Will Smith & Antoine Fuqua Pull Film Production From Georgia Over Voting Laws

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentLoco Films, the Paris-based world sales and production company, has unveiled the trailer for Yulia Trofimova’s feature debut “The Land of Sasha” which is premiering today at the Berlinale, in the Generation 14plus strand.“The Land of Sahsa” tells the story of an indecisive 18-year-old struggling to pursue his desire to become a painter as his mother urges him to choose a safer career path. The sudden appearance of the boy’s estranged father complicates things further. But when Sasha has an unexpected encounter with an unusual girl called Zhenia, he realizes he has no choice but to finally grow up.“The Land of Sasha” was produced by Katerina Mikhaylova and Konstantin Fam for Moscow-based Vega Film.

Rod Stewart serenaded fans with a special love song for Valentine's Day, but the rock star divided fans in the comments.

Anna Marie de la Fuente ZDF Enterprises, to be rebranded ZDF Studios in April, has snagged worldwide distribution rights to the topical post-WWII dramatic series “Between Two Worlds” (“Ein Hauch Von Amerika”).Skein is set in a fictional German town in the ’50s where a robust U.S. military presence is impacting the lives of its people, in particular the two young friends Marie and Erika, whose relationships with their family, community and each other are put to the test by the presence of a U.S.

Jamie Lang Norwegian broadcaster NRK has boarded Hummelfilm’s coming-of-age crime drama series “Nowheresville,” one of 10 projects participating in this year’s Berlin Co-Pro Series where producer Marte Hansen and series creator-director Rebecca W. Kjellmann are virtually pitching the series to potential partners, financers and broadcasters.Development on the project is already well underway, with four finished scripts and outlines for the show’s other four episodes already banked.“We are currently continuing the writing process, while working on the financing and production set-up for the series,” the partners explained to Variety before pitching in Berlin.

Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson have been announced as the hosts for the US' answer to Eurovision, the American Song Contest. 

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentZDF Enterprises and the U.K.-based Parsonage Productions are developing a new drama, “The Bronte Girls,” a fictional account of the last summer which the three Bronte sisters spent together.The drama is based on the stage play of the same name by New York-based playwright Caroline Franklin (“Last Night at the Carmine”). Franklin will adapt the drama for the small screen with the British writer-director Darcia Martin (“Riches,” “Shakespeare & Hathaway,”Call the Midwife”).The initial series, structured as a six-part drama, will be executive produced by Harvey Myman, Patty Lenahan Ishimoto and Patrick Irwin, who first worked together on A+E Networks’ U..K.

Naman Ramachandran Amazon Prime Video and Germany’s Leonine Studios are expanding their existing partnership with a multi-year license agreement.Under the deal, Prime Video gets exclusive second window SVOD-rights for a six-month period to upcoming theatrical feature films and home entertainment titles from Leonine’s slate and also includes non-exclusive SVOD rights to titles from Leonine’s content library.Titles include Keanu Reeves’ “John Wick 4” and its spin-off “Ballerina,” starring Ana de Armas; Channing Tatum’s directorial debut “Dog”; Roland Emmerich’s “Moonfall,” starring Halle Berry; Nicolas Cage action-comedy “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”; Guillaume Canet’s “Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom,” with Gilles Lellouche, Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel and soccer star Zlatan Imbrahimović; Jennifer Lopez starrer “Shotgun Wedding”; and Leonine Studios co-production “The School of Magical Animals 2,” the sequel to Germany’s most successful theatrical release of 2021. Leonine Studios CEO Fred Kogel said: “It’s fantastic that we can expand our long-standing partnership with Prime Video by this agreement and achieve another important milestone for our licensing business with premium content.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentNetflix has dropped the trailer for “Standing-Up,” the new show by Fanny Herrero, the creator of French hit series “Call My Agent!”“Standing-Up” follows Aïssatou, Nezir, Bling and Apolline, four artists from different backgrounds who are trying to break into the world of stand-up comedy. They meet every day at the Drôle, a Parisian comedy club, where they come to practice their art: making people laugh.

Marta Balaga Danish helmer Lone Scherfig is already developing the second season of “The Shift”, she revealed on Monday during an online Berlinale Series Market talk “From Film to Series.”Set in a maternity ward and starring Sofie Gråbøl and Pål Sverre Hagen, it’s the first series as a showrunner for Scherfig, who in 2019 opened Berlinale with “The Kindness of Strangers” and won a Silver Bear for “Italian for Beginners.”“It’s a tribute to the people who work in the healthcare system under extreme pressure, to the care and the love they show, even despite tough working conditions,” she said. “The Shift” is produced by Creative Alliance, with Beta Film handling the sales.

Emilio Mayorga Carla Simón’s first feature “Summer 1993” was a knockout; a Generation Kplus and Best First Feature award winner at the 2017 Berlinale and Spain’s 2018 Oscars submission, winning three Spanish Academy Goya Awards. The director has since become a reference within a new wave of Catalan women filmmakers that have broken out to considerable box office and festival success.Now, Simón competes in Berlin’s main competition with her sophomore effort “Alcarràs,” exploring her own roots through her adoptive mother’s family.Set in the so-called Catalan Far West, in a small village near Lleida, the film is shot entirely using non-professional actors.

K.J. Yossman BBC drama “Peaky Blinders” has set a premiere date for its sixth and final season.The show, led by Cillian Murphy, will return on Feb. 27.Murphy plays Tommy Shelby in the hit series.BBC revealed the news with an enormous mural painted on the side of a wall in Birmingham of Murphy’s face, which was tweeted with the caption: “The Shelbys are back in business.”The mural was created by by street artist Akse.

Christine McGuinness ate barely 300 calories a week at the height of her anorexia battle while living and working as a dancer in Paris, France, as a teenager.The 33 year old mum-of-three, who recently shared all about her husband's dramatic hospital dash, has opened up on some of the darker times in her life in her new memoir A Beautiful Nightmare. She detailed how, despite spending an incredible time in the city and getting the opportunity to kickstart her career as a podium dancer, her eating disorder got "out of control".

Stephen Webb has revealed he's had no choice but to pull out of Friday's episode of Gogglebox as he's tested positive for Covid-19.The 50 year old, who recently shared a first glimpse into his new Brighton home with Daniel Lustig, took to his Instagram feed to share the news with the "Gogglebox crew" and his 187,000 followers. Sitting in a grey T-shirt with a black cap on his head alongside his round glasses while Daniel stood behind him through a window, he explained: "This is for the Gogglebox crew, good luck filming this week, can't wait to see you Friday.

Louisa Lytton showed off her post-baby body in a series of snaps on holiday after jetting abroad with her fiancé Ben Bhanvra and their newborn daughter Aura. The EastEnders actress gave birth to her little girl six months ago, but she was all-smiles and seemed happier than ever as she enjoyed the freedom of a sun-baked trip away. The 33 year old posed in a series of bikinis, revealing just how much her body had bounced back from the gruelling reality of pregnancy and labour.

Kate Garraway has revealed her husband Derek Draper is still unable to speak after his brutal and lengthy Covid-19 battle. Derek, 54, returned home in April 2021 after spending a year in hospital fighting for his life after contracting coronavirus in 2020, which has since left him battling a number of ongoing health issues. He now needs round the clock care as he recovers from the lasting damage the deadly bug had on him and his body.

Jack Grealish and Sasha Atwood have seemed to prove their relationship is back on track with sweet Valentine’s posts after they faced split rumours last year.The England footballer, 26, and his childhood sweetheart Sasha, 25, were faced with break-up rumours last year but seem to have put the stressful time behind them as they posted several cute posts to celebrate their relationship on Valentine’s Day. Posting to his Instagram Story, in one photo Jack can be seen planting a kiss on Sasha’s cheek.

We’ll see some unlikely couples getting up close and personal as The Real Dirty Dancing hits our screens on E4. It’s been 35 years since Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey became movie legends thanks to their sizzling performance in hit flick Dirty Dancing. Now, 10 celebrities are set to have the time of their life recreating scenes from the iconic movie as they fight it out to be crowned the best Baby and Johnny.

BBC Breakfast fans have been left wondering where hosts Dan Walker and Sally Nugent have gone after their continued absence from the show. The iconic red sofa is normally filled by the popular pair each morning, but they've been absent for the last two days with no explanation as to why.

DANCING On Ice has been thrown into chaos after Brendan Cole's partner Vanessa Bauer is forced out with coronavirus. Strictly star Brendan will now be paired with a new skater for Musicals Week after surviving Sunday night's dance-off.

BIG Farming Adventure fans have been left horrified after Kelvin Fletcher served his kids dinner with a brutal twist. The former Emmerdale actor and his family have taken on a farm near the Peak District, with their exploits being documented in the BBC series.

CHLOE viewers have spared no time in ripping apart its finale, with many labelling it as a "let down" and a "complete waste of time". The six-part psychological drama came packed with its fair share of twists and turns.

TWENTY years after playing Garth Stubbs on Birds of a Feather, actor Matthew Savage now looks completely different. Matt, 49, was the second actor to star as the mollycoddled son of Tracey played by Loose Women's Linda Robson.

British actress-model Emma Laird has been cast as a lead opposite Jeremy Renner and Dianne Wiest in Paramount+’s drama series Mayor of Kingstown, from Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan, Antoine Fuqua, 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios.

(CNN)Georgia has lost a major production because of its newly restrictive voting legislation.It was announced Monday that director/producer Antoine Fuqua and his Fuqua Films and actor/producer Will Smith and his media company Westbrook Inc. have opted to move production of their forthcoming film "Emancipation" from the state."At this moment in time, the Nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice," the pair said in a joint statement obtained by CNN.

EXCLUSIVE: ABC is rounding out the recurring cast for its limited series Women of the Movement, from creator-writer Marissa Jo Cerar and a producing team that includes Jay-Z, Will Smith and Aaron Kaplan. Joining the cast are Leslie Silva as Ruby Hurley, Chris Butler as Rayfield Mooty, Alex Désert as Dr. Howard, Miles Fowler as Simeon Booker, Tongayi Chirisa as Medgar Evers, Jason Turner as James Hicks, and Daniel Abeles as Chet Packton.

Emancipation is moving its production from the state of Georgia following the passing of controversial new voting laws.This year, new laws were set out in the state which mean all voters will require ID in order to vote, a move that many believe will disproportionately harm Black and ethnic minority voters.In a joint statement announcing the move away from Georgia – the first major film to boycott the state following the new laws passing – Smith and director Antoine Fuqua said: “At this moment in time, the Nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice.“We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive

Will Smith's production company, Westbrook, is moving their upcoming film, , out of Georgia due to the state's new voting laws. The production company released a statement on their Instagram, sharing they were moving production out of the state «due to the newly enacted voting restrictions passed by the state.»«At this moment in time, the nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice,” Smith and the film's director, Antoine Fuqua, said in a joint statement.

Will Smith is moving production for his upcoming movie Emancipation.

In a move that takes aim at the restrictive voting laws of Georgia, director Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith are withdrawing the production of their slave dramaEmancipationfrom the state. Fuqua, who is directing and producing through his Fuqua Films, and Smith, who starring in and producing the production via his media company Westbrook Inc, made the announcement Monday.

new voter law.The film — a thriller about a runaway slave that’s titled “Emancipation” — is the first big-budget movie project to pull out of the state on the basis of the new law, Variety reported. “At this moment in time, the Nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice,” Fuqua and Smith said in a joint statement.“We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access,” the statement added.

Will Smith and director Antoine Fuqua are pulling their Apple-produced thriller "Emancipation" from Georgia due to the state's recently passed voting laws.  The actor and director released a statement to Fox News on Monday announcing the change, noting that they can’t "in good conscience" provide money to Georgia that filming there would bring in as they feel the new laws amount to Reconstruction-era voter suppression.  "At this moment in time, the Nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice.

feel compelled to move our film production work from Georgia to another state.”The decision comes despite calls from prominent Black figures like former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams urging Hollywood not to boycott the state. “Boycotts work best when the target of your boycott is responsive, and unfortunately we are not dealing with good actors here.

Georgia is starting to lose Hollywood business over its latest controversial legislation.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen reactions by Hollywood about the new voting laws that were recently passed in Georgia. These laws are a direct response to the recent election which saw the state vote for two Democratic senators and also for Joe Biden as the President of the United States.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAntoine Fuqua and Will Smith will move production on their big-budget, runaway slave thriller “Emancipation” out of Georgia in protest over the state’s controversial new voting restrictions.The announcement continues the economic fallout from Gov. Brian Kemp and the state legislature’s decision to pass new regulations that critics maintain amount to voter suppression, aimed at reducing the turnout of people of color.

EXCLUSIVE: Apple’s runaway slave thriller Emancipation today will change its plan to shoot in Georgia, because of the state’s controversial restrictive election law signed by Republican state governor Brian Kemp. I’ve heard that the film — Antoine Fuqua is directing Will Smith from a William N. Collage script — will likely instead shoot in Louisiana, where the actual events of the thriller took place. The move will cost the production somewhere in the $15 million range, because of the loss of the lucrative tax rebates that have made Georgia such a busy U.S. production hub.