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The New York-based distribution outfit plans to release the film theatrically in Q1, 2016.

Abramorama has picked up Us distrbution rights to the newly-filmed stage version version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, starring Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything) and directed by Margaret Williams.

Abramorama acquired from The Little Film Company, who picked up worldwide sales rights out of this year’s Cannes Marche.

The production was filmed at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and also stars John Shrapnel, Barbara Marten, Gillian Bevan, Katie West and Thomas Arnold. Sarah Frankcom, artistic director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed the stage play.

Picturehouse Entertainment opened Hamlet in the UK in March on more than 300 screens.

The film is executive produced for Genesius Pictures by Julian Gleek, Quidem Productions by Ralph Bernard and Simon Cooper, Royal Exchange Theatre by Fiona Gasper, and produced by Anne Beresford and Debbie Gray.

Richard Abramowitz, president of Abramorama, negotiated the deal...

Newly filmed version of the stage production stars Maxine Peake as Shakespeare’s Dane.

Ahead of next week’s Cannes Marche, The Little Film Company has acquired worldwide sales the newly filmed version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, starring Maxine Peake (The Theory of Everything), directed by Margaret Williams. Sarah Frankcom, artistic director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed the stage production.

The stage production, filmed using eight cameras, will screen in the Marché on May 18.

Following a successful run at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, Picturehouse Entertainment opened Hamlet across the UK on March 23 in more than 300 cinemas.

The production also stars John Shrapnel as Claudius/Ghost, Barbara Marten as Gertrude, Gillian Bevan as Polonia, Katie West as Ophelia and Thomas Arnold as Horatio.

The film is executive produced for Genesius Pictures by Julian Gleek, Quidem Productions by Ralph Bernard and Simon Cooper, Royal Exchange Theatre by Fiona Gasper, and produced by Anne Beresford and Debbie Gray ([link...

Diplomacy

Directed by Volker Schlöndorff

France, 2014

It’s the odd film where two men talking in a hotel room is more exciting than tanks and resistance members on the streets below, but that’s exactly the case in Volker Schlöndorff’s new Diplomacy. World War II is drawing to a close. As the Allies near Paris, Swedish Consul Raoul Nordling (André Dussollier) attempts to convince Nazi General von Choltitz (Niels Arestrup) not to ignite the charges that would leave the City of Light in ruins.

The large majority of the film takes place in said hotel room, and Schlöndorff utilizes the small space expertly, blocking Nordling and Choltitz in a dizzying array of interactions, thereby removing any feeling of staginess. The explosion is to go off at dawn, and cinematographer Michel Amathieu slowly brings the balcony’s natural light from an opaque black to a soft blue, one of the...

Following up the initial announcement of titles, the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival revealed it will open with the period drama Les Adieux à la reine (Farewell My Queen) today. From director Benoît Jacquot, the drama stars Inglourious Basterds lead Diane Kruger, as well as Léa Seydoux who broke-out in Midnight in Paris and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol this year. Based on, Chantal Thomas’ novel we have the first stills of the film (from Lumiere via The Playlist) that follows the “first few days of the French Revolution from the perspective of the servants at Versailles.”

Kruger, who plays Marie Antoinette here, has only appeared in one big film following her post-Basterds role with Unknown, but I look forward to her future work, especially with this film. I thought Seydoux was great as an action villain in Ghotocol and excited to see her career rise. Check out the stills below,...

The Berlinale's announced today that 20 films are now lined up for its Panorama program. All in all, around 50 titles will make up the main program, Panorama Special and Panorama Dokumente.

10+10 by Hou Hsiao-hsien, Wang Toon, Wu Nien-Jen, Sylvia Chang, Chen Guo-Fu, Wei Te-Sheng, Chung Meng-Hung, Chang Tso-Chi, Arvin Chen, Yang Ya-Che and others, Taiwan — see a full report from the Taipei Film Commission: "Funded by the Golden Horse Film Festival and the Republic of China Centenary Foundation, 10+10 [is] a movie comprised of 20 short films by 10 renowned and 10 emerging Taiwanese filmmakers."

Death For Sale by Faouzi Bensaïdi, France

With Fehd Benchemsi, Fouad Labiad, Mouhcine Malzi, Imane Elmechrafi, Faouzi Bensaïdi

Die Wand (The Wall) by Julian Roman Pölsler, Austria/Germany

With Martina Gedeck — Synopsis from The Match Factory: "(1.) The wall is a highly unusual exploration of solitude and survival. (2.) It is the story of a woman who is separated from the...