Sundance Selects is taking domestic rights to Paolo Sorrentino’s comedy Loro, which skewers media tycoon and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his court. The pic will make its world premiere in the Masters Section at the Toronto Film Festival next month, with Sundance Selects eyeing a 2019 theatrical…

Nobody does electro-fueled political biopics quite like Paolo Sorrentino. The Italian filmmaker’s regular producers Indigo Film have released some slick first footage of the auteur’s new movie Loro (Them), about controversial Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi. I have confirmed with those close to the film that…

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has waded into the Hollywood sexual assault scandal – backing Catherine Deneuve's view that men should be "free to hit on" women. Berlusconi, who was tried for paying for sex with underage women at 'bunga bunga' parties, said that French actress Deneuve "spoke blessed…

As French media company Vivendi continues its tussle with Italy's Mediaset, 41% of which is owned by Silvio Berlusconi, police have raided its Paris headquarters and seized unidentified documents. The raid was connected with an investigation into alleged market manipulation related to Vivendi's purchase of a stake in…

EXCLUSIVE: Focus Features has acquired Paolo Sorrentino's upcoming Loro for release in Italy where it will be distributed by Universal Pictures' local outpost. The Oscar-winner's event project stars The Great Beauty's Toni Servillo as Silvio Berlusconi, the media mogul and erstwhile Prime Minister. From Indigo Film…

In yet another swing of the European political pendulum, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned on Monday after a crushing defeat in the country's referendum on Sunday. Renzi, who previously promised to step down if he lost the vote for his constitutional reforms package, was defeated by populist group Five Star…

Italy’s Leone Film Group has closed a deal with journalist Alan Friedman to acquire 50% of the worldwide rights to a new documentary based on his upcoming bioography of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The deal also grants Leone 50% of worldwide distribution rights to the docu as well as an option…

Silvio Berlusconi Expelled From Italian Parliament Italy's senate on Wednesday expelled former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from his parliamentary seat over his August conviction for tax fraud. This will be the first time the Mediaset chief will not hold an elected office in about 20 years. The New York Times <a…

UPDATE, 12:50 PM: Italy’s Supreme Court has upheld the tax fraud verdict and one-year prison sentence for billionaire Italian politician/media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, but because of his age (he’s 76) it’s unlikely he’ll go to jail, the BBC reports. The court did order a review of a five-year ban on public office that…

Following France and India, this is the latest installment in Deadline's series of reports on the people, projects and polemics that have folks buzzing in various overseas territories. Italy's movie business continues to get slammed harder and harder as part of the country’s overall economic crisis. Lately, a…

Mediaset chief and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is racking up the jail sentences. In March, he was handed a one-year jail term over an illegal wiretap, and in 2012 received a four-year sentence over fraudulent movie rights deals. He is appealing both. Today, a Milan court sentenced him to seven…

Silvio Berlusconi To Appeal Wiretap Verdict Italian media mogul and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was handed a one-year jail term today by an Italian court over an illegal wiretap. It’s highly unlikely the Mediaset chief will do any time as he has appeals available to him and, under Italian law, isn’t…