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Prime Video is ready with an entertainment-packed October this year. The upcoming month will see the return of some of Prime Video’s best original shows including The Legend of Vox Machina and also new hit movies like Challengers. Just like every month, Prime Video is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the 12 new movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in October 2024.
Challengers (October 1)
Challengers is a romantic sports drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino from a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes. The 2024 film revolves around a love triangle between an injured tennis star turned coach, her low-circuit tennis player ex-boyfriend, and her tennis champion husband in a span of 13 years. Challengers stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist in the lead roles with Darnell Appling, Shane Harris,...
Prime Video is ready with an entertainment-packed October this year. The upcoming month will see the return of some of Prime Video’s best original shows including The Legend of Vox Machina and also new hit movies like Challengers. Just like every month, Prime Video is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the 12 new movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in October 2024.
Challengers (October 1)
Challengers is a romantic sports drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino from a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes. The 2024 film revolves around a love triangle between an injured tennis star turned coach, her low-circuit tennis player ex-boyfriend, and her tennis champion husband in a span of 13 years. Challengers stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist in the lead roles with Darnell Appling, Shane Harris,...
- 9/28/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s The Office has been remade once again, this time in Australia. Here’s the trailer.
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s original version of The Office launched on the BBC in 2001. It introduced the world to boss from hell David Brent (Gervais) as he attempted to look good in front of the cameras documenting his workplace, paper merchants Wernham Hogg, alongside staff including Tim (Martin Freeman) Gareth (Mackenzie Crook) and Dawn (Lucy Davis).
All while trying to stay onside with bullying best mate Chris Finch (Ralph Ineson) and, in the second series, his new boss from the Swindon branch, Neil (Patrick Baladi).
Gervais and Merchant took cringe comedy to the extreme, with Brent becoming a byword for social awkwardness and inappropriate behaviour.
Since then, there have been 13 international versions, with Greg Daniels’ American version starring Steve Carrell being far and away the most successful,...
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s original version of The Office launched on the BBC in 2001. It introduced the world to boss from hell David Brent (Gervais) as he attempted to look good in front of the cameras documenting his workplace, paper merchants Wernham Hogg, alongside staff including Tim (Martin Freeman) Gareth (Mackenzie Crook) and Dawn (Lucy Davis).
All while trying to stay onside with bullying best mate Chris Finch (Ralph Ineson) and, in the second series, his new boss from the Swindon branch, Neil (Patrick Baladi).
Gervais and Merchant took cringe comedy to the extreme, with Brent becoming a byword for social awkwardness and inappropriate behaviour.
Since then, there have been 13 international versions, with Greg Daniels’ American version starring Steve Carrell being far and away the most successful,...
- 9/20/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
On October 18, Amazon Prime Video will launch a new version of “The Office” set in Australia. The popular mockumentary series was created in the UK by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and adapted for US audiences. This latest iteration will be available worldwide on Amazon’s streaming service.
The Australian adaptation takes place at Flinley Craddick, a packaging company in Sydney. Hannah Howard leads the workplace comedy as the boss. In previous versions of the show, characters like David Brent in the UK and Michael Scott in the US filled this role as inept managers trying to connect with their employees. Howard’s character promises to deliver the same awkward and entertaining moments fans have come to enjoy.
Supporting Howard is an ensemble cast portraying a range of familiar archetypes. Edith Poor plays Lizze, the receptionst who sees herself as a productivity expert. Steen Raskopoulos and Shari Sebbens portray Nick and Greta,...
The Australian adaptation takes place at Flinley Craddick, a packaging company in Sydney. Hannah Howard leads the workplace comedy as the boss. In previous versions of the show, characters like David Brent in the UK and Michael Scott in the US filled this role as inept managers trying to connect with their employees. Howard’s character promises to deliver the same awkward and entertaining moments fans have come to enjoy.
Supporting Howard is an ensemble cast portraying a range of familiar archetypes. Edith Poor plays Lizze, the receptionst who sees herself as a productivity expert. Steen Raskopoulos and Shari Sebbens portray Nick and Greta,...
- 9/18/2024
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
The Office is back! Well, a version of it.
Amazon Prime Video has released the first trailer to the Australian adaptation of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s enduring classic comedy series The Office, and we finally get a proper glimpse at the Aussie variants of Brent, Tim, Dawn, Gareth and more.
With NBC’s follow-up to the U.S. adaptation of The Office still in development, global fans of the franchise can sate themselves in the meantime with an Aussie attempt at the mockumentary-style comedy.
Just one (big) catch, though: The Office Australia will be available on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide from Oct. 18, except, that is, in the U.S. That’s nothing a Vpn can’t fix, however, if you’re really keen.
In the clip released Wednesday, we see Hannah Howard (Felicity Ward), the managing director of Sydney-based packaging company Flinley Craddick, trying and...
Amazon Prime Video has released the first trailer to the Australian adaptation of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s enduring classic comedy series The Office, and we finally get a proper glimpse at the Aussie variants of Brent, Tim, Dawn, Gareth and more.
With NBC’s follow-up to the U.S. adaptation of The Office still in development, global fans of the franchise can sate themselves in the meantime with an Aussie attempt at the mockumentary-style comedy.
Just one (big) catch, though: The Office Australia will be available on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide from Oct. 18, except, that is, in the U.S. That’s nothing a Vpn can’t fix, however, if you’re really keen.
In the clip released Wednesday, we see Hannah Howard (Felicity Ward), the managing director of Sydney-based packaging company Flinley Craddick, trying and...
- 9/18/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gaumont CEO Sidonie Dumas To Receive Int’l Emmy Directorate Award
Gaumont CEO Sidonie Dumas is set to be honored with the 2024 International Emmy Directorate Award, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced. Dumas has been head of the 129-year-old French film and TV company since 2010. The French exec has been credited with moving with the times to expand the company into TV. Early series coming to fruition under her watch included Netflix hits Narcos and Lupin, while more recent high profile productions span Karl Lagerfeld biographic series Becoming Karl; German historical drama The Interpreter of Silence for Disney and the recently announced series about the Gucci family saga. “Sidonie Dumas has strategically and successfully pivoted Gaumont’s main business from theatrical to television with major international expansion and key deals from Europe and Latin America to Hollywood,” said Iatas President CEO Bruce L. Paisner. “We look forward...
Gaumont CEO Sidonie Dumas is set to be honored with the 2024 International Emmy Directorate Award, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced. Dumas has been head of the 129-year-old French film and TV company since 2010. The French exec has been credited with moving with the times to expand the company into TV. Early series coming to fruition under her watch included Netflix hits Narcos and Lupin, while more recent high profile productions span Karl Lagerfeld biographic series Becoming Karl; German historical drama The Interpreter of Silence for Disney and the recently announced series about the Gucci family saga. “Sidonie Dumas has strategically and successfully pivoted Gaumont’s main business from theatrical to television with major international expansion and key deals from Europe and Latin America to Hollywood,” said Iatas President CEO Bruce L. Paisner. “We look forward...
- 9/18/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Jackie van Beek and Hannah Diviney star in Natalie Bailey’s feature debut, which explores a thorny taboo with gallows humour
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The family of the titular teenager in Audrey don’t literally pop champagne when she tumbles from the roof and falls into a coma, though they might as well have: this deliciously snarky black comedy makes it brutally clear they prefer it when she’s in a vegetative state, unable to give them grief.
The film mercilessly flogs the “we’re glad she’s in a coma” joke and yet it continues to be funny – partly because of the drollery of Lou Sanz’s script, which is filled with gallows humour; partly because of the pacing, which hits a good rhythm, feeling quick but never rushed; partly because of the cast, who are oddly endearing despite portraying people behaving very badly; and...
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The family of the titular teenager in Audrey don’t literally pop champagne when she tumbles from the roof and falls into a coma, though they might as well have: this deliciously snarky black comedy makes it brutally clear they prefer it when she’s in a vegetative state, unable to give them grief.
The film mercilessly flogs the “we’re glad she’s in a coma” joke and yet it continues to be funny – partly because of the drollery of Lou Sanz’s script, which is filled with gallows humour; partly because of the pacing, which hits a good rhythm, feeling quick but never rushed; partly because of the cast, who are oddly endearing despite portraying people behaving very badly; and...
- 8/19/2024
- by Luke Buckmaster
- The Guardian - Film News
Prime Video has announced that the Australian Original The Office will premiere on October 18. The comedy series is the thirteenth version of the global hit juggernaut franchise and has the first-ever female lead in the iconic role, comedian and actor Felicity Ward who plays Hannah Howard, Managing Director of Flinley Craddick.
All eight episodes of The Office Australia will be available on October 18 exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide (excluding the U.S.) in the Prime membership.
Prime Video also released a first-look image from the series, which features an ensemble of Australian and New Zealand comedy talent. Starring alongside Felicity Ward is Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, and Josh Thomson.
Jonny Brugh, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade (Appetite), Lucy Schmidt (The Pledge), Zoe Terakes, Pallavi Sharda (The Twelve), and Claude Jabbour round out the regular cast.
Susie Youssef, Justin Rosniiak, Carlo Ritchie (Mikki vs the World), Rick Donald,...
All eight episodes of The Office Australia will be available on October 18 exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide (excluding the U.S.) in the Prime membership.
Prime Video also released a first-look image from the series, which features an ensemble of Australian and New Zealand comedy talent. Starring alongside Felicity Ward is Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, and Josh Thomson.
Jonny Brugh, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade (Appetite), Lucy Schmidt (The Pledge), Zoe Terakes, Pallavi Sharda (The Twelve), and Claude Jabbour round out the regular cast.
Susie Youssef, Justin Rosniiak, Carlo Ritchie (Mikki vs the World), Rick Donald,...
- 8/19/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
The Australian edition of “The Office” — the 13th global incarnation of the iconic comedy series — is taking shape, with Prime Video setting a release date and releasing a first-look at its lead, Felicity Ward.
The “Time Bandits” and “Wakefield” star will play Hannah Howard, managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick and the first female lead of “The Office” franchise. All eight episodes will become available globally on Oct. 18 via Prime Video (excluding the U.S.).
Starring alongside Ward is an ensemble of Australian and New Zealand comedy talent. The cast includes Edith Poor (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”), Steen Raskopoulos (“The Duchess”), Shari Sebbens (“The Sapphires”), Josh Thomson (“How to Please a Woman”), Jonny Brugh (“Thor: Love and Thunder”), Susan Ling Young (“Reckoning”, “Hungry Ghosts”), Raj Labade (“Appetite”), Lucy Schmidt (“The Pledge”), Zoe Terakes (“Talk to Me”), Pallavi Sharda (“The Twelve”) and Claude Jabbour (“Last King of the Cross”). Meanwhile,...
The “Time Bandits” and “Wakefield” star will play Hannah Howard, managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick and the first female lead of “The Office” franchise. All eight episodes will become available globally on Oct. 18 via Prime Video (excluding the U.S.).
Starring alongside Ward is an ensemble of Australian and New Zealand comedy talent. The cast includes Edith Poor (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”), Steen Raskopoulos (“The Duchess”), Shari Sebbens (“The Sapphires”), Josh Thomson (“How to Please a Woman”), Jonny Brugh (“Thor: Love and Thunder”), Susan Ling Young (“Reckoning”, “Hungry Ghosts”), Raj Labade (“Appetite”), Lucy Schmidt (“The Pledge”), Zoe Terakes (“Talk to Me”), Pallavi Sharda (“The Twelve”) and Claude Jabbour (“Last King of the Cross”). Meanwhile,...
- 8/19/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Toto, I don’t think we’re in Scranton anymore. The Office is officially going Down Under with a new Australian update on the hit comedy series.
Prime Video announced Monday that the Australian Original The Office will debut all eight episodes Oct. 18 on the streamer while revealing a first-look image at Felicity Ward as the franchise’s first-ever female lead, playing new boss Hannah Howard, managing director of Flinley Craddick packaging company.
When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, Hannah goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her “work family” together. The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them.
The Office also stars Edith Poor,...
Prime Video announced Monday that the Australian Original The Office will debut all eight episodes Oct. 18 on the streamer while revealing a first-look image at Felicity Ward as the franchise’s first-ever female lead, playing new boss Hannah Howard, managing director of Flinley Craddick packaging company.
When she gets news from Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, Hannah goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her “work family” together. The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them.
The Office also stars Edith Poor,...
- 8/18/2024
- by Glenn Garner
- Deadline Film + TV
Filmfare Fame At Last
2022 global hit film, “Rrr” won the award for the best film in the Telugu language at the delayed Filmfare South awards. For their performances in “Rrr,” N.T.R. Jr and Ram Charan were named as winners in the best leading actor category and S.S. Rajamouli won best director.
In the Tamil category, “Ponniyin Selvan Part 1” took the best film award. Its director Mani Ratnam bagged the best director award. Kamal Haasan and Sai Pallavi were honored with the best actor (male) and best actor (female) for their performances in “Vikram” and “Gargi,” respectively.
The winner of the best film award in the Malayalam category was “Nna Thaan Case Kodu,” with its helmer Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval collecting the best director prize.
For Kannada cinema, Kiranraj K. was awarded the best director award for “777 Charlie,” while “Kantara” was named the best film.
The awards were instituted for Hindi-language...
2022 global hit film, “Rrr” won the award for the best film in the Telugu language at the delayed Filmfare South awards. For their performances in “Rrr,” N.T.R. Jr and Ram Charan were named as winners in the best leading actor category and S.S. Rajamouli won best director.
In the Tamil category, “Ponniyin Selvan Part 1” took the best film award. Its director Mani Ratnam bagged the best director award. Kamal Haasan and Sai Pallavi were honored with the best actor (male) and best actor (female) for their performances in “Vikram” and “Gargi,” respectively.
The winner of the best film award in the Malayalam category was “Nna Thaan Case Kodu,” with its helmer Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval collecting the best director prize.
For Kannada cinema, Kiranraj K. was awarded the best director award for “777 Charlie,” while “Kantara” was named the best film.
The awards were instituted for Hindi-language...
- 7/12/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Memoir of a Snail,” directed by locally-born, Oscar-winning director Adam Elliot, has been set as the opening title of the Melbourne International Film Festival.
The festival runs Aug. 8-25 and is expected to comprise more than 250 titles. An early sneak peek, revealed Thursday, confirmed a high quality international and local selection.
These include Cannes Critics’ Week award winner “Blue Sun Palace”; double Sundance-winning semi biographical directorial debut “Didi,” by Sean Wang; Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man,” which earned Sebastian Stan the acting prize in Berlin; Australian-produced Imax presentation “Fungi: Web of Life”; Rooney Mara-starring “La Cocina”; Frederick Wiseman’s restaurant documentary “Menus Plaisirs – Les Troisgros”; Berlin prize-winner “My Favourite Cake”; Steve McQueen’s “Occupied City”; and Jodi Wille’s “Welcome Space Brothers.”
The lineup also includes “We Were Dangerous,” a feminist and comic directorial debut from Maori filmmaker Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, that is executive produced by Taika Waititi.
The festival runs Aug. 8-25 and is expected to comprise more than 250 titles. An early sneak peek, revealed Thursday, confirmed a high quality international and local selection.
These include Cannes Critics’ Week award winner “Blue Sun Palace”; double Sundance-winning semi biographical directorial debut “Didi,” by Sean Wang; Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man,” which earned Sebastian Stan the acting prize in Berlin; Australian-produced Imax presentation “Fungi: Web of Life”; Rooney Mara-starring “La Cocina”; Frederick Wiseman’s restaurant documentary “Menus Plaisirs – Les Troisgros”; Berlin prize-winner “My Favourite Cake”; Steve McQueen’s “Occupied City”; and Jodi Wille’s “Welcome Space Brothers.”
The lineup also includes “We Were Dangerous,” a feminist and comic directorial debut from Maori filmmaker Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, that is executive produced by Taika Waititi.
- 6/6/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
When we first meet Ronnie and Cormack Lipsick (Jackie van Beek and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), the Australian couple has respectively reached what seems like the most miserable depths of female and male existence. She feels her dreams were stolen from her when an unwanted pregnancy forced her to abandon her acting career and devote her life to traumatizing her eldest daughter. And in an equally tragic turn of events, he can’t get an erection without jerking off into a cornucopia of increasingly elaborate sex toys.
It’s a bleak state of affairs that’s only made worse by the couple’s fraying relationships with their two teenage daughters. Audrey (Josephine Blazier) responds to her mother’s demands to become “an actress or dancer or voiceover artist” with the same enthusiasm that any high schooler puts into a task being forced upon them. Audrey’s apathy for her extracurricular activities...
It’s a bleak state of affairs that’s only made worse by the couple’s fraying relationships with their two teenage daughters. Audrey (Josephine Blazier) responds to her mother’s demands to become “an actress or dancer or voiceover artist” with the same enthusiasm that any high schooler puts into a task being forced upon them. Audrey’s apathy for her extracurricular activities...
- 3/10/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
New Zealand’s funniest export Jackie Van Beek returns to SXSW atop the cast of “Audrey,” an Australian dark comedy that is headed to SXSW.
Van Beek, whose 2018 “The Breaker Upperers,” was a previous SXSW hit, portrays a forgotten former soap star whose career and life have been derailed by motherhood and suburban boredom. But when an accident puts her 18-year-old child in a coma, the woman takes on her daughter’s identity and gets a second chance at the life she actually wanted.
Other cast also include: Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (“Puberty Blues,” “The Diplomat”), Josephine Blazier (“True History of the Kelly Gang”) and disability advocate and actress Hannah Diviney (“Latecomers”).
“What begins as a light, sex-fuelled comedy about family soon takes a twisted journey into horror as, like a classic Greek tragedy, our protagonists decide that the only way to find happiness is to destroy their firstborn,” says director Natalie Bailey.
Van Beek, whose 2018 “The Breaker Upperers,” was a previous SXSW hit, portrays a forgotten former soap star whose career and life have been derailed by motherhood and suburban boredom. But when an accident puts her 18-year-old child in a coma, the woman takes on her daughter’s identity and gets a second chance at the life she actually wanted.
Other cast also include: Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (“Puberty Blues,” “The Diplomat”), Josephine Blazier (“True History of the Kelly Gang”) and disability advocate and actress Hannah Diviney (“Latecomers”).
“What begins as a light, sex-fuelled comedy about family soon takes a twisted journey into horror as, like a classic Greek tragedy, our protagonists decide that the only way to find happiness is to destroy their firstborn,” says director Natalie Bailey.
- 3/7/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The SXSW Film & TV Festival said Wednesday that Universal’s The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling will serve as the 2024 edition’s Centerpiece film, and Netflix’s 3 Body Problem from David Benioff, D. B. Weiss and Alexander Woo will open the fest’s opening-night TV premiere.
The news comes as the festival, whose 31st edition runs March 8-16 in Austin, unveiled first titles in its Feature and Short Competitions, Midnighters, Global and Xr Experience categories. See the list below, which includes berths for the world premiere of Pamela Adlon’s Babes, the Daisy Ridley-starring Magpie, Prentice Penny’s docuseries Black Twitter, Season 3 of Hacks and the final season of Star Trek: Discovery.
Organizers said today that more titles, including the opening- and closing-night films, will be announced early next month across Headliner, Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Narrative Spotlight, Documentary Spotlight, Visions, Midnighter, Global, 24 Beats Per Second,...
The news comes as the festival, whose 31st edition runs March 8-16 in Austin, unveiled first titles in its Feature and Short Competitions, Midnighters, Global and Xr Experience categories. See the list below, which includes berths for the world premiere of Pamela Adlon’s Babes, the Daisy Ridley-starring Magpie, Prentice Penny’s docuseries Black Twitter, Season 3 of Hacks and the final season of Star Trek: Discovery.
Organizers said today that more titles, including the opening- and closing-night films, will be announced early next month across Headliner, Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Narrative Spotlight, Documentary Spotlight, Visions, Midnighter, Global, 24 Beats Per Second,...
- 1/10/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2024 SXSW Film and TV Festival has announced its lineup, with Netflix’s splashy sci-fi series 3 Body Problem opening the fest and the Ryan Gosling and Emily Bunt action comedy The Fall Guy acting as a centerpiece screening.
David Benioff and Dan Weiss are behind 3 Body Problem, based on the book of the same name. David Leitch directed the Universal feature about a Hollywood stuntman (Gosling) who is tasked with tracking down the star of the latest movie he is working on.
The Pamela Adlon movie Babes will also act as a centerpiece screening. The narrative competition features include Crystal Moselle’s latest, The Black Sea, and Barbie Ferreira starrer Bob Trevino Likes It. Elsewhere in the lineup are a Cheech and Chong doc, Tommy Dorfman’s directorial debut, Lilly Singh comedy Doin’ It, and My Dead Friend Zoe, exec produced by NFL star Travis Kelce.
The film...
David Benioff and Dan Weiss are behind 3 Body Problem, based on the book of the same name. David Leitch directed the Universal feature about a Hollywood stuntman (Gosling) who is tasked with tracking down the star of the latest movie he is working on.
The Pamela Adlon movie Babes will also act as a centerpiece screening. The narrative competition features include Crystal Moselle’s latest, The Black Sea, and Barbie Ferreira starrer Bob Trevino Likes It. Elsewhere in the lineup are a Cheech and Chong doc, Tommy Dorfman’s directorial debut, Lilly Singh comedy Doin’ It, and My Dead Friend Zoe, exec produced by NFL star Travis Kelce.
The film...
- 1/10/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
10 films were competing for the Powell and Pressburger award.
Scottish animators Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson’s 60-minutes documentary A Cat Called Dom has won the inaugural Powell and Pressburger Award for best film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Anderson and Henderson star in and co-direct the inventive documentary, which had its world premiere at Eiff. The film explores how Will deals with his mother’s cancer diagnosis and also the frustrations of trying to make a film.
The jury, comprised of president Gaylene Gould (founder of creative lab The Space to Come), producer Rosie Crerar and author Sarah Winman,...
Scottish animators Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson’s 60-minutes documentary A Cat Called Dom has won the inaugural Powell and Pressburger Award for best film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Anderson and Henderson star in and co-direct the inventive documentary, which had its world premiere at Eiff. The film explores how Will deals with his mother’s cancer diagnosis and also the frustrations of trying to make a film.
The jury, comprised of president Gaylene Gould (founder of creative lab The Space to Come), producer Rosie Crerar and author Sarah Winman,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Armagan Ballantyne, Jackie van Beek, Julia Davis, Damon Herriman in Edinburgh for the gala screening of Nude Tuesday Photo: Pako Mera
Antipodean comedy Nude Tuesday - which was the Centrepiece Gala at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival - doubles down on improvisation. Its tale of a couple, Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman), who go on a sex retreat run by guru Bjorg (Jemaine Clement) in a bid to save their marriage, sees the cast, improvising around a basic script devised by van Beek, all speaking made up gibberish. Once the film, directed by Armagan Ballantyne, was complete, they handed the version that screened in Edinburgh to Julia Davis, who created her own set of subtitles based purely on what she saw. It's a tricky task for actors, filmmaker and writer and I caught up with van Beek, Herriman, Ballantyne and Davis ahead of the Edinburgh screening...
Antipodean comedy Nude Tuesday - which was the Centrepiece Gala at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival - doubles down on improvisation. Its tale of a couple, Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman), who go on a sex retreat run by guru Bjorg (Jemaine Clement) in a bid to save their marriage, sees the cast, improvising around a basic script devised by van Beek, all speaking made up gibberish. Once the film, directed by Armagan Ballantyne, was complete, they handed the version that screened in Edinburgh to Julia Davis, who created her own set of subtitles based purely on what she saw. It's a tricky task for actors, filmmaker and writer and I caught up with van Beek, Herriman, Ballantyne and Davis ahead of the Edinburgh screening...
- 8/21/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Comedies don’t come much more unconventional than “Nude Tuesday.”
The brainchild of Armağan Ballantyne and Jackie van Beek — who also stars as Laura, one half of a couple who attend a new-age retreat run by sex-guru Bjorg Rassmussen (Jemaine Clement) to rekindle their marriage — it was filmed in a made-up language and then subtitled after the fact by Julia Davis. The cult comedy veteran’s prose is a frequently hilarious interpretation of the cast’s performances.
Speaking with Variety ahead of the film’s U.K. premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff), Davis recalls why she agreed to the subtitling gig before she even saw the movie.
“I was a big fan of Jackie’s from a film she did called ‘The Breaker Upperers.’ We had a mutual fan type of thing going between us where we were emailing each other,” says Davis. “But then Jackie just emailed me and said,...
The brainchild of Armağan Ballantyne and Jackie van Beek — who also stars as Laura, one half of a couple who attend a new-age retreat run by sex-guru Bjorg Rassmussen (Jemaine Clement) to rekindle their marriage — it was filmed in a made-up language and then subtitled after the fact by Julia Davis. The cult comedy veteran’s prose is a frequently hilarious interpretation of the cast’s performances.
Speaking with Variety ahead of the film’s U.K. premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff), Davis recalls why she agreed to the subtitling gig before she even saw the movie.
“I was a big fan of Jackie’s from a film she did called ‘The Breaker Upperers.’ We had a mutual fan type of thing going between us where we were emailing each other,” says Davis. “But then Jackie just emailed me and said,...
- 8/16/2022
- by Amon Warmann
- Variety Film + TV
Whatever you might think of the comedy presented onscreen in this tale of a repressed married couple who try to invigorate their relationship on a sex retreat, there’s no denying there’s a fun concept lying behind it. Although devised by writer/director Armagan Ballantyne and writer/star Jackie van Beek, the film’s dialogue is deliberate gibberish, with a Scandinavian lilt, that was improvised by the actors, who had been given some pointers in terms of word and sentence construction by dialect coach Perry Piercy.
The idea is that, now finished, the film can be subtitled by any number of different comedians in different territories, with the creators accurately suggesting it is like a sort of feature-length version of the Downfall parodies video meme. In the case of the version playing as Edinburgh Film Festival’s central gala, they’re written by Julia Davis, although a version by Celia Pacquola and Ronny Chieung.
The idea is that, now finished, the film can be subtitled by any number of different comedians in different territories, with the creators accurately suggesting it is like a sort of feature-length version of the Downfall parodies video meme. In the case of the version playing as Edinburgh Film Festival’s central gala, they’re written by Julia Davis, although a version by Celia Pacquola and Ronny Chieung.
- 8/14/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
‘Nude Tuesday’ to be Central Gala as Edinburgh Reveals Competition Titles for Reimagined Major Award
Armağan Ballantyne’s gibberish comedy “Nude Tuesday” will be the central gala at the 75th Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff).
In the film, which has previously played at Tribeca and Sydney, 40-somethings Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) head to a three day couples’ retreat run by relationship and sexual healing guru Bjorg Rasmussen (Jemaine Clement) in an effort to rekindle the spark in their troubled marriage. Upon arrival, the path to their reconnection is met with increasingly absurd farce. The film is spoken entirely in an improvised, gibberish-esque language with subtitles created by Julia Davis.
The festival has reimagined its major award, the Michael Powell Award for best British feature. “With a renewed commitment to internationalism and cultural exchange, the principles on which the Edinburgh Festivals were founded, Eiff will present the Powell & Pressburger award for best feature film. This competition of 10 films is composed of a mix of U.
In the film, which has previously played at Tribeca and Sydney, 40-somethings Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) head to a three day couples’ retreat run by relationship and sexual healing guru Bjorg Rasmussen (Jemaine Clement) in an effort to rekindle the spark in their troubled marriage. Upon arrival, the path to their reconnection is met with increasingly absurd farce. The film is spoken entirely in an improvised, gibberish-esque language with subtitles created by Julia Davis.
The festival has reimagined its major award, the Michael Powell Award for best British feature. “With a renewed commitment to internationalism and cultural exchange, the principles on which the Edinburgh Festivals were founded, Eiff will present the Powell & Pressburger award for best feature film. This competition of 10 films is composed of a mix of U.
- 7/20/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
I feel like I’ve just seen the first movie that — future developments pending — might work better in the breach, so to speak, than in the observance. So to speak.
What do I mean by this? Well, Nude Tuesday is a New Zealand comedy that distinguishes itself in a very Down Under culture-jamming sort of way: It is performed by the cast in a “language” that is mostly gibberish. There are a few words that were agreed upon in advance, for consistency — yaah and ne, for example; chula for “thanks” — but beyond that, the actors are working more with feeling rather than concrete meaning as they deliver their improvised nonsense dialogue.
It’s all the brainchild of director Armağan Ballantyne and actor, filmmaker, and costar here Jackie van Beek. Van Beek wrote the script — more a general outline, it would seem — and then, after production was completed, another writer, comedian Julia Davis,...
What do I mean by this? Well, Nude Tuesday is a New Zealand comedy that distinguishes itself in a very Down Under culture-jamming sort of way: It is performed by the cast in a “language” that is mostly gibberish. There are a few words that were agreed upon in advance, for consistency — yaah and ne, for example; chula for “thanks” — but beyond that, the actors are working more with feeling rather than concrete meaning as they deliver their improvised nonsense dialogue.
It’s all the brainchild of director Armağan Ballantyne and actor, filmmaker, and costar here Jackie van Beek. Van Beek wrote the script — more a general outline, it would seem — and then, after production was completed, another writer, comedian Julia Davis,...
- 6/17/2022
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
"She's hit maximum arousal." An early trailer is out for a film titled Nude Tuesday, which is premiering this month at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. We missed this trailer when it first dropped in April, but fun to catch up with it now before its festival debut. A suburban couple goes to a new-age retreat as a last ditch attempt to save their marriage. Their path to reconnection is riddled with hilarity and humiliation as they seek to find themselves & each other. The craziest part: spoken entirely in an improvised, gibberish-esque language with subtitles created by contributing writers globally after release, Nude Tuesday is an utterly singular excursion into miscommunication, full frontal nudity and self-discovery. The film stars Jackie van Beek, Damon Herriman, and Jemaine Clement. This does look absurd, not only all the gibberish but everything happening in it, making fun of these spiritual retreats. I've got to see this!
- 6/1/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Australian streaming service Stan has struck a television development alliance with Hollywood mini-studio Lionsgate. The deal is in addition to the content supply agreement that the pair hatched last year.
Stan and Lionsgate announced the megachurch family drama series “Prosper,” drama series “The Geography of Friendship” and outback comedy crime series “Population: 11” as the first three titles to flow from their development deal.
Separately, Stan announced an expansion of its originals-production activity with other partners and suppliers in Australia. The company says that the new slates put it “on track to deliver 30% of its premium first-run slate from original productions.”
The local slate includes: drama series “Black Snow,” a cold case mystery series set in Far North Queensland; “Last Light,” starring Matthew Fox and Joanne Froggatt; and “The Jump,” a series about the power of friendship and the ways our sadness can unite us.
Also announced is the absurdist comedy feature film “Nude Tuesday,...
Stan and Lionsgate announced the megachurch family drama series “Prosper,” drama series “The Geography of Friendship” and outback comedy crime series “Population: 11” as the first three titles to flow from their development deal.
Separately, Stan announced an expansion of its originals-production activity with other partners and suppliers in Australia. The company says that the new slates put it “on track to deliver 30% of its premium first-run slate from original productions.”
The local slate includes: drama series “Black Snow,” a cold case mystery series set in Far North Queensland; “Last Light,” starring Matthew Fox and Joanne Froggatt; and “The Jump,” a series about the power of friendship and the ways our sadness can unite us.
Also announced is the absurdist comedy feature film “Nude Tuesday,...
- 3/23/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
There are plenty of other reasons to watch, but the opening credits for “Wellington Paranormal” distill the show’s appeal down to its essence. The credits introduce the three central figures in this survey of mysterious happenings in and around New Zealand’s capital. There’s a pair of police officers — O’Leary (Karen O’Leary) and her partner Minogue (Mike Minogue) — and the officer they both report to, Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu).
Behind these character introductions is a synthy, self-aware theme tune that wouldn’t be out of place in a “news of the weird” local cable access roundup, or even a basic cable reality show about cryptids disguised as an investigative documentary. Fake news clippings flash across the screen, one of them with a headline including the word “Vampirey.” It’s unrepentantly goofy, with just enough of that mockumentary veneer to keep the show nominally hemmed in to a recognizable format.
Behind these character introductions is a synthy, self-aware theme tune that wouldn’t be out of place in a “news of the weird” local cable access roundup, or even a basic cable reality show about cryptids disguised as an investigative documentary. Fake news clippings flash across the screen, one of them with a headline including the word “Vampirey.” It’s unrepentantly goofy, with just enough of that mockumentary veneer to keep the show nominally hemmed in to a recognizable format.
- 7/11/2021
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Cornerstone will launch world sales, excluding Australia and New Zealand, on couples’ comedy Nude Tuesday at this year’s virtual European Film Market.
Performed entirely in an intelligible gibberish, the film follows a couple, played by Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers) and Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) who, in an effort to rekindle their marriage, head to a couples’ retreat. Upon arrival, the path to their reconnection is met with farce, including a sex guru played by Jemaine Clement (What We Do In The Shadows). Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water) directed.
In an unusual twist, the film will be available with two deliverable sets of subtitles – both performed by local comedians. Cornerstone said the project also has the opportunity for further local subtitle sets. The pic was shot in New Zealand during the pandemic and is now in post, the sales co will show footage during the EFM.
Performed entirely in an intelligible gibberish, the film follows a couple, played by Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers) and Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) who, in an effort to rekindle their marriage, head to a couples’ retreat. Upon arrival, the path to their reconnection is met with farce, including a sex guru played by Jemaine Clement (What We Do In The Shadows). Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water) directed.
In an unusual twist, the film will be available with two deliverable sets of subtitles – both performed by local comedians. Cornerstone said the project also has the opportunity for further local subtitle sets. The pic was shot in New Zealand during the pandemic and is now in post, the sales co will show footage during the EFM.
- 2/16/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
All the dialogue in the Anz comedy is spoken in gibberish
Cornerstone Films has acquired world sales rights to Armağan Ballantyne’s upcoming comedy Nude Tuesday, which it will launch at the virtual European Film Market.
The London and LA-based sales agency will reveal first footage of the Australia-New Zealand co-production to buyers during the EFM. Madman previously secured distribution rights in New Zealand and Australia.
All the dialogue in the film, about a couple who attempt to rekindle the spark in their marriage, is spoken in unintelligible gibberish. It will feature two sets of subtitles – one provided by “prominent local comedians” from each territory,...
Cornerstone Films has acquired world sales rights to Armağan Ballantyne’s upcoming comedy Nude Tuesday, which it will launch at the virtual European Film Market.
The London and LA-based sales agency will reveal first footage of the Australia-New Zealand co-production to buyers during the EFM. Madman previously secured distribution rights in New Zealand and Australia.
All the dialogue in the film, about a couple who attempt to rekindle the spark in their marriage, is spoken in unintelligible gibberish. It will feature two sets of subtitles – one provided by “prominent local comedians” from each territory,...
- 2/16/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
All the dialogue in the Anz comedy is spoken in gibberish
Cornerstone Films has acquired world sales rights to Armagan Ballantyne’s upcoming comedy Nude Tuesday, which it will launch at the virtual European Film Market.
The London and Los Angeles-based sales agency will reveal first footage of the Australia-New Zealand co-production to buyers during the EFM. Madman previously secured distribution rights for New Zealand and Australia.
All the dialogue in the film, about a couple who attempt to rekindle the spark in their marriage, is spoken in unintelligible gibberish. It will feature two sets of subtitles – one provided by...
Cornerstone Films has acquired world sales rights to Armagan Ballantyne’s upcoming comedy Nude Tuesday, which it will launch at the virtual European Film Market.
The London and Los Angeles-based sales agency will reveal first footage of the Australia-New Zealand co-production to buyers during the EFM. Madman previously secured distribution rights for New Zealand and Australia.
All the dialogue in the film, about a couple who attempt to rekindle the spark in their marriage, is spoken in unintelligible gibberish. It will feature two sets of subtitles – one provided by...
- 2/16/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Jemaine Clement is set to bare all as a sex guru in New Zealand marriage-in-crisis comedy Nude Tuesday.
The film — heading to the European Film Market with Cornerstone — comes from Clement’s fellow Kiwi and What We Do in the Shadows star, writer and lead actress Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers) and director Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water) and was shot entirely in New Zealand during the pandemic, with post-production underway in Australia.
Performed by the cast entirely in gibberish and described by the filmmakers as a “nudist romp,” Nude Tuesday tells story of a couple, played by ...
The film — heading to the European Film Market with Cornerstone — comes from Clement’s fellow Kiwi and What We Do in the Shadows star, writer and lead actress Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers) and director Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water) and was shot entirely in New Zealand during the pandemic, with post-production underway in Australia.
Performed by the cast entirely in gibberish and described by the filmmakers as a “nudist romp,” Nude Tuesday tells story of a couple, played by ...
- 2/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jemaine Clement is set to bare all as a sex guru in New Zealand marriage-in-crisis comedy Nude Tuesday.
The film — heading to the European Film Market with Cornerstone — comes from Clement’s fellow Kiwi and What We Do in the Shadows star, writer and lead actress Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers) and director Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water) and was shot entirely in New Zealand during the pandemic, with post-production underway in Australia.
Performed by the cast entirely in gibberish and described by the filmmakers as a “nudist romp,” Nude Tuesday tells story of a couple, played by ...
The film — heading to the European Film Market with Cornerstone — comes from Clement’s fellow Kiwi and What We Do in the Shadows star, writer and lead actress Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers) and director Armağan Ballantyne (The Strength of Water) and was shot entirely in New Zealand during the pandemic, with post-production underway in Australia.
Performed by the cast entirely in gibberish and described by the filmmakers as a “nudist romp,” Nude Tuesday tells story of a couple, played by ...
- 2/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Lauren Greenfield’s Girl Culture Films, a female-driven commercial production company founded earlier this year by The Queen of Versailles director and her producing partner/husband Frank Evers, is bolstering its roster and adding a screening series to showcase its clients.
John Lewis: Good Trouble director Dawn Porter, The Breaker Uppers duo Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, and former Snapchat exec Rylee Jean Ebsen are the latest names to join the Girl Culture roster of directors seeking commercial projects and branded content opportunities with the aim to amplify female and diverse voices. That group already includes Karyn Kusama, Catherine Hardwicke, Heidi Ewing and Barbara Kopple among others.
With the additions, Girl Culture on Monday also unwrapped its plans to launch a weekly virtual screening series for the advertising and creative community. It begins this week, October 14, with John Lewis: Good Trouble, Porter’s pic about the congressman and...
John Lewis: Good Trouble director Dawn Porter, The Breaker Uppers duo Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, and former Snapchat exec Rylee Jean Ebsen are the latest names to join the Girl Culture roster of directors seeking commercial projects and branded content opportunities with the aim to amplify female and diverse voices. That group already includes Karyn Kusama, Catherine Hardwicke, Heidi Ewing and Barbara Kopple among others.
With the additions, Girl Culture on Monday also unwrapped its plans to launch a weekly virtual screening series for the advertising and creative community. It begins this week, October 14, with John Lewis: Good Trouble, Porter’s pic about the congressman and...
- 10/12/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Taika Waititi and Carthew Neal’s production company Piki Films is to embark on three projects with Maori writers from New Zealand. They turn an indigenous eye on the effects of colonization.
The projects will be developed by Neal, and producer Morgan Waru who has taken a full-time position at the company, after having worked with Piki on several previous projects.
Tina Makereti’s novel “The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke,” is set for adaptation as a feature film. The story involves a curious Maori teen who adventures to London in the 1840s to appear as a live exhibit amongst Maori artefacts. Initially, he enjoys the attention and hedonism of London, but soon discovers he cannot get past being labelled as a savage.
“It seems strangely timely to see this story developed into a film, as we witness the toppling of colonial statues and attitudes,” said Makereti in a statement.
The projects will be developed by Neal, and producer Morgan Waru who has taken a full-time position at the company, after having worked with Piki on several previous projects.
Tina Makereti’s novel “The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke,” is set for adaptation as a feature film. The story involves a curious Maori teen who adventures to London in the 1840s to appear as a live exhibit amongst Maori artefacts. Initially, he enjoys the attention and hedonism of London, but soon discovers he cannot get past being labelled as a savage.
“It seems strangely timely to see this story developed into a film, as we witness the toppling of colonial statues and attitudes,” said Makereti in a statement.
- 6/26/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Writer Jackie van Beek and director Armagan Ballantyne, who will collaborate on ‘Nude Tuesday’.
Two feature films, one from Robert Connolly and the other a Kiwi-Aussie co-pro penned by The Breaker Upperers’ Jackie van Beek; a ABC TV comedy from Closer Productions; and two online projects are the latest recipients of $3.5 million worth of production funding from Screen Australia.
Connolly, writer/director of box office hit Paper Planes, will return to Western Australia to shoot a feature film adaptation of Tim Winton’s acclaimed novel Blueback, while Nz’s Firefly Productions will join forces with Good Thing Productions to create absurdist dramedy feature Nude Tuesday, directed by Armagan Ballantyne. Erik Thomson teams up with Adelaide’s Closer Productions to produce Yes, Chef! for the ABC, following a notorious celebrity chef who is forced to flee to his hometown in the Adelaide Hills.
Screen Australia head of content Sally Caplan said:...
Two feature films, one from Robert Connolly and the other a Kiwi-Aussie co-pro penned by The Breaker Upperers’ Jackie van Beek; a ABC TV comedy from Closer Productions; and two online projects are the latest recipients of $3.5 million worth of production funding from Screen Australia.
Connolly, writer/director of box office hit Paper Planes, will return to Western Australia to shoot a feature film adaptation of Tim Winton’s acclaimed novel Blueback, while Nz’s Firefly Productions will join forces with Good Thing Productions to create absurdist dramedy feature Nude Tuesday, directed by Armagan Ballantyne. Erik Thomson teams up with Adelaide’s Closer Productions to produce Yes, Chef! for the ABC, following a notorious celebrity chef who is forced to flee to his hometown in the Adelaide Hills.
Screen Australia head of content Sally Caplan said:...
- 1/21/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Blake Ayshford.
Blake Ayshford is writing a pilot for the BBC, a comedy-drama set in the near future in which an Uber-like app provides emotional labour for time-poor people.
The writer-producer likens the project entitled Hearts to a cross between the Netflix series Black Mirror and The Breaker Upperers, the Kiwi comedy created by Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek.
The app enables people to employ ‘hearts’ to undertake such tasks as having dinner with him or her after their spouse has died, or simply attending a work function as a proxy.
Ayshford is writing the pilot for Castlefield, a Fremantle backed, Manchester-based production company founded by ex-BBC North producers Hilary Martin and Simon Judd.
“It’s been a lot of fun working on it so far but we are only at pilot stage so not exactly a story yet,” he tells If.
The writer’s first UK...
Blake Ayshford is writing a pilot for the BBC, a comedy-drama set in the near future in which an Uber-like app provides emotional labour for time-poor people.
The writer-producer likens the project entitled Hearts to a cross between the Netflix series Black Mirror and The Breaker Upperers, the Kiwi comedy created by Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek.
The app enables people to employ ‘hearts’ to undertake such tasks as having dinner with him or her after their spouse has died, or simply attending a work function as a proxy.
Ayshford is writing the pilot for Castlefield, a Fremantle backed, Manchester-based production company founded by ex-BBC North producers Hilary Martin and Simon Judd.
“It’s been a lot of fun working on it so far but we are only at pilot stage so not exactly a story yet,” he tells If.
The writer’s first UK...
- 1/7/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Sitting out on a cool evening on a headland high above Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, it is difficult to understand how recent the country’s unpalatable history really is. And the past injustices, combined with the emergence of the New Zealand movie industry onto the world stage at the tail end of the 1990s, means that indigenous and women’s voices in the film industry feel new and urgent.
The uprising against the 1970s handover of Takaparawha, or Bastion Point, from the army to the Auckland City Council — and not to the local iwi (tribe) who lost their land in the 1850s — culminated in an occupation of the site that lasted for nearly a year and a half. The siege came to an end, barely 40 years ago, in 1978 with forced evictions and mass arrests, noted in documentary film “Bastion Point Day 507.”
Barely a decade later, however, Takaparawha had been returned...
The uprising against the 1970s handover of Takaparawha, or Bastion Point, from the army to the Auckland City Council — and not to the local iwi (tribe) who lost their land in the 1850s — culminated in an occupation of the site that lasted for nearly a year and a half. The siege came to an end, barely 40 years ago, in 1978 with forced evictions and mass arrests, noted in documentary film “Bastion Point Day 507.”
Barely a decade later, however, Takaparawha had been returned...
- 11/7/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
To hear celebrated production designer Grant Major tell it, New Zealand’s film industry was reborn in the last years of the 20th century, thanks to “The Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson, who pioneered, agitated and doggedly got on with things.
Today, the industry has grown far beyond its leading practitioner into one that is capable of simultaneously working on the next “Avatar” franchise movies, Amazon’s massive “The Lord of the Rings” TV series, as well as Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog.”
Despite its 4.5 million people, who are heavily outnumbered by sheep, New Zealand has also launched major talent such as Taika Waititi and Niki Caro. And at the same time, it is also building structures to nurture newer names such as Madeline Sami, Jackie van Beek and Tom Hern.
Because of its limitations, which include a small population, a geographic location far from...
Today, the industry has grown far beyond its leading practitioner into one that is capable of simultaneously working on the next “Avatar” franchise movies, Amazon’s massive “The Lord of the Rings” TV series, as well as Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog.”
Despite its 4.5 million people, who are heavily outnumbered by sheep, New Zealand has also launched major talent such as Taika Waititi and Niki Caro. And at the same time, it is also building structures to nurture newer names such as Madeline Sami, Jackie van Beek and Tom Hern.
Because of its limitations, which include a small population, a geographic location far from...
- 11/7/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
It signals a move by the Scandinavian distributor into development and co-production.
Scandinavian distributor NonStop is moving into development and co-production, with its first project set as a Swedish-language remake of 2018 New Zealand hit The Breaker Upperers.
The original film was written, directed by and stars Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami. It was produced by Piki Films’s Carthew Neal and Taika Waititi alongside Miss Conception Film’s Ainsley Gardiner and Georgina Conder.
The story is about two women who are cynical about love and run an agency that helps break up unhappy couples. When one of them grows a conscience,...
Scandinavian distributor NonStop is moving into development and co-production, with its first project set as a Swedish-language remake of 2018 New Zealand hit The Breaker Upperers.
The original film was written, directed by and stars Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami. It was produced by Piki Films’s Carthew Neal and Taika Waititi alongside Miss Conception Film’s Ainsley Gardiner and Georgina Conder.
The story is about two women who are cynical about love and run an agency that helps break up unhappy couples. When one of them grows a conscience,...
- 11/6/2019
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Aubrey Plaza is joining Oscar-winning actor Michael Caine in Lina Roessler’s feature directorial debut Best Sellers.
The story follows a has-been author, played by Caine, who is on a wild book tour with a young editor, Plaza, trying to save her father’s boutique publishing house. Caine’s miserable and sharp-witted author just wants to live out his days in peace with a bottle of scotch, a cigar, and his orange Tabby cat, but Plaza’s hopeful editor pulls him out of his reclusion.
The project is based on Anthony Grieco’s original screenplay which won a 2015 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting award, and will be an official Canada-uk co-production, produced by Arielle Elwes (Braid), Cassian Elwes, Petr Jákl and Wayne Marc Godfrey on the UK side and Jonathan Vanger (Wishing Tree Productions: Miss Sloane) and Pierre Even on the Canadian side. EPs include Martin Barab, Jere Hausfater, and Mark Damon. Adam Goldworm is also an Executive Producer
Foresight Unlimited handled foreign sales, while Elwes will handle the domestic sale. Cameras roll this month.
Roessler is a Canadian actor, writer and director. Her previous short films Little Whispers: The Vow and Winter have won several awards and screened at prestigious festivals around the globe. Her feature script, The Rescuer, recently placed in top selections across a number of Canadian competitions and is one of ten scripts selected to partake in the 2019 Tiff Writers’ Studio.
Plaza recently wrapped production on the feature, Black Bear, a suspenseful meta-drama, which she produced and stars in opposite Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon. Also upcoming for Plaza is the Netflix feature Hope from New Zealand duo Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami. The Parks and Recreation actress’ other feature film credits include: this past summer’s Child’s Play, Matt Spicer’s critically acclaimed, Ingrid Goes West (which she produced and received a 2018 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature), Jeff Baena’s The Little Hours (also producer), Hal Hartley’s Ned Rifle, Colin Trevorrow’s Safety Not Guaranteed, Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Judd Apatow’s Funny People, among others. On television, Plaza most recently starred in Noah Hawley’s Legion on FX. Additionally, she hosted the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Plaza is repped by CAA, Mgmt Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham Llp.
The story follows a has-been author, played by Caine, who is on a wild book tour with a young editor, Plaza, trying to save her father’s boutique publishing house. Caine’s miserable and sharp-witted author just wants to live out his days in peace with a bottle of scotch, a cigar, and his orange Tabby cat, but Plaza’s hopeful editor pulls him out of his reclusion.
The project is based on Anthony Grieco’s original screenplay which won a 2015 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting award, and will be an official Canada-uk co-production, produced by Arielle Elwes (Braid), Cassian Elwes, Petr Jákl and Wayne Marc Godfrey on the UK side and Jonathan Vanger (Wishing Tree Productions: Miss Sloane) and Pierre Even on the Canadian side. EPs include Martin Barab, Jere Hausfater, and Mark Damon. Adam Goldworm is also an Executive Producer
Foresight Unlimited handled foreign sales, while Elwes will handle the domestic sale. Cameras roll this month.
Roessler is a Canadian actor, writer and director. Her previous short films Little Whispers: The Vow and Winter have won several awards and screened at prestigious festivals around the globe. Her feature script, The Rescuer, recently placed in top selections across a number of Canadian competitions and is one of ten scripts selected to partake in the 2019 Tiff Writers’ Studio.
Plaza recently wrapped production on the feature, Black Bear, a suspenseful meta-drama, which she produced and stars in opposite Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon. Also upcoming for Plaza is the Netflix feature Hope from New Zealand duo Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami. The Parks and Recreation actress’ other feature film credits include: this past summer’s Child’s Play, Matt Spicer’s critically acclaimed, Ingrid Goes West (which she produced and received a 2018 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature), Jeff Baena’s The Little Hours (also producer), Hal Hartley’s Ned Rifle, Colin Trevorrow’s Safety Not Guaranteed, Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Judd Apatow’s Funny People, among others. On television, Plaza most recently starred in Noah Hawley’s Legion on FX. Additionally, she hosted the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Plaza is repped by CAA, Mgmt Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham Llp.
- 11/5/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Nzfc CEO Annabelle Sheehan.
New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) CEO Annabelle Sheehan believes there are currently two global drivers of change in the screen industry.
The first is the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV+ and Amazon – the latter of which has just confirmed it will shoot the series The Lord of the Rings in Nz.
The second is a push towards a more diverse and inclusive industry, both behind and in front of the camera.
It’s this second driver that the Nzfc’s upcoming global summit Power of Inclusion will seek to explore head on in partnership with Walt Disney Co. and Women in Film and Television (Wift) International.
The October event has already attracted an impressive array of both international and local speakers including actress and activist Geena Davis; Black-ish and Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi; director Niki Caro, Pose creator Steven Canals, The Black List...
New Zealand Film Commission (Nzfc) CEO Annabelle Sheehan believes there are currently two global drivers of change in the screen industry.
The first is the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV+ and Amazon – the latter of which has just confirmed it will shoot the series The Lord of the Rings in Nz.
The second is a push towards a more diverse and inclusive industry, both behind and in front of the camera.
It’s this second driver that the Nzfc’s upcoming global summit Power of Inclusion will seek to explore head on in partnership with Walt Disney Co. and Women in Film and Television (Wift) International.
The October event has already attracted an impressive array of both international and local speakers including actress and activist Geena Davis; Black-ish and Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi; director Niki Caro, Pose creator Steven Canals, The Black List...
- 9/23/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Having survived the attacks of Chucky the killer doll in Child’s Play, Aubrey Plaza is now moving on to less deadly fare. The eternally droll actress will star in the Netflix rom-com Hope, written by the screenwriters of Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, and more. Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami will direct the film. What’s […]
The post Netflix Rom-Com ‘Hope’ From ‘Legally Blonde’ Writers Will Star Aubrey Plaza appeared first on /Film.
The post Netflix Rom-Com ‘Hope’ From ‘Legally Blonde’ Writers Will Star Aubrey Plaza appeared first on /Film.
- 8/17/2019
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Aubrey Plaza will star in the Netflix movie Hope, directed by New Zealand duo Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami.
Hope, whose plotline is under wraps, marks the second feature to be directed by van Beek and Sami following their female-driven comedy The Breaker Upperers, which they also co-wrote and starred in. That pic, which was produced by Taika Waititi’s company Piki Films, premiered on Netflix in February. The Breaker Upperers made its world premiere at SXSW in March 2018.
Writing Hope is comedy screenwriting duo Karen McCullah & Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith, who were behind such comedies as Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, The House Bunny, The Ugly Truth and She’s the Man. They will serve as EPs with Adam Wagner. Smith and McCullah are writing the Spice Girls movie for Paramount Animation and an original live-action pitch for Paramount with Todd Garner producing called Party
Smith...
Hope, whose plotline is under wraps, marks the second feature to be directed by van Beek and Sami following their female-driven comedy The Breaker Upperers, which they also co-wrote and starred in. That pic, which was produced by Taika Waititi’s company Piki Films, premiered on Netflix in February. The Breaker Upperers made its world premiere at SXSW in March 2018.
Writing Hope is comedy screenwriting duo Karen McCullah & Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith, who were behind such comedies as Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, The House Bunny, The Ugly Truth and She’s the Man. They will serve as EPs with Adam Wagner. Smith and McCullah are writing the Spice Girls movie for Paramount Animation and an original live-action pitch for Paramount with Todd Garner producing called Party
Smith...
- 8/15/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Award-winning writer-directors Hope Dickson Leach and Jackie van Beek are the latest speakers to join New Zealand's pioneering The Power of Inclusion Summit, which will be held Oct. 3-4 in Auckland.
The inaugural two-day program will feature case studies, panels and keynotes addressing issues related to inclusion and representation, with the aim of positing new action to create a more inclusive industry — and world at large.
Dickson Leach and van Beek join an already impressive roster of some 35 speakers from around the world, including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Mulan director Niki Caro and Philippa Boyens, the ...
The inaugural two-day program will feature case studies, panels and keynotes addressing issues related to inclusion and representation, with the aim of positing new action to create a more inclusive industry — and world at large.
Dickson Leach and van Beek join an already impressive roster of some 35 speakers from around the world, including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Mulan director Niki Caro and Philippa Boyens, the ...
- 7/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Award-winning writer-directors Hope Dickson Leach and Jackie van Beek are the latest speakers to join New Zealand's pioneering The Power of Inclusion Summit, which will be held Oct. 3-4 in Auckland.
The inaugural two-day program will feature case studies, panels and keynotes addressing issues related to inclusion and representation, with the aim of positing new action to create a more inclusive industry — and world at large.
Dickson Leach and van Beek join an already impressive roster of some 35 speakers from around the world, including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Mulan director Niki Caro and Philippa Boyens, the ...
The inaugural two-day program will feature case studies, panels and keynotes addressing issues related to inclusion and representation, with the aim of positing new action to create a more inclusive industry — and world at large.
Dickson Leach and van Beek join an already impressive roster of some 35 speakers from around the world, including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Mulan director Niki Caro and Philippa Boyens, the ...
- 7/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Taika Waititi’s New Zealand-based production outfit, Piki Films, is bolstering its roster with feature comedy Baby, Done. Production is currently underway in Auckland with Rose Matafeo starring. The actress had a role in Piki’s local summer hit The Breaker Upperers which recently debuted on Netflix. She’s joined by Harry Potter and Girlfriends star Matthew Lewis in the film directed by Curtis Vowell (Fantail).
Matafeo plays Zoe, a tree surgeon who becomes pregnant by her longterm boyfriend Tim (Lewis) and subsequently freaks out as she tries to rush through her dreams before she turns into a mother.
Written by actress Sophie Henderson (Human Traces), Baby, Done is a semi-autobiographical story inspired by her and Vowell’s own reaction to starting a family. This is the duo’s second feature together after 2013’s Fantail, which took a People’s Choice Award at Melbourne International Film Festival.
Vowell says,...
Matafeo plays Zoe, a tree surgeon who becomes pregnant by her longterm boyfriend Tim (Lewis) and subsequently freaks out as she tries to rush through her dreams before she turns into a mother.
Written by actress Sophie Henderson (Human Traces), Baby, Done is a semi-autobiographical story inspired by her and Vowell’s own reaction to starting a family. This is the duo’s second feature together after 2013’s Fantail, which took a People’s Choice Award at Melbourne International Film Festival.
Vowell says,...
- 3/4/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The Breaker Upperers is the latest comedy from Netflix and comes from writer/director Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek, who also star in the leading roles. The pair play friends who offer a service for the right price to end relationships. But how does it compare to Netflix’s other original comedies?
Velvet Buzzsaw premiere's on Netflix on February 1.
Watch the 60-second review from One Minute Critic:
You can check out more 1-minute reviews on One Minute Critic's Instagram or Youtube page.
Velvet Buzzsaw premiere's on Netflix on February 1.
Watch the 60-second review from One Minute Critic:
You can check out more 1-minute reviews on One Minute Critic's Instagram or Youtube page.
- 2/16/2019
- by Kristian Odland
- GeekTyrant
"You work for weak assholes who don't have the guys to talk to their partners!" "Yep." Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for a comedy from New Zealand titled The Breaker Upperers, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival last year. Executive produced by Taika Waititi, the film is co-written and co-directed by the two women who star: Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek. The two play best friends who bonded when they were younger after finding out they were being two-timed by the same man. Together they create The Breaker Upperers, a small-time business helping couples break up for cash. The cast includes James Rolleston, Celia Pacquola, Ana Scotney, Rima Te Wiata, and Carl Bland. This does look hilarious, and it's an original concept these two came up with and have worked passionately on to make it really sing. Here's the official trailer for Madeleine Sami & Jackie van Beek's The Breaker Upperers,...
- 2/2/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The New Zealand comedy scene has a new pair of stars in the form of Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, the stars and directors of the quirky unromantic comedy The Breaker Upperers. Van Beek and Sami star as two cynical women who open an agency that helps couples break up, but their smooth partnership is […]
The post ‘The Breaker Upperers’ Trailer: Netflix Debuts Quirky Unromantic Comedy From The Producers of ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘The Breaker Upperers’ Trailer: Netflix Debuts Quirky Unromantic Comedy From The Producers of ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ appeared first on /Film.
- 2/1/2019
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
Anytime we can get a new voice from the boisterous, hyper-creative New Zealand comedy scene, consider it a great day for the genre.
“The Breaker Uppers” is the debut effort from comedic actresses Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek (who also star), a rom-com that looks to be as lucid and dry as the best work of Taika Waititi, who’s lent his name to the film as a presenter.
Continue reading ‘The Breaker Upperers’ Trailer: Taika Waititi Produces This Hilarious Anti-Rom-Com at The Playlist.
“The Breaker Uppers” is the debut effort from comedic actresses Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek (who also star), a rom-com that looks to be as lucid and dry as the best work of Taika Waititi, who’s lent his name to the film as a presenter.
Continue reading ‘The Breaker Upperers’ Trailer: Taika Waititi Produces This Hilarious Anti-Rom-Com at The Playlist.
- 2/1/2019
- by Cory Woodroof
- The Playlist
Following the biggest fourth-quarter worldwide subscriber gain ever and some controversy around increased prices in the U.S., Netflix looks to keep its momentum going into 2019.
From Jan. 18 through March, the streaming site will release 10 original films, including action-packed thrillers, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi, quirky comedies, inspirational dramas, an artistic horror movie and a viral documentary.
Subscribers can watch the action flick “Close,” documentary “Fyre” and sci-fi movie “Io,” while “Polar” with Mads Mikkelsen drops next week. February kicks off with the horrific “Velvet Buzzsaw” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and Steven Soderbergh and Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “High Flying Bird” comes a week later. Comedies “The Breaker Upperers” and “Paddleton” round out the month. Finally, March brings two films based on true stories, “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind” and “The Dirt.”
Close (Jan. 18)
Noomi Rapace stars as a counter-terrorist expert in this action thriller inspired by the real life of one...
From Jan. 18 through March, the streaming site will release 10 original films, including action-packed thrillers, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi, quirky comedies, inspirational dramas, an artistic horror movie and a viral documentary.
Subscribers can watch the action flick “Close,” documentary “Fyre” and sci-fi movie “Io,” while “Polar” with Mads Mikkelsen drops next week. February kicks off with the horrific “Velvet Buzzsaw” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and Steven Soderbergh and Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “High Flying Bird” comes a week later. Comedies “The Breaker Upperers” and “Paddleton” round out the month. Finally, March brings two films based on true stories, “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind” and “The Dirt.”
Close (Jan. 18)
Noomi Rapace stars as a counter-terrorist expert in this action thriller inspired by the real life of one...
- 1/19/2019
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek discuss why their debut film is unashamedly feminist and incidentally queer
In The Breaker Upperers, two best friends run a small business doing the dirty work of emotional cowards: ending relationships. Or as one broken-hearted woman yells: “You work for weak arseholes who don’t have the guts to talk to their partners!”
It’s the kind of avoidant, misanthropic premise that could have become a particularly problematic episode of Seinfeld. But in the hands of actors, film-makers and feminists Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, it becomes something else: a bright, bouncy debut, filled with the playfulness, heart and loveable guilelessness that we have come to recognise in New Zealand comedies.
In The Breaker Upperers, two best friends run a small business doing the dirty work of emotional cowards: ending relationships. Or as one broken-hearted woman yells: “You work for weak arseholes who don’t have the guts to talk to their partners!”
It’s the kind of avoidant, misanthropic premise that could have become a particularly problematic episode of Seinfeld. But in the hands of actors, film-makers and feminists Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, it becomes something else: a bright, bouncy debut, filled with the playfulness, heart and loveable guilelessness that we have come to recognise in New Zealand comedies.
- 7/24/2018
- by Lauren Carroll Harris
- The Guardian - Film News
Writer-director-stars Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek had a genuine festival hit on their hands when their debut feature The Breaker Upperers premiered at SXSW. The presence of Thor: Ragnarok and What We Do In Shadows helmer Taika Waititi as an executive producer certainly didn't hurt the film in terms of exposure but, really, this is succeeding purely on the enormous strengths of the creative duo at its core because these are a pair of funny, funny, Funny women. The premise is simple - Sami and van Beek play a pair of friends operating a business breaking up couples for cash - and they work it incredibly well. Netflix have picked up international rights for those of us outside of Australia / New Zealand but...
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[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 7/11/2018
- Screen Anarchy
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