News

Selma Blair is set to take the lead in upcoming supernatural thriller “Silent” from filmmaking duo Doron and Yoaz Paz.

The film, being produced by Roundtable Entertainment and Templeheart Films, has been launched by Architect ahead of EFM. Architect rep worldwide sales and are co-representing North American rights with Roundtable. Production is due to start in Vancouver this summer.

In “Silent,” Blair will play Skylar, a sound designer hired anonymously to create the audio for a rare silent film. Disturbed by its contents, Skylar is nonetheless increasingly obsessed with her work, and unwittingly finds herself caught up in a dark ritual that unlocks an ancient evil, threatening to consume her and her young daughter.

“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Selma Blair on this unique project. We believe the best horror emerges from remarkable character building. That’s why Selma is perfect for this movie. You care about her and her journey.

Exclusive: UK co-production outfit Big Safari Productions and financier Creativity Capital have appointed former Odin’s Eye Entertainment exec Tianna Roberts as Acquisitions and Co-Productions Manager at Big Safari and Acquisitions Manager at Creativity Capital.

Roberts worked for almost five years at Odin’s Eye, latterly as Head Of Development and Co-Director of Acquisitions. In her new role she will leverage her background in international development, distribution, and acquisitions to boost global co-production and financing opportunities, particularly Big Safari’s growth into Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Based between London and Australia, she will also help identify projects for investment and financing at Creativity Capital.

“I am thrilled to join both Big Safari and Creativity Capital at a time of unprecedented opportunity for international co-productions and financing,” said Tianna. “Working with two companies that champion diversity, creativity, authenticity, and collaboration aligns perfectly with my commitment to supporting diverse and globally resonant storytelling.

Marco van Belle’s Irish female vampire origin feature Feed has begun shooting in Ireland’s coastal region of County Wexford, which also recently hosted the shoot of Small Things like These, as Metro International Entertainment continues sales at AFM.

The film follows a group of twenty something social media influencers who spend a weekend at a remote contemporary house in an Irish forest, and must fight for their lives when they awaken the world’s original vampire from her slumber. Van Belle previously wrote sci-fi Mercy starring Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Annabelle Wallis, which is currently in post-production.

It gathers an ensemble cast of emerging Irish and UK talent, including Grace Collender (Fréwaka), Clinton Liberty Daisy Jelley, Niamh Hogan, Rhys Mannion and Oskar Smith.

Feed takes its cue from the Irish myth of the Dearg Due, which also inspired Irish writer Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’.

Writer and director Van Belle previously wrote sci-fi Mercy starring Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Annabelle Wallis, which is currently in post-production.

“With people using social media to make their mark and get rich quick, I’m fascinated to explore the fragility of modern influencer culture by putting our characters against a ruthless creature that has the true power of influence,” said the director

Producers are Ripple World’s Jac Kerrin and Dominic Wright, with Big Safari’s Richard Kondal and Tianna Roberts as UK co-producers.

Niamh Fagan is Executive Producer for Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann, who are providing production finance and financed development. Creativity Capital is providing production finance, with Patrick Fischer executive producing.

Will Machin, Sam Parker and Michael Yates are Executive Producers for Metro International Entertainment who are handling international sales and will launch the film to buyers at the AFM.

Feed is financed by Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann, Ireland’s Section 481 Producer tax credit, the UK’s Independent Feature Tax Credit, Creativity Capital, Creativity Media, Koala FX, Screen Ireland’s Nationwide Fund, with Metro International providing an Mg and arranging presal...

Exclusive: Tyler Labine, star of NBC’s New Amsterdam, is joining All Night Wrong, the comedy from director Jason James and starring Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova and Zach Cherry. Deadline’s Rosy Cordero first reported on the project.

In the Jason Filiatrault written movie, Bakalova and Cherry lead the cast as Gary, a cowardly husband, and Ell, a heartbroken widow, who meet through a Tinder hookup only to end up with a killer’s car, a dead body and $40,000 in cash. In a whirlwind of bad decisions and dangerous encounters, Gary and Ell’s night spirals into a chaotic journey filled with fights, mystery and life-changing consequences.

James is producing via his Resonance Films banner, alongside Amber Ripley for Goodbye Productions.

Labine can next be seen recurring in season 5 of Apple TV+’s For All Mankind. He most recently played Dr. Iggy Frome on NBC’s popular medical drama New...

Sky Original Films has revealed the trailer and key images for the upcoming horror comedy, ‘Get Away,’ starring, written and produced by Nick Frost.

Set in Sweden, the film follows a family’s holiday to a remote getaway – but the trip takes an unexpected turn when they discover the island they’re on is inhabited by a serial killer.

Frost stars alongside Aisling Bea, Sebastian Croft, and newcomer Maisie Ayres.

Directed by Steffen Haars, Nick Spicer, Aram Tertzakian, and Maxime Cottray of XYZ Films produced alongside John Hegeman of Wayward Entertainment, Lee Kim of Resolute Films and Frost. The co-producer is Richard Kondal for Big Safari, with executive producers Vince Totino of Wayward Entertainment, Patrick Fischer of Creativity Capital, Nate Bolotin and Pip Ngo of XYZ Films, alongside Julia Stuart and Laura Grange of Sky Original Film.

Also in trailers – “They found a dead body…” Trailer drops for season 2 of...

Back in 2022, it was announced that Fighting with My Family co-stars Nick Frost and Lena Headey were going to reunite to work on the serial killer thriller Svalta, which was set to start filming in Finland soon… but then Headey had to drop out of the project due to scheduling issues before it started rolling in 2023 and was replaced by Aisling Bea, whose previous credits include This Way Up, Living with Yourself, and Home Sweet Home Alone. In August, IFC Films and the Shudder streaming service acquired the North American distribution rights to Svalta, which is now going by the title Get Away, and the plan is that IFC Films will be giving the movie a theatrical release on December 6th. Get Away will then make its way over to Shudder sometime in 2025… But if you’ve been wondering how the release of Get Away is going to be handled in the U.

Comcast-owned Sky will release the original film Get Away, a new horror comedy starring, written by and produced by Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) and directed by Steffen Haars (New Kids Turbo, Krazy House) in the U.K.

XYZ Films financed and handled worldwide sales on Get Away, which it produced with Wayward Entertainment. Sky Original Film will launch the title on the Sky pay TV service’s Sky Cinema on Jan. 10, 2025.

“Get Away is the first film that Nick has both written and starred in, and his passion for the project has infused every element — making it something really special,” said Julia Stuart, director of original film at Sky. “The film has all the hallmarks fans enjoy about Nick’s dark comedy horrors — laugh-out-loud fun, twisted surprises and outrageous gore — along with a stellar, best-of-British ensemble cast. We know our audiences are going to love...

Back in 2022, it was announced that Fighting with My Family co-stars Nick Frost and Lena Headey were going to reunite to work on the serial killer thriller Svalta, which was set to start filming in Finland soon… but then Headey had to drop out of the project due to scheduling issues before it started rolling in 2023 and was replaced by Aisling Bea, whose previous credits include This Way Up, Living with Yourself, and Home Sweet Home Alone. Last month, IFC Films and the Shudder streaming service acquired the North American distribution rights to Svalta, which is now going by the title Get Away, and the plan is that IFC Films will be giving the movie a theatrical release on December 6th. Get Away will then make its way over to Shudder sometime in 2025. As we dive into spooky season, a trailer for Get Away has now arrived online and can...

Exclusive: Academy Award nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) and Zach Cherry (Severance) swipe right on the Jason James comedy feature All Night Wrong.

From screenwriter Jason Filiatrault (Entanglement), Bakalova and Cherry lead the cast as Gary, a cowardly husband, and Ell, a heartbroken widow, who meet through a Tinder hookup only to end up with a killer’s car, a dead body and $40,000 in cash. In a whirlwind of bad decisions and dangerous encounters, Gary and Ell’s night spirals into a chaotic journey filled with fights, mystery and life-changing consequences.

Pre-production is set to begin this fall in the Columbia Valley region of British Columbia.

“All Night Wrong is about two heartbroken individuals who meet online for all the wrong reasons but end up discovering something about each other—and themselves—over the course of one chaotic night. Maria and Zach are the dynamic duo we didn’t know we needed.

Back in 2022, it was announced that Fighting with My Family co-stars Nick Frost and Lena Headey were going to reunite to work on the serial killer thriller Svalta, which was set to start filming in Finland soon… but then Headey had to drop out of the project due to scheduling issues before it started rolling in 2023 and was replaced by Aisling Bea, whose previous credits include This Way Up, Living with Yourself, and Home Sweet Home Alone. Now a press release has revealed that IFC Films and the Shudder streaming service have acquired the North American distribution rights to Svalta, which is now going by the title Get Away, and the plan is that IFC Films will be giving the movie a theatrical release on December 6th. Get Away will then make its way over to Shudder sometime in 2025.

Get Away was directed by Steffen Haars (New Kids Turbo) from a screenplay Frost wrote himself.

IFC Films and Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural programming, announced today that they have acquired the North American rights to Steffen Haars’ comedic slasher movie, “Get Away.” The film, which was previously titled “Svalta,” was written by Nick Frost (“Paul”), who also stars alongside Aisling Bea (“This Way Up”) Sebastian Croft (“Heartstopper”), and newcomer Maisie Ayres. The film will have its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024 in September. It will then be released exclusively in theaters on Dec. 6, 2024, followed by its Shudder debut in 2025. Like Shudder, IFC is a division of AMC Networks.

“Get Away” follows a family’s vacation to a remote getaway. The trip takes an unexpected turn when they discover the island they’re on is inhabited by a serial killer.

​​The film is financed by XYZ Films. The company produced the film alongside John Hegeman of Wayward Entertainment, Lee Kim of Resolute Films and Frost.

Dave Bautista action pic Trap House has added Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water), Sophia Lillis, Kate del Castillo (La Reina del Sur), Tony Dalton (Better Call Saul), Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl) and Bobby Cannavale to it’s cast.

Principal photography is set to begin on April 1. Michael Dowse will direct a script written by Fast & Furious creator Gary Scott Thompson and Tom O’Connor (Hitman’s Bodyguard).

The film follows an undercover DEA agent and his partner who embark on a game of cat and mouse with an audacious group of thieves: their own rebellious teenagers, who have begun robbing a dangerous cartel, using their parents’ tactics and top-secret intel to pull off their heists.

Trap House is produced by Marc Goldberg and Sarah Gabriel of Signature Films, Michael Pruss...

Festival season 2024 is well underway, Insiders, as our team decamps to Berlin. That and plenty more news to report from around the world to follow. Jesse Whittock with you. Sign up for the Insider newsletter here.

Berlin Kicks Off

Protests on the red carpet: The build-up to the 74th Berlin Film Festival has been highly politicized and Thursday evening’s opening ceremony was no different. The ceremony began with a red carpet awash with political statements. The festival held what it described as a ‘Filmmakers for Democracy, Diversity, and Peaceful Togetherness’ demonstration featuring between 50 and 60 filmmakers. Meanwhile, a series of attendees used their time in front of media pens to display their own political messages. The most eye-catching included American filmmaker Eliza Hittman, last at Berlin with her Silver Bear-winning Never Rarely Sometimes Always, who had ‘ceasefire now’ stitched to the back of her dress. The message was a reference...

Welcome to Deadline’s International Disruptors, a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies outside of the U.S. shaking up the offshore marketplace. Today we’re talking to UK film veterans Richard Kondal and Patrick Fischer, founders of post-production house Creativity Media and film finance company Creativity Capital. The duo, which sold Creativity Media to Fulwell 73 in 2019, talk us through the jump from post-production to financing to the launch of their new London-based co-production outfit Big Safari, international sales strand Architect and investment in VFX house Koala FX.

Staying alive in the UK independent film world is no easy feat these days but Richard Kondal and Patrick Fischer are two execs who have been quietly thriving in the space for a number of years. The two veterans, who first founded post-production outfit Creativity Media in 2010 before selling it to UK production house Fulwell 73 in...

Exclusive: UK industry veterans Richard Kondal and Patrick Fischer, founders of financier Creativity Capital, have formed a new co-production company dubbed Big Safari.

The banner marks the latest edition to the duo’s portfolio, which also includes shareholdings in sales agent Architect, VFX house Koala FX as well as Creativity Capital.

Big Safari was born off the back of the Simon West-directed 2022 television series Boundless, which Kondal and Fischer produced while at Fulwell 73 with Mono Films and Amazon. The strategy for the new outfit, said the duo, is to set up co-productions that help close finance for international producers, whether through accessing soft money in European co-productions as they did for Svalta or finding a cost-effective co-producer further afield like they did with UK-Philippines co-production The Bayou. It will also look to help European films access UK talent and locations.

Since its launch last year, Big Safari has...

Exclusive: Cameras are rolling on Stargazer, a new feature from artist-filmmaker Christian Neuman, which producers have described as a “modern psychic thriller” starring Rosalind Halstead and Poppy Delevingne.

The pic is Neuman’s second feature, following the 2019 horror feature Skin Walker, starring Udo Kier and Amber Anderson. The first week of principal photography has wrapped up in London, with the production now in Belgium and set to conclude in Luxembourg by mid-December.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Stargazer follows Fey Vilar, portrayed by Rosalind Halstead, a celebrated actress grappling with the abduction of her son, Paul. Using performance as a coping mechanism, Fey’s life takes an unexpected turn when she is offered a role in a play in which she must embody the character of Estelle Maar, Paul’s captor, in order to uncover the truth about her son’s disappearance. The film is said to explore themes of grief,...

Projects ‘The Elf’, ‘Truth Or Consquences’; festival film ‘Falling Into Place’ all receive plaudits.

International industry attendees have praised the European Genre Forum as a highlight of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Poff), which closed its 27th edition on Sunday, November 19.

The Forum is a pan-European development event organised with Imagine Fantastic Film Festival in the Netherlands and Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival, that closes its three-lab structure with a marketing and packaging lab in Tallinn.

As head of Montreal-based distributor Attraction Distribution, Xiaojuan Zhou travelled further than most to Estonia, finding the trip worthwhile. “The quality of the pitches was...

Last year, it was announced that Fighting with My Family co-stars Nick Frost and Lena Headey were going to reunite to work on the serial killer thriller Svalta, which was set to start filming in Finland soon. Well, the movie was shot in Finland and production recently wrapped, but Headey had to drop out of the project due to scheduling issues before it started rolling. Deadline reports that her character ended up being played by Aisling Bea, whose previous credits include This Way Up, Living with Yourself, and Home Sweet Home Alone.

Svalta was directed by Steffen Haars (New Kids Turbo) from a screenplay Frost wrote himself. The story follows a family on their summer vacation to a remote island where they discover a serial killer is on the loose. Unfortunately for them, the locals have no interest in helping the stranded family. The title is taken from the name of the fictional island.

XYZ Films, Wayward Entertainment, and Resolute Films have wrapped production on the horror film Svalta starring Nick Frost and Aisling Bea (This Way Up) and directed by Steffen Haars (New Kids Turbo), Bloody Disgusting has learned today.

The film was shot in Tampere, Finland, with post-production underway in the United Kingdom.

Svalta, written by Nick Frost, follows a family on their summer vacation to a remote island where they discover a serial killer is on the loose. Unfortunately for them the locals have no interest in helping the stranded family. The title is taken from the name of the fictional island.

Sebastian Croft (Heartstopper) and newcomer Maisie Ayres round out the lead cast.

Svalta is produced by Lee Kim for Resolute Films, John Hegeman for Wayward Entertainment, Nick Spicer and Aram Tertzakian for XYZ, Nick Frost, and co-produced by Richard Kondal for Big Safari, with executive producers Vince Totino of...

Exclusive: XYZ Films, Wayward Entertainment, and Resolute Films have wrapped on the horror pic Svalta with This Way Up actor Aisling Bea and Nick Frost leading.

The pic, written and starring Nick Frost, has just wrapped production in Tampere, Finland, with post-production currently underway in the UK. Plot follows a family on their summer vacation to a remote island where they discover a serial killer is on the loose. Unfortunately for them, the locals have no interest in helping the stranded family. The title is taken from the name of the fictional island. Directing is Steffen Haars (New Kids Turbo). Cast is rounded out by Sebastian Croft (Heartstopper) and newcomer Maisie Ayres.

Lena Headey (Game Of Thrones) had previously been attached to the pic but stepped back due to what has been described as scheduling conflicts. She was replaced by Bea.

Svalta is produced by Lee Kim for Resolute Films,...

Exclusive: UK company Architect was recently founded by sales executives Calum Gray and Max Pirkis, together with Patrick Fischer and Richard Kondal of financier Creativity Capital.

Gray and Pirkis previously worked together for five years at sales firm Embankment, including on Oscar winner The Father, Oscar nominee The Wife, Netflix’s hit Purple Hearts, and BAFTA nominated documentary McQueen.

Creativity Capital have invested in 28 independent films and TV shows, including the aforementioned McQueen and BAFTA winner Under The Shadow. Combining sales and Creativity’s financing, Architect is looking to become a go-to partner for indie producers.

Initial projects on the slate include survival thriller The Bayou, which is being produced by Fall and 47 Meters Down outfit Tea Shop, Mckenna Grace and Asher Angel teen romance 99 Days, Jenny Slate horror Mindful, BFI and BBC Film-financed Lollipop, and Sundance world premiere The Starling Girl.

We spoke to the partners about the company,...

Exclusive: Everything Everywhere All At Once and Venom star Jenny Slate will lead cast in and executive-produce horror movie Mindful, about a possessed meditation app that begins to kill its followers.

Actress, author and stand-up Slate is in the limelight having recently co-created, co-written, co-produced and voiced the titular character of Marcel in A24’s Oscar-nominated film Marcel The Shell With Shoes On, and for having co-starred in Oscar and box office breakout Everything Everywhere All At Once. The SNL alum is also well known for voicing animated series such as Big Mouth and Bob’s Burgers.

In Mindful, when her husband shockingly dies while meditating on the Mindful app, Angela (Slate), deeply suspicious of the new wellness craze, uncovers supernatural forces that have fused with the technology. As the app’s popularity spreads like wildfire, she is forced to confront her own demons and dive into a terrifying ‘out of...

New sales agent and financier Architect has come on board to represent international sales on writer-director Laurel Parmet’s Sundance-premiering “The Starling Girl.”

The film was acquired for North America by Bleecker Street in a deal negotiated by UTA and WME, and will release in cinemas later this year. Architect will launch international sales at this week’s European Film Market, which runs alongside the Berlin Film Festival.

“The Starling Girl” premiered at Sundance to strong reviews, and will screen in the Festival Favourites section at SXSW next month. It stars Eliza Scanlen (“Sharp Objects”), Lewis Pullman (“Top Gun: Maverick”), Jimmi Simpson (“Westworld”), Wrenn Schmidt (“Nope)” and Austin Abrams (“Paper Towns|). The film is produced by Kevin Rowe and Kara Durrett.

The drama follows 17-year-old Jem Starling (Scanlen), who struggles to find her place in the fundamentalist Christian community that raised her. According to the film’s official synopsis, “even...

The producers of Focus Features’ “Polite Society” have launched their next project with “Lollipop,” the fiction debut feature of Daisy-May Hudson, which stars Posy Sterling, TerriAnn Oudjar and newcomer Idil Ahmed.

The film, which has wrapped after a five-week shoot in London, is the first major title for new sales agent and financier Architect, set up by former Embankment Films executives Calum Gray and Max Pirkis. The company will launch the title at this month’s European Film Market, which runs alongside the Berlin Film Festival.

A BAFTA Breakthrough, Grierson and BIFA-nominated documentary director, Daisy-May Hudson’s previous film was the acclaimed documentary feature “Half Way.”

“Lollipop” follows Molly (Sterling), a young woman who having just been released from prison struggles to regain custody of her children from the state. When she bumps into her childhood friend Amina (Ahmed) the two women soon realize their only chance is to join...

Rodrigo Santoro – Hector in “Westworld,” Xerxes in “300”– leans forward in his chair during a Zoom interview almost touching the screen, such is his excitement. “It’s absolutely extraordinary, the accomplishment. What they did, what this man did. The mission seemed completely impossible.”

Santoro is talking about Ferdinand Magellan, whom he plays in Prime Video’s “Boundless,” directed by Simon West, also starring Alvaro Morte, the Professor in “Money Heist,” and Zdf Studios and Rtve’s banner title at this year’s Mipcom.

West calls the series his “passion project.” For anybody interested in the Age of Discovery, Magellan’s circumnavigation of the world, completed by Basque Juan Sebastián Elcano, is the voyage of voyages, the greatest feat in maritime history, writes historian Laurence Bergreen.

“Boundless” (“Sin limites”) is first and foremost, West insists, entertainment, here epic unflagging, historic adventure for the whole family. Rejected by Portugal’s Manuel 1, Magellan...

Germany’s Zdf Studios has boarded six-part series “Boundless,” (“Sin Límites”), an epic adventure tale of the first circumnavigation of the world 500 years ago whose backers include Spanish pubic broadcaster Rtve.

Directed by Simon West, “Boundless” stars Alvaro Morte, the Professor in “Money Heist,” as Spaniard Juan Sebastián Elcano and “Westworld’s” Rodrigo Santoro as Portugal’s Ferdinand Magellan.

The six-part series is described by Robert Franke, VP drama, Zdf Studios, as “one of the biggest and most ambitious dramas that Zdf Studios has ever had the pleasure of being involved with.”

“Boundless” is produced by Miguel Menéndez de Zubillaga (“Loving Pablo”) for Madrid-based Mono Films (“Descarrilados”) in co-production with Leo Pearlman and Heather Greenwood at London’s Fullwell 73. It is co-produced by Patrick Fischer and Richard Kondal.

Backed by Spanish public broadcaster Rtve, it is also one of the biggest Spanish-language plays to date of Amazon’s Prime Video...

Kit Harington is set to star in Fulwell 73’s biopic of Mary Shelley, titled “Mary’s Monster.

Variety first broke the news that the film was in pre-production earlier this year.

Fulwell 73 have teamed with Rose Pictures on the feature, which will go into production in the U.K. this summer.

Clara Rugaard (“I Am Mother”) will play Shelley while Harington is set to play the monster. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (“Coda”) has also joined the cast as Shelley’s husband Percy Bysshe Shelley while Sebastian De Souza (“Normal People”) will play the couple’s friend Lord Byron.

As Variety revealed in January, Farren Blackburn (“Daredevil”) will direct based on a screenplay by Deborah Baxtrom (“Living With Frankenstein”). Stephen Hallett co-writes.

Marius de Vries (“La La Land”) has boarded as executive music producer and executive producer; Fulwell 73’s Leo Pearlman and Heather Greenwood will produce, alongside Rose Picture’s Rose Ganguzza (“Afterschool...

Exclusive: Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) and Kit Harington (Game Of Thrones) are set to star in a new movie about the life and circle of Frankenstein scribe Mary Shelley.

The period film, which will have a contemporary sheen to it, will deal with Mary’s mental struggle to write her seminal novel. Rising Danish actress Rugaard will play Mary Shelley and Harington will be ‘the monster.’

The film’s official synopsis reads: “Mary is seduced by her own inner monster catapulting her into a dangerous, destructive psychological romance. Realising the monster is inextricably linked to her own mental state, her only route to salvation is in bringing him to life”.

Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (Coda) will play Mary’s husband Percy Bysshe Shelley and Sebastian de Souza (Normal People) will play Byron. Additional casting is underway.

Described by producers as a “high-concept, rock’n’roll take” on the Romantic period, the...

The project is made with Spanish firm Elcano.

UK film and TV outfit Fulwell 73 has wrapped production on Simon West’s Boundless, which has been made as a feature-length film and three-part TV series for Amazon Prime Video and Spanish broadcaster Rtve.

Both the feature-length work and series will be released in 2022 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and Spanish broadcaster Rtve.

Westworld star Rodrigo Santoro and Money Heist’s Alvaro Morte headline the cast.

The project is Fulwell 73’s first foray into international production and is co-produced by Spain’s Elcano with backing from Etb, Canal Sur and Gazprom-Media Kit Group.

Steve McQueen and Michaela Coel shows dominate with eight awards.

Steve McQueen’s Small Axe and Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You were the big winners at the Bafta Craft Awards, taking home eight of the 21 awards between them.

Small Axe, the BBC1 drama anthology about the lives of West Indian immigrants in 1960s, 70s and 80s London, claimed five gongs including: JoJo Williams for make-up & hair design; Jacqueline Durran for costume design; Helen Scott for production design; Shabier Kirchner for photography & lighting: fiction and Gary Davy for scripted casting.

Coel’s BBC1/HBO true-life inspired dramedy about a...

IFC Midnight has an excellent track record with their horror acquisitions, so you'll want to add A Banquet to the list of movies to keep on your radar. Due out in 2021, the movie is the feature debut from Ruth Paxton and stars Sienna Guillory. Here's the official press release from IFC:

"IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring North American rights to A Banquet, the feature debut from Ruth Paxton, whose award-winning short films have been exhibited and nominated in competition at numerous prominent film festivals worldwide. A Banquet is a visually arresting, slow-burning psychological horror that uses subtle supernatural elements to create tension within a family in the midst of a breakdown, exploiting the complicated bond between three generations of mothers and daughters.

The film stars Sienna Guillory, British rising stars Jessica Alexander (Get Even) and Ruby Stokes, and award-winning actress Lindsay Duncan Cbe. A Banquet will...

Exclusive: IFC Midnight has acquired the North American distribution rights A Banquet. The indie horror hails from first-time feature director Ruth Paxton and is set to be released sometime next year.

Starring Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil film series), Jessica Alexander (Get Even), Ruby Stokes (Rocks), and, Lindsay Duncan (Made in Italy), the pic follows a widowed mother Holly (Guillory) who is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs.

Leonora Darby, Mark Lane, and James Harris of Tea Shop Productions (47 Meters Down) produced the pic with Nik Bower for Riverstone Pictures (At Eternity’s Gate) and Laure Vaysse (Billie) for Rep Productions 8, which also funded the production.

Filming has wrapped on the feature, which stars Sienna Guillory and Jessica Alexander

HanWay Films has acquired world sales rights to Ruth Paxton’s psychological horror A Banquet, which wrapped filming last month.

The London-based sales company will begin discussing the project with buyers during the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival and AFM.

A Banquet marks the feature directorial debut of Scottish filmmaker Paxton, whose previous work includes Paris/Sexy, winner of the best UK short prize at the London Short Film Festival in 2011. Written by Justin Bull, the film was shot on location in London in July and August...

Exclusive: HanWay, 47 Meters Down outfit Tea Shop and Riverstone Pictures (Wind River) are among the team on UK genre pic A Banquet, which will star Resident Evil franchise actress Sienna Guillory.

Recently wrapped in London, the psychological horror also stars Jessica Alexander (Get Even), Ruby Stokes (Rocks) and Lindsay Duncan (Private Lives).

Ruth Paxton’s directorial debut follows widowed mother Holly who is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Above is a first look at the film.

Written by AFI alumnus Justin Bull, the film was shot on location in London during July and August amid strict on-set Covid protocols. HanWay has world rights and will introduce the project to buyers this fall.

Producers are Leonora Darby, Mark Lane and James Harris for Tea Shop Productions, Nik Bower...

The post-production company is now operating entirely remotely.

Patrick Fischer is co-managing director, with mixer Richard Kondal, of UK-based post-production house Creativity Media.

The company works across a host of different formats from Quibi short-form series such as Cup Of Joe, to global theatrical tentpoles including 47 Metres Down and 47 Metres Down: Uncaged and independent film and TV dramas and documentaries which presently include Looted and Sas: Red Notice, as well as sports documentary series Sunderland Till I Die and Flying High, about the Chelsea Football Club’s women’s team.

Creativity Media was acquired by UK production...

Deal follows Fulwell’s acquisition of sister company Creativity Media.

Fulwell 73, the production outfit behind Bros: After The Screaming Stops and Carpool Karaoke, has acquired a minority stake in London-based film finance outfit Creativity Capital.

The move follows Fulwell’s recent purchase of Creativity Capital’s sister company, the post-production house Creativity Media. This is a separate deal and financial details were not disclosed.

As part of the move, Fulwell partner Leo Pearlman, one of the founders alongside Ben Winston, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner, has joined the Creativity Capital board. The latter company continues to be run by...

Creativity co-founders Richard Kondal and Patrick Fischer staying on to oversee combined operation.

Fulwell 73, the UK production outfit behind documentaries One Direction 3D: This is Us and I Am Bolt, is expanding its post-production operations with the acquisition of London-based facility Creativity Media.

Creativity Media has provided post services to 95 films and television shows including McQueen, I Am Not A Witch, Under The Shadow, 47 Meters Down, as well as Fulwell production The Class Of ’92.

The deal will allow Fulwell to move into feature film picture and sound finishing, VFX and delivery. The company already has an internal post-production facility at its London office,...

Exclusive: Company’s debut slate includes Microwave feature Looted.

Film financier Creativity Capital and post-production house Creativity Media are joining forces to set up Riverhouse, a London-based film and TV production company.

The new outfit is launching its slate with Looted, the debut feature of Rene Pannevis, whose short film Jacked was nominated for a Berlin Crystal Bear in 2016.

Looted was commissioned through Film London’s Microwave scheme, the low-budget film initiative that is backed by the BFI, BBC Films and Creative Skillset. Produced by Jennifer Eriksson and Jessie Mangum, the film follows a young man who makes a criminal mistake that will scar him for life.

Also on the Riverhouse debut slate is Polish thriller Tempelhof, co-produced with Wojciech Stulik of Tfp, a remake of Creativity Media’s 2012 film The List with Barry Films, and a project titled Red Star which is in development with Goalpost Film.

The new outfit will be headed up by [link...

Exclusive: He joins the London post-house from Met Film Post.

London post-house Creativity Media has appointed Matthew Troughton as its senior colourist and head of picture post-production and technology.

Alongside his work as a colourist, he will oversee the company’s picture post-production department as well as managing its technology and systems.

Troughton joins from Ealing Studios-based Met Film Post where he was head of post production and senior colourist.

His colouring credits include Little Ashes, How To Change The World and the forthcoming Stratton.

Creativity Media was set up in 2010 by Richard Kondal, Patrick Fischer and Alex Joseph. The company has amassed more than 50 credits to date, including 2015 breakout horror Under The Shadow and the forthcoming BBC Films and Harbour Pictures production Swallows And Amazons.

Creative director Richard Kondal commented: “Matt’s eye for the cinematic look has not only created beautiful films but close bonds with many cinematographers and directors. As such we...

Exclusive: The Survivalist producer David Gilbery joins the investment company whose credits include Under The Shadow and The President.

London-based investment firm Creativity Capital has hired David Gilbery as its director of film and media investments.

Gilbery joins from production and finance outfit The Fyzz Facility where he was head of business operations.

Gilbery’s producer credits include recent BAFTA-nominee The Survivalist from Screen Star of Tomorrow director Stephen Fingleton, and Michael Lennox’s A Patch Of Fog.

His executive producer credits include S. Craig Zahler’s Kurt Russell-starring Bone Tomahawk and Ryan Little’s Luke Goss-starring War Pigs.

In his new position, he will work alongside Creativity Capital’s co-founders Patrick Fischer and Richard Kondal with the aim of expanding the finance outfit, which specialises in tax credit lending, pre-sale and Mg lending and Gap lending.

Creativity Capital was founded in 2013 and to-date has invested in the likes of Babak Anvari’s Sundance premiere...

London investment firm Creativity Capital has made its first production commitment since teaming with venture capital fund Smi, cash-flowing the tax credit on The Hatching.

Giant croc horror-comedy The Hatching, starring Thomas Turgoose, Luara Aikman, Andrew Lee Potts and Deborah Rosan, wrapped in Somerset last week. Director is Michael Anderson.

The deal was negotiated by Creativity Capital principals Patrick Fischer and Richard Kondal together with The Hatching’s producers Chantelle de Carvalho and Nigel Wooll.

Representing Creativity Capital was Sam Tatton-Brown at Lee and Thompson with Lee Stone representing the producers.

Exclusive: Creativity Media subsidiary gets £2m facility from Schneider Media Investments.

Fledgling financier Creativity Capital, a subsidiary of post-production outfit Creativity Media, has secured a £2m revolving credit facility with London-based financier Schneider Media Investments (Smi).

Creativity Capital, launched in spring 2013 and run by managing director Patrick Fischer, investment director Richard Kondal and investment executives Adam Lewin and Arjun Rose, provides loan finance and consultancy on film and TV projects.

As part of the deal Smi has acquired a minority stake in post specialist Creativity Media and Smi’s Sonny Schneider joins the Creativity Media board of directors.

The deal was negotiated by Creative Media co-founders Fischer and Kondal with Rose and Schneider.

Creativity Media has provided post-production services to twenty-two films including The Anomaly, Get Lucky and The Hooligan Factory for Universal; Fast Girls for Studiocanal; Plastic for Paramount; Tower Block and I Am Soldier for Lionsgate; and Anuvahood and Sket for Revolver Entertainment, as well as...