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In June, two former Pulse Films creative executives, Marisa Clifford and Davud Karbassioun, officially unveiled their new Magna Studios, a production house that produced film, branded entertainment and music content, and had already quietly delivered global campaigns for Nike and Spotify.

Movie and TV watchers are used to seeing product placement, like Eleven’s Eggo fixation in “Stranger Things” or a bevy of items seen in “Love Island.” But a number of companies are taking a more active hand in how their brands are portrayed in shows and movies and getting into these productions earlier than ever.

They include Starbucks Studios, founded in 2024, Rei-Co-Op Studios, which launched 2021, and Red Bull Studios Media House, which released its first feature film in 2011. Last week, Dick’s Sporting Goods launched its in-house production studio for unscripted sports-themed TV series.

These new movie and TV backers do more than pay a fee to place a...

Former Pulse Films executives Marisa Clifford and Davud Karbassioun have officially unveiled Magna Studios, a production company focusing on film, documentary, branded and music content.

Magna, which has been quietly operational for over a year, is producing the official Oasis reunion tour documentary. It has also co-produced and co-financed its first scripted feature, Oscar Hudson’s Straight Circle, which is being sold by Global Constellation, and has delivered global campaigns for brands including Apple, Nike, Beats and Spotify.

Pulse Films co-founder Clifford and former global president Karbassioun are co-CEOs of Magna Studios, with former Pulse exec James Sorton also part...

Marisa Clifford and Davud Karbassioun have officially unveiled their next-gen production house Magna Studios.

They’re billing it as a “a new kind of studio built to lead in a dynamic, platform-agnostic era,” sitting at the intersection of film, unscripted, brands and music content. It has been quietly operating for over a year, and we first wrote about it back in December 2024, but the founders have waited until now to officially launch.

Clifford and Karbassioun are co-CEOs of Magna, with Thomas Benski – who ran Pulse Films with Clifford until 2022 – the Chairman. Benski’s Lumina is an investor of what’s being described as a “well capitalized” business with bases in London, New York and L.A.

The senior management team comprises SVP of Non-Fiction Olly Calleja, Creative Director of Non-Fiction Louis Mole, Head of Music Documentaries Sam Bridger, Group Director of Commercial & Business Affairs Tim O’Shea and Managing Director,...

Magna Studios has been officially launched by co-founders Marisa Clifford and Davud Karbassioun.

The next-gen production house, which spans film, non-fiction, commercials, branded entertainment and music content, has been quietly operating for over a year, with Clifford, who co-founded Pulse Films before exiting the company in early 2022 following its takeover by Vice, and Davud Karbassioun, who served as Pulse’s global president, having been setting up the business across its hubs in London, New York and Los Angeles.

But now, with a roster of talent on its books, a team of department heads in position and a pipeline of production in place, the two are ready to formally unveil Magna and tout its upcoming projects, including a feature that was launched in Berlin and a “noisy” Oasis documentary.

“What we did at Pulse was build something really exciting with a lot of great people,” Clifford tells Variety in an exclusive interview ahead of formal launch.

An Oasis concert movie will be shot during the group’s upcoming reunion tour, and they’ve enlisted some serious filmmakers to immortalize their first concerts in 15 years. Steven Knight, the creator of “Peaky Blinders” and writer behind films like “Eastern Promises,” will serve as the creator and producer of the film, which will be directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, the duo behind the LCD Soundsystem doc “Shut Up and Play the Hits.”

No further details or release date have been announced, and it’s unclear if this will be a full-on music documentary about how the reunion happened or just focus on the concerts.

After years of speculation, Noel and Liam Gallagher buried the hatchet and announced a tour last year, with dates spanning the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Argentina, Chile and Brazil this summer. The tour kicks off in Cardiff on...

Oasis is set to release an accompanying film for their highly anticipated upcoming reunion tour, Sony Music announced Thursday.

Peaky Blinders director Steven Knight is producing the film, Sony said, and it will be directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. The duo previously directed Meet Me in the Bathroom, the documentary on the 2000s rock scene in New York, as well as Shut Up and Play the Hits, a documentary film about LCD Soundsystem.

A release date hasn’t been set yet, Sony said. Sony Music Vision will distribute the movie. The film is being produced by Magna Studios. Producers are Sam Bridger and Guy Heeley, with executive producers Marisa Clifford and Kate Shepherd, whose credits have included Beastie Boys Story and Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now.

Liam and Noel Gallagher have had a notoriously fraught relationship for years, making Oasis’ tour one of the most hotly...

Steven Knight is creating and producing a film about the iconic British band Oasis in conjunction with their upcoming tour, Oasis Live ’25.

Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace will direct the feature, having previously directed the documentary and concert film Shut Up And Play The Hitsabout LCD Soundsystem and the 2022 music documentary Meet Me In The Bathroom.

Sony Music Vision is distributing the Oasis film and handling global sales.

The project is being “made in conjunction with the tour” but further details surrounding its content are currently under wraps.

It will be produced by Sam Bridger and Guy Heeley for Magna Studios...

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will produce a film following Oasis on their summer reunion tour.

Oasis Live ‘25 will be directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace. The duo previously worked on the LCD Soundsystem concert film Shut Up And Play The Hits and Meet Me In The Bathroom, the documentary on the early 2000s NYC music scene.

The film will be a Magna Studios production. Producers are Sam Bridger & Guy Heeley, with executive producers Marisa Clifford and Kate Shepherd, whose previous credits include Beastie Boys Story, Gangs Of London, 20000 Days On Earth, and Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now.

The project will be distributed by Sony Music Vision. Krista Wegener of Sony Music Vision will lead global sales.

There had been reports in the UK tabloid papers that Oasis had set plans to document their reunion tour for cinema audiences. The band has not performed together since...

Benski Launches Lumina

Thomas Benski, the former Pulse Films boss who recently unveiled Carousel Studios with Omar Sy and Louis Letterier, has launched talent and IP banner Lumina. Based in London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles, the new venture claims to have been “built to support and grow companies in the modern media and consumer landscape where talent, IP and brand are the multipliers,” and comes with a first-round of funding in the “mid-eight figures.”

Lumina says it will focus on talent-driven studios, production, kids and family content, plus consumer brands. Lumina has already partnered with Carrousel Studios, as well as with Yann Demange’s Wayward Films. On the kids and family side, Lumina is backing gaming studio Creators Corp. and the kids IP business Strike. Its consumer division has backed brands including Metie and Daaci, with its Lumina’s will include a “multi-disciplinary” film studio, Magna Studios, headed...

Former Pulse Films CEO Thomas Benski has launched an international media group called Lumina, based in London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles.

Lumina says it is backed to the tune of ‘mid-eight figures’ via a first funding round from investors including Magnus Rausing’s Bfk, Charles Dorfman’s Dorfman Media Holdings and Svs Holdings.

It describes itself as a “well-capitalised talent and IP-led media group and venture firm uniquely built to support and grow companies.”

Lumina has already partnered with Omar Sy and Louis Leterrier’s Carrousel Studios led by CEO Cecile Gaget, and Top Boy director Yann Demange’s Wayward Films.

Pulse Films co-founder Thomas Benski, producer of Gangs of London, American Honey and The Witch, has unveiled his new media venture: Lumina, a cross-border outfit with operations in London, New York, Paris, and Los Angeles.

The company is billed as a “talent and IP-led media group” and boasts of “mid-eight figure” capital support from first-round funders including Magnus Rausing’s Bfk, Charles Dorfman’s Dorfman Media Holdings and Svs Holdings.

“The current media landscape is in flux, and we believe this is the ideal time to build future-facing companies,” says Benski. “Drawing from our rich past experience, we are building in the present to shape the future.”

The group says it will focus on talent-driven studios, production, kids & family content, and consumer brands. Lumina has already partnered with Carrousel Studios, the European-based operation launched by Benski together with French star Omar Sy (Lupin) and Fast X director Louis Leterrier earlier this year,...

Thomas Benski, former CEO and co-founder of Gangs of London producer Pulse Films, has announced new London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles-based venture Lumina.

The new company is billed as a “well-capitalized talent & IP-led media group” backed by a first round of funding in mid-eight figures, with investors including Magnus Rausing’s Bfk, Charles Dorfman’s Dorfman Media Holdings and Svs Holdings.

“The current media landscape is in flux, and we believe this is the ideal time to build future facing companies. Drawing from our rich past experience, we are building in the present to shape the future,” said Benski.

“With content at the heart of everything today, I strongly believe talent, brands and IP are the multipliers. Our thesis is that there is a big opportunity to decouple the IP creation process by building studios and production companies around major talent,” he said.

This will help them own...

Final five nominations to be announced on November 2.

Steve McQueen’s Occupied City, Justine Triet’s Anatomy Of A Fall and Todd Haynes’ May December are among the titles on the latest British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) longlists, for Best Feature Documentary and Best International Independent Film.

15 films are on the documentary longlist, with five of them by first-time directors; with 17 films on the international list.

Scroll down for the longlists

Alongside McQueen’s film combining analysis of Amsterdam during the Second World War with the present day, documentary titles include Kevin MacDonald’s High & Low: John Galliano about the...

“The Kitchen” co-director and co-writer Daniel Kaluuya and “Polite Society” writer-director Nida Manzoor are among the emerging talents recognized at the British Independent Film Awards’ (BIFA) New Talent categories.

Both have been longlisted twice, in the debut director and debut screenwriter categories. In all, 20 fiction and 15 documentary features have been longlisted in the four debut filmmaking categories. Nineteen first-time fiction feature directors, 17 first-time feature documentary directors, 17 first-time writers and 24 breakthrough producers have been recognized by BIFA voters this year.

BIFA Springboard, an annual program supporting second-time feature filmmakers will launch in early 2024. BIFA will reveal the Netflix-sponsored 2023 breakthrough performance longlist, which highlights British acting talent in their first significant role in a British feature film, on Oct. 24. The final five nominations in each category will be unveiled on Nov. 2. Winners will be revealed at the 26th BIFA ceremony on Dec. 3.

The Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) Sponsored By...

Eight films listed in three of the four categories.

Charlotte Regan’s Scrapper, Raine Allen-Miller’s Rye Lane and Molly Manning Walker’s How To Have Sex are among the 35 features on the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Filmmaker New Talent longlists for 2023.

The ceremony has released longlists for four awards: the Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director), Best Debut Screenwriter, Best Debut Director – Feature Documentary (a new award for this year) and Breakthrough Producer.

Scroll down for the full New Talent longlists

Eight films have been longlisted in three of the four categories: Earth Mama, Femme, In Camera, Pretty Red Dress,...

The incredible life and career of artist and restaurateur Michael Chow is the focus of the HBO Original documentary aka Mr. Chow. Directed by Nick Hooker (AgnelIi), the documentary features interviews with Mr. Chow as well as artists Peter Blake, Julian Schnabel, and Ed Ruscha, and family members Cecilia Zhou, Maximillian Chow, China Chow, and Vanessa Chow.

“My father was completely an artist. Revolutionized the Beijing Opera,” recalls Michael Chow. “He said to me, ‘Wherever you go, always remember, you are Chinese.'”

Jean Tsien wrote, edited, and executive produced the intimate look at Michael Chow’s amazing life. Graydon Carter, Annabelle Dunne, Pulse Films’ Marisa Clifford and Miranda Soto, and HBO’s Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez executive produced.

aka Mr. Chow premieres on October 22, 2023 at 9pm Et/Pt.

The Plot, Courtesy of HBO:

aka Mr. Chow details the vibrant and varied life of Michael Chow. Born Zhou Yinghua in 1930s Shanghai,...

HBO has set an October premiere for Aka Mr. Chow, the original documentary film directed by Nick Hooker (HBO’s AgnelIi). The film debuts Sunday, October 22 at 9 Pm on HBO and will be streaming on Max.

Produced by Oscar-nominated Diane Quon (Minding The Gap), executive produced, written, and edited by Emmy-winning editor Jean Tsien, and executive produced by Emmy-nominated Graydon Carter and Annabelle Dunne (HBO’s Everything Is Copy), Aka Mr. Chow details the life of Michael Chow. Born Zhou Yinghua in 1930s Shanghai, he would use creativity to triumph over childhood trauma, personal loss, and systemic prejudice, growing up to become the actor and artist before inventing a new identity, Mr. Chow, when he opens the first of his iconic restaurants. Having found fame and fortune in the West, Mr. Chow celebrates his Chinese roots and finds catharsis by returning to painting, reemerging as the artist M.

MetFilm Sales has picked up worldwide rights (excluding U.K.) and will handle international sales on acclaimed documentary “Name Me Lawand” from “Gangs of London” producer Pulse Films.

Directed by Edward Lovelace (“The Possibilities Are Endless”), the documentary, filmed over four years, follows Lawand Hamad Amin, who spent his early years in Iraq unable to hear or communicate. His profound deafness meant he could not learn language, and with no access to a deaf education, Lawand grew isolated and trapped inside himself.

His parents and brother decided to take Lawand on an epic and bewildering journey across Europe to seek refuge in England. At a specialist deaf school in Derby, Lawand starts learning British Sign Language. For the first time in his life he begins to understand the world around him. In order to overcome what he’s been through, he will need to articulate who Lawand really is.

When...

The film will have its international premiere at Hot Docs in May.

BFI Distribution has acquired UK-Ireland distribution rights to Name Me Lawand, Edward Lovelace’s documentary about a deaf Kurdish boy who moves from Iraq to the UK, where he learns British Sign Language.

The film debuted at the BFI London Film Festival in October last year in the documentary competition; it will have its international premiere at Hot Docs in Toronto on May 1.

BFI Distribution acquired the rights from producers Pulse Films, and will release the film in cinemas this summer.

Name Me Lawand follows the eponymous Kurdish boy,...

“Gangs of London” banner Pulse Films has hired “Fate: The Winx Saga” producer Judy Counihan as its new scripted creative director.

Counihan, who was most recently creative director at Archery Pictures, has worked across Europe and the U.S. in both film and television for the last 25 years. She officially joins the company in the new year.

The executive has twice won the Oscar for best international feature film, first in 2001 for “No Man’s Land,” and in 1995 for “Antonia’s Line.” Counihan also produced the Oscar-nominated “Before the Rain,” which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and best foreign film at the Independent Spirit Awards.

At “Riviera” and “Operation Mincemeat” production outfit Archery Pictures, Counihan worked across film and TV drama. She was executive producer on two seasons of Netflix’s global hit “Fate: The Winx Saga.”

Prior to joining Archery, Counihan was CEO of All3Media-backed Solution 3 Productions.

“Gangs of London” producer Pulse Films has unveiled the first clip from “Name Me Lawand,” which will have its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.

Directed by Edward Lovelace (“The Possibilities Are Endless”), the film is in competition at the festival’s The Grierson Award for documentaries.

The documentary, filmed over four years, follows Lawand Hamad Amin, who spent his early years in Iraq unable to hear or communicate. His profound deafness meant he could not learn language, and with no access to a deaf education, Lawand grew isolated and trapped inside himself.

His parents and brother decided to take Lawand on an epic and bewildering journey across Europe to seek refuge in England. At a specialist deaf school in Derby, Lawand starts learning British Sign Language. For the first time in his life he begins to understand the world around him. In order to overcome what he’s been through,...

Utopia and Showtime have partnered to acquire “Meet Me in the Bathroom,” the documentary film about the early 2000s New York City rock and roll scene that made its premiere at this year’s Sundance.

Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern directed the film that’s based on the 2017 book by Lizzy Goodman. Goodman’s book is a comprehensive oral history of the bands that redefined the rock scene in the early 2000s and late ’90s, including The Strokes, Interpol, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem and more. The film specifically is an assemble of archival footage from that era and forgoes talking head interviews, instead featuring rare early performances and behind the scenes looks at NYC’s top bands.

Utopia will release the film theatrically in theaters later this year, and Showtime will air “Meet Me in the Bathroom” by the end of 2022.

Also Read:

Why ‘Meet Me in the Bathroom...

Utopia and Showtime have acquired the North American rights to Pulse Films’ “Meet Me in the Bathroom,” a documentary about the explosion of rock ‘n’ roll that helped define the early 2000s in New York City and ushered in a new generation of musical talent. The film, which is directed by Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern, premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Utopia will release “Meet Me in the Bathroom” in theaters later this year. The film will air on Showtime at the end of 2022.

Based on the hit 2017 oral history of the same name by Lizzy Goodman, “Meet Me in the Bathroom” says it “tells the story of the last great romantic age of rock,” one that looks at the impact that bands like The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Interpol had on revitalizing the cultural life of a reeling, post-9/11 city. To tell its story of this pivotal moment in music,...

AVOD service Amazon Freevee has set an Aug. 12 premiere date for concert tour documentary “Post Malone: Runaway.”

In Sept. 2019, Grammy-nominated musician Post Malone embarked on a 37-date tour of North America before Covid-19 shut the world down. The film features exclusive backstage access, live performances and interviews.

Produced by Pulse Films (“Gangs of London”), part of the Vice Media Group, and Federal Films, “Post Malone: Runaway” was created by BAFTA-nominated Hector Dockrill (“Goldfish”) and written and produced by Sam Bridger (“Meet Me in the Bathroom”) and Casey Engelhardt (“Pillow Talk”). The film is executive produced by Dre London, Austin Rosen, Bobby Greenleaf and Marisa Clifford.

Dockrill said: “I already knew Post Malone was a force before going on tour. But then, after spending time with him, unfiltered, close, and personal, I very quickly realized he’s unlike anything the world has seen before. He’s a polymath, loyal to his art,...

On Thursday, Vice Media Group announced that the company has acquired full ownership of Pulse Films, after buying a controlling interest in 2016. Pulse Films was founded by CEOs Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford in 2005. The brand will join Vice Studios’ portfolio and be managed by Vice Studios president Kate Ward.

Benski and Clifford are stepping down after 16 years of leading the company, although Benski will continue to executive produce and co-produce Pulse projects including “Gangs of London” and Olivia Wilde’s feature “Perfect.”

Pulse’s output includes the Sky/AMC series “Gangs of London,” Cannes Film Festival winner “American Honey,” films such as “Pig”, and “Mogul Mowgli,” music documentaries including Beyonce’s “Lemonade” and the Emmy-nominated documentary “Beastie Boys Story,” as well as the HBO Max reunion special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.”

Said Benski in a statement, “Leaving Pulse Films is for us a watershed moment. When...

Vice Media Group has taken full control of “Gangs of London” producer Pulse Films.

Pulse co-founders Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford, who founded the edgy production outfit back in 2005, have departed the company following the takeover, although Variety understands it was their decision to step down ahead of the acquisition. It’s believed the duo will continue to work together in another capacity.

Vice took a controlling stake in Pulse Films in 2016, long before the youth-skewing media brand overseen by Nancy Dubuc launched its own in-house production arm in Vice Studios. Pulse won’t be folded into the company, Variety can confirm, and will remain a distinct brand.

Pulse will be managed by the newly appointed global creative director of non-fiction Diene Petterle; chief operating officer of scripted Jamie Hall; and global president of commercials and entertainment Davud Karbassioun. They will all report into Vice Studios CEO Kate Ward.

The...

Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford, the founders of Gangs of London producer Pulse Films, have chosen to step down after 16 years and Vice has taken full control of the London-headquartered outfit.

According to UK TV trade Broadcast, which broke the news, Pulse will be fully integrated into production outfit Vice Studios under President Kate Ward, while retaining its own brand.

In place of Benski and Clifford, Global Creative Director of Non-Fiction Diene Petterle, Chief Operating Officer of Scripted Jamie Hall and Global President of Commercials & Entertainment Davud Karbassioun will oversee Pulse, reporting to Ward.

Vice credited Pulse with driving its plus-50% UK revenue increase last year.

Benski and Clifford are expected to announce future plans soon.

Benski will continue working for a time on projects including Gangs of London, the hit Sky drama that airs on AMC in the U.S.

The transatlantic outfit was set up by Benski and...

Streaming

Krishna D.K. and Raj Nidimoru, best known for hit Amazon Prime Video India series “The Family Man,” are partnering with Netflix on series “Guns & Gulaabs” under their D2R Films banner. “The series is set to uniquely blend the romance of the 90s with a crime thriller while effortlessly lacing it in humor,” according to Netflix. The series is created, directed and produced by Krishna and Nidimoru, who also write alongside Suman Kumar and Sumit Arora.

Krishna and Nidimoru said: “Last year, we had a great outing on Netflix with our indie gem, ‘Cinema Bandi.’ And now we look forward to a larger collaboration on our first Netflix series, ‘Guns & Gulaabs.’ We are especially thrilled to roll out this wicked genre mash with some of the finest cast and crew from our country.”

Tanya Bami, series head, Netflix India, said: “Bringing their unique storytelling style to Netflix, Raj & Dk blend romance,...

Gangs of London producer Pulse Films has signed former Darlow Smithson Creative Director and BBC Commissioner Diene Petterle as Global Creative Director of Non-Fiction.

Petterle, who won an International Emmy for ITV’s In Cold Blood, will focus on developing and delivering a premium slate of factual programming and documentaries in both the UK and U.S., while looking to expand the indie’s presence in Latin America.

She will report to CEO (UK / Europe)/Founder Marisa Clifford and work closely with CEO/Founder Thomas Benski.

Petterle is a highly respected figure on the British factual scene. She helped double Banijay indie Darlow Smithson’s (now Dsp) turnover during her tenure, before leaving last year to launch Petterle Films, selling an unannounced premium series to a major streamer with Waterloo Road producer Wall to Wall.

She is also a former BBC commissioner, having overseen the likes of Who Do You Think You Are?...

Exclusive: Ghostbusters: Afterlife and The Handmaid’s Tale star Mckenna Grace is joining Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) in Olivia Wilde and Searchlight’s feature Perfect.

Filming is set to begin in 2022 on the buzzy package about Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug. Based on the book Landing On My Feet, A Diary Of Dreams by Strug and John P. Lopez, the movie will tell the true story of the gymnast’s triumph against the odds to win Team USA’s first gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Strug was hailed as an American hero when she completed her final vault at the Atlanta games on a badly injured ankle to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

McKenzie will be playing Strug. Grace’s role has yet to be revealed. Searchlight snapped the project up out of the EFM last year, as we first revealed.

Producers are Riverstone Pictures and Pulse Films from...

Vice TV will debut “Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11” on Sept. 8, days before the 20th anniversary of 2001 attacks. The Pulse Films documentary features interviews with entertainers including David Cross, Nathan Lane and Marc Maron about the struggle to re-establish humor’s place in the aftermath of the attacks that day.

The documentary’s title takes its name from the response Gilbert Gottfried received after cracking a joke about the airline attacks shortly after they occurred. He will also appear in the documentary, along with Janeane Garofalo, Matthew Broderick, Aasif Mandvi, Rob Riggle, Cedric the Entertainer, Chris Kattan, Lewis Black and Doug Stanhope.

Directed by Nick Fituri Scown and Julie Seabough, it explores how stand-up comedians, Broadway performers, late-night hosts and “Saturday Night Live” cast members helped audiences laugh even in the darkest of days.

Executive Producers for Pulse Films Dan Baglio, Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford served as executive producers for Pulse Films,...

Hulu is expanding its true-crime collection with two new titles.

First, from Abducted In Plain Sight director Skye Borgman, the documentary Dead Asleep follows the case of Randy Herman Jr., a Florida man convicted of a murder he says he committed while sleepwalking in 2017. The film shares exclusive footage of Herman and his family, the defense and prosecution attorneys, journalists who covered the case, forensic psychiatrists, and world experts in violent parasomnia (sleepwalking).

Dead Asleep, which is produced by Pulse Films, is a co-production with British pay-tv broadcaster Sky, which will air it on its nascent network Sky Crime. It is exec produced by Pulse Films’ Marisa Clifford, Nelesh Dhand, and Sunshine Jackson and Sky’s Jack Oliver and Poppy Dixon.

Next, the docuseries Captive Audience, about what life was like for kidnapping victim Steven Stayner and his family after the 1989 miniseries I Know My First Name Is Steven (starring Corin Nemec as Steven) aired.

Neon has released the trailer for “Pig,” which follows Nicolas Cage on a rescue mission to find his swine friend.

Cage’s character, Rob, is a truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness and enlists the help of a truffle salesman (Alex Wolff) to search for his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.

While speaking to Variety’s Marc Malkin on the “Just for Variety” podcast, Wolff said that Cage became one of his “best friends” and “one of the most loyal people in my life” after working on “Pig” together.

“We talk almost every few days,” he said. “We text all day and he FaceTimed me like two days ago, and we really support each other and help each other with things. We started making the movie when we were both going through very similar personal things in our life and we bonded over it immediately...

Vice TV has announced investigative doc “Vice Versa: College $ports, Inc.,” exposing the allegedly exploitative relationship between the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and student athletes.

The 90-minute “Vice Versa,” for which Vice is launching a trailer (above), is directed by Patrick Dimon and hosted by former Olympian and NCAA athlete Jeremy Bloom and will premiere on Vice TV in the U.S. on June 9.

“American college athletics is a $14 billion dollar annual business, but NCAA athletes do not receive a salary or benefits, are not cut into the profit system, and are precluded from entering the free market or signing any endorsement deals,” reads the potentially explosive doc’s synopsis. “Now, host Jeremy Bloom is on a deeply personal mission to expose the system that wronged him and seek justice for his peers.”

Bloom ended his college football career in the early 2000s over an endorsement discord. He...

Thomasin McKenzie is going for the gold.

The young star has signed on to play Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug in the upcoming biopic “Perfect,” from director and exec. producer Olivia Wilde.

McKenzie, best known for her breakout performances in “Leave No Trace” and “Jojo Rabbit,” will portray Strug in the film, which is described as “an intimate and unflinching portrait of grit and determination” and tells the story behind Strug’s historic olympic vault which secured America’s first-ever gold medal in team gymnastics during the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The film’s script comes from Ronnie Sandahl (“Borg v. McEnroe). Riverstone Pictures and Pulse Films will produce the project, with Nik Bower, Thomas Benski, Jeremy Baxter and Moss Barclay serving as producers. Wilde and Sandahl are executive produces alongside Deepak Nayar and Marisa Clifford.

Filming on the Searchlight Pictures film is set to begin in 2022.

Since breaking onto the scene...

Film set up at Searchlight Pictures has a script by Ronnie Sandahl

Thomasin McKenzie, the young star of “Jojo Rabbit” and “Leave No Trace,” will play Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug in the biopic “Perfect” from director Olivia Wilde, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.

“Perfect” is set up at Searchlight Pictures and tells the story of how Strug led the USA women’s gymnastics team to its first gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta — including completing her final vault on a badly injured ankle — and the price she paid for her heroic efforts.

Ronnie Sandahl, who wrote “Borg v. McEnroe,” is writing the screenplay for “Perfect,” which is based on Strug’s memoir she co-wrote with John P. Lopez, “Landing on My Feet, a Diary of Dreams.”

Filming is expected to begin in 2022.

Nik Bower, Thomas Benski, Jeremy Baxter and Moss Barclay are producing “Perfect.” Olivia Wilde and Ronnie...

Exclusive: Following an extensive search, director Olivia Wilde looks to have found her Kerri Strug setting Leave No Trace breakout Thomasin McKenzie to play the Olympian gymnast in Perfect for Searchlight. Wilde will direct from a script by Ronnie Sandahl. Nik Bower & Jeremy Baxter will produce through Riverstone Pictures along with Thomas Benski & Moss Barclay who will produce through Pulse Films. Deepak Nayar of Riverstone and Marisa Clifford of Pulse will exec produce along with Wilde and Sandahl.

An intimate and unflinching portrait of grit and determination, Perfect charts the story behind Kerri Strug’s historic Olympic vault to secure America’s first ever gymnastics team gold.

Since her directorial debut on the coming-of-age-comedy Booksmart, studios have been lining up to work with Wilde. When she attached herself to the Perfect package at last year’s EFM, Searchlight moved fast to land rights the script paying $15 million for global rights.

Leave No Trace actor Thomasin McKenzie has been cast to play gymnast Kerri Strug in Olivia Wilde’s Perfect biopic for Searchlight, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Strug was hailed as an American hero when she completed her final vault at the Atlanta Olympics on a badly injured ankle to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Wilde will direct the biopic based on a script by Ronnie Sandhal.

The producer credits are shared by Sandhal, Nik Bower and Jeremy Baxter for Riverstone Pictures and Thomas Benski and Moss Barclay for Pulse Films. Wilde will executive produce alongside Deepak Nayar, Marisa Clifford and ...

Leave No Trace actor Thomasin McKenzie has been cast to play gymnast Kerri Strug in Olivia Wilde’s Perfect biopic for Searchlight, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Strug was hailed as an American hero when she completed her final vault at the Atlanta Olympics on a badly injured ankle to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Wilde will direct the biopic based on a script by Ronnie Sandhal.

The producer credits are shared by Sandhal, Nik Bower and Jeremy Baxter for Riverstone Pictures and Thomas Benski and Moss Barclay for Pulse Films. Wilde will executive produce alongside Deepak Nayar, Marisa Clifford and ...

Vice reported nearly £160 million ($222 million) in revenues across its U.K. businesses in 2019, with “Gangs of London” producer Pulse Films driving the company’s production gains.

Filings posted to the U.K.’s Companies House reveal that Vice U.K. revenues — which span Vice U.K. Limited, covering digital and Virtue, as well as Pulse Films, Vice U.K. TV, Studios and other commercial entities — were up 50% on 2018 figures (£106 million).

Meanwhile, operating profits grew to more than £18 million ($25.1 million) in 2019, marking a 163% year-on-year growth. This was driven by a diversified digital and commercial business that includes the likes of i-d and Virtue as well as Paradise and Edition Worldwide, but the main driver was record growth from the Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford-owned Pulse Films, which posted £62 million in revenues — a 43% boost on 2018 figures.

While the U.K. has traditionally been the main market for Pulse, the robust growth...

Former Amazon Studios executive Bianca Gavin has joined “Gangs of London” producer Pulse Films as it looks to grow its scripted pipeline.

Gavin joins Pulse as head of production for scripted television and film, and will be the primary production point of contact for all projects, from development through to delivery. She will report into Jamie Hall, chief operating officer of scripted television and film, who joined the outfit in 2016.

The appointment comes as the London-headquartered Pulse — once best known for rock docs on LCD Soundsystem and the Beastie Boys, music videos such as Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” and documentaries like “Xy Chelsea” and “Bikram” — continues to expand into the scripted arena. The “American Honey” producer, overseen by co-founders Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford, made a major foray into television this year with AMC and Sky’s “Gangs of London.”

Gavin most recently served as senior production executive for EU scripted originals at Amazon Studios.

YouTube has unveiled a slate of shows dedicated to amplifying Black voices including a documentary from Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, and livestreamed homecoming from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

These projects have emerged from the company’s $100M #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund.

Resist, which launches this month is a 12-part docuseries that follows the grassroots work of organizations fighting the Los Angeles county’s $3.5 billion jail expansion plan in 2018 and examines the issues of cash bail, unlawful arrest, over-policing of Black and brown neighborhoods, and mass incarceration. The series is produced by Blackpills and Pulse Films with Patrisse Cullors exec producing alongside Dream Hampton, Mervyn Marcano, Thomas Benski, Marisa Clifford, Robin Frank, Tani Ikeda, Kai Bowe, Davey Spens, Clara Levy and Philipe Haim.

Hbcu Homecoming 2020: Meet Me On The Yard is an event that launches on October 24. Jesse Collins Entertainment and Live Nation Urban are putting together...

Long-time Pulse Films executive Lucas Ochoa has left the “Gangs of London” producer to join “Normal People” outfit Element Pictures as an executive producer. Also joining the production company is Silverprint Pictures’ Michael Dawson (right).

Ochoa’s hire is a major coup for Element Pictures, and comes as a surprise given his years spent building Pulse Films alongside co-founder and creative partner Thomas Benski. Ochoa was most recently chief creative officer of Pulse’s scripted division, executive producing Sky Atlantic and AMC’s “Gangs of London.” He joined the company in 2008, just three years after it was founded by Benski and Marisa Clifford.

Ochoa and Dawson will serve as executive producers working in television drama, and are to start in early October, based out of London.

Based across Dublin, Belfast and London, Element Pictures was founded by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe in 2001 and has built up an impressive film...

“Gangs of London” producer Pulse Films has teamed with Oscar-winning “Man on Wire” director James Marsh on an ambitious four-part series that uncovers the history of Berlin through the prism of its iconic football club Hertha Bsc.

“Welcome to Berlin” (working title), which is now going into production, is billed as an all-access account of Hertha Bsc throughout the upcoming 2020-21 Bundesliga season that also combines a historical perspective of Berlin that spans the 19th-21st centuries. Founded in 1892, the club’s history is inextricably linked to the city and its evolution.

Securing highly coveted access to the club, the series follows drama on and off the pitch as Hertha Bsc comes off a tumultuous season that saw the team rise from relative obscurity to grab national and international headlines when enigmatic world financier Lars Windhorst invested $500 million for what will be a 66% stake in the club — marking the biggest...

Formerly titled Boyz in the Wood, we have the trailer for Get Duked!, which will be making its way to Amazon Prime on August 28th:

Synopsis: "Dean, Duncan and DJ Beatroot are teenage pals from Glasgow who embark on the character-building camping trip — based on a real-life program — known as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, where foraging, teamwork and orienteering are the order of the day. Eager to cut loose and smoke weed in the Scottish Highlands, the trio finds themselves paired with straight-laced Ian, a fellow camper determined to play by the rules. After veering off-path into remote farmland that's worlds away from their urban comfort zone, the boys find themselves hunted down by a shadowy force hell-bent on extinguishing their futures. From writer-director Ninian Doff — making his feature debut after a slew of award-winning music videos and short films for artists including Run the Jewels, Miike Snow, Migos,...

Prior to the pandemic, London and Los Angeles headquartered production house Pulse Films was experiencing something of a golden period. Founded by Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford in 2005, the company had three divisions firing on all cylinders: non-fiction had seen success with Netflix docs The Disappearance Of Madeleine McCann and Bikram: Yogi, Guru Predator; scripted took its latest feature, the Riz Ahmed starring Mogul Mowgli, to the Berlinale, and announced pics including the Nicolas Cage-starring Pig and the Olivia Wilde-directed Perfect; and commercials had locked numerous big commissions including with Apple and the coveted Christmas campaign for UK supermarket Sainsbury’s.

When we chat back in February about the company’s future, Benski is understandably in a bullish mood. “I would argue that we’ve built the modern day studio,” he proclaims confidently. “We really feel like this is our time, I don’t mean it in an arrogant way.

In this digital era, more and more creatives are going the online streaming way to get difficult projects funded by more accomodating streaming giants like Netflix and HBO. But a theatrical release is still a powerful draw, as proven by Searchlight Pictures' recently winning a fierce bidding war to produce American gymnast biopic Perfect, with Olivia Wilde set to direct, for $15 million.

Perfect is based on gymnast Kerri Strug's memoir 'Landing on my Feet, a Diary of Dreams'. The story follows Strug's career all the way to the 1996 Olympics when an 18-year-old Strug performed her routine despite having a severely injured ankle, helping her team win its first gold medal.

It is the kind of positive, inspiring true-to-life story with a feminist twist that has every chance of becoming a darling of the critics and a box-office hit, so there is no wonder there was a fierce bidding war...

In today’s film news roundup, Olivia Wilde’s “Perfect” gets sold, Music Box StreamLocal launches and the American Black Film Festival, Fantaspoa, Greenwich and TCM Classic festivals are all making adjustments to the coronavirus pandemic.

Acquisition

Searchlight Pictures has closed a deal for global rights for $15 million to the gymnastics movie “Perfect,” with Olivia Wilde attached to direct.

The project tells the story of American gymnast Kerri Strug and is based upon her memoir, written with John P. Lopez, “Landing On My Feet, A Diary of Dreams.” The film will follow her career-defining performance at the 1996 Olympics, when the 18-year-old Strug executed her routine on a severely injured ankle to help the gymnastics team to its first gold medal.

Wilde, who directed “Booksmart,” made the presentation at the Berlin Film Festival last month, triggering the bidding war. The script is by Ronnie Sandahl. Nik Bower is producing for Riverstone Pictures...

Searchlight Pictures has closed a global rights deal for Olivia Wilde’s “Perfect” about Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug.

Negotiations began last month at the European Film Market in Berlin. The film, which was one of the hottest projects for sale, sold for $15 million. It was subject of a high bidding war. CAA Media Finance brokered the deal.

In February, it was reported that Wilde would direct the film for Riverstone Pictures and Pulse Films.

Also Read: Olivia Wilde to Direct 'Perfect' Biopic of Us Olympic Gymnast Kerri Strug

The fact-based film will follow Strug’s heroic efforts to secure Team USA’s first gold medal at the 1996 Olympics — including completing her final vault at the Atlanta Olympics on a badly injured ankle — as well as the price she paid for her heroic efforts.

Ronnie Sandahl (“Borg/McEnroe”) wrote the screenplay for “Perfect,” adapted from Strug and John P. Lopez...

Reports first emerged in Berlin.

Searchlight Pictures’ has closed a $15m worldwide deal on gymnastics Olympic gold medal drama Perfect for Olivia Wilde to direct.

Riverstone Pictures and Pulse Films are producing the drama about Us gymnast Kerri Strug, who defied the pain of an injured ankle to earn Team USA’s first gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Strug was in such pain after her final gold-clinching vault that her coach carried her to the podium. She was later taken to hospital and diagnosed with tendon damage and severe sprain.

FilmNation handles international sales and CAA Media Finance...