Latest news with #LAScreenings
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dori Media Group Launches ‘Young Suchard' Series About Acclaimed Mentalist Lior Suchard at LA Screenings (EXCLUSIVE)
Multinational studio Dori Media Group is launching series 'Young Suchard' at the LA Screenings in the first step towards its worldwide distribution. 'Young Suchard' tells the story of how Lior Suchard, touted as the world's leading mentalist, rose to international fame – combining truth, precision and a healthy dose of invention. It promises a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the secrets that powered his rise, offering viewers a chance to uncover the mysteries behind his extraordinary abilities. More from Variety Dori Media's Unscripted 'Power Couple' Broadens Global Reach (EXCLUSIVE) Dori Media's Hit Drama 'In Treatment' Returns to Brazil's Globoplay for Sixth Season (EXCLUSIVE) Dori Media Group Unveils Unscripted Formats Ahead of Mipcom (EXCLUSIVE) The 20-episode series aims to blur the line between reality and imagination, mixing comedy and drama with a nostalgic nod to the vibrant '90s era that shaped him. Alongside a group of misfit kids who become his closest friends, young Suchard discovers his extraordinary abilities and learns to harness them for mentalist tricks, solving problems—and perhaps even finding his first love. 'Lior Suchard has become a true global sensation with his mentalist abilities and 'Young Suchard' will tell the truly remarkable story of how he discovered his unique powers and learned how to utilize them,' said Dori Media CEO Nadav Palti who pointed to its universal appeal for entire families to enjoy. Suchard remarked: 'People around the world always ask me two things: 'How do you do it?' and 'How did it all begin?' So together with Dori Media, we created a series that's real, authentic and totally made up, but will definitely answer those questions.' Suchard is renowned for his one-of-a-kind performances for A-list celebrities, top business moguls, primetime TV specials and events for Fortune 500 companies in over 90 countries. Created by Elad Chen, Suchard, Michael Stern, Shlomit Arviv and directed by Aaron Geva and Mickey Triest, the series targets young viewers who will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at mentalism – a craft that, contrary to popular belief, doesn't involve reading minds. Instead, it combines a deep understanding of body language, social cues, anatomy, mathematics, custom-designed tools and much more. In other news, Dori Media and Abot Hameiri, in partnership with America Television, Kapow, and Open Kimono, announced their plans last month for a brand-new original game show, 'The Auction.' Produced locally by America Estudios, the show is set to debut globally in mid-year on América Television, Peru's top-rated network. Dori Media will oversee worldwide sales of the series. 'The Auction' features two teams of five family members competing in a high-energy, suspense-filled auction. Each team is given an equal budget and must strategically acquire the most valuable prizes, all while aiming to reach the final round and claim the grand prize. 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
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LA Screenings Independents Bounces Back
It's set to be a banner year for the LA Screenings Independents this year, which has noted a 30% uptick in registered buyers and up to 60 exhibitors filling up the rooms of the legendary Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the trade show's new venue. 'More people are coming this year, which is great to see – last year was a bit tough, maybe because of hotel prices or how long the event lasted,' says Isabella Márquez, president of Events TM, who has pared the screenings to two instead of three days, May 15 and 16. More from Variety Brazilian Major Streamer Globoplay Bets on Global Reach of True Crime By Bringing Fourth Season of 'The Anti-Kidnapping Unit' to LA Screenings The Rise of 'Like Water for Chocolate' Producer Endemol Shine Boomdog Dori Media Group Launches 'Young Suchard' Series About Acclaimed Mentalist Lior Suchard at LA Screenings (EXCLUSIVE) These are followed from May 17–21 by slate presentations at studios across Los Angeles, some of which are conveniently closer to the landmark hotel than the trade show's previous Century City location. 'The LA Screenings are a key hub for content sharing and building industry connections. This year's move to the iconic Roosevelt Hotel is about bringing everything into one central location, creating a more intimate and focused atmosphere,' says Lisette Osorio, Caracol TV's VP of International Sales, adding: 'It's also a strategic shift to help manage costs at a time of big industry changes.' Among Caracol's highlights is dramatic series 'La Venganza de Analía – A Second Round for Justice,' leading a robust slate of entertainment formats and documentaries. 'Personally, I've always greatly appreciated and enjoyed visiting our traditional Century City location, which has been an integral part of our lives for many years. However, times change, and we maintain a positive outlook moving forward,' EO Media's Eze Olzanski concurs, who adds that he hopes to see a movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre across the street. 'If it's true that Marilyn Monroe's ghost haunts the hotel, it would be a pleasure to meet her and share a mate with her,' Olzanski quips. 'Being at the LA Screenings with such a diversified slate reinforces our positioning to deliver stories that connect with audiences around the world,' says Pablo Ghiglione, Globo's head of co-productions and international sales, of the Brazilian company's diverse lineup led by a new season of high-octane series 'Anti-Kidnapping Unit' from Globoplay Originals as well as telenovelas and adaptable formats for local productions. 'The market has become more dynamic with a renewed sense of enthusiasm surrounding the LA Screenings, given there are more buyers returning in person post-Covid,' notes Lionsgate's Tania Jacobson, SVP, alternative programming, international, who remarks that it would be the first time Lionsgate Alternative Television is presenting as an international distributor. 'In unscripted television, we're seeing a shift domestically toward greater collaboration between producers and buyers, allowing producers to retain more rights and maintain ownership of their IP,' she says, adding: 'By leveraging the combined strength of Lionsgate Alternative Television's top-tier non-scripted groups and the studio's best-in-class television distribution team, we are fortunate to be well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.' Highlights of Lionsgate's unscripted lineup includes 'The Las Culturistas Culture Awards,' a special on cultural milestones of the year, hosted by SNL regular Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers; 'Princess Diana's Dress' (working title), a new docu tracing Princess Diana's transformation from shy teacher to fashion icon; 'Bocelli: Because I Believe,' an all-access doc following Andrea Bocelli behind the scenes, and the second season of 'Married to the Game,' which delves into the personal lives of Premier League footballers' partners. For Mike Wald and Jason Spivak, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) co-presidents of distribution & networks, the LA Screenings is 'still a very robust point in time' and a perfect opportunity to meet most of SPT's business allies in one venue. 'The structure of the Screenings in terms of timing of what's available has changed, but the impact remains very strong. Over the past two years, we have launched two of the biggest shows in the industry, 'Twisted Metal' and 'Doc,' at the LA Screenings and they continue to be top performers around the world,' they note. This year's SPT crop includes 'American Hostage,' starring Jon Hamm; Scotland-set 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; the series adaptation of William Golding's classic 'Lord of the Flies' by 'Adolescence' writer Jack Thorne; supernatural thriller 'Playing Gracie Darling' and drama 'The Lady.' 'Audiences also love dramas based on true crime events, 'The Lady' is a great example of this, and one that we are really excited about,' they remark. From 'The Crown' producers, Left Bank Pictures, 'The Lady' is a partly fictionalized account of Jane Andrews, the former royal dresser of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, whose rise from humble beginnings ended when she was convicted of murder. Says Michael Bonner, president, NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution: 'I can say that across all the various sales markets that we participate in throughout the year (i.e.: NATPE, Content Americas, London TV Screenings, MIPCOM, ATF, etc.), LA Screenings continues to be our largest market.' 'While content remains king, the TV landscape is becoming increasingly more complex: a surge in local productions, audience fragmentation, technological advancements, shift from the traditional pilot season to year-round development, global market dynamics, etc.,' he observes, adding: 'That said, we prefer to view challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth.' The key is to remain 'nimble' and adapt to the meet the needs of audiences in an ever-shifting landscape, he notes. 'Year-round development means that we are also selling content on a year-round basis; we continue to work with our longstanding linear and streaming clients, but with audiences looking for new ways to watch content, we also work with new partners, services and business models to ensure that our content is anywhere and everywhere consumers are,' he adds. NBCUniversal's film and TV slate for 2025-26 includes dramas led by 'The Copenhagen Test,' which stars Simu Liu as an American intelligence analyst whose brain gets hacked; 'Amadeus,' a reimagined take on Peter Shaffer's award-winning stage play and movie starring Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany; Matt Smith-led 'The Death of Bunny Munro,' a wild cautionary tale intertwined with a portrait of a father and son's bond, and 'Ponies,' starring 'Game of Thrones' lead Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson as two secretaries turned CIA operatives. Among its comedies are 'The Paper,' an offshoot of 'The Office' universe starring Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore and Oscar Nuñez. Additionally, NBCU will be screening trailers of some of its most highly anticipated upcoming films including 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,' 'Wicked: For Good' and 'Jurassic World: Rebirth.' 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
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brazilian Major Streamer Globoplay Bets on Global Reach of True Crime By Bringing Fourth Season of ‘The Anti-Kidnapping Unit' to LA Screenings
Now in its fourth season, Globoplay original 'The Anti-Kidnapping Unit' is a testament to the investment of the major Brazilian streamer in strong national content that can spawn several seasons. Globo arrives at the buzzy LA Screenings with the international launch of the new batch, which continues to trail Detective Carlos Mendonça (Silvio Guindane) and Inspector Juliano Santiago (Erom Cordeiro) as they tackle the violent wave of kidnappings that plagued Rio de Janeiro between the late '80s and '90s. Created by José Junior and José Luiz Magalhães, and directed by Lipe Binder, 'The Anti-Kidnapping Unit' further consolidates a fruitful partnership between AfroReggae Audiovisual and Globo, a collaboration that has also resulted in other national hits such as 'Living On a Razor's Edge,' 'Dissident Archangel,' and 'The Game.' More from Variety The Rise of 'Like Water for Chocolate' Producer Endemol Shine Boomdog Dori Media Group Launches 'Young Suchard' Series About Acclaimed Mentalist Lior Suchard at LA Screenings (EXCLUSIVE) Knowledgeable Producers and 'Unprecedented' Government Incentives Turn Brazil Into a Burgeoning Co-Production Power AfroReggae Audiovisual CEO José Junior tells Variety that his motivation to continue writing new storylines for the series comes much from the 'love' the public feels for the main duo of Mendonça and Santiago. 'The success of the duo is so big that I had them in the third season of 'Dissident Archangel.'' Does this love for the characters add any pressure to the writing behind a new season? 'Every successful series demands that the writers and producers outdo themselves with each season,' says Junior. 'It's like being at the Olympic Games and having to beat your record.' 'The public identifies itself with real-life stories,' continues the creative, highlighting the connection between the series and its faithful audience. 'The work of the Rio de Janeiro Anti-Kidnapping Unit is perhaps the only public safety policy in the history of the state that has worked and continues to work today. Telling these stories without any filters allows the public to make their own conclusions on whether or not they think the modus operandi of this unit is right or wrong.' Another key aspect for this identification is AfroReggae Audiovisual's commitment to 'verisimilitude' and 'diversity.' The production company, although independent, was spawned out of AfroReggae, an NGO founded by Junior in 1993 to reduce the use of drugs, disease, and crime in the favelas through artistic education. Junior is 'very proud' of the number of Black creatives involved in all of AfroReggae Audiovisual's projects, many of whom come out of the penal system. 'I believe part of our success is the combustion resulting from working with these casts, which makes all the difference,' he says. 'We also shoot in real places, be it a prison or a favela. This brings great truth to our products and projects and the public finds identification with our propositions much because of that. We work with verisimilitude and you can't do so without diversity, especially when it comes to Black actors.' Junior and AfroReggae Audiovisual have successfully cornered the market of real-life crime stories in Brazilian television/streaming. Asked about the potential of the crime niche, which has proven solid for decades across the world with entire franchises such as 'Law and Order' and 'CSI', the CEO says he and his team are 'very tuned to this demand.' 'We have new projects coming up with Globoplay, on top of several series coming back for new seasons,' he adds. One of their most high-profile projects coming up is 'Na Linha de Fogo,' the first film to come out of the partnership established between Globoplay and Disney. The film, which revolves around the devastating consequences of the territorial fight between drug traffickers and police forces in Rio de Janeiro, is directed by Afonso Poyart ('Solace') and stars Juliano Cazarré ('Neon Bull') and Nathalia Dill ('Pride and Passion'). Speaking about his long-term creative partner, Junior says Globoplay has 'made all the difference in the Brazilian market.' One such difference is the popularization of Brazilian series amongst national audiences, a key victory when taking into consideration that Brazil is one of the top subscription markets of international streaming platforms in the world and has wide access to a variety of global content. 'With the quality of Brazilian series, the public consumes more and more. The diversity brought by streamers worldwide has made us seek a higher degree of excellence.' 'Next year marks 10 years of our partnership with Globoplay, as well as our tenth anniversary,' he emphasizes. 'Everything we have done so far has been within the company, and we feel like true partners.' Junior is also thrilled that Globo is bringing 'The Anti-Kidnapping Unit' to the international market. 'We have great pride in working within a national platform able to compete internationally. Exporting our work is essential. I believe in Globo as a historic company that has been making a difference for so many years, not only in Brazil, but abroad, too. Also, personally, when a series gets to a fourth season, it means it's a success, and being able to show that not only in my home country but abroad fills me with pride.' In addition to the international launch of the fourth series of 'The Anti-Kidnapping Unit,' Globo is also bringing its wide portfolio of formats to L.A., including recent popular novelas such as 'Crazy About You' and 'She's the One' and documentaries like 'Xuxa, A Life on TV,' exploring the life and career of one of the country's biggest TV icons, and 'Robinho Case,' trailing the criminal investigation that led to the famed football star's criminal conviction for sexual assault. 'The Anti-Kidnapping Unit' is an original Globoplay production in partnership with AfroReggae Audiovisual and A Fábrica. 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
