‘PRECIOUS PEARL’ DEBUT ON TELEMUNDO

Globo’s 2014 International Emmy winning telenovela ‘Precious Pearl’ had its US debut on 31 Aug, 2015 on NBCU’s Spanish language network, Telemundo. A mega production by the Brazilian media giant that was shot in the locales in Himalayas and features period sets & costumes, ‘Precious Pearl’ reached an average of 26 million viewers a day in Brazil, per audience measurement org Ibope. It takes over the 12 pm ET slot of ‘The Clone’, the original Brazilian production that was also remade into a groundbreaking co -production between Globo & Telemundo, the biggest production in Telemundo’s history. Produced by Bogota based RTI Prods, ‘The Clone’ remake, which aired at primetime on Telemundo, was shot in HD in Morocco, Miami & Colombia. Both companies have also co – produced ‘My Dear Handyman’, a re – telling of “Looks & Essence” by Aguinaldo Silva. ‘Precious Pearl’ centers on a love story between working class Amelia (Bianca Bin) & millionaire Franz Hauser (Bruno Gagliasso) & little Pearl, the daughter they have despite opposition from both families & society.

WRITERS GUILD JOINS THE BLACK LIST

Spain’s writers’ guild ALMA Sindicato de Guionistas as of today has become officially partnered with The Black List, marking the 2nd non English language writers’ org after Italy’s Writers Guild Italia whose members’ scripts will have the opportunity to appear on the prestigious Hollywood based online scripts database. The agreement, which will open up new avenues for Spanish scribes, follows similar partnerships The Black List has with Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), Writers Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) & Writers Guild of Ireland (WGIR). All ALMA members will now be able to list their scripts online in The Black List, adding their script titles, loglines, tags & representative information and also monitor their work’s ratings & user traffic. They will also receive a 20% discount on all Black List paid services, which are script hosting & evaluations.

UK

LONDON FILM FEST UNVEILS LINEUP

Netflix’s ‘Beasts Of No Nation’ is set to continue its festivals run with a slot in the official competition section of the BFI London Film Festival, which runs 7th to 18 Oct, 2015. The full program for 59th edition of LFF was revealed recently by fest director Clare Stewart and will include the European premieres of Jay Roach’s ‘Trumbo’, John Crowley’s ‘Brooklyn’ & Nicholas Hytner’s ‘The Lady In The Van’ as sponsor gala screenings. Ben Wheatley’s ‘High – Rise’ & Scott Cooper’s ‘Black Mass’ were also announced to receive sponsor galas, while the fest will see special presentations of Guy Maddin & Evan Johnson’s ‘The Forbidden Room’ and the European premiere of Davis Guggenheim’s documentary ‘He Named Me Malala’. As previously announced, the fest will open & close with European premieres of Sarah Gavron’s ‘Suffragette’ & Danny Boyle’s ‘Steve Jobs’, respectively. Anthony Asquith’s 1928 silent film ‘Shooting Stars’ is the Archive Gala.

PECCADILLO TO RELEASE ‘CHEMSEX’

Distributor Peccadillo Pictures is to give a theatrical release to Vice Media’s hard hitting documentary film ‘Chemsex’ in UK & Ireland in Nov, 2015. Traversing a dark underworld of intravenous drug use & weekend long sex parties, ‘Chemsex’ tells the story of a group of men battling with HIV, drug addiction and finding acceptance in a changing world and one health worker who has made it his mission to save them. The film, directed by Vice’s Will Fairman & Max Gogarty, explores the lives & fortunes of a group of men actively taking part in the chemsex lifestyle and those who have come out the other end and survived. With unprecedented access to chemsex parties UK health service’s only chemsex support clinic, 56 Dean Street in London, the film seeks to understand complex issues at heart of the story, exploring notions such as internalized shame, cycles of self destruction & redemption. Peccadillo chairman Tom Abell said: “The chemsex issue is relatively unknown amongst audiences and we hope that by bringing it to light, it will push more healthcare professionals, like 56 Dean Street’s David Stuart, to take note & enable change.”

6 MALE TEENS ARRESTED

British law enforcement officials have arrested 6 male teenagers suspected of being members of the Lizard Squad hacking crew that disabled Sony’s PlayStation Network & Microsoft’s Xbox Live last year. UK’s National Crime Agency, equivalent to US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation, said the suspects used a tool to launch distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks to cripple online servers of “gaming companies” as well as e -retailers, a national British newspaper and a school. The NCA did not identify the targeted companies but reports said that the arrests are related to several attacks on PlayStation & Xbox networks last year. Amazon also was among the sites attacked by the group, Bloomberg reported. The NCA’s Operation Vivarium tracked down individuals who bought Lizard Stresser, software for launching DDoS attacks that flood servers with bogus data, using payment services such as Bitcoin to remain anonymous. The suspects detained for questioning this week are all between the ages of 15 & 18. “This multiagency operation illustrates the commitment of NCA and its partners to pursuing people who think they can criminally disrupt important public services or legitimate businesses.”

ARMANDO URGES UK POLITICIANS

British satirist Armando Lannucci the creator of HBO show ‘Veep’ & co -creator of Alan Partridge has warned that the British Government risks undermining UK TV sector through its sustained attack on BBC. He urged UK politicians to stop ignoring TV production sector and called on the British television business to become more commercial overseas. Delivering MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh International Fest, Lannucci, who was born in Scotland, said that Americans to whom he’s spoken think the British are “going mad” as they read daily stories of “powering down” UK’s television service. Dismantling BBC is “madness,” said the program maker, who has spent the majority of his career working for public broadcaster and to which he said he owed his professional life. Repeating his view that BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, should be privatized, Lannucci warned that the new UK Conservative Government risked sapping the strength of a world class content industry.

CHANNEL 4 ORDERS SERIES ON CELEBRITY SEX ABUSE SCANDAL

UK broadcaster Channel 4 hopes to boost its credentials for challenging drama with a new show that fictionalizes sexual abuse in showbiz. “National Treasure” announced at the Edinburgh Television Festival by Channel 4’s chief creative officer Jay Hunt, is a 4 part series examining accusations of sexual misconduct against a fictional aging TV celeb. It is written by the BAFTA & Royal Television Society award winning playwright Jack Thorne and executive produced by long standing UK drama producer George Faber. Story focuses on the fictional Paul Finchley, one half of a much loved comedy double act, a national treasure despite Finchley’s career being on the wane. One day his world changes forever when he is accused of raping a woman in the 1970s. Said Thorne: “‘National Treasure’ is a piece about doubt, about the smell of abuse…….Paul is a man who could be innocent or guilty. We’re going to examine him from all sides and ask that big question how well do we know the people closest to us?” Faber added: “In recent years we’ve been bombarded with revelations about the historic sex offences of people in the public eye and the lives that they’ve destroyed. This fictional drama explores the emotional impact on both a family that finds itself in the eye of such a media story, and on the accuser.

EUROPE

‘DAYS’ SET TO RETURN TO EUROPEAN FILM MARKET

The European Film Market will host a 2nd iteration of its Drama Series ‘Days’ initiative in 2016, following its launch in Berlin in Feb this year. The sophomore edition will once again be hosted by the EFM, the industry platform of the Berlin International Film Festival, with its Berlinale Co -Production Market division and is set to take place on 15th & 16th Feb. 15 next year. The 2016 Drama Series ‘Days’ will introduce high quality documentary series as part of its program of screenings & events, which will cater to the interest of documentary industry delegates at the EFM’s Meet the Docs platform. The 1st edition in 2015 included a panel program, market screenings & networking events and was met with enthusiasm by both film & television delegates in Berlin. The 2016 edition will follow a similar format offering further opportunities to strengthen connections within the rapidly developing network of the European & international television industries, in cooperation with partners such as Film- und Medienstiftung NRW & Series Mania Co – production Forum in Paris.

NBCU RESTRUCTURES BIZ IN EUROPE

NBCUniversal International has created a multi – territory, regional hub aligning its distribution & networks business in Europe, Middle East & Africa. This follows the creation of regional hubs in Latin America & Asia. Satpal Brainch has been promoted to the newly created role of managing director, distribution & networks, EMEA. In this role, Brainch will lead the company’s television business across Europe, Middle East & Africa; he’ll drive both content distribution & channels for the region from the company’s London headquarters. Carolyn Stalins has been appointed senior VP, distribution, EMEA. Stalins will relocate from Paris to the company’s London headquarters to lead NBCUI’s content distribution across the region, reporting to Brainch. “Evolving our EMEA structure is a key milestone aligning with our successful approach in Latin America & Asia ensuring that we are optimally positioned to harness opportunities across the region for both distribution & networks” said Belinda Menendez, president, NBCUI distribution & networks. Don McGregor, exec VP, international distribution who continues to lead & oversee NBCU International’s distribution & new media business will “bring focus to maximizing the company’s sales strategy” by taking on the additional responsibility of “driving sales solutions.” In this expanded role, McGregor will relocate from London to Los Angeles in Nov, 2015, where he’ll work more closely with the company’s L.A based functions, including product, marketing & research. Brainch was previously executive VP & managing director, NBCU International Networks, responsible for the overall business strategy of NBCUniversal International Networks’ portfolio including Universal Channel, E!, Syfy, 13th Street, Studio Universal & Diva.

SPAIN

FORTISSIMO PICKS UP ‘THE BRIDE’

Fortissimo Films has acquired international sales rights to Paula Ortiz’s Spanish epic tragedy ‘La Novia”, which world preems at the upcoming San Sebastian Film Fest’s Zabaltegi sidebar. A free adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s acclaimed stage play “Blood Wedding”, ‘The Bride’ transposes to the white desert of Turkey’s Cappadocia the tragic story of the illicit & passionate love triangle between a bride who abandons her groom, unable to ignore her growing desire for her lover Leonardo. They escape into the forest pursued by the groom, who seeks violent revenge. Pic toplines Spanish thesps Inma Cuesta, Asier Etxeandia & Alex Garcia. The feature debut of Get in the Picture Productions, a Barcelona based outfit launched in 2012 by partners Paula Ortiz, Alex Lafuente & Rosana Tomas, ‘The Bride’ is co – produced with Spain’s REC Films, Turkey’s Mantar Film & Cine Chromatix in Germany.

TELEFE INTERNATIONAL BRINGS ‘STORY OF A CLAN’

Awaited real life inspired crime miniseries ‘Story Of A Clan’ figures among the highlights of Argentine distribution house Telefe International’s lineup at October’s Mipcom TV. A 11 episode 1 hour skein, ‘Story Of A Clan’ turns on the Puccio family which, in the early ’80s, perpetrated a string of abduction / murders against people they knew in a high profile case that shocked Argentina at the time. Produced by Sebastian Ortega’s TV outfit Underground Producciones, whose credits include 2007’s global TV hit comedy ‘Lalola’, miniseries is set to be aired by Argentine’s broadcaster Telefe in Sept, 2015 as one of country’s biggest TV fiction bets of the fall. ‘Story Of A Clan’ stars Cecilia Roth, Chino Darín, Ricardo Darin’s son; Alejandro Awada & Nazareno Casero. Expectations on the miniseries have increased after the theatrical release on 13Aug, of Pablo Trapero’s feature film ‘El Clan’, also based on the family Puccio, that, handled by Twentieth Century Fox, sold 1.13 million tickets in its 1st 9 days, scoring an all time record in Argentina.

GERMANY

‘LABYRINTH OF LIES’ TO BE ACADEMY AWARDS ENTRY

‘Labyrinth Of Lies’ will represent Germany as its entry for foreign language film Oscar. Giulio Ricciarelli’s debut feature, which is distributed in US by Sony Pictures Classics, centers on a young public prosecutor, Johann Radmann, who sets out in the 1950s to expose the full story behind the mass killings at Auschwitz. This led to the 1st Auschwitz trial in Frankfurt, in the face of great political & social opposition in West Germany. Alexander Fehling plays Radmann, for which he won the Bavarian Film Award for “Best Actor”. The decision was made by an independent 9 person jury appointed by German Films and announced by jury representative Dagmar Hirtz in Munich recently. In a statement, the jury described the film as a “precisely researched” drama that is both “gripping & touching.” It added: “Alexander Fehling convinces with his intensive performance as a public prosecutor searching for truth & justice in the film.” The film’s producers are Uli Putz & Jakob Claussen for Claussen+Putz Filmproduktion & Sabine Lamby for Naked Eye Filmproduction. It received its world premiere at the Toronto Film Fest last year. Beta Cinema, which is handling international sales, has sold the film to 118 countries. Sony Pictures Classics is planning a US theatrical release on 30th Sept, 2015.

NICO APPOINTED CO – CEO

FremantleMedia has appointed German film producer Nico Hofmann as co – CEO of UFA Group, the company’s German production arm. Hofmann will form a new joint leadership team for UFA with current CEO Wolf Bauer, with Hofmann set to take over as sole CEO in Sept, 2017. The pair will both serve on the FremantleMedia Operating Board. Hofmann & Bauer will share overall management responsibilities with dedicated responsibilities for certain operations & units. They will have joint responsibility for the holding company and will both play a key role within the FremantleMedia global network, working closely with the global production, licensing & sales operations. “After 25 years of leading UFA to its outstanding market position, Wolf proposed to me a succession plan which made sense for both Wolf and the business and I happily accepted,” said FremantleMedia CEO, Cecile Frot -Coutaz.

BERTELSMANN REPORTS HIGHEST FIGURES

European media giant Bertelsmann has seen a strong 1st half of the year in 2015, reporting revenues at €8.04 billion ($9 billion), the company’s highest figure since 2007. It’s a 2.5% year – on – year hike for German media conglom, which owns Europe’s largest broadcaster RTL Group, music rights company BMG, book publisher Penguin Random House, magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr and FremantleMedia, which produces & distributes shows like ‘X – Factor’, ‘Idol’ & ‘Got Talent’. “Group profits were up nearly 55% at $446 million (€398 million) in the 1st half of 2015, driven by RTL Group’s good business in Germany and its continued digital expansion while numerous bestsellers from Penguin Random House such as Paula Hawkins’ debut tome “The Girl On The Train” & E. L. James’ newest publication “Grey” also helped boost group figures. RTL Group, which owns FremantleMedia, accounted for $3.13 billion in revenues for Bertelsmann. The subsidiary has been moving aggressively into the digital arena, having recently acquired French online outfit Oxygem.