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In yet another move seemingly engineered to boost the visibility of the Critics Choice Awards and position it as an alternative to the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Association will introduce the World Movie Awards in 2022, which will be guided by a new branch of international members. The awards will celebrate the finest in non-English-language films.

Variety spoke with Joey Berlin, the CEO of the Critics Choice Association, who said this was a good time to reach out to those international journalists and critics who were excluded by the HFPA’s parochial entry requirements.

The Cca began enlisting members for its newly-formed international branch this spring, which Berlin said will serve as the bedrock for the World Movie Awards. Members of the international branch will also be eligible to vote for the other Critics Choice areas — TV, film and documentary.

The Critics Choice Awards will air on Jan. 9, the date...

The ever-expanding Critics Choice Association is now taking on the world. The group said Wednesday that it will introduce the World Movie Awards, designed to honor the finest in non-English-language films, beginning in 2022.

The Cca said this global expansion has been in the planning stages for several years and has gained fresh impetus thanks to the recent formation of an International branch of the organization, which began enlisting new members this spring.

With the current well-publicized troubles of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — including the cancellation by NBC of the 2022 Golden Globes — plus the globalization of the motion picture industry in general, the Cca has decided to strike while the iron is hot. Notably, it is offering a home to many legitimate international critics and journalists who have not been welcomed by the HFPA’s insular entry requirements (including the revelation of not having a single Black member), which that...

Gossip Girl alum Ed Westwick will star in Enemy Lines, a World War II action drama based on a 1943 true story that took place behind enemy lines into occupied Poland where an elite team of allied soldiers are sent to extract a rocket scientist from the hands of the Nazis. Anders Banke is directing the film, which is his first English-language feature. John Hannah (The Mummy), Tom Wisdom (300), Corey Johnson (Captain Phillips), Pawel Delag (Schindler’s List), Vladimir Epifantsev (Alive), and Kirill Pletnev (Viking) co-star. UK based producers Andy Thompson and Tom George are producing the pic along with Nadzeya Huselnikava.

Actor David Gyasi has been tapped to star in Wes Miller’s Hell on the Border, joining Ron Perlman and Frank Grillo in the biopic based on the true story of Bass Reeves (Gyasi), the first black Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. Curtis Nichouls,...

Warner Bros.’ tentpole “Aquaman” has taken in $152 million overseas in 36 markets, with $135 million of that from China, where it opened on Dec. 7.

The Jason Momoa vehicle has become the highest China grosser in the DC Universe and surpassed the lifetime grosses of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Black Panther” in the Middle Kingdom. Mexico debuted with $1.4 million on Thursday on 3,517 screens while Russia and Brazil each took in $1.3 million.

Indonesia has taken in $2.2 million in two days and the U.K. generated $1.8 million in two days of previews. Taiwan’s two-day total is $1.4 million and the Philippines generated $1.1 million. In the U.S., Amazon Prime is holding advance screenings of “Aquaman” on Dec. 15 amid expectations of a $65 million opening weekend in North America on Dec.

"We do not have scarcity, we have selfishness." Freestyle Digital Media has released an official trailer for a documentary titled simply We the People, made by French filmmaker Emmanuel Itier, examining and questioning global politics and economics. This hasn't played at many festivals, but it's getting a full VOD release next month, for anyone interested in watching. The film is described as a "worldwide exploration" of politics and economics, with the aim of inspiring us to reach towards a better world. "At the end if we create caring economies and politics maybe we can build a sustainable planet full of Peace, Justice and Love for everybody." This is more of a discussion doc with a lot of talking heads, including notable intellectuals like Robert Reich, Deepak Chopra, Sharon Stone, Michael Beckwith, and more. We must keep striving for peace. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Emmanuel Itier's documentary We the People,...

Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage is back again for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We will feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world, and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.

Isa's of the Day will be posted regularly during Cannes, but the buzz has already begun with the recent release of the festival lineup -- so expect to see Isa updates over the coming weeks.

The first Isa of the Day is Lise Romanoff, Managing Director and CEO of Worldwide Distribution at Vision Films. Based in Sherman Oaks, California, Vision Films is an independent Worldwide Sales Agent and VOD Aggregator of over 500 Feature Films, 500 Documentaries and 100 different Music Programs from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world.

In early 2013, Vision Films expanded into the world of domestic distribution with the creation of their own DVD/ VOD label, releasing films day-and-date on DVD and VOD through all cable and digital platforms such as Comcast, Directv, Dish, At&T, iTunes and Amazon, and retailers including RedBox, Walmart, Best Buy and Target. It is one of the few independent companies with a worldwide presence to also have a domestic division. Vision Films works directly with all its platforms and has no middlemen, releasing at least 2 - 3 titles on DVD and 3 - 4 titles on VOD every month.

Since opening their doors as a DVD/ VOD label, Vision Films has released an array of independent feature films including Hamlet And Hutch with Burt Reynolds; Wreckers, a coming-of-age story starring Benedict Cumberbatch; The Employer, an intense thriller starring Malcolm McDowell; Contract Killers is a non-stop martial arts action picture; and Sunset Strip, a music and pop culture documentary that chronicles Strip from its origins in the 1920s through today featuring Slash, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Dan Aykroyd, Keanu Reeves, Ozzy Osbourne, Hugh Hefner, and music from Jane’s Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins, and more.

The Vision Films catalog also has stories of global consciousness, including Comedy Warriors, a documentary where Zach Galifianakis, Lewis Black and Bob Saget help disabled soldiers heal through humor by teaching them stand-up comedy; Finding Happiness by Ted Nicholaou, a spiritual journey starring Elisabeth Röhm; Femme: Women Healing The World with Sharon Stone by Emmanuel Itier; and Shirin In Love, a romantic comedy starring Nazanin Boniadi by Ramin Niami about a quirky Iranian-American young woman who goes against tradition to follow her heart.

Lise Romanoff recently took the time to speak with SydneysBuzz:

What are buyers looking for?

2014 has been a vibrant year! Buyers are looking for product that can play across all channels of distribution: Theatrical, Home Video, VOD and Television. VOD has opened up a lot of doors for “niche” product because the Internet is the best way to find a specific fan base. We are offering star-studded feature films and top-notch documentaries that entertain and inspire. We attend all of the film markets, as well as the TV markets, and even the specialty territory-specific regional markets.

Where are the strongest markets?

U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Germany, France, Italy and Japan are the strongest countries, but for the most part, sales are evenly spread around the world.

How are sales going?

Sales are up about 30% this year, but we are working harder than ever. Many of the films that we started pre-selling last year are now completed.

What are your intentions for Cannes?

We're looking to sell the films we are bringing to Cannes, and we're looking to acquire new family, action and animated features.

What is your line-up for Cannes?

Vision Films’ Cannes line-up includes God Loves Caviar, the journey of Ioannis Varvakis from humble Greek pirate to international caviar millionaire with Catherine Deneuve and John Cleese; The Identical, earmarked for a wide screen theatrical release this fall in the U.S. stars Ashley Judd, Seth Green and Ray Liotta and introduces Blake Rayne as the identical twin of the biggest rock star in the world; As Dreamers Do, a bio pic about the early years of Mr. Walt Disney; 10 Things I Hate About You is the sequel to Gil Junger’s 10 Things I Hate About Life starring Evan Rachel Wood and Thomas McDonell; Fear Clinic with Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger) will bring a new meaning to phobias this fall; and Mantervention, a sexy comedy with Chloe Bridges, where Travis Van Winkle shows Nick Roux how to get over his ex and #ontothenext.

Why include globally conscious films in your catalog?

A lot of documentaries make you think. It's important to take a few minutes and look at the world around us. Documentaries traditionally don’t garner as much revenue as feature films, but it makes me feel very good to have them in our catalog. I also feel that if I have this type of product, I'll attract other companies that have the same mission to release films that give back to the world.

We'll always continue to sell good horror or action films, but selling films with good messages makes me very happy at this point in my career.

As far as distribution is concerned, VOD is a good type of niche for this programming. On the long-term view... as the Internet develops, and people have go-to sites for these types of films, it will work. We will be able to develop these channels, bring like-minded communities together, and generate more money for the filmmakers so they can continue to produce these kinds of films.

How did Vision Films start?

Founded in 1997 and based in Sherman Oaks, California, Vision Films started in the garage of it founder, and now has grown to become an independent Worldwide Distributor and VOD Aggregator of thousands of feature films, documentaries and music Programs. Vision Films manages all available rights from Theatrical, Video, Television and VOD/ Digital Media in both the International and domestic marketplaces. Vision works closely with producers to develop a special marketing plan as well as a strategy to license their film(s) to the right distributors around the world through relationships cultivated over nearly 24 years.

*Additional Information for Vision Films

Mission Statement

Vision Films’ mission is to provide top-notch independent feature films, documentaries and music programming that entertain, inspire, and informs audiences. Vision Films invests time and effort to keep on top of the latest cutting-edge technological innovations of the rapidly growing digital domain. We treat each release as special and unique. We respect our filmmakers and involve them in the release of their films, as today it’s all about reaching the core audience and we believe producers know how to do just that.

Principles

Lise Romanoff is the Managing Director/ CEO of Worldwide Distribution and has been in the feature film and television distribution business for more then 20 years. Lise specializes in North America (U.S. and Canada), U.K., France, Italy, Australia/ N.Z., and Africa markets, focuses on the company’s expansion into domestic DVD and Video On Demand (VOD) distribution. Lise also serves as a Chairperson/ Secretary to Ifta’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Adam Wright is the Executive Vice President/ International Sales and Acquisitions who specializes in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America markets. Adam was formerly President of Regent Worldwide Sales and a sales executive at Porchlight and Turner. Alexandra Sparer is a Sales Associate who specializes in Eastern and Central Europe including Russia, as well as Scandinavia, India, Turkey, Greece markets. Alex Saveliev is the Director of Domestic Distribution for Vision Films’ DVD/ VOD label. Nathan Ross is the Director of Servicing and Digital Operations.Jasmine Abrams is the Contracts Manager.Monique Green is the Director of Finance.Jennifer Schultz is the Sales and Marketing Coordinator.

Stuffed with straw, dressed in rags and left to twist in the breeze, the typical mild-mannered scarecrow may not be built to frighten anything larger than your average feathered pest... but that hasn't stopped these eerie effigies from coming to life in our nightmares. For generations, this image of the harvest has been associated with the darker, colder days to come, so it wasn't long before spooky tales were being spun about evil scarecrows wandering the fields, intent on reaping something more substantial than corn. Cinematic scarecrows have come a long way since the lovable Wizard of Oz character, but some of them might still be looking for a brain... maybe even the one that's still in your skull. Let's look at some of the all-time scariest movie scarecrows ever to stalk the fields by moonlight... “Bubba” (Dark Night of the Scarecrow, 1981) This chilling made-for-tv classic presents one of the...

Explosions! CGI effects work! Celebrities! A muscle-bound mummy looking to wreak havoc everywhere his feet happen to fall! Yes! It's another flick from The Asylum, and right now we have the official trailer for you for Attila! That's right, the friggin' hun!

Directed by Emmanuel Itier, Attila stars Cheick Kongo (Ufc Champion), Poncho Hodges ("True Blood"), Chris Conrad (Mortal Kombat: Annihilation), Todd Grant Kimsey (Planet of the Apes), Matt Krieger, Mikayla S. Campbell, Steve Hanks (#HoldYourBreath), Luke Barnett (Static) and M. Steven Felty (Headless Horseman). Sharknado director Anthony C. Ferrante and Itier penned the script.

Synopsis

When American soldiers inadvertently steal Attila the Hun's secret riches, the wrath of the barbarian is awakened; the mummified warrior will stop at nothing to kill the intruders.

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Find your hunny in the comments section below.

Despite the increasing prominence of women in high profile careers that were once exclusive to males, the crucial decision-making roles and large portion of political and legislative positions are still filled by men. Directed by Emmanuel Itier and produced by Sharon Stone, the documentary Femme:Women Healing the World examines the current conflicts and crisis humanity must face through a feminine perspective, one that is based on love and the nurturing instinct of women, and which could mean an alternative approach to a male-dominated world.

After a single sold-out theatrical screening on September 11 in Los Angeles, readers can now become Affiliates of Femme and make a 20% sales commission on all views of the film through their Facebook page and websites. Details are here: https://femmethemovie.com/become-an-affiliate/.

Four more theatrical screenings are coming up:

September 18 and 19 at The Global Peace Film Festival Orlando: http://globalpeace.festivalgenius.com/2013/films/femme0_emmanuelitier_globalpeace2013, September 21, 7:30pm at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose, Los Angeles,where The Humanitarian Award will be bestowed upon the film.September 29, 1:30pm at Aidikoof screening room, 150 S. Rodeo Drive for The Lady Filmmakers Festival: http://www.ladyfilmmakers.com/2013-sunday-schedule.html

Please invite all of your friends to support and watch Femme! and earn 20%! Together Let's Heal The World!

Featuring interviews with leading women from all walks of life, Femme deals with a wide range of issues from war, to global warming, to the share responsibility of both partners when raising a child. The list of celebrated women includes Gloria Steinem, Maria Bello, Shirin Ebadi, and Maria Conchita Alonso, among many others.

Itier wants to present femininity as a virtue rather than a weakness. It doesn’t pretend to be a feminist film that vilifies men, but rather one that empowers both women and men to join forces and learn from their differences and their common goals. As Evolutionary Biologist Elisabeth Sahtouris mentions “Any woman who knows how to run a household knows how to run a world”...

Battle Of The Damned

Anchor Bay has snapped up United States, Australian and New Zealand rights to Christopher Hatton's futuristic tale "Battle Of The Damned" from Compound B. Dolph Lundgren stars in the story of survivors of a test facility meltdown who are hunted by infected hordes and malfunctioning robots.

Big Bad Wolves

Magnet Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado's Israeli thriller "Big Bad Wolves" from Xyz Films. The story centers on a series of brutal murders that puts the lives of three men on a collision course — the father of the latest victim, a vigilante police detective and the main suspect in the killings.

Breath of the Gods

Alive Mind Cinema has picked up North American rights to Jan Schmidt-Garre’s documentary "Breath Of The Gods" which charts the origins of yoga.

A Case of You

IFC Films has acquired...

Vision Films, a worldwide distributor of independent films, has announced today that it has picked-up worldwide rights to the inspirational documentary Femme, which is directed by Emmanuel Itier (The Invocation, The Midnight Hour), and executive produced and narrated by Sharon Stone (Casino, Basic Instinct).

Femme features interviews with many internationally recognized speakers including Sharon Stone, Marianne Williamson, Gloria Steinem, Nobel Peace laureates Shirin Ebadi and Maired Maguire, Maria Bello, Angela Davis, Maria Conchita Alonso, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Mary Buffett, Rickie Lee Jones, Jean Houston and Dr. Sue Morter. The soundtrack of the film includes music and songs from well-known artists such as Annie Lennox, Yoko Ono and Rickie Lee Jones. Femme, which has played at numerous international film festivals, is currently available for worldwide release. Vision Films will be introducing the documentary for the first time at the upcoming Marché du Film in Cannes.

Femme is a Celebration of Women...

Vision Films has announced today that it has picked up worldwide rights to the inspirational documentary Femme , which is directed by Emmanuel Itier ( The Invocation , The Midnight Hour ), and is executive produced and narrated by Sharon Stone ( Casino , Basic Instinct ). Femme features interviews with many internationally-recognized speakers including Sharon Stone, Marianne Williamson, Gloria Steinem, Nobel Peace laureates Shirin Ebadi and Maired Maguire, Maria Bello, Angela Davis, Maria Conchita Alonso, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Mary Buffett, Rickie Lee Jones, Jean Houston and Dr. Sue Morter. The soundtrack of the film includes music and songs from well-known artists such as Annie Lennox, Yoko Ono and Rickie Lee Jones. Femme , which has played at numerous international film...

The 15th annual Palm Beach International Film Festival has declared its winners. After a week of screening films, the jury has named the winners for the Best Feature Film and other categories during the Closing Night Awards Ceremony.

The jury included docu-filmmakers Aaron Wells and Rob Davis, film producer Emmanuel Itier, and Frank Theaters COO Debbie Frank. They voted on Feature Films, while actress/filmmaker Meredith Scott Lynn judged the Short Films.

Scott Lynn said, "Every short deserves its own award for various reasons, so this decision was all the more difficult."

"However, the filmmaker used a device I've never seen in either short or long form where two real-life people tell a true story in voiceover, which serves as the narration for this fully-cast, beautifully directed visual. It made me cry in under 9 minutes."...

For his seventh collaboration with director Tim Burton, Hollywood legend Johnny Depp has buried his enviable good looks behind a layer of make-up, a huge ginger wig and an even bigger titfer to play The Mad Hatter in the upcoming Alice In Wonderland. Emmanuel Itier goes down the rabbit hole and talks to the star about adding a new back story to Lewis Carroll's character, his kids' love of Edward Scissorhands and his fruitful relationship with Burton...

So this is the seventh time you've worked with Tim Burton...

"I think so. Somewhere around there."

Tim Burton says that each time he works with you that you surprise him. Do you feel the same way?

"Yeah, each time out of the gate with Tim, the initial thing for me is to obviously come up with a character but then you start thinking that there's a certain amount of pressure where you go,...

Destiny Hope Cyrus was born on November 23, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee, and is far better known today as Miley Cyrus, pop music sensation, film and television star, and trend-setting teen idol. Her father is the country/pop singer Billy Ray Cyrus and her mother is Leticia Cyrus (called "Tish"), and she's one of six children from both Billy Ray and Leticia, and from her parents' prior relationships. Destiny, the story goes, smiled so much as a child that she earned the nickname Smiley. It eventually stuck...sort of. The "S" fell away and Smiley became Miley. Billy Ray Cyrus had exploded into the public consciousness with his 1992 crossover hit single "Achy Breaky Heart" and the album Some Gave All. His star started to fade soon after, but he continued to plug away and did some acting as well. By 2001, he was headling the popular Pax television show, Doc (TV), a medical...