Latest news with #AnonymousFederation
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shailene Woodley to Star in New York-Set Film ‘A Beautiful Journey' From Anonymous Federation, Gabman (EXCLUSIVE)
Shailene Woodley ('Big Little Lies') is set to headline 'A Beautiful Journey,' an English-language comedy-drama feature from French writer-director Nathalie Marchak ('Out of Instinct'). 'A Beautiful Journey' is being produced by Anonymous Federation, a joint venture between Anonymous Content and Federation Studios, and Gabman, the company founded by Valerie Garcia, who previously co-headed one of France's leading distribution shingles, Mars Films. More from Variety Ildiko Enyedi's 'Silent Friend,' Laszlo Nemes' 'Orphan' Lead Hungarian Projects at Cannes Film Market Robert De Niro Slams Trump as 'Philistine President' and Enemy of the Arts While Accepting Cannes Honorary Palme d'Or: 'This Isn't Just an American Problem' Chile Heads to Cannes: Sebastian Lelio, Diego Céspedes, Nicolás Acuña, Julio Rojas, Present Latest Buzz Titles Rosalie Cimino, a former top agent at Paris-based firm UBBA, will produce on behalf of Anonymous Federation, while Garcia will produce on behalf of Gabman. Principal photography will begin in the fall. Woodley will play Mary, an ex-swimming champion who now works as a mermaid at the New York Aquarium, struggling to raise her 7-year-old son, Lulu, on her own. When they get evicted, to protect him, she pretends they are about to embark on a beautiful journey. But in doing so, she's beginning to lose — and eventually find — herself. Cimino described the project as a ''Life is Beautiful' meets 'Captain Fantastic.'' Garcia pointed out the movie will have an uplifting dimension, revolving on the strong bond between a mother and her son. Marchak penned the script for 'A Beautiful Journey' with the support of a writing scholarship from Sundance. The script was included on the Inaugural Cannes Screenplay List, an initiative highlighting outstanding feature scripts by women and non-binary storytellers. 'Working with Shailene Woodley is a dream,' said Marchak, whose first feature film, 'Out of Instinct,' was released theatrically in 2017. 'She is a truly cinematic force — her fearless honesty and radiant depth will light up the screen as she leads us through Mary's tender, turbulent, and ultimately transformative journey.' Cimino and Garcia said, 'We are thrilled to embark on this exciting film with our visionary director, Nathalie Marchak. And today, we are tremendously proud to have the incredibly talented Shailene Woodley embody the lead role of Mary. Her immense talent will illuminate our film and will bring Nathalie's vision to life. Moreover, her dedication and artistry will elevate our story and resonate deeply with our audience.' Cimino said 'the script touched Woodley intimately and she loved it.' The pair also noted that the actor had already delivered a breakthrough performance as a young mother in 'Big Little Lies' which earned her an Emmy nomination. 'We didn't want to talk to her about her role in 'Big Little Lies,' but it's her manager who said: 'Shailene has already played the role of a mother and she's fan of the script, she wants to meet you, she wants to meet Nathalie!' The producer said she and Garcia are currently at Cannes and working on raising the financing for the movie and are aiming to start filming in the fall. The movie will shoot mainly in Europe, addition to a few days in New York for the outdoors scenes, Garcia said. 'A Beautiful Journey' will mark Woodley's first time working on a French project. Woodley had her first major role in 2008 with 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' and later starred in 'The Descendants,' the 'Divergent' franchise and 'The Fault in Our Stars.' The actress is also a noted environmentalist and political activist who made headlines in 2016 for her arrest while protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. On getting Woodley on board for the movie, Cimino said her long-standing relationships with managers and agents have helped, but above all, it comes down to the 'very good script.' 'Once a good script starts circulating in an agency or management company, actors want good scripts. They want good stories, they want roles they can defend,' she said. Marchak, who holds an LL.M from Harvard Law School and a filmmaking certificate from New York University, previously penned and directed the TV series 'Les Siffleurs' and serves as VP of the French Guild of Authors, Directors and Producers (ARP). Additional key cast and the international sales agent will be announced in the coming days. Woodley is represented by CAA and Range Media Partners. Marchak is represented by Time Art (France) and Paradigm (U.S.). Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise Won't Address ‘Mission: Impossible' Future During Surprise Cannes Talk: ‘I'd Rather People' Just See ‘The Final Reckoning' and Enjoy
In a wide-ranging masterclass at the Cannes Film Festival, Christopher McQuarrie delved into the evolution of the 'competitive' film business and why his collaboration with Tom Cruise offers a blueprint for how to keep theatergoers heading to the cineplex. The 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' writer-director-producer told French journalist Didier Allouch that the theatrical experience is under siege thanks to the rise of streaming. More from Variety Tarak Ben Ammar to Receive Variety's International Achievement in Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival Shailene Woodley to Star in New York-Set Film 'A Beautiful Journey' From Anonymous Federation, Gabman (EXCLUSIVE) 'Sound of Falling' Director Mascha Schilinski Calls for No Limitations 'I'm not sitting here to advocate for [streaming] because I'm a diehard believer in the big-screen experience, and I believe that what makes film special is that however many hundreds of strangers have all come together to sit in a room and watch something together and experience something together,' he said. 'Streaming is in danger of driving that into extinction.' About 20 minutes into the hourlong conversation, Cruise made a surprise appearance, just one day after the mega-movie star previewed some of the 'never been done' stunts in the film as part of a TikTok creator workshop at the festival. 'He doesn't just write for me. He's able to come in and write for the actor,' Crusie said of his frequent collaborator who he calls McQ. While many industry observers expect this film to be the final installment in the multi-billion dollar franchise, Cruise didn't exactly rule out future chapters when asked about the 'Mission' future. 'I'd rather just people see it and enjoy and we've had an amazing time doing it and it's been a lot of fun and I just want you all to enjoy it,' the actor said. 'Enjoy this and know everything is the culmination has come to this moment right now.' Cruise discussed how McQuarrie's style offers a needed throwback to the Hollywood films of yesteryear, something on display in the eighth installment of the 'Mission Impossible' franchise. 'It goes back to silent movies,' Cruise said. 'When you're looking at this film, you're going to feel how the close-ups are used with the characters.' McQuarrie, who grew up watching films from the '70s and much older films, talked about how Cruise will not take 'no' for an answer when it comes to the daredevil stunts that will be on display tonight in the film. 'Tom said, 'I want to be zero G in between the wings of the plane,'' McQuarrie said as Cruise laughed alongside. 'And these people who do this for a living and are part of a decades long tradition, said, 'No, you're not going to do that. And Tom said, 'Thank you for your time.' And we went on to some other people.' Cruise also acknowledged that he is loath to recognize that word 'no.' 'Don't ask permission to do it. Just do it. So, don't wait till everything's perfect because it's never going to be perfect. Movies aren't perfect. People aren't. Life isn't perfect,' Cruise said. 'But you want to go at it, and it's better to do it.' When it comes to performing the franchise's famed stunts, Cruise says fear isn't part of his psyche. 'I've always felt, you know, I don't mind kind of encountering the unknown and I like the feeling. It's just an emotion for me. It's something that is not paralyzing. It doesn't bother me,' he said. 'I enjoy any endeavor in life. People can be afraid to do something, and I'm like, 'OK, I want to.' I don't mind kind of confronting it and going in … People can be quite frightened about the unknown, and I never have been.' Elsewhere in the talk, McQuarrie railed against the competitive nature of Hollywood and how it negatively pits films against films, studios against studios and actors against other actors. 'One of the problems with contemporary cinema, particularly Hollywood, is over the course of my career, I've watched it develop into a competition. It has become about who crushes whom,' he said. 'Tom Cruise is competing with no one but himself. He understands, and together we understand, that nobody wins unless everybody wins.' 'The Final Reckoning' debuts out of competition tonight as one of the most anticipated films to hit Cannes this year. Paramount is releasing the event film worldwide on May 21. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tarak Ben Ammar to Receive Variety's International Achievement in Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival
Franco-Tunisian film and TV entrepreneur will be celebrated by Variety with its International Achievement in Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival. An infallible dealmaker, resourceful problem-solver and filmmaker-friendly bon vivant, Ammar has played a pivotal, yet often behind-the-scenes role, in building cultural and cinematic bridges between Europe, the U.S. and the Arab world over the last 50 years. More from Variety Shailene Woodley to Star in New York-Set Film 'A Beautiful Journey' From Anonymous Federation, Gabman (EXCLUSIVE) 'Sound of Falling' Director Mascha Schilinski Calls for No Limitations Childhood Fears Come to Life in First Trailer for 'Don't Leave the Kids Alone' (EXCLUSIVE) Ammar, whose Eagle Pictures is currently Italy's top independent film distributor and a growing production force, also owns France's Studios de Paris, home of 'Emily in Paris,' and is active in Saudi Arabia where he recently launched a film fund. Ammar began his career in Italy and Tunisia in the late 1960s. He quickly became an ally to iconic filmmakers such as Roberto Rossellini, Georges Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Franco Zeffirelli. He opened the doors of Tunisia to the film world, helping build an industry there from scratch while facilitating the productions of films sush as 'Star Wars,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 'Jesus of Nazareth' and 'La Traviata,' among others. After moving to France, Ammar in 2007 returned to his film roots and bought Italian indie distributor Eagle Pictures which has since then become his flagship film outfit and is Paramount and Sony's Italian theatrical distributor. On the indie production side Eagle scored Italy's biggest local hit of 2024 with Margherita Ferri's teen drama 'The Boy With Pink Trousers,' about a 15-year-old who took his own life after enduring bullying at school and online. In terms of ticket sales, it's even beat Hollywood heavyweights such as 'Wicked,' 'Dune 2,' 'Gladiator 2' and 'Venom 3.' 'Tarak has been a passionate supporter and champion of independent films,' said Variety's Co-Editor-in-Chief Ramin Setoodeh. 'He is truly deserving of this honor and Variety looks forward to toasting him in Cannes. Ammar will be honored by Variety on May 15 at 4pm at the Majestic Hotel, Salon Croisette. Best of Variety All the Godzilla Movies Ranked Final Oscar Predictions: International Feature – United Kingdom to Win Its First Statuette With 'The Zone of Interest' 'Game of Thrones' Filming Locations in Northern Ireland to Open as Tourist Attractions
