News

Simon Bird, the British comic best known for his role in “The Inbetweeners,” has lined up his second film as director following his 2019 feature debut “Days of the Bagnold Summer.”

“Pretend I’m Not Here,” described as a “compelling and comedic exploration of human relationships tested by extraordinary circumstances during WWII,” is set to star Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Matthew Broderick, Academy and BAFTA nominee Sally Hawkins and BAFTA and Emmy winner Martin Freeman.

Cornerstone will launch international sales and distribution at Cannes. Cornerstone and CAA Media Finance will co-rep US rights.

“Pretend I’m Not Here,” follows an ordinary couple who offer refuge to a Jewish perfume salesman during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, where, as per the synopsis, the challenge of cohabitating with a stranger “unfolds in unexpected ways.”

The film is a Parkville Pictures and Lemming Film co-production developed with BBC Film. Cecilia Frugiuele and Olivier Kaempfer,...

Andrew Cumming’s Stone Age thriller Out Of Darkness walked away with three awards at last night’s (November 17) Bafta Scotland ceremony, that took place in Glasgow.

The film was garlanded in the feature film, actor film and actress film categories, going to Kit Young and Screen Star of Tomorrow 2023 Safia Oakley-Green respectively.

Out Of Darkness follows a gang of early humans that suspect a malevolent being is hunting them down. The film shot in Northwest Highlands of Scotland and was released under the title The Origin by Signature Entertainment in February. Cumming was a Screen Star of Tomorrow in...

Sam Worthington (Under The Banner Of Heaven) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) have signed on to join Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven: The Hunter) and Theo James (The Gentlemen) in Fuze, directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water).

Shooting on the pic began this week in London. Rounding out the cast are Elham Ehsas (Homeland) and Honor Swinton-Byrne (The Souvenir).

Written by Ben Hopkins, Fuze is described as a “time-ticking thriller” about a long-buried WW II bomb found in central London, sparking a citywide evacuation.

The film is produced by Gillian Berrie (Outlaw King) and David Mackenzie for Sigma Films, Sebastien Raybaud (The End We Start From), and Callum Grant (Jackdaw) for Anton.

Giles Nuttgens is director of photography. Further creatives include hair and makeup by Christine Blundell (Topsy Turvy), costume design by Nigel Egerton (The Hollow Crown), and production design by Amanda McArthur (See How They Run). The casting director was Des Hamilton.

“Fuze is the first feature I’ve shot in London and I’m thrilled to be here. The cast and crew are the cream of British talent and I’m excited to roll the camera,” said Mackenzie.

Producer Gillian Berrie added: “I’ve never felt more excited or in better shape to start principal photography. The script is rocking and our team are on fire. What a cast!! This movie is going to blow your socks off.”

Anton is fully financing the film. UTA Independent Film Group and WME Independent will co-rep the US rights with Anton. Sky will release the film theatrically in the UK and Ireland.

Sean Bean and Miranda Richardson are set to star alongside John Malkovich in the biopic of Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache, Variety can reveal.

Also joining the cast is Ben Schnetzer (“The Book Thief”), who has replaced Rupert Friend after scheduling difficulties meant Friend had to drop out of the project. Schnetzer will play a young version of Celebidachi while Malkovich will play the conductor later in life.

They will be joined by Kate Phillips (“Downton Abbey”), Anton Lesser (“Game of Thrones”) and Charlie Rowe (“Rocketman”).

“The Yellow Tie” tells the story of controversial classical conductor Sergiu Celibidache, one of Romania’s best known classical music artists. He battled homelessness and prejudice before becoming the youngest ever conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Anton Lesser (© Asia Werbel), Kate Phillips (© Anna Michell), Ben Schnetzer

Celibidache’s son, Serge Ioan Celebidachi, will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with James Olivier.

Also joining...

Munich-based sales agency Global Screen has acquired romantic drama “Falling Into Place” for worldwide theatrical distribution. The English-language film is written and directed by Aylin Tezel, one of Germany’s leading young actors, and stars Tezel (“7500”) and Chris Fulton (“Bridgerton”).

The directorial debut is set in Scotland on the Isle of Skye and in London. It is an honest and poetic portrait of today’s 30-somethings caught between the fear of commitment and the desire for self-improvement. Like all great love stories, it is not just about the love between two individuals, but also about the dreams and anxieties of a whole generation.

Kira and Ian, two 30-somethings, meet all too briefly over a winter weekend on the Isle of Skye and form a sudden, deep, and surprising bond. Back in London, they try to move on with their separate lives – but both have to stop running from themselves...

Viaplay’s first U.K. drama commission, “Rebus,” has gone into production in Scotland. The show has also added some new cast members including “Line of Duty’s” Lucie Shorthouse, Brian Ferguson (“The Ipcress File”) and Stuart Bowman (“The Serpent”).

They will join Richard Rankin (“Outlander”) as John Rebus, the much-loved character John Rebus from Ian Rankin’s bestselling novels.

“Rebus” tells the story of a Scottish police detective who “finds himself at a psychological crossroads,” according to the logline. “At odds with a job increasingly driven by corporate technocrats, involved in a toxic affair he knows he needs to end, and all but supplanted in his daughter’s life by his ex-wife’s wealthy new husband, Rebus begins to wonder if he still has a role to play – either as a family man or a police officer. In a world of divisive politics and national discord, does the law still have meaning,...

Kjersti Paulsen was named the winner of the Semiramis Award for excellence in casting for her work on “The Innocents,” directed by Norway’s Eskil Vogt, at a ceremony Saturday at Torino Film Festival.

The psychological thriller about four kids who suddenly discover they have hidden powers celebrated its world premiere at Cannes, with Variety’s Jessica Kiang praising its “exceptional child performers.”

“The producer, director and I agreed on the importance of finding the right children and gave it the highest priority. All other characters had to wait,” said Paulsen before her win.

“My job is to create an environment where the children feel secure and can join in the role-play we bring them into. Then I need to determine the children’s capacity for empathy, their ability to listen to co-players, imagination and self-confidence.”

“The Innocents”

The award – established in 2016 by the International Casting Directors Network (Icdn) – is...

Exclusive: Mubi has recently wrapped production on Zia Anger’s feature film debut, My First Film, starring Odessa Young and Devon Ross.

The film is an adaptation of Anger’s critically acclaimed live cinema performance piece of the same name.

Related Story Park Chan-wook On How A Language Barrier Became "Central Element" Of His Film – Contenders L.A. Related Story Mubi Founder Efe Çakarel Talks Strategy Behind 'Decision To Leave' Acquisition – Toronto Industry Talk Related Story Canadian Director Patricia Rozema's Early Films Enjoy Revival As Kino Lorber, Mubi Take Rights To 4K Restorations

The movie is a deeply personal examination of cinema, body, truth and storytelling, centering on a young filmmaker (Odessa Young) as she recounts the story of struggling to make her first feature. Fact bleeds into fiction, and the past, present, and future converge to create a modern myth that redefines and expands the very act of creation.

The inaugural launch was held at The Groucho Club, London

Screen celebrated the launch of the first Rising Stars Scotland with a party at The Groucho Club, London on Tuesday, September 27.

The 2022 cohort were in full attendance alongside guests including the BFI’s Mia Bays; former Amazon Studios exec Georgia Brown; Sundance Film Festival’s John Nein; and casting director Des Hamilton.

Rising Stars Scotland is a major new talent spotlight for Scottish filmmakers and actors and is an offshoot of Screen’s UK & Ireland Stars of Tomorrow programme. It was curated by Screen’s executive editor Fionnuala Halligan in association with Screen Scotland.

“Anatomy of a Scandal” star Rupert Friend has signed on to star as famed Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache in “The Yellow Tie,” an upcoming biopic of Celibidache’s life, Variety can exclusively reveal.

Friend will have a central role in the feature, playing the young Celibidache. As Variety revealed last year, John Malkovich is also signed on to play an older version of the conductor.

The duo last appeared on screen together in 2004’s “The Libertine,” in which Johnny Depp also starred as the Duke of Rochester. Friend has also appeared in features including “Hitman: Agent 47” and “The Death of Stalin.” He will next be appearing in “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” alongside Benedict Cumberbatch.

Serge Ioan Celebidachi, the conductor’s son, will direct “The Yellow Tie” based on a screenplay he co-wrote with James Olivier.

Robert W. Cort has also boarded the biopic as an executive producer.

Millie Brady, known for the BBC/Netflix series “The Last Kingdom” and recently seen in Apple TV + offering “Surface,” will play the lead in Filip Jan Rymsza’s “Object Permanence,” Variety has learned exclusively.

The actor is cast as Brooke Brooks, a former supermodel who becomes a highly successful lifestyle mogul and the first person to ‘IPO’(Initial Public Offering) herself.

“Having commodified herself, Brooke is forced to confront her sense of self and the identity she has created,” said Rymsza, whose last film “Mosquito State” with Beau Knapp was shown at the Venice Film Festival, where it was noticed for Eric Koretz’s cinematography. He also produced acclaimed documentary “Hopper/Welles” and John Malkovich starrer “Valley of the Gods.”

“Millie is such a force: a transfixing union of vibrance, instinct and craft. I’m deeply inspired by the soulfulness of her interpretation,” Rymsza added.

Set in the near future, the...

Exclusive: Irish filmmaker Alexandra McGuinness (She’s Missing) has set the film Lucia, about James Joyce’s daughter of the same name, as her next project, with Esme Creed-Miles (Amazon’s Hanna) signing on to star.

Lucia is billed as a dance drama with genre elements, with the story beginning in 1932 Paris. Lucia Joyce (Creed-Miles) is a brilliant modern dancer but lives in the shadow of her famous father, James Joyce. Determined to be recognized as an artist and person in her own right, she sets out to create the greatest and most original dance in the world. But can she do so without losing her mind?

McGuiness and her frequent collaborator Antonia Campbell-Hughes wrote the script. Conor Barry is producing for Savage Productions, with John Lang for Super Bloom Films. Screen Island provided development financing, with the Creative Europe Programme – Media of the European Union offering additional support, and Des Hamilton handling casting.

Lucia is McGuinness’ third feature film. She previously directed She’s Missing, starring Eiza González, Josh Hartnett and Lucy Fry, which was released in 2019, and Lotus Eaters, starring Campbell-Hughes and Johnny Flynn, which premiered at Tribeca in 2011.

Miles is an English actress best known for her portrayal of the title character in Amazon’s Hanna, who will next feature in Travis Beacham’s podcast series Impact Winter and Amazon’s animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina.

Barry has two films premiering at SXSW: Campbell-Hughes’ directorial debut It Is In Us All, starring Cosmo Jarvis, and Brendan Muldowney’s horror pic The Cellar. Lang’s most recent producorial effort, Spree, directed by Eugene Kotlyarenko and starring Joe Keery, premiered at Sundance in 2020.

McGuinness is represented by Neon Kite and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Creed-Miles by Conway van Gelder Grant (UK), WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; and Campbell-Hughes by United Agents (UK) and attorneys Jodi Peikoff and Michael H. Mahan.

John Malkovich (“The New Pope”) is set to play legendary classical conductor Sergiu Celibidache in a new film titled “The Yellow Tie”, Variety can exclusively reveal.

Based on a screenplay by the conductor’s son, Serge Ioan Celebidachi and James Olivier (“Octav”), the biopic will explore Celibidache’s life as one of the world’s most controversial conductors, alternatively considered a genius and a madman by the conventional classical music world. Celebidachi (“Octav”) will also direct.

Romanian-born Celibidache was thrown out of the family home as a teenager after revealing he planned to pursue a career in classical music. After periods of homelessness, he eventually won a competition to become the youngest ever conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and went on to become one of the most celebrated conductors of the twentieth century. He was famous for refusing to release recordings of his music, which he claimed would not...

TV nominations include ‘Normal People’ and ‘Ted Lasso’.

Rose Glass’s psychological horror Saint Maud and Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield are among the nominations for the UK Casting Directors’ Guild awards.

The third edition of the CDG Casting Awards will take place online on February 21 and encompass film, TV, theatre and commercials.

In the independent film category, Kharmel Cochrane has been nominated for her casting of Saint Maud, which stars Morfydd Clark, who was named a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2016.

Further nominees include Isabella Odoffin for Blue Story, Shaheen Baig for Calm with Horses,...

Talent invited to join membership includes British producers, directors and writers as well as a casting director and cinematographer.

The filmmakers behind Oscar-winner 1917 are among a raft of UK talent invited to join the Us’ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Producer Pippa Harris, writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns and star George MacKay are among 819 artists and executives who have been invited to join the Academy as part of its 2020 intake. Further invitees who worked on the World War One drama include set decorator Lee Sandales, sound editor Rachael Tate and VFX supervisor Richard Little.

UK executives and behind-the-scenes talent...

Talent invited to join membership includes British producers, directors and writers as well as a casting director and cinematographer.

The filmmakers behind Oscar-winner 1917 are among a raft of UK talent invited to join the membership of AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences).

Producer Pippa Harris, writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns and star George MacKay are among 819 artists and executives who have been invited to join the Academy as part of its 2020 intake. Further invitees who worked on the World War One drama include set decorator Lee Sandales, sound editor Rachael Tate and VFX supervisor Richard Little.

UK executives and behind-the-scenes...

This year, the motion picture academy achieved its five-year goal of doubling the number of women among its membership. In all, 819 film professionals were invited to become part of the organization that hands out the Oscars. Compare this intake to the totals of the previous five years: 842 in 2019; a record 928 in 2018; 774 in 2017; 683 in 2016; 322 in 2015; and 271 in 2014.

While Academy Awards nominees are automatically eligible for consideration, the rest of the candidates must go through a fairly cumbersome process. A candidate must meet certain branch specific requirements before even being eligible.

For example, actors must “have a minimum of three theatrical feature film credits, in all of which the roles played were scripted roles, one of which was released in the past five years, and all of which are of a caliber that reflect the high standards of the Academy.” For writers, directors and producers they need have just two of these credits.

The casting branch of the academy is only six years old and doesn’t have an Oscar category of its own. However, the Casting Society of America has been handing out the Artios Awards for 34 years (“Artios” is from the ancient Greek meaning “perfectly fitted.”). This year’s awards took place on Thursday (Jan. 30) on both coasts. At the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, winners included three of the Oscar nominees for Best Picture: “Jojo Rabbit,” “Marriage Story”” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” (see full list of winners below).

In addition to the eight film categories listed below, the Atrios Awards honored Geena Davis with the Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement while Audra McDonald received the Marion Dougherty New York Apple Award, casting director Deborah Aquila was feted with the Hoyt Bowers Award and Andy Pryor was lauded with the Excellence in Casting Award.

Last year’s...

Do you love to hate the familial chemistry in “Knives Out” or the equally toxic marital misery in “Marriage Story?” Are you awed by the pack of relative unknowns breaking your heart from week to week on “Pose?” Then make sure to thank your friendly, neighborhood casting director, responsible for staffing up all your favorite stories.

Indeed, it was time for the casting directors to shine on Thursday night, with not one, not two, but three ceremonies celebrating the best of the business for their work in casting projects including animation, film, television, and the stage. With a Los Angeles ceremony hosted by Ron Funches, a New York event hosted by Michelle Buteau, and a London soiree overseen by Jason Isaacs, the Casting Society of America went all out for the 35th Annual Artios Awards.

While Rian Johnson’s aforementioned “Knives Out” took home the prize for big budget comedy,...

The casting directors of “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” “Knives Out,” “Jojo Rabbit” and “Marriage Story” were among the winners at the 35th annual Artios Awards, held Thursday at ceremonies in Los Angeles, New York and London.

Other winners in the eight feature-film categories were the casting directors on “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” “Skin in the Game,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “The Lion King” and “Toy Story 4,” the last two of which tied in the animation category.

Television winners included the casting directors for the first seasons of “Russian Doll” and “Pose,” as well as those on the miniseries “When They See Us,” the reality program “Queer Eye” and the continuing series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Game of Thrones.”

Also Read: SAG Awards Crown 'Parasite,' Give the Oscar Race a Shot of Uncertainty

Awards were also given out in short film and theater categories.

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Game of Thrones” have taken home two of the major Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America.

The trophies, which honor excellence in casting, were unveiled at the 35th Annual Artios Awards held on Thursday in ceremonies in New York, Los Angeles and London. The New York ceremony was hosted by Michelle Buteau at Stage 48; Ron Funches emceed in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton, and Jason Isaacs hosted in London at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square.

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” won the big-budget feature drama award while “Knives Out” took the big-budget feature comedy trophy. “Marriage Story” received the studio or independent drama prize and “Jojo Rabbit” nabbed the comedy counterpart. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” won the low-budget award.

“Toy Story 4” and “The Lion King” tied in animation. “Skin in the Game...

Sony’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Netflix’s Marriage Story, Searchlight’s Jojo Rabbit and Lionsgate’s Knives Out were among the film winners as the Casting Society of America handed out its 35th annual Artios Awards for film, TV and at separate ceremonies across two continents.

Check out the full list of winners below.

The Artios Awards splits most of its film categories by budget. The casting team behind Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood took the Artios trophy for Big Budget Drama, while the casting crew for Rian Johnson’s Knives Out won for Big Budget Comedy.

Other winners on the film side included awards-season regulars Jojo Rabbit (Studio or Independent Comedy) and Marriage Story (Studio or Independent Drama). There was a tie in the Animation category, with Disney’s The Lion King and Toy Story 4 sharing the prize.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, The Irishman, Dolemite Is My Name and Late Night are among the film nominees for the 35th Artios Awards, the Casting Society of America announced Thursday.

“The art of casting for film continued to shine this year, as represented in this noteworthy list of projects. Joining our television and theatre nominees, these talented Casting Directors exemplify the range of skills and expertise throughout our craft,” said Russell Boast, President, Csa. “The 35th Artios Awards will put a spotlight on the year’s outstanding contributions from our members as we collectively build on this year’s achievements for an even stronger future.”

The Artios Awards honor the contribution of Casting Directors to film, television and theatre. The winners will be revealed on Thursday, January 30, 2020 in ceremonies in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Ron Funches will serve as host in Los Angeles, with Michelle Buteau...

The casting branch of the academy is only six years old and doesn’t have an Oscar category of its own. However, the Casting Society of America has been handing out the Artios Awards for 34 years (“Artios” is from the ancient Greek meaning “perfectly fitted.”). Nominees for feature films were announced on Thursday and many of the leading Oscar contenders reaped bids. Winners will be revealed at joint ceremonies in New York, Los Angeles and London on Thursday, Jan. 30.

In addition to the eight film categories listed below, the Atrios Awards will honor Geena Davis with the Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement while Audra McDonald will receive the Marion Dougherty New York Apple Award, casting director Deborah Aquila will be feted with the Hoyt Bowers Award and Andy Pryor will be honored with the Excellence in Casting Award.

Last year’s big budget winners were the comedy “Green Book...

The Casting Society of America (Csa) on Thursday announced the film nominees for the 35th Artios Awards, which honor the contributions of casting directors to film, TV, and the stage, and will be held at ceremonies in La, New York, and London on January 30. The full list of film nominees for the 35th Artios Awards are below.

The Casting Society previously announced that Oscar winner and advocate Geena Davis — who received a Governors Award from the Academy earlier this year — will receive the Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement. Singer and actress Audra McDonald, will receive the Marion Dougherty New York Apple Award.

Among the casting directors being recognized are Deborah Aquila, a three-time Artios Award winner for her work on “La La Land” and “My Week with Marilyn,” will receive the Hoyt Bowers Award, and Andy Pryor, an Emmy nominee and British casting director responsible for “Stan & Ollie,...

“1917” and “Little Women” were nominated alongside blockbusters like “Avengers: Endgame” and “Toy Story 4” for the Casting Society of America’s Artios Awards, which released its list of film nominees on Monday.

The winners will be revealed on Jan. 30 in ceremonies in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Ron Funches will serve as host for the Los Angeles event, with Michelle Buteau hosting of the New York ceremony.

Also Read: 5 Awards Shows on One Night! Inside the Most Crammed Awards Season Ever

“The art of casting for film continued to shine this year, as represented in this noteworthy list of projects. Joining our television and theatre nominees, these talented Casting Directors exemplify the range of skills and expertise throughout our craft,” said Csa president Russell Boast said in a statement.

“The 35th Artios Awards will put a spotlight on the year’s outstanding contributions from our members as...

Stay in the loop and be sure to check back for information on projects currently filming in the place you call home. “The Crown”If you find yourself in Liverpool, it might look a bit different than usual. Netflix’s Emmy-winning drama, “The Crown,” is currently filming there, and the streets have been transformed to look like 1960s Washington, D.C.! Be sure to check out the filming of the show’s third season with a whole new cast that includes Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter. Casting director Nina Gold can take all the credit. “Normal People”Liam Neeson proves again that his talent is not limited to action roles as he films “Normal People,” a romantic drama, in Whiteabbey, Belfast in Northern Ireland. The upcoming film, also starring Lesley Manville of Academy Award–winning “Phantom Thread” fame, was cast by Des Hamilton. Check out Backstage’s London audition listings!

Greenlit means a project is officially a go, so all you have to do is follow these leads to stay up to date. You never know where you’ll find an opportunity to land an audition! “Top Boy”The channel 4 London crime drama moves to Netflix for a third series and adds rapper Drake, DJ Adel Nur, and businessman Maverick Carter to the already impressive roster of creatives. Series writer Ronan Bennett (“Gunpowder”) returns and casting is by Des Hamilton Casting. Ten episodes will shoot on location in London starting on July 9. “Six Minutes to Midnight”Eddie Izzard’s self-penned feature is set during the run-up to the Second World War and sees the actor play a teacher framed and hunted down as a spy. Filming locations include South Wales and the shoot begins in June. Casting director Colin Jones is attached. “The Spanish Princess”Period drama “The Spanish Princess,...

Hello and welcome to one of our shoutouts for projects casting around the U.K. As always there’s a mix of opportunities for all ages, abilities, and locations but do remember to check if you fit the bill before applying. Although we make every attempt to verify castings before we hit publish, please ensure that you do your own research before firing off those headshots and Backstage links. Major Feature Film Des Hamilton, the casting director behind “This is England”, “Gunpowder,” and a regular collaborator with directors such as Lars von Trier, Andrea Arnold, and Nicolas Winding Refn who has found numerous successful actors off the street including Thomas Turgoose and Kathleen McDermott is now casting a major feature film. There’s no experience necessary for this gig. In fact, Hamilton specialises in working with directors who want a mix of professional and untrained actors. He’s searching for a leading male,...

If one of your new year’s resolutions is to make it into a feature film in 2018, check it off right away with a lead role. Casting is underway for London-based talent for a lead role in a major feature film, cast by Des Hamilton, the casting director of “This Is England,” “Top Boy,” and more. An articulate, confident, and unique-looking young male actor, aged 10–14, is wanted for a lead role in the film. No acting experience is necessary. The production will rehearse and shoot in 2018. The role will be fully-compensated, with specific rates are Tbd. Ready to apply? Head directly to the casting notice and do so at Backstage here! Check out Backstage’s kids auditions!

Exclusive: Former Des Hamilton exec launches film and TV outfit Lara Manwaring Casting.

UK casting director Lara Manwaring, who has worked on projects including Nymphomaniac, Adult Life Skills and War Machine, has launched new film and TV casting outfit Lara Manwaring Casting.

The first film of the gate for the company will be Nicolas Cage action-thriller Mandy, currently in pre-production and set to shoot this summer in Belgium.

The film is produced by Elijah Wood’s SpectreVision, Xyz Films’ Nate Bolotin and Umedia’s Adrian Politowski with finance from Umedia and Piccadilly Pictures.

Manwaring has been at Des Hamilton Casting since 2009, working on projects including Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives, Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac, Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur, Channel 4’s Top Boy and Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights.

She served as casting associate on Netflix’s upcoming Brad Pitt satire War Machine and the recent BBC 1 three-part drama Gunpowder.

As casting...

Exclusive: Blonde To Black Pictures to produce UK drama about mental illness and young carers.

Samantha Morton and Billie Piper are attached to star in drama Two For Joy from Sadie Frost’s UK production outfit Blonde To Black Pictures.

The feature, which will chart the challenging relationship between a teenage daughter, her bed-ridden mother (Morton) and her wayward younger brother, will touch on themes of mental illness, young carers and child abuse.

Sadie Frost, Emma Comley and Andrew Green will produce for Blonde To Black Pictures, whose 2015 feature Set The Thames On Fire starred Noel Fielding and Sally Phillips. Also producing are Mat Wakeham and Michael Wiggs.

The film, currently in development, will mark the debut of photographer turned writer-director Tom Beard, who has previously directed music videos for Fka Twigs, Jamie T and Klaxons.

Des Hamilton is casting the drama, which was developed with Creative England and will be funded through an Eis scheme arranged...

Exclusive: Oscar-winner joins sci-fi alongside Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth.

Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette (Boyhood) has joined Robert Pattinson (Twilight) and Mia Goth (The Survivalist) in the cast of Claire Denis’ anticipated untitled sci-fi, written by UK novelist Zadie Smith (White Teeth) and Smith’s writer husband Nick Laird.

Denis’ English-language debut, due to shoot next year, is understood to follow a group of skilled criminals who, in a bid to escape their long sentences or capital punishment, accept a likely-fatal government space mission to find alternative energy sources.

The project, which ScreenDaily first reported in June, marks an intriguing change of direction for the White Material and Beau Travail writer-director.

The story is based on an original idea by Denis and her regular writing partner Jean-Pol Fargeau, and is due to go into production early next year.

Producers are Oliver Dungey (Miss Julie), Laurence Clerc and Olivier Thery Lapiney from Paris-based Alcatraz Films, and [link=nm...

Robert Pattinson is attached to play the lead role in Claire Denis’ upcoming English-language sci-fi film, written with British writer Zadie Smith.

Pattinson is set to play the astronaut lead role in the as-yet-untitled film, which Screen first reported on in June.

Plot details are being kept under wraps but it is known to take place beyond the solar system in a ‘future that seems like the present’.

Denis is writing the script with acclaimed novelist Smith (White Teeth) and Smith’s writer husband Nick Laird.

The project, which marks an intriguing change of direction for the White Material and Beau Travail writer-director, is based on an original idea by Denis and her regular writing partner Jean-Pol Fargeau, and is due to go into production early next year.

Producers are Oliver Dungey (Miss Julie), Laurence Clerc and Olivier Thery Lapiney from Paris-based Alcatraz Films, and Claudia Steffen and Christoph Friedel of Pandora Filmproduktion in Cologne.

Paris-based producers...

Exclusive: French director’s first English-language film is set in space; artist Olafur Eliasson among collaborators.

French director Claire Denis is teaming with British writer Zadie Smith on her first English-language film, which is set in space.

Plot details are being kept under wraps on the as-yet untitled adventure-sci-fi but it is known to take place beyond the solar system in a ‘future that seems like the present’.

Denis is writing the script with acclaimed novelist Smith (White Teeth) and Smith’s writer husband Nick Laird.

The project, which marks an intriguing change of direction for the White Material and Beau Travail writer-director, is based on an original idea by Denis and her regular writing partner Jean-Pol Fargeau.

Producers are Oliver Dungey (Miss Julie), Laurence Clerc and Olivier Thery Lapiney from Paris-based Alcatraz Films, and Claudia Steffen and Christoph Friedel of Pandora Filmproduktion in Cologne.

Alcatraz and Pandora produced Denis’ most recent feature Bastards, which debuted...

Jeff Pope and Stephen Beresford among speakers.

The Sargent-Disc BAFTA Filmmakers’ Forum - an annual networking and skills development event for first-time feature filmmakers - is to take place on July 11 at BAFTA’s London headquarters.

The day-long event will feature masterclasses, panel discussions and one-to-one speed sessions offering first-time feature filmmakers advice to help them navigate and progress in the industry.

Highlights of the day include:

a panel on writing and developing real life stories with BAFTA-winning screenwriters Jeff Pope (Philomena) and Stephen Beresford (Pride), BAFTA-winning documentary-maker Morgan Matthews (X+Y) and BAFTA-nominated director Elaine Constantine (Northern Soul);

a session on the rewriting process with the team behind Testament of Youth, Rosie Allison (head of development, Heyday Films) and writer Juliet Tawhidi;

a session on casting presented by Rada with casting director Des Hamilton (Nymphomaniac, This Is England);

and a series of panels and roundtables looking at the craft and business of film.

BAFTA has run...

Hot projects new to Screenbase include Nicolas Winding Refn feature The Neon Demon, Pope Francis biopic Francisco, Brady Corbet’s directorial debut The Childhood Of A Leader and a new adaptation by Wim Wenders.Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon

Elle Fanning, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Abbey Lee, Bella Heathcote and Jena Malone have signed on to co-star in Nicolas Winding Refn’s next feature.

“After making Drive and falling madly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return to tell the story of The Neon Demon,” Winding Refn said.

Principal photography will begin in Los Angeles on March 30. Gaumont and Wild Bunch are co-selling the title.

Wim Wenders’ Les Beaux Jours D’Aranjuez

This adaptation of the play by Peter Handke was announced by Alfama’s Paulo Branco during the Efm. It will star Reda Kateb and Sophie Semin. Wenders is expected to shoot in June.

Brady Corbet’s [link...

Exclusive: Dominic West, Stacy Martin among cast of UK drama.

Dominic West (Pride), David Tennant (What We Did On Our Holiday) and Stacy Martin (Nymphomaniac) are to star in Glasgow-set drama-thriller I Feel Fine, which writer-director Lynne Ramsay and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy producer Robyn Slovo are executive-producing.

I Feel Fine marks the directorial debut of established casting agent Des Hamilton, who has cast films including Nymphomaniac, Only God Forgives and This is England.

The script comes from Hamilton and Amber Trentham. Producers are casting agent Lara Manwaring for Buffalo Films and Suzanne Reid (What We Did On Our Holiday) for Capricorn Films.

Set in the unforgiving streets of 1980s Glasgow the film will chart the story of teenager Jonny White who becomes embroiled in crime and drug addiction.

When a bounty is placed on his head for a crime he didn’t commit, White must get to the safe haven of rehab in order to stay...

Highlights include a British producers’ masterclass with speakers including Damian Jones (Belle) and Kate Ogborn (The Deep Blue Sea).

The Sargent-Disc BAFTA Filmmakers’ Market – an annual networking and skills development event for first-time feature filmmakers – is to run its sixth edition at BAFTA’s London headquarters on July 5.

The event will comprise of a day of masterclasses, screenings, and speed surgeries to help improve creative and business skills, as well as offering advice to help to navigate and progress in the industry.

Highlights of the day include:

a British producers’ masterclass with speakers including Damian Jones (Belle, The Iron Lady) and Kate Ogborn (The Spirit of ‘45, The Deep Blue Sea);

a session on ‘how to find your cast’, presented by Rada, with casting director Des Hamilton (Nymphomaniac, This Is England);

a series of ‘meet the pro’ roundtable sessions, presented by Creative Skillset, with top craft talent, including costume designer Jane Petrie (Top Boy, How I Live Now) and former...

Owen Humphreys/Pa Archive/Press Association Images

In this day and age football clubs are still capable of making horrifying mistakes in the field of recruitment. Newcastle, more than most, have suffered for their negligence and have burned some serious money on a bizarre assortment of flops in the Premier League era.

Regrettably, we’ve had our fair share of shockers pull on a Toon shirt down the years from the ‘world’s best non-capped Brazilian’, some decrepit veterans on their last legs and a few wannabe players our plethora of managers, although primarily Kenny Dalglish, wasted a few million quid on without much reward.

It stirs some unpleasant memories especially when you factor in that we incredulously turned down a young Zinedine Zidane, available for just over £1 million, two years before raiding the Bradford City to acquire Des Hamilton for double the cost of Zizou. He eventually ended up...

Lars von Trier's explicit four-hour epic Nymphomaniac finally has its UK premiere this weekend, after a marketing campaign that has rightly spotlighted newcomer Stacy Martin's performance.

Martin plays the teenage and 20-something incarnation of Joe, the self-diagnosed nymphomaniac who is later played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, and whose life story is recounted throughout the film's two volumes.

Digital Spy sat down with Martin to discuss shooting the much-discussed sex scenes, her co-star Shia Labeouf and the film's provocative ending.

This is your first film. Would it be fair to describe it as a baptism of fire?

"Nah, it's what everyone does! [Laughs] Yes, definitely. I met the casting director Des Hamilton, and said 'I'm training, I'm in acting school and I really want to be an actress. Whether or not that's possible is another question.' He said that he was casting for the next Lars Von Trier movie, 'It's called Nymphomaniac,...

Television and film stars including Lenny Henry and Kwame Kwei-Armah have called for broadcasters to implement quotas to increase racial diversity on UK screens.

The pair, speaking on the Flight of the Black Actor panel at Broadcast and Screen International’s Diversify conference yesterday, called for the broadcasters to implement legislation similar to The Rooney Rule, a racial quota system implemented in American NFL football that forces clubs to interview black and ethnic minority coaches.

“In high-end drama, there’s no faces that look like me. We need to lobby the government. Maybe quotas isn’t the right language, maybe we should call them shared targets,” said Henry, best known in the UK for his work with Comic Relief.

Casualty star Kwei-Armah added that black and ethnic minority actors needed to “punch through the glass ceiling” and lobby the government to improve processes.

“The Us set quotas. They did that thing that we’re so scared to do here...

Television and film stars including Lenny Henry and Kwame Kwei-Armah have called for broadcasters to implement quotas to increase racial diversity on UK screens.

The pair, speaking on the Flight of the Black Actor panel at Broadcast and Screen International’s Diversify conference yesterday, called for the broadcasters to implement legislation similar to The Rooney Rule, a racial quota system implemented in American NFL football that forces clubs to interview black and ethnic minority coaches.

“In high-end drama, there’s no faces that look like me. We need to lobby the government. Maybe quotas isn’t the right language, maybe we should call them shared targets,” said Henry, best known in the UK for his work with Comic Relief.

Casualty star Kwei-Armah added that black and ethnic minority actors needed to “punch through the glass ceiling” and lobby the government to improve processes.

“The Us set quotas. They did that thing that we’re so scared to do here...

Expendabelles is an all-female spin-off of Millinium Entertainment's popular The Expendables franchise, and reportedly already has Meryl Streep, Cameron Diaz and Milla Jovovich cast in lead roles. Others rumored for this action adventure include Linda Hamilton, Sigourney Weaver and Kristen Stewart. Fans have recently rallied around Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans director Lexi Alexander as the only woman capable of directing the movie.

Lexi Alexander heard the news, and decided to make herself available for the project. Even franchise creator Sylvester Stallone was championing her for the job. Well, according to her, he was talked out of that decision, and others involved with the project denied her request for a meeting.

The director has taken to her personal blog for an account of what actually happened (sorta). Here, she tells how and why she was denied a meeting with producers to potentially direct this upcoming spin-off, which seems tailor-made to her sensibilities.

UK event for budding filmmakers includes a directors masterclass and a session on crowdfunding.

BAFTA has teamed with entertainment accountants Sargent-Disc to launch a career development initiative for budding filmmakers.

The Sargent-Disc BAFTA Filmmakers’ Market will take place on July 13 at BAFTA’s headquarters on London’s Piccadilly, and will feature a day of masterclasses, screenings and advice sessions to help improve creative and business skills ahead of making a first feature, and progressing in the industry.

The Filmmakers’ Market has been run by BAFTA for the last four years in partnership with Rushes Soho Shorts Festival.

This year’s market is supported by 19 of the UK’s major film organisations such as the BFI, Film4 and the London Film Schoo and Nfts.

Highlights of the day include: advice on budgeting from The Production Guild; a directing masterclass with Directors UK; a crowdfunding ‘how to’ with Shooting People; a seminar on film tax credit and Eis funding...

UK event for budding filmmakers includes a directors masterclass and a session on crowdfunding.

BAFTA has teamed with entertainment accountants Sargent-Disc to launch a career development initiative for budding filmmakers.

The Sargent-Disc BAFTA Filmmakers’ Market will take place on July 13 at BAFTA’s headquarters on London’s Piccadilly, and will feature a day of masterclasses, screenings and advice sessions to help improve creative and business skills ahead of making a first feature, and progressing in the industry.

The Filmmakers’ Market has been run by BAFTA for the last four years in partnership with Rushes Soho Shorts Festival.

This year’s market is supported by 19 of the UK’s major film organisations such as the BFI, Film4 and the London Film Schoo and Nfts.

Highlights of the day include: advice on budgeting from The Production Guild; a directing masterclass with Directors UK; a crowdfunding ‘how to’ with Shooting People and Kickstarter; a seminar on film tax credit and Eis...

Film-makers are increasingly putting people off the street into lead roles because they deliver what professional actors sometimes can't: authenticity

For years, fashion scouts have scoured shops and pavements for the next big thing in modelling. Now the practice known as "street casting" is taking hold in cinema, as film-makers hope that actors not schooled in the overtrained mannerisms of the drama school will supply their work with authenticity and realism. Increasingly, unknowns are being discovered sitting in cafes, loitering on housing estates and at The X Factor-style open auditions.

To find actors for Attack the Block, the feature debut of comedian Joe Cornish, casting director Nina Gold headed to housing estates and schools to find teenagers who naturally resembled the characters in the film. "The guy who played more or less the lead boy had it all going on under the surface; he was quite silent and not easily drawn,...

Open Call Casting For TV Drama

We are currently casting for a four-part drama for Channel 4 and we are holding an open call this Saturday 29th January between 12pm – 5pm at The Centerprise Trust, 136/8 Kingsland High St, Dalston, London E8 2Ns.

We are looking for a 14 yr old black/mixed race London boy to play the lead role.

We cannot stress enough that;

No Previous Acting Experience Is Necessary

(just a willingness to come along and try out, nothing ventured nothing gained.) At this stage it will just be a short informal chat on camera, and we can tell you more about the process.

For those who go on to be in the series this will be fully paid work.

If you cannot make it to the open call please send a photo of yourself and your date of birth to lara@deshamilton.com and we will be in touch.

Open Call Casting For TV Drama

We are currently casting for a 4-part drama for Channel 4.

We are holding an open call on Saturday 15th January between 12pm – 5pm at The Brix at St Matthews, St Matthews Church, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1Jf

At present, we are looking for the following:

Boy – 14-16 yrs old, Black, working class Londoner.

Boy – 14-16 yrs old, of Turkish descent, working class Londoner.

We cannot stress enough that;

No Previous Acting Experience Is Necessary

(just a willingness to come along and try out, nothing ventured nothing gained.) At this stage it will just be a short informal chat on camera, and we can tell you more about the process.

For those who go on to be in the series this will be fully paid work.

Des Hamilton Casting are known in the film industry for launching the careers of kids and adults who have never acted before,...

Open Call Casting For TV Series

We are currently casting for a TV series to be produced by Roughcut TV (The It Crowd) to be directed by Amanda Boyle (Skins).

We are holding an open call this Sunday 12th December 2010 between 12 - 5pm at St Matthews Centre, St Matthews Close, Walsall, WS1 3Dg

At present, we are looking for :

14 - 16 yr old, working class girl from the midlands area

14 - 16 yr old, working class boy from the midlands area

We cannot stress enough that;

No Previous Acting Experience Is Necessary

(just a willingness to come along and try out, nothing ventured nothing gained.) At this stage it will just be a short informal chat on camera, and we can tell you more about the process.

For those who go on to be in the series this will be fully paid work.

Des Hamilton Casting are known in the film...