Latest news with #BilleAugust
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 Nominations: When Life Gives You Tangerines, Pachinko 2 and more land nods
With K-dramas going more global each year, there is increased international interest, and the Seoul International Drama Awards are not leaving any project behind. On August 6, the Seoul International Drama Awards Organizing Committee announced the nominees for this year's International Competition Category, confirming the many shows which are up for a win. It was revealed that a total of 24 productions and 32 individuals were nominated across multiple categories. 276 submissions spanning 50 countries and regions were received, among which the final list of nominations was selected. International Competition nominees at the 2025 Seoul International Drama Awards Best Director Hirokazu Koreeda (Asura) Bille August (The Count of Montecristo) Kim Won Seok (When Life Gives You Tangerines) Philip Barantini (Adolescence) Lee Jin Ah (To My Lonely Sister) Best Screenwriter Dan Erickson from (Severance S2) Stephen Graham (Adolescence) Soo Hugh (Pachinko 2) Lim Sang Choon (When Life Gives You Tangerines) Best Actress Cate Blanchett (Squid Game 3) Kim Da Mi (Nine Puzzles) Kim Jung Young (O'PENing: My Trouble-Maker Mom) Kim Min Ha (Pachinko 2) Best Actor Adam Scott (Severance S2) Owen Cooper (Adolescence) Best Miniseries Adolescence One Hundred Years of Solitude Asura Pachinko 2 Hyper Knife Best TV Movie To My Lonely Sister O'PENing: Our Beautiful Summer O'PENing: The Son O'PENing: Unbalanced Love Smetana Champagne – Peppino di Capri Best Series For Eagle Brothers The Nightfall Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story Seoul International Drama Awards 2025 will announce winners in September; meanwhile, fans can check out the ceremony broadcast on October 2 at 5:50 PM KST on SBS and Seoul International Drama Awards' official YouTube channel.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Better than 10/10': Why 'perfectly cast' period drama The Count of Monte Cristo should be your weekend watch
Cancel your weekend plans and get ready for a sweeping, character-driven epic! Period drama The Count of Monte Cristo lands on our screens this Saturday, bringing the grandeur and grit of 19th century Europe to life. The U&Drama series, which was called "better than 10/10" when it first aired in Switzerland last year, is perfectly cast with Jeremy Irons and Sam Claflin playing the leads, and is the sort of series you can get lost in for hours. Many of the best period dramas are based on classic novels and The Count of Monte Cristo is no different. The eight-part series is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's 1846 book of the same name, an adventure tale of love, betrayal and revenge. If you've never cracked open Dumas's book, it centres around young sailor Edmond Dantès (Claflin) who's falsely imprisoned, but when fellow prisoner Abbé Faria (Irons) tells him where a vast treasure is hidden, Dantès escapes, finds it and embarks on a whole new life. With Oscar-winning filmmaker Bille August on directing duty, and the series shot across Paris, Turin, Rome, and Malta, it's got must-watch written all over it. Before you tune in, here's everything you need to know about The Count of Monte Cristo, from the plot to the cast and how to watch it. What is The Count of Monte Cristo about? As we mentioned, the series is based on Alexandre Dumas's 1846 book of the same name. It's a weighty book, but here's a brief synopsis. When young sailor Edmond Dantès (Sam Claflin) is falsely accused of being a political traitor by jealous rivals, he's imprisoned on grim island fortress Château d'If. While jailed he meets fellow inmate Abbé Faria (Jeremy Irons) who reveals where some hidden treasure is buried. After a daring escape, Dantès reinvents himself as the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo. Armed with a newfound fortune and various disguises, he sets off on a quest to exact revenge on those who wrongly accused him. Who's in the cast of The Count of Monte Cristo? The brilliant cast of The Count of Monte Cristo includes: Sam Claflin as Edmond Dantès Jeremy Irons as Abbé Faria Ana Girardot as Mercédès Harry Taurasi as Fernand Mondego Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Gérard de Villefort Blake Ritson as Danglars Karla-Simone Spence as Haydée Reece Putinas as The Inspector Michele Riondino as Jacopo Lino Guanciale as Vampa Nicolas Maupas as Albert De Morcerf Gabriella Pession as Hermine Robin Greer as Maximilien Morrel Amaryllis August as Valentine de Villefort Bastien Fontaine-Oberto as Franz Poppy Corby-Tuech as Héloïse Ramona Von Pusch as Isabelle Greg Hughes as Boville Nell Baker as Julie Lynette Creane as Marie Tom van der Loop as a blacksmith Jason Barnett as Caderousse Nicholas Farrell as Morrel Is The Count of Monte Cristo any good? Yes, director Bille August is an Oscar-winner after all, and with the series shot between France, Italy and Malta in authentic historical settings, it gives it a really vivid, 19th century feel. It's been highly praised by Swiss and Swedish audiences and when series was released in Italy earlier this year, it became the most-watched show in three years on the country's biggest TV network. It's said to bring a modern feel to the classic, with viewers saying it gives a more nuanced portrayal of the characters than older versions have had. Jeremy Irons told Variety that 'Alexandre Dumas is a wonderful writer and this [series] feels rather topical,' adding, 'I think it has something to say about modern society: we haven't changed as people.' How can I watch The Count of Monte Cristo? Luckily, there's not long to wait before you can enjoy a bit of historical escapism. The eight-part premieres on U&Drama on Saturday 2nd August. The first episode will air at 9pm on, with every episode landing on the U and U&Drama streaming apps straight after. What other period dramas can I watch? Hungry for more historical storytelling? There's a ton of lavish period drama material to dig into, alongside well-loved classics such as The Crown and Bridgerton. We love Yorkshire rags-to-riches family saga The Hardacres, which has just been renewed for a second instalment. You can catch up on series 1 on 5. If you're looking for more juicy, soap drama with a Julian Fellowes feel, try Belgravia: The Next Chapter, a Downton-meets-Bridgerton drama that's perfect to binge. We're also marking our calendars for even more period dramas coming our way: later this year, The Forsytes, from the creators of Poldark, promises another gripping hit. And next year, keep an eye out for Dolly Alderton's fresh new take on Pride and Prejudice starring Olivia Colman and Jack Lowden. You Might Also Like The anti-ageing wonder ingredient you're missing in your skincare routine 15 dresses perfect for a summer wedding 6 items our fashion team always take on a beach holiday
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What to Watch: The 15 Best Movies and TV Shows of May
Bille August directs a suspenseful World War I tale, Stanley Tucci offers a mouth-watering tour of Italy, documentaries examine subjects ranging from Pee-wee Herman to the inventor of the Polaroid, and much, much more.
Wall Street Journal
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘The Kiss' Review: A Historical Drama of Human Folly
With his dozens of novels and stories, the wide-ranging Austrian writer Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) has been inspiring filmmakers for more than 90 years. The latest of many examples is 'The Kiss,' from the eminent Danish director Bille August. As is typical of Zweig's work, psychological depth combines with suspenseful plotting, in this case to serve a parable about the follies that led to World War I. An emotionally unstable continent and an equally volatile young woman move in parallel in a tale set in 1914 Denmark, where an impecunious young cavalry lieutenant, Anton (Esben Smed), who struggles for acceptance among his much wealthier peers, is determined above all else to restore family honor after a scandal involving his father. While undergoing vaguely absurd training exercises with his neutral country's army—he and his fellow officers attack straw figures with swords, seemingly unfamiliar with the concept of machine guns—he assists an elderly driver in getting his car out of the mud. This spontaneous act of kindness turns out to have unexpected consequences.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mediawan Scores Key Licensing Deals on Bille August's ‘The Count of Monte Cristo' in U.S., U.K. and More Key Territories (EXCLUSIVE)
Mediawan has scored a raft of major licensing deals on 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' the highly anticipated epic series directed by two-time Palme d'Or winner Bille August. A lushly lensed adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' iconic masterpiece, the series will have a gala premiere on closing night of Canneseries where it will play out of competition in the Lumière Theatre, in the presence of August, and his key cast, Sam Claflin ('Peaky Blinders') and Ana Girardot ('The Returned'). More from Variety French Production Reached Near Record in 2024, While Streamers' Financing Skyrocketed by 60% Canneseries Industry: Soo Hugh, Beau Willimon, Jane Tranter, Eric Rochant, Malin Sarah Gozin to Talk at First Edition Canneseries Unveils Lineup, Including J.J. Abrams' 'Duster,' 'The Walking Dead: Dead City,' 'The Agency' Produced by Palomar and DEMD Productions, two Mediawan companies, 'The Count of Monte Cristo' has lured PBS Masterpiece in the U.S. and UKTV in the U.K., along with TVE in Spain, RTS in Switzerland, and the Nordic PSB alliance which includes SVT, NRK, DR, YLE and RUV. The eight-episode series will also be broadcast in Eastern European countries, including Poland with TVP, Hungary with TV2, and the Czech Republic with Ceska TV. Mediawan is also in negotiation to close more major territories. Claflin stars in 'The Count of Monte Cristo' as Edmond Dantes, a nineteen-year-old sailor who was falsely accused of treason and is imprisoned without trial in the Château d'If, a grim island fortress off Marseille. After many years of captivity he finally escapes and, under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, he plans to take revenge on those who have wrongly accused him. 'The Count of Monte Cristo' already premiered in Italy where it broke rating records. On Rai1, the miniseries was a massive success, attracting nearly 6 million viewers, a 30.5% market share. Mediawan said the ratings on Rai marked the broadcaster's highest score on that slot within the last three years. The show was commissioned by France Télévisions in France and RAI in Italy, and distributed worldwide by Mediawan Rights in cooperation with CAA for North America and with the participation of Entourage Vleeschhouwer, Mediawan Rights' managing director, said the show's 'global resonance underscores Mediawan Rights' enduring commitment to supporting the best talents and the best IPs.' Vleeschhouwer said 'The Count of Monte Cristo' taps into the 'needs of a dynamic global market' for 'appealing premium content.' Nicola Serra, Palomar CEO, praised the series' 'wonderful talents.' 'Their amazing work made this show a worldwide event for a global audience. We hope they will love the show as much as we loved to make it,' said Serra. August, the revered Danish filmmaker whose credits include 'Pelle the Conqueror,' 'The Best Intentions' and 'Les Misérables,' shot the series on location in Europe over five-months. 'The Count of Monte Cristo' is the first international series of that caliber fully produced as well as distributed by Mediawan, and financed with Entourage. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
