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Exclusive: The Berlin-based Erich Pommer Institute (Epi) has unveiled the 15 European producers selected for the third edition of its female leadership programme Series’ Women.

The only program of its type in Europe, the initiative aims to increase the visibility and industry exposure of female producers and female-driven projects, and in the process encourage more diversity in the audiovisual industry.

The selected producers include Rebecca Roughan, head of development at London-based Broadchurch creator Imaginary Friends; Carla Fotea, a producer at leading Romanian production company microFILM, and buzzy, rising Irish producer Claire McCabe at Dublin-based Pipedream Productions, whose credits include TV movie Wrapped and the award-winning short An Encounter. (scroll down for full list)

The selected producers will participate in a workshops on series financing, distribution, and marketing and also be given one-to-one pitching coaching and curated mentoring from established industry professionals.

The program also features dedicated networking opportunities at the Drama...

Otmara Marrero (“Start-Up”) and Katie Clarkson-Hill (“Hanna”) are set to star in Catalyst Studios actioner “Switch & Bait.”

Directed by Michelle Saledo, the pic is the first project of Catalyst Studios to begin physical production. Catalyst launched its banner in May with an initial slate of six feature films directed, produced and centered on female protagonists.

Principal photography began in Belgrade, Serbia, this past week. Megan Messmer and Veronica Caicedo are producing, while Catalyst Studios’ Holly Levow, Mark Pennell and Paul Kampf are executive producing. Highland Film Group is handling the worldwide sales on the title.

“Switch & Bait” is based on a script written by Russell Gewirtz (“Inside Man”) and tells the story of a seemingly naïve call girl (Clarkson-Hill) who escapes the clutches of a notorious gangster with a cell phone containing all his secrets. A tough female cop (Marrero), who may or may not be crooked, is given the job to get the witness,...

"I'm freakin' out!" Netflix has unveiled a trailer for a goofy comedy titled Naked, another new time loop film (in addition to two others this year alone - Before I Fall and Happy Death Day). From the director of the parody comedy A Haunted House, Marlon Wayans stars in Naked as a guy about to be married, who ignores his responsibilities and spends the night before the wedding partying with a friend. He wakes up naked in an elevator and must relive the next hour until he gets things right on his wedding day. Yeah, what a unique concept. The full ensemble cast features Regina Hall, Dennis Haysbert, Scott Foley, Loretta Devine, Neil Brown Jr., Dave Sheridan, Megan Messmer, Jonathan Todd Jackson, and Cory Hardrict. As much as I usually enjoy time loop films, this one looks pretty bad. Doubt I'll be watching this. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Michael Tiddes' Naked,...