It’s 2024, and America is madly in love with Milli Vanilli. How did this happen? The Eighties Euro-glitz pop duo are enjoying the year’s weirdest revival, thanks to Ryan Murphy. His Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story tells the true-crime story of the rich Beverly Hills brothers who gunned down their parents in the summer of 1989. They bond over the music of Milli Vanilli, who ruled the radio that summer. Since Monsters, the duo’s streaming numbers are booming. “Blame It on the Rain” and “Girl I’m...
- 10/12/2024
- by Rob Sheffield
- Rollingstone.com
41 Kinostarts deutscher Filme im Ausland werden nach der jüngsten Sitzung des Vergabegremiums „Distribution Support“ von German Films mit etwas mehr als 300.000 Euro unterstützt.
German Films bezuschusst aktuell den Auslangssstart von „Girl You Know It’s True“ in Slowenien, Serbien, Kroatien sowie Bosnien und Herzegowina (Credit: Gordon Timpen/Leonine Studios / Wiedemann & Berg Film)
302.900 Euro für 41 Kinostarts deutscher Filme im Ausland – so lautet die Bilanz der dritten Sitzung des Vergabegremiums „Distribution Support“ bei German Films in diesem Jahr.
In den meisten Territorien – vier an der Zahl – unterstützt wird Simon Verhoevens Milli-Vanilli-Biopic „Girl You Know It’s True“. Der größte Einzelzuschuss ging mit 25.000 Euro an den Italienstart von „Die Herrlichkeit des Lebens“ von Georg Maas und Judith Kaufmann.
Die aktuell beschlossenen Förderungen im Überblick:
• „Adios Buenos Aires“ in Israel
• „Alter weißer Mann“ in der Schweiz und Lichtenstein
• „Das Geheimnis von La Mancha“ in Bulgarien
• „Das Lehrerzimmer in Israel
• „Der Buchspazierer“ in der Schweiz
• „Der Vierer...
German Films bezuschusst aktuell den Auslangssstart von „Girl You Know It’s True“ in Slowenien, Serbien, Kroatien sowie Bosnien und Herzegowina (Credit: Gordon Timpen/Leonine Studios / Wiedemann & Berg Film)
302.900 Euro für 41 Kinostarts deutscher Filme im Ausland – so lautet die Bilanz der dritten Sitzung des Vergabegremiums „Distribution Support“ bei German Films in diesem Jahr.
In den meisten Territorien – vier an der Zahl – unterstützt wird Simon Verhoevens Milli-Vanilli-Biopic „Girl You Know It’s True“. Der größte Einzelzuschuss ging mit 25.000 Euro an den Italienstart von „Die Herrlichkeit des Lebens“ von Georg Maas und Judith Kaufmann.
Die aktuell beschlossenen Förderungen im Überblick:
• „Adios Buenos Aires“ in Israel
• „Alter weißer Mann“ in der Schweiz und Lichtenstein
• „Das Geheimnis von La Mancha“ in Bulgarien
• „Das Lehrerzimmer in Israel
• „Der Buchspazierer“ in der Schweiz
• „Der Vierer...
- 10/11/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” debuted Friday and is quickly becoming Netflix and Ryan Murphy’s latest hit.
The limited series marks the new installment of Murphy’s “Monster” franchise with the streamer, following the massive success of “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” starring Evan Peters. Ian Brennan partnered with the mega-producer once more to bring the Menendez brothers’ story to screen, from their traumatic upbringing to the notorious night they murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.
The limited series seeks to discover who the real monsters in the high-profile murder trial were. The Menendez brothers captivated America, as their televised Court TV trial is one of the first of its kind. The two boys killed their parents on Aug. 20, 1989, at only 18 and 21 years old. Their counsel called it self defense, but both were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without...
The limited series marks the new installment of Murphy’s “Monster” franchise with the streamer, following the massive success of “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” starring Evan Peters. Ian Brennan partnered with the mega-producer once more to bring the Menendez brothers’ story to screen, from their traumatic upbringing to the notorious night they murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez.
The limited series seeks to discover who the real monsters in the high-profile murder trial were. The Menendez brothers captivated America, as their televised Court TV trial is one of the first of its kind. The two boys killed their parents on Aug. 20, 1989, at only 18 and 21 years old. Their counsel called it self defense, but both were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without...
- 9/20/2024
- by Benjamin Lindsay
- The Wrap
Nach „Willkommen bei den Hartmanns“ ist Simon Verhoeven zurück mit einer weiteren zeitgeistigen Komödie, „Alter weißer Mann“ mit Jan Josef Liefers in der Hauptrolle. Jetzt hat Leonine Studios den ersten Trailer veröffentlicht; der Film kommt am 31. Oktober in die deutschen Kinos.
Nadja Uhl spielt die Ehefrau von Heinz (Credit: Leonine Studios)
Auf den Filmtagen Köln war „Alter weißer Mann“ einer der Titel, über die gesprochen wurde. Die neue Komödie von Simon Verhoeven, der mit „Willkommen bei den Hartmanns“ und „Nightlife“ bereits zweimal den erfolgreichsten deutschen Film des jeweiligen Kinojahres abgeliefert hat, folgt nicht einmal ein Jahr nach Verhoevens letzter Regiearbeit, „Girl You Know It’s True“, und ist ein ebenso beschwingter wie hintergründiger Spaß über die Auswüchse politischer Korrektheit. An der Seite von Jan Josef Liefers spielen in der Produktion von Quirin Berg und Max Wiedemann sowie Kirstin Winkler zudem Nadja Uhl, Friedrich von Thun, Michael Maertens, Meltem Kaptan, Elyas M’Barek,...
Nadja Uhl spielt die Ehefrau von Heinz (Credit: Leonine Studios)
Auf den Filmtagen Köln war „Alter weißer Mann“ einer der Titel, über die gesprochen wurde. Die neue Komödie von Simon Verhoeven, der mit „Willkommen bei den Hartmanns“ und „Nightlife“ bereits zweimal den erfolgreichsten deutschen Film des jeweiligen Kinojahres abgeliefert hat, folgt nicht einmal ein Jahr nach Verhoevens letzter Regiearbeit, „Girl You Know It’s True“, und ist ein ebenso beschwingter wie hintergründiger Spaß über die Auswüchse politischer Korrektheit. An der Seite von Jan Josef Liefers spielen in der Produktion von Quirin Berg und Max Wiedemann sowie Kirstin Winkler zudem Nadja Uhl, Friedrich von Thun, Michael Maertens, Meltem Kaptan, Elyas M’Barek,...
- 9/13/2024
- by Thomas Schultze
- Spot - Media & Film
The film Girl, You Know It’s True shares the wild true story of pop sensation Milli Vanilli. Directed by Simon Verhoeven, it recounts how Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan unexpectedly shot to fame in the late 80s through a musical deception that ultimately crashed down around them. At its core, the story remains as shocking now as it was back then.
Rob and Fab were talented dancers with musical aspirations but lacking vocal skills. When ambitious producer Frank Farian ‘discovers’ them, he envisions using their dynamic stage presence to market pre-recorded tracks by session singers. Assured this ruse offers the fast track to stardom they crave, the young men agree to lip-sync Farian’s songs as the new act, Milli Vanilli.
The plan succeeds beyond anyone’s expectations. Milli Vanilli’s catchy hits and high-energy live shows make them an overnight global phenomenon. But as fame and fortune wildly exceed all involved ever dreamed,...
Rob and Fab were talented dancers with musical aspirations but lacking vocal skills. When ambitious producer Frank Farian ‘discovers’ them, he envisions using their dynamic stage presence to market pre-recorded tracks by session singers. Assured this ruse offers the fast track to stardom they crave, the young men agree to lip-sync Farian’s songs as the new act, Milli Vanilli.
The plan succeeds beyond anyone’s expectations. Milli Vanilli’s catchy hits and high-energy live shows make them an overnight global phenomenon. But as fame and fortune wildly exceed all involved ever dreamed,...
- 8/10/2024
- by Mahan Zahiri
- Gazettely
The jokes about Milli Vanilli have existed for decades. After being exposed for not singing their own songs, the German-based group faded into obscurity until a tragedy befell one of the members. Girl You Know It’s True catalogs the incredible rise and fall of the group. Featuring a wrap-around narration from Elan Ben Ali and Tijan Njie as the titular group, Girl You Know It’s True finds incredible nuance in the shocking tale.
Related“The hate it gets feels like a fad”: Chadwick Boseman, Bradley Cooper and Yalitza Aparicio’s Oscar Worthy Movies Getting Snubbed Still Bothers Some Cinephiles Girl You Know It’s True Plot
Fabrice Morvan (Ali) and Robert Pilatus (Njie) dream of superstardom. Both find work as background dancers in the German music industry, but their talent quickly draws eyes. Fabrice moved to Germany to showcase his unique talents in a world and find appreciation.
Related“The hate it gets feels like a fad”: Chadwick Boseman, Bradley Cooper and Yalitza Aparicio’s Oscar Worthy Movies Getting Snubbed Still Bothers Some Cinephiles Girl You Know It’s True Plot
Fabrice Morvan (Ali) and Robert Pilatus (Njie) dream of superstardom. Both find work as background dancers in the German music industry, but their talent quickly draws eyes. Fabrice moved to Germany to showcase his unique talents in a world and find appreciation.
- 8/9/2024
- by Alan French
- FandomWire
First things first: Girl You Know It’s True is not the cinematic equivalent of Milli Vanilli. Which is to say this biopic, on streaming and in some cinemas Friday, isn’t just mouthing the words and going through the motions as it tells the story of one of pop’s most infamous chapters. It’s actually more involving than any Milli Vanilli biopic really has a right to be (and currently boasts a 92 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes).
Certainly, some of the credit goes to producer Fab Morvan, one-half of the telegenic duo who shot to fame in 1989 with dance floor bangers like “Girl You Know It’s True” and “Blame It on the Rain,” who knows this story better than anyone.
The problem, of course, was that neither Morvan nor his best buddy Rob Pilatus did any of the singing on those songs, which were produced by German disco maven...
Certainly, some of the credit goes to producer Fab Morvan, one-half of the telegenic duo who shot to fame in 1989 with dance floor bangers like “Girl You Know It’s True” and “Blame It on the Rain,” who knows this story better than anyone.
The problem, of course, was that neither Morvan nor his best buddy Rob Pilatus did any of the singing on those songs, which were produced by German disco maven...
- 8/8/2024
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Controversy seems to follow Milli Vanilli around, as the pop-duo who became known for lip syncing on their records. But that’s only a small part of a much bigger story, and one that is told in Girl You Know it’s True – which delves into the lives of the double act, but also that of their producer, Frank Farian.
To mark the release of the movie we had the pleasure in speaking to German actor Matthias Schweighöfer, who plays Farian, to discuss bringing the role to our screen, and on his experience meeting the man himself, who has since passed away. He also talks about his musical interests and on the whirlwind of the last couple of years, and what it was like being part of the experience that was Oppenheimer.
Watch the full interview with Matthias Schweighöfer here:
Synopsis
Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan conquer the global music...
To mark the release of the movie we had the pleasure in speaking to German actor Matthias Schweighöfer, who plays Farian, to discuss bringing the role to our screen, and on his experience meeting the man himself, who has since passed away. He also talks about his musical interests and on the whirlwind of the last couple of years, and what it was like being part of the experience that was Oppenheimer.
Watch the full interview with Matthias Schweighöfer here:
Synopsis
Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan conquer the global music...
- 8/8/2024
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
For music fans of a certain age, the name Milli Vanilli is short-hand for fakesters and frauds. Now, the duo is getting their own biopic that details how their immense fame turned to infamy, Girl You Know It’s True. Watch the trailer below.
Directed by Simon Verhoeven, Girl You Know It’s True stars Matthias Schweighöfer, Tijan Njie, and Elan Ben Ali and is set for release via Vertical on August 9th. The flick follows the true story of German dancers Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, who made up the world-famous duo Milli Vanilli. They skyrocketed to the top of the charts in the late ’80s and ’90s, only for it all to come crashing down when it was revealed that they had been lip-synching the entire time.
A Milli Vanilli movie had previously been stuck in development hell for over a decade. At one point, disgraced director Brett Ratner was even attached to direct.
Directed by Simon Verhoeven, Girl You Know It’s True stars Matthias Schweighöfer, Tijan Njie, and Elan Ben Ali and is set for release via Vertical on August 9th. The flick follows the true story of German dancers Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, who made up the world-famous duo Milli Vanilli. They skyrocketed to the top of the charts in the late ’80s and ’90s, only for it all to come crashing down when it was revealed that they had been lip-synching the entire time.
A Milli Vanilli movie had previously been stuck in development hell for over a decade. At one point, disgraced director Brett Ratner was even attached to direct.
- 7/24/2024
- by Jonah Krueger
- Consequence - Music
For music fans of a certain age, the name Milli Vanilli is short-hand for fakesters and frauds. Now, the duo is getting their own biopic that details how their immense fame turned to infamy, Girl You Know It’s True. Watch the trailer below.
Directed by Simon Verhoeven, Girl You Know It’s True stars Matthias Schweighöfer, Tijan Njie, and Elan Ben Ali and is set for release via Vertical on August 9th. The flick follows the true story of German dancers Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, who made up the world-famous duo Milli Vanilli. They skyrocketed to the top of the charts in the late ’80s and ’90s, only for it all to come crashing down when it was revealed that they had been lip-synching the entire time.
A Milli Vanilli movie had previously been stuck in development hell for over a decade. At one point, disgraced director Brett Ratner was even attached to direct.
Directed by Simon Verhoeven, Girl You Know It’s True stars Matthias Schweighöfer, Tijan Njie, and Elan Ben Ali and is set for release via Vertical on August 9th. The flick follows the true story of German dancers Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, who made up the world-famous duo Milli Vanilli. They skyrocketed to the top of the charts in the late ’80s and ’90s, only for it all to come crashing down when it was revealed that they had been lip-synching the entire time.
A Milli Vanilli movie had previously been stuck in development hell for over a decade. At one point, disgraced director Brett Ratner was even attached to direct.
- 7/24/2024
- by Jonah Krueger
- Consequence - Film News
The music industry is a harsh landscape. If you’re not careful, it will chew you up and spit you out. While some artists dream of fame, fortune, and immortality, executives see artists as cogs in a machine. If a suit can squeeze you for all you’re worth, they’ll do so without thinking twice. If any band knows this unfortunate cycle, it’s the German R&b act Milli Vanilli, who fell from grace after rising above the stars and getting exposed as industry puppets. Vertical welcomes to the stage Simon Verhoeven’s Girl You Know It’s True trailer, depicting the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli.
Here’s the official synopsis for Girl You Know It’s True:
Girl You Know It’s True follows the true story of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, who conquered global music charts as the pop duo “Milli Vanilli.” Their fame turned...
Here’s the official synopsis for Girl You Know It’s True:
Girl You Know It’s True follows the true story of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, who conquered global music charts as the pop duo “Milli Vanilli.” Their fame turned...
- 7/16/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
"That's what this biz is all about - illusions." Vertical has unveiled the final official US trailer for the music biopic titled Girl You Know It's True, from German director Simon Verhoeven. It's about the infamous music duo known as Milli Vanilli, referencing one of their biggest tracks (Paramount+ also released their own official Milli Vanilli doc last year). This movie is a fictionalized biopic version of their story. Dancers Pilatus & Morvan rise to fame in the late 80s and become stars with No.1 hits, even winning a Grammy. This is the true story of Rob Pilatus & Fab Morvan, who conquered global music charts as the duo "Milli Vanilli." Their fame turned to infamy when it's revealed the iconic voices behind their hits were not their own, but those of other singers. Starring Tijan Njie as Rob & Elan Ben Ali as Fab, plus Matthias Schweighöfer as their sketchy record producer Frank Farian.
- 7/16/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
„Girl You Know It’s True”, das Milli-Vanilli-Biopic des erfolgreichen Filmemachers Simon Verhoeven, feiert am 9. August US-Kinostart. Die Auswertungsrechte hat sich Vertical gesichert.
„Girl You Know It’sTrue“ (Gordon Timpen/ Leonine Studios / Wiedemann & Berg Film)
Am 9. August feiert „Girl You Know It’s True” von Simon Verhoeven seinen US-Kinostart. Vertical hat sich die Auswertungsrechte für Nordamerika gesichert, wie Deadline exklusiv berichtet. Tony Piantedosi, SVP Acquisitions bei Vertical, wird darin zitiert: „Wir freuen uns, diesen Film zu veröffentlichen, der die wahre Geschichte hinter dem Erfolg und der Kontroverse um das Vermächtnis von Milli Vanilli beleuchtet. Simon hat in Zusammenarbeit mit Menschen, die diese Tortur miterlebt haben, eine bemerkenswerte Geschichte geschaffen. Es ist ein seltenes Vergnügen, den Vorhang zu lüften und den Zuschauern die wahre Geschichte hinter den schockierenden Schlagzeilen zu zeigen.“
„Girl You Know It’s True“ beleuchtet die wahre Geschichte der beiden Tänzer Robert Pilatus und Fabrice Morvan alias Milli Vanilli und ihren märchenhaften...
„Girl You Know It’sTrue“ (Gordon Timpen/ Leonine Studios / Wiedemann & Berg Film)
Am 9. August feiert „Girl You Know It’s True” von Simon Verhoeven seinen US-Kinostart. Vertical hat sich die Auswertungsrechte für Nordamerika gesichert, wie Deadline exklusiv berichtet. Tony Piantedosi, SVP Acquisitions bei Vertical, wird darin zitiert: „Wir freuen uns, diesen Film zu veröffentlichen, der die wahre Geschichte hinter dem Erfolg und der Kontroverse um das Vermächtnis von Milli Vanilli beleuchtet. Simon hat in Zusammenarbeit mit Menschen, die diese Tortur miterlebt haben, eine bemerkenswerte Geschichte geschaffen. Es ist ein seltenes Vergnügen, den Vorhang zu lüften und den Zuschauern die wahre Geschichte hinter den schockierenden Schlagzeilen zu zeigen.“
„Girl You Know It’s True“ beleuchtet die wahre Geschichte der beiden Tänzer Robert Pilatus und Fabrice Morvan alias Milli Vanilli und ihren märchenhaften...
- 6/22/2024
- by Barbara Schuster
- Spot - Media & Film
Zum 17. Mal lädt Markus Aicher dieses Jahr zu seinen Musikfilmtagen Oberaudorf ein. Die Eröffnung wird am 10. Juli mit dem Cannes-Beitrag „En Fanfare“ von Emmanuel Coucol gefeiert. Zum Abschluss am 14. Juli wird „Sonnenplätze“ präsentiert, zu dessen Screening Juliane Köhler erwartet wird.
Juliane Köhler kommt mit „Sonnenplätze” nach Oberaudorf (Credit: Filmwelt Verleihagentur Maverick Film)
Vom 10. bis 14. Juli wird es im oberbayerischen Oberaudorf wieder musikalisch. Dann lädt Markus Aicher wieder zu seinen Musikfilmtagen ein. Als Eröffnungsfilm wird „En Fanfare“ von Emmanuel Coucol gezeigt, der vor Kurzem in der Reihe Cannes Première Weltpremiere feierte und in dem ein ungleiches Brüderpaar im Mittelpunkt steht: Der eine ein erfolgreicher Stardirigent, der andere ein Posaunenspieler in einem Dorforchester.
Zum heute bekanntgegebenen Programm gehört Hans Steinbichlers Lola-nominierter „Ein ganzes Leben“, den er persönlich in Oberaudorf vorstellt und der im sommerlichen Open-Air-Kino im Oberaudorfer Kurpark präsentiert wird. Ebenfalls unter freiem Himmel zeigen die Musikfilmtage „Girl You Know It’s True...
Juliane Köhler kommt mit „Sonnenplätze” nach Oberaudorf (Credit: Filmwelt Verleihagentur Maverick Film)
Vom 10. bis 14. Juli wird es im oberbayerischen Oberaudorf wieder musikalisch. Dann lädt Markus Aicher wieder zu seinen Musikfilmtagen ein. Als Eröffnungsfilm wird „En Fanfare“ von Emmanuel Coucol gezeigt, der vor Kurzem in der Reihe Cannes Première Weltpremiere feierte und in dem ein ungleiches Brüderpaar im Mittelpunkt steht: Der eine ein erfolgreicher Stardirigent, der andere ein Posaunenspieler in einem Dorforchester.
Zum heute bekanntgegebenen Programm gehört Hans Steinbichlers Lola-nominierter „Ein ganzes Leben“, den er persönlich in Oberaudorf vorstellt und der im sommerlichen Open-Air-Kino im Oberaudorfer Kurpark präsentiert wird. Ebenfalls unter freiem Himmel zeigen die Musikfilmtage „Girl You Know It’s True...
- 6/4/2024
- by Barbara Schuster
- Spot - Media & Film
Matthias Glasner’s epic dysfunctional family drama Dying has won the top prize for best film at the 2024 German Film Awards, the Lolas.
Dying was one of the critical favorites at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, where Glasner won the Silver Bear for best screenplay. The film stars Lars Eidinger as a classical conductor with an extremely dysfunctional family.
In addition to the top prize, Corinna Harfoch won the best actress Lola for her role in Dying, where she plays Eidinger’s sharp-tonged and cold-hearted mother. Her Dying co-star Hans-Uwe Bauer took best supporting actor, and the film also took the Lola for best film music for composer Lorenz Dangel.
Ayşe Polat took best director and best screenplay for In the Blind Spot, her twisty documentary-style conspiracy thriller set in modern-day Turkey. The film, which premiered in Berlin’s Encounters section last year, won the top prize at the Oldenburg Film Festival,...
Dying was one of the critical favorites at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, where Glasner won the Silver Bear for best screenplay. The film stars Lars Eidinger as a classical conductor with an extremely dysfunctional family.
In addition to the top prize, Corinna Harfoch won the best actress Lola for her role in Dying, where she plays Eidinger’s sharp-tonged and cold-hearted mother. Her Dying co-star Hans-Uwe Bauer took best supporting actor, and the film also took the Lola for best film music for composer Lorenz Dangel.
Ayşe Polat took best director and best screenplay for In the Blind Spot, her twisty documentary-style conspiracy thriller set in modern-day Turkey. The film, which premiered in Berlin’s Encounters section last year, won the top prize at the Oldenburg Film Festival,...
- 5/3/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
European powerhouse Mediawan has acquired Leonine, a leading production and distribution group active in German-speaking markets.
With the acquisition of Leonine, Mediawan will boast a portfolio of 85 labels, a catalogue spanning 30,000 hours of premium content and revenues exceeding €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion). Mediawan’s worth is now believed to be in the $2-billion range. The deal is an all-stock transaction; both companies have the same shareholder, the U.S. private equity fund Kkr whose stake in Mediawan will still be below 50%, according to a source close to the company.
Mediawan now has a significant footprint in all major European markets, including German-speaking territories which represent the continent’s second largest TV market. The pact positions Mediawan as one of the world’s biggest super indies with a large proportion of scripted business across prestige series and movies. Mediawan now spans 13 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Benelux and the U.K.
With the acquisition of Leonine, Mediawan will boast a portfolio of 85 labels, a catalogue spanning 30,000 hours of premium content and revenues exceeding €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion). Mediawan’s worth is now believed to be in the $2-billion range. The deal is an all-stock transaction; both companies have the same shareholder, the U.S. private equity fund Kkr whose stake in Mediawan will still be below 50%, according to a source close to the company.
Mediawan now has a significant footprint in all major European markets, including German-speaking territories which represent the continent’s second largest TV market. The pact positions Mediawan as one of the world’s biggest super indies with a large proportion of scripted business across prestige series and movies. Mediawan now spans 13 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Benelux and the U.K.
- 4/28/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Germany network Rtl Deutschland has struck a long-term strategic deal with Wiedemann & Berg Film and the producer’s parent, Leonine Studios.
The multi-year agreement covers free TV and streaming, and means Rtl Deutschland will have exclusive rights to German theatrical releases from the two companies, which produced or co-produced the country’s most successful film in each year between 2020 and 2023.
The pact includes the new comedy Alter Weisser Mann from director Simon Verhoeven starring Jan Josef Liefers, Nadja Uhl, Friedrich von Thun, Michael Maertens, Meltem Kaptan and Elyas M’Barek. It began shooting this month.
The film follows family man Heinz Hellmich, who tries show is ‘wokest’ side and prove he is not an ‘old white man’ to land the job he has longed for. Inviting his boss and colleagues to a dinner party, his family politically correct facade begins to crumble, causing chaos among the guests.
Andreas Fischer, Chief Operating...
The multi-year agreement covers free TV and streaming, and means Rtl Deutschland will have exclusive rights to German theatrical releases from the two companies, which produced or co-produced the country’s most successful film in each year between 2020 and 2023.
The pact includes the new comedy Alter Weisser Mann from director Simon Verhoeven starring Jan Josef Liefers, Nadja Uhl, Friedrich von Thun, Michael Maertens, Meltem Kaptan and Elyas M’Barek. It began shooting this month.
The film follows family man Heinz Hellmich, who tries show is ‘wokest’ side and prove he is not an ‘old white man’ to land the job he has longed for. Inviting his boss and colleagues to a dinner party, his family politically correct facade begins to crumble, causing chaos among the guests.
Andreas Fischer, Chief Operating...
- 4/26/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Admissions to German cinemas in the first quarter of 2024 were only slightly down on the same period last year, with Dune: Part Two the dominant title so far.
Scroll down for Q1 top ten
According to ComScore, 22.45m tickets were sold in the first three months of this year, a 1.1% decrease on 12 months ago, while box office takings of €217.88m were 6.6% below the first quarter of 2023.
The larger year-on-year discrepancy in the box office takings could be explained by higher ticket prices for 3D blockbuster Avatar: The Way Of Water last year. The average ticket in 2023 Q1 was €10.26 compared to €9.70 this year.
Scroll down for Q1 top ten
According to ComScore, 22.45m tickets were sold in the first three months of this year, a 1.1% decrease on 12 months ago, while box office takings of €217.88m were 6.6% below the first quarter of 2023.
The larger year-on-year discrepancy in the box office takings could be explained by higher ticket prices for 3D blockbuster Avatar: The Way Of Water last year. The average ticket in 2023 Q1 was €10.26 compared to €9.70 this year.
- 4/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
Frank Farian, the mastermind producer responsible for the groups Milli Vanilli, Boney M., La Bouche, and more, has died. He was 82 years old.
Over the course of his six-decade career, Farian saw considerable success as a songwriter and producer, but his time as the mastermind behind Milli Vanilli — and their infamous lip-syncing controversy — is likely what most remember him for. Farian first met the group’s frontmen, Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, in Frankfurt, and signed a contract with them in January 1988, locking them into a deal.
Then, dissatisfied with the quality of the group’s vocal performances, Farian employed session vocalists — including Charles Shaw, John Davis, Brad Howell, and others — to provide the lead vocal parts for the duo’s recordings, leading to an arrangement where Pilatus and Morvan, against their desires, lip-synced the parts that they claimed to be singing themselves.
Upon the release of Milli Vanilli’s biggest hit,...
Over the course of his six-decade career, Farian saw considerable success as a songwriter and producer, but his time as the mastermind behind Milli Vanilli — and their infamous lip-syncing controversy — is likely what most remember him for. Farian first met the group’s frontmen, Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, in Frankfurt, and signed a contract with them in January 1988, locking them into a deal.
Then, dissatisfied with the quality of the group’s vocal performances, Farian employed session vocalists — including Charles Shaw, John Davis, Brad Howell, and others — to provide the lead vocal parts for the duo’s recordings, leading to an arrangement where Pilatus and Morvan, against their desires, lip-synced the parts that they claimed to be singing themselves.
Upon the release of Milli Vanilli’s biggest hit,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
Frank Farian — the founder of groups Boney M. and Milli Vanilli — has died at the age of 82. The German producer’s agency released a statement Tuesday confirming that Farian had died peacefully at his home in Miami.
Although his cause of death was not immediately revealed, Farian said that he had gone through heart valve replacement surgery in 2022. He told the magazine Bild at the time that the surgery saved his life.
Farian founded R&b pop duo Milli Vanilli — comprised of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus — in the late 1980s.
Although his cause of death was not immediately revealed, Farian said that he had gone through heart valve replacement surgery in 2022. He told the magazine Bild at the time that the surgery saved his life.
Farian founded R&b pop duo Milli Vanilli — comprised of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus — in the late 1980s.
- 1/23/2024
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
If you’re going to make a music biopic — and with new dramatic takes on the lives of Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley and Michael Jackson on the way, it appears everyone is — you’d better secure the music rights. Making a movie purporting to tell the story of a pop music legend without first clearing rights to use the pop music that made them legendary is a recipe for box office disaster.
Remember Stardust, Gabriel Range’s 2020 David Bowie biopic starring Johnny Flynn, shot without any music from Bowie? Or Jimi: All Is By My Side (2013) directed by John Ridley with André 3000 as Jimi Hendrix playing none of his original songs? How about England Is Mine, Mark Gill’s unauthorized Morrissey biopic with Jack Lowden and Jodie Comer? Probably not. Without the sing-alone tunes, those films sank without a trace.
The blockbuster pop biopics — Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman,...
Remember Stardust, Gabriel Range’s 2020 David Bowie biopic starring Johnny Flynn, shot without any music from Bowie? Or Jimi: All Is By My Side (2013) directed by John Ridley with André 3000 as Jimi Hendrix playing none of his original songs? How about England Is Mine, Mark Gill’s unauthorized Morrissey biopic with Jack Lowden and Jodie Comer? Probably not. Without the sing-alone tunes, those films sank without a trace.
The blockbuster pop biopics — Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman,...
- 11/2/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This week, Paramount+ debuts its new feature-length documentary Milli Vanilli, about the early '90s pop act who hit big with songs like "Girl You Know It's True," won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, and then were mired in scandal when it was revealed that band members Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus hadn't sung the vocals on their album and had been lip-syncing in all of their live performances.
- 10/24/2023
- by Joe Reid
- Primetimer
From the top of the worldwide charts to their infamous undoing, Milli Vanilli dominated music headlines in the early 1990s. Now, after making its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, the documentary film “Milli Vanilli” will take a look at the duo’s emergence and ascension, winning the Grammy for Best New Artist, to their downfall after it was revealed they had been lipsyncing during albums and performances. More than 30 years later, it will also try to answer the enduring question: how many people actually knew what was going on behind the scenes? “Milli Vanilli” will premiere exclusively on Paramount+ on Tuesday, Oct. 24. You can watch with a subscription to Paramount Plus.
How to Watch 'Milli Vanilli' When: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a subscription to Paramount Plus. Save $20 Now$5.99+ / month paramountplus.com
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How to Watch 'Milli Vanilli' When: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a subscription to Paramount Plus. Save $20 Now$5.99+ / month paramountplus.com
For a Limited Time, Get 1 Month of Paramount+ With Code: Wantmore
About...
- 10/24/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Girl you know it’s – girl you know it’s – girl you know it’s –. Milli Vanilli’s lip-syncing scandal was one of the biggest pop culture controversies of the 1990s, which is really saying something. That it happened so early in the duo’s career made them both a blip and a punchline in the music world. Now, surviving member Fab Morvan is reflecting on the most trying time of his career ahead of the release of the aptly titled documentary Milli Vanilli this month.
Speaking with The Messenger, Morvan said the public perception turned incredibly fast on Milli Vanilli. “We were not what people thought we were, which is the puppet master of everybody and everything. We were the front people, but behind, there was so much more. Unfortunately, the journalists didn’t investigate properly.” As it turns out, the decision to have both Morvan and Rob Pilatus...
Speaking with The Messenger, Morvan said the public perception turned incredibly fast on Milli Vanilli. “We were not what people thought we were, which is the puppet master of everybody and everything. We were the front people, but behind, there was so much more. Unfortunately, the journalists didn’t investigate properly.” As it turns out, the decision to have both Morvan and Rob Pilatus...
- 10/19/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
"What I'm looking for are *stars*!" Leonine Studios has revealed a trailer for a German movie called Girl You Know It's True, about the infamous duo known as Milli Vanilli, referencing one of their biggest tracks. Paramount+ is also releasing their own official Milli Vanilli doc this fall - it's streaming next week on their platform (in the US only). This movie is a fictionalized biopic version of their story. Dancers Pilatus & Morvan rise to fame in the late 80s and become stars with No.1 hits, even winning a Grammy. However, the duo never sang a word in their songs, always lip syncing. When the truth is finally revealed, they stare into the abyss while the world witnesses one of the biggest scandals in music history. Starring Tijan Njie as Rob & Elan Ben Ali as Fab, plus Matthias Schweighöfer as their sketchy record producer Frank Farian. This is a German...
- 10/16/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Leonine Studios founder and CEO Fred Kogel has said he does not expect his Germany-focused content group to expand much more in the near future, after four years of rapid and continuous growth.
The veteran film and TV exec was talking about the journey around the creation of Leonine Studios in 2019 in an onstage conversation with CAA Media Finance Co-head Benjamin Kramer at the Zurich Film Festival’s finance and industry-focused Zurich Summit on Saturday.
Kogel will be feted with the Zurich Film Festival’s Game Changer Award on Sunday, following in the footsteps of Pamela Abdy, Patrick Wachsberger as well as Michael Barker and Tom Bernard.
“There are many companies who drop by Leonine at the moment who say: ‘Can we be interesting for you in the German market?’,” said the veteran exec.
“There are always two questions for us: ‘Who is the talent and what kind of programs they do,...
The veteran film and TV exec was talking about the journey around the creation of Leonine Studios in 2019 in an onstage conversation with CAA Media Finance Co-head Benjamin Kramer at the Zurich Film Festival’s finance and industry-focused Zurich Summit on Saturday.
Kogel will be feted with the Zurich Film Festival’s Game Changer Award on Sunday, following in the footsteps of Pamela Abdy, Patrick Wachsberger as well as Michael Barker and Tom Bernard.
“There are many companies who drop by Leonine at the moment who say: ‘Can we be interesting for you in the German market?’,” said the veteran exec.
“There are always two questions for us: ‘Who is the talent and what kind of programs they do,...
- 10/1/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
German regional fund Medenboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) has made its latest funding decisions.
Films directed by Wes Anderson, Agnieszka Holland, Emily Atef, Pablo Larrain and Karim Ainouz are among 14 projects to receive more than €5.2m in total production support from the German regional fund Medenboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) in its latest funding decision.
The largest single amount of €1.5m went to an as-yet untitled project by Wes Anderson which will see the US director continuing his long-standing collaboration with Studio Babelsberg with whom he has partnered on five previous films including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, and Asteroid City.
The...
Films directed by Wes Anderson, Agnieszka Holland, Emily Atef, Pablo Larrain and Karim Ainouz are among 14 projects to receive more than €5.2m in total production support from the German regional fund Medenboard Berlin-Brandenburg (Mbb) in its latest funding decision.
The largest single amount of €1.5m went to an as-yet untitled project by Wes Anderson which will see the US director continuing his long-standing collaboration with Studio Babelsberg with whom he has partnered on five previous films including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, and Asteroid City.
The...
- 9/29/2023
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
True Story: back in 1989-1990, when I was eight years old, I was a major Milli Vanilli fan. I had a cassette copy of their debut album, “Girl You Know It’s True”, and my cheap Walkman almost wore it out. But, when the two were exposed as frauds in April of 1990, like many fans, I was brokenhearted. I remember chucking my cassette tape into the garbage, something pretty much all the kids at my elementary school did. As soon as it came out that they were fakes, they became pariahs and the uncoolest thing you could possibly listen to in the schoolyard.
Of course, the truth behind the Milli Vanilli phenomenon is more complicated. Now Paramount Plus is set to debut an explosive documentary on the duo, which drops October 24th and has just released a new trailer (embedded above). Milli Vanilli was Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, two dancer-models...
Of course, the truth behind the Milli Vanilli phenomenon is more complicated. Now Paramount Plus is set to debut an explosive documentary on the duo, which drops October 24th and has just released a new trailer (embedded above). Milli Vanilli was Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, two dancer-models...
- 9/18/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
A new feature-length documentary digging into the true story of the infamous R&b duo Milli Vanilli has been acquired by Paramount+. The film, simply titled Milli Vanilli, will premiere on Tuesday, October 24th in the U.S. and Canada, and on Wednesday, October 25th in the UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
Milli Vanilli goes directly behind the scenes through exclusive interviews with the group’s members Fab Morvan and the late Rob Pilatus, as well as the real singers, record executives, and the producer behind the duo, who became one of the most popular groups of the late ’80s and early ’90s until it was discovered that they had been lip-synching the entire time. Pilatus died of an accidental alcohol and prescription drug overdose in 1998.
“Finally — the true story of Milli Vanilli has been told!” Morvan said in a statement. “I’m thankful...
Milli Vanilli goes directly behind the scenes through exclusive interviews with the group’s members Fab Morvan and the late Rob Pilatus, as well as the real singers, record executives, and the producer behind the duo, who became one of the most popular groups of the late ’80s and early ’90s until it was discovered that they had been lip-synching the entire time. Pilatus died of an accidental alcohol and prescription drug overdose in 1998.
“Finally — the true story of Milli Vanilli has been told!” Morvan said in a statement. “I’m thankful...
- 9/13/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
A new feature-length documentary digging into the true story of the infamous R&b duo Milli Vanilli has been acquired by Paramount+. The film, simply titled Milli Vanilli, will premiere on Tuesday, October 24th in the U.S. and Canada, and on Wednesday, October 25th in the UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
Milli Vanilli goes directly behind the scenes through exclusive interviews with the group’s members Fab Morvan and the late Rob Pilatus, as well as the real singers, record executives, and the producer behind the duo, who became one of the most popular groups of the late ’80s and early ’90s until it was discovered that they had been lip-synching the entire time. Pilatus died of an accidental alcohol and prescription drug overdose in 1998.
“Finally — the true story of Milli Vanilli has been told!” Morvan said in a statement. “I’m thankful...
Milli Vanilli goes directly behind the scenes through exclusive interviews with the group’s members Fab Morvan and the late Rob Pilatus, as well as the real singers, record executives, and the producer behind the duo, who became one of the most popular groups of the late ’80s and early ’90s until it was discovered that they had been lip-synching the entire time. Pilatus died of an accidental alcohol and prescription drug overdose in 1998.
“Finally — the true story of Milli Vanilli has been told!” Morvan said in a statement. “I’m thankful...
- 9/13/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Award
Zurich Film Festival will honor the chief executive of German film and TV company Leonine Studios, Fred Kogel, with its Game Changer Award, which is presented to a leading personality from the film industry whose “extraordinary efforts serve to advance the sector.”
Kogel set up Leonine four years ago, and it has grown rapidly to become Germany’s leading independent film company, as well as a major TV producer. Its successes as a film distributor have included the release of “The School of Magical Animals,” “Knives Out” and the “John Wick” franchise. This autumn, Leonine will release in-house productions like “Weekend Rebels” and “Girl You Know It’s True.”
“Fred Kogel has built Leonine from the ground up, a new entertainment company for the digital age that brings together the most exciting artists and successful producers, allowing them to focus on their core strengths while the studio takes care of services such as Hr,...
Zurich Film Festival will honor the chief executive of German film and TV company Leonine Studios, Fred Kogel, with its Game Changer Award, which is presented to a leading personality from the film industry whose “extraordinary efforts serve to advance the sector.”
Kogel set up Leonine four years ago, and it has grown rapidly to become Germany’s leading independent film company, as well as a major TV producer. Its successes as a film distributor have included the release of “The School of Magical Animals,” “Knives Out” and the “John Wick” franchise. This autumn, Leonine will release in-house productions like “Weekend Rebels” and “Girl You Know It’s True.”
“Fred Kogel has built Leonine from the ground up, a new entertainment company for the digital age that brings together the most exciting artists and successful producers, allowing them to focus on their core strengths while the studio takes care of services such as Hr,...
- 8/2/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
It’s one of the inside-out realities of our era that scandal, if you give it enough time, turns into myth. So it is with the story of Milli Vanilli, the German-French R&b pop duo of the late ’80s and early ’90s who, having sold close to 50 million records, were revealed to be a fake: a pair of lip-syncing Euro pretty boys who hadn’t sung a note on any of their hits or at any of their concerts.
Once they’d been unmasked, the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli played out on two levels. The first was the spectacular embarrassing bad joke of it all — though it was never just a joke, since Milli Vanilli’s fans felt a tremendous sense of anger and betrayal at having been fooled. (The joke was on them.) The second level recognized a crucial and obvious truth: that the scandal wasn...
Once they’d been unmasked, the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli played out on two levels. The first was the spectacular embarrassing bad joke of it all — though it was never just a joke, since Milli Vanilli’s fans felt a tremendous sense of anger and betrayal at having been fooled. (The joke was on them.) The second level recognized a crucial and obvious truth: that the scandal wasn...
- 6/12/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
More than three decades have passed since Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan — together and forever known as Milli Vanilli – took the music world by storm, and fell from grace even faster. Their six-times-platinum debut album in the U.S., “Girl You Know It’s True,” was accompanied by a marketing blitz that produced three No. 1 singles, a trio of American Music Awards and a Best New Artist Grammy before it was revealed that the duo had not sung on the album. An epic level of public humiliation ensured, as the duo were compelled to return their Grammy and nearly everyone who’d worked with them pleaded ignorance, often disingenuously.
Luke Korem – who directed the new “Milli Vanilli” documentary, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival – was just seven years old during that 18-month-long real-life drama, which tragically culminated with Pilatus’ fatal drug overdose in 1998.
“I’m a child of the ‘90s,” Korem explains about the doc,...
Luke Korem – who directed the new “Milli Vanilli” documentary, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival – was just seven years old during that 18-month-long real-life drama, which tragically culminated with Pilatus’ fatal drug overdose in 1998.
“I’m a child of the ‘90s,” Korem explains about the doc,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Roy Trakin
- Variety Film + TV
In a somewhat surprising announcement, this week, it was announced that Kim Cattrall will make an appearance in the Season 2 finale of “And Just Like That” — but she won’t interact with the rest of the show’s cast. Cattrall, who plays publicist Samantha Jones in “Sex and the City,” is expected to make a brief cameo appearance in the Max sequel series. No other details have been released at this time, but Cattrall had previously been adamant that she would not participate in the show, preferring to pursue other roles.
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Season 6 of the popular dark anthology series “Black Mirror” is set to debut on Netflix on June 15. After the first two seasons and a special aired in the United Kingdom, the series became a Netflix exclusive series for Season 3. The show features...
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Get 20% Off Your Next Year of Max When Pre-Paid Annually
Season 6 of the popular dark anthology series “Black Mirror” is set to debut on Netflix on June 15. After the first two seasons and a special aired in the United Kingdom, the series became a Netflix exclusive series for Season 3. The show features...
- 6/2/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
Germany’s leading independent film distributor Leonine Studios and A24 are partnering to set up joint label A24 | Leonine Studios, which will distribute films in Germany and Austria.
The first films to be released under the new banner are the newly acquired titles “Wizards!” by David Michôd, starring Orlando Bloom, Naomi Scott and Pete Davidson, and Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw,” with Lily James, Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White. Producing alongside A24 are Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell and Angus Lamont for House Productions. “The Iron Claw” was developed by House Productions, with the support of Access Entertainment and BBC Film.
The new label builds on the companies’ collaboration on multi-Oscar winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which was released by Leonine on April 28, 2022, and garnered more than 380,000 admissions in Germany and Austria.
Leonine and A24 will also work together to create additional benefits for members of...
The first films to be released under the new banner are the newly acquired titles “Wizards!” by David Michôd, starring Orlando Bloom, Naomi Scott and Pete Davidson, and Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw,” with Lily James, Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White. Producing alongside A24 are Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell and Angus Lamont for House Productions. “The Iron Claw” was developed by House Productions, with the support of Access Entertainment and BBC Film.
The new label builds on the companies’ collaboration on multi-Oscar winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which was released by Leonine on April 28, 2022, and garnered more than 380,000 admissions in Germany and Austria.
Leonine and A24 will also work together to create additional benefits for members of...
- 5/17/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Since its establishment in 2019, Leonine Studios has become one of Germany’s leading film distributors.
Forged by the merger of two companies, Concorde Film and Universum Film, the distribution powerhouse releases between20 and 25 films a year, including around five in-house productions or co-productions, says Bernhard zu Castell, Leonine Studios’ chief distribution officer.
“Our aim is to offer a slate of event movies that is an optimal blend of genres for all target groups and all our partners in the highest possible quality,” adds zu Castell, who previously headed Universum Film. “This strategy was key in establishing ourselves as a reliable distributor and licensor for all content platforms.”
The company last year enjoyed its biggest hit yet with “School of Magical Animals 2,” a fast-growing franchise that Leonine also co-produces. The film sold more than 2.8 million admissions (3 million counting Austria), making it 2022’s most successful German release and the fifth highest-grossing movie of the year by admissions.
Forged by the merger of two companies, Concorde Film and Universum Film, the distribution powerhouse releases between20 and 25 films a year, including around five in-house productions or co-productions, says Bernhard zu Castell, Leonine Studios’ chief distribution officer.
“Our aim is to offer a slate of event movies that is an optimal blend of genres for all target groups and all our partners in the highest possible quality,” adds zu Castell, who previously headed Universum Film. “This strategy was key in establishing ourselves as a reliable distributor and licensor for all content platforms.”
The company last year enjoyed its biggest hit yet with “School of Magical Animals 2,” a fast-growing franchise that Leonine also co-produces. The film sold more than 2.8 million admissions (3 million counting Austria), making it 2022’s most successful German release and the fifth highest-grossing movie of the year by admissions.
- 5/11/2023
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
With some of Germany’s most successful production companies in its stable, Leonine Studios is reaping the rewards with such feature film and television hits as “School of Magical Animals,” “Nightlife,” “Dark” and “Pagan Peak.”
Leonine’s production division includes such well-established companies as Wiedemann & Berg Film, which focuses on theatrical features, W&b Television and Odeon Fiction, which produce movies and series for all broadcasters and streaming platforms in Germany, documentary outfit Gebrueder Beetz and format maker I&u TV.
“We are in for high creative quality and commercial success,” explains Quirin Berg, who, along with Max Wiedemann, serves as Leonine’s chief production officer and managing director of Wiedemann & Berg Film.
“The parameters in each segment we are operating in may be different, but the agenda is not. And that was already the profile when we started out as producers some 20 years ago.”
Indeed, Wiedemann & Berg’s first feature film,...
Leonine’s production division includes such well-established companies as Wiedemann & Berg Film, which focuses on theatrical features, W&b Television and Odeon Fiction, which produce movies and series for all broadcasters and streaming platforms in Germany, documentary outfit Gebrueder Beetz and format maker I&u TV.
“We are in for high creative quality and commercial success,” explains Quirin Berg, who, along with Max Wiedemann, serves as Leonine’s chief production officer and managing director of Wiedemann & Berg Film.
“The parameters in each segment we are operating in may be different, but the agenda is not. And that was already the profile when we started out as producers some 20 years ago.”
Indeed, Wiedemann & Berg’s first feature film,...
- 5/11/2023
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Variety will bestow its International Achievement in Film Award on German production, licensing and distribution company Leonine Studios at a ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival next month.
This award is the most prestigious honor Variety can bestow on an international film company or executive, and is designed to spotlight the honoree’s achievements over the past few years.
Steven Gaydos, Executive Vice President, Global Content, Variety, said: “Building on the links to a storied, successful history, Leonine Studios has rapidly established itself in the past few years as one of the world’s leading producers, licensors and distributors of premium movies and series.
“The Leonine Studios name is now known for its brave and highly informed decision-making, as well as its innovation, and its allegiance to high-quality product. In a challenging and complex global entertainment business environment, Leonine is steering a dynamic, creative course that is serving as a...
This award is the most prestigious honor Variety can bestow on an international film company or executive, and is designed to spotlight the honoree’s achievements over the past few years.
Steven Gaydos, Executive Vice President, Global Content, Variety, said: “Building on the links to a storied, successful history, Leonine Studios has rapidly established itself in the past few years as one of the world’s leading producers, licensors and distributors of premium movies and series.
“The Leonine Studios name is now known for its brave and highly informed decision-making, as well as its innovation, and its allegiance to high-quality product. In a challenging and complex global entertainment business environment, Leonine is steering a dynamic, creative course that is serving as a...
- 4/12/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
At Berlin’s European Film Market, which wrapped Feb. 22, the indie industry was back in force, and plenty of deals got done.
Amazon Prime Video snatched up international rights to AGC Studio’s The Order, a white supremacist thriller starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult from Assassin’s Creed director Justin Kurzel; also, in a deal with sales outfit Rocket Science, Amazon grabbed pirate-themed survival thriller The Bluff, starring Zoe Saldaña from Anthony and Joe Russo’s Agbo banner.
Black Bear International sold out most of Europe and a number of other international territories for Nicolas Cage serial killer movie Longlegs, and the Jamie Bell-Margaret Qualley musical biopic Fred & Ginger. Buyers across Europe pounced on Dogman, Luc Besson’s comeback movie, starring Caleb Landry Jones, which Kinology is selling, with a domestic deal expected soon. And there was considerable heat around Voltage’s Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True,...
Amazon Prime Video snatched up international rights to AGC Studio’s The Order, a white supremacist thriller starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult from Assassin’s Creed director Justin Kurzel; also, in a deal with sales outfit Rocket Science, Amazon grabbed pirate-themed survival thriller The Bluff, starring Zoe Saldaña from Anthony and Joe Russo’s Agbo banner.
Black Bear International sold out most of Europe and a number of other international territories for Nicolas Cage serial killer movie Longlegs, and the Jamie Bell-Margaret Qualley musical biopic Fred & Ginger. Buyers across Europe pounced on Dogman, Luc Besson’s comeback movie, starring Caleb Landry Jones, which Kinology is selling, with a domestic deal expected soon. And there was considerable heat around Voltage’s Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
”It’s been a return to the joy of watching films.”
A handful of eye-catching deals on heavyweight packages have fuelled an optimistic return to the European Film Market.
Prime Video has snapped up international rights to AGC Studios’ Justin Kurtzel’s white supremacist thriller The Order starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, and Agbo’s Zoe Saldana action-survival thriller The Bluff sold by Rocket Science.
Black Bear International reported strong pre-sales on serial killer thriller Longlegs, with Neon circling, as well as musical Fred & Ginger, while buyers were warming to Capstone’s Liam Neeson thriller The Riker’s Ghost.
A handful of eye-catching deals on heavyweight packages have fuelled an optimistic return to the European Film Market.
Prime Video has snapped up international rights to AGC Studios’ Justin Kurtzel’s white supremacist thriller The Order starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, and Agbo’s Zoe Saldana action-survival thriller The Bluff sold by Rocket Science.
Black Bear International reported strong pre-sales on serial killer thriller Longlegs, with Neon circling, as well as musical Fred & Ginger, while buyers were warming to Capstone’s Liam Neeson thriller The Riker’s Ghost.
- 2/21/2023
- by Jeremy Kay¬Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Voltage Pictures has boarded worldwide sales, excluding Germany, on buzzy Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True from Leonine Studios and Wiedemann & Berg Film. The company began shopping the title at Berlin’s European Film Market after a footage showcase for buyers on Thursday.
The film follows the spectacular 1980s rise of the Grammy-winning German-French R&b duo, as well as their fall after it emerges that they lip-synch all of their songs. It wrapped production late last year and is expected to be ready for release near the end of 2023.
Newcomers Tijan Njie from Germany and Elan Ben Ali from France play bandmates Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, while Simon Verhoeven (Welcome to Germany) directs and Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann (The Lives of Others, Dark) produce. The film also features Matthias Schweighöfer (Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Oppenheimer), Graham Rogers (The Kominsky Method) and Bella Dayne (Troy: Fall of a City).
Verhoeven,...
The film follows the spectacular 1980s rise of the Grammy-winning German-French R&b duo, as well as their fall after it emerges that they lip-synch all of their songs. It wrapped production late last year and is expected to be ready for release near the end of 2023.
Newcomers Tijan Njie from Germany and Elan Ben Ali from France play bandmates Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, while Simon Verhoeven (Welcome to Germany) directs and Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann (The Lives of Others, Dark) produce. The film also features Matthias Schweighöfer (Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Oppenheimer), Graham Rogers (The Kominsky Method) and Bella Dayne (Troy: Fall of a City).
Verhoeven,...
- 2/18/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Production wrapped in December; delivery expected in fourth quarter.
Voltage Pictures has boarded worldwide sales excluding Germany on Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True from Leonine Studios and Wiedemann & Berg Film and has kicked off talks with buyers at the EFM.
The production, financing and sales company showed first footage to buyers during a lively presentation at CinemaxX on Thursday evening.
The film charts the meteoric rise of the Grammy-winning German French R&b duo, who took the world by storm in the late 1980s before it all came crashing down when it emerged they lip-synched their songs.
Voltage Pictures has boarded worldwide sales excluding Germany on Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True from Leonine Studios and Wiedemann & Berg Film and has kicked off talks with buyers at the EFM.
The production, financing and sales company showed first footage to buyers during a lively presentation at CinemaxX on Thursday evening.
The film charts the meteoric rise of the Grammy-winning German French R&b duo, who took the world by storm in the late 1980s before it all came crashing down when it emerged they lip-synched their songs.
- 2/17/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Production wrapped in December; delivery expected in fourth quarter.
Voltage Pictures has boarded worldwide sales excluding Germany on Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True from Leonine Studios and Wiedemann & Berg Film and has kicked off talks at the EFM.
The production, financing and sales company showed first footage to buyers during a lively presentation at CinemaxX on Thursday evening.
The film charts the meteoric rise of the Grammy-winning German French R&b duo, who took the world by storm in the late 1980s before it all came crashing down when it emerged they lip-synched their songs.
Simon Verhoeven...
Voltage Pictures has boarded worldwide sales excluding Germany on Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It’s True from Leonine Studios and Wiedemann & Berg Film and has kicked off talks at the EFM.
The production, financing and sales company showed first footage to buyers during a lively presentation at CinemaxX on Thursday evening.
The film charts the meteoric rise of the Grammy-winning German French R&b duo, who took the world by storm in the late 1980s before it all came crashing down when it emerged they lip-synched their songs.
Simon Verhoeven...
- 2/17/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Leonine Studios and A24 have closed an all rights-deal for Ari Aster’s upcoming movie Beau Is Afraid for Germany and Austria.
The deal marks the second collaboration between the two companies after their deal for Oscar hopeful Everything Everywhere All At Once, which has drawn 250,000 admissions in Germany and Austria to date.
Beau Is Afraid will bow in the U.S. on April 21 and is now set for German release on May 11th.
The film is Hereditary and Midsommar director Aster’s third feature for A24 and stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Hayley Squires, Denis Ménochet, Kylie Rogers, Parker Posey and Pattie LuPone.
In the surrealist movie, a paranoid man embarks on an epic odyssey to get home to his mother. Phoenix will portray the man at different stages in his life. The film is the latest bigger-budget project from A...
The deal marks the second collaboration between the two companies after their deal for Oscar hopeful Everything Everywhere All At Once, which has drawn 250,000 admissions in Germany and Austria to date.
Beau Is Afraid will bow in the U.S. on April 21 and is now set for German release on May 11th.
The film is Hereditary and Midsommar director Aster’s third feature for A24 and stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Hayley Squires, Denis Ménochet, Kylie Rogers, Parker Posey and Pattie LuPone.
In the surrealist movie, a paranoid man embarks on an epic odyssey to get home to his mother. Phoenix will portray the man at different stages in his life. The film is the latest bigger-budget project from A...
- 2/15/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
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