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Chicago-based, China-born writer, director, producer and visual artist Zhengfan Yang knows what it feels like to be a stranger in a strange land — but also back home. If there is such a thing as “home.” His episodic feature Stranger, which had its world premiere in the Proxima competition section of the 58th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff), explores this along with such themes as loneliness and identity. Each episode is set in a different hotel room, “a place where everybody is a stranger.”

The result: seven scenes that, as Kviff organizers put it, tell “absurd, darkly humorous, poignant, and mysterious stories set in a seemingly confined space that nevertheless opens up new and surprising dimensions.”

After graduating from law school, Yang started making films with Shengze Zhu (Present. Perfect), establishing production company Burn the Film with her. Yang has made four feature-length films – Distant (2013, Locarno Film...

Liam Neeson crime thriller In the Land of Saints and Sinners opens on 896 screens this weekend, joined by Sean Penn in Asphalt City — the Godzilla vs. Kong of the specialty market?

Neeson reunites with The Marksman director Robert Lorenz as a newly retired assassin in a remote Irish village who finds himself drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists. Ciarán Hinds, Kerry Condon, Colm Meaney and Jack Gleeson also star in Land of Saints and Sinners, which premiered at Venice, and was shot in County Donegal, Ireland. Screenplay by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane. Samuel Goldwyn Films’ widest release post-pandemic sits at 80% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Penn stars with Tye Sheridan in Asphalt City, Vertical’s co-release with Roadside Attractions that opens on 297 screens, also with a national footprint. Young paramedic Ollie Cross (Sheridan) is paired with seasoned partner Gene...

Noomi Rapace in “Constellation,” premiering February 21, 2024 on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ has unveiled the trailer for “Constellation,” an upcoming eight-part conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama series starring Noomi Rapace and Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Banks. The action-packed space adventure will premiere globally on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 with the first three episodes, followed by one episode weekly, every Wednesday through March 27 on Apple TV+. Created and written by Peter Harness, “Constellation” stars Rapace as Jo – an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space – only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost. The series also stars James D’Arcy, Julian Looman William Catlett, Barbara Sukowa, and introduces Rosie and Davina Coleman as Alice.

Apple TV+ has released an intense trailer for Constellation, a psychological thriller starring Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The first trailer for the eight-episode series introduces Rapace as an astronaut who escapes a catastrophic event in space only to return home where she feels detached from her life and her young daughter.

Joining Rapace in the conspiracy-based drama are Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul), James D’Arcy (Agent Carter), Julian Looman (Emily in Paris), William Catlett (A Thousand and One), and Barbara Sukowa (Voyager). Newcomers Rosie and Davina Coleman star as Alice.

Peter Harness (The War of the Worlds) created the series, writes, and executive produces, with Emmy Award-winner Michelle MacLaren (Shining Girls), Oscar nominee Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall), and Oscar nominee Joseph Cedar (Footnote) directing. MacLaren, David Tanner, Tracey Scoffield, Caroline Benjo, Simon Arnal, Carole Scotta, and Justin Thomson executive produce.

Noomi Rapace stars in ‘Constellation’ (Photo Credit:...

Apple TV+ releases trailer for upcoming psychological thriller Constellation, starring Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks. Global debut on February 21, 2024. Constellation follows astronaut Jo as she returns to Earth and uncovers a conspiracy involving her missing memories in an action-packed exploration of human psychology. Directed by Emmy winner Michelle MacLaren, the eight-part series also features James D'Arcy and Julian Looman. the first three episodes premiere on February 21, followed by weekly releases.

Apple TV+ has shared a trailer for its upcoming, action-packed psychological thriller Constellation, starring Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks. Created by Peter Harness and directed by Emmy Award winner Michelle MacLaren, the conspiracy-based space adventure also now has a release date and will make its global debut February 21, 2024 on Apple TV+. The trailer was shared today, and you can watch it above.

Alongside the trailer, check out these previously released images from Constellation, a new eight-part, conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama...

Apple TV+ has just dropped the official trailer for the upcoming series Constellation.

Set to premiere on Apple TV+ on Feb. 21, Constellation is a dark sci-fi series starring Noomi Rapace. Jonathan Banks also stars, marking the first major TV series for the actor after wrapping up the Breaking Bad spinoff series, Better Call Saul, in 2022. Rapace and Banks can both be seen in the new trailer below.

Related Breaking Bad & Better Call Saul Star Still Has Hope for Another Prequel Series One franchise star wants another prequel after earning Emmy nominations for both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

Per the official synopsis, Constellation stars Rapace as Jo, an "an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space – only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman's...

Apple TV+ has unveiled the trailer for ‘Constellation,’ the upcoming eight-part conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama series starring Noomi Rapace and Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Banks.

Created and written by Peter Harness, the series stars Rapace as Jo – an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space – only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost.

The series also stars James D’Arcy, Julian Looman William Catlett, Barbara Sukowa, and introduces Rosie and Davina Coleman as Alice. The series is directed by Emmy Award winner Michelle MacLaren, Oscar nominee Oliver Hirschbiegel and Oscar nominee Joseph Cedar.

Also in trailers – “I challenge you to single combat…” Trailer drops for...

Apple TV+ has released the trailer for “Constellation,” an upcoming eight-part conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama series starring Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) and Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Banks (“Breaking Bad”). The action-packed space adventure will premiere globally on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 with the first three episodes, followed by one episode weekly, every Wednesday through March 27 on Apple TV+.

Watch the official trailer for the psychological sci-fi/horror series below.

Created and written by Peter Harness, “Constellation” stars Rapace as Jo – an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space – only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost.

The series also stars James D’Arcy, Julian Looman, William Catlett, Barbara Sukowa,...

Apple TV+ unveils the trailer for Constellation a high-concept sci-fi show with space travel, horror elements, and conspiracy. The series follows astronaut Jo, played by Naomi Rapace, as she returns to Earth after a space disaster and discovers that parts of her life are missing. Constellation will explore the dark edges of human psychology and will release episodes starting February 21, 2024.

The trailer for Constellation reveals the latest Apple TV+ sci-fi show. The streamer has staked a claim for itself as a destination for those who enjoy sci-fi stories in all its forms, with the dystopian mystery Silo becoming 2023's breakout hit. There is also Invasion, Foundation, and The Big Door Prize on its roster, the latter being a dramedy that showcases the genre's strengths on a smaller and more personal scale. Severance, meanwhile, combines the personal and the high-concept. Constellation belongs in the high-concept category, weaving together space travel, horror elements,...

Exclusive: Actor Lior Ashkenazi has boarded Israeli-American filmmaker Matthew Mishory’s Mosolov’s Suitcase, exploring the life and legacy of Ukrainian, early Soviet era, avant-garde composer Alexander Mosolov.

Ashkenazi, who is Israel’s biggest acting star, is known for his award-winning performances in Israeli features Late Marriage, Footnote, Foxtrot, Walk On Water and Karaoke as well as HBO series Our Boys.

He is currently appearing opposite Helen Mirren in Guy Nattiv’s Golda Meir bio-pic Golda.

Mosolov’s Suitcase is a joint production between Alvaro Fernandez at L.A.-based Monolithic Films; Gidi Avivi at Vice Versa Films in Tel Aviv, and Rubber Ring Films, the joint Santa Monica-based company of Mishory and Bradford L. Schlei.

The upcoming picture is described as a hybrid, black-and-white meditation on the titular’s subject’s controversial life, told through three stories about creation and individualism in the face of state power.

In the first of three intersecting plotlines,...

Noomi Rapace stars in ‘Constellation’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul) star in Apple TV+’s upcoming thriller Constellation, created by Peter Harness (Wallander). The streaming service just released the first two photos from what’s described as a conspiracy-based psychological thriller, set to premiere on February 21, 2024.

Three episodes of the eight-episode season debut on February 21st, with new episodes arriving on Wednesdays.

In addition to Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks, Constellation stars James D’Arcy (Agent Carter), Julian Looman (Emily in Paris), William Catlett (A Thousand and One), Barbara Sukowa (Voyager), Rosie Coleman, and Davina Coleman. Harness wrote the thriller and two-time Emmy Award winner Michelle MacLaren (Breaking Bad), Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall), and Joseph Cedar (Footnote) directed.

“Constellation stars Rapace as Jo – an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key...

Apple TV+ has an impressive array of scripted originals that will be expanding in 2024 when Constellation touches down.

The streaming service on Thursday announced that its latest space drama will make its global debut on February 21, 2024.

But what sets it apart from the many other offerings out there?

What is Constellation About?

Constellation is headlined by Noomi Rapace, who plays "Jo - an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing," reads the official logline.

"The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology and one woman's desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost."

Seal Team is Ending a Season Too Late

Constellation Season 1 Cast

Rapace stars opposite Breaking Bad's Jonathan Banks in the upcoming drama series.

Ayelet Menahemi’s family comedy Seven Blessings swept the board at Israel’s Ophir Awards on Sunday evening, triumphing in nine categories including in best film.

As the winner of the best film prize, the movie will automatically be put forward as Israel’s submission to the Best International Film category of the 2024 Academy Awards.

Set in Jerusalem in the early 1990s, the film revolves around an eventful Jewish Moroccan family wedding and the traditional blessings that are pronounced during the ceremony, again at the reception, and then on the next seven nights, with loved ones hosting special dinners in the couple’s honor.

Behind the facade of joie de vivre and togetherness, there are secrets, lies, and a painful old wound from the past that threatens to burst the bubble of their lives.

Added to the mix is a comedy of errors and misinterpretation from numerous members of the family speaking multiple languages,...

Oscar-winning actor Helen Mirren refused to address the controversy around her casting as Israel’s iconic Prime Minister Golda Meir in Guy Nattiv’s biopic during the movie’s press conference at the Berlinale.

When asked to comment on the backlash and the issue of authentic casting, Mirren left it to Nattiv and her co-star Lior Ashkenazi (“Footnote”) to stand up for her while she smiled shyly.

Mirren is neither Israeli nor Jewish, and critics have argued that she shouldn’t have been cast as Israel’s most important female figure.

Nattiv said that when he met Mirren, he instantly felt like he was in the presence of a “family member” — an “aunt” who had the “Jewish chops to portray Golda.”

“We spoke about that for hours. She totally got everything, every nook and cranny, everything in this character,” he continued. Surrounding Mirren with an Israeli cast was a crucial step,...

Charades handles international sales.

Moshe Rosenthal’s 2022 Jerusalem Film Festival audience winner Karaoke has gone to Greenwich Entertainment for distribution in North America.

The comedy of manners centres on an upper-middle-class couple on the outskirts of Tel Aviv whose lives get a much-needed injection of excitement when a flashy talent agency owner moves into the penthouse apartment in their tower block.

The couple get coveted party invitations and find themselves competing for the newcomer’s attention while acting out long dormant ambitions and identities. Israeli actors Lior Ashkenazi, Sasson Gabay (The Band’s Visit) and Rita Shukrun star.

First-time feature director Rosenthal wrote the screenplay.

James D’Arcy will star as Jo’s husband Magnus in the upcoming Apple TV+ thriller “Constellation,” Variety has learned. Additionally, Oliver Hirschbiegel and Joseph Cedar have been set to direct three episodes each of the eight-episode series.

The series follows Jo (Noomi Rapace), a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and for her to recover all that she has lost. Jonathan Banks also stars.

D’arcy’s credits include playing Jarvis in the Marvel series “Agent Carter” and film “Avengers: Endgame” as well as starring in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 film “Dunkirk” and Andy Goddard’s 2020 film “Six Minutes to Midnight.” Up next, he...

James D’Arcy is set to star alongside Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks in Constellation, an eight-episode conspiracy-based psychological thriller drama series at Apple TV+. Additionally, Oscar-nominated Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) and Joseph Cedar (Footnote) are set as directors on the series, joining previously announced director/EP Michelle MacLaren.

Created and written by Peter Harness (The War of the Worlds), Constellation stars Rapace as Jo, a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and for her to recover all that she has lost.

2022 Apple TV+ Pilots & Series Orders

D’Arcy will play Magnus, Jo’s husband.

Banks will play Henry, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. The answers...

Expansive Paris-based media group Mediawan has picked up international sales rights to the Jerusalem-set ultra-orthodox drama “The Rabbi,” which participates in this year’s Series Mania Forum at its Co-Pro Pitching Sessions.

Abuses of power aren’t unique to any one nationality, gender, sexual orientation or religion. With “The Rabbi,” celebrated filmmaker Eytan Fox proposes a fictionalized drama inspired by a true story which shocked Jerusalem’s ultra-orthodox Jewish community that proves that such abuses can happen almost anywhere.

“The Rabbi” turns on a powerful and well-known university professor from Jerusalem’s ultra-orthodox community who uses his position to influence his male students into physical relationships. Although the students are all in their 20s and the relationships consensual, there is uproar when the truth comes out, both regarding the Rabbi engaging in relationships with his subordinates and the fact that this superstar clergyman is a closeted gay man.

Stylistically and thematically,...

Orange Studio has unveiled a first still for “L’astronaute,” a French drama headlined by Nicolas Giraud and Mathieu Kassovitz (“The Bureau”).

The film is produced by Christophe Rossignon and Philip Boëffard at Nord-Ouest Films. It will be distributed in France by Orange Studio and Diaphana Distribution.

Orange Studio is also representing “L’astronaute” in international markets and kicked off sales at the UniFrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in January as well as this month’s virtual EFM.

The film follows the journey of Jim, a passionate engineer who has always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, and devotes all his spare time to building a rocket, sacrificing his social and love life and putting himself in danger.

“This tale of transcendence, pursuit of dreams and collective strength is in line with the type of films we aim to produce at Nord-Ouest: films that are meaningful and have a universal humanity,...

However the Academy Awards play out when they are finally distributed April 25, the 93rd Oscars is guaranteed to be one for the record books. Already, the nominations have achieved several historic firsts: Two women, Nomadland’s Chloé Zhao and Promising Young Woman’s Emerald Fennell, were nominated for director — a category that rarely sees even one female in the ranks — while nine actors of color were nominated, including the first Asian American, Minari’s Steven Yeun, as best actor.

But, needless to say, 2020 also was an atypical year. With theaters closed and releases postponed, the Academy ...

Exclusive: Production is under way on Israel’s biggest-budget TV drama series, Valley Of Tears, we can reveal.

The ambitious, under-the-radar project set against the 1973 Yom Kippur War, stars Israeli mega-star Lior Ashkenazi (Foxtrot) and comes from in-demand Israeli writers Ron Leshem (Euphoria) and Amit Cohen (False Flag).

Directed and co-created by Yaron Zilberman (A Late Quartet), and based on true events, the Hebrew-language, eight-part miniseries shepherded by WestEnd Films depicts the 1973 Yom Kippur War through the eyes of young combatants. It will follow the stories of three individuals swept away by the ravages of war, and culminates in a climactic battle. We understand each episode will cost in the region of $1M.

Valley of Tears stars Footnote and Big Bad Wolves actor Ashkenazi, Aviv Alush (The Shack), Lee Biran, Shahar Tavoch, Joy Rieger and Ofer Hayoun (Euphoria). A handful of Israel’s most prominent novelists reportedly took part in...

In this week’s International TV Newswire: Frédérique Bredin announces she won’t run for another term at France’s National Cinema Center (Cnc); Mexican broadcaster Televisa’s profits plummet; HBO pre-buys Keshet’s “Our Boys” for Latin America and Europe; Patrick Vien changes roles at A+E; new Greek government re-aligns public broadcasters; and VODs are still under the upcoming 30% European series quota.

Frédérique Bredin Exits Cnc as France Fears for Cultural Exception

Over 1992-93, France fought Hollywood. for its powerful French cinema quotas and subsidies – part of its so-called cultural exception – to be excluded from the Gatt round of trade talks, liberalizing commerce. France won. Now France’s movie industry fears that its once sacrosanct public-sector support for cinema will be dismantled by the French government itself. Though first and foremost a cinema concern, the threat could have important concerns for France’s TV industry as well.

On Wednesday,...

Anna Nemes and Laszlo Csuja’s female body building drama won award worth $50,000.

Hungarian writer-directors Anna Nemes and Laszlo Csuja’s female body building drama Gentle Monster has scooped the top prize $50,000 prize at the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel International Film Lab (Jsfl).Beauty of the Beast (2022)[/link]

A total of 12 feature projects hailing from Brazil, Ghana, Hungary, Ireland, Georgia and Israel participated in the eighth edition of the eight-month lab.

The awards were handed out at the end of a final wrap up session in Jerusalem, running July 4-8, at which participants pitched their projects to a jury of industry professionals.

Gentle Monster revolves around...

Michael Barker, the lauded co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, was celebrated with an honorary career tribute in Jerusalem as part of the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab.

Barker, who made his first trip to Israel to attend the event, received the Force-of-Nature in Filmmaking Award. Founded by Renen Schorr and run by producer Lior Sasson, the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab praised Barker as a “major cinematic master-builder” for the pivotal role he played in distributing Israeli films such as “Waltz With Bashir,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Footnote” and “The Gate Keepers,” and leading them to the Academy Awards.

Barker has also distributed critically acclaimed international films such as “Call Me by Your Name,” “Whiplash,” “Talk to Her” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

Aside from the tribute to Barker, the film lab gave the top award of its eighth edition to “Gentle Monster,” a project from the Hungarian...

When Katriel Schory took over as topper of the Israel Film Fund some 20 years ago, its domestic cinema was at a low point.

“The late ’90s were the worst in terms of audiences in Israel for Israeli films and they had mostly disappeared from festivals,” he says. “There were zero co-productions.”

Schory came in with a three-point plan: to help the Israeli film community regain their self-confidence; for the fund to completely revamp the way they read and select projects, i.e., to look for stories, projects and filmmakers from all walks of life and from all the regions and cultures comprising the country; and to divert a certain part of the budget for the marketing, distribution and release of films in Israel.

At that time, Israel had only a small number of co-production treaties. Over the years, Schory negotiated numerous others; now Israel has agreements with 20 countries. He takes...

Cannes — Omri Givron, co-creator of famed Israeli series “Hostages,” proved the big winner at the first Canneseries festival taking Best Series for the fast paced Israel/Colombia-set drama-thriller “When Heroes Fly,” which he created, wrote and directed.

Produced by Eitan Mansuri’s Spiro Films (“Foxtrot” and “Lebanon”), “When Heroes Fly” is sold by Keshet Intl. It turns on a former 2006 Lebanon war combatant who reunites with his estranged commando unit comrades to rescue the love of his life, abducted by a cartel in Colombia, and who’s disappearance, exacerbating the impact gov his war experience, has reduced her to a guilt ridden psychiatric case, .

Kicking off with an impactful portrayal of an ambush in the Lebanon war in its first episode, seen at Cannes, “When Heroes Fly” looks set to develop into a series on the trauma and loss violence wreaks an a once close-knit group of friends.

Beyond “When...

David Mandil’s MoviePlus Productions, the Israeli banner which is presenting ”Miguel” at Canneseries Festival, is developing “The Silent Fighters,” a documentary feature about a classified military unit, and “Duduland” (working title), a drama series about the true story of disgraced Israeli TV star Dudu Topaz.

“Duduland,” which has been commissioned by Hot, will chronicle the epic downfall of Dudu Topaz, one of Israel’s biggest TV stars who embarked on a mission to bring down industry figures he held responsible for his fall from grace. He was eventually apprehended by the police and sent to prison, where he committed suicide.

The 8 one-hour episodes will be written and directed by Assaf Harel, a well-established screenwriter who won two Israeli Television Academy Awards for “Parliament,” a half-hour comedy series about five elderly men living in Israel, and wrote “Loaded” (“Mesudarim”), a hit comedy-drama series about four friends who sell their start-up...

Exclusive: Venice and Toronto berths for Golden Lion winner’s drama.

The Match Factory will launch sales in earnest this autumn on Samuel Maoz’s Venice and Toronto drama Foxtrot, the writer-director’s anticipated follow-up to his 2009 narrative debut Lebanon, which won Venice’s Golden Lion and four Israeli Academy awards.

In Foxtrot, Michael and Dafna are devastated when army officials show up at their home to announce the death of their son Jonathan.

Michael becomes increasingly frustrated by overzealous mourning relatives and well-meaning army bureaucrats.

While his sedated wife rests, Michael spirals into a whirlwind of anger only to experience one of life’s unfathomable twists which rival the surreal military experiences of his son.

Footnote and Big Bad Wolves star Lior Ashkenazi leads cast alongside The Cakemaker and Notre Musique actress Sarah Adler.

The Israeli title, which has already drawn unannounced buyers, will get its world premiere in competition on the Lido before heading to Toronto...

Wamg is giving away to one lucky reader a poster from the new film Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer signed by Richard Gere & director Joseph Cedar.

Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) lives a lonely life in the margins of New York City power and money, a would-be operator dreaming up financial schemes that never come to fruition. As he has nothing real to offer, Norman strives to be everyone’s friend, but his incessant networking leads him nowhere.

Always on the lookout for someone willing to pay attention to him, Norman sets his sights on Micha Eshel (Lior Ashkenazi), a charismatic Israeli politician alone in New York at a low point in his career. Sensing Eshel’s vulnerability, Norman reaches out with a gift of a very expensive pair of shoes, a gesture that deeply touches Eshel. When Eshel becomes Prime Minister three years later,...

Richard Gere (Norman Oppenheimer) with Lior Ashkenazi (Micha Eshel) at Lanvin: "It's almost like theater."

Star of Joseph Cedar's Footnote and Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer, Lior Ashkenazi, spoke with me on growing up seeing Kirk Douglas, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman movies with his father, Burt Lancaster in Robert Siodmak's The Crimson Pirate being his first, shooting Eytan Fox's Walk On Water at Berlin's Tempelhof airport, meeting Son Of Saul director László Nemes at the Cannes Film Festival, and performing a silent scene with Richard Gere.

Lior's upcoming films include Julie Delpy's My Zoe (with Gemma Arterton, Richard Armitage, Daniel Brühl); Dragos Buliga's The Wanderers (Armand Assante); Eran Riklis's Refuge (Golshifteh Farahani, Neta Riskin), Samuel Maoz's Foxtrot (Sarah Adler), and José Padilha's Entebbe (Rosamund Pike, Brühl), where he portrays Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Lior Ashkenazi on being Micha Eshel: "He's enjoying himself because it's Manhattan, it's New York, you know." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

On the opening night in New York at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, Lior Ashkenazi, star of the Oscar-nominated Footnote and brilliant foil to Richard Gere's Norman in Joseph Cedar's Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer, spoke with me following the screening about the rehearsal process, his point of view on politicians, a Gene Kelly kind of freedom, and how he transformed from being the "sexy guy" to becoming two Prime Ministers.

Lior's upcoming films include José Padilha's Entebbe with Rosamund Pike and Daniel Brühl, where he portrays Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and next Julie Delpy's My Zoe with Gemma Arterton, Richard Armitage, and Brühl.

"Richard was leading the whole thing. He was getting down on his knees, trying to...

Despite the moderately tragic title, Richard Gere gives a tour-de-force performance in “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer.” He’s evolved into a terrific character actor, particularly when he plays damaged, fast-talking men, such as his character in 2007’s “The Hoax.” His turn here, as good-natured con artist Norman Oppenheimer, is perhaps his best portrayal yet. In the capable hands of writer-director Joseph Cedar (“Footnote”), the story of this over-the-hill wheeler-dealer is equal parts pathetic, funny and maddening, but always consistently fascinating. And as involving as the story is with its impressive ensemble cast,...

This is the story of how two Israeli filmmakers transformed a Buddhist movie star into Bob Dylan, a New York homeless man, a Manhattan Jewish fixer, and a politician with family issues. It started when Oren Moverman wrote “I’m Not There” with director Todd Haynes, who cast Richard Gere as one of six versions of Bob Dylan.

Several years later, Gere spotted Moverman across a crowded room. “It was an Academy event in New York,” Gere said. “It was a cocktail thing for new members.” Moverman introduced him to Oscar-nominated Joseph Cedar (”Footnote”). They wound up talking Middle East politics. “The three of us were getting along great,” said Gere, who told the men, “If you want to do something that has to do with the Middle East, even in a tangential way, talk to me.”

Read More: ‘Arbitrage’: Richard Gere Talks Indie Filmmaking and VOD

Before they parted ways,...

This is the story of how two Israeli filmmakers transformed a Buddhist movie star into Bob Dylan, a New York homeless man, a Manhattan Jewish fixer, and a politician with family issues. It started when Oren Moverman wrote “I’m Not There” with director Todd Haynes, who cast Richard Gere as one of six versions of Bob Dylan.

Several years later, Gere spotted Moverman across a crowded room. “It was an Academy event in New York,” Gere said. “It was a cocktail thing for new members.” Moverman introduced him to Oscar-nominated Joseph Cedar (”Footnote”). They wound up talking Middle East politics. “The three of us were getting along great,” said Gere, who told the men, “If you want to do something that has to do with the Middle East, even in a tangential way, talk to me.”

Read More: ‘Arbitrage’: Richard Gere Talks Indie Filmmaking and VOD

Before they parted ways,...

The subtitle for this compulsively watchable film is The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer. It’s a mouthful. But Norman, written and directed by American-born Israeli Joseph Cedar (Footnote) in his first English-language film, is a spellbinder that features Richard Gere in one of his best performances ever.

The American Gigolo star alters his movie-star looks to play Norman Oppenheimer, a schlubby loser who’s termed a "generous Jew" by the people he helps. Roaming the streets of New York in the same cap and...

Brooklyn Diner - Norman's (Richard Gere) tip to Jo Wilf (Harris Yulin): "That meeting happens here." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Richard Gere and Lior Ashkenazi give Oscar caliber performances in Joseph Cedar's Sony Pictures Classics and Tadmor Entertainment's Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer, with a very strong supporting cast that includes Harris Yulin, Hank Azaria, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Steve Buscemi, Josh Charles, and Isaach De Bankolé.

Joseph Cedar: "Luxury in general, at least from my point of view, has to come with a certain kind of wink." Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

On Sunday morning, the director of the Oscar-nominated Footnote (Hearat Shulayim) met with me at the Brooklyn Diner, one of the locations used in his latest film. We discussed his production designers Kalina Ivanov and Arad Sawat, costume designers Ann Roth and Michelle Matland, Harvey Weinstein and Otto Preminger's Exodus,...

Following premieres at Telluride then Tiff, a new trailer has landed for Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer, a rather vivid explanation of the proceedings. Penned and directed by Footnote helmer Joseph Cedar, the Sony Classics release stars Richard Gere as the titular fixer, centering on… well, I mean, it’s all in the title.

Specifically, the story finds Norman after he befriends a politician at a lowpoint in his life, then the decision comes back to haunt him three years later when that man becomes a world leader. With a packed cast including Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Steve Buscemi, Norman could be a darkly comedic thriller with some bite. See the trailer below, along with a new poster.

Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) lives a lonely life in the margins of New York City power and money, a would-be operator dreaming...

Sony Pictures Classics’ has released the first trailer and poster for Academy Award nominee Joseph Cedar’s Norman starring Richard Gere.

The cast includes Richard Gere, Lior Ashkenazi, Michael Sheen, Steve Buscemi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Dan Stevens, Hank Azaria, Josh Charles and Harris Yulin.

The new film by Academy Award nominated director Joseph Cedar (Footnote) is a comic and compassionate drama of a little man whose downfall is rooted in a human frailty all too easy to forgive: a need to matter.

Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) lives a lonely life in the margins of New York City power and money, a would-be operator dreaming up financial schemes that never come to fruition. As he has nothing real to offer, Norman strives to be everyone’s friend, but his incessant networking leads him nowhere. Always on the lookout for someone willing to pay attention to him, Norman sets his sights on Micha...

"Why do I get the feeling that nothing you tell me is real?" Sony Classics has debuted the full theatrical trailer for the film titled Norman, in full it's Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer. This is the latest from Footnote director Joseph Cedar and stars Richard Gere as a "fixer" in New York City trying to help out other wealthy businessman/politicians. He gets mixed up in something a little over his head, and has trouble figuring out how to land on his feet. The cast includes Lior Ashkenazi, Hank Azaria, Steve Buscemi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michael Sheen, and Dan Stevens. This is a funky, odd, and somewhat depressing film but some folks will find it worthwhile entertainment. Take a look. Here's the full theatrical trailer (+ new poster) for Joseph Cedar's Norman, direct from YouTube: You can still watch the teaser trailer for Joseph Cedar's Norman here,...

In the new film “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) will do anything to feel like he matters. A lonely man on the margins of New York City power and money, Norman dreams up financial schemes and tries to bring them to life by incessantly networking. Then one day, he buys an Israeli politician an expensive pair of shoes and soon he’s flush with respect and caught in the crossfires of a potential international catastrophe. The film co-stars Lior Ashkenazi (“Late Marriage”), Michael Sheen (“Frost/Nixon”), Steve Buscemi (“Mystery Train”), Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”), Hank Azaria (“The Simpsons”) and more. Watch a teaser trailer below.

Read More: ‘Norman’ Finds Richard Gere in a Coen-Like Comedy With More Chutzpah Than Charm — Telluride Review

The film is written and directed by Joseph Cedar. He wrote and directed the 2011 film “Footnote,” which...

Considering the sheer number of films that come to fall festivals, some can fall between the cracks — especially if they aren’t getting released in the next few months. One such example is Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer, which comes from director Joseph Cedar (Footnote, Beaufort), and premiered at Telluride then stopped by Toronto. With Sony Pictures Classics picking it up for a release this spring, it’s now back on our radar thanks to the arrival of the first trailer.

Led by Richard Gere, the story follows his pushy character as he gets entangled in various business schemes in New York City — quite a different role from his previous film set in the city, Time Out of Mind. Check out the trailer below for the film also starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Josh Charles, Michael Sheen, Lior Ashkenazi, Dan Stevens, Steve Buscemi and Hank Azaria.

"You're like the drowning man trying to wave at an ocean liner." Sony Pictures Classics has unveiled a trailer for the film titled Norman, in full it's Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer. This is the latest from Footnote director Joseph Cedar and stars Richard Gere giving one of his best performances in recent years. Gere plays a "fixer" in New York City trying to help out other wealthy businessman/politicians, but gets mixed up in something over his head. The cast includes Lior Ashkenazi, Hank Azaria, Steve Buscemi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michael Sheen, and Dan Stevens. I already caught this in Telluride and it does have a Coen Brothers feel to it, but it's just not that good. Give it a look. Here's the first official teaser trailer for Joseph Cedar's Norman, originally from Yahoo: Norman Oppenheimer is a small time operator who...

Earlier this year, it was announced that Turner Classic Movies and the Criterion Collection — perhaps the two most trusted names in the distribution and exhibition of important classic and contemporary cinema — would be joining forces to create a streaming service dedicated to sharing their combined library with cinephiles around the world. For months, it sounded too good to be true. Today, it suddenly became as real as the screen in front of your face.

If the movies are truly as dead as they say, then FilmStruck is nothing short of heaven on Earth. It’s here, it’s alive, and hot damn has it come out of the gate swinging. Hundreds of essential titles are ready to go on launch day, and while hundreds more are imminently on the way, there’s already more than enough to satisfy whatever mood you’re in and scratch itches that you didn’t even know you had.

TV sales arm to mark first anniversary at Cannes content market.

Wild Bunch TV will launch a trio of new series at the upcoming edition of Mipcom Oct 17-20, its second time at the content market since launching last year.

It will kick off sales on Belgian-produced, bittersweet romance and road trip Tytgat Chocolate about a mentally-challenged, chocolate factory worker who sets off in search of his girlfriend after she is deported back to Kosovo.

The Flemish-language series is written and directed by Marc Bryssinck and Filip Lenaerts. Brussels-based deMENSEN – which previously made Beau Sejour and Highway of Love – produced the series for Vrt.

The quirky drama stars Jelle Palmaerts alongside other members of Belgium’s Theater Stap, a company of mentally-challenged professional actors.

Flemish stars Els Dottermans and Jan Decleir also feature in the cast.

Israeli dramas

Wild Bunch TV has also picked up sales on Israeli director-writer Keren Weissman’s psychological drama Mama’s Angel...

Exclusive: Trio join recently launched House Productions to work across film and TV slate.

Tessa Ross and Juliette Howell’s recently launched film and TV indie House Productions has hired three executives to its development team.

Tom Leggett and writer-producer Polly Buckle have joined as development producers and Ann Phillips as development executive, all based in London.

Leggett joins from Playground Television where he was director of development and where he developed high end drama series for the BBC, Channel 4, Sky & Starz. Prior to Playground, Leggett was senior development editor at Film4 working on films such as 71’, The Riot Club, Macbeth, 12 Years a Slave, High-Rise, Room and Black Sea.

Buckle most recently produced You, Me and the Apocalypse for Sky One/Working Title. She has also produced on Rev for BBC2/Big Talk, Being Human for BBC3/Touchpaper and worked extensively in script development for Working Title Television and Shine Drama, including developing...

Telluride – Joseph Cedar’s follow up to 2011’s critically acclaimed drama “Footnote” is one of those movies where you see where it’s going pretty much the entire time. Granted, putting “Tragic Fall” in your film’s title might be a dead give away that something bad is gonna happen. The hope is there are just enough […]

The post Richard Gere Is ‘Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer’ And That’s Not A Bad Thing [Telluride Review] appeared first on The Playlist.

A noble failure from a noteworthy filmmaker, Joseph Cedar’s “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer” — the unofficial winner of this year’s “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Award for the most fanciful title — mines a classic storytelling tradition in order to spin a darkly comic parable that often feels as unkempt and intolerable as its title character.

A defiantly Jewish bit of mishegoss that was conceived as a U.S. / Israeli co-production, the film is a wry, self-defeating response to the anti-Semitic tradition of stories about conniving “Court Jews” who talk their way into becoming one of the king’s most trusted advisors. Pin-balling between tragedy and farce so fast that it can be hard to follow, “Norman” unfolds like a Coen brothers comedy that has too much chutzpah and not enough charm.

Richard Gere, in yet another one of his wildly adventurous late career performances,...

Sony Pictures Classics has picked up North America, Benelux, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia excluding South Korea to Richard Gere starrer Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer.

Separately, the company said on Monday it had acquired the rest of the Pedro Almodovar library and has dated the Spanish master’s upcoming Julieta for December 21.

Joseph Cedar wrote and directed Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer, which was previously known as Oppenheimer Strategies and marks his follow-up to Footnote, the Oscar nominee that Spc also distributed.

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Josh Charles, Michael Sheen, Lior Ashkenazi, Dan Stevens, Steve Buscemi and Hank Azaria star in the drama about a small-time fixer who gets in over his head in Middle East politics.

Gideon Tadmor and Cold Iron Pictures financed the project in association with The Rabinovich Foundation, The Jerusalem Film Fund and Keshet International.

Oren Moverman, [link...

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired rights in North America and other territories to Joseph Cedar’s Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer which stars Richard Gere, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Josh Charles, Michael Sheen, Lior Ashkenazi, Dan Stevens, Steve Buscemi and Hank Azaria. Spc has a relationship with the filmmaker, as the company acquired his last film, Footnote out of the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 where it won the Best Screenplay Award and…...

Screen rounds up the films from across the globe that could launch at Cannes…

With less than a month to go until the Cannes Film Festival announces its line-up at its annual Paris press conference on April 14, Screen looks at what could make it into Official Selection and the parallel sections of Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week.

UK and Ireland

The UK could have one of its strongest Cannes for years with hot favourites for a competition slot including Andrea Arnold’s Shia Labeouf-starring Us road movie American Honey and Ken Loach’s gritty Northern England-set drama I, Daniel Blake. It would be Loach’s 12th time in competition.

Ben Wheatley is also reportedly gunning for an Official Selection slot for his 1970s Boston-set, gangland thriller Free Fire, potentially Out of Competition or in Midnight Screenings. He was last in Cannes with Sightseers in Directors’ Fortnight.

Other UK hopefuls include Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins and Indian...