Recent articles
September 2, 2026
Venice Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal Says Films Are ‘Fundamentally, Unavoidably Political’ and Questions Lack of Female Directors in Competition: ‘There’s a Systemic Problem’
It didn’t take long for politics to take the spotlight at this year’s Venice Film Festival jury press conference. Amid the wars raging in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as the unrest in the United State...
variety.com
September 1, 2026
Venice Chief Alberto Barbera on the Fest’s Lineup Missing Israeli Films: ‘We Have No Prejudice Against Anyone Anywhere in the World’
Venice Film Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera spoke candidly Tuesday about the political pressures surrounding this year’s edition, while making clear that the fest has no intention of shy...
variety.com
August 31, 2026
‘Paradise Lost’ From ‘Train to Busan’ Director Yeon Sang-ho Acquired by Well Go USA Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE)
“Paradise Lost,” the latest mystery-thriller from “Train to Busan” and “Hellbound” filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, has been bought by Well Go USA Entertainment ahead of its world premiere at Toronto. “Para...
variety.com
August 31, 2026
Isabelle Huppert Vampire Film ‘The Blood Countess’ Bought for North America (EXCLUSIVE)
Strand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Ulrike Ottinger’s “The Blood Countess,” the baroque black comedy starring Isabelle Huppert as the legendary Countess Elizabeth Báthory. The fi...
variety.com
August 29, 2026
Venice Film Festival Jury Press Conference ‘Probably Not’ Happening Due to Scheduling, Will Replace Event With Welcome Cocktails for Journalists
The Venice Film Festival is weighing scrapping its traditional opening jury press conference on the Lido. The festival, which kicks off Sept. 2 with the world premiere of Danny Boyle’s “Ink,” told ...
variety.com
August 26, 2026
YouTube’s Pedro Pina Says Platform Can Fuel Britain’s Next TV ‘Golden Age,’ Unveils $4 Million Pledge: We’re ‘Not the Villain’
Pedro Pina, YouTube’s vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, used this year’s James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival to challenge the narrative that the platform...
variety.com
August 26, 2026
Wim-Wenders Produced ‘I’ll Be Gone in June’ Bought for North America After Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
KimStim has acquired all North American rights to Katharina Rivilis’ debut feature “I’ll Be Gone in June,” following its world premiere at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard. Set in Las Cruces, New Mexico, ...
variety.com
August 26, 2026
France Faces Thorny Oscar Submission Choice With Andrey Zvyagintsev’s ‘Minotaur’ and Homegrown Contenders
France’s Oscar submission race for 2027 is shaping up around one particularly thorny question: What happens to a major film by an exiled filmmaker when no other country is realistically positioned ...
variety.com
August 26, 2026
Stephen Colbert Urges Emmy Voters to Back Jimmy Kimmel: ‘Look How Cute He Is!’
With Emmy voting drawing to a close, Stephen Colbert has thrown his support behind Jimmy Kimmel in the newly revamped outstanding cariety series race, even though Colbert’s own late-night show is c...
variety.com
August 25, 2026
Woody Allen’s New Madrid-Set Movie Comes With Millions in Public Funding — and a Few Strings Attached
Over the past two decades, Woody Allen has delivered a string of cinematic love letters to Europe — from Barcelona to Rome to Paris — some of them carrying the glossy allure of tourist postcards. H...
variety.com
August 25, 2026
Oscars: Belgium Selects Lukas Dhont’s Cannes Prizewinning ‘Coward’ for International Feature Race
Lukas Dhont’s “Coward,” which won the best actor prize at Cannes for Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne, will represent Belgium in the international feature film race at the 99th Academy Awards...
variety.com
August 24, 2026
Toronto Midnight Madness Title ‘Vintage Violence,’ Starring Cole Sprouse and Kiko Mizuhara, Boarded by Best Friend Forever (EXCLUSIVE)
Best Friend Forever has boarded international sales on Eugene Kotlyarenko’s “Vintage Violence,” starring Cole Sprouse (“Riverdale”) and Kiko Mizuhara, ahead of the film’s world premiere at Toronto’...
variety.com
August 24, 2026
California Attorney General Cancels Paramount Settlement Talks Over $111 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Deal, Says He’ll Meet When They ‘Stop Playing Games’
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has canceled planned settlement talks with Paramount over the state’s lawsuit seeking to block David Ellison’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros...
variety.com
August 6, 2026
After U.K. Approval of Paramount-WBD Deal, European Media Leaders Rally Behind David Ellison: ‘The Industry Will Be Stronger’
The U.K.’s decision to clear Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has been broadly welcomed by European industry players. U.K. exhibitors, media executi...
variety.com
August 5, 2026
Cannes Critics’ Week Film ‘Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building’ Sells to Strand Releasing for North America (EXCLUSIVE)
Strand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Bruno Santamaria Razo’s debut feature “Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building,” the Mexican coming-of-age drama that premiered at Critics’ Wee...
variety.com
August 3, 2026
France’s TF1 Explores Sale of Production-Distribution Group Studio TF1 as Broadcaster Doubles Down on Streaming
Just a year and a half after rebranding its production-distribution group into Studio TF1, France’s leading commercial network TF1 has quietly put it on the market, Variety has confirmed. The broad...
variety.com
July 31, 2026
Emmanuel Macron to Host Ted Sarandos, Donna Langley, Dana Walden and Pierre-Antoine Capton Among Global Film Leaders at Lumière Summit (EXCLUSIVE)
French President Emmanuel Macron will bring together some of the world’s most powerful entertainment executives in the medieval hilltop village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence on Sept. 7 for the Lumière Sum...
variety.com
July 31, 2026
Inside Netflix and Prime Video’s Fight to Reshape France’s Streaming Rules: ‘It’s an Unsustainable Equation’
While Canal+ has just agreed to invest more than $1.1 billion in French and European films over the next five years, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are fighting in court and behind closed doors to ...
variety.com
July 29, 2026
Kavinsky, French Producer and DJ Behind ‘Drive’ Opening Song ‘Nightcall,’ Dies at 50
Kavinsky, the French electro music producer and DJ whose hypnotic anthem “Nightcall” became a cult classic after opening Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 film “Drive,” died on Tuesday. He was 50. The ar...
variety.com
July 28, 2026
Canal+ Group’s Revenue Jumps 40% as MultiChoice Deal Boosts Earnings and Subscriptions
Canal+ Group, the parent company of “Paddington” producer Studiocanal, saw its revenue climb 40% to €4.3 billion ($4.8 billion) for the first half of 2026, boosted by the acquisition of MultiChoice...
variety.com
July 27, 2026
Canal+ Seals Landmark Pact to Invest Nearly $1.1 Billion in French and European Films
Canal+ has reached a five-year deal with French cinema organizations which will see the pay-TV powerhouse invest nearly €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in French and European films between 2028 and 2032....
variety.com
July 24, 2026
‘Emilia Pérez’ Director Jacques Audiard Reunites With Netflix for Horror Film (EXCLUSIVE)
After “Emilia Pérez” scored a best picture nomination at last year’s Oscars, Netflix is reuniting with French director Jacques Audiard on his next project, which will be an elevated horror film. Ne...
variety.com
July 23, 2026
Iranian Director Mohsen Gharaei’s ‘Falling House’ Boarded by Paradise City Sales Ahead of Venice Premiere
Paradise City Sales has boarded worldwide sales on Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Gharaei’s latest feature, “Falling House” which is set to world premiere in the Horizons section at the Venice Film Festi...
variety.com
July 23, 2026
Venice Film Festival Sees Sharp Drop in Female Directors in Competition, With May El-Toukhy Standing Solo
The Venice Film Festival has suffered its steepest decline in female representation in five years, with just one woman director selected for this edition’s main competition. It marks a dramatic fal...
variety.com
July 22, 2026
France’s National Film Board to Reduce Funding for Productions That Fail Gender Equality Targets
France’s National Film Board (CNC) is taking an extra step towards affirmative action with the launch of a measure that will reduce public funding for production that fall short on diversity target...
variety.com
July 21, 2026
France’s Elsa Zylberstein Draws on Viral Lockdown Sketches for Directorial Debut ‘My Best Life’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Elsa Zylberstein, one of France’s most popular actors, is set to make her directorial debut with “My Best Life.” The film is a comedy-drama inspired by “Mytho du soir,” the viral series of sketches...
variety.com
July 20, 2026
World Cup Final Ratings Skyrocket Across Europe, Despite England and France Losses
The 2026 FIFA World Cup once again demonstrated the value of home-team interest to broadcasters, with television audiences across Europe skyrocketing when national teams were still alive in the tou...
variety.com
July 15, 2026
Chris Meledandri, George Lucas, Jodie Foster and Sigourney Weaver Receive France’s Prestigious Legion of Honor
French President Emmanuel Macron honored five major figures in international cinema at a ceremony held at the Élysée Palace in Paris on July 15: Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri, the p...
variety.com
July 10, 2026
France Televisions Unveils Slate Led by ‘La Haine’ Stage Adaptation, #MeToo Film ‘Triple Peine,’ Robust Presidential Election Coverage: ‘Public Service Belongs to No Camp’
Mathieu Kassovitz’s landmark 1995 film “La Haine” is heading to television in a new form, with French broadcaster France Télévisions set to air the stage adaptation “La Haine, sur scène – Jusqu’ici...
variety.com
July 10, 2026
French Box Office Surges Nearly 20% in First Half of 2026 as Local Films and Hollywood Hits Drive Recovery
France’s theatrical market delivered a strong first half of 2026, grossing an estimated €680 million ($776 million) from nearly 92 million admissions, a 19.7% year-on increase, driven by a broad mi...
variety.com