Notizie

Coming of age in the world of professional musicians is another feat unto itself.

Documentary “Pianoforte,” which premiered at Sundance 2023, follows talented young musicians as they compete in the International Chopin Piano Competition, which is held every five years in Warsaw, Poland. “Pianoforte” is directed by “Prime Time” helmer Jakub Piatek and debuted in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

Per the official synopsis, the film charts the “highest highs and lowest lows for this select group of musicians as the competition unfolds. The film is both a testament to the remarkable power of music and an intimate coming-of-age portrait.”

Greenwich Entertainment is handling U.S. distribution for the Telemark documentary. “Pianoforte” is produced by Maciej Kubicki (“Kubrick by Kubrick”). The feature was co-funded by the Polish Film Institute and co-produced by HBO Max with BBC Storyville acquiring U.K. rights. The film was shot during the pandemic,...

Exclusive: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Pianoforte directed by Jakub Piatek (Prime Time).

The Telemark documentary premiered to good reviews at Sundance and Greenwich is planning to release on December 1.

Pianoforte follows an eclectic group of young musicians from around the world who have spent years preparing for the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. In the coming-of-age portrait, director Piatek goes backstage to look at the highs and lows the musicians face.

Pic was produced by Maciej Kubicki (Kubrick by Kubrick). Greenwich’s Andy Bohn negotiated the acquisition with Submarine’s Matt Burke and Ben Schwartz on behalf of the filmmakers.

“We are excited to be working with Greenwich to bring this beautiful music and talented young artists to cinemas across the US,” said director Jakub Piatek.

Greenwich’s previous releases have included Oscar winner Free Solo, music doc Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,...

Poland, renown for its production value and one of Europe¡s biggest markets outside its Top 5, enjoyed some limelight at Conecta Fiction whee it received a country focus.

Six of its top independent producers – including Dariusz Jablonski at Apple Film, Anna Rózalska, co-founder and producer of Match and Spark), Telemark’s Maciej Kubicki, a producer-writer and Ryszard Sibilski, head of EndemolShine Polska, debated key issues, of which the hottest is IP ownership.

Producer-director Lukasz Bluszcz a co-owner of Vision House, and Agnieszka Knysak-Sandecka, head of production at Viaplay-owned Paprika Studios, also spoke at the panel whose expertise ranged from premium TV series like Telemark’s “The Pact” and the Polish adaptation of “In Treatment,” to factual shows, which is Vision House speciality.

Panel moderator Alicja Grawon-Jaksik, at Maxfilm explained that many of Poland’s 150-200 production companies produce both feature films and series. Most series are modestly priced, at...

For the second time in its past three editions, the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival has faced a sudden disruption in the face of an unprecedented global crisis. Two years ago, the festival was among the first to be forced online as the coronavirus pandemic swept across Europe. This year, the Russian military launched an invasion of Ukraine just two weeks before opening night.

Yianna Sarri, the head of the festival’s industry arm, Agora, who oversees the selection of projects for Thessaloniki’s Pitching Forum and Docs in Progress events, notes that it was “a different world” when that selection process took place just one month ago. “When we did the selection, everything was different,” Sarri tells Variety. “We just woke up one day and there was war in Europe. It’s totally insane.”

While the war and its widening impact didn’t affect the decision-making process for the Agora’s...

The U.K. edition of “The Masked Singer,” comedy “Call My Agent” and drama “Tehran” were among the top winners Monday at the 49th annual International Emmy Awards in New York.

David Tennant took the trophy for best actor for his work as a deceptively meek serial killer in ITV’s “Des.” Hayley Squires won for actress for her role as a happily well-adjusted porn star in “Adult Material.”

Israeli drama “Tehran,” about a female Mossad agent who goes undercover in Iran, won the top drama series prize. Season 4 of “Call My Agent,” set among agents at a Paris talent rep firm, took the prize for comedy.

The ITV rendition of “Masked Singer” prevailed in the nonscripted entertainment category. Netflix’s “Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice” took the documentary award, marking the first International Emmy honor for a program from Thailand.

“Insecure” star Yvonne Orji hosted the ceremony at Casa Cipriani.

The French comedy Call My Agent and Israeli drama Tehran took the top prizes at the 49th annual International Emmys, which here handed out Monday night during an in-person ceremony in New York. See the full list of winners below.

The UK boasts both top acting honors David Tennant for crime thriller Des and Hayley Squires for porn drama Adult Material — as well as winning the Non-Scripted Entertainment prize for The Masked Singer.

Norway’s Atlantic Crossing went home with the Emmy for TV Movie/Miniseries, and Thailand’s Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice won for Documentary. It was the country’s first International Emmy.

“We are delighted to be able to gather the global television community, in-person again, in New York to celebrate the world’s best television.” said International Academy President & CEO Bruce Paisner. “The diversity and geographic spread of tonight’s winners demonstrate once again...

Documentary hits “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and “Three Identical Strangers” are two of the 31 shortlisted films for the International Documentary Association’s award for top feature of 2018.

Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9,” Netflix’s “Shirkers,” and Hulu’s “Minding the Gap” were among the other high-profile titles unveiled on Tuesday.

Morgan Neville’s Fred Rogers story “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” has grossed $22.6 million domestically since its release in June, making it the 12th-highest-grossing doc of all time. Tim Wardle’s “Three Identical Strangers” has also performed well with $12.3 million and is 26th on the list. “Fahrenheit 11/9” has reeled in $6 million since its Sept. 20 launch — far below the record $119 million grossed by Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” in 2004.

It’s the first time the Ida has unveiled the shortlists in the shorts and features categories. The 34th annual awards will take place on Dec. 8 at Los Angeles’ Paramount Theatre. Nominees...

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is among features in the running for documantary association honours.

Major award contenders Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Three Identical Strangers and Free Solo are among the thirty-one films on the shortlist for this year’s International Documentary Association (Ida) feature award.

The Ida has unveiled the shortlists for its feature and short categories for the first time this year. Up to ten nominees in each category will be selected from the shortlists and nominees will be announced – along with nominees for the Association’s Special Awards and Creative Recognition Awards - on...