While Hollywood writers are back at work, media companies have suspended negotiations with striking actors over a new contract. Even if talks resume and a settlement were to happen soon, however, it would likely be early 2024 before the two dozen or so dramas and comedies that normally premiere in the fall make it back onto screens.
As luck would have it, though, the era of peak streaming provides a nearly limitless array of series to watch. Below are a handful of new or recent lesser-known shows, many of them from outside the United States, on smaller streaming platforms (and one over-the-air network) that can help viewers fill in gaps in their viewing schedules while waiting for homegrown favorites to return. One bonus: None of the shows below are produced by companies against whom Hollywood’s unions are or were striking this year. Unless noted, all the streamers below offer seven-day...
As luck would have it, though, the era of peak streaming provides a nearly limitless array of series to watch. Below are a handful of new or recent lesser-known shows, many of them from outside the United States, on smaller streaming platforms (and one over-the-air network) that can help viewers fill in gaps in their viewing schedules while waiting for homegrown favorites to return. One bonus: None of the shows below are produced by companies against whom Hollywood’s unions are or were striking this year. Unless noted, all the streamers below offer seven-day...
- 10/14/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There’s a streamer that’s adored by diplomats and by Mormons, by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and by rabid cinephiles. The brand has continually operated under its founder for more than 30 years, and the odds are excellent that you have never, ever heard of it.
One reason you’ve probably never heard of MHz Choice is — with apologies to its founder and operator, Frederick Thomas — its terrible name. He said he chose to call it MHz because it derives from megahertz, or one million hertz, a measure of radio transmission frequencies or a computer’s clock speed. Neither of these things seem to address the MHz mission, which is to stream TV shows and films from 30 international countries.
Thomas founded the company in 1993 as a subsidized public-access channel in Washington DC. Today, it’s a for-profit Kino Lorber joint venture that costs $7.99 per month with more than 2,500 hours of mysteries,...
One reason you’ve probably never heard of MHz Choice is — with apologies to its founder and operator, Frederick Thomas — its terrible name. He said he chose to call it MHz because it derives from megahertz, or one million hertz, a measure of radio transmission frequencies or a computer’s clock speed. Neither of these things seem to address the MHz mission, which is to stream TV shows and films from 30 international countries.
Thomas founded the company in 1993 as a subsidized public-access channel in Washington DC. Today, it’s a for-profit Kino Lorber joint venture that costs $7.99 per month with more than 2,500 hours of mysteries,...
- 7/26/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Playtime has boarded “Monsieur Aznavour,” the prestige biopic of legendary French-Armenian Charles Aznavour starring Tahar Rahim. Budgeted at €26 million, the film will start principal photography on May 30. Pathé has scooped French rights and will give it a wide release in theaters.
Surely one of the hottest packages to hit this year’s Cannes market, the film will chart Aznavour’s sprawling life journey, from his poor childhood to his rise to fame, from his triumphs to his failures, from Paris to New York. Aznavour was devoted to his art until the very end, singing his songs in ten languages, on every stage, in every city, desperately searching for perfection. He sold more than 180 million records around the world.
Rahim, who’s rolling off Marvel’s “Madame Web” and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” is highly committed to the part and has been preparing it for months. He will be in Cannes...
Surely one of the hottest packages to hit this year’s Cannes market, the film will chart Aznavour’s sprawling life journey, from his poor childhood to his rise to fame, from his triumphs to his failures, from Paris to New York. Aznavour was devoted to his art until the very end, singing his songs in ten languages, on every stage, in every city, desperately searching for perfection. He sold more than 180 million records around the world.
Rahim, who’s rolling off Marvel’s “Madame Web” and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” is highly committed to the part and has been preparing it for months. He will be in Cannes...
- 5/17/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The streamer specialises in international series.
US arthouse distributor Kino Lorber has acquired MHz Networks, parent of streamer MHz Choice, a North American SVOD service that screens international television series.
With the acquisition, Kino Lorber Media Group will have more than 10,000 hours of international series and films under license, the company said.
MHz Networks CEO Frederick Thomas and senior vice president of content strategy Lance Schwulst will continue to lead MHz Networks within Kino Lorber Media Group.
MHz Networks was an early entrant into the boutique streaming market, launching MHz Choice in 2015. The service has screened series including Wallander, Detective Montalbano and Paris Police 1900.
US arthouse distributor Kino Lorber has acquired MHz Networks, parent of streamer MHz Choice, a North American SVOD service that screens international television series.
With the acquisition, Kino Lorber Media Group will have more than 10,000 hours of international series and films under license, the company said.
MHz Networks CEO Frederick Thomas and senior vice president of content strategy Lance Schwulst will continue to lead MHz Networks within Kino Lorber Media Group.
MHz Networks was an early entrant into the boutique streaming market, launching MHz Choice in 2015. The service has screened series including Wallander, Detective Montalbano and Paris Police 1900.
- 11/3/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Click here to read the full article.
New York-based arthouse distributor Kino Lorber has acquired MHz Networks, the parent company of MHz Choice, an online streaming service dedicated to international television series.
Under the deal, announced Thursday, Kino Lorber will add its library of more than 5,000 titles to MHz Choice, which specializes in non-u.S. TV series, streaming such shows as Scandinavian crime dramas Wallander and Beck, or French period procedural Paris Police 1900. The entire staff of both MHz Networks and Kino Lorber will remain in place, with CEO Frederick Thomas and SVP of Content Strategy Lance Schwulst continuing to lead MHz Networks within Kino Lorber Media Group.
“MHz’s track record of curating best-in-class series from around the world has helped it build one of the most loyal subscriber audiences in streaming,” said Kino Lorber president and CEO Richard Lorber in a statement. “At a time when Hollywood...
New York-based arthouse distributor Kino Lorber has acquired MHz Networks, the parent company of MHz Choice, an online streaming service dedicated to international television series.
Under the deal, announced Thursday, Kino Lorber will add its library of more than 5,000 titles to MHz Choice, which specializes in non-u.S. TV series, streaming such shows as Scandinavian crime dramas Wallander and Beck, or French period procedural Paris Police 1900. The entire staff of both MHz Networks and Kino Lorber will remain in place, with CEO Frederick Thomas and SVP of Content Strategy Lance Schwulst continuing to lead MHz Networks within Kino Lorber Media Group.
“MHz’s track record of curating best-in-class series from around the world has helped it build one of the most loyal subscriber audiences in streaming,” said Kino Lorber president and CEO Richard Lorber in a statement. “At a time when Hollywood...
- 11/3/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Olivier Bibas is to join the French pay TV giant Canal Plus as head of its fiction label Création Originale. As such, Bibas will be responsible for Canal Plus’ French drama and international co-productions. He starts on Feb. 14.
Bibas will report to Gérald-Brice Viret, managing director, French TV Channels and Programs at Canal Plus Group, who said Bibas’ “vision, recognized expertise and talent will be invaluable in proposing new major series with worldwide appeal.”
Fabrice de la Patellière, who has held the position of head of drama at Canal Plus since 2002, will now move into production and partner with Studiocanal, under the direction of Anna Marsh, to develop ambitious French and international series, for both television and platforms.
In a statement, Canal Plus said it would like to thank De la Patellière for “his tremendous contribution to the numerous successes” of Création Originale, which he launched over 15 years ago with Arielle Saracco.
Bibas will report to Gérald-Brice Viret, managing director, French TV Channels and Programs at Canal Plus Group, who said Bibas’ “vision, recognized expertise and talent will be invaluable in proposing new major series with worldwide appeal.”
Fabrice de la Patellière, who has held the position of head of drama at Canal Plus since 2002, will now move into production and partner with Studiocanal, under the direction of Anna Marsh, to develop ambitious French and international series, for both television and platforms.
In a statement, Canal Plus said it would like to thank De la Patellière for “his tremendous contribution to the numerous successes” of Création Originale, which he launched over 15 years ago with Arielle Saracco.
- 1/20/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
French soccer player-turned-actor Eric Cantona (“Looking for Eric”) is set to star in “Giant With Feet of Clay” (“Le Colosse aux pieds d’argile”), a television drama about sexual harassement and abuse in sports.
The movie is about to start shooting in Southwestern France with French director Stéphanie Murat; and is being produced by Sydney Gallonde’s Make It Happen Studio and Tetra Media Studio (“Paris Police 1900”).
Aude Marcle penned the script which is loosely based on the true story of Sébastien Boueilh, who penned the book “Le Colosse aux pieds d’argile” with Thierry Vildary. The timely movie has been commissioned by French TV network TF1 which is also co-producing.
Cantona as Sébastien, a successful former rugbyman who was raped by someone close to his parents for four years when he was a teenage athlete and has been unable to tell anyone what happened to him. Torn by...
The movie is about to start shooting in Southwestern France with French director Stéphanie Murat; and is being produced by Sydney Gallonde’s Make It Happen Studio and Tetra Media Studio (“Paris Police 1900”).
Aude Marcle penned the script which is loosely based on the true story of Sébastien Boueilh, who penned the book “Le Colosse aux pieds d’argile” with Thierry Vildary. The timely movie has been commissioned by French TV network TF1 which is also co-producing.
Cantona as Sébastien, a successful former rugbyman who was raped by someone close to his parents for four years when he was a teenage athlete and has been unable to tell anyone what happened to him. Torn by...
- 10/18/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Colcoa, the L.A.-based French film and series festival, has unveiled the television section of its upcoming 25th anniversary edition.
“In Treatment,” Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s French adaptation of the original Israeli series “BeTipul”; Julie Delpy’s series debut “On The Verge”; and “Germinal,” the 19th century-set ambitious period series adapted from Emile Zola’s masterpiece created by Julien Lilti (“Hippocrate”) are among the nine TV titles set to have their North American premiere at Colcoa.
The other series set to compete at Colcoa include “High Intellectual Potential” starring Audrey Fleurot (“Spiral”) as an intractable cleaning lady-turned-ace detective and “Nona and her Daughters,” co-written and directed by Valerie Donzelli (“Declaration of War”).
Set to take place Nov. 1-7 at the DGA, the festival will showcase 12 programs, including seven series, four TV movies and one documentary. The section is being backed by Titrafilm and has enlisted some of France’s top companies,...
“In Treatment,” Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s French adaptation of the original Israeli series “BeTipul”; Julie Delpy’s series debut “On The Verge”; and “Germinal,” the 19th century-set ambitious period series adapted from Emile Zola’s masterpiece created by Julien Lilti (“Hippocrate”) are among the nine TV titles set to have their North American premiere at Colcoa.
The other series set to compete at Colcoa include “High Intellectual Potential” starring Audrey Fleurot (“Spiral”) as an intractable cleaning lady-turned-ace detective and “Nona and her Daughters,” co-written and directed by Valerie Donzelli (“Declaration of War”).
Set to take place Nov. 1-7 at the DGA, the festival will showcase 12 programs, including seven series, four TV movies and one documentary. The section is being backed by Titrafilm and has enlisted some of France’s top companies,...
- 9/24/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Academy Award nominee Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”) is set to star in Studiocanal’s ”The Monster of Florence,” a six-hour limited series based on The New York Times bestseller “The Monster Of Florence: A True Story” by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi.
“The Monster of Florence” relates the extraordinary real life investigation carried out by American fiction writer Preston and Italian crime reporter Spezi into what Studiocanal describes as “one of the most riveting and notorious serial murder cases in European history. Banderas will play Spezi.
Denmark’s Nikolaj Arcel, Academy Award nominated for “A Royal Affair,” will direct from scripts written by Arcel and Anders Thomas Jensen, who penned the screenplay for Susanne Bier’s Oscar winner “In a Better World.” Arcel also co-wrote the original “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” starring Noomi Rapace. Banderas and Emanuel Nuñez will serve as executive producers.
Delivering an original twist...
“The Monster of Florence” relates the extraordinary real life investigation carried out by American fiction writer Preston and Italian crime reporter Spezi into what Studiocanal describes as “one of the most riveting and notorious serial murder cases in European history. Banderas will play Spezi.
Denmark’s Nikolaj Arcel, Academy Award nominated for “A Royal Affair,” will direct from scripts written by Arcel and Anders Thomas Jensen, who penned the screenplay for Susanne Bier’s Oscar winner “In a Better World.” Arcel also co-wrote the original “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” starring Noomi Rapace. Banderas and Emanuel Nuñez will serve as executive producers.
Delivering an original twist...
- 6/28/2021
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
In a pioneering alliance, Starzplay is partnering with Studiocanal, Europe’s leading film-tv production-distribution-sales company, on Starzplay’s first French co-production, the series “All Those Things We Never Said.”
Adapting the bestselling novel of the same title by Marc Levy, France’s most-read living author, the comedy-drama series is commissioned by Starzplay and Studiocanal parent, Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group — Europe’s second-biggest pay TV/SVOD operator.
Written by Levy, who will also showrun, the 10-part half-hour series has just initiated principal photography, starring Jean Reno and Alexandra Maria Lara. Studiocanal will handle international sales outside Starzplay and Cpg’s extensive distribution footprints.
Levy’s original novel was published in 2008. Described by Studiocanal, Starzplay and Cpg as “a bittersweet comedy with soul” and “wryly fun,” it taps into human relations — a reconnection with a father and a lost first love; a second chance at life — which carries new meaning as...
Adapting the bestselling novel of the same title by Marc Levy, France’s most-read living author, the comedy-drama series is commissioned by Starzplay and Studiocanal parent, Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group — Europe’s second-biggest pay TV/SVOD operator.
Written by Levy, who will also showrun, the 10-part half-hour series has just initiated principal photography, starring Jean Reno and Alexandra Maria Lara. Studiocanal will handle international sales outside Starzplay and Cpg’s extensive distribution footprints.
Levy’s original novel was published in 2008. Described by Studiocanal, Starzplay and Cpg as “a bittersweet comedy with soul” and “wryly fun,” it taps into human relations — a reconnection with a father and a lost first love; a second chance at life — which carries new meaning as...
- 5/19/2021
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
ITV Studios is growing its sizeable global footprint with a new Spanish scripted production company that extends one of the super-indie’s most recognizable banners.
Leading Italian producer Cattleya, the makers of “Gomorrah,” “Suburra” and “ZeroZeroZero,” will expand into Spain with Cattleya Producciones. Led by former Netflix executive Arturo Díaz — in a rare instance of streaming talent rejoining the production ranks — the company will specialize in high-end drama for Spain and the global market.
Díaz, who will serve as managing director, was recently director of original content at Netflix, overseeing series in Spain and Latin America, and based out of Los Angeles for five years. His executive producer credits include the smash hit “Las Chicas de Cable,” the streamer’s longest-running non-u.S. series. He also oversaw the development of “Elite” and the recent “Rebelde” reboot.
Cattleya Producciones will be overseen by Cattleya founder and co-ceo Riccardo Tozzi alongside co-CEOs Giovanni Stabilini and Marco Chimenz,...
Leading Italian producer Cattleya, the makers of “Gomorrah,” “Suburra” and “ZeroZeroZero,” will expand into Spain with Cattleya Producciones. Led by former Netflix executive Arturo Díaz — in a rare instance of streaming talent rejoining the production ranks — the company will specialize in high-end drama for Spain and the global market.
Díaz, who will serve as managing director, was recently director of original content at Netflix, overseeing series in Spain and Latin America, and based out of Los Angeles for five years. His executive producer credits include the smash hit “Las Chicas de Cable,” the streamer’s longest-running non-u.S. series. He also oversaw the development of “Elite” and the recent “Rebelde” reboot.
Cattleya Producciones will be overseen by Cattleya founder and co-ceo Riccardo Tozzi alongside co-CEOs Giovanni Stabilini and Marco Chimenz,...
- 4/28/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Jean-Benoît Ugeux and Jean-Jacques Rausin star in the young Belgian filmmaker’s feature debut. On Monday begins the shoot for Ronald Krump, the feature debut from young director Cédric Bourgeois, starring Jean-Benoît Ugeux and Jean-Jacques Rausin in the leading roles. Frank, a former porn star known under the name Ronald Krump, sees his daughter Sophie kidnapped, with a hefty ransom to pay. Helpless, he turns to his friend Bobby for help. The two friends embark on a crazy journey to save Sophie. Cédric Bourgeois was noticed a few years ago with the short film You’re Lost Little Girl (2017), and with the documentary Dreamcatchers (2014), co-directed with Belgian filmmaker Xavier Seron (Death by Death). The latter in fact collaborated on the script for Ronald Krump, which Cédric Bourgeois wrote with actor and director Jean-Benoît Ugeux, seen recently in Fishlove and the series Paris Police 1900, and whose latest short film, La.
International sales agent Be For Films has given Variety exclusive access to the international trailer for Andreas Fontana’s first feature “Azor,” selected for this year’s Encounters section at the Berlin International Film Festival. Set among the world of international banking in the 1980’s, Fontana describes his debut as being “like a film about conquistadors.”
The film uses French, Spanish and English dialogue to tell the trans-Atlantic story of Yvan De Wiel, a private banker from Geneva. Yvan visits Argentina during the Junta dictatorship to replace his partner, who mysteriously disappeared one night leaving few clues behind. As he maneuvers among Argentina’s elite, offering rich shots of ballrooms, posh hotels, massive gardens and swanky lounges, the banker plays a dangerous political game of modern capitalist colonization.
In the trailer, we get a taste of the conquistador attitude Fontana refers to as Yvan uses the arrival of Hernan Cortes...
The film uses French, Spanish and English dialogue to tell the trans-Atlantic story of Yvan De Wiel, a private banker from Geneva. Yvan visits Argentina during the Junta dictatorship to replace his partner, who mysteriously disappeared one night leaving few clues behind. As he maneuvers among Argentina’s elite, offering rich shots of ballrooms, posh hotels, massive gardens and swanky lounges, the banker plays a dangerous political game of modern capitalist colonization.
In the trailer, we get a taste of the conquistador attitude Fontana refers to as Yvan uses the arrival of Hernan Cortes...
- 2/26/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
2021’s totally online NATPE Virtual Miami is just but half over. Some inkling of how it might shape out, however, is fast falling into place.
Basically, streaming stole the show. Yes, Fox did announce during NATPE that the Jay Leno-hosted “You Bet Your Life” reboot, bowing this fall, has sold in 85% of the U.S. Yet a once annual launchpad for shows seeking U.S. syndication was dominated this time round by the seismic pivot of Hollywood’s majors and other players into global VOD platforms, and the impact of this tectonic shunt on the industry at large.
Dominating NATPE-related business announcements and online panel discussions, that impact is inevitable.
But it didn’t always play out in the most obvious fashion.
Following, six – somewhat provisional – takeaways from this year’s NATPE Miami, focused on its international business:
The Big Swings
During NATPE, Paramount Plus set a March 4 launch date for the U.
Basically, streaming stole the show. Yes, Fox did announce during NATPE that the Jay Leno-hosted “You Bet Your Life” reboot, bowing this fall, has sold in 85% of the U.S. Yet a once annual launchpad for shows seeking U.S. syndication was dominated this time round by the seismic pivot of Hollywood’s majors and other players into global VOD platforms, and the impact of this tectonic shunt on the industry at large.
Dominating NATPE-related business announcements and online panel discussions, that impact is inevitable.
But it didn’t always play out in the most obvious fashion.
Following, six – somewhat provisional – takeaways from this year’s NATPE Miami, focused on its international business:
The Big Swings
During NATPE, Paramount Plus set a March 4 launch date for the U.
- 1/25/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Was France’s Belle Epoque really so belle?
A high-end, crafted slice of 1899 Parisian Noir unspooling as the capital seethes with anti-Semitism, violence, riots, conspiracy and the customary women’s subjugation of the age, Canal Plus Création Originale “Paris Police 1900” offers a different take to painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
The past, moreover, is no foreign country. In its bracing violence, gritty street settings, scenes of torrid racism – courtesy of France’s real-life Anti-Semitic League, and multiple iterations of gender abuse – the period serial killer thriller delivers a vision of Belle Epoque Noir which reverberates down to the modern day.
Created and written by France’s Fabien Nury, a celebrated graphic novelist the eight-part series offers a candid take on a tumultuous time. “Paris Police 1900” kicks off with true scandal: Felix Faure, president of the French Republic, collapsing and dying after being intimately pleasured by his lover Meg Steinheil.
As...
A high-end, crafted slice of 1899 Parisian Noir unspooling as the capital seethes with anti-Semitism, violence, riots, conspiracy and the customary women’s subjugation of the age, Canal Plus Création Originale “Paris Police 1900” offers a different take to painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
The past, moreover, is no foreign country. In its bracing violence, gritty street settings, scenes of torrid racism – courtesy of France’s real-life Anti-Semitic League, and multiple iterations of gender abuse – the period serial killer thriller delivers a vision of Belle Epoque Noir which reverberates down to the modern day.
Created and written by France’s Fabien Nury, a celebrated graphic novelist the eight-part series offers a candid take on a tumultuous time. “Paris Police 1900” kicks off with true scandal: Felix Faure, president of the French Republic, collapsing and dying after being intimately pleasured by his lover Meg Steinheil.
As...
- 1/19/2021
- by John Hopewell and Emiliano Granada
- Variety Film + TV
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