News

An t-Eilean, or: The Island. That is the title of a prestige crime drama set on the Western Isles of Scotland that was launched by the BBC on Tuesday evening on its BBC iPlayer streaming service and BBC Alba, the Scottish Gaelic-language free-to-air channel that the U.K. public service broadcaster co-owns with Mg Alba. Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. And An t-Eilean is, according to the networks, the U.K.’s “first-ever high-end Gaelic drama series.”

That also makes it the biggest Gaelic drama in BBC Alba’s history and, according to The Guardian, the most expensive series ever made in Scots Gaelic with a budget of a £1 million ($1.2 million) per episode.

Described as “a tense, twisting story of lies, loss and long-buried secrets,” the series of four 50- minute long episodes stars Sorcha Groundsell (His Dark Materials, Shetland, The Innocents) as Kat Crichton, a Family...

The BBC is adapting Marilyn Kaye’s Gifted book series for kids and shifting the story to Scotland.

The children’s action adventure series will be reimagined as a 10-part drama series following a diverse group of young Scottish teens who discover they each have unique superpowers. When they realize they’re being targeted by a powerful organization known as the Bodkin, they must join forces to protect themselves and those they love.

Kaye’s six novels follow a group of American pre-teens. The BBC said more than 3,000 Scottish youngsters have applied to be in the show, which is being penned by The Worst Witch writer Emma Reeves. It is an international co-production between Glasgow-based producer Black Camel Pictures and Paris-based French producer Media Valley. The show has been commissioned by Cbbc in association with Ndr/Ard via One Gate Media in Germany, with additional support from Screen Scotland.

BBC Children...

Welcome to the charming coastal town of Helensburgh, home to Float, a refreshing Scottish drama that’s earned high praise. The series follows Jade and Collette, two young women working as lifeguards in the local leisure center, who slowly realize there may be more to their friendship. Season one left viewers with many questions about why Jade suddenly left university but also departed on a cliffhanger as the romance between the two guards bloomed.

Now, eighteen months later, Float has returned for its second run. The leisure center has been demolished, scattering the duo across Scotland as their lives take new paths. Jade deals with anger issues back in her hometown, while Collette studies nursing in Edinburgh.

But fate and feelings will continue drawing them together along the stunning shoreline. With accomplished playwright Stef Smith at the helm, this micro-drama tells an impactful queer love story in a short yet profound format.

Filming begins next week on a big-budget family drama, which producers hope will herald a new era in non-English language shows within the British Isles.

The Guardian reports that four-part thriller An t-Eilean (The Island) is the most expensive drama ever made in Scots Gaelic, coming in at £1million ($1.25m) an episode.

Cast and crew will descend on Amhuinnsuidhe Castle on the island of Harris – a location near Taransay, previously used for reality TV show Castaway in the early 2000s.

Backers include the BBC, which has enjoyed ratings triumphs with previous Welsh-language series Keeping Faith (Un Bore Mercher) and Hinterland (Y Gwyll). The show is co-production between Black Camel Pictures, Mg Alba, the Gaelic broadcasting agency, Screen Scotland and US-owned distributor All3Media.

The Guardian reports that, due to the work of All3Media, the show has already received offers from Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

It quotes Black Camel’s...

Accredited on-site attendance for forum gains 22% on 2019.

Le Monde De Demain and Chair Tendre were among the winners at Series Mania 2022 as the event in Lille came to a close with accredited on-site attendance for the forum up 22% over 2019 and 57% over 2021.

Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg (pictured) said the 2022 edition brought together more than 70,000 participants for the festival and 3,300 accredited persons on-site from 64 countries for the Forum compared to 2,100 in 2021 and 2,700 in 2019. The visits to the Series Mania website and Series Mania digital platform produced 260,000 views.

French show Le Monde De Demain created by Katell Quillévéré, Hélier Cisterne,...

Exclusive: Pennywise: The Story of It distributor Unannounced Films has taken on international sales of Annika producer Black Camel Pictures’ BBC young adult drama Float.

Written by Scottish playwright Stef Smith, the BBC Scotland series dropped on BBC iPlayer in August, following Jade, a university dropout who finds herself back in her hometown working as a lifeguard at the local pool. Rumors are rife as to why she’s back, but only Jade knows the truth.

Starting out as a BBC Writersroom pilot, the six-part show features a cast of young Scottish breakthrough acting talent and was the first to be directed by Arabella Page Croft, who runs Black Camel.

“Float is a show we are excited to share internationally and keen to nurture with broadcast partners,” said Page Croft.

“It’s been a simply fantastic opportunity for us to amplify underrepresented, queer voices and to introduce audiences to...

Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American distribution rights to At the Ready, the documentary from Maisie Crow that follows three El Paso teenagers who embark on careers in law enforcement as the debates surrounding immigration and police reform in America reach fever pitches. The doc will be released in theaters and on digital platforms October 22.

Crow’s film focuses on students at El Paso’s Horizon High School, 10 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, who are part of a criminal justice club, which includes mock-ups of drug raids and active-shooter takedowns as they eye careers with the Border Patrol and in policing and customs enforcement. They soon discover their choices may clash with the values and people they hold most dear.

Crow, Hillary Pierce and Abbie Perrault are producing. Gravitas previously released Pierce’s immigration doc The River and the Wall.

Gravitas’ Huggins and Tony Piantedosi negotiated the deal...

Ben Lewin’s romantic comedy headed across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

WestEnd Films has sold Ben Lewin’s romantic comedy Falling For Figaro to a raft of distributors across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, following IFC Films recent acquisition of US rights.

The UK-based sales company has closed deals for Japan (Happinet), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Poland, South Korea (Entermode), the Middle East (Phoenicia Pictures), Taiwan (Central Motion Picture Corporation), Canada (Pacific Northwest Pictures) and airlines (Cinesky).

The film, set in the fierce world of competitive opera singing, is led by Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald,...

WestEnd Film handles worldwide sales.

IFC Films has acquired US rights from WestEnd Films to the rom-com Falling For Figaro starring Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald.

Ben Lewin directed the Australia/UK co-production from a screenplay he co-wrote with Allen Palmer.

Falling For Figaro follows a disillusioned fund manager (Macdonald) who pursues her dream of becoming an opera singer and engages the services of a fearsome diva in the Scottish Highlands, where she also finds love.

Rounding out the cast are Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif, and Rebecca Benson.

WestEnd Film handles worldwide sales and previously announced deals in...

IFC Films has acquired the U.S. rights to “Falling For Figaro,” a romantic comedy about competitive opera singing that stars Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald. The film will be released in 2021.

Ben Lewin directs “Falling For Figaro,” which stars “The Wolf of Wall Street” star Lumley and “Dumplin'” star Macdonald alongside Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif and Rebecca Benson.

The film is about a young woman who leaves her job and breaks up with her boyfriend to fulfill a dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands. She begins intense vocal training lessons with a renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva, and she meets and starts to fall for another student as they both train and compete for an upcoming opera contest.

Lewin wrote “Falling For Figaro” with Allen Palmer. It’s an official Australian and UK co-production and is produced by Philip Wade,...

IFC Films has nabbed U.S. rights to “Falling for Figaro,” a romantic comedy set in the world of opera singing competitions.

The film is directed by Ben Lewin, the filmmaker behind “The Catcher Was A Spy” and “The Sessions,” and stars Joanna Lumley of “Absolutely Fabulous” and Danielle Macdonald, who earned raves for her work in “Dumplin'” and “Patti Cake$.” IFC Films will release “Falling for Figaro” in 2021.

The film follows a brilliant young fund manager named Millie (Macdonald), who quits her job and ends things with her longterm boyfriend in order to fulfill her dream of becoming an opera singer — in the Scottish Highlands. She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley). It is there she meets Max, another of Meghan’s students who is also training for the upcoming “Singer of Renown” contest. The competition between...

London-based sales agent WestEnd Films has sold multiple territories on romantic comedy “Falling For Figaro,” starring Joanna Lumley (“Absolutely Fabulous”) and Danielle Macdonald (“Patti Cake$”).

The film has sold to Entertainment Film Distributors for the U.K., Twelve Oaks for Spain, Splendid for Benelux, Huanxi Media Group for China, United King for Israel, Investacommerce for the former Yugosvalian territories and Umbrella Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand. Discussions are ongoing for North America.

Directed and co-written by Ben Lewin, Sundance and San Sebastian winner for “The Sessions,” with co-writer Allen Palmer, the film is set in the world of opera competitions, and follows a young fund manager who decides to leave behind her unfulfilling London job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer, who is trained by a former opera diva.

The film was screened for the first time to buyers at the Toronto...

Exclusive: WestEnd Films has scored UK distribution and other key deals for TIFF Selects title Falling For Figaro, from director Ben Lewin (The Sessions) and starring Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous) and Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$).

Entertainment Film Distributors has picked up the romantic comedy for the UK. Rights have also gone to Spain (Twelve Oaks), Benelux (Splendid), China (Huanxi Media Group), Israel (United King), former Yugoslavia (Investacommerce) and Umbrella Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.

The UK distribution deal was negotiated by Nigel Green at Entertainment and Maya Amsellem at WestEnd, acting on behalf of the filmmakers.

Discussions are said to be ongoing for North America.

The film was screened for the first time to buyers at TIFF as part of the festival’s new Industry Selects section, a curated selection of 30 projects with potential international sales appeal.

Set in the fierce world of opera competitions, and featuring music from The Barber of Seville,...

‘Falling for Figaro.’

Ben Lewin’s Falling for Figaro, a romantic comedy starring Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley, is among 30 titles from around the world that will feature at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) outside the official selection.

TIFF’s industry and festival programming teams chose the line-up from 29 countries for TIFF Industry Selects, which will screen to accredited users on the festival’s press and industry platform TIFF Digital Cinema Pro.

Billed as the first ever Scottish-Australian co-production, the rom-com scripted by Lewin (The Sessions) and Allen Palmer follows Macdonald as Millie, a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.

She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets fellow student Max (Flea Bag and Little Birds...

Exclusive: Here’s the first image from Falling For Figaro, Ben Lewin’s (The Sessions) upcoming romantic comedy set in the world of opera starring Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald.

Deadline broke the news on the pic back in October. Macdonald will play a young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend behind to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer, with Lumley as a former opera diva who becomes her fearsome singing teacher.

WestEnd Films is handling sales on the title and will screen a first promo during the Cannes online market next week.

The movie is an official Australian-uk co-production written by Ben Lewin and Allen Palmer, and produced by Philip Wade, Judi Levine and Arabella Page Croft. Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif and Rebecca Benson round out the cast. It will feature music from The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro,...

Gary Lewis also joins Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley in romantic comedy.

Hugh Skinner, Shazad Latif, Rebecca Benson and Gary Lewis are joining Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley in romantic comedy Falling For Figaro.

WestEnd Films is handling sales on the feature, which is directed by Ben Lewin (The Sessions) and set in the world of opera singing competitions.

Principal photography began in Scotland last week and will continue through January after which the filmmakers will travel to Melbourne to complete post-production.

Skinner is perhaps best-known for roles in TV series such as BBC comedy W1A, Hulu drama Harlots...

Danielle Macdonald.

Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley will star in Falling For Figaro, a romantic comedy from The Sessions director Ben Lewin which will be an Australian-uk co-production.

Co-written by Lewin and Allen Palmer, the film will follow Macdonald as Millie, a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.

She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets fellow student Max, who is training for an upcoming contest.

The soundtrack will feature music from famous operas including The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo And Juliet and Carmen.

The producers are Philip Wade, who was an executive producer on Grant Sputore’s I Am Mother, Judi Levine (The Sessions) and Arabella Page Croft (Sunshine On Leith...

Exclusive: Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous) will lead the cast of Falling For Figaro, a romantic comedy from The Sessions director Ben Lewin, I can reveal.

Set in the fierce world of opera singing competitions, the movie follows Millie (Macdonald), a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend behind to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.

She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets Max, another of Meghan’s students, who is also training for an upcoming contest.

The movie will feature music from famous operas including The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo And Juliet, and Carmen.

Lewin wrote the screenplay with Allen Palmer. Producers are Philip Wade (I Am Mother), Judi Levine (The Sessions...

Exclusive: Focus International nabs Toronto-bound Proclaimers musical with Jane Horrocks, Peter Mullan.

Focus Features International has taken international sales rights to musical Sunshine on Leith, which will receive its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The second feature from British actor-turned-director Dexter Fletcher (Wild Bill) stars Peter Mullan (Tyrannosaur) and Jane Horrocks (Little Voice) in an adaptation of the acclaimed stage musical, inspired by Scottish band The Proclaimers.

The film was financed by Entertainment Film Distributors, the BFI Film Fund and Creative Scotland, with Entertainment distributing in the UK.

Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich produce from DNA with Arabella Page Croft and Kieran Parker from Black Camel Pictures (Outpost). Stephen Greenhorn wrote the script.

Identical twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid of The Proclaimers have released nine albums since 1987 and are probably best known for hits I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), I’m On My Way and Letter from America. The title of...

Exclusive: Focus International nabs Toronto-bound Proclaimers musical with Jane Horrocks, Peter Mullan.

Focus Features International has taken international sales rights to musical Sunshine on Leith, which will receive its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The second feature from British actor-turned-director Dexter Fletcher (Wild Bill) stars Peter Mullan (Tyrannosaur) and Jane Horrocks (Little Voice) in an adaptation of the acclaimed stage musical, inspired by Scottish band The Proclaimers.

The film was financed by Entertainment Film Distributors, the BFI Film Fund and Creative Scotland, with Entertainment distributing in the UK.

Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich produce from DNA with Arabella Page Croft and Kieran Parker from Black Camel Pictures (Outpost). Stephen Greenhorn wrote the script.

Identical twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid of The Proclaimers have released nine albums since 1987 and are probably best known for hits I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), I’m On My Way and Letter from America. The title of...

We're not exactly sure who's craving Outpost III: Rise of the Spetsnaz after the horrid second film, but hopefully this Nazi zombie-driven train can be saved from derailment. That being said, here's the trailer.

From the Press Release

Outpost III: Rise Of The Spetsnaz has sold all Us rights to XLrator Media, which successfully released Outpost II: Black Sun last year. Written by Rae Brunton, Outpost III: Rise Of The Spetsnaz marks Kieran Parker's directorial debut, delivering more action as the un-dead legion breaks out in its ruthless quest for power. Content is handling worldwide sales on the film, which has sold international territories including: the UK (Entertainment One UK) set to release in October 2013, Canada (Mongrel), Germany & Benelux (Splendid), Portugal (Lusomundo), Middle East (Gulf Film), China (H.G.C. Entertainment), Cis & Baltic States (Top Film), Japan (Aya Pro), South Korea (Sonamu), Hong Kong (Panorama), and Tawain (Catchplay).

Bryan Larkin...

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. This week’s feature includes first details on Harbinger Down, trailers for Beneath and Inbred, release details for The Black Dahlia Haunting, and much more:

First Details on Harbinger Down: “Award-winning Visual Effects artists Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., co-founders of Studio Adi (Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc.) launched a campaign today for Harbinger Down. “In the spirit of sci-fi/horror classics, Alien and The Thing, Harbinger Down is a tense, claustrophobic full-length creature film that will feature only practical Animatronic and Makeup Effects,” announced Gillis, who will write and direct.

“Our company, Amalgamated Dynamics, will create the kind of Oscar caliber Creature Effects for which we are known,” commented Woodruff, who will produce along with Studio Adi’s Jennifer Tung. Lance Henriksen is set to star.

In Harbinger Down, a group of grad...

XLrator Media has bought the U.S. rights to Outpost III: Rise Of The Spetsnaz, a film from Kieran Parker that promises a bunch of undead legions. The press release comes…Now!

17 May 2013, Cannes – Content announced today that Outpost III: Rise Of The Spetsnaz has sold all Us rights to XLrator Media, which successfully released Outpost II: Black Sun last year. Written by Rae Brunton, Outpost III: Rise Of The Spetsnaz marks Kieran Parker’s directorial debut, delivering more action as the un-dead legion breaks out in its ruthless quest for power. Content is handling worldwide sales on the film which has sold international territories including: the UK (Entertainment One UK) set to release in October 2013, Canada (Mongrel), Germany & Benelux (Splendid), Portugal (Lusomundo), Middle East (Gulf Film), China (H.G.C. Entertainment), Cis & Baltic States (Top Film), Japan (Aya Pro), South Korea (Sonamu), Hong Kong (Panorama) and Tawain (Catchplay).

Bryan Larkin...

Another Outpost movie is on its way, and given the quality of the first and the mediocrity of the second, we're really hoping that this third film, entitled Outpost III: Rise of the Spetsnaz, can get things back on track!

From the Press Release

Content announced today that Outpost III: Rise Of The Spetsnaz has sold all Us rights to XLrator Media, which successfully released Outpost II: Black Sun last year. Written by Rae Brunton, Outpost III: Rise Of The Spetsnaz marks Kieran Parker's directorial debut, delivering more action as the un-dead legion breaks out in its ruthless quest for power. Content is handling worldwide sales on the film, which has sold international territories including: the UK (Entertainment One UK) set to release in October 2013, Canada (Mongrel), Germany & Benelux (Splendid), Portugal (Lusomundo), Middle East (Gulf Film), China (H.G.C. Entertainment), Cis & Baltic States (Top Film), Japan (Aya Pro...

Good news for fans of Nazi-themed horror flicks! The third film in the Outpost franchise has officially gone before cameras, and we have all the latest details right here.

From the Press Release

Content is delighted to announce principal photography has begun on the third installment of the Outpost franchise, The Rise Of The Spetnaz. The film shoots on location in Glasgow and Yorkshire.

Kieran Parker (Outpost, Outpost: Black Sun) directs from a script penned by Rae Brunton (Outpost, Outpost: Black Sun). The cast includes Bryan Larkin (Battleground) as the lead Russian Dolokhov and James “The Colossus” Thompson – Ultimate Combat World Heavyweight Champion as The Berserker.

In the third installment of the hit Nazi zombie action horror movie, Outpost: Rise Of The Spetnaz, we discover the horrifying origins of these supernatural soldiers and see them in ferocious gladiatorial battle against the most ruthless and notorious of all military special forces: the Russian Spetsnaz.

Content announced that the third installment of the Outpost franchise will go into production on April 10th. The film is set to shoot in the UK.

Shock was first tipped off about the third film, called Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz last fall. That's the sales art we spied at the American Film Market you see on the right.

Kieran Parker will direct the script penned by Rae Brunton. The cast includes Bryan Larkin (Battleground) as the lead Russian Dolokhov and James “The Colossus” Thompson - Ultimate Combat World Heavy Weight Champion as The Berserker. More cast will be announced soon.

Produced by Arabella Page Croft and Kieran Parker for Black Camel Pictures and Executive Produced by Nigel Thomas from Matador Pictures and Jamie Carmichael from Content, the film is backed by Matador Pictures.

Read more...

                                

Did any of you watch the 2008 movie Outpost? Well, it's pretty good so check it out and get ready for a sequel.  Outpost: Black Sun has begun filming with  Steve Barker returning to direct the sequel from a script he co-wrote with Rae Brunton.  Starring in the film are Richard Coyle (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) and Catherine Steadman (The Tudors) with Julian Wadham (of the original Outpost) returning as Hunt and Johnny Meres as The Breather.

Producer Arabella Page Croft had this to say;

"We've been keen to see Outpost: Black Sun fly since the success of Outpost are thrilled to be back in production with our talented crew and cast shooting here in Scotland. It's a real

pleasure to be working with everyone again."

Synopsis:

The year is 1945, the closing stages of WW2, and a German scientist by the name of Klausener is working on frightening...

The sequel to 2008's Outpost , starring Ray Stevenson, called Outpost: Black Sun kicked off principal photography late last month. Steve Barker again directs from the script he co-wrote with screenwriter Rae Brunton. Arabella Page Croft and Kieran Parker are producing. Richard Coyle ( Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time ) and Catherine Steadman ( The Tudors ) lead the cast with Julian Wadham (of the original Outpost ) returning as Hunt and Johnny Meres as The Breather. Says Croft, "We've been keen to see Outpost: Black Sun fly since the success of Outpost are thrilled to be back in production with our talented crew and cast shooting here in Scotland. It's a real pleasure to be working with everyone again." For a detailed synopsis, check out our previous...

• Lots of glossy business cards will be exchanged during the 4th edition of International Financing Forum (Iff) (which takes place during Tiff). In what I imagine is like a speed dating between producers looking for coin and those looking to finance the next hot film project. There are a slew of names/projects from established filmmakers (Hany Abu-Assad, Terrence Davies and Kevin Macdonald) and some first-time directors among the 43 listed below that have caught over attention. Hany Abu-Assad is taking on what I imagine would be a controversial biopic - attaching himself to Arafat with his Paradise Now producer, Roman Paul. Paul produced Waltz with Bashir, and the upcoming (we'll be talking about this one in 2010), Womb. I'd be surprised if Tony Grisoni took a day off in the past 24 months, he has penned a truck load of projects and would embark on his feature filmmaking debut with Kingsland.

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