News

Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal has closed multiple deals for Cannes Film Festival titles “Power Alley” by Lillah Halla, and “Let Me Go” by Maxime Rappaz, which are both female-led films.

Cannes Critics’ Week title “Power Alley,” set in Brazil, follows talented volleyball player Sofia who discovers she is pregnant on the eve of a career-defining game. Seeking an abortion, which is illegal in Brazil, she is confronted by a fundamentalist group who become fixated on stopping her. The film puts sisterhood and collective resistance at the forefront of the story.

“Power Alley” has been sold to Njuta Films, which will distribute in Sweden, September, which will handle the release in Benelux, Cineworx for Switzerland, and Leopardo Filmes for Portugal. The film was already sold to AX1 Films (U.K. and Ireland), and Øst for Paradis (Denmark).

M-Appeal also closed further deals for Cannes Acid title “Let Me Go,” starring Jeanne Balibar.

Swiss festival programmes 148 films for this year’s edition.

The Zurich Film Festival (Zff) has unveiled a line-up of 148 films for its 2023 edition which takes place from September 28 to October 8.

The festival’s Focus Competition – which showcases feature films and documentaries from Germany, Austria and Switzerland - has six world premieres. They include Swiss films The Driven One by Piet Baumgartner, a long-term study of students at the elite university Hsg St. Gallen, and road movie Return To Alexandria by Zurich-based Tamer Ruggli, which stars Nadine Labaki and Fanny Ardant.

Scroll down for Focus and Feature Film Competition line-up

Other...

In a flurry of international deals, Ryusuke Hamaguchi‘s “Evil Does Not Exist” has secured distribution across further key territories. Hamaguchi is best known for the Oscar winning film “Drive My Car.”

The film created a buzz at the Venice Film Festival following its world premiere in competition on Monday, and saw Hamaguchi receive an almost eight-minute standing ovation.

Further deals have been closed in Poland (Gutek Film), Latin America (Imovision), Australia and New Zealand (Hi Gloss Entertainment), and the ex-Yugoslavian region (Five Stars Film Distribution), all of which will release the film theatrically.

Previously, the film sold to North America (Sideshow), U.K. and Ireland (Modern Films), France (Diaphana), Italy (Tucker and Teodora), Spain (Caramel Films), Germany (Pandora Film Distribution), Korea (GreenNarae), Benelux (September Film Distribution), Taiwan (Andrews Film), Austria (Polyfilm), Turkey (Mars Film), Portugal (Leopardo Filmes), Hong Kong (Edko Films), Israel (Lev Cinemas), Greece (Ama Films), Switzerland (Cineworx...

Haim have announced a 10th anniversary reissue of their debut album, Days Are Gone, out September 29th.

The reissue will be available in a variety of formats, including a deluxe green transparent 2xLP vinyl featuring the original album and a second disc with bonus tracks and remixes. Pre-orders are ongoing. See the artwork and tracklist below.

Released in September 2013, Days Are Gone was named by Consequence as one of the best albums of that year. Featuring a string of singles including “Forever,” “Falling,” and “The Wire,” it immediately made Danielle, Este, and Alana Haim breakout indie stars, debuting at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

Haim’s last album was 2020’s Women in Music Pt. III. Earlier this year, the band appeared on Sesame Street to sing their ABCs and Este served as the Executive Music Producer on the Hulu/Disney+ series A Small Light. The trio is slated to appear on...

Haim will mark 3,654.5 days gone this year with the 10th-anniversary edition of their debut album, Days Are Gone, this fall. In addition to the original album, the reissue will feature eight outtakes, including remixes and a demo recording of the album’s “Go Slow.” The original album came out on Sept. 27, 2013. The reissue will come out Sept. 29 and is available for preorder from independent retailers and Amazon.

To mark the anniversary, the sisters will also perform Days Are Gone, “front to back, top to bottom,” according to their Instagram, at...

It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday — especially when it’s New Music Friday! We’re breaking down this week’s best new tracks to keep on your radar.

New Music Friday – June 9th, 2023

Niall Horan – “The Show”, plus The Show (Album)

BTS -“Take Two”

Madonna and Sam Smith – “Vulgar”

Shawn Mendes – “What The Hell Are We Dying For?”

Janelle Monáe – “Phenomenal ft. Doechii”, plus The Age Of Pleasure (Album)

Rosalía — “Tuya”

P1Harmony – “Jump”, plus Harmony: All In (Album)

Reneé Rapp – “Snow Angel”

SB19 – “Gento”, plus Pagtatag! (EP)

Christine and the Queens – “A Day In The Water”, plus PARANOÏA, Angels, True Love (Album)

Maluma – “Coco Loco”

Other noteworthy artists with releases this week include Afrojack and Theresa Rex – “Let Me Go”, Tessa Violet – “My God!”, Aluna with Pabllo Vittar, Mnek and Eden Prince – “Oh The Glamour”, Yungblud – “Lowlife”, Banx & Ranx ft. Zach Zoya – “The Birds”, Nbdy...

Maxime Rappaz’s debut film “Let Me Go,” which plays in the Cannes Acid sidebar, has been sold to Brazil and Taiwan. The film stars Cannes regular Jeanne Balibar in the lead role as a fiftysomething woman torn between her family commitments and pursuing her own desires.

Every Tuesday, a neighbor takes care of Claudine’s son while she goes to a mountain hotel to meet men passing through. When one of them decides to extend his stay for her, Claudine is confused and finds herself dreaming of another life.

Imovision has acquired all rights for Brazil, and will release the film in cinemas after a Brazilian festival premiere. “The mise en scène is excellent and Jeanne Balibar is extraordinary,” Jean-Thomas Bernardini, president of Imovision, commented.

Andrews Film has acquired all rights for Taiwan, where the film joins a distribution slate including “Aftersun,” “One Fine Morning’ and “Drive My Car.

Berlin-based sales outfit M-Appeal has closed two multi-territory deals for Bulgarian gay summer-romance film “Liuben,” directed by Venci Kostov.

The film has been acquired by Tla Entertainment for North America, France, U.K. and Ireland, and Cinemien for Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Israel, Italy and Sweden.

“Liuben,” which has its world premiere at Guadalajara Intl. Film Festival in June, is the first openly gay film from Bulgaria. Roma actors, who are usually absent from Bulgarian cinema, play lead roles in the film.

The film follows Victor, 27, who returns to his childhood home in Bulgaria for his grandfather’s funeral, and decides to stay for the summer. While reconnecting with his father and the village way of life, he unexpectedly finds love in the form of Liuben, an 18-year-old Roma boy. Despite their differences, and the conflicts around them, Victor and Liuben find refuge in each other.

Swiss director Maxime Rappaz isn’t sure if there is more space for stories about more mature women these days. But he is certainly willing to give it a try.

“I am fascinated by that phase in someone’s life,” he tells Variety, opening up about his fiftysomething protagonist played byJeanne Balibar.

“I want as many people as possible to see it, that’s for sure. But also women who think it’s already too late for them to change things. If this film can trigger something in them, it would make me so happy.”

In his feature debut “Let Me Go,” the opening film of Cannes’ Acid sidebar, Claudine keeps dedicating herself to her differently abled, Princess Diana-obsessed son.

But every once in a while, she puts on the same white dress and heads to the same hotel in the mountains, where she meets and romances men. The shorter their stay,...

Jeanne Balibar stars in Swiss film directed by Maxime Rappaz.

German sales agent M-Appeal has closed two major territories on its Cannes Acid title Let Me Go (Laissez-Moi), starring Jeanne Balibar.

The film has sold to Mimosa Films for Japan and PoongKyung SoRi (Scene & Sound) for South Korea, both in all rights deals. These follow from a German deal struck with Alamode earlier in the week. French distribution will be handled by Eurozoom.

The feature debut of Switzerland’s Maxime Rappaz, Let Me Go follows Claudine (Balibar), an elegant woman in her early 50s, whose life is dedicated to taking care of her son.

Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal has released the trailer (below) for Swiss director Maxime Rappaz’s debut feature “Let Me Go,” which will open the Cannes Acid sidebar on Wednesday.

Set in a remote town in the Swiss mountains, the film features French actress Jeanne Balibar in the lead role. She plays the character of Claudine, a mother who has devoted her life to taking care of her son, sacrificing her own needs and desires. An unexpected love affair causes Claudine’s carefully controlled world to unravel, “reviving in her an intense thirst for freedom and, at the same time, a painful questioning about her future,” Rappaz says.

M-Appeal, who are celebrating their 15th birthday this year, are representing a Cannes Acid title for the second year in a row, following the success of “99 Moons” last year.

Maren Kroymann, managing director of M-Appeal, says: “Both films, although very different, center on female desire,...

Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal has released the first-look trailer (below) for the suspense filled drama “Power Alley,” from Brazilian director Lillah Halla, ahead of its world premiere in Cannes’ Critics’ Week sidebar.

The gripping drama is set in Brazil, where abortion is illegal. Talented volleyball player Sofia (Ayomi Domenica Dias) discovers she is pregnant at a crucial moment, jeopardizing her career plans. Intent on deciding her own fate, Sophia tries everything possible to get an illegal abortion, but has to contend with an increasingly sinister fundamentalist group determined to stop her — but Sophia, her team and all those who love her, refuse to give up.

The film explores the topic of abortion rights and self-determination head on, focusing on the power of the team – who are stronger together – in standing up to injustice.

The film is Halla’s debut feature, following her short film “Menarca,” which was selected for Cannes...

Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal has closed a deal for German distribution rights for “Let Me Go” with Alamode Film, ahead of the film’s world premiere as the opening film of Cannes Acid sidebar next week.

“Let Me Go” (Laissez-Moi), the debut feature by Swiss director Maxime Rappaz, is set in a remote Swiss mountain village, where Claudine (Jeanne Balibar) lives a life dedicated to taking care of her son. Every Tuesday, however, she has an afternoon to herself and goes to a nearby hotel to meet men passing through. She pursues her desires in a carefully controlled way, so as not to interfere with her life, but when she meets Michael (Thomas Sarbacher) everything changes.

Rappaz worked with acclaimed DoP Benoît Dervaux (collaborator of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne) to capture the Swiss mountain landscape in a timeless way. Echoing the circumstances of the film’s female lead, the mountain...

R&b is one of the biggest genres not only in music consumption but in the awards conversation. Artists like Beyoncé, Silk Sonic, Jazmine Sullivan, Jon Batiste, and H.E.R. have made a lot of noise due to their success at the Grammys, and it’s likely that one or two breakouts from this year will join their ranks. Let’s take a look at some buzzing names in R&b contention this year.

SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2023

If you’re talking about R&b in 2023, you have to talk about Sza. The singer-songwriter has had a great year with the success of her sophomore album, “Sos.” It’s indisputably the frontrunner for Best Progressive R&b Album. There is, perhaps, a chance that the record could be moved to the pop field because it juggles many genres at once, but let’s assume it’s in R&b for now.

Berlin sales agency M-Appeal has come on board to handle world sales for “Let Me Go” (“Laissez-Moi”), the debut feature by Swiss director Maxime Rappaz, which will world premiere as the opening film of the Cannes Acid sidebar.

Set in a Swiss mountain village, “Let Me Go” follows Claudine, a dedicated mother whose life revolves around her son. Every Tuesday, according to her careful schedule, she goes to a nearby mountain hotel to meet men who are passing through. When she meets Michael and he decides to extend his stay for her, Claudine is confused and finds herself dreaming of another life.

French actress Jeanne Balibar stars in the lead role of Claudine, an elegant woman in her early 50s, who, although living a traditional life, pursues her desires in an unconventional way. She unexpectedly finds a romantic connection with Michael (Thomas Sarbacher).

A regular on the Croisette and...

Canadian artist Daniel Caesar has got a new album on the way.

On Wednesday, the multi-platinum singer, who hails from Oshawa, Ontario, announced that his third studio album, Never Enough, is being released April 7.

Read More: Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar And Giveon Bring Down The House With Performance Of ‘Peaches’ At 2022 Grammys

The announcement follows the release of his latest singles, “Do You Like Me?” and “Let Me Go”, which will be featured on the record.

Caesar’s previous albums, 2017’s Freudian and 2019’s Case Study 01, have earned him acclaim. In 2021, he was featured alongside Giveon on Justin Bieber’s single “Peaches”, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Read More: Justin Bieber And Daniel Caesar Become The First Canadians To Collaborate On A Billboard No. 1 Hit

He has been nominated for a number of Juno Awards, winning in 2018 for R&b/Soul Recording of the Year for Freudian.

Welcome To Our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big new singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, a top-shelf Taylor Swift remix, a special collab between Sza and Lizzo, a highlight off the new Paramore album, and great new songs from Gracie Abrams, Jesse Ware, and Ayra Starr.

Lizzo feat. Sza, “Special” (YouTube)

Taylor Swift, “Lavender Haze” (Felix Jaehn Remix) (YouTube)

Jessie Ware, “Pearls” (YouTube)

Gracie Abrams, “Amelie” (YouTube)

Paramore, “The News” (YouTube)

Iyla feat. Symba, “Impala” (YouTube)

Babyface Ray feat. 42 Dugg,...

It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday — especially when it’s New Music Friday! We’re breaking down this week’s best new tracks to keep on your radar.

New Music Friday – February 10th, 2023

Khalid and Dove Cameron – “we go down together”

Paramore – “Running Out Of Time”, plus This Is Why (Album)

Tove Lo – “borderline”

Beyoncé – “Cuff It – Wetter Remix”

Lizzo and Sza – “Special (Remix)”

Rebecca Black – “Erase You”, plus Let Her Burn (Album)

Daniel Caesar – “Let Me Go”

Lauren Spencer Smith – “Best Friend Breakup”

Jason Derulo & David Guetta – “Saturday/Sunday”

Other noteworthy artists with releases this week include The Kid Laroi – “Kids Are Growing Up (Part 1)”, Luke Combs – “Love Your Anyways”, Linkin Park – “Lost”, Haviah Mighty – “Honey Bun/Room Service”,, Carlos Vives – “La Historia”, Mackenzie Carpenter – “Don’t Mess With Exes”, Ceara Cavalieri – “Bad Thing”, Matt Stell – “Shut The Truck Up“, St. Paul & The Broken Bones – “Sea...

Nearly 50 songs make up the soundtrack for A24’s next film, Everything Everywhere All at Once — and Andre 3000’s flute is featured on four of them. On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the experimental trio Son Lux detailed the soundtrack album they helmed for the sci-fi comedy, which is set to arrive April 8.

The massive track list also prominently features a duet with Mitski and David Byrne, “This is a Life,” as well as contributions from Randy Newman (“Now We’re Cookin”) and Moses Sumney (“Fence”). As for Andre 3000, the Outkast musician played flute on four tracks,...

The Rolling Stones will mark the 40th anniversary of their 1981 album, Tattoo You, with a reissue featuring a bonus disc filled with previously unreleased material. The set will arrive on October 22nd via Polydor/Interscope/UMe.

To accompany the announcement, the Stones released “Living in the Heart of Love,” one of the nine previously unreleased songs that will appear on the bonus disc, Lost & Found. The nine songs were all originally recorded while the Stones were making Tattoo You, but were recently completed and enhanced with additional vocals and guitar by the Stones.

Exclusive: Frida Kempff, the Swedish director whose credits include the 2021 Sundance selection Knocking, has inked with ICM Partners for representation and Brillstein Entertainment Partners for management.

Kempff’s documentaries and shorts have screened at Cannes, Telluride, IDFA, London Iff and Goteborg. She was the first Swede since 1957 to win an award with a short film in the main competition at Cannes with Bathing Micky.

Next up, she is working on her English-language debut, an adaptation of Ninni Holmqvist’s bestselling novel The Unit. The sci-fi thriller is set in a dystopian not-so-distant future where men and women deemed economically worthless are sent to a retirement community called ‘the Unit’, it is being pitched as in the vein of The Lobster and Let Me Go. Kempff’s long-time producing partner Erik Andersson is producing.

It's been a wild roller coaster of a year, but the one thing we've been able to count on is an abundance of great music releases. And now, the 2021 Grammy Awards nominations have arrived, and we're celebrating artists like Fiona Apple, Brittany Howard, Grace Potter, and more! The nominees were announced on Nov. 24 by four-time Grammy winner Pepe Aguilar, Yemi Alade, Nicola Benedetti, Lauren Daigle, Mickey Guyton, Imogen Heap, Dua Lipa, Gayle King, and The Talk host Sharon Osbourne.

Beyoncé reclaimed her place as most-nominated artist of the year with nine nominations, followed by Roddy Ricch, Dua Lipa, and Taylor Swift, who earned six nods each. Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes fame picked up five nods for her solo debut, with Megan Thee Stallion earning four for her Hot Girl Year. Check out the full list of nominations ahead, and get ready for music's biggest night, hosted by Trevor Noah,...

Starting in March, when the Covid-19 crisis flattened the livelihoods of many in the music business, Bandcamp has held a monthly holiday in which it waives its full revenue share on all sales. The idea was an immediate hit. Bandcamp Friday, which falls on June 5th this month, has successfully directed millions of fans’ dollars to the artists who rely on income from merch and music to pay their bills at a time of acute economic distress.

Today, there’s another reason to pick up that record or T-shirt you...

Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie stars and filmmakers and not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones they made in between. Dan Mecca and Conor O’Donnell, along with special guests, present a new podcast bi-weekly.

Be sure to give us a follow on Twitter or on Facebook. Subscribe on Soundcloud, iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher. Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor.

In celebration of our 50th episode, check out the library of all episodes in alphabetical order below, including the films discussed.

50th Episode

Ben Affleck

BounceChanging LanesForces of NatureHollywoodland

The Avengers Edition – Part 1 & Part 2

The Brothers BloomIn the Heart of the SeaKill the MessengerThe Nanny DiariesThe Perfect ScoreThe Singing Detective

Angela Bassett

Strange DaysSunshine StateSupernovaVampire in Brooklyn

Warren Beatty

Dick TracyThe FortuneMcCabe and Mrs.

Drug trafficking drama set for theatrical release in spring 2020.

BFI Distribution has secured UK, Ireland and all-platform rights to Henry Blake’s drug trafficking drama County Lines. The deal was negotiated with producers Two Birds Entertainment and Loupe Films.

The film premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in October and went on to win best film from the young people’s jury at the Cambridge Film Festival. It will be released theatrically in spring 2020.

Inspired by true events, the drama follows a young mother, played by Ashley Madekwe, who fights to save her 14-year-old son (Conrad Khan) from being...

Hailee Steinfeld could soon be part of the Marvel family. Variety has learned exclusively from sources that Steinfeld has been offered a lead role in the upcoming “Hawkeye” series at Disney Plus.

The limited series will see Jeremy Renner reprise the role of the titular bow-wielding hero that he has played through multiple films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, most recently in “Avengers: Edngame.” Should Steinfeld join the series, she would play Kate Bishop. Bishop is a Marvel Comics character who took up the Hawkeye mantle after Clint Barton (Renner). She is also a member of the group known as the Young Avengers. It was reported last week that Jonathan Igla is attached to write and executive produce the series.

Starring in the series would likely represent a long-term investment in Steinfeld on Marvel’s part. Given the Disney-owned company’s uncanny ability to build up onscreen franchises around even their lesser-known characters,...

Swedish DJ and producer Alesso has teamed with rising Argentine singer Tini for a new bad love anthem, “Sad Song.”

The track finds Alesso crafting a compelling club groove that bumps at a steady pace with crisp snares, hand claps and airy synths that buoy Tini’s vocals. “Sad Song,” as its title suggests, is just that, though the lyrics and Tini’s performance capture a more nuanced kind of woe that comes in the throes of a love where one partner is giving more than the other: “You’re...

Drax Project have teamed with singer and actress Hailee Steinfeld for the band’s poppy new single “Woke Up Late,” which arrived Monday on digital streaming services.

The New Zealand quartet, who has opened for artists like Lorde and Camila Cabello, also dropped the lyric video for their latest single.

“‘Woke Up Late’ is about wrapping your head around the adventure of the night before and ultimately deciding that you’re cool with it. Given the nature of this story, it did cross our minds while writing it as to...

The film is the debut feature of the UK’s Henry Blake.

UK writer-director Henry Blake has wrapped principal photography on his debut feature County Lines, starring Harris Dickinson, Ashley Madekwe and Conrad Khan.

Screen can exclusively reveal the first image here of Dickinson (a Screen UK & Ireland Star of Tomorrow 2017) and Madekwe.

County Lines is about a young mother, played by Madekwe, fighting to save her 14-year-old son (Khan) from being groomed into a nationwide drug selling enterprise. Dickinson plays a gang recruiter who exploits vulnerable children and traffics them across the UK’s county lines.

The film shot...

Exclusive: We’re hearing that Netflix and Matt Reeves’ company 6th & Idaho are in advanced talks to make the music-themed feature film Idol, on which Hailee Steinfeld is attached to star and produce. The deal has not closed yet, but we understand it is imminent. We’re hearing the news from several sources.

Netflix beat out Paramount and Universal for the Matt King-penned story, which is described as Devil Wears Prada meets All About Eve set in the high-stakes world of pop music. The story revolves around a girl who becomes an assistant for an iconic-type singer and then tries to become her, as in morph into her.

Federal Films, the motion picture division of Republic Records, which Steinfeld records under, will release the original motion picture soundtrack. The True Grit Oscar nominee is expected to be heavily involved in the music.

6th and Idaho Prods’ Reeves, Adam Kassan...

Actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld is set to take the stage as host and performer at the MTV Europe Music Awards — aka MTV EMAs. The ceremony will air live globally from Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Spain on November 4 at 7 Pm Et/Pt.

The Bumblebee actress made the announcement via a Facebook Live video. “The EMAs are a show where anything can happen,” said Steinfeld. “I can’t wait to host a night filled with incredible artists, performances, some surprises of my own – let’s do this, Bilbao!”

Having appeared in Pitch Perfect 2 and 3, Steinfeld has one foot in music and another in film. She’s not a stranger to the EMAs as she won the 2017 award for “Best Push Artist” and is nominated this year for “Best Pop” alongside Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, and Shawn Mendes.

On the music side of things, Steinfeld’s debut single...

Spotify announced last year that it will recognize the songwriters, producers and engineers behind some of today’s biggest hits with an annual awards program called Secret Genius, and today it announced the second annual nominees for the prizes.

The awards show, hosted by artist/producer Ne-Yo, will take place on Nov. 16 at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles.

“I look forward to hosting Spotify’s Secret Genius Awards this Fall and joining in the effort to properly recognize and raise awareness of the creative minds behind the music,” said Ne-yo. “As both a songwriter and artist I understand just how much these men and women drive the musical soundtracks of our lives. It’s important we honor their hard work and immense contributions.”

The 2017 Secret Genius Awards honored Rick Rubin as the Legendary Genius, Max Martin as producer of the year, J Kash as songwriter of the...

Last month, Halsey and Khalid released a new song, “Eastside,” with a silent partner: producer and songwriter Benny Blanco, who’s credited as a third lead artist on the single (and co-stars in its video) even though he doesn’t audibly sing on it. For Blanco, who’s been crafting pop smashes at a steady clip since 2008 for Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Britney Spears and more, a hit single is nothing new. The only difference this time is his name in lights up front.

This type of producer-first crediting began...

Hailee Steinfeld and Niall Horan are still going strong! Photographers spotted the 21-year-old "Let Me Go" songstress and the 24-year-old "Slow Hands" singer spending time in New York City together on Monday. Pictures show the low-key couple on their way to do some shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue ahead of her performance at Radio City Music Hall. These photos of the couple come just over four months after the duo first sparked romance rumors. Shortly after relationship speculation surfaced, a source confirmed to E! News that Steinfeld and Horan are an item. "It's true that Hailee and Niall are dating, but at this point it's still pretty casual," the insider shared with...

Apple has given a straight-to-series order to a half-hour series about acclaimed 19th century poet Emily Dickinson, Variety has learned.

Hailee Steinfeld will star in the title role. The series is described as a comedic look into Dickinson’s world, exploring the constraints of society, gender, and family from the perspective of a budding writer who doesn’t fit in to her own time through her imaginative point of view.

Alena Smith serves as writer and executive producer, with David Gordon Green attached to direct and executive produce. Anonymous Content’s Alex Goldstone will executive produce along with Michael Sugar and Ashley Zalta via Sugar23 Productions and Darlene Hunt. The series is produced by Paul Lee’s wiip, Anonymous Content, and Sugar23.

“Dickinson” will mark Steinfeld’s first regular role on a television series. The actress burst onto the scene at just 14 years old with her Oscar-nominated performance in the...

Ready to add a few more tools and tricks to your acting kit? This week’s slew of activities is light on the light stuff and full of events to help you grow as an actor. Glean lessons from a television icon and an actor who’s touched nearly every medium known to entertainment or get inside hot, fresh-off-the-presses shows and films. Whatever tickles your fancy, this list is tailor-made to inspire. Hear from a Hollywood legend.Bob Newhart truly defines “iconic.” With the better part of a century in show business under his belt—not to mention an Emmy and Grammy—the entertainer has much wisdom to impart on actors today. Join him, along with “Newhart” co-stars Julia Duffy and William Sanderson, at the Paley Center on April 26. He’ll present some of his favorite clips from the legendary show and share reflections on his life and career. (Tickets:...

There may just be a new couple alert in this town! After weeks of speculation, it appears that Niall Horan and Hailee Steinfeld have taken the next step in their friendship. "It's true that Hailee and Niall are dating, but at this point it's still pretty casual," a source shared with E! News. The news comes just a few short days after the Pitch Perfect star and "Let Me Go" singer took to Twitter and shared a photo where she was wearing a Niall concert tee. In fact, that was the first of many clues that something special was brewing between the two. Back in February, Niall and Hailee spent President's Day weekend in Las Vegas where they attended a Backstreet Boys...

Cayenne Pepper Productions released today the first look image of Devika Bhise as Rani Lakshmibai from Swati Bhise’s forthcoming feature Swords and Sceptres, which follows the true story of the historic Queen of Jhansi who fiercely led her army against the British East India Company in the infamous Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

Revealing one of Rani’s looks, this first image exposes the incredible detail and work which Swati Bhise and her team have put into portraying an authentic version of the historical queen. The intricate costumes with original designs that existed during the period, all custom and individually handmade 14 months in the making, have been created by costume designers Vidhi Singhania, Riyaz Ali Merchant and Swati Bhise with make-up by national award winning make-up supervisor Vikram Gaikwad. The jewellery has been loaned by Gadgil Jewellers known for their heritage jewellery from this period, with uncut diamond jewellery made by Shri Hari of Delhi.

While all eyes were on Pink’s gravity-defying performance and the audience was cheering on Bts at the 2017 American Music Awards, People was busy getting the behind-the-scenes scoop from inside the Microsoft Theater.

From Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley dancing and Shawn Mendes’ performance of “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” to Evan Ross and wife Ashlee Simpson taking selfies during commercial breaks, here’s everything you didn’t see on TV.

Family Fun

The night was truly a Ross family affair. Diana Ross, who received the Lifetime Achievement award, was joined by sons Evan and Ross Naess, along with,...

Anything can happen at the American Music Awards — from the star-studded collaboration of “We Are The World” in 1986 to Garth Brooks literally rejecting the award for artist of the year in 1996 — and this year is no exception.

The 45th edition of the AMAs will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. Et on ABC. But before the show starts, you need a run-down of what to expect on the big night.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Who’s Hosting?

The awards show will be a family affair, with Tracee Ellis Ross...

A Russian zookeeper reveals what went through her mind the moment a 16-year-old male Siberian tiger pounced on her.

Nadezhda Srivastava, 44, was attacked when Typhoon snuck up behind her in the Kaliningrad Zoo in Russia on Nov. 5.

“He approached very quietly,” she told The Mirror. “I did not expect this and had no time to react — let alone run away.”

Srivastava believes she may have forgotten to lock a gate when entering the compound, which allowed Typhoon to sneak out of his pen.

The mother of three said Typhoon “was not growling, he was not furious, he just bit me,...

There are a million reasons for viewers to tune in to the 2017 American Music Awards. One being that Lady Gaga, Shawn Mendes and Nick Jonas will take the stage at the upcoming award show, organizers revealed Tuesday.

As she’s on the road, Gaga will perform “The Cure” live from her Washington, D.C. tour stop. Jonas will supply a rendition of “Find You” while Mendes — who just took home an armful of MTV EMAs — will sing “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.”

Mendes is nominated for Favorite Artist in the adult contemporary category, and Lady Gaga is in the...

Five years, three albums and 13 No. 1 singles after making their major label debut, Here's to the Good Times, Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard humbly, reluctantly attempts to answer a loaded question: "Do you feel like you've made it?" 

"Ah..." he trails off initially, with bandmate Brian Kelley jumping in to attempt a deflection. "We made it to these awards!" he says, referencing the Cmt Artists of the Year event, where they have been honored alongside country royalty every year for the last five years. "We made it here!" 

"It's hard not to think we've made it when you look out every night and see 30,000 people singing your songs," Hubbard allows. 

"At the same time," he continues, "we're big dreamers and we kind of say, 'The sky's the limit, so let's see where this thing is going to go,' and we kind of continue that motto and see where it leads us." 

Exclusive: Florida Georgia Line Gush Over...

"Let me go back to my wheelhouse, that is this president's ethnic look at history," Matthews said. "This president doesn't want to admit that his predecessor was Barack Obama."...

There’s been a push in recent years for the elder statesmen of alt-music—your Trent Reznors or your Jonny Greenwoods, say—to slide into the world of film score composing, applying skills honed through years of meticulous album work and touring toward big emotional movie moments in films like The Social Network or There Will Be Blood. Now, Greenwood’s long-time Radiohead collaborator, drummer Philip Selway, is getting in on the game, composing the soundtrack for the upcoming drama Let Me Go.

Directed by Polly Steele, the film is based on Helga Schneider’s memoir of the same name, about Schneider struggling with learning that her mother was a guard in a German concentration camp. Selway’s soundtrack for the film—described in a press release as “otherworldly” and “jagged”— will arrive on October 27; outside his work with Radiohead, Selway is also responsible for two other full albums ...

Exclusive: Production gears up on debut feature from Emily Harris.

Jessica Raine (Call The Midwife, Wolf Hall) and Tobias Menzies (Outlander, Game Of Thrones) have boarded UK gothic drama Carmilla as the production gears up for a September shoot.

They join rising UK talent Hannah Rae (Broadchurch, City Of Tiny Lights) and young German actress Devrim Lingnau (Under Suspicion) in the cast alongside illusionist Scott Silven.

Inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 novel of the same name, which is considered to be one of the earliest works of vampire fiction, Carmilla is a dark coming-of-age love story set in the 1780s.

Raine plays Miss Fontaine, governess to 15-year-old Lara (Hannah Rae) who lives in total isolation in her family home. Struggling to find an outlet for her burgeoning sexuality, Lara is enchanted by the mysterious Carmilla (Devrim Lingnau) and the pair strike up a passionate relationship. However, with rumours and superstition rife and with the exhortation of the...

Exclusive: Production gears up on debut feature from Emily Harris.

Jessica Raine (Call The Midwife, Wolf Hall) and Tobias Menzies (Outlander, Game Of Thrones) have boarded UK Gothic feature Carmilla as the production gears up for a September shoot.

They join rising UK talent Hannah Rae (Broadchurch, City Of Tiny Lights) and young German actress Devrim Lingnau (Under Suspicion) in the cast alongside illusionist Scott Silven.

Inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 novel of the same name, which is considered to be one of the earliest works of vampire fiction, Carmilla is a dark coming-of-age love story set in the 1780s.

Raine plays Miss Fontaine, governess to 15-year-old Lara (Hannah Rae) who lives in total isolation in her family home. Struggling to find an outlet for her burgeoning sexuality, Lara is enchanted by the mysterious Carmilla (Devrim Lingnau) and the pair strike up a passionate relationship. However, with rumours and superstition rife and with the exhortation of the...

Author: Zehra Phelan

The trailer for the true-life story Let Me Go, starring acclaimed actress Juliet Stevenson has been released and it’s a tough journey of unearthing buried family secrets.

Let Me Go is based on the true-life story of Helga Schneider who was abandoned by her mother in 1941 when she was only four years old. The film is set in the year 2000, following not only Helga and her mother’s journeys but the next two generations and how they suffer from the trauma created over 70 years ago.

Written and Directed by Polly Steele, Let Me Go stars Juliet Stevenson, Jodhi May, Lucy Boynton and Karin Bertling.

Let Me Go is released in selected UK cinemas and on digital download from 15th September

Let Me Go Official Synopsis

Let Me Go’ is a film about mothers and daughters, about trans-generational family relationships, about ghosts from the past and the...

Exclusive: The production and sales outfit will offer theatrical releases of Polly Steele’s drama Let Me Go and John Adams’ horror Aux.

Evolutionary Films, the London-based production and sales outfit launched two years ago under CEO John Adams, is expanding into UK distribution. The company will release at least four titles into the British market this year, some getting theatrical launches.

Among the Evolutionary Films titles that will be seen in British cinemas this year are Polly Steele’s new drama Let Me Go starring Juliet Stevenson and Jodhi May. The drama is based on the true story of German woman Helga Schneider, abandoned by her mother as a child, who later discovers her mother had gone to join the Nazi SS.

Evolutionary is also planning a theatrical release for its horror thriller, Aux, directed by Adams and starring John Rhys-Davies. This was financed and produced by Evolutionary who are selling it internationally as well as...

Nazi legacy drama based on Helga Schneider’s memoirs stars Juliet Stevenson.

London-based production and sales outfit Evolutionary Films has closed a deal with Rialto Distribution for Australia and New Zealand theatrical rights to director Polly Steele’s drama Let Me Go, based on Helga Schneider’s best-selling memoirs.

Featuring the first original film score from Radiohead drummer Philip Selway, the film stars four-time BAFTA-nominated actress Juliet Stevenson (Bend It Like Beckham) [pictured], Jodhi May (Last of the Mohicans), Lucy Boynton (Sing Street), Karin Bertling (The Bridge) and Stanley Weber (The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life).

After being abandoned in 1941 at four years-old so that her mother can join the Nazi SS as a concentration camp guard in Auschwitz, Let Me Go follows Schneider returning to face her mother sixty years later. The film also examines the next generations of the family and the suffering they endure following revelations of these long held secrets surrounding...