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What could go wrong when you send a group of elite soldiers skilled in warfare to an island in the middle of nowhere to extract a VIP? Well! Everything could go wrong, and Philippe Martinez’s 2023 action flick, Black Noise, explores such a scenario. A team of skilled soldiers took up a new task, thinking it would be a simple find-and-extract job. Little did they know the enemies they were going to face there would take more than just bullets to kill.

It all began with Ryan (Wayne Gordon) receiving a call from his superiors while he was enjoying his holiday in St. Martin with his team. His squad included Naomi (Ashton Leigh), Leila (Sadie Newman), Leo (Jackson Rathbone), and Jordan. Unfortunately, his superiors wanted Ryan to cancel his holiday and make preparations to extract a target of high value from an exclusive island. The island wasn’t for everyone.

Stars: Wayne Gordon, Sadie Newman, Eve Mauro, Jackson Rathbone, Alex Pettyfer, Niki Spiridakos | Written by Sean-Michael Argo, Leigh Scott | Directed by Philippe Martinez

Black Noise is the latest film to follow in the footsteps of Predator and takes a group of highly trained professional soldiers and sends them to a remote location on what should be a simple mission only for it to turn into a battle with something beyond their comprehension. Earlier this year Island Escape added a few twists to make it feel fresh, can Black Noise pull off the same feat?

A large man, uniformed and armed, flees through a Carribean rainforest. Whatever he’s running from must be dangerous, his uniform is torn and he’s battered, bloody, and panicked to the point of shooting at moving foliage. Reaching a house he sees a quad parked in the yard, just what he needs to escape. But...

Stars: Michael Jai White, Edoardo Costa, Cami Storm, Jackson Rathbone, Esther Brooks, Wayne Gordon, Gillian White, Amber Townsend | Written by Michael Caissie, Philippe Martinez | Directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino

The Island wastes no time in establishing just how evil its villain, Manuel is. As he’s talking to Nora, a singer auditioning at one of his properties, the waiter spills her drink on her. His response isn’t to fire the man but to stab him in the neck and tell the shocked woman, “Go get cleaned up, you work for me now.”

In Los Angeles Mark and his partner Phil are working undercover setting up a drug bust. This being an action film it naturally goes bad, but that’s not the worst thing Mark is going to have to deal with today. He gets a call telling him his brother has been murdered on the island where they grew up.

Exclusive: Grindstone Entertainment Group, a Lionsgate company, has picked up world distribution rights to the romantic comedy Christmas in Paradise from Msr Media International. Lionsgate will release the film in North America on November 15.

Written and directed by Philippe Martinez (A Week in Paradise), Christmas in Paradise stars Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), Elizabeth Hurley (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery), Nathalie Cox (Clash of The Titans), and Billy Ray Cyrus (Mulholland Drive) who also performs an island-themed rendition of his song Achy Breaky Heart in the film.

The plot follows three quirky sisters who chase their estranged dad (Grammer) down at his beachside pad in the Caribbean and enjoy a little fun in the sun. But why did he disappear to the islands? Only Joanna (Hurley) knows for sure, and she’s sworn to secrecy! Love, laughter, and songs by Cyrus make this a Christmas to remember, the synopsis reads.m...

Exclusive: Boutique film and TV production company Msr Media has set itself the challenge of producing 35 feature films on the dual-island Caribbean territory of Saint Kitts & Nevis over five years.

Msr Media said the total investment in the new deal with Saint Kitts will be 150 million over five years.

The first film will be the action movie Fast Sea, written by Sean Michael Argo and Leigh Scott. Msr Media’s co-founder and main producer Philippe Martinez is producing while Scott will direct. Production is slated to start in January 2023 in Saint Kitts.

The 35-movie commitment follows a meeting this week between Martinez and Saint Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew.

Msr Media, which is based in the territory, is set to hire 150 people over the next four months and is finalizing the purchase of a leading hotel in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, which will create 100 new jobs when the hotel reopens.

Project stars Edoardo Costa and Michael Jai White.

Msr Media International has unveiled a first-look image of action thriller The Island, featuring Edoardo Costa and Michael Jai White.

The title, currently in post-production, is helmed by US director Shaun Paul Piccinino, and produced by Msr Media’s Philippe Martinez and Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham, with Msr Media International representing world sales.

An LAPD officer takes down drug traffickers with his wise-cracking partner, until his brother dies under mysterious circumstances.

The officer returns to the island he grew up on his search for answers about his brother’s death, which...

Canneseries Expands

Set to run April 14-19, Canneseries has introduced a new competition documentary section, the International Documentary Series Competition, to be included in its next go-round in Cannes. The idea is to keep storytelling at the heart of the event. “Whether the main character is sport, history, a crime, a celebrity, the environment or a changing society, it is always about telling stories. And Canneseries, which promotes serial writing in all its forms, had to highlight this narration of reality,”, said Albin Lewi, artistic director of Canneseries.

Bavaria Takes Spi’S ‘Codex 632’

Bavaria Media International has sealed a distribution agreement with major Portuguese production house SPi to handle worldwide distribution of “Codex 632.” The six-part series is based on the bestseller of the same name by José Rodrigues dos Santos. “Codex 632” is a co-production between SPi, Portuguese TV station Rtp, and Brazilian streaming provider Globoplay, and is scheduled to premiere...

Executives will be based in Los Angeles.

Heading into TIFF with a slate of rom-coms and thrillers Msr Media International has hired Ariel Veneziano and Robby Amar to spearhead sales.

Both executives are named co-vice presidents of international distribution and sales and report to Msr Media International CEO Karinne Behr.

They will be on the ground in Toronto where Msr will be talking to buyers about rom-coms Christmas In The Caribbean starring Elizabeth Hurley, Caroline Quentin, Nathalie Cox and Downtown Julie Brown; A Week In Paradise with Malin Akerman, Connie Nielsen, Philip Winchester and Jack Donnelly; and One Year Off featuring Ray Fearon,...

Exclusive: Screen Media has acquired North American TV rights to Salvage Marines, a sci-fi action series starring Starship Troopers alum Casper Van Dien that will stream on Crackle Plus next month.

The dystopian futuristic series follows Samuel (Van Dien), who works as a factory laborer on planet Baen 6. When Samuel learns that his wife is pregnant, he does the only thing he can to ensure his child will avoid the same societal debt he has – enlist in the planet’s military ranks as a salvage marine. Armand Assante also stars in the series alongside Peter Shinkoda.

Launching in July, the series is directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino, co-written by Sean-Michael Argo and Rafael Jordan and produced by Philippe Martinez for Msr Media, Jake Seal and Jamie R Thompson for Orwo Studios, and Terry Bird from Black Hangar Studios. Msr Media’s Karinne Behr and Lee Beasley are executive producers along...

Screen Media has acquired the North American rights out of the Cannes market to “Christmas in the Caribbean,” a romantic comedy that stars Elizabeth Hurley, TheWrap has learned exclusively.

The film comes from Msr Media International and is written and directed by Philippe Martinez. Screen Media is planning a day-and-date theatrical and on-demand release for the film beginning in November of this year.

“Christmas in the Caribbean” follows a woman named Rachel, who is left at the altar by her fiancé and decides to take her best friends on her honeymoon to the Caribbean, where she gets her groove on and finds love on the beach. Nathalie Cox co-wrote the film and also co-stars, as does Caroline Quentin.

“Christmas in the Caribbean” is also a reunion between Martinez and Hurley, who worked together on Hurley’s most recent film “Father Christmas Is Back” from last year.

Also Read:

‘Fire Island’ Film Review: Emma Meets Mr.

Exclusive: Rampage, Billions and Watchmen star Malin Åkerman is starring with Jack Donnelly (Atlantis), Wayne Gordon (Angel Has Fallen), Nicole Bartlett (Jim), Celine Arden (The Hustle) and Sam Cassidy (Guilt) in action-thriller film Us Or Them.

Directed by Tom Paton (Black Ops), the film is written by Nicole Bartlett from a story by Paton. The project recently wrapped production in the islands of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. Msr International is handling world sales in Cannes.

In Us Or Them, while enjoying a luxury holiday won on a mobile game app, childhood best friends Jude (Jack Donnelly) and Andy (Wayne Gordon) agree to play another game despite the foreboding caveat that once the game begins, they must play to the end. Enticed by the 20M grand prize by a mysterious woman called The Officiator (Malin Akerman), the duo signs up for a deadly round of ‘Us Or Them...

"I was not expecting to have all these feelings..." Screen Media has revealed an official trailer for a romance film titled A Week in Paradise, made by a French producer / filmmaker named Philippe Martinez. This is arriving in theaters next week - also timed for Valentine's Day if anyone is interested. An international film star's world collapses when her film director husband is outed by the paparazzi as having a baby with his new young leading lady. Seeking solace and healing, she escapes to a Caribbean boutique hotel resort. After some much-needed recovery, she meets the resort's charming chef and begins to imagine a new life just as her old one comes barging in. This one stars Malin Ackerman, Connie Nielsen, Philip Winchester, and Jack Donnelly. This looks really light and lovely, not too heavy despite all the break up emotions. And extremely pretty with all the perfect shots of...

Exclusive: Redbox Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to thriller film Assailant.

Assailant follows British couple, Zoe and Jason, whose marriage is on the rocks as they sail to the Caribbean in hopes of saving their marriage. After a seemingly harmless bar fight between the husband and a mysterious drifter, the situation devolves into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The couple must fight together to save themselves from the Assailant.

Starring Poppy Delevingne (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) as Zoe, Chad Michael Collins (Extinct) as Jason, Casper Van Dien (All American) as Michael, and Jeff Fahey (Lost) as Henry, Assailant is written and directed by Tom Paton (400 Bullets).

The film will premiere in 2022 and is expected to have a limited theatrical run and be available day-and-date on demand.

Pic is produced by Msr Media’s Philippe Martinez and Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham, with Lee Beasley and Karinne Behr from Msr Media,...

In the wake of redefining the measurement of binge-watching on streaming, Netflix’s new top 10 film chart for the week of Nov. 8-14 lists Rawson Marshall Thurber’s $200M action feature Red Notice as the No. 1 film for the period with 148.7M hours watched since Nov. 12; easily the most watched movie ever on Netflix for a pic in its first weekend.

We reported yesterday that Samba TV clocked 4.2M U.S. households who tuned into the Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds movie for at least five minutes, more than any Disney+ movie to date and HBO Max theatrical titles in their respective weekend debuts.

There was also some Johnson spillover in the top 10 from Red Notice with the first weekend of Sony’s Jumanji: The Next Level on Netflix which notched 10th place with 6.76M hours watched.

Also breaking into the top 10 were the streamer’s British comedy holiday...

Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Elizabeth Hurley, Kris Marshall, John Cleese, Caroline Quentin, Katy Brand, Ray Fearon, Talulah Riley | Written by Hannah Davis, David Conolly, Dylanne Corcoran | Directed by Mick Davis, Philippe Martinez

Another day, another new Netflix Christmas movie. Father Christmas is Back took my interest because of its cast. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of any of the actors (although I’ve seen most of them put in good performances) but it’s just such a random mix of people that thought I’d check out this festive movie.

So lets start with that cast. The biggest star and playing ‘Father’ Christmas (that’s the surname of the family) is Kelsey Grammer and he’s alongside this odd group of actors who I didn’t expect to see in a Netflix movie together – Elizabeth Hurley, Kris Marshall, John Cleese, Caroline Quentin, Katy Brand, Ray Fearon and Talulah Riley.

Exclusive: Screen Media has acquired North American rights to A Week in Paradise, a Caribbean-set romantic comedy starring Malin Akerman (The Final Girls), Connie Nielsen (Wonder Woman), Philip Winchester (Flyboys) and Jack Donnelly (Atlantis), with plans for a day-and-date release early next year.

The film directed by Philippe Martinez centers on Maggie (Akerman), a London-based international film star whose world collapses when her film director husband is outed by the paparazzi as having a baby with his new leading lady. Seeking solace and healing, she escapes to the Caribbean to stay at her expat cousin’s charming boutique hotel resort in Nevis. After a week in paradise, she finds herself and falls in love—only for the outside world to come crashing back in.

Kate Wood (Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop) scripted the film, which Martinez produced with Alan Latham.

“Directing this...

Elizabeth Hurley (“The Royals”) will star in romantic comedy “Christmas in the Carribbean.” Principal photography will commence this week in the islands of St Kitts and Nevis.

The film is produced by Msr Media’s Philippe Martinez, who will also direct, and Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham.

Written by Martinez and Nathalie Cox, the film will follow Rachel (Hurley), a hopeless romantic who is jilted at the altar. Not to let her Christmas in the Caribbean honeymoon go to waste, Rachel and her two bridesmaids jet off to the islands, where love blossoms and she has to make a life choice.

The cast also includes Caroline Quentin (“Bridgerton”), Nathalie Cox (“My Dad’s Christmas Date”), Edoardo Costa (“Non-Stop”), Hadar Cats (“Next Generation Role Model”), Downtown Julie Brown (“A Year in Music”) and Rafael Martinez (“NCIS: Los Angeles”).

Karinne Behr and Lee Beasley from Msr Media and Alastair Burlingham of Sherborne Media serve as executive producers,...

Elizabeth Hurley To Star In Caribbean Rom-Com

Elizabeth Hurley is to play the lead in The Caribbean Christmas, the rom-com shot in St Kitts and Nevis from Msr Media producer Philippe Martinez. Pic started filming this week. Cast on the film, which is the latest to be shot this year in the Caribbean island under its multi-film deal with Msr, includes Bridgerton’s Caroline Quentin, Nathalie Cox (Kingdom Of Heaven), Edoardo Costa (Live Free or Die Hard) and Incitement’s Hadar Cats. The film follows the story of an abandoned British bride, who spends December in the Caribbean with her bridesmaids as love blossoms. Hurley described the offer to film in the Caribbean after a difficult 18 months as “irresistible.” Martinez will direct and write alongside Cox.

Bafta Talent Unveils US-uk Jury

Handmaids’ Tale creator Bruce Miller, documentary maker Afua Hirsch and Netflix UK Features Director Fiona Lamptey are to feature in the U.

Malin Ackerman, Philip Winchester star in the romantic drama.

Principal photography has wrapped on Philippe Martinez’s A Week In Paradise, a romantic drama set on the Caribbean island of Nevis.

The film is produced by Martinez and Alan Latham for the UK’s Msr Media, from a script by Kate Wood based on a story by Martinez.

Malin Ackerman and Philip Winchester star in the story of a film star who seeks solace in a beautiful Caribbean hotel after her husband cheats on her. There, she meets a new love interest, only for the outside world to come crashing back in.

With production in Moscow continuing at a steady clip throughout the coronavirus pandemic after a brief lockdown last spring, industry insiders believe the Russian capital can blossom into one of the world’s next shooting hotspots.

That was the takeaway from a panel discussion that was held this week during the virtual Key Buyers Event, which takes place online June 8-10.

“Moscow, and Russia in general, is underrated as a production destination,” said Val Kupeev, head of international relations and production service for Bazelevs, which has serviced productions such as Amazon Prime’s “Jack Ryan,” FX series “The Americans,” and Fox’s “Red Sparrow.”

“We have over 200 big and small productions a year, maybe more,” he continued, noting that Bazelevs has the capacity to service two to four largescale studio projects a year, as well as several smaller shoots and numerous commercials. “I’m pretty confident in what we have here.

Rooftop Films Returns for 25th Anniversary Summer Series in NYC

Rooftop Films, the non-profit organization and film community celebrated as New York’s home for independent films, announced the return of their annual Rooftop Films Summer Series.

Among the films set to screen are Janicza Bravo’s “Zola,” presented by A24 on the lawn in Fort Greene Park, and “Once Upon a Time in Queens,” ESPN’s new series detailing the uniquely wild championship run of the 1986 Mets.

Joshua Rofé’s “Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal and Greed,” and Sally Aitken’s “Playing with Sharks,” are the documentaries will also screen when the series begins June 17 at Green-Wood Cemetery.

The screenings will follow all CDC and state guidelines which allow for more New Yorkers to gather safely for cultural events. The Rooftop Films Summer Series is presented by SundanceTV.

The Summer Series will run from June 17th through mid-September and...

Exclusive: Malin Åkerman (Watchmen), Connie Nielsen (Wonder Woman), Philip Winchester (Strike Back) and Jack Donnelly (Atlantis) have been cast in romantic comedy feature film A Week in Paradise that will start shooting this week on Caribbean island Nevis.

The film is the first film to start production under the three-year extension of the multi-film production deal with the Nevis Island Administration (Nia) which we announced last week.

Written by Kate Wood (Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop) the film is based on a story by Msr’s Philippe Martinez who will also direct (Father Christmas is Back).

The film tells the tale of Maggie (Åkerman), a film star whose world collapses when her film director husband (Donnelly) is outed by the paparazzi when it’s discovered his new leading lady is pregnant with his baby. Seeking solace and healing Maggie escapes to her ex-pat cousin’s (Nielsen) beautiful hotel in Nevis.

To paraphrase an old adage, there’s bound to be a silver lining in every cloud. Indeed, for some Caribbean island locations, the Covid-19 pandemic, despite some losses in human life, has been a blessing for their audiovisual industries. The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, two of the most generous locations in terms of film incentives, are expecting a record boom.

“The number and size of projects coming to the country have increased exponentially,” says Albert Martinez, COO of Lantica Media, which operates the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios. “By opening up earlier than other locations, many projects gravitated to us.”

Among the first major productions to film in the Dominican Republic, and which made full use of Pinewood Dr, was “Old,” M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller starring Gael Garcia Bernal.

The Dominican Republic’s film commission projects a total foreign production spend of around $176 million by year-end, up from $35 million last year.

British actor and model Poppy Delevingne, Chad Michael Collins, Casper Van Dien and Jeff Fahey are set to star in thriller-suspense film “Assailant,” from Msr Media and written and directed by Tom Paton (“400 Bullets”).

The pic turns on a couple going through marriage counseling who decide to head to the Caribbean on a “make or break” sailing holiday. But when the husband gets into a local bar fight the night before a difficult trek over a coastal trail, the duo finds themselves relentlessly chased by the aggressor and forced to work together in order to survive.

Msr Media’s Philippe Martinez and Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham will produce, with Lee Beasley and Karinne Behr from Msr Media, Alastair Burlingham of Sherborne Media and Charlie Dombek serving as executive producers. Production financing is provided by Sherborne Media. Msr Media International is handling worldwide rights for the film.

Principal photography...

After scouring a handful of locations, U.K.-based Msr Media producer Philippe Martinez has landed on the Caribbean island of Nevis to shoot six films back-to-back. With the pandemic still wreaking havoc in many countries, Nevis Island ticked all the boxes where stringent protocols have rendered few cases and no deaths. “One has to think outside the box when you’re a producer; we decided to shoot in the Caribbean when we saw that the pandemic was not abating,” said Martinez, who despite Covid restrictions, shot two films in the U.K.: “Father Christmas Is Back,” which he directed and produced, starring Liz Hurley, Kelsey Grammer and John Cleese, and “Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop,” with Nathalie Cox and Grammer.

“We closed the country down on March 25 and opened our borders on Oct. 31, but with some restrictions still in place,” noted Jadine Yarde, CEO, Nevis Tourism Authority.

Exclusive: Here’s the first trailer for UK drama A Bird Flew In (previously known as Alone), the Goldfinch-backed drama shot during lockdown.

Starring are Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), Jeff Fahey (Lost), Julie Dray (Cradle to Grave), Sophie Kennedy Clark (Nymphomaniac), Sadie Frost (Bram Stoker’s Dracula), Morgana Robinson (The Windsors), Camilla Rutherford (Yesterday), Michael Winder (Set The Thames On Fire) and Frances Barber (The Split).

In seven interlinked narratives, the film charts how when the Covid 19 lockdown is announced, the entire cast and crew of a feature film are sent home. Couples fall apart, others come together and some find they are simply alone.

Dominic Wells and Elizabeth Morris (Killers Anonymous) scripted the feature, which marks the directorial debut of Goldfinch producer Kirsty Bell. Msr Media International is handling sales.

Producing is Ben Charles Edwards (Set the Thames on Fire), executive producer is Philippe Martinez (Father Christmas Is Back).

US acquisitions manager will handle feature film development at the UK-based production company.

Msr Media has appointed Nick Royak as vice president of development as the UK-based production company continues to build its slate of features.

Royak joins from US distributor Gravitas Ventures, which he first joined in May 2014. He most recently held the position of senior acquisitions manager, picking up more than 200 titles, and was previously international sales and business development manager, operating as one of the company’s key sales executives at international markets.

At Msr Media, Royak will oversee the development of feature films submitted to the...

In today’s Global Bulletin, “The Terror” sets sail on BBC Two and iPlayer, “The Man Standing Next” tops South Korea’s Blue Dragon Awards, Banijay announces two European remakes of “Lego Masters,” Discovery Plus is now available on Samsung Smart TVs and Amazon Fire TV in the U.K. and Ireland, Tms announces “Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet” will release in several territories in April, and Mrs hires Nick Royak.

Acquisition

BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have acquired AMC Studios International’s horror anthology “The Terror” for linear and streaming in the U.K. The series is executive produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions and showrun by David Kajganich (“True Story”) and Soo Hugh (“The Whispers”).

Inspired by true events, “The Terror” is a fictionalized version of what happened to Captain Sir John Franklin’s lost Arctic expedition in which the Royal Navy ventured into uncharted waters braving sub-zero temperatures,...

French In Motion Sets Up In LA

Exclusive: French In Motion, the non-profit that brings together French and American professionals from the film and TV industry is launching a chapter in Los Angeles, with Martine Melloul set to run the new office. Headquartered in New York with an existing chapter in Washington DC, the org supports international co-productions and collaborations between France and the United States through its partnership with the Gotham Film & Media Institute and has been doing so since 2016. The org is also creating an honorary board, composed of talent from the independent film and television industry whose work and influence span both sides of the Atlantic. U.S.-based French filmmakers Mathieu Demy and Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire have both joined the board alongside French In Motion’s Founder Nathalie Perus.

Msr Hire

Production outfit Msr Media has appointed Nick Royak to the newly-created role of Vice President of Development.

Exclusive: UK production and sales firm Msr Media is planning to shoot comedy feature One Year Off on the relatively Covid-free Caribbean island of Nevis, the producers and island’s leadership are announcing today.

Stringent Covid-19 guidelines, as well as its location, have helped Nevis avoid many of the ravages of the virus. To date, Nevis and neighboring island Saint Kitts have only recorded 37 Covid cases and no deaths.

One Year Off will be directed by Brad Watson (Miss Willoughby And The Haunted Bookshop) and is being produced by Msr principal Philippe Martinez (Father Christmas Is Back) and Stewart Thomson (BBC’s The Break) from a script by Kate Wood (Miss Willoughby And The Haunted Bookshop). Casting is underway.

The film will follow a woman who rekindles an old flame on the island only to discover that ‘paradises’ have their own challenges.

A cast and crew of about 50 people have...

Still courtesy of Msr Media / Featuring (L-r): Talulah Riley, John Cleese, Nathalie Cox, Caroline Quentin, Elizabeth Hurley, Ray Fearon, Naomi Frederick, And Kris Marshall

Here’s your first look at the new comedy Father Christmas Is Back starring a star ensemble cast including Elizabeth Hurley, John Cleese, and Kelsey Grammer.

In the feel-good festive comedy, Caroline Christmas is a control freak, who desires nothing more than a perfect Christmas with her sisters at her lavish country manor to atone for the fact that their father abandoned the family on December 25th, many years ago. When on Christmas Eve their long-lost father arrives at their doorstep with his new girlfriend chaos ensues. Through a series of mishaps and misunderstandings, Caroline uncovers a long-buried family secret… can the family still celebrate Christmas together after all?

Directed by Philippe Martinez (Viktor) and Mick Davis (Modigliani). The film is written by David Conolly...

Msr head Philippe Martinez (Viktor) directs comedy.

Screen has obtained the first-look image from Msr Media’s comedy and AFM 2020 Online sales title Father Christmas Is Back starring Elizabeth Hurley, John Cleese and Kelsey Grammer.

Msr head Philippe Martinez (Viktor) directs the film, which wrapped production recently in York, England.

The story centres on a control freak whose plans for a lavish family Yuletide celebration are thrown into disarray when their long-lost father turns up with his new girlfriend.

The cast includes Nathalie Cox, Talulah Riley, Kris Marshall, Caroline Quentin, April Bowlby,Ray Fearon and Naomi Frederick.

Msr Media International handles sales.

A short-lived sense of security from plummeting coronavirus cases prompted several global-facing projects in the U.K. to restart over the summer, but as the threat of new Covid-19 restrictions looms large, the industry is rushing to crank out film and TV productions this fall, in what could be the last gasp for production in 2020.

A rising caseload prompted six-month-long restrictions on group gatherings and early closures for the hospitality sector on Sept. 24, but the U.K. remains one of the most active production hubs in Europe. Getting cameras rolling, as evidenced by “The Batman” brouhaha, is a major gamble, but those who can afford to take the plunge say there’s much to be gained — if they can pull it off.

Roughcut TV is shooting in south London, where cameras rolled Sept. 2 on six-part comedy “Bloods” for Comcast-backed broadcaster Sky. Managing director Ash Atalla began planning the shoot...

Monday, Sept. 14

‘Marry Me’ Arriving Valentine’s Day Weekend

Universal Pictures will release the romance film “Marry Me,” starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, on Feb. 12, the start of the Valentine’s Day weekend.

Lopez is starring as a musical superstar and Wilson is portraying a divorced math teacher. Lopez’s character is about to marry a new music star in a worldwide ceremony when she discovers that he cheated on her. She has a meltdown, then locks eyes with Wilson’s character and decides to marry him.

“Marry Me” is directed by Kat Coiro from a screenplay by John Rogers, Tami Sagher and Harper Dill based on the graphic novel by Bobby Crosby. The film is produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Lopez, Benny Medina and John Rogers. The film’s executive producers are Alex Brown, Willie Mercer, Pamela Thur and J.B. Roberts.

Elizabeth Hurley, John Cleese Join Christmas Comedy

Elizabeth Hurley,...

Elizabeth Hurley, John Cleese and Kelsey Grammer have been cast in Father Christmas Is Back, a family comedy film now shooting in York in the UK. The pic from Msr Media is directed by Philippe Martinez (Viktor) and Mick Davis (Modigliani) from a script from David Conolly and Hannah Davis Law (Mothers and Daughters) and Dylanne Corcoran.

The film is based on an original idea by Martinez, who also produces with Alan Latham from Highfield Grange Studios. Goldfinch’s Kirsty Bell executive produces alongside Lee Beasley and Karinne Behr from Msr Media. Msr Media International is repping worldwide rights.

The plot centers on Caroline Christmas (Nathalie Cox), a control freak who desires nothing more than a perfect Christmas with her sisters at her lavish country manor to atone for the fact that their father abandoned the family on December 25th many years ago. When on Christmas Eve their long-lost father...

Msr Media International handles worldwide sales.

UK production is underway on Msr Media’s comedy Father Christmas Is Back with John Cleese, Liz Hurley, and Kelsey Grammer.

Covid-19-safe principal photography has begun in York on the story about a control freak, Caroline Christmas, who organises a seasonal celebration with her sisters at her country manor when their long-lost father turns up on Christmas Eve with his girlfriend and a secret is revealed.

Msr Media founder Philippe Martinez and Mick Davis are co-directing from a screenplay by David Conolly and Hannah Davis Law and Dylanne Corcoran, based on an original idea by Martinez.

“Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer and Nathalie Cox (“Clash of the Titans”) have completed principal photography at York, U.K. on mystery/suspense feature “Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop,” directed by Brad Watson (“The 7th Dimension”).

“This has been a terrific experience,” said Grammer. “Although Covid presented a new set of challenges, we were able to work very effectively through new standards of film production. I would urge my family of actors at SAG-AFTRA to take a page out of the British playbook; we can responsibly get back to work. I have nothing but high praise for everyone associated with this production, from the director Brad Watson to the costume, make-up and hair folks to the young people who are just getting started in this marvellous profession.”

The film is produced by Philippe Martinez for Msr Media, alongside Alan Latham from Highfield Grange Studios. The film’s financial partner is...

As UK independent production Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop wrapped shoot this week, the film’s co-star Kelsey Grammer offered some thoughts to stateside actors.

“Although Covid presented a new set of challenges, we were able to work very effectively through new standards of film production,” the Frasier alum said today. “I would urge my family of actors at SAG-AFTRA to take a page out of the British playbook; we can responsibly get back to work.”

Grammer stars with Brit actress Nathalie Cox (Kingdom of Heaven) in the family-adventure, which follows the escapades of history professor, detective and adventurer Elizabeth Willoughby, who investigates a series of hauntings at an antique bookshop. Grammer plays a retired U.S. Marine who raised the orphaned Willoughby and runs the family business.

The film began shooting four weeks ago in the north of England with strict Covid-19 guidelines. Also starring are Caroline Quentin...

Filming took place with Covid-19 safety measures in place.

Filming has wrapped on family adventure Miss Willoughby And The Haunted Bookshop, starring Nathalie Cox and Kelsey Grammer, which shot in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The film began shooting four weeks ago in York and observed health guidelines to ensure the safety of cast and crew during the ongoing virus crisis. A Covid-19 supervisor was on set to ensure government-sanctioned guidelines were met.

It marks one of the first independent features to shoot in the UK following a total shutdown of production in mid-March as a result of the pandemic.

Exclusive: Production quietly began last month in London on pandemic-inspired feature Alone, which marks the directorial debut of Kirsty Bell, CEO of UK financier Goldfinch. The film is one of the first independent movies to get underway in the UK after lockdown.

Starring are Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), Jeff Fahey (Lost), Julie Dray (Avenue 5), Sophie Kennedy Clark (Nymphomaniac Vol 1) , Sadie Frost (Dracula), Morgana Robinson (The Windsors), Camilla Rutherford (Yesterday), Michael Winder (Set The Thames On Fire) and Frances Barber (The Split). Above is a first production still.

Conceived by Bell in the first week of lockdown and written in short order throughout confinement, the black and white film charts six interlinked narratives after the cast and crew of a film are sent home from set.

Set to complete mid-August, the production will shoot at Twickenham Studios and other parts of London this week and then a skeleton crew will travel...

Philippe Martinez's Viktor — basically a tighter, Moscow-set, Gérard Depardieu–starring version of The Equalizer — opens with a ballet rehearsal led by choreographer Souliman (Eli Danker). This sets up an aura of refinement that runs throughout the film: Souliman is the right-hand man to protagonist Viktor (Depardieu, as of recently a Russian citizen), whose just-completed seven-year prison term was awarded for the relatively elegant charge of art-thievery. Moreover, the movie's underworld figures are less concerned with drugs than with peddling diamonds. But make no mistake: Once Viktor gets wind of his son's recent murder, his sense of culture doesn't mean he's against a surge of violence. A typical example: Before tearing chunk...

New films from Krzysztof Zanussi and Ralph Fiennes to also world premiere at Window To Europe Film Festival.

New films by Gérard Depardieu, Krzysztof Zanussi and Ralph Fiennes will have their world premieres at the 22nd edition of the Window To Europe Film Festival (Aug 8-15) in the Russian town of Vyborg situated close to the border with Finland.

French director Philippe Martinez’s tale of redemption and revenge Viktor, which stars Depardieu, Elizabeth Hurley and Eli Danker, will open a competition section dedicated to films co-produced with Russia.

Viktor, which was shot in Chechnya and Moscow last summer and is being handled internationally by UK-based sales agent Saradan Media, will be released by Paradise in Russian cinemas on September 4.

Co-production competition

Other co-productions selected include Zanussi’s Foreign Body, produced by his own company Studio Filmowe Tor with Italy’s Revolver Film and Russia’s Ineureka and Bella Vostok Ltd; Uzbek director Dilmurod Masaidov’s thriller...

Exclusive: Fledgling UK sales outfit inks multiple deals on Russian thriller.

Fledgling UK sales outfit Saradan Media has closed multiple deals on Gerard Depardieu and Elizabeth Hurley crime-thriller Viktor.

Deals have closed with Mgn/Paradise Film Group for Cis, Vertice 360 for Spain, Gruppo Minerva for Italy, Swen for Latin America, Five Stars for Israel and Eagle film for Middle East.

Deals were closed by Saradan’s Us sales rep Karinne Behr.

Writer-director Philippe Martinez’s feature, in which Depardieu plays a father whose sins are redeemed as he avenges his son’s death, was shot last year in Moscow and Chechnya with the finished film screening in Cannes for the first time last week. Producer is Arnaud Frilley.

London-based Saradan is overseen by former banker Lee Beasley, who previously worked in the Entertainment division of The Royal Bank of Scotland in London and Standard Chartered Bank in Honk Kong.

La-based Behr was previously president of Bauer Martinez Studios and president...

Jean Claude Van Damme is widely known for his brilliant kicking ability and martial arts background. As a young kid, Van Damme would train in the martial arts Shotokan karate and Kickboxing, during this time he also studied Ballet, which would be used more for his flexibility and strength in his legs.

He has a great kickboxing record on 19 fight, 18 wins, one loss, which he won at a later date in the rematch. But when it comes to his movies, he has a great influence within Asian Cinema, using many directors and choreographers in his movies. In his early movie career he starred in movies such as Bloodsport and Kickboxer, showing the arts of Ninjutsu and Muay Thai. As his career went on, in 1994 he teamed up with veteran director John Woo for the movie Hard Target. Here John Woo would show his violent side in this all out guns...

Ryan Lambie Sep 13, 2016

Quietly released in 2009, suspense thriller The Steam Experiment may be Val Kilmer's strangest film yet. Ryan takes a closer look...

In a career spanning nearly 40 years, Val Kilmer's played Jim Morrison, Doc Holliday, Simon Templar and Batman. He was Iceman in Top Gun. He was Moses in The Prince Of Egypt, Elvis in True Romance, and the voice of Kitt in the 2008 Knightrider TV movie.

Val Kilmer's well known for these roles and many, many more - but one that somehow flew under our radar until now was that of mad global warming doomsday theorist James Pettis in the 2009 film, The Steam Experiment.

See also: the recent straight-to-dvd movies of Val Kilmer

We stumbled on the film entirely by accident one idle Sunday evening. While scrolling through the movies on Lovefilm Instant, we spotted this anonymous-sounding movie title, and were immediately taken by the...

Feature Ryan Lambie 2 Jul 2013 - 06:41

Quietly released in 2009, suspense thriller The Steam Experiment may be Val Kilmer's strangest film yet. Ryan takes a closer look...

In a career spanning 36 years, Val Kilmer's played Jim Morrison, Doc Holliday, Simon Templar and Batman. He was Iceman in Top Gun. He was Moses in The Prince Of Egypt, Elvis in True Romance, and the voice of Kitt in the 2008 Knightrider TV movie.

Val Kilmer's well known for these roles and many, many more - but one that somehow flew under our radar until now was that of mad global warming doomsday theorist James Pettis in the 2009 film, The Steam Experiment.

We stumbled on the film entirely by accident one idle Sunday evening. While scrolling through the movies on Lovefilm Instant, we spotted this anonymous-sounding movie title, and were immediately taken by the following synopsis:

"Suspense thriller starring Val Kilmer...

Turkish director Erdem Tepegöz’s social drama The Particle (Zerre) has won the Golden George for Best Film at the 35th Moscow International Film Festival (Miff).

The film’s lead actress, Jale Arikan, also picked up the Best Actress Silver George for her performance as Zeynep, trying to make ends meet in the dusty and dim atmosphere of abandoned apartments evacuated for clearance.

The International Jury under the presidency of Iranian film-maker Mohsen Makhmalbaf awarded the Silver George for Best Director to South Korea’s Jung Young-Heon for Lebanon Emotion (Le-Ba-Non Kam-Jeong).

The Best Actor prize went to Russia’s Alexey Shevchenkov for his title role as Judas in Andrey Bogatyryov’s Judas (Iuda).

The Special Jury award went to The Ravine Of Goodbye (Sayonara Keikoku) by Japan’s Tatsushi Omori.

The Documentary Competition jury - which included Claas Danielsen, director of Dok Leipzig - gave its award to Poland’s Pawel Lozinski for Father And Son (Ojciec...

Actor voices support for his adopted homeland at media briefing for new film Turquoise, co-starring Britain's Elizabeth Hurley

The actor Gérard Depardieu, who moved to Chechnya earlier this year to escape rising taxes on wealthy citizens in his native France, has said his adopted homeland is not responsible for the actions of the Boston marathon bombers.

Speaking at a press conference to promote his new revenge thriller Turquoise, which is being filmed in Grozny, Depardieu said the two brothers accused of mounting the terrorist attack were raised as Americans. "I was in the United States when the terrorist act was carried out in Boston," he said. "I agree with [Chechen president] Ramzan Kadyrov, who said that the Tsarnaev brothers have a Chechen last name but their upbringing is American. You Chechens don't carry any responsibility at all."

Depardieu is starring in two films in the Russian republic of Chechnya, a state notorious for human rights violations.

Announced at the recent American Film Market, Cinepro Pictures has a pair of upcoming genre pictures coming out: One is Scar 23, a Sf-thriller “set in the cold war of tomorrow” directed by Philippe Martinez, who helmed the Val Kilmer-starring The Chaos Experiment (once titled The Steam Experiment). The other is the cabin-in-the-woods tale Silver Lake. There’s also Throbbing Justice (seriously), but we’ll pass on discussing that one...

Follow the money is a mantra for the entertainment industry, and Will French, co-founder and president of tax credit-based financing leader Film Production Capital, is a man who does just that.

French -- who landed at the American Film Market earlier this year with more than $50 million available for the financing and acquisition of tax incentives for productions filming in states around the country -- is going Down Under.

The financier is opening an outpost in Australia to capitalize on growing government tax incentives available there.

French is finalizing plans for a syndicate of U.S. and Australian banks to provide a credit facility, which Fpc will then use to lend against the territory's producer and location offset programs.

The producer program offers a refundable offset of up to 40% of the Aussie production spend for films with significant Australian content, while the location program is a refundable offset of up...