International

EXCLUSIVE: As globalization of the film and TV business continues apace, London has become increasingly attractive to U.S. talent and management firms. We spoke to local film and TV agents about the changing ecosystem, which we can confirm is soon to include a handful of WME film and TV agents who are relocating from…

He’s one of the UK’s most recognizable news anchors, but Alastair Stewart’s decades-long career as an ITV News presenter has come to a close after a “misjudgment” on social media. ITN, the company that makes ITV News, announced Stewart’s departure on Wednesday, referring only to a “use of social media which breached…

As the coronavirus continues its rapid spread, China continues to struggle with consequences of the disease on myriad levels. The updated count of confirmed cases has crossed 6,000 on the mainland, with 132 people dead. Separately to the tragic human toll of the virus, the economic impact could exceed $40B on a global…

The BBC has announced plans to layoff 450 employees in its news division, with a number of flagship shows and services being scaled back in a bid to save £80M ($104M) by March 2022. The BBC has already acknowledged plans to axe BBC Two news brand The Victoria Derbyshire Show, but staff were today briefed on the full…

Organic, the London-based PR and communications agency, has expanded to the U.S. Kirsty Langsdale, who has led the company's international publicity department for the past seven years, has relocated to Los Angeles to run the new office. The company is part of the wider Target Group, which is owned by global…

Claire Hungate, the former CEO of Warner Bros Television Production UK, is going to help The Grand Tour star Richard Hammond get his production company motoring. Hungate has joined Chimp Productions as a part-time advisor, helping assist directors Hammond, and his wife Amanda, in growing the business. Chimp…

The Favourite director Yorgos Lanthimos has started shooting in Greece on a new short that will star Emma Stone and Damien Bonnard. Plot details are under wraps. The project will combine visual arts and classical music and will be screened as part of an installation, accompanied by live orchestral ensembles, on May…

This morning's Berlinale Competition line-up announcement featured 33% films (six of 18) with women directors, including one project, DAU. Natasha, which is co-directed by a man and a woman (Ilya Khrzhanovskiy and Jekaterina Oertel). That's a drop on last year's percentage of 41%, when seven of 17 pics selected were…

Swedish Dicks backer Nordic Entertainment Group has refocused its studio division to focus on scripted drama and is to sell its non-scripted units. The company, which has been ramping up its drama titles with projects including Perfect People from Shades of Blue creator Adi Hasak, and The Professionals, a Brendan…

ITV Studios has reshuffled the management of Eggheads producer 12 Yard following the departure of Andy Culpin to Elisabeth Murdoch-backed 110% Content. The Weakest Link co-creator Culpin has joined 110% Content, which was set up by former ITV entertainment chief Siobhan Greene, as creative director. The company is…

UPDATED: Nominations for the 45th César Awards were unveiled this morning in Paris, led by Roman Polanski’s Dreyfus Affair drama An Officer And A Spy with 12 including Best Film, Director and Actor (for Jean Dujardin). While Polanski remains a controversial figure owing to his 1977 child sex conviction and subsequent…

The Berlin Film Festival revealed its main competition lineup and additional galas this morning at a press conference in the German capital. The lineup includes new films by Sally Potter, Kelly Reichardt, Abel Ferrara, Christian Petzold, Hong Sangsoo and Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof (who is unable to leave Iran…