News

In today’s film news roundup, Joaquin Phoenix is honored for “Joker”; Legion M backs Joe Manganiello’s “Archenemy”; sales have launched on “Lev Yashin: The Dream Goalkeeper”; Warner Bros. shuffles execs and Universal launches a first-of-its-kind animation writing program.

Honor

Joaquin Phoenix has been selected as the recipient of the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s chairman’s award for his performance in “Joker.”

The award will be presented by “Joker” co-writer/director/producer Todd Phillips on Jan. 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“Joaquin Phoenix mesmerizes audiences in ‘Joker’ with a performance that elicits empathy and reminds society on the whole that we can be better,” said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner.

Financing

Legion M has joined SpectreVision as executive producer and financier in the upcoming feature “Archenemy,” starring Joe Manganiello.

Adam Egypt Mortimer is directing from his own script about Max Fist, who claims to be a hero...

Stars: Yaroslav Zhalnin, Mikhail Filippov, Olga Ivanova, Vadim Michman, Vladimir Steklov, Viktor Proskurin, Nadezhda Markina, Daniil Vorobyov | Written by Andrey Dmitriev, Oleg Kapanets | Directed by Pavel Parkhomenko

Gagarin: First in Space is a biographical film which follows the life of Yuri Gagarin, played by Yaroslav Zhalnin, who was the first person ever to go into space (if you hadn’t guessed that already). On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Gagarin blasted off in a Vostok rocket and he orbited Earth for 108 minutes. After being chosen from over three thousand pilots throughout the Soviet Union, watch the level of gruelling training he had to go through in preparation for the flight both mental and physical and how the flight affected his life and that of his family.

Don’t expect a 3D magical adventure in space of Gravity-esque proportions when watching Gagarin: First to Space. This film tones down the special effects to...

Ahead of the American Film Market (Afm), Intandem Films has picked up Gagarin First in Space, the story of iconic Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

The film is produced by Oleg Kapanets and Igor Tolstunov, directed by Pavel Parkhomenko and stars Yaroslav Zhalnin, Mikhail Pilippov and Viktor Proskurin.

Intandem has also signed three Richwater Film titles: completed Danny Dyer thriller Vendetta, gangster film Assassin and crime drama Reign of the General, currently in pre-production...

Updated, 2:40 Pm: 108 Media has pre-sold the Henry Rollins drama He Never Died to Take One for Scandinavia and Benelux. The AFM-bound title from writer-director Jason Krawczyck stars the legendary punk singer, author and radio host as a socially disturbed outcast. “He Never Died embodies the rare culmination of our fanboy sensibilities and mainstream marketability,” said producer Zach Hagen of Alternate Ending Studio. Adam J. Shully, who created and produced the Canadian TV drama The Bridge (not the FX series), also produces. He Never Died begins production November 13 at Pinewood Studios in Toronto.

The Outsider has a new financier. Previously with Silver Pictures, the post-ww II Japanese-based crime thriller will now be produced and financed by Worldview Entertainment, it was announced today. Qed International will be selling the film internationally as part of its slate at the AFM. Worldview’s reps CAA, who packaged and arranged financing, will represent domestic rights.