline.
Castings
Shia Labeouf and Bobby Soto are starring in David Ayer’s crime thriller “Tax Collector,” which will be shot in Los Angeles this summer.
Cross Creek Pictures is financing “Tax Collector,” a co-production between Cross Creek and Cedar Park Entertainment, Ayer’s production company. Ayer and Chris Long of Cedar Park are the producers. The filmmakers are keeping the logline under wraps.
Ayer’s directing credits include “End of Watch,” “Sabotage,” “Fury,” “Suicide Squad,” and “Bright.” Labeouf worked with Ayer in the World War II action-drama “Fury.” Labeouf’s show business drama “Honey Boy” is in post-production.
Cross Creek is repped by CAA Media Finance and Schuyler Moore of Greenberg Glusker Fields. Cedar Park, Ayer, and Long are repped by CAA. The news was first reported by Deadline.
- 6/23/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Feature documentaries from stars including Tilda Swinton and Alan Cumming as well as producers such as Searching For Sugarman’s John Battsek and Shooting Bigfoot’s Morgan Matthews are some of the high-profile projects searching for funding at this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest.
Major broadcasters including HBO and the BBC as well as a slew of European networks have come on board a raft of early-stage docs, which are searching for final funding at Sheffield Doc/Fest’s MeetMarket. The marketplace, which is whittled down from around 550 projects, entices over 300 decision makers including Netflix and YouTube as well as distributors including Neon, Submarine and Cinetic.
We Need To Talk About Kevin star Swinton’s On Drumduan Hill, which she will direct, is arguably the most high-profile project on offer at the event, held in the UK city between June 7 – 12. The film, which is produced by Lily Ford with a...
Major broadcasters including HBO and the BBC as well as a slew of European networks have come on board a raft of early-stage docs, which are searching for final funding at Sheffield Doc/Fest’s MeetMarket. The marketplace, which is whittled down from around 550 projects, entices over 300 decision makers including Netflix and YouTube as well as distributors including Neon, Submarine and Cinetic.
We Need To Talk About Kevin star Swinton’s On Drumduan Hill, which she will direct, is arguably the most high-profile project on offer at the event, held in the UK city between June 7 – 12. The film, which is produced by Lily Ford with a...
- 6/11/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The BAFTA TV Craft Awards honor skills in 19 different categories. Nine of these are devoted to fictional programming, another four to factual, and six are in combined fields. Winners were revealed during a ceremony on Sunday, April 22 hosted by “Episodes” star Stephen Mangan. Nominations for the BAFTA TV Awards were announced on Wednesday, April 4 with that ceremony taking place on Sunday, May 13.
Fiction
Costume Design
“The Crown”
X – “Game of Thrones”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Taboo”
Director (Fiction)
Jane Campion, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
Mackenizie Crook, “Detectorists”
Paul Whittington, “Little Boy Blue”
X – Phillipa Lowthorpe, “Three Girls”
Editing (Fiction)
“The Crown”
“Line of Duty”
“Peaky Blinders”
X – “Three Girls”
Makeup And Hair Design
“Gunpowder”
“The Miniaturist – The Forge”
“Peaky Blinders”
X – “Taboo”
Photography And Lighting (Fiction)
“Against the Law”
“Black Mirror”
X – “The Crown”
“Taboo”
Production Design
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown”
X – “Game of Thrones”
“The State”
Sound (Fiction)
“Black Mirror...
Fiction
Costume Design
“The Crown”
X – “Game of Thrones”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Taboo”
Director (Fiction)
Jane Campion, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
Mackenizie Crook, “Detectorists”
Paul Whittington, “Little Boy Blue”
X – Phillipa Lowthorpe, “Three Girls”
Editing (Fiction)
“The Crown”
“Line of Duty”
“Peaky Blinders”
X – “Three Girls”
Makeup And Hair Design
“Gunpowder”
“The Miniaturist – The Forge”
“Peaky Blinders”
X – “Taboo”
Photography And Lighting (Fiction)
“Against the Law”
“Black Mirror”
X – “The Crown”
“Taboo”
Production Design
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown”
X – “Game of Thrones”
“The State”
Sound (Fiction)
“Black Mirror...
- 4/22/2018
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
The BAFTA TV Craft Awards honor skills in 19 different categories. Nine of these are devoted to fictional programming, another four to factual, and six are in combined fields. Winners will be revealed during a ceremony on Sunday, April 22 to be hosted by “Episodes” star Stephen Mangan. Nominations for the BAFTA TV Awards will be announced on Wednesday, April 4 with that ceremony taking place on Sunday, May 13.
Fiction
Costume Design
“The Crown”
“Game of Thrones”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Taboo”
Director (Fiction)
Jane Campion, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
Mackenizie Crook, “Detectorists”
Paul Whittington, “Little Boy Blue”
Phillipa Lowthorpe, “Three Girls”
Editing (Fiction)
“The Crown”
“Line of Duty”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Three Girls”
Makeup And Hair Design
“Gunpowder”
“The Miniaturist – The Forge”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Taboo”
Photography And Lighting (Fiction)
“Against the Law”
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown”
“Taboo”
Production Design
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown”
“Game of Thrones”
“The State”
Sound (Fiction)
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown...
Fiction
Costume Design
“The Crown”
“Game of Thrones”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Taboo”
Director (Fiction)
Jane Campion, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
Mackenizie Crook, “Detectorists”
Paul Whittington, “Little Boy Blue”
Phillipa Lowthorpe, “Three Girls”
Editing (Fiction)
“The Crown”
“Line of Duty”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Three Girls”
Makeup And Hair Design
“Gunpowder”
“The Miniaturist – The Forge”
“Peaky Blinders”
“Taboo”
Photography And Lighting (Fiction)
“Against the Law”
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown”
“Taboo”
Production Design
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown”
“Game of Thrones”
“The State”
Sound (Fiction)
“Black Mirror”
“The Crown...
- 3/22/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Larger-than-life polyglot worked with Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Evzen Kolar, the Czech-born producer of The Boys & Girl From County Clare and City Of Industry, has died in California after a brief illness. He was 67.
Kolar was born in Moravia in the Czech Republic to a diplomat and got his first taste of entertainment as a child actor, before becoming an assistant director in Europe on commercials, television projects and features.
He lived in London in the late 1970s and produced fringe theatre before moving to the Us in 1979 where he built a name for himself as a production executive, notching up numerous line producer and producer credits.
After stints as vice-president of production at Fireline Productions, a subsidiary of the Armand Hammer Company, and CEO at Crossover Films Ent, Kolar worked as a line producer. His credits included Never Say Never Again with Sean Connery, Street Smart starring Morgan Freeman, Master Of The Universe with Dolph Lundgren...
Evzen Kolar, the Czech-born producer of The Boys & Girl From County Clare and City Of Industry, has died in California after a brief illness. He was 67.
Kolar was born in Moravia in the Czech Republic to a diplomat and got his first taste of entertainment as a child actor, before becoming an assistant director in Europe on commercials, television projects and features.
He lived in London in the late 1970s and produced fringe theatre before moving to the Us in 1979 where he built a name for himself as a production executive, notching up numerous line producer and producer credits.
After stints as vice-president of production at Fireline Productions, a subsidiary of the Armand Hammer Company, and CEO at Crossover Films Ent, Kolar worked as a line producer. His credits included Never Say Never Again with Sean Connery, Street Smart starring Morgan Freeman, Master Of The Universe with Dolph Lundgren...
- 7/14/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Today we have the trailer for "Louis," a modern re-imagining of early silent films and an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin and the birth of American music. Check out the trailer below. The new movie stars co-stars Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, Nightmare on Elm Street) and Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) and is set to get a limited theatrical release on August 25th. Plot: The grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide a backdrop of lust, blood and magic for 6 year old Louis (Anthony Coleman) as he navigates the colorful intricacies of life in the city. Young Louis's dreams of playing the trumpet are interrupted by a chance meeting with a beautiful and vulnerable girl named Grace (Shanti Lowry) and her baby, Jasmine. Haley plays the evil Judge Perry who is determined not to let Jasmine's true heritage derail his candidacy for governor. Trailer: If you cannot see the player,...
- 7/20/2010
- WorstPreviews.com
In a new biography, Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong (Houghton Mifflin), author Terry Teachout, the respected culture critic (The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, National Review), reveals the lesser known side of the man who is arguably the most influential figure in the history of jazz. Drawing on hundreds of private recordings and after-hours conversations that the trumpeter made, Teachout charts the compelling rise to fame from Armstrong’s humble beginnings in the Storyville district of New Orleans. In this exclusive audio excerpt, Teachout explores Armstrong’s deep love for marijuana, which led to his arrest in 1930, as well as his very public fight with President Eisenhower about racial segregation in 1957. Listen to the podcast after the jump.
- 11/17/2009
- Vanity Fair
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