Recent articles
February 22, 2026
‘Truly Naked’ Team Puts Real Intimacy Above Fake Pleasure: ‘Porn Is Like WWE. It’s the Fantasy That Pays the Bills’
Berlinale hit “Truly Naked” bets on intimacy, not porn. “Porn is very much like WWE. It’s the fantasy that pays the bills. They get in the ring, fight and bleed. But it’s all fake,” adult performer...
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February 20, 2026
David Harewood on Landing First Lead in 40-Year Career in ‘Pierre’ – and Finally Being Number One on the Call Sheet: ‘Exciting Place to Be’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Veteran actor David Harewood, known for “Homeland,” “Sherwood” and “Supergirl,” is finally leading a show with “Pierre.” “It’s my first lead character in a 40-year career, which is quite extraordin...
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February 20, 2026
‘Maxima’ Franchise Expands with First Spin-Off, ‘The Other Royals – A Maxima Story’: ‘There Was So Much More to Tell’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The “Maxima” franchise, inspired by the life of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and starring Delfina Chaves, is getting its first spin-off: “The Other Royals – A Maxima Story.” In the meantime, Se...
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February 19, 2026
The World Needs New Heroes, Argue Creators at Berlinale: ‘We Made This Series Because We Felt Powerless’
“All Heroes Are Bastards,” new series about migrants who gain superpowers and fight against injustice, was born out of frustration. “We made this series because we felt very powerless. We wanted t...
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February 17, 2026
Series Creators Push Back as the Industry Gets ‘Nervous’ About Important Stories and Female Perspective: ‘The Content Might Be Different Enough to Actually Make a Difference’
The industry is getting “nervous about telling important stories.” “It’s becoming extremely safe,” said Andri Omársson, CEO of the Icelandic production company Glassriver.“The line I always get is ...
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February 17, 2026
Team Behind ‘Monyová’ – About Star Writer Murdered by Husband – Announces Domestic Violence Doc Series ‘Love Doesn’t Hurt’: ‘We Want to Empower Women’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The team behind the Berlinale Series Market Selects pick “Monyová,” about the popular 1990s Czech writer Simona Monyová who was murdered by her own husband, will continue to explore the topic of do...
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February 17, 2026
Estonian Cinema Comes Out of Its Shell Led by New Wave of Directors: ‘You Can’t Fake a Heart and We Have It’
“The ball is in your court, Estonia,” said Conan O’Brien during the Oscars after Latvia won its own statuette for “Flow”. Now, a new wave of Estonian directors is coming to stake their claim. “Wit...
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February 17, 2026
‘Enjoy Your Stay’ Director Dominik Locher Exposes the Truth Behind Switzerland’s ‘Postcard Image’ – and Readies for ‘Partner Zone’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Dominik Locher airs Switzerland’s dirty laundry in Berlinale premiere “Enjoy Your Stay” by focusing on its undocumented workers. “These are the people who work in the shadows and still contribute ...
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February 17, 2026
The Baltics Biz Hits France Amid ‘Growing Curiosity’ Toward the Region: ‘We Are Stronger Together’
France is ready for the Baltics, and the rest of the world may follow suit. From CinéBaltique festival in Paris, dedicated to Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian films — and including a tribute to Es...
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February 16, 2026
Kornél Mundruczó Directs ‘Unbelievable’ Amy Adams in ‘At the Sea’ But Has Been ‘Blacklisted in Hungary for Years’: ‘I’m Lucky I’m Able to Work’
Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó directs Amy Adams in the Berlinale competition film “At the Sea,” which might be his most accessible film yet. “I’m just grateful I get to tell my stories in En...
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February 15, 2026
Director Hanna Bergholm and Star Seidi Haarla Talk Berlinale Shocker ‘Nightborn’: ‘We Were Dead Serious While Making It’
Hanna Bergholm’s Finnish chiller “Nightborn” shook up Berlinale’s competition, with some viewers laughing during its violent scenes. But its star, Seidi Haarla, isn’t laughing. “We were dead serio...
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February 14, 2026
The Rich Fall – and ‘Melt Down Like Icarus’ – in Anke Blondé’s ‘Dust’ but Today’s Reality Is ‘Much More Absurd’
Greed is good? Not in Anke Blondé’s “Dust.” Premiering in Berlinale’s main competition, it sees two 1990s Belgian entrepreneurs, Luc and Geert (Jan Hammenecker and Arieh Worthalter), who suddenly l...
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February 13, 2026
In Johnny Flynn, John C. Reilly Starrer ‘A Prayer for the Dying,’ Dara Van Dusen Takes on Epidemics, Wildfires and Immigrants That ‘Built’ the U.S.
Despite its setting in 1870s Wisconsin, Dara Van Dusen’s feature debut, “A Prayer for the Dying,” is an eerily timely story touching on deadly epidemics and wildfires. The film bows in Berlin’s Per...
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February 12, 2026
Series Mania to Open With Disney+ ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Sequel ‘The Testaments’ and Include ‘The Audacity’ With ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Star Simon Helberg
France’s Series Mania, the biggest TV festival in Europe, will open with Disney+ title “The Testaments,” the sequel to the “The Handmaid’s Tale” from Bruce Miller, showrunner of both series. Stars ...
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February 6, 2026
‘Variations on a Theme’ Wins at Rotterdam: ‘Thoughtful and Moving’
“Variations on a Theme,” directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, won the Tiger Competition at International Film Festival Rotterdam. Walking away with the Tiger Award, worth €40,000, the film –...
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February 4, 2026
Charlotte Glynn Takes on the Loss of Identity in ‘The Gymnast’ — and Finds Parallels to Today’s ‘Fascism’ in the U.S.
Set in Pittsburgh in the early 1990s, “The Gymnast” follows a young athlete who, after a life-changing accident, loses her identity — much like her city. But director Charlotte Glynn, who also grew...
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January 29, 2026
Ruben Östlund Admits He Bought a Plane to Make ‘The Entertainment System Is Down,’ Cast Keanu Reeves as an Electrician and Says It’s About Today’s Society: ‘We’re Harming Ourselves and We Know It’
Oscar nominee Ruben Östlund opened up about his upcoming seventh feature “The Entertainment System Is Down.” It follows passengers on a long-haul flight who are suddenly forced to confront their bo...
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January 29, 2026
There’s More to Rotterdam Than ‘Edgy and Unconventional Cinema,’ Say Festival Heads Vanja Kaludjercic and Clare Stewart: ‘We Want to Be Accessible’
International Film Festival Rotterdam is known for its highbrow programming, but that’s not all it offers viewers, argues festival director Vanja Kaludjercic. “The perception of IFFR as an event wi...
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January 29, 2026
Bendita Film Sales Acquires Welf Reinhart’s Rotterdam Premiere ‘A Fading Man’: ‘It’s About a Love Story’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Bendita Film Sales has boarded “A Fading Man” ahead of its world premiere in Rotterdam Film Festival’s Tiger Competition. The film, directed by Welf Reinhart in his feature debut, follows married ...
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January 28, 2026
Noomi Rapace Talks ‘Angry’ Public Image, Dedicates Nordic Honorary Dragon Award to Son Lev: ‘My Closest Witness’
Noomi Rapace discussed her “angry” public image at Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival. “The first time I went to the U.S., well, the Americans can be blunt. They would say: ‘Oh, you are funny. You are...
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January 27, 2026
‘Queen of F*cking Everything’ Creator Tiina Lymi Readies for a New Show – And For ‘King of F*cking Everything’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The king is dead. Long live the “King of Fucking Everything”. Finnish director and screenwriter Tiina Lymi will continue her hit show “Queen of Fucking Everything” in an upcoming feature film dedi...
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January 26, 2026
Poland’s New Horizons International Film Festival Names Dorota Lech as New Director (EXCLUSIVE)
Poland’s New Horizons International Film Festival has appointed Dorota Lech as its new festival director. Polish-born film curator, script consultant and writer, Lech has worked for the Toronto In...
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January 21, 2026
Danish Actor-Turned-Director Marijana Janković Finally Goes ‘Home’ as Her Feature Debut Sells to Multiple Territories: ‘It’s Not Just My Story’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Marijana Janković’s personal feature debut “Home” – set to world premiere at IFFR and handled by TrustNordisk – has sold to Bulgaria (Beta Film), the Baltics (Estinfilm OÜ) and Singapore (September...
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January 15, 2026
Berlinale Series Market: Ken Burns’ ‘American Revolution,’ Titles From Ruben Östlund and Alonso Ruizpalacios Score Selection
Berlinale Series Market Selects will welcome 17 scripted shows and three docu-series this year, including Ken Burns’ latest offering “The American Revolution,” co-directed with Sarah Botstein and D...
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January 15, 2026
Director Alli Haapasalo Talks High-Profile Göteborg Debut ‘Tell Everyone,’ a Period Drama That’s ‘Just as Relevant’ Today as Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE)
In her latest drama “Tell Everyone” Finnish director Alli Haapasalo – also known for Sundance hit ‘Girl Picture’ – goes back to the year 1898. But she found few differences between the past and the...
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January 12, 2026
Locarno Hit ‘Blue Heron’ by Sophy Romvari Sells to Multiple Territories: ‘I Don’t Make Films Just for Myself’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Sophy Romvari’s award-winning drama “Blue Heron” has sold to Spain (Flamingo Films), Benelux (Cherry Pickers), Turkey (Kinova Art Distribution) and France (Potemkine Films), sales agent MoreThan Fi...
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January 9, 2026
Berlin Golden Bear Prizewinner Dag Johan Haugerud and ‘Sami Blood’ Director Amanda Kernell Present Projects at Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market (EXCLUSIVE)
The 27th edition of the Göteborg Festival’s Nordic Film Market, taking place over Jan. 28 – 30, is readying for a starry edition, welcoming new projects by “Sami Blood” director Amanda Kernell (“Br...
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January 7, 2026
Sweden’s Göteborg Festival Announces Lineup Ahead of Transforming Into ‘Meeting Place for Film Lovers’
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival has announced its 2026 lineup. As observed by Artistic Director Pia Lundberg, the 49th edition – unspooling from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1 – will feature “266 films from a...
variety.com
December 12, 2025
Cannes Critics’ Week Highlights 10 Filmmakers for Feature Development Program Next Step
Cannes Critics’ Week is highlighting 10 filmmakers – and their 10 projects – during the 12th edition of the Next Step workshop, which comes to a climax with an Industry Day in Paris where cineastes...
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November 29, 2025
‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ – and Vincent Lindon – Triumph at Torino Film Festival
Bravo, bravissimo! Torino Film Festival has announced the winner of its Best Film award, which went to Morgan Knibbe’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights.” The film was also awarded €20,000. It tells ...
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