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January 21, 2026
Unifrance 10 to Watch 2026: Ugo Bienvenue, Thomas Ngijol, Anna Cazenave Cambet, Ella Rumpf, Guillaume Marbeck, Valentine Cadic, Salif Cissé Among Voices Leading French Cinema
Unifrance, the French promotional film organization, celebrated rising stars at this year’s Rendez-Vous in Paris. The 10 up-and-coming actors and filmmakers named 2026’s Talents to Watch kicked thi...
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January 21, 2026
‘Yes!’ Director Nadav Lapid Preparing France-Based Follow-Up to Berlin-Winning ‘Synonyms’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Dissident filmmaker Nadav Lapid will shoot his next feature in France, describing the project — still in the earliest stages of development — as a thematic echo of his Paris-set Berlin Golden Bear ...
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January 21, 2026
Rising Stars Théodore Pellerin, Felix Kysyl, Filippo Scotti Board Queer Palace Intrigue Thriller ‘By the King’s Favor’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Rising star Théodore Pellerin (“Nino,” “Beau Is Afraid,” “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld”) will star opposite Félix Kysyl (“Misericordia”) and Filippo Scotti (“The Hand of God”) in the queer-tinged palace...
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January 21, 2026
Cannes Winner Hafsia Herzi to Star in Larrieu Brothers’ ‘La Foudre,’ Developing Leila Slimani Adaption ‘Adele’ to Direct (EXCLUSIVE)
After a whirlwind 2025, actor-director Hafsia Herzi will step before the camera in “La Foudre” (“Lightning”), the latest feature from Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu, while continuing to develop the ...
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January 18, 2026
‘The Seduction’ Star Anamaria Vartolomei Lines Up Polyglot Slate With ‘De Gaulle,’ ‘Miles & Juliette,’ Upcoming Romanian Feature
“The Seduction” star Anamaria Vartolomei is lining up a polyglot year, with projects spanning English, French and Romanian. Born in Bacău, Romania, and raised in Paris, Vartolomei won the César for...
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January 18, 2026
Nadia Tereszkiewicz Lines Up Eco-Thriller ‘Souveraines’ for Director Remi Allier, Films Grand Huit (EXCLUSIVE)
César winner Nadia Tereszkiewicz (“The Crime Is Mine,” “Forever Young”) is set to star in “Souveraines,” the feature debut of acclaimed filmmaker Rémi Allier. Allier won a César for his 2017 short ...
variety.com
January 18, 2026
Filmmaker Cedric Klapisch Collects French Cinema Award at Familial, Culture Ministry Ceremony
Flanked by his closest collaborators, director Cédric Klapisch collected this year’s French Cinema Award at a warm, familial ceremony at France’s Ministry of Culture on Jan. 15. Joined by his longt...
variety.com
January 15, 2026
Inside ‘La Comédie-Française’: Unifrance Rendez-Vous Opener Sends Up France’s Most Elite Arts Institution
The backstage farce “La Comédie-Française” took a well-deserved bow as the opener at this year’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris — an auspicious spotlight for a project not originally meant to be a ...
variety.com
January 15, 2026
Mubi Picks Up Global Rights to ‘Pictures of Ghosts,’ From ‘The Secret Agent’ Director Kleber Mendonça Filho (EXCLUSIVE)
Mubi has acquired global SVOD rights to “Pictures of Ghosts,” a feature documentary by filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, whose “The Secret Agent” is shortlisted in the International Feature Film cat...
variety.com
January 15, 2026
‘Misericordia’ Distributor Janus Films Wins Unifrance Distribution Prize for Robust and Witty Release
Arthouse stalwart Janus Films took home the second annual Unifrance Distribution Prize at this year’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris, collecting $11,646 in recognition of its handling of Alain Guir...
variety.com
January 15, 2026
Menemsha Films Scores U.S. Rights to World War II Drama ‘The Pianist’s Choice’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Boutique distributor Menemsha Films has acquired U.S. rights to “The Pianist’s Choice,” a World War II-set romantic drama written and directed by Jacques Otmezguine. Oscar Lesage, a scene-stealer i...
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January 12, 2026
From ‘Three Musketeers’ to Nicole Kidman Doc, Star Wattage Powers French TV Exports
Star power drove viewers home in 2025, with Eva Green, Romain Duris and Vincent Cassel in “The Three Musketeers: Milady,” Guillaume Canet’s action vehicle “Ad Vitam,” and acclaimed auteur Leos Cara...
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January 12, 2026
‘Flow,’ ‘Emilia Perez’ Push Global Box Office for French Films to $318 Million for 2025
Co-production muscle and Oscar glory burnished French cinema’s global cachet in 2025, as both majority and minority French productions generated an estimated 42.5 million international admissions, ...
variety.com
January 9, 2026
Marion Cotillard, Jean Dujardin, Valerie Donzelli Lead Feature Slate for Auteur Comedy Outfit Ateliers de Production (EXCLUSIVE)
Screen icons Jean Dujardin and Valérie Donzelli are set to headline new features from Atelier de Production, the auteur-comedy-oriented outfit behind this year’s Unifrance Rendezvous in Paris opene...
variety.com
January 7, 2026
Vicky Krieps, Alex Lutz to Star in Elise Girard’s Romantic Drama ‘Emma Doucet’ With Totem on Board as Sales Agent (EXCLUSIVE)
Totem Films has boarded “Emma Doucet,” a wistful romantic drama from “Sidonie in Japan” director Elise Girard. Vicky Krieps will star as Emma, a single mother in her forties juggling work, voluntee...
variety.com
December 7, 2025
Moroccan Talents to Watch: Leyna Tahiri, Driss Ramdi, Youssef Michraf, Meriame Essadak
The Marrakech Film Festival has grown alongside Morocco’s flourishing film industry. When the festival debuted in 2001, the local scene produced just five films a year. Today, that number has surge...
variety.com
December 6, 2025
‘Promised Sky,’ From Director Erige Sehiri, Wins Top Prize at Marrakech Film Festival
Erige Sehiri’s “Promised Sky” won top honors at the Marrakech Film Festival on Saturday, capping a lively year for the Moroccan event, marked by swelling audiences and deeper integration into the g...
variety.com
December 6, 2025
Laurence Fishburne to Direct ‘The Rule of Nines’ With Star André Holland (EXCLUSIVE)
Laurence Fishburne is looking to step back behind the camera and is currently developing a directing project, “The Rule of Nines,” with producer and casting director Bonnie Timmermann (“I Origins,”...
variety.com
December 5, 2025
Guillermo del Toro Stays True to Character at Marrakech Tribute: ‘I’m Still a Very Weird Guy!’
Oscars, honors and accolades be damned — Guillermo del Toro has no intention of changing. “I’m still a very weird guy,” he said while accepting a career tribute at the Marrakech Film Festival on Fr...
variety.com
December 4, 2025
‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Up on Me,’ ‘La Más Dulce,’ ‘Chapa 100’ Score Top Prizes at Atlas Workshops
“Don’t Let the Sun Go Up on Me”, “La Más Dulce,” and “Chapa 1000” claimed the top postproduction and development prizes at this year’s Atlas Workshops, which ran from Nov. 30 – Dec. 5 as part of th...
variety.com
December 4, 2025
Tahar Rahim Leaves ‘Madame Web’ Behind as He Dives Into ‘Les Misérables’ With a ‘Fugitive’-Tinged New Take on Javert and His ‘Face-Off’ With Valjean
Fresh off one of the most ambitious shoots of his career, Tahar Rahim landed at the Marrakech Film Festival buzzing about Fred Cavayé’s dynamic new take on Victor Hugo’s classic “Les Misérables” — ...
variety.com
December 3, 2025
Natalie Portman, Animator Ugo Bienvenue Dream Brighter Future With Awards Contender ‘Arco:’ ‘This Film Needed to Exist’
Few films end with a line that doubles as a mission statement, distilling both the story’s themes and the creators’ intents. “Arco” fits the bill, captured in its final words: “I wish that things w...
variety.com
December 3, 2025
Laurence Fishburne Has Sore Memories of ‘The Matrix’: ‘I Was in Pain All the Time’
Laurence Fishburne has plenty of sore memories from his time in “The Matrix.” “We were essentially the first Western actors to work in the Hong Kong style,” he says of himself and co-stars Keanu Re...
variety.com
November 30, 2025
Virginie Efira Learned Japanese for Next Ryusuke Hamaguchi Film, Teases ‘Astonishing Formal Choices’
Virginie Efira picked up a new skill when working with Ryusuke Hamaguchi: She learned Japanese for the just-wrapped shoot. Recently, she’s been heard to test it out — especially when bolstered by a...
variety.com
November 29, 2025
‘Sirat’ Director Oliver Laxe Looks to Rainforest for Next Film: ‘I’m Very Drawn to the Amazon’
The arid plains might soon give way to something far more verdant for “Sirat” director Oliver Laxe, who is looking to the rainforest for inspiration. “I’m very drawn to the Amazon,” he tells Variet...
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November 28, 2025
‘Cinema Jazireh’ Director Gozde Kural Sets Almodovar-Inspired Sexual Awakening Drama ‘G-Spot of My Soul,’ Soccer Doc Series (EXCLUSIVE)
Following her Afghanistan-set features “Dust” and “Cinema Jazireh,” Turkish auteur Gözde Kural is poised to return home with “G-Spot of My Soul,” an Almodóvar-esque literary adaptation tracking a s...
variety.com
November 27, 2025
‘Behind the Palm Trees’ Director Meryem Benm’barek Refuses to Compromise: ‘I Needed to Maintain Absolute Creative Freedom’
“Behind the Palm Trees” director Meryem Benm’barek is grappling with mixed emotions as her film prepares for its world premiere at the Marrakech Film Festival. On one hand, the Moroccan auteur — wh...
variety.com
November 26, 2025
‘The Mother of All Lies’ Director Asmae El Moudir Prepares Follow-Up ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Up on Me’ With Autlook Filmsales (EXCLUSIVE)
Autlook Filmsales has boarded “Don’t Let the Sun Go Up on Me,” a hybrid documentary from trailblazing Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir, whose “The Mother of All Lies” won Cannes’ best documentary...
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