Brazil Supersizes Film, TV Funding, Unveils New Sao Paulo Rebate (EXCLUSIVE)

K.J. Yossman Showtime is not moving forward with Caroline Suh’s documentary on disgraced comedian Louis C.K., Variety has learned. The feature-length doc was announced by Paramount Global exec David Nevins at the Edinburgh TV Festival in Scotland last summer. Nevins stepped down in October following internal restructuring. Suh, who previously directed Netflix documentary “Blackpink: Light Up the Sky,” about K-Pop superstars Blackpink, was set to helm the project about C.K., which was billed as examining the comedian and his downfall as well as the wider #MeToo movement over the past six years.

Shiv Roy may have looked defeated in those final moments of Succession but she actually achieved “terrifying equality” and “remains in play” for the future, the creator said in a new interview.

The 1975 frontman Matty Healy has continued the unconventional tradition of consensually kissing someone on the lips during the band’s song ‘Robbers’ – this time, turning his attention to a security guard.The kiss took place during the band’s appearance at NorthSide Festival in Denmark, where fan footage captured Healy mouthing to the guard “Wanna kiss me?” The grinning security guard accepted, raising his hands in celebration as Healy continued singing the song.Matty Healy shared a kiss with the security guard at The 1975 concert tonight. pic.twitter.com/fla59kgtey— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 3, 2023The so-called ‘Robbers kiss’ has seemingly been a part of the band’s sets on and off from as early as 2014, when the song itself was released as part of The 1975’s eponymous debut album.While it largely takes place during ‘Robbers’, it also took place during ‘Loving Someone’ at a performance in Dubai circa 2019.

Adam Lambert kicked off Pride Month with a new anthem that should go on repeat for the next 30 days!

released a memo to members of the actors guild congratulating the Directors Guild of America on reaching a tentative agreement on a new labor contract while noting that such a deal will have no impact on SAG-AFTRA’s own labor talks beginning this week. “Our bargaining strategy has never relied upon nor been dependent on the outcome or status of any other union’s negotiations, nor do we subscribe to the philosophy that the terms of deals made with other unions bind us,” the memo reads.

David Beckham says Manchester City will never be able to match Manchester United's treble win as the Reds will always be remembered as the first time to achieve the feat.

A visit to one of Scotland’s museums or galleries can be a great way to keep the kids, as well as the rest of the family, entertained.

Britain's Got Talent saw Viggo Venn crowned winner during Sunday night's epic final.

A 'gross negligence manslaughter' probe has been launched following the death of a newborn baby.

cars in his garage burst into flames. He spent nine days in the hospital, including a significant amount of time in a hyperbaric chamber. Leno’s tough luck didn’t stop there.

Rihanna is stepping out for the night!

A love like no other! Halle Berry and Van Hunt’s relationship continues to heat up after nearly three years together.

Channing Tatum is opening up about fatherhood.

This Morning viewers will welcome a "naturally apprehensive" Holly Willoughby back to the sofa on Monday morning. In light of the ongoing Phillip Schofield scandal - the 61 year old recently issued a number of public statements, confirming both his immediate exit as presenter and an "on-off" affair with a young colleague - the last few weeks will have been stressful for all involved with This Morning. Having enjoyed an early half-term family holiday in Portugal, it's now time for Holly, 42, to return to the screen alongside her new co-presenter Josie Gibson.

Zara Tindall and husband Mike Tindall were all smiles as they posed with Love Island star Amy Hart at the Derby Festival. Zara - Queen Elizabeth II 's granddaughter - is known for her love of horse-racing, and has firmly established herself on the British equestrian scene. The 42 year old was spotted enjoying herself alongside husband Mike, 44, at Epsom Downs Racecourse, which hosts the popular and prestigious annual event.

Naman Ramachandran Bollywood star Bhumi Pednekar, celebrated for her films that advocate social change, has revealed ambitious goals for World Environment Day. Pednekar founded non-profit advocacy platform Climate Warrior – funded from her acting remunerations – through which she strives to neutralizing her and her family’s carbon footprint and making her own home sustainable and the organization also has larger goals. Initiatives include supporting an NGO called Healing Himalayas that clears pollution from the mighty mountain range after every tourist season;  Mumbai beach cleaning drives; working towards plastic free film shoots; working with upcycling and recycling organizations and waste segregation initiatives across India; leading anti open defecation campaigns; marching for climate justice; supporting transformative companies that make ink from pollution and various other projects.

Holly Willoughby has made her first major statement since the Phillip Schofield scandal unfolded as she returned to This Morning. The presenter hasn't been seen on screens since her former co-star 'stepped back' from the daytime show before admitting to lying to her about his relationship with a much younger ITV colleague.

are a classic hot-weather staple—and we're currently seeing shiny transparent stains everywhere right now. Call them popsicle nails, they're the missing link between a sheer swipe of polish and a full-on bolt of neon, making them just wild enough for every day.So what exactly are popsicle nails? Summer’s spin on , popsicle nails have the same ultra-glossy finish and, much like popsicle lip stains, the juicy finish is the perfect complement to tanned, summer skin.For further proof, just look at blood orange shade, shown off on an almond-shaped nail and set against a dreamy background of pool and palm trees.This content can also be viewed on the site it from.Popsicle nails channel the same sheered-out see-through finish as ’90s , which currently have over 380 million views on TikTok, but they involve thinner coats of polish so you don’t get that dense Jello-like texture.This content can also be viewed on the site it from.This content can also be viewed on the site it from.It's also easy to find popsicle nail inspiration to work on any length, although that resemble a Rocket Lolly are probably best left to your manicurist.This content can also be viewed on the site it from.To achieve the transparent finish, opt for one or two coats of any sheer nail polish, such as the .

Maren Morris features on the song ‘You All Over Me’, a ’vault’ track from Taylor Swift’s album Fearless. Taylor Swift last night surprised fans with guest star Maren Morris while performing in Chicago for her ‘The Eras Tour’. Morris appeared during the ‘surprise song’ section of the concert to duet with Swift on ‘You All Over Me’ - a song she features on.

Ioan Gruffudd was photographed smiling while out with girlfriend Bianca Wallace days after 13-year-old daughter Ella filed a restraining order against both of them, according to court records obtained by Us Weekly.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent CANNES —  Belinda, one of Mexico’s biggest popstars and a star of Netflix hit “Welcome to Eden,” is attached to headline “The Red Diamond,” the latest project from Erik Barmack’s L.A. and Mexico City-based Wild Sheep Content. One of the fastest-growing of production companies in international markets, Wild Sheep has a production alliance with The Mediapro Studio.  “The Red Diamond” is also set up at Mexico City’s Wild Sheep Content Latin America, headed by producer Jimena Rodríguez who produced “3 Idiots,” the second highest-grossing Mexican movie of 2017. Rodríguez was instrumental in helping bringing Belinda to the project.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Spain’s Revelations showcase has focused on shorts, not features, unveiling the huge breadth of animation talent and techniques in Spain. Some shorts directors are already stars, such as Alberto Mielgo with the Oscar-winner “The Windshield Wiper.” Diego Porral, director of “Leopoldo From the Bar,” served as animation lead on “Love, Death + Robots” episode “Kill Team Kill.” Standouts among new projects in Revelations included “Latente,” a Next Lab Generation winner from Carlos Zaragoza and Aurora Jiménez, and Martín Romero’s “To Bird or Not to Bird,” from Uniko and Abano Producións, which is a 2D short made largely in black and white featuring an angst-ridden clock cuckoo and other birds beset by environmental destruction.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Rio de Janeiro city authorities are looking to increase Rio’s cash rebate for international shoots launched last October by city org RioFilme with a 35% deduction rate on expenditure and R$15 million ($3.0 million) in total funding.  “We have on the table a proposal to double that,” Marcelo Calero, Rio de Janeiro city secretary of culture told Variety at Cannes. That 100% hike would be subject to the “approval chain that we have to follow at the city hall,” he added. A decision may be made by June when RioFilme is set to issue the call for applications for a second year of the cash rebate. 

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Former Netflix exec Juan Mayne has hung up his own shingle, Madrid-based N&L Films, built with strong talent relationships, a strategic alliance with Exile Content Studio and a sure sense of market opportunities. Exile Content Studio and N&L Films have struck a first-look development deal. Jeff Glaser, who oversaw Netflix production finance in Mexico City and Madrid, has joined N&L Films.  N&L’s first slate include a Mexican remake of “Miracle in Cell No. 7” and “Aristides: A Righteous Life,” the true-life account of a Portuguese diplomat who saved thousands from the Nazis in WWII, from Seanne Winslow.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Spain’s status as Cannes’ Marché du Film’s Country of Honor is a “milestone,” says María Peña, CEO of ICEX Spain Trade & Investment. But it’s also a mark of recognition, she says, after Spain’s big wins just this year at the Berlinale (three prizes for Estibaliz Urresola’s “20,000 Species of Bees”) and France’s Cesars (foreign film win for “The Beasts” and actor trophy to Benoît Magimel for Albert Serra’s “Pacification” and cinematography for its DP, Artur Tort). Peña also points to April’s MipTV, where Rafael Cobos’ “The Left Handed Son,” from Movistar Plus+, won Canneseries’ Short Format Competition, and “The Caravan,” produced by Barcelona’s Caravan Films, the first MipDoc International Buyers Screenings honors.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Spain’s Nostromo Pictures, producer of “Through My Window,” one of the most-watched non-English movies ever on Netflix, is producing “Control Room,” a female-led sci-fi action movie pitched by producer Adrián Guerra as “‘Aliens’ meets ‘The Guilty.’” Based on an original screenplay from Julien Deladrière, “Control Room” is directed by Luiso Berdejo, helmer of “The New Daughter,” starring Kevin Coster, and writer of horror smash hit “[REC”].” Produced by Guerra, Nuria Valls and Miguel Angel Faura for Nostromo Pictures, “Control Room” is currently in post-production. Film Factory is launching worldwide sales at Cannes.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Founded in 1953, bought by Julio Fernández in 1987 and now run by his brother Carlos Fernandez and daughter Laura Fernández, Filmax is one of its biggest true-blue independent studios in Spain, involved in film and TV pro- duction, and movie distribution, international film and TV sales and exhibition. Founded in 1953, bought by Julio Fernández in 1987 and now run by his brother Carlos Fernandez and daughter Laura Fernández, Filmax is one of its biggest true-blue independent studios in Spain, involved in film and TV production, and movie distribution, international film and TV sales and exhibition. How it got there is another question. “At Filmax, we’ve always bet on creative talent. In Spain, there’s always been creative talents that have revolutionized its sector: Architects, artists and designers,” says Laura Fernández, a Filmax executive producer. “Filmax has known how to find talent in all parts of film production: Composers, screenwriters, DPs, casting, VFX and directors.”

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Buenos Aires-based Meikincine has swooped on international sales rights to “The Extortion,” the biggest Argentine box office hit to date of 2023, in a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Latin America.  “The Extortion” is backed by a pedigreed combo of Particular Crowd, part of Warner Bros. Discovery Latin America, Oscar winner Juan José Campanella’s 100 Bars, “Argentina, 1985” producer Infinity Hill and producer-service company Cimarrón Cine. Headlined by Guillermo Francella, memorable in Campanella’s Academy Award winning “The Secret in Their Eyes” and star of Pablo Trapero’s “The Clan,” “The Extortion” turns on Alejandro, a pilot with a secret. Blackmailed by sinister intelligence service agents, he is plunged into a world of intrigue and corruption from which he will battle to escape alive. 

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Five Catalan movies made Cannes Festival’s cut, six were selected for Marché du Film sections. Details and other top Catalan movies on the Croisette: “20,000 Species of Bees,” (Estibaliz Urresola) One of the big winners at Berlin, taking Leading Performance, and two other key prizes, and now healthy racking up healthy sales, including a Film Movement U.S. pickup, “Bees” builds from a naturalistic base – a family off for a village summer holiday – to become a moving an ode to women’s freedom. Produced out of Barcelona by Valérie Delpierre’s Inicia Films. Sales: Luxbox

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Spanish genre producer Filmax, which is behind such films as “The Machinist,” “Darkness” and “[REC],” is bringing Carlota Pereda’s “The Chapel,” the Spanish director’s follow-up to “Piggy,” to the Cannes market. Bowing at 2022’s Sundance, “Piggy” was hailed by Variety as a “viciously impressive debut.” A Filmax and Bixagu Entertainment production backed by Netflix, RTVE and EiTB, “The Chapel” is written by Albert Bertrán Bas, Carmelo Viera and the director. It turns on Emma, 8, who seeks out Carol, a fake medium, to communicate with the spirit of a little girl which has spent centuries trapped in a chapel.  Contact, Emma thinks, will allow her to still talk with her own terminally ill mother when she dies. What Carol doesn’t realise is that Emma has a real gift and, if she goes on trying to use it without Carol’s help, will put her young life in mortal danger.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Luis Ortega has wrapped production in Argentina on “Kill the Jockey,” starring Úrsula Corberó (“Money Heist”) and Nahuel Pérez Biscayart (“120 BPM”), which is shaping up as one of the biggest upcoming movies from Latin America. Ortega’s follow-up to 2018 Un Certain Regard hit “El Angel,” which sold worldwide and set a box office record in Argentina, “Kill the Jockey” has been snapped up for international sales by Vicente Canales’ Film Factory Entertainment, which also sold “El Angel.” TelevisaUnivision VOD service ViX will roll out “Kill the Jockey” in the U.S. and Latin America. Scanbox handles distribution in Scandinavia.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent “Lobo Feroz,” the latest film from “La Casa Muda” director Gustavo Hernández, has sold to getting on half the world, underscoring the market punch of high-profile genre movies from name directors. Sold by FilmSharks International, “Lobo Feroz” has closed Australia and New Zealand (Palace Film), the U.S. and Spanish-speaking Latin America (ViX) and Russia/CIS (Nashe Kino).  A Spanish-language remake of Israel’s “Big Bad Wolves,” “Lobo Feroz” has also a licensed Taiwan (AV-Jet Intl. Media), Eastern Europe (AMC for TV/SVOD) and Uruguay (Alvaro Caso-ENEC Cine).  The Palace, Nashe Kino, AV-Jet and ENEC deals all have a theatrical component, said FilmSharks’ Guido Rud. France, Italy, Japan, Korea and Germany/GAS are in discussions, he added.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Paris-based Luxbox has snapped up sales rights on “Puan,” the awaited new film from María Alche and Benjamín Naishtat, two of Argentina’s fastest-rising directors.  The new title co-stars Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Pain and Glory,” “Wild Tales”).  “Puan” catches Alché after she won San Sebastian’s prestigious Horizontes Award in 2018 for her Visit Films-sold feature debut, “A Family Submerged,” before teaming on “Puan” with Naishat who, the same year at San Sebastian, won director, actor (Dario Grandinetti) and cinematography (Pedro Sotero) in main competition for “Rojo,” sparking a rave Variety review.

William Earl Variety will present four conversations centered on global incentives and filming at Cannes Film Festival at the American Pavilion on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Panelists from Spain, Hungary, Poland and Film Alula will participate in conversations moderated by Variety reporters John Hopewell, Leo Barraclough and Nick Vivarelli. The panels will highlight each of the region’s facilities, incentives, and filming community. Guests of the conversations will include producers, sales agents, distributors and creatives looking to learn about the different filming opportunities in these regions. Juan Manuel Guimeráns from the General Secretary Spain Film Commission will speak on the Spain Location panel. Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Madants producer; Kamila Morgisz, head of film production and film project development at the Polish Film Institute; and Martin Moszkowicz, chairman of the executive board at Constantin Film will discuss production in Poland. Csaba Káel, film commissioner and chairman of the National Film Institute and Ildiko Kemeny, CEO/producer of Pioneer Stillking Films will speak about filming in Hungary. Charlene Deleon-Jones, executive director, Alula, will speak on Saudi Arabia production opportunities.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent In 2018, the U.K. was the unquestioned capital of Hollywood in Europe, home to 563 TV channels aimed at non-domestic markets — what is now Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global and Disney, for instance. With the country’s exit from the European Union, however, over half of those services have relocated. After the Netherlands, their second-most-favored destination is Spain, with 212 such services in 2020, up from 79 two years earlier. They have found a country “in the midst of a digital transformation process, driven by new technologies as virtual reality, augmented reality, extended reality, video game engines and LED walls, to name just some,” says María González Veracruz, Spain’s secretary of state for telecommunications and digital infrastructures.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent In April 2018, Netflix announced that Spanish heist thriller “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”) had become the U.S. streaming service’s most-watched non-English series ever. With a Spanish series crowned as the first foreign-language blockbuster at the company that has transformed entertainment worldwide, Spain’s expansion — long nurtured by hits such as “The Red Band Society,” “Grand Hotel” and “Locked Up” — well and truly lifted off. Building on that success, in March 2021, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled the AVS Hub Plan, which would invest €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) into Spain’s audiovisual sector.