News

Appointments

Sweden-based Embracer Group, the new owners of Middle Earth Enterprises – the holding company that owns “The Lord of the Rings” among other J.R.R. Tolkien titles – has appointed Careen Yapp to the newly created position of chief strategic partnerships officer. Yapp will serve as part of the group executive management team that also includes Lars Wingefors, CEO, Johan Ekström, CFO and deputy CEO and Ian Gulam, chief of staff, legal and governance.

Yapp will be responsible for aligning strategic group partnership objectives with each operative group to drive group-wide results and work together with the executive management team and the operative groups to shape group partnerships, lead business development at group level as well as drive business synergies and collaborations across the group.

Yapp joins Embracer Group from Google Stadia where she led the strategic direction and pursuit of global content partnerships for Stadia and entry point partnerships for Immersive Stream for Games.

Lionsgate’s local-language film consortium GlobalGate Entertainment has added Japan’s Rakuten to its worldwide team of production and distribution partners.

“We will acquire the adaptation and remake rights to IPs with high global value and recognition and work with talented creators in Japan to create world-class content. We will also leverage the Rakuten Ecosystem to distribute the newly created content around the world, sharing it with as many fans as possible,” said Ando Koji, Rakuten Group managing executive officer and communications and energy company senior VP. “We hope that this production process creates opportunities for Japanese creators to go global, while also providing opportunities for a diversity of creators and artists to collaborate.”

Globalgate’s other consortium partners include Lionsgate (U.S./U.K./Canada), Televisa (Latin America), TF1 (France), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Lotte (Korea), Tobis (Germany), Rai (Italy), Tme (Turkey), Belga Films, Paris Filmes (Brazil), CineColombia/Dynamo (Colombia), Falcon...

Upcoming releases from Globalgate partnerships include Hunting Season from Germany, Miss Granny from Mexico.

US-based Globalgate Entertainment has struck a deal with the Ratuken group and added the Japanese e-commerce and internet services company to its global network of producers and distributors.

Ratuken is ramping up its entertainment content creation, marketing and distribution businesses and will work with Globalgate to source co-financing opportunities.

Globalgate’s slate of films and digital/TV series includes Dhamaka from India and Mexico’s Sin Hijos and upcoming releases Hunting Season aka Jagdsaison from Germany, Miss Granny from Mexico and remake No Kids in South Korea.

Funding

“The Crown” stars Olivia Colman and Lesley Manville are among a host of British creative industries personalities calling for a levy on gadgets, the proceeds of which would to towards supporting the U.K. creative sector.

“As a coalition of creators and performers we support the Smart Fund, a new scheme that could help to bring cultural and economic renewal to the whole of the U.K. The fund could generate £250-£300 [$346-415] million a year for the creative sector, and boost a wider U.K. economic recovery, by placing a small levy on the sale of devices that enable people to store and download creative content, such as mobile phones, laptops and personal computers. This would provide a direct way for tech companies to invest in culture,” the artists wrote in a letter to U.K. newspaper The Times on Tuesday.

“In 2019 the creative industries contributed £111.7 billion to the...

Big Brother and The Voice creator John De Mol’s Talpa has signed a joint-venture partnership with Satisfaction Group, the French production group backed by Sony Pictures Television.

Under the pact, Satisfaction will have exclusive rights to sell and produce all Talpa formats, including Marble Mania (broadcast on TF1 last week), Avastars, Hunting Season, A Quiz For You, Hit The Road, and Kids Buy A House….

Satisfaction is run by Arthur Essebag under parent Arthur World Participation Group and makes daily shows for France’s six main networks.

De Mol said: “It has always been a pleasure to work with a professional like Arthur, he is the best partner in France to join. I am confident that the expertise they have in the French market will help us grow internationally.”

Essebag added: “Talpa is constantly developing up-to-date and innovative formats in many different genres attracting vast audiences. Together we expect...

Leading German production banner Augenschein Filmproduktion, is launching an in-house worldwide sales and financing division that will be spearheaded by former Telepool executive Jonathan Saubach (pictured).

The new division will be called Augenschein Sales and will focus on financing the company’s production slate through access to equity, market pre-sales and film funds in order to retain creative and financial control over projects.

In this new role, Saubach will report to Augenschein Filmproduktion founders Maximilian Leo and Jonas Katzenstein, and will be in charge of financing, packaging and worldwide sales of its film titles. He will also serve as an executive producer on Augenschein’s upcoming productions.

Saubach previously held senior sales, acquisitions and content executive roles for Telepool Gmbh, the German licensing, production and distribution company owned by actor Will Smith and Swiss investor Elysian Fields.

Augenschein Filmproduktion specializes in director-driven movies with global appeal and boasts more than...

Despite the wide Hollywood shutdown, some filmmakers are scheduling enough projects to keep themselves busy for years and years to come. One of them, who seems to be announcing more projects during the quarantine than before it, is James Wan.

Read More: ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ Director Gary Dauberman To Direct James Wan-Produced Adaptation Of Stephen King’s Vampire Tale ‘Salem’s Lot’

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wan will team up with “John Wick” writer, Derek Kolstad to adapt the time travel story “Hunting Season,” written by Frank M.

Continue reading James Wan Teaming With ‘John Wick’ Writer Derek Kolstad For Sci-Fi Time Travel Movie ‘Hunting Season’ at The Playlist.

“Aquaman” director James Wan is set to produce “Hunting Season,” a time travel thriller from “John Wick” franchise writer Derek Kolstad, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

Based on a short story by Frank M. Robinson, “Hunting Season” depitcs a militaristic society in which criminals sentenced to death are sent back in time and hunted by a posse of aristocrats. But while the punishment is usually reserved for members of a lower class, the whole system starts to unravel when a member of the aristocrat class is sent back in time to America in the mid-20th century.

Kolstad will write the screenplay, and Wan will produce with his Atomic Monster partner Michael Clear, as well as “Transformers” producer Don Murphy. Murphy will produce along with his partner Susan Monford through their Angry Films banner.

Also Read: James Wan Developing Horror Monster Movie For Universal

Peter Luo is executive producing “Hunting Season,...

James Wan is prepping a film adaptation to Frank M. Robinson’s time travel story, Hunting Season, with Transformers producer Don Murphy and John Wick franchise writer Derek Kolstad on board to script.

The story follows a law officer who is sent back to the past where, deemed an enemy of the state and is facing execution, must acclimate in order to survive.

More from DeadlineStephen King's 'Salem's Lot' To Be Directed By Gary DaubermanDemented Doll Delivers As 'Annabelle Comes Home' Hits No. 23 In Deadline's 2019 Most Valuable Blockbuster TournamentJames Wan To Produce Monster Movie At Universal

Starlight and Star Plus are financing the project, which Wan and Michael Clear will produce via Atomic Monster with Murphy and Susan Monford of Angry Films. Exec producers are Peter Luo and Atomic’s Judson Scott. Cory Kaplan will oversee production on behalf of Angry.

James Wan, John Wick writer Derek Kolstad, and Transformers producer Don Murphy are combining their talents for Hunting Season, a new time travel movie based on a short story by late author Frank M. Robinson. The story is reminiscent of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, in that it’s set in a totalitarian society. Robinson’s short story was originally published in 1951. THR has the news […]

The post ‘Hunting Season’: James Wan and ‘John Wick’ Writer Derek Kolstad Are Making a Time Travel Movie appeared first on /Film.

James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Conjuring horror universe and Aquaman, and Transformers producer Don Murphy have teamed to adapt Hunting Season, a sci-fi time-travel tale by Frank M. Robinson.

Derek Kolstad, the writer behind the John Wick franchise, is set to write the script for the adaptation, which has Starlight and Star Plus on board to finance.

Wan is producing with his Atomic Monster partner Michael Clear, while Murphy is producing with partner Susan Montford via their Angry Films banner.

Robinson was one of the figures to come out of the mid-20th century sci-fi short story scene, penning techno-thrillers for various pulp publications. His thriller ...

James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Conjuring horror universe and Aquaman, and Transformers producer Don Murphy have teamed to adapt Hunting Season, a sci-fi time-travel tale by Frank M. Robinson.

Derek Kolstad, the writer behind the John Wick franchise, is set to write the script for the adaptation, which has Starlight and Star Plus on board to finance.

Wan is producing with his Atomic Monster partner Michael Clear, while Murphy is producing with partner Susan Montford via their Angry Films banner.

Robinson was one of the figures to come out of the mid-20th century sci-fi short story scene, penning techno-thrillers for various pulp publications. His thriller ...

GÖTEBORG, Sweden — Home to the most dynamic streaming markets in Western Europe, the Nordic region still posted solid box office returns in 2019, especially from Hollywood tentpoles “The Lion King,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “Joker,” which ruled on all top ten charts, except in Denmark. Local fare, however, lost ground in all five territories.

Denmark

Denmark enjoyed another strong cinemagoing year in 2019, with overall revenues up 4% to Nok 1.18 billion ($175.1 million). After a record 2018, when Danish films punched a 30% market share, home-grown titles still retained 26% of the market – above the 25% average of the last decade, according to the Danish Distributors’ Assn., Fafid.

Boosted by the local animated sensation “Checkered Ninja,” total admissions for local fare reached 3.5 million. Created by comedian-turned director Anders Matthesen, a late 2018 kid’s movie release, sailed to the top of the 2019 Danish box office, earning $8.2 million and accounting for 17.7% of all tickets sold for Danish pics. Three other Danish...

Six prizes awarded this year at CineMart closing night.

Argentinian director Natalia Garagiola’s Infanta, produced by Rei Cine, won the Eurimages Co-production Development Award, worth €20,000, at the Iffr Pro award ceremony at the International Film Festival Rotterdam on January 29, the closing night of co-production market CineMart (January 29).

The award Eurimages award is open to CineMart or BoostNL projects that are or will be a European co-production. Infanta is Garagiola’s second feature after 2017’s Hunting Season. The jury said: “[This] project promises to be an intense drama, with a starting point in real historical events.”

The Filmmore Post-production Award, presented...

Over thirty new shorts across three sold-out, big-screen showcases, and an entire weekend of horror and genre-themed fun – this year’s FrightFest was one of the biggest ever for short form content. From comedies to mood-pieces, stop-motion to flat-out slashers, it was a truly diverse bunch, covering a wide spectrum of filmmakers and countries of origin. Here’s the very best of them:

There’s an awful lot to love in Stefan Georgiou’s cockney-gothic chiller The Dead Ones – a clever spin on the ghost-world formula that I won’t spoil here. Packed out with four terrific performances and a tricky, brilliantly moody plot that more than earns its longer 20-minute run time.

Adele Vuko’s edgy Aussie comedy The Hitchhiker might sound a little genre bare-bones, running off its basic title and set-up – three best friends picking up a scary-looking hitcher while on a midnight drive to a music...

Stars: Eduardo Castrillo, Samantha Aper, Tony Todd, Clifton Powell, Miguel A.Nunez Jr, Willie Barcena, Mauricio Alonso, Jose Palacios | Written by Eduardo Castrillo, Jose Palacios | Directed by Eduardo Castrillo

Directed by and starring Eduardo Castrillo, Worth is a love letter to Muay Thai Kickboxing and tells of Ricky, a top contender in Muay Thai meets and falls in love with Danielle (Samantha Aper), a paralegal in the city. Together they embark a relationship dealing with his championship match and her big court case. Danielle gets into an accident putting her into a coma and now Ricky has to do whatever it takes in order to pay for medical care…

Ok, so that’s the official synopsis, but what is Worth really like? Well its essentially the same underdog story we’ve seen in a thousand sports films – from Rocky to Teen Wolf and even this films kickboxing compadre, Bloodsport. Only...

Who got signed, promoted, hired or fired? The Hollywood Reporter’s Rep Sheet rounds up the week in representation news. To submit announcements for consideration, contact rebecca.sun@thr.com.

All grown up

Jamie-Lynn Sigler has signed with Abrams in all areas. The former Meadow Soprano's most recent credits were in 2017 when she appeared in the features Gangster Land with Jason Patric and Peter Facinelli and in Justice opposite Stephen Lang. She is now in preproduction on Megan Freels Johnston's horror thriller Hunting Season. In 2016 Sigler revealed that she has multiple sclerosis and had been diagnosed 15 years earlier, ahead of The ...

Who got signed, promoted, hired or fired? The Hollywood Reporter’s Rep Sheet rounds up the week in representation news. To submit announcements for consideration, contact rebecca.sun@thr.com.

All grown up

Jamie-Lynn Sigler has signed with Abrams in all areas. The former Meadow Soprano's most recent credits were in 2017 when she appeared in the features Gangster Land with Jason Patric and Peter Facinelli and in Justice opposite Stephen Lang. She is now in preproduction on Megan Freels Johnston's horror thriller Hunting Season. In 2016 Sigler revealed that she has multiple sclerosis and had been diagnosed 15 years earlier, ahead of The ...

San Sebastian — Denmark’s Snowglobe is teaming with Argentina’s Rei Cine to produce writer-director Pablo Fendrik’s “Hermano Peligro” (Brother Danger).

Currently at first-draft screenplay, the title weighs is as one of the big potential crossover project propositions at this year’s San Sebastian Europe-Latin America Co-production Forum, which tales place Sunday Sept. 23.

The co-production also links two of the most prestigious and internationally energetic upscale film companies currently working in the Spanish-speaking world.

Headed by Benjamin Domenech, Santiago Gallelli, and Matías Roveda, Buenos Aires-based Rei Cine, “Hermano Peligro’s” lead producer, has over the last year produced Lucrecia Martel’s “Zama” and Natalia Garagiola’s “Hunting Season,” both 2017 Venice hits, then Sundance-selected “The Queen of Fear,” from Valeria Bertuccelli and Fabiana Tiscornia, and Gonzalo Tobal’s 2018 Venice competition player “The Accused.”

A Copenhagen-located co-producer of some of the highest-profile and boldest Latin American movies in the last two years – Carlos Reygadas’ “Our Time,...

Look At Me Films today has released the poster for its newest genre film Hunting Season, with Deanna Russo (The Ice Cream Truck, Being Human, Rest Stop) set to team up again with director Megan Freels Johnston (The Ice Cream Truck, Rebound), who also penned the screenplay.

Hunting Season is the chilling story of a single girl whose weekend getaway with her dashing new boyfriend at his family’s hunting lodge puts her directly in their crosshairs. When she goes dark, her roommate tracks her to the lion’s den – just in time for dinner.

The movie will be produced by Freels Johnston and YuMee Jang via their production company Look At Me Films. Production is set to begin later this year.

The Dread Central team loved director Megan Freels Johnston’s The Ice Cream Truck (trailer below) and so it excites us to pass along the news of Johnston’s next film. The flick is called Hunting Season and it will reunite Freels Johnston will The Ice Cream Truck star Deanna Russo. And today we have the film’s poster […]

The post Eye Popping Poster for Megan Freels Johnston’s New Film Hunting Season Revealed appeared first on Dread Central.

After a rough domestic start, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader saved some face with a solid overseas debut. Incumbent Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 came in second, while Tangled continued to assert its dominance over Megamind in the animated arena. Dawn Treader grossed $65.8 million for a total of $79.8 million, and opened in first place in all of its major territories. Its biggest market was Russia, where it had a series-best $10.9 million debut. It earned $7.1 million in Mexico and $5.3 million in South Korea, both of which were also highs for the Narnia franchise. All three openings included preview grosses.In other significant territories, though, Dawn Treader didn't fare so well compared to its predecessors. Its $6.3 million in France was similar to Prince Caspian's opening, but way off from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Things were even worse in the United Kingdom, where...

Arguably the most popular comedian in his native Turkey, writer-actor-director Cem Yilmaz has also achieved a certain amount of international recognition thanks to his blockbuster science fiction comedies Gora and Arog. On the surface Yilmaz plays like a sort of Turkish response to Mel Brooks, his humor big and broad and juvenile, but clearly he's got other goals in mind as well.

Yilmaz next appears in Av Mevsimi, a dark crime thriller due to hit Turkish screens in December. And when I say dark, I mean it. There's little humor here and Yilmaz is playing things entirely straight as a cop investigating a string of crimes. And, honestly, he's looking good doing it.

Seeing Yilmaz with a gun in hand and letting his physicality rather than his mouth carry the performance it's hard not to be reminded of Jean Reno - who, it should be remembered, also does a lot...