The first Floodlight Summit will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in Cartagena, Colombia. The event, curated and organized by Philippa Kowarsky and Alesia Weston, is a one-of-a-kind pilot for a long-term alliance that seeks to connect investigative journalists and their reporting with the film and television industry.
The event has been established by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (Occrp) and the Gabo Foundation as part of both institutions’ public interest focus. It will attempt “to nurture a symbiotic relationship between investigative journalism and fiction filmmaking that will result in storytelling that entertains, educates, and inspires,” according to a press statement. “Investigative journalists can help adapt their extensive reporting about organized crime and corruption into new formats to reach more audiences while filmmakers can pull from a wealth of content and expertise across subjects to inform their projects.”
Writer-director Rodrigo García, Gabo Foundation board member and son of author Gabriel García Marquez,...
The event has been established by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (Occrp) and the Gabo Foundation as part of both institutions’ public interest focus. It will attempt “to nurture a symbiotic relationship between investigative journalism and fiction filmmaking that will result in storytelling that entertains, educates, and inspires,” according to a press statement. “Investigative journalists can help adapt their extensive reporting about organized crime and corruption into new formats to reach more audiences while filmmakers can pull from a wealth of content and expertise across subjects to inform their projects.”
Writer-director Rodrigo García, Gabo Foundation board member and son of author Gabriel García Marquez,...
- 11/27/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Investigative journalists specializing in crime and corruption reporting will pitch their stories to filmmakers and series at the first Floodlight Summit, which kicks off in Cartagena, Colombia, on Thursday, Nov. 30, and runs through Dec. 3.
Curated and organized by Oscar-nominated producer Philippa Kowarsky (The Gatekeepers, Sweet Mud) and Alesia Weston, the summit is set up as a pilot for a planned long-term alliance aimed at connecting international investigative journalists with the film and television industry.
Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant, The Big Short and Bombshell writer Charles Randolph, Slow Horses and The Americans producer Graham Yost, Toni Erdmann producer Janine Jakowski and No Man’s Land director Danis Tanovic are among the confirmed industry attendees.
The Floodlight summit brings together the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (Occrp) and the Gabo Foundation, set up by Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Marquez to promote quality journalism in South America.
“This is the kind...
Curated and organized by Oscar-nominated producer Philippa Kowarsky (The Gatekeepers, Sweet Mud) and Alesia Weston, the summit is set up as a pilot for a planned long-term alliance aimed at connecting international investigative journalists with the film and television industry.
Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant, The Big Short and Bombshell writer Charles Randolph, Slow Horses and The Americans producer Graham Yost, Toni Erdmann producer Janine Jakowski and No Man’s Land director Danis Tanovic are among the confirmed industry attendees.
The Floodlight summit brings together the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (Occrp) and the Gabo Foundation, set up by Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Marquez to promote quality journalism in South America.
“This is the kind...
- 11/27/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leading documentary sales agent Philippa Kowarsky – who handled Oscar nominees “The Act of Killing,” “Collective” and “Flee” – gave a masterclass at the Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival this week.
Kowarsky recently returned to Cinephil, the documentary sales company she founded, as executive chair, after a brief stint at BBC’s doc strand Storyville. Cinephil’s current lineup includes Oscar nominee “A House Made of Splinters.”
Cinephil’s previous experience on “Flee” helped pave the way for “A House Made of Splinters,” but obstacles emerged she said. “The film had won best directing at Sundance and no one wanted it. We’ve been everywhere with this film – no one wanted it, or there were distributors that wanted it for deals that were so unattractive, we weren’t going to do it. But we had more and more festivals and we were winning more and more awards around the globe, and nothing in America.
Kowarsky recently returned to Cinephil, the documentary sales company she founded, as executive chair, after a brief stint at BBC’s doc strand Storyville. Cinephil’s current lineup includes Oscar nominee “A House Made of Splinters.”
Cinephil’s previous experience on “Flee” helped pave the way for “A House Made of Splinters,” but obstacles emerged she said. “The film had won best directing at Sundance and no one wanted it. We’ve been everywhere with this film – no one wanted it, or there were distributors that wanted it for deals that were so unattractive, we weren’t going to do it. But we had more and more festivals and we were winning more and more awards around the globe, and nothing in America.
- 3/11/2023
- by Tara Karajica
- Variety Film + TV
As the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival reaches the quarter-century mark this year, the festival’s industry arm, Agora, will host a range of events and initiatives looking to bolster documentary production and distribution in both the host country and the wider region.
Headlining the industry program is the Agora’s co-production and co-financing forum, which takes place March 6 and will present 14 projects in development by documentary filmmakers from Southeastern Europe, the Middle East and the Black Sea region. Another highlight, Agora Docs in Progress, showcases 11 films nearing completion and ready to hit the festival circuit this year.
The success of those two programs is evident in the selection at this year’s festival: Fifteen documentaries that have been supported in previous editions of the Agora will celebrate world, international or European premieres in the competition sections or Open Horizons section, including Agora Docs in Progress alumni “Narrow Path to Happiness” (pictured), by Kata Oláh,...
Headlining the industry program is the Agora’s co-production and co-financing forum, which takes place March 6 and will present 14 projects in development by documentary filmmakers from Southeastern Europe, the Middle East and the Black Sea region. Another highlight, Agora Docs in Progress, showcases 11 films nearing completion and ready to hit the festival circuit this year.
The success of those two programs is evident in the selection at this year’s festival: Fifteen documentaries that have been supported in previous editions of the Agora will celebrate world, international or European premieres in the competition sections or Open Horizons section, including Agora Docs in Progress alumni “Narrow Path to Happiness” (pictured), by Kata Oláh,...
- 2/28/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Giant Pictures today announced it has acquired U.S. theatrical and VOD rights to the Oscar-nominated documentary feature A House Made of Splinters, a film that until very recently lacked any American distribution.
Giant plans to release Simon Lereng Wilmont’s film, which focuses on children living in a Ukrainian shelter, on digital platforms on February 21, including Apple TV and Prime Video. It will be released on the big screen at select Alamo Drafthouse theaters beginning in March. In a separate announcement last month, the PBS documentary series Pov picked up broadcast rights for the film, with plans to premiere it over the summer as part of the program’s 36th season.
Wilmont (The Distant Barking of Dogs) shot A House Made of Splinters in Eastern Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion a year ago. The region for years had been roiled by a Russian-backed separatist movement, placing enormous stress on Ukrainian civilians,...
Giant plans to release Simon Lereng Wilmont’s film, which focuses on children living in a Ukrainian shelter, on digital platforms on February 21, including Apple TV and Prime Video. It will be released on the big screen at select Alamo Drafthouse theaters beginning in March. In a separate announcement last month, the PBS documentary series Pov picked up broadcast rights for the film, with plans to premiere it over the summer as part of the program’s 36th season.
Wilmont (The Distant Barking of Dogs) shot A House Made of Splinters in Eastern Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion a year ago. The region for years had been roiled by a Russian-backed separatist movement, placing enormous stress on Ukrainian civilians,...
- 2/14/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Hindley was appointed as interim lead in August of last year.
Emma Hindley has been confirmed as lead commissioner for the BBC’s international docs strand Storyville, having been appointed interim lead in August of last year.
Hindley left her position as creative director at UK TV and radio production company Brook Lapping after five years to take on the role on an acting basis, replacing Philippa Kowarsky who stepped down abruptly after less than a year in post.
Bafta TV-winning executive Hindley has worked in documentaries for 25 years as a film editor, director, and executive producer. Her credits include...
Emma Hindley has been confirmed as lead commissioner for the BBC’s international docs strand Storyville, having been appointed interim lead in August of last year.
Hindley left her position as creative director at UK TV and radio production company Brook Lapping after five years to take on the role on an acting basis, replacing Philippa Kowarsky who stepped down abruptly after less than a year in post.
Bafta TV-winning executive Hindley has worked in documentaries for 25 years as a film editor, director, and executive producer. Her credits include...
- 1/18/2023
- by Ellie Kahn Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
BBC’s documentary showcase strand Storyville has appointed Emma Hindley as lead commissioning editor, the broadcaster confirmed today.
Hindley, who has been acting in the role since September, will report to director of unscripted Kate Phillips. She replaces Philippa Kowarsky, who stepped down in August.
Hindley moves over from independent production company Brook Lapping, where she has spent five years as creative director. Her career, which spans 25 years, also includes film editing, directing and executive producing. She has worked on productions ranging from history to arts to drama documentaries and her work, which includes “Suffragettes,” “David Harewood: Psychosis and Me” and “Tom Daly: Illegal To Be Me,” has been nominated – and won – BAFTAs as well as Rts and Grierson awards.
“I have always been a huge Storyville fan and the four months I have spent as interim lead commissioning editor have made me even more excited and passionate about its importance and potential,...
Hindley, who has been acting in the role since September, will report to director of unscripted Kate Phillips. She replaces Philippa Kowarsky, who stepped down in August.
Hindley moves over from independent production company Brook Lapping, where she has spent five years as creative director. Her career, which spans 25 years, also includes film editing, directing and executive producing. She has worked on productions ranging from history to arts to drama documentaries and her work, which includes “Suffragettes,” “David Harewood: Psychosis and Me” and “Tom Daly: Illegal To Be Me,” has been nominated – and won – BAFTAs as well as Rts and Grierson awards.
“I have always been a huge Storyville fan and the four months I have spent as interim lead commissioning editor have made me even more excited and passionate about its importance and potential,...
- 1/18/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Storyville has appointed Emma Hindley as its Lead Commissioning Editor.
The world-renowned doc strand has been looked after temporarily by Hindley since September, when previous incumbent Philippa Kowarsky departed. Hindley will report to BBC Unscripted Director Kate Phillips.
Storyville, which has recently aired docs including One Day in Ukraine, Afghan film And Still I Sing and A Bunch of Amateurs, works with filmmakers around the world and co-produces many of its offerings with other public broadcasters.
Hindley is a former Brook Lapping Creative Director who has been nominated for a clutch of awards and worked on the likes of Suffragettes with Lucy Worsley, Tom Daley: Illegal to be Me and David Harewood: Psychosis and Me, all for the BBC.
“Emma has a proven track record of delivering award-winning, high impact films both domestically and internationally and I’m delighted that she has accepted this role,” said Phillips. “She...
The world-renowned doc strand has been looked after temporarily by Hindley since September, when previous incumbent Philippa Kowarsky departed. Hindley will report to BBC Unscripted Director Kate Phillips.
Storyville, which has recently aired docs including One Day in Ukraine, Afghan film And Still I Sing and A Bunch of Amateurs, works with filmmakers around the world and co-produces many of its offerings with other public broadcasters.
Hindley is a former Brook Lapping Creative Director who has been nominated for a clutch of awards and worked on the likes of Suffragettes with Lucy Worsley, Tom Daley: Illegal to be Me and David Harewood: Psychosis and Me, all for the BBC.
“Emma has a proven track record of delivering award-winning, high impact films both domestically and internationally and I’m delighted that she has accepted this role,” said Phillips. “She...
- 1/18/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The film explores the young queer generation of Colombia.
German director Theo Montoya’s documentary Anhell69 has won the €10,000 Golden Dove prize of the international competition of the Dok Leipzig documentary and animation film festival in Germany.
Austria’s Square Eyes is handling international sales on the film.
The festival took place from October 17-23 in Germany.
Inspired by the director’s own past, Anhell69 explores the young queer generation of Colombia and the violence of the city they reside in. It is a co-production between Colombia, Romania, France and Germany.
The film had its world premiere in Venice’s...
German director Theo Montoya’s documentary Anhell69 has won the €10,000 Golden Dove prize of the international competition of the Dok Leipzig documentary and animation film festival in Germany.
Austria’s Square Eyes is handling international sales on the film.
The festival took place from October 17-23 in Germany.
Inspired by the director’s own past, Anhell69 explores the young queer generation of Colombia and the violence of the city they reside in. It is a co-production between Colombia, Romania, France and Germany.
The film had its world premiere in Venice’s...
- 10/24/2022
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Philippa Kowarsky to ”pursue other ventures outside of the BBC”.
Philippa Kowarsky has stepped down as commissioning editor of BBC Storyville, the UK broadcaster’s documentary brand, after less than a year in the role.
Kowarsky, who joined from international sales and advisory firm Cinephil in October, has departed ”to pursue other ventures outside of the BBC”.
Newly-appointed BBC Film director Eva Yates becomes the interim lead for the factual strand.
In an internal note to BBC staff, Yates said: “I would like to personally thank Philippa for her contribution to the success of Storyville over the past year, during...
Philippa Kowarsky has stepped down as commissioning editor of BBC Storyville, the UK broadcaster’s documentary brand, after less than a year in the role.
Kowarsky, who joined from international sales and advisory firm Cinephil in October, has departed ”to pursue other ventures outside of the BBC”.
Newly-appointed BBC Film director Eva Yates becomes the interim lead for the factual strand.
In an internal note to BBC staff, Yates said: “I would like to personally thank Philippa for her contribution to the success of Storyville over the past year, during...
- 8/4/2022
- by Alex Farber Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Philippa Kowarsky is leaving her role as Commissioning Editor of BBC’s Storyville documentary strand after a year in post.
In an internal post, BBC Films Director Eva Yates told colleagues Kowarsky would be “leaving the team to pursue other ventures outside of the BBC.
“I would like to personally thank Philippa for her contribution to the success of Storyville over the past year, during which time she has built a rich and varied slate of films. I wish her all the best for her future plans.”
Kowarsky’s commissions while at the BBC included The Earth is as Blue as an Orange, which followed a Ukrainian family living under siege in 1997.
Yates said she would update “soon on next steps for Storyville.” She is taking on oversight and commissioning duties for Storyville in the interim.
Kowarsky has joined from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded...
In an internal post, BBC Films Director Eva Yates told colleagues Kowarsky would be “leaving the team to pursue other ventures outside of the BBC.
“I would like to personally thank Philippa for her contribution to the success of Storyville over the past year, during which time she has built a rich and varied slate of films. I wish her all the best for her future plans.”
Kowarsky’s commissions while at the BBC included The Earth is as Blue as an Orange, which followed a Ukrainian family living under siege in 1997.
Yates said she would update “soon on next steps for Storyville.” She is taking on oversight and commissioning duties for Storyville in the interim.
Kowarsky has joined from Cinephil, the international sales and advisory firm which she founded...
- 8/4/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Storyville commissioning editor Philippa Kowarsky is departing the corporation to pursue other ventures. Director of BBC Film Eva Yates will be the interim commissioning contact for BBC Storyville until a replacement for Kowarsky is found.
In a notice to BBC staff, seen by Variety, Yates wrote: “I’m writing to let you know that Philippa Kowarsky will be leaving the team to pursue other ventures outside of the BBC. I would like to personally thank Philippa for her contribution to the success of Storyville over the past year, during which time she has built a rich and varied slate of films. I wish her all the best for her future plans.”
“We will update you soon on next steps for Storyville. In the interim, please come to me with any issues or commissioning decisions that may arise,” Yates added.
As director of BBC Film, Yates already had oversight of Storyville.
In a notice to BBC staff, seen by Variety, Yates wrote: “I’m writing to let you know that Philippa Kowarsky will be leaving the team to pursue other ventures outside of the BBC. I would like to personally thank Philippa for her contribution to the success of Storyville over the past year, during which time she has built a rich and varied slate of films. I wish her all the best for her future plans.”
“We will update you soon on next steps for Storyville. In the interim, please come to me with any issues or commissioning decisions that may arise,” Yates added.
As director of BBC Film, Yates already had oversight of Storyville.
- 8/4/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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
Exclusive: Tel Aviv’s CoPro 24 — The Israeli Coproduction Market will welcome back the international doc community for the first time in two years later this month. The event, which has over the years unveiled award-winning features such as The Gatekeepers and Advocate, has also unveiled an initial slate of 13 projects.
CoPro 24, organised by CoPro – Israeli Content Marketing Foundation, will run between May 31-June 3 in Israel’s second city, the first time it has been held in person since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. The event aims to expose Israeli projects to the international market at early stage and includes pitches, screenings and meetings.
Decision makers attending including Discovery+ VP of Documentaries Igal Svet, France Télévisions Commissioning Editor Renaud Allilaire and BBC Storyville Commissioning Editor Philippa Kowarsky, along with the likes of Arte G.E.I.E. Commissioning Editor Catherine Le Goff, Deckert Distribution Sales Agent Patrizia Mancini...
CoPro 24, organised by CoPro – Israeli Content Marketing Foundation, will run between May 31-June 3 in Israel’s second city, the first time it has been held in person since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. The event aims to expose Israeli projects to the international market at early stage and includes pitches, screenings and meetings.
Decision makers attending including Discovery+ VP of Documentaries Igal Svet, France Télévisions Commissioning Editor Renaud Allilaire and BBC Storyville Commissioning Editor Philippa Kowarsky, along with the likes of Arte G.E.I.E. Commissioning Editor Catherine Le Goff, Deckert Distribution Sales Agent Patrizia Mancini...
- 5/4/2022
- 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
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
Following the departure of Cinephil founder Philippa Kowarsky, who joined the BBC as Storyville Commissioning Editor last week, the Tel Aviv-based sales outfit is joining forces with fellow sales company WestEnd Films to form a joint venture.
The companies will collaborate on development, financing and sales of upcoming projects and films. Olivier Tournaud steps up from the role of Head of Sales at Cinephil to be Managing Director, while the company has hired Sundance programmer Harry Vaughn as its Head of Acquisitions and U.S. sales. Vaughn will split his time between the U.S. and France.
Elsewhere, Cinephil’s Shoshi Korman will add marketing to her current portfolio as Head of Festivals, while Noa Levy remains in charge of Business Affairs.
Maya Amsellem, co-founder and Managing Director of WestEnd films, commented on the move: “Westend has always represented carefully selected documentaries alongside its feature films slate. Together with the...
The companies will collaborate on development, financing and sales of upcoming projects and films. Olivier Tournaud steps up from the role of Head of Sales at Cinephil to be Managing Director, while the company has hired Sundance programmer Harry Vaughn as its Head of Acquisitions and U.S. sales. Vaughn will split his time between the U.S. and France.
Elsewhere, Cinephil’s Shoshi Korman will add marketing to her current portfolio as Head of Festivals, while Noa Levy remains in charge of Business Affairs.
Maya Amsellem, co-founder and Managing Director of WestEnd films, commented on the move: “Westend has always represented carefully selected documentaries alongside its feature films slate. Together with the...
- 8/16/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Cinephil founder and MD Philippa Kowarsky is leaving the company to join BBC Storyville.
Following the news that Cinephil founder and managing director Philippa Kowarsky has been named Commissioning Editor of BBC Storyville, the Tel Aviv-based, documentary-focused sales company is announcing a new joint venture as well as several staff changes.
Cinephil is forming a new joint venture with London-based sales company WestEnd Films, to collaborate on development, financing and sales of upcoming films.
In staff changes at Cinephil, Olivier Tournaud, the outfit’s former head of sales, has been promoted to managing director.
The Cinephil staff will also add...
Following the news that Cinephil founder and managing director Philippa Kowarsky has been named Commissioning Editor of BBC Storyville, the Tel Aviv-based, documentary-focused sales company is announcing a new joint venture as well as several staff changes.
Cinephil is forming a new joint venture with London-based sales company WestEnd Films, to collaborate on development, financing and sales of upcoming films.
In staff changes at Cinephil, Olivier Tournaud, the outfit’s former head of sales, has been promoted to managing director.
The Cinephil staff will also add...
- 8/16/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Renowned documentary exec Philippa Kowarsky will report to Rose Garnett.
Cinephil founder Philippa Kowarsky is to join BBC Storyville, the UK broadcaster’s documentary brand, as its commissioning editor.
Relocating to London from Israel, Kowarsky will oversee the identifying and co-producing of documentary films from around the world and will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film.
The role was previously held by Mandy Chang who left to join UK-based production firm Fremantle as global head of documentaries in May.
Kowarsky’s replacement has yet to be confirmed at the Israel-based documentary sales and advisory firm Cinephil, which she...
Cinephil founder Philippa Kowarsky is to join BBC Storyville, the UK broadcaster’s documentary brand, as its commissioning editor.
Relocating to London from Israel, Kowarsky will oversee the identifying and co-producing of documentary films from around the world and will report to Rose Garnett, director of BBC Film.
The role was previously held by Mandy Chang who left to join UK-based production firm Fremantle as global head of documentaries in May.
Kowarsky’s replacement has yet to be confirmed at the Israel-based documentary sales and advisory firm Cinephil, which she...
- 8/12/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
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
Exclusive: Breaking Glass Pictures and Blue Fox Entertainment have jointly acquired a title for the first time, landing SXSW and Hot Docs selection We Are The Thousand, which chronicles the journey taken by 1,000 musicians to create the biggest rock band event on Earth.
The film gives a first-hand account of the group’s efforts to play the Foo Fighters anthem Learn to Fly, convince Dave Grohl to play a concert in Cesena, Italy, and the sensation the event became.
Anita Rivaroli directed the movie, Simone Catania and Charlotte Uzu produced. The movie scooped an Audience Award at SXSW and is currently screening at Hot Docs. The two companies will release the feature stateside in Q3 this year.
The distribution partnership was reached between Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff and Blue Fox founder James Huntsman, with the acquisition signed by Wolff, Huntsman, and Philippa Kowarsky, Managing Director of Cinephil.
“Blue Fox...
The film gives a first-hand account of the group’s efforts to play the Foo Fighters anthem Learn to Fly, convince Dave Grohl to play a concert in Cesena, Italy, and the sensation the event became.
Anita Rivaroli directed the movie, Simone Catania and Charlotte Uzu produced. The movie scooped an Audience Award at SXSW and is currently screening at Hot Docs. The two companies will release the feature stateside in Q3 this year.
The distribution partnership was reached between Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff and Blue Fox founder James Huntsman, with the acquisition signed by Wolff, Huntsman, and Philippa Kowarsky, Managing Director of Cinephil.
“Blue Fox...
- 5/6/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Copenhagen documentary film festival Cph:dox sees the world premiere of “Children of the Enemy,” which captures the journey of a Swedish-Chilean man to a Syrian prison camp to rescue his grandchildren, after their parents – members of the Islamic State terrorist group – are killed. Director Gorki Glaser-Müller spoke to Variety about the film, and his next projects, a Chilean thriller centering on questionable adoptions, and an interactive virtual reality experience with the American dancer and choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith.
Amanda, the daughter of bohemian musician Patricio Galvez, married a Swedish Muslim convert, and the two of them travelled with their children in 2014 to join Isis in Syria to fight for the Caliphate. Both parents were killed in 2019, and their seven children were transferred to the Kurdish-run al-Hol prison camp in north-east Syria. There are up to 22,000 foreign children of at least 60 nationalities in Syrian camps, according to Unicef, but Sweden, like many European countries,...
Amanda, the daughter of bohemian musician Patricio Galvez, married a Swedish Muslim convert, and the two of them travelled with their children in 2014 to join Isis in Syria to fight for the Caliphate. Both parents were killed in 2019, and their seven children were transferred to the Kurdish-run al-Hol prison camp in north-east Syria. There are up to 22,000 foreign children of at least 60 nationalities in Syrian camps, according to Unicef, but Sweden, like many European countries,...
- 4/25/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Tel Aviv-based Cinephil, the sales agent for the Oscar nominated “Collective” and “The Act of Killing” among others, has clinched world rights to “Songs of Earth” from seasoned Norwegian helmer and producer Margreth Olin of Speranza Film.
The documentary project marks the third collaboration between Cinephil’s managing director Philippa Kowarsky and Olin after the Doc NYC selected “Self Portrait” and “Cathedrals of Culture,” exec produced by Wim Wenders.
Olin’s meditative and personal pic “Songs of Earth” will bow April 28 at Cph:forum, the online financing and co-production industry showcase, running alongside Denmark’s Cph:dox Festival (April 21-May 12).
“I am delighted that Philippa is involved in this project from an early stage, so we can talk both content and what will be the right path for the film to reach a large audience,” commented Olin. “She is great, and it was a pleasure to work with her on ‘Self-Portrait.’ Her...
The documentary project marks the third collaboration between Cinephil’s managing director Philippa Kowarsky and Olin after the Doc NYC selected “Self Portrait” and “Cathedrals of Culture,” exec produced by Wim Wenders.
Olin’s meditative and personal pic “Songs of Earth” will bow April 28 at Cph:forum, the online financing and co-production industry showcase, running alongside Denmark’s Cph:dox Festival (April 21-May 12).
“I am delighted that Philippa is involved in this project from an early stage, so we can talk both content and what will be the right path for the film to reach a large audience,” commented Olin. “She is great, and it was a pleasure to work with her on ‘Self-Portrait.’ Her...
- 4/20/2021
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to well-received Holocaust documentary Love It Was Not, which will play at Hot Docs this month.
Israeli filmmaker Maya Sarfaty’s film charts the remarkable and harrowing true love story between a prisoner and a Nazi. Beautiful and full of life, Helena Citron is taken to Auschwitz as a teenager (one of the first 1000 transported to the concentration camp), and soon finds unlikely solace under the protection of Franz Wunsch, a barely older SS officer who falls in love with her and her magnetic singing voice. Risking execution if caught, they went on with their forbidden romantic relationship for two and a half years until the war ended and the camp was liberated.
Thirty years later, a letter arrives from Wunsch’s wife asking Helena to “return the favor” — testify on Wunsch’s behalf at his war crimes trial. Faced with an impossible decision,...
Israeli filmmaker Maya Sarfaty’s film charts the remarkable and harrowing true love story between a prisoner and a Nazi. Beautiful and full of life, Helena Citron is taken to Auschwitz as a teenager (one of the first 1000 transported to the concentration camp), and soon finds unlikely solace under the protection of Franz Wunsch, a barely older SS officer who falls in love with her and her magnetic singing voice. Risking execution if caught, they went on with their forbidden romantic relationship for two and a half years until the war ended and the camp was liberated.
Thirty years later, a letter arrives from Wunsch’s wife asking Helena to “return the favor” — testify on Wunsch’s behalf at his war crimes trial. Faced with an impossible decision,...
- 4/12/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Berlinale 2021: Honouring the memory of Dimitri Eipides, the festival has initiated a development grant at Berlinale Talents. The Newcomers prize is also taking his name. Through a number of initiatives, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival is honouring Dimitri Eipides, the founder of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (Tdf) and for many years the director of Thessaloniki Film Festival organisation. Starting with the Doc Station of Berlinale Talents, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival is introducing a Development Grant of €5,000 dedicated to Eipides’ memory. The inaugural award was bestowed upon the documentary project Dragons by Brazilian writer-director Miguel Antunes Ramos. The jury, comprising Israeli producer, distributor and sales agent Philippa Kowarsky (Cinephil), Greek documentarian Marianna Economou, and Michael Stütz, head of Berlinale Panorama, who picked Dragons “for its reflection on power relations in Brazil today, for questioning political elites, economical structures and the power of images through time — we found...
Could this be Norway’s year at the Oscars? An unprecedented number of Norwegian productions and co-productions are on this year’s shortlists, exciting the domestic media, industry and audiences.
“Recognition from the Oscars is a great inspiration for all of us who have an ambition to reach outside our own borders,” says Yngve Saether of Motlys, who served as executive producer of Norway’s shortlisted international feature submission “Hope.” “And it builds confidence. Even though it’s a long way to four nominations, the shortlistings are welcome reminders that our films have something to do out there.”
Likewise, Anita Larsen, producer of the documentary “Gunda,” about the life cycle of a majestic Norwegian sow, through her company Sant og Usant, says: “I believe this will create a broader interest both for Norwegian stories, filmmakers and new co-productions opportunities.”
“Hope,” an intense and well-liked personal drama from helmer Maria Sødahl,...
“Recognition from the Oscars is a great inspiration for all of us who have an ambition to reach outside our own borders,” says Yngve Saether of Motlys, who served as executive producer of Norway’s shortlisted international feature submission “Hope.” “And it builds confidence. Even though it’s a long way to four nominations, the shortlistings are welcome reminders that our films have something to do out there.”
Likewise, Anita Larsen, producer of the documentary “Gunda,” about the life cycle of a majestic Norwegian sow, through her company Sant og Usant, says: “I believe this will create a broader interest both for Norwegian stories, filmmakers and new co-productions opportunities.”
“Hope,” an intense and well-liked personal drama from helmer Maria Sødahl,...
- 3/4/2021
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
The Oscar-winning studio behind “Parasite” broke the ice at the 2021 virtual Sundance Film Festival sales market.
The indie company has acquired the documentary “Flee,” also an official selection of Cannes 2020, in a competitive situation after the movie’s Thursday premiere. The doc went for roughly $1 million, individuals familiar with the deal said. Jeff Deutchman negotiated the deal for Neon with 30West and Philippa Kowarsky of Cinephil on behalf of the filmmakers. International sales are being handled by Cinephil.
Jonas Poher Rasmussen directed the project, executive produced by Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The hand-drawn narrative follow an individual named Amin Nawabi (a pseudonym), who grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years. It threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon-to-be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to Rasmussen — his close friend and high-school classmate — he tells for the first time the story...
The indie company has acquired the documentary “Flee,” also an official selection of Cannes 2020, in a competitive situation after the movie’s Thursday premiere. The doc went for roughly $1 million, individuals familiar with the deal said. Jeff Deutchman negotiated the deal for Neon with 30West and Philippa Kowarsky of Cinephil on behalf of the filmmakers. International sales are being handled by Cinephil.
Jonas Poher Rasmussen directed the project, executive produced by Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The hand-drawn narrative follow an individual named Amin Nawabi (a pseudonym), who grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years. It threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon-to-be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to Rasmussen — his close friend and high-school classmate — he tells for the first time the story...
- 1/29/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Neon made one of the first 2021 Sundance acquisitions on Friday with Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s “Flee,” executive produced by Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
The film, which sold for an undisclosed seven-figure amount after an overnight bidding war, was officially selected for Cannes 2020 and made its debut on opening night of Sundance in the World Documentary Competition to rave reviews.
“Flee” tells the story of Amin Nawabi (a pseudonym) as he deals with a painful secret that he has kept for 20 years — a secret that threatens his life and the life of his soon-to-be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to Rasmussen, Nawabi tells the story of his journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan.
“Flee” is produced by Final Cut for Real, in co-production with animation studio Sun Creature, Denmark, Vivement Lundi!, France, MostFilm, Sweden, Mer Film, Norway and Arte France and Vpro, Nederland. Monica Hellström and Signe Byrge Sørensen produced,...
The film, which sold for an undisclosed seven-figure amount after an overnight bidding war, was officially selected for Cannes 2020 and made its debut on opening night of Sundance in the World Documentary Competition to rave reviews.
“Flee” tells the story of Amin Nawabi (a pseudonym) as he deals with a painful secret that he has kept for 20 years — a secret that threatens his life and the life of his soon-to-be husband. Recounted mostly through animation to Rasmussen, Nawabi tells the story of his journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan.
“Flee” is produced by Final Cut for Real, in co-production with animation studio Sun Creature, Denmark, Vivement Lundi!, France, MostFilm, Sweden, Mer Film, Norway and Arte France and Vpro, Nederland. Monica Hellström and Signe Byrge Sørensen produced,...
- 1/29/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Neon has made the first acquisition out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, taking North American rights to Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee for an undisclosed seven-figure sum after an overnight bidding war.
The film, executive produced by Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, was an official selection for Cannes 2020 and made its debut on opening night of Sundance in the World Documentary Competition. Rasmussen directed and co-wrote the movie with Amin Nawabi.
Playing in the world premiere section, Flee follows Nawabi, who arrives as an unaccompanied minor in Denmark from Afghanistan. Today, he is a successful academic and is getting married to his longtime boyfriend. A secret he has been hiding for 20 years threatens to ruin the life he has built. Recounted mostly through animation to Rasmussen — his close friend and high school classmate, he tells for the first time the story of his extraordinary journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan.
The film, executive produced by Riz Ahmed and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, was an official selection for Cannes 2020 and made its debut on opening night of Sundance in the World Documentary Competition. Rasmussen directed and co-wrote the movie with Amin Nawabi.
Playing in the world premiere section, Flee follows Nawabi, who arrives as an unaccompanied minor in Denmark from Afghanistan. Today, he is a successful academic and is getting married to his longtime boyfriend. A secret he has been hiding for 20 years threatens to ruin the life he has built. Recounted mostly through animation to Rasmussen — his close friend and high school classmate, he tells for the first time the story of his extraordinary journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan.
- 1/29/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Romania has chosen Alexander Nanau’s documentary “Collective” (pictured) to be its official entry in the International Feature Film category of the 93rd Academy Awards, while Ecuador has selected Paul Venegas’ “Emptiness” and Algeria has entered Djaâfar Gacem’s “Héliopolis.”
Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina has confirmed that Jasmila Zbanic’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” will represent the country in the contest, as reported last week by Variety.
The decisions follow recent submissions by Czech Republic, Singapore, Kosovo and Georgia. Other countries to have selected their entries include Bhutan, Taiwan, Ukraine, Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Poland and Switzerland.
“Collective” world premiered in Venice last year, before having its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Magnolia Pictures and Participant will release the film in the U.S. on Nov. 20.
The documentary follows a team of investigative journalists as they uncover widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a pharmaceutical firm,...
Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina has confirmed that Jasmila Zbanic’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” will represent the country in the contest, as reported last week by Variety.
The decisions follow recent submissions by Czech Republic, Singapore, Kosovo and Georgia. Other countries to have selected their entries include Bhutan, Taiwan, Ukraine, Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Poland and Switzerland.
“Collective” world premiered in Venice last year, before having its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Magnolia Pictures and Participant will release the film in the U.S. on Nov. 20.
The documentary follows a team of investigative journalists as they uncover widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a pharmaceutical firm,...
- 10/15/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Romanian Film Centre/Cnc Romania has confirmed that Alexander Nanau’s well-received documentary Collective will be Romania’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature.
The selection marks the first time a Romanian documentary has been the country’s official submission.
The film follows a team of investigative journalists as they uncover shocking, widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a powerful pharmaceutical firm, and the quiet resignation of a health minister—seemingly unrelated events, all within weeks of each other—the team of reporters exposes a much larger, much more explosive political scandal. Here’s the film’s trailer.
Collective, which Magnolia Pictures and Participant will release in U.S. theaters and on demand November 20th, the same day Dogwoof and Participant plan to release in cinemas in the UK and Ireland, world-premiered in Venice last year, before having its North...
The selection marks the first time a Romanian documentary has been the country’s official submission.
The film follows a team of investigative journalists as they uncover shocking, widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a powerful pharmaceutical firm, and the quiet resignation of a health minister—seemingly unrelated events, all within weeks of each other—the team of reporters exposes a much larger, much more explosive political scandal. Here’s the film’s trailer.
Collective, which Magnolia Pictures and Participant will release in U.S. theaters and on demand November 20th, the same day Dogwoof and Participant plan to release in cinemas in the UK and Ireland, world-premiered in Venice last year, before having its North...
- 10/15/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Brazilian filmmaker Marcelo Gomes was taking a taxi through Lisbon, where he did the post-production work on a recent film, when he fell into conversation with his driver, a surfer who lived in a busy apartment block in the Portuguese capital. Just a few years ago, the driver said, he knew everyone in the building by name. He held onto their spare keys. They rang his doorbell when they needed sugar.
But slowly, the building began to change. Now his neighbors were British, Italian and French. “Every day someone knocks on his door and says, ‘Do you want to sell your apartment?’” Gomes tells Variety. “And he says, ‘I’m going to resist, because Lisbon has to keep its soul.’”
The battle to preserve a proud city slowly being overwhelmed—and transformed—by the forces of mass tourism and gentrification is the backdrop of “Lisbon in the Backmirror,” the latest...
But slowly, the building began to change. Now his neighbors were British, Italian and French. “Every day someone knocks on his door and says, ‘Do you want to sell your apartment?’” Gomes tells Variety. “And he says, ‘I’m going to resist, because Lisbon has to keep its soul.’”
The battle to preserve a proud city slowly being overwhelmed—and transformed—by the forces of mass tourism and gentrification is the backdrop of “Lisbon in the Backmirror,” the latest...
- 6/26/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Farm animal documentary to screen in Berlin’s new Encounters competition.
Cinephil has boarded international sales for Victor Kossakovsky’s Gunda, which will receive its world premiere in the Berlinale’s new Encounters competition this month.
UTA Independent Film Group will handle Us rights on the Norwegian-us co-production.
Kossakovsky observes farm animals – protagonist Gunda the pig, two cows and a one-legged chicken – to offer new perspective on the way animals live their lives and our relationship to them.
Anita Rehoff Larsen of Norway’s Sant & Usant produces in co-production with New York-based Louverture Films.
The film was previously pitched at...
Cinephil has boarded international sales for Victor Kossakovsky’s Gunda, which will receive its world premiere in the Berlinale’s new Encounters competition this month.
UTA Independent Film Group will handle Us rights on the Norwegian-us co-production.
Kossakovsky observes farm animals – protagonist Gunda the pig, two cows and a one-legged chicken – to offer new perspective on the way animals live their lives and our relationship to them.
Anita Rehoff Larsen of Norway’s Sant & Usant produces in co-production with New York-based Louverture Films.
The film was previously pitched at...
- 2/7/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Variety has been given exclusive access to the trailer to “My Rembrandt,” directed by Oeke Hoogendijk, which has its world premiere on Sunday in the Masters section of the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (Idfa).
The film is set in the world of the art market for paintings by the Dutch Old Master. While art collectors such as Eijk and Rose-Marie De Mol van Otterloo, the American Thomas Kaplan and the Scottish Duke of Buccleuch show us their special connection with “their” Rembrandt, French baron Eric de Rothschild puts two Rembrandts up for sale, triggering a tough political battle between the Rijksmuseum and the Louvre.
The film also follows aristocratic Dutch art dealer Jan Six as he seems to be on the trail of not just one but two “new” Rembrandt paintings. This nerve-wrecking journey of discovery seems to be the realization of his biggest boyhood dream. But when he is...
The film is set in the world of the art market for paintings by the Dutch Old Master. While art collectors such as Eijk and Rose-Marie De Mol van Otterloo, the American Thomas Kaplan and the Scottish Duke of Buccleuch show us their special connection with “their” Rembrandt, French baron Eric de Rothschild puts two Rembrandts up for sale, triggering a tough political battle between the Rijksmuseum and the Louvre.
The film also follows aristocratic Dutch art dealer Jan Six as he seems to be on the trail of not just one but two “new” Rembrandt paintings. This nerve-wrecking journey of discovery seems to be the realization of his biggest boyhood dream. But when he is...
- 11/22/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Tel Aviv-based Cinephil has acquired worldwide rights to Tonje Hessen Schei’s (“Drone”) “iHuman,” a political thriller documentary about artificial intelligence, power and social control.
U.S.-based sales agent ro*co films is representing North America on the film, which will have its world premiere in the Frontlight section of Amsterdam’s International Documentary Film Festival.
“iHuman” follows the pioneers on the front lines of the invisible AI revolution: Google whistleblower Jack Poulson, computational psychologist Michal Kosinski, techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufecki and deep fake pioneer Hao Li, among others. The film explores the booming AI industry, how this technology is being developed and implemented, and investigates the dilemmas experts face as they drive this technology forward. The documentary explores the impact that AI is having and will have on the world and our humanity.
“Our day-to-day world is about AI, whether we acknowledge it or not…Most of us vote every four years,...
U.S.-based sales agent ro*co films is representing North America on the film, which will have its world premiere in the Frontlight section of Amsterdam’s International Documentary Film Festival.
“iHuman” follows the pioneers on the front lines of the invisible AI revolution: Google whistleblower Jack Poulson, computational psychologist Michal Kosinski, techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufecki and deep fake pioneer Hao Li, among others. The film explores the booming AI industry, how this technology is being developed and implemented, and investigates the dilemmas experts face as they drive this technology forward. The documentary explores the impact that AI is having and will have on the world and our humanity.
“Our day-to-day world is about AI, whether we acknowledge it or not…Most of us vote every four years,...
- 11/15/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Participant and Magnolia Pictures have acquired the North American rights to “Collective,” a documentary from director Alexander Nanau (“Toto and His Sisters”) that traces a thread of corruption to the highest levels of the Romanian government in the wake of a devastating nightclub fire, the companies announced Thursday.
“Collective” made its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and then played Tiff. Magnolia and Participant are eyeing a spring 2020 theatrical release for the documentary.
In 2015, a fire at the Bucharest club Colectiv left 27 dead and 180 injured. Soon, more burn victims began dying in hospitals from wounds that were not life-threatening. Then, a doctor blew the whistle to a team of investigative journalists and one revelation leads to another as the journalists start to uncover a vast health care fraud. When a new health minister is appointed, he offers unprecedented access to his efforts to reform the corrupt system but...
“Collective” made its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and then played Tiff. Magnolia and Participant are eyeing a spring 2020 theatrical release for the documentary.
In 2015, a fire at the Bucharest club Colectiv left 27 dead and 180 injured. Soon, more burn victims began dying in hospitals from wounds that were not life-threatening. Then, a doctor blew the whistle to a team of investigative journalists and one revelation leads to another as the journalists start to uncover a vast health care fraud. When a new health minister is appointed, he offers unprecedented access to his efforts to reform the corrupt system but...
- 10/3/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Participant and Magnolia Pictures have acquired North American rights to “Collective,” a documentary that followed a team of Romanian reporters who untangle an intricate web of corruption in the wake of a devastating nightclub fire.
The film premiered to sterling reviews at the Venice Film Festival and was greeted with similar acclaim when it screened at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Both IndieWire and Rolling Stone listed it as one of the 12 best films to come out of Toronto, and Vox called it one of the five best films that “flew under the radar.” Other reviewers were similarly enthusiastic.
Variety’s Jay Weissberg said that its look at bureaucratic and corporate malfeasance made “Collective” both prescient and sadly universal despite its Eastern European setting. “This is truly a documentary for our times, deserving of widespread exposure,” he wrote.
Magnolia and Participant plan to release the film theatrically in...
The film premiered to sterling reviews at the Venice Film Festival and was greeted with similar acclaim when it screened at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Both IndieWire and Rolling Stone listed it as one of the 12 best films to come out of Toronto, and Vox called it one of the five best films that “flew under the radar.” Other reviewers were similarly enthusiastic.
Variety’s Jay Weissberg said that its look at bureaucratic and corporate malfeasance made “Collective” both prescient and sadly universal despite its Eastern European setting. “This is truly a documentary for our times, deserving of widespread exposure,” he wrote.
Magnolia and Participant plan to release the film theatrically in...
- 10/3/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Cinephil holds international sales rights to multiple festival winner.
Film Movement has acquired Us rights to Israeli documentary and Sundance premiere Advocate, which profiles the crusading attorney Lea Tsemel and her controversial work defending Palestinians.
The distributor negotiated the deal with Cinephil, who hold international sales rights, and plans a winter theatrical release followed by home entertainment and digital roll-out.
Directors Rachel Leah Jones and Phillipe Bellaïche use animation and juxtapose one of Tsemel’s more recent cases with several earlier cases, including one where she defended her activist husband from an accusation of treason.
Tsemel has earned the sobriquet...
Film Movement has acquired Us rights to Israeli documentary and Sundance premiere Advocate, which profiles the crusading attorney Lea Tsemel and her controversial work defending Palestinians.
The distributor negotiated the deal with Cinephil, who hold international sales rights, and plans a winter theatrical release followed by home entertainment and digital roll-out.
Directors Rachel Leah Jones and Phillipe Bellaïche use animation and juxtapose one of Tsemel’s more recent cases with several earlier cases, including one where she defended her activist husband from an accusation of treason.
Tsemel has earned the sobriquet...
- 8/26/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Tel Aviv-based sales agent Cinephil has taken world sales on Emmy Award-winning director Alexander Nanau’s “Collective,” an investigation into the tragic 2015 fire in a Bucharest night club, fallout from which toppled Romania’s government. The high-profile documentary is screening in Venice and Toronto.
Co-produced by Nanau with Luxembourg’s Samsa Film and HBO Europe, and supported by the Sundance Institute, “Collective” delves into the events surrounding the fire and resulting stampede at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest on Oct. 30, 2015, which initially left 27 dead and 180 injured. Soon, more burn victims began dying in hospitals from wounds that were not at first life-threatening. A doctor blew the whistle to a team of investigative journalists, who “started to uncover a vast health care fraud,” according to the doc’s synopsis.
Public protests against corruption prompted by the investigation led to the resignation of then-Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
The doc shot by...
Co-produced by Nanau with Luxembourg’s Samsa Film and HBO Europe, and supported by the Sundance Institute, “Collective” delves into the events surrounding the fire and resulting stampede at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest on Oct. 30, 2015, which initially left 27 dead and 180 injured. Soon, more burn victims began dying in hospitals from wounds that were not at first life-threatening. A doctor blew the whistle to a team of investigative journalists, who “started to uncover a vast health care fraud,” according to the doc’s synopsis.
Public protests against corruption prompted by the investigation led to the resignation of then-Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta.
The doc shot by...
- 8/26/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Simon Chinn, Viktor Kossakovsky, Eve Gabereau voice opinions.
This year’s industry activity at documentary festival Cph:dox, which took place in Danish capital Copenhagen this week, was dominated by one question: will traditional documentary business models survive in the face of increased disruption from online platforms?
There’s no doubt that the last 12 months have been a boom time for the documentary space. Films such as Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Free Solo, Three Identical Strangers, They Shall Not Grow Old and McQueen have delivered big audiences, sparking increased belief in the factual medium as a big screen proposition.
This year’s industry activity at documentary festival Cph:dox, which took place in Danish capital Copenhagen this week, was dominated by one question: will traditional documentary business models survive in the face of increased disruption from online platforms?
There’s no doubt that the last 12 months have been a boom time for the documentary space. Films such as Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Free Solo, Three Identical Strangers, They Shall Not Grow Old and McQueen have delivered big audiences, sparking increased belief in the factual medium as a big screen proposition.
- 3/29/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
The Self Portait is about Norwegian photographer Lene Marie Fossen.
Six Nordic documentaries in post-production were presented at Cph:Wip, the work-in-progress strand of Chp:Dox, in Copenhagen today (March 26).
Footage from Katja Norregaard Hogseth’s The Self Portrait particularly impressed the industry audience of funders, festivals, broadcasters, sales companies and distributors who said all of the projects were of a high calibre this year.The Self Portrait is an intimate portrait of Norwegian photographer Lene Marie Fossen, who has been near death with anorexia at the same time her international art career is on the rise.
The...
Six Nordic documentaries in post-production were presented at Cph:Wip, the work-in-progress strand of Chp:Dox, in Copenhagen today (March 26).
Footage from Katja Norregaard Hogseth’s The Self Portrait particularly impressed the industry audience of funders, festivals, broadcasters, sales companies and distributors who said all of the projects were of a high calibre this year.The Self Portrait is an intimate portrait of Norwegian photographer Lene Marie Fossen, who has been near death with anorexia at the same time her international art career is on the rise.
The...
- 3/26/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
As documentaries and true-event based movies deliver many of the highlights and some news at the Santiago Int’l Film Festival (August 19-26), Abner Benaim’s much-lauded music documentary “Ruben Blades is Not My Name” is getting a rare multi-territory release across Latin America.
By the end of August, “Ruben Blades…” will have opened in Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Chile, Argentina and the Caribbean are likely to follow. HBO has picked up the docu for the U.S. next year.
A co-production between Benaim’s Apertura Films, Gema Juarez Allen’s Gema Films of Argentina and Ciudad Lunar, Colombia, “Ruben Blades…” has been reaping multiple awards on the festival circuit.
The music docu received its world premiere at SXSW where it proved its commercial appeal by nabbing the 24 Beats Per Second audience prize. It closed Panama’s Iff festival and went on to key fest events across the region,...
By the end of August, “Ruben Blades…” will have opened in Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Chile, Argentina and the Caribbean are likely to follow. HBO has picked up the docu for the U.S. next year.
A co-production between Benaim’s Apertura Films, Gema Juarez Allen’s Gema Films of Argentina and Ciudad Lunar, Colombia, “Ruben Blades…” has been reaping multiple awards on the festival circuit.
The music docu received its world premiere at SXSW where it proved its commercial appeal by nabbing the 24 Beats Per Second audience prize. It closed Panama’s Iff festival and went on to key fest events across the region,...
- 8/22/2018
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Fund backs Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee.
The Copenhagen Film Fund has made its first investment in a documentary.
The Fund has backed Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee with just over €200,000.
The story follows 11-year-old Amin, who is forced to flee Afghanistan and sees his family scattered across Europe. He arrives in Denmark on his own after five years of fleeing - and has never told the real story about how he arrived to the country until now.
“It’s a powerful story, and a story with so many layers. It’s exciting for us to...
The Copenhagen Film Fund has made its first investment in a documentary.
The Fund has backed Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee with just over €200,000.
The story follows 11-year-old Amin, who is forced to flee Afghanistan and sees his family scattered across Europe. He arrives in Denmark on his own after five years of fleeing - and has never told the real story about how he arrived to the country until now.
“It’s a powerful story, and a story with so many layers. It’s exciting for us to...
- 3/29/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Fund backs Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee.
The Copenhagen Film Fund has made its first investment in a documentary.
The Fund has backed Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee with just over €200,000.
The story follows 11-year-old Amin, who is forced to flee Afghanistan and sees his family scattered across Europe. He arrives in Denmark on his own and becomes friends with Jonas (the film’s director). The pair have been friends for 20 years, although Amin had kept the story of his past mostly secret from everyone in Denmark.
“It’s a powerful story, and a story with so many layers.
The Copenhagen Film Fund has made its first investment in a documentary.
The Fund has backed Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary Flee with just over €200,000.
The story follows 11-year-old Amin, who is forced to flee Afghanistan and sees his family scattered across Europe. He arrives in Denmark on his own and becomes friends with Jonas (the film’s director). The pair have been friends for 20 years, although Amin had kept the story of his past mostly secret from everyone in Denmark.
“It’s a powerful story, and a story with so many layers.
- 3/29/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yununpingu passed away days after approving the film.
Tel Aviv-based sales outfit Cinephil has picked up international rights to Berlin documentary Gurrumul.
The film is about indigenous Australian singer and musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yununpingu, who passed away in July 2017, three days after approving the film.
It traces his story from modest roots to worldwide acclaim and features Sting and Quincy Jones as talking heads. It’s a feature debut for director Paul Williams; Shannon Swan produced.
The doc premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival in July 2017 and has its international premiere in the Berlinale Special section on February 19.
Cinephil has strong history with documentary titles having previously handled worldwide sales on Joshua Oppenheimer’s Oscar-nominated The Act Of Killing and The Look Of Silence.
Philippa Kowarsky of Cinephil commented: “Gurrumul’s story is striking in its strength and richness. It’s a film that fits in with others...
Tel Aviv-based sales outfit Cinephil has picked up international rights to Berlin documentary Gurrumul.
The film is about indigenous Australian singer and musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yununpingu, who passed away in July 2017, three days after approving the film.
It traces his story from modest roots to worldwide acclaim and features Sting and Quincy Jones as talking heads. It’s a feature debut for director Paul Williams; Shannon Swan produced.
The doc premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival in July 2017 and has its international premiere in the Berlinale Special section on February 19.
Cinephil has strong history with documentary titles having previously handled worldwide sales on Joshua Oppenheimer’s Oscar-nominated The Act Of Killing and The Look Of Silence.
Philippa Kowarsky of Cinephil commented: “Gurrumul’s story is striking in its strength and richness. It’s a film that fits in with others...
- 2/16/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
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