Stars Collective has acquired the Mandarin-language remake rights to “Thelma,” the 2024 Sundance Film Festival breakout that became Magnolia Pictures’ highest-grossing narrative feature, and is developing an adaptation titled “Grandma, Please.” In “Grandma, Please,” an 80-year-old grandmother is swindled out of her life savings by a scammer who uses AI to clone her late husband’s
Iranian director Ali Asgari, who was in Venice Horizons last year with dark satire “Divine Comedy,” will soon be back — in competition this time — with his new feature “A Bit of Light.” Variety is unveiling a first clip of the timely film, which is being sold internationally by France’s Salaud Morisset and released
Deluxe Media Inc. and Tokyo-based Tohokushinsha Film Corporation have formed a strategic partnership to expand localization services across the Asia-Pacific region. The non-exclusive deal pairs Deluxe’s ties to top studios and streamers, its scale and its tech-driven localization workflows with Tohokushinsha’s creative and in-market strengths built up over decades in Japan. Both companies said the
Mexico’s Madrefoca Cine has boarded “Isabel Hernández,” Italian filmmaker Giorgio Giampà’s feature debut, joining Zoe Films, LaDoc and Fiasco on the Italy-Mexico co-production. The project is among the 15 titles selected for the 2026 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum at the San Sebastián Film Festival. Its San Sebastián berth comes as Zoe Films builds a growing
“Forgotten Spaceman,” the documentary short by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Elham Ehsas that won the Leopard of Tomorrow (International Competition) award at Locarno’s Junior Jury Awards, has added Khan & Kumar Media and Prism Entertainment as executive producers ahead of its Toronto Film Festival premiere next month. The new executive producers are Sharib Khan and Vikas Kumar
Nate Bargatze and his “Big Dumb Eyes” just set a Guinness World Record. The Tennessee-born comedian has officially sold the most tickets for a stand-up comedy tour, surpassing the previously record held by Jeff Dunham. Bargatze will be presented with the Guinness World Record onstage at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday. Ahead of