Recent articles
October 14, 2026
ORF-Enterprise Boards ‘Crème de la Crème’ – About a Sperm Bank Business – Produced by Whatever Pictures and a ‘Playful and Irreverent’ Series
Finnish production company Whatever Pictures has signed a new global sales deal with ORF-Enterprise, part of Austrian braodcaster ORF, which has acquired international distribution rights to the co...
variety.com
October 13, 2026
Skoop Media Launches New Crime Label Dutch Noir: ‘Range, Scale and Attitude’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Dutch international distributor Skoop Media has launched a new crime label Dutch Noir. Bowing at Mipcom, it’s a new international label for premium Dutch crime content spanning organized-crime dram...
variety.com
October 13, 2026
CJ ENM, MBC Group Enter Long-Term Pact to Expand Korean Entertainment Across Middle East, North Africa, a ‘Natural Next Step’ (EXCLUSIVE)
MBC GROUP and CJ ENM have signed a long-term strategic partnership aimed at expanding premium Korean entertainment across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), bringing together two leading medi...
variety.com
October 13, 2026
‘Bloodsuckers’ Team Reunites on ‘Body in the Closet’ on Warner Bros. Title With Comedian Axel Åhman Eyed for the Lead Role (EXCLUSIVE)
Axel Åhman is set to star in the upcoming series “Body in the Closet” produced for Warner Bros. International Television Production Finland. He’ll play Staffan, an audience services employee at a t...
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October 9, 2026
John Hannah Solves Crimes – and Escapes Mobility Scooters – in ‘Benidorm Is Murder’: ‘Sunshine When the World Is So Cloudy’
In “Benidorm Is Murder,” shady deeds are being committed under the scorching sun. The show, produced by Blackbox Multimedia and Clapperboard Studios, stars John Hannah (“The Mummy,” “Four Weddings ...
variety.com
October 2, 2026
‘A Talent for Murder’ Director Anton Corbijn Praises Helen Mirren’s Performance as Controversial Author Patricia Highsmith: ‘She’s a Great Jerk!’
In “A Talent for Murder,” director Anton Corbijn takes a closer look at writer Patricia Highsmith. Known for creating everyone’s favorite psychopath Tom Ripley, Highsmith – played by Helen Mirren –...
variety.com
September 30, 2026
Danny Boyle Says ‘28 Years Later Part 3’ Will ‘Have a Lot of Cillian Murphy in It’ and Backs Jack O’Connell as the Next James Bond
Danny Boyle is adamant: “28 Years Later” part 3 will happen. “‘28 Years 3,’ or whatever it ends up being called, will get made because people keep asking about it. Quite when I’m not sure, but ther...
variety.com
September 30, 2026
Greta Thunberg Makes Surprise Appearance at Zurich Premiere of ‘My Home of Wind and Sand,’ Denounces Occupation of Western Sahara
Greta Thunberg made a surprise appearance on Tuesday at Zurich Film Festival, where she joined the screening of a new documentary “My Home of Wind and Sand,” which looks at the occupation of Wester...
variety.com
September 29, 2026
Richard Linklater Says ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ Starts Filming Again in a ‘Few Months’ and Gives ‘Progress Report’ on 20-Year Production: ‘See You in 2040’
Richard Linklater doesn’t like to be asked about his upcoming take on “Merrily We Roll Along.” “When I was doing ‘Boyhood,’ we worked in complete anonymity. No one knew about the film. This one, be...
variety.com
September 29, 2026
Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård on Playing a Fisherwoman and a ‘Very Sexy Basket’ in ‘Wicker’: It’s ‘Two Souls Being Kind to Each Other’
Ever since its premiere at Sundance, “Wicker” has been generating headlines. Mostly thanks to its erotic scenes featuring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård as her custom-woven lover, with both ...
variety.com
September 28, 2026
Casey Affleck Recalls ‘Traumatic’ Oscars Night, Praises Christopher Nolan, and Says ‘Company’ Isn’t Finished Yet: ‘There Are Things I Want to Change’
Don’t bother calling Christopher Nolan to ask about his films – Casey Affleck already has, and “it was probably a mistake,” he told the audience during an onstage interview at the Zurich Film Festi...
variety.com
September 27, 2026
Naomi Watts Talks Menopause – ‘I Was Crying in the Bathroom, Trying to Scratch Off My Estrogen Patch’ – Recalls Being Told She ‘Freaked People Out’ Early in Her Career: ‘Yeah, No Shit. I Was Desperate, Behind on My Rent and Getting Evicted’
Naomi Watts waited a long time to become a star. “It was a grind. That 10 years before I met David, I became so locked up and I felt worthless. My agent pulled me aside and she said: ‘We need to ha...
variety.com
September 27, 2026
Martin McDonagh Jokes About His Past – as a Hitman – and Calls ‘Wild Horse Nine’ His Most Political Film: ‘There’s Too Much Artistic Neutrality and Too Much Saying Nothing’
Martin McDonagh is taking a stand with “Wild Horse Nine.” “This is probably my most political film. That’s why I find it very exciting to be releasing this monster into the world,” he said at the Z...
variety.com
September 24, 2026
Marlene Emilie Lyngstad Addresses First Reactions to Controversial Love Story ‘Cute’: ‘Maybe People Are Confronted by Their Own Monsters?’
Marlene Emilie Lyngstad has ruffled some feathers at San Sebastián with her feature debut “Cute.” “I find it interesting and exciting that the film creates such strong reactions,” she tells Variety...
variety.com
September 24, 2026
In Docuseries ‘Keinaan, Go Back to Somalia,’ Finnish YouTube Star Turns Racist Comments Into a Personal Statement
YouTube star Abdirahman Keinaan was born in Finland, but he kept hearing: “Go back to Somalia!” Now, in his new docuseries, he actually does. “It didn’t come from a place of anger because I’ve been...
variety.com
September 23, 2026
‘You Crazy Thing’ Director Miia Tervo Proves That Everyone Deserves to Be Seen – and That Perfection Is Boring (EXCLUSIVE)
Finnish director Miia Tervo didn’t have to look far for the inspiration for her third feature “You Crazy Thing,” about Aino, a mental health nurse who’s preparing a performance with her patients fo...
variety.com
September 17, 2026
‘Belzebubs’ Created by JP Ahonen Is a Relatable Story About Liberal Values Where ‘The Addams’ Family Meets ‘Modern Family’ – and Satanism (EXCLUSIVE)
Finnish artist JP Ahonen is ready to unleash the animated series “Belzebubs” onto the unsuspecting world. Based on his successful webcomic, it will premiere at Helsinki Intl. Film Festival – Love &...
variety.com
September 16, 2026
Markus Lehmusruusu’s Finnish Oscar Entry ‘The Squirrel’ Earns Aki Kaurismäki’s Stamp of Approval: ‘He Said It’s Like ‘2001: A Space Odyssey,’ but Better Because It’s Full of Humanism’
Markus Lehmusruusu’s futuristic drama “The Squirrel” has just been selected as the Finnish Oscar submission, and it already has a notable fan. “Aki Kaurismäki called it a masterpiece. He said it wa...
variety.com
September 13, 2026
Ali Asgari Doesn’t Believe in a Bright Future After Iran’s January Massacre – Just ‘A Bit of Light’
Iranian director Ali Asgari has no desire to repeat clichés about great expectations for things to come. “In Iran, we don’t have high hopes for the future anymore,” he states. “We’ve been waiting ...
variety.com
September 12, 2026
Mia Wasikowska Fills Out the Screen As ‘Agata the Writer’ in Kuba Dorabialski’s Venice Drama: ‘It’s Our Responsibility to Understand Each Other’
Mia Wasikowska fills out the screen in Kuba Dorabialski’s “Agata the Writer.” Metaphorically and figuratively, as one especially arresting sequence shows her in close-up looking directly at the aud...
variety.com
September 12, 2026
‘Sámi Blood’ Director Amanda Kernell Explores Forgiveness in ‘Brace Your Heart’: ‘It Can Be a Matter of Survival’
“Brace Your Heart” director Amanda Kernell is ready to talk about forgiveness. “What can be forgiven? And what if you live in a place where everything has to be, because it can be a matter of surv...
variety.com
September 12, 2026
First Clip of ‘Club Kid’ Star Jordan Firstman as U.S. Voice Cast Lead in Cannes Breakout ‘Jim Queen’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Jordan Firstman, fresh off directorial debut “Club Kid” – acquired by A24 for release this November – leads the English-language voice cast of “Jim Queen.” Variety reveals the exclusive first clip ...
variety.com
September 11, 2026
Venice Final Cut Winner Machérie Ekwa Bahango on ‘Madi Makambu’ and Why She Wants Congo to Be Seen: ‘We’re a Great Nation That Needs to Write Its Own History’
Machérie Ekwa Bahango wants Congo to be noticed by the industry. “Through my films, I would like Congo to be seen as part of the world. Not for the labels people stick on it, but for what it reall...
variety.com
September 10, 2026
‘Under the Volcano’ Director Damian Kocur Takes on Contemporary Poland, Stereotypes and Historical Trauma in ‘La Manche’ as Oma Inge Film and Les Contes Modernes Come on Board (EXCLUSIVE)
Polish director Damian Kocur is ready for “La Manche.” Presented at the Venice Production Bridge and produced by Kijora Film, the film will be co-produced by Germany’s Oma Inge Film and France’s Le...
variety.com
September 9, 2026
‘Blindspot Berlin’ Zooms In on ‘Systemic Failures and Human Errors’ That Led to the Infamous Christmas Market Terrorist Attack: ‘We Were Just Shaking Our Heads’
You might already know the ending of “Blindspot Berlin,” a new series about the infamous December 2016 attack at the Christmas market in Berlin. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch it. “It ...
variety.com
September 6, 2026
Luc Besson Calls Madonna a ‘Phenomenon,’ Admits He’s Developing Another ‘Crazy’ Sci-Fi Story: ‘You Will Need a Ticket — And an Aspirin’
Luc Besson is writing another sci-fi story right now. “It’s going to be crazy, believe me. Maybe you will need a ticket and an aspirin at the same time. I’m older, so I’m trying to explore everyth...
variety.com
September 6, 2026
‘Woman Unknown’ Director May el-Toukhy Talks the Torment of World War II ‘Horizontal Collaborators’ and Venice’s Female Director Snub: ‘It’s a Structural Problem’
In “Woman Unknown,” May el-Toukhy takes a closer look at women accused of having relationships with German soldiers during World War II. “When we started to build a story about a ‘horizontal collab...
variety.com
September 4, 2026
‘The Truffle Hunters’ Directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw Look for the Perfect Wine in ‘Burgundy’: ‘A Great Glass of Wine Changes How You Perceive the World’
“The Truffle Hunters” directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw look for the perfect wine in their new doc “Burgundy.” So do their characters, from winemakers to sommeliers and wine critic Guilla...
variety.com
August 27, 2026
Director of Haugesund Closing Film ‘The Murder of Benjamin’ Says the Infamous Neo-Nazi Killing Was a ‘Wake-Up Call for the Whole Nation’ But ‘They Are Rising Again’
Norwegian director Ingvild Søderlind says that the 2001 killing of Benjamin Hermansen was a “wake-up call for the whole nation.” Hermansen, a teenager born to a Norwegian mother and a Ghanaian fath...
variety.com
August 26, 2026
Amanda Kernell Is More Interested in ‘Liberation Than a Curse’ as Her Third Feature ‘Brace Your Heart’ Debuts Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
In her upcoming third feature “Brace Your Heart,” Amanda Kernell follows a survivor, not a victim. “We’re all different, and some people who experience really difficult things can’t recover. But t...
variety.com