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Punch is a coming-of-age drama directed by New Zealander Welby Ings and stars Tim Roth, newcomer Jordan Oosterhaf, and former professional surfer Conan Hayes.

Jim is a young but focused professional fighter and at just seventeen years old, wants nothing more than to make his demanding father proud. With his life on track for success, Jim meets Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his time in an old shack by the beach. Despite his dedication and self confidence, after meeting Whetu, Jim must confront the truth about his own sexuality and his choices.

The Star: Tim Roth Tim Roth. Depostiphotos

Tim Roth is an English actor, director and producer who has had a long and successful career in Hollywood. He first rose to prominence with his performance as Tim ‘Fool’ Condon in the 1985 film The Hit. Since then Tim has gone on to appear in numerous leading roles in films such as Reservoir Dogs,...

Rob Savage, director of the Zoom-based horror film Host and the upcoming Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman, has signed on to direct a TV series based on the horror novel The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp (pick up a copy Here). Gaby Hull (Two Weeks to Live) is writing the adaptation.

The TV series based on The Last Days of Jack Sparks will follow a pop culture journalist and supernatural sceptic who is making a documentary about the occult. No stranger to controversy, Sparks laughs in the face of the devil by mocking an exorcism he witnesses, putting in motion a series of terrifying, tragic and mysterious events.

The Last Days of Jack Sparks is coming our way from Vertigo Films, with the company’s co-founder James Richardson serving as executive producer and head of development Nathalie Peter-Contesse overseeing the development of the show.

Savage provided the...

Vertigo Films has announced they are lining up a horror dream team for new TV series “The Last Days of Jack Sparks,” based on Jason Arnopp’s terrifying, genre-bending novel of the same name. Screenwriter Gaby Hull is adapting the book and UK horror master Rob Savage will direct.

The plot follows titular pop culture journalist, Jack Sparks, a supernatural sceptic who is making a documentary about the occult. No stranger to controversy, Sparks laughs in the face of the devil by mocking an exorcism he witnesses, putting in motion a series of terrifying, tragic and mysterious events.

“The Last Days of Jack Sparks” is a British character-based modern horror story that will take audiences on a thrilling and disorientating ride, exploring our obsession for true crime through the lens of a mysterious, hilarious and utterly off-his-head protagonist.

Vertigo Films’ co-founder James Richardson is executive producing and Head of Development Nathalie Peter-Contesse is overseeing development.

Vertigo Films is lining up a new horror TV series dubbed The Last Days of Jack Sparks, based on Jason Arnopp’s genre-bending novel of the same name. Screenwriter Gaby Hull is adapting the book and UK horror master Rob Savage is set to direct.

The project sees Savage reunite with Vertigo Films, the company that discovered him at the age of 17 and distributed his first movie Strings. Savage also directed three episodes of historical fantasy Britannia. The director saw success with Zoom-séance hit Host, found footage thriller Dashcam and is currently on post on Stephen King’s The Boogeyman for 20th Century Studios.

The Last Days of Jack Sparks follows a pop culture journalist and supernatural sceptic who is making a documentary about the occult. No stranger to controversy, Sparks laughs in the face of the devil by mocking an exorcism he witnesses,...

Fast-rising horror director Rob Savage has lined up another chilling project.

The Brit filmmaker behind Shudder’s lockdown hit Host, the found footage thriller Dashcam with Blumhouse and upcoming Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman for 20th Century Studios has been brought on board by Vertigo Films (Britannia, Bronson, Mammals, Monsters) to direct a TV adaptation of The Last Days of Jack Sparks, based on Jason Arnopp’s genre-bending novel of the same name. Screenwriter Gaby Hull (Two Weeks to Live, We Hunt Together) is adapting the book.

The series reunites Savage with Vertigo, which distributed his first movie Strings and for which he directed three episodes of historical fantasy Britannia.

The story follows titular pop culture journalist, Jack Sparks, a supernatural skeptic who is making a documentary about the occult. No stranger to controversy, Sparks laughs in the face of the devil by mocking an exorcism he witnesses, putting in motion a series of terrifying,...

"Love is impossible!" Amazon has revealed the first look teaser trailer for an intriguing new streaming series titled Mammals, created by James Richardson, and written by famous screenwriter Jez Butterworth. The synopsis is a bit vague: The story of a Michelin-starred chef whose world implodes when he discovers shocking secrets about his pregnant wife. Butterworth adds this juicy tidbit: "It's a relationship comedy that doesn't really discuss relationships at any point. It's more like a whodunit, and I think most relationships do end up as crime scenes, don't they? So I guess if you like James's work and Sally's work then you should watch it." The series features James Corden, with Sally Hawkins, Meila Kreiling, Colin Morgan, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, and Samuel Anderson. This is barely a 45-sec teaser but it certainly got my attention. There's a whale? And lots of amusing scenes of relationship chaos, as well as some kitchen chaos.

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International studio Federation (The Bureau, Around the World in 80 Days) has struck a deal to acquire a majority stake in London-based British film and television production company Vertigo Films (Britannia, Bulletproof, The Sweeney, Monsters).

Financial and other terms weren’t disclosed.

“The deal underlines both Vertigo Films’ and Federation’s ambitions to expand their offering of premium content to the global market and marks the continued expansion of the independent European studio, as it increases its investment in acclaimed production labels and creative talent,” the companies said.

“The acquisition follows an exceptionally busy year for Vertigo, which is currently in post-production on new comedy-drama series Mammals, by Jez Butterworth, starring James Corden and Sally Hawkins for Amazon, forthcoming ’80s set gangster epic A Town Called Malice by Nick Love for Sky Max, and has just wrapped principal photography on a new star-studded film for Sky Cinema,...

Federation is a France-based production and distribution company.

France-based production and distribution company Federation Entertainment has acquired a majority stake in UK-based independent production outfit Vertigo Films.

Vertigo Films will continue to operate as a separate entity, specialising in development, production, marketing and financing of film and TV projects, with Federation bringing its expertise in international co-productions, and handling international sales where appropriate.

The deal is the first UK acquisition for the Federation group, which was founded in 2013 and now has around 20 subsidiaries or associate production companies around the world. The group’s credits include French-language series’ The Bureau, Marseilles...

Federation is a France-based production and distribution company.

France-based production and distribution company Federation Entertainment has acquired a majority stake in UK-based independent production outfit Vertigo Films.

Vertigo Films will continue to operate as a separate entity, specialising in development, production, marketing and financing of film and TV projects, with Federation bringing its expertise in international co-productions, and handling international sales where appropriate.

The deal is the first UK acquisition for the Federation group, which was founded in 2013 and now has around 20 subsidiaries or associate production companies around the world. The group’s credits include French-language series’ The Bureau, Marseilles...

Federation Entertainment has hit the M&a trail once again by taking a majority stake in Britannia, Bronson and Bulletproof producer Vertigo Films, its first British acquisition.

The French Bureau and Around the World in 80 Days powerhouse has had a highly acquisitive year and the move comes almost exactly 12 months after Federation set up a UK production company helmed by two former eOne execs.

Launched 20 years ago, James Richardson and Allan Niblo’s Vertigo has been behind the likes of hit features Monster and Bronson. It moved into TV when CEO Jane Moore joined in 2014 and achieved success with Sky double Britannia and Bulletproof, although the latter was cancelled last year following the allegations made by 20 women against lead Noel Clarke, which he denies.

Vertigo is now working on Amazon Prime Video’s Jez Butterworth-penned Mammals starring James Corden and Sally Hawkins, 80s gangster epic A Town Called Malice and a yet-to-be-announced Sky Cinema film.