Rebecca Clough Jan 20, 2017
As America gets its new President, we look at some excellent political drama films that may have slipped under your radar...
Political dramas can be entertaining, informative and even educational, opening up debates and offering new points of view. (When experiencing a year of tumultuous change like the one we’ve just had, they can also be a comforting reminder that, no matter what your situation, it could always be worse...) With the full whack of corruption, war, and conspiracy, here are 25 political dramas which deserve to be better known.
See related 25 underrated political thrillers 17 new TV shows to watch in 2017 Taboo episode 3 review The Girl On The Train review 25. The Marchers/La Marche (2013)
When teenager Mohamed (Tewfik Jallab) is shot by police, his friends want revenge, but he has a better idea: peaceful protest. Marching from Marseille to Paris, they band together with quite an assortment of characters along the way.
As America gets its new President, we look at some excellent political drama films that may have slipped under your radar...
Political dramas can be entertaining, informative and even educational, opening up debates and offering new points of view. (When experiencing a year of tumultuous change like the one we’ve just had, they can also be a comforting reminder that, no matter what your situation, it could always be worse...) With the full whack of corruption, war, and conspiracy, here are 25 political dramas which deserve to be better known.
See related 25 underrated political thrillers 17 new TV shows to watch in 2017 Taboo episode 3 review The Girl On The Train review 25. The Marchers/La Marche (2013)
When teenager Mohamed (Tewfik Jallab) is shot by police, his friends want revenge, but he has a better idea: peaceful protest. Marching from Marseille to Paris, they band together with quite an assortment of characters along the way.
- 12/22/2016
- Den of Geek
Sky has continued its acquisitions spree by acquiring a majority stake in UK production company Blast! Films. The company’s credits include Steve McQueen’s award-winning Hunger, which helped launch Michael Fassbender into a major star, as well as high end British feature docs and dramas such as controversial The Death of a President. Most recently, it has moved into more observational docu series such as Coppers. The deal, the financials terms of which were not disclosed…...
- 7/23/2015
- Deadline TV
Sky has continued its acquisitions spree by acquiring a majority stake in UK production company Blast! Films. The company’s credits include Steve McQueen’s award-winning Hunger, which helped launch Michael Fassbender into a major star, as well as high end British feature docs and dramas such as controversial The Death of a President. Most recently, it has moved into more observational docu series such as Coppers. The deal, the financials terms of which were not disclosed…...
- 7/23/2015
- Deadline
The UK firm will raise around $310,000 (£200,000) in UK production finance for Microwave International: Shakespeare India; projects, teams, mentors announced.
Media investment firm Bob & Co is the latest company to invest in Film London’s mentoring and development scheme Microwave International: Shakespeare India.
Bob & Co will raise UK production finance for the project through an Enterprise Investment Scheme (Eis).
The scheme’s aim is to finance one feature with significant Asian and British Asian involvement with up to $780,000 (£500,000) and to theatrically release the film in 2016.
Andy Brunskill, of Bob & Co’s subsidiary Sums London, brokered the deal and will executive produce the selected feature.
Bob & Co will raise money through the Eis scheme, along with India’s Cinestaan Film Company, who partnered with Film London on the initiative in April.
The project will involve six teams of Asian writers, directors and producers from the UK and India honing ideas for Shakespeare-themed features in an intensive week-long microschool, which...
Media investment firm Bob & Co is the latest company to invest in Film London’s mentoring and development scheme Microwave International: Shakespeare India.
Bob & Co will raise UK production finance for the project through an Enterprise Investment Scheme (Eis).
The scheme’s aim is to finance one feature with significant Asian and British Asian involvement with up to $780,000 (£500,000) and to theatrically release the film in 2016.
Andy Brunskill, of Bob & Co’s subsidiary Sums London, brokered the deal and will executive produce the selected feature.
Bob & Co will raise money through the Eis scheme, along with India’s Cinestaan Film Company, who partnered with Film London on the initiative in April.
The project will involve six teams of Asian writers, directors and producers from the UK and India honing ideas for Shakespeare-themed features in an intensive week-long microschool, which...
- 7/21/2015
- ScreenDaily
The Interview and the geopolitical crisis it caused is arguably the most important movie-related story of recent weeks.
The story device featured in The Interview, the idea of a film featuring the assassination of the current ruling leader, is nothing new, and in fact is seen through much of film’s history. In 1941 a German-in-exile Fritz Lang shown an unsuccessful attack on Adolf Hitler in Man Hunt (this story was also told in BBC’s Rogue Male from 1976 starring Peter O’Toole). The Shaw Brothers used the actual newsreel footage of Queen Elisabeth visiting Hong-Kong (then a British colony) in their 1976 martial arts flick A Queen’s Ransom (a.k.a. The International Assassin) starring post-James Bond George Lazenby as an Ira assassin and Angela Mao as a heroine trying to stop him. In fact, the Queen of England might be the most popular assassination target among actual world leaders...
The story device featured in The Interview, the idea of a film featuring the assassination of the current ruling leader, is nothing new, and in fact is seen through much of film’s history. In 1941 a German-in-exile Fritz Lang shown an unsuccessful attack on Adolf Hitler in Man Hunt (this story was also told in BBC’s Rogue Male from 1976 starring Peter O’Toole). The Shaw Brothers used the actual newsreel footage of Queen Elisabeth visiting Hong-Kong (then a British colony) in their 1976 martial arts flick A Queen’s Ransom (a.k.a. The International Assassin) starring post-James Bond George Lazenby as an Ira assassin and Angela Mao as a heroine trying to stop him. In fact, the Queen of England might be the most popular assassination target among actual world leaders...
- 2/2/2015
- by Jakub Mejer
- MUBI
Chicago – Women in Film (Wif) Chicago is a advocate group for women filmmakers, on-set professionals and executives in the creative arts, and every year they present their Focus Awards to significant contributors in those arenas. The honorees in 2014 were Shira Piven, Susan Credle, Erin Sarofsky and Christina Varotsis.
The event took place on November 5th, 2014, at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, and was hosted by marketing executive Melissa Thornley. Each of the recipients were feted with a video tribute, and each told their stories when they accepted the award. HollywoodChicago.com spoke with three of the honorees, with a diversity of voices for women in the film and creative industries.
Shira Piven, Film and Theater Director
Shira Piven is part of theater royalty in Chicago, as her parents Byrne and Joyce founded the Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, Illinois, and her brother Jeremy is a notable film, theater and television actor.
The event took place on November 5th, 2014, at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, and was hosted by marketing executive Melissa Thornley. Each of the recipients were feted with a video tribute, and each told their stories when they accepted the award. HollywoodChicago.com spoke with three of the honorees, with a diversity of voices for women in the film and creative industries.
Shira Piven, Film and Theater Director
Shira Piven is part of theater royalty in Chicago, as her parents Byrne and Joyce founded the Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, Illinois, and her brother Jeremy is a notable film, theater and television actor.
- 11/29/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Films are always going to stretch the truth. We can.t even completely trust documentaries to tell us the complete truth. But there.s a strange sub-genre of films in the last few years whose intentions are to toe the line between non-fiction and alternate history. Politics is a frequent choice, with examples such as the party-polarizing Death of a President and 2016: Obama.s America. Well if the cinema deities don.t hurry and step in, British royalty will also fall victim to this slightly conspiratorial form of storytelling. Inquest, a thriller spec script centered around the death of Princess Diana, has been pre-emptively acquired by Wayfare Entertainment, the company producing the upcoming Europa Report and, in part, Ron Howard.s adaptation of The Graveyard Book. So with somewhat respectable films like that on their slate, will Inquest be just another copycat of Oliver Hischbiegel.s upcoming biopic Diana?...
- 4/17/2013
- cinemablend.com
Gabriel Range ("Death Of A President") will produce and direct "Lust for Life", a new biopic following the creative partnership between rock singers David Bowie and Iggy Pop.
Screenplay is by Robin French based on numerous biographies from the era, including author Paul Trynka's "Starman: David Bowie" and "Open Up and Bleed: Iggy Pop."
Brit Bowie who became a 'glam' rock star, was impressed with the work of American Iggy Pop and his band 'The Stooges'. After producing Iggy's album "Raw Power", Bowie helped Iggy overcome his debilitating heroin addiction, by supervising Iggy's concert comeback tour, with Bowie playing keyboards on stage alongside The Stooges.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Iggy Pop"...
Screenplay is by Robin French based on numerous biographies from the era, including author Paul Trynka's "Starman: David Bowie" and "Open Up and Bleed: Iggy Pop."
Brit Bowie who became a 'glam' rock star, was impressed with the work of American Iggy Pop and his band 'The Stooges'. After producing Iggy's album "Raw Power", Bowie helped Iggy overcome his debilitating heroin addiction, by supervising Iggy's concert comeback tour, with Bowie playing keyboards on stage alongside The Stooges.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Iggy Pop"...
- 2/10/2013
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
As evidenced in David Bowie’s new single, the fabled "Berlin years" of David Bowie and Iggy Pop continue to cast a long, gaunt shadow over rock ’n’ roll history. So now it’s time to turn that fable into a movie where two guys wear wigs and talk about drug addiction. Gabriel Range—director of the mockumentary Death Of A President, which imagined the assassination of George W. Bush—will indulge in just slightly less controversial fantasizing with Lust For Life, which imagines the nights of withdrawal and days of overdubs that produced that album, along with The Idiot ...
- 2/8/2013
- avclub.com
David Bowie and Iggy Pop's time in West Berlin in the seventies is immortalized in the hearts of fanboys and rock scholars — now it's time for a movie, Lust for Life, to immortalize it for everyone else. England's Altered Image and Berlin's Egoli Tossell Film will produce, with Gabriel Range, who helmed the George W. Bush assassination faux documentary Death of a President, set to direct. We're dying to know who'll tackle the role of Bowie, although "the central character of the film will be the divided city of West Berlin."...
- 2/8/2013
- by Zach Dionne
- Vulture
Gabriel Range (Death of a President) is attached to direct Lust for Life, a biopic about David Bowie’s time in West Berlin during the ’70s with Iggy Pop, from a screenplay by Robin French (the BBC’s sitcom ‘Cuckoo’ starring Andy Samberg). Producer Egoli Tossell said: (This) is not a traditional rock biopic (because) no one dies at the end. During the time they lived together in Berlin, the iconic pop duo created their seminal albums including Bowie’s ‘Low’ and Pop’s ‘The Idiot’ and ‘Lust for Life’. Bowie told earlier: Berlin was the first time in years that I had felt a joy of life and...
- 2/7/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
1.) With the release of Monsters director Gareth Edwards' "gritty" Godzilla reboot just 15 months away, it's hard to believe we still don't have anything official in terms of casting. The film is currently awaiting a rewrite from Frank Darabont (The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption), while simultaneously trying to build its cast in time for a March start date, though no deals will officially be made until the script is completed. The artist formerly known as Aaron Johnson was previously discussed as a possible lead, and it seems he is still in talks for the role. The latest news has Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Argo's Bryan Cranston in talks to co-star. There are no character details of yet, but expect something more in the coming days as Legendary Pictures only has a few weeks to pull this thing together. Variety 2.) Matt Smith ("Doctor Who") has landed...
- 2/7/2013
- by Kevin Blumeyer
- Rope of Silicon
Death of a President director Gabriel Range has signed on to direct Lust for Life , a biopic that follows the creative partnership of music legends David Bowie and Iggy Pop, says a story at The Hollywood Reporter . Scripted by Robin French, the film is based on a number of biographies, said to include Paul Trynka's "Starman: David Bowie" and "Open Up and Bleed: Iggy Pop." The story of Bowie and Pop's 1970's British glam rock revoution previously inspired an unofficial biopic in Todd Hayne's 1998 drama Velvet Goldmine , starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the Bowie role and Ewan McGregor as the faux Pop. Range will produce Lust for Life alongside Jens Meurer.
- 2/7/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Death of a President director Gabriel Range will explore pair's friendship and collaborations in Germany in the 70s
A new film will tell the story of Iggy Pop and David Bowie's years in West Berlin. The British-German co-production will be directed by Gabriel Range, best-known for his movie about an imaginary assassination of George W Bush.
"[This] is not a traditional rock biopic [because] no one dies at the end," producer Egoli Tossell said. Tentatively titled Lust for Life, Range's film will explore the period when Pop and Bowie had relocated to Germany, collaborating on 1977's Low and the Stooges leader's first two solo albums. It's an era that Bowie himself has recently returned to, paying tribute to Potsdamer Platz and Nürnberger Strasse in his new single.
"Berlin was the first time in years that I had felt a joy of life and a great feeling of release and healing," Bowie...
A new film will tell the story of Iggy Pop and David Bowie's years in West Berlin. The British-German co-production will be directed by Gabriel Range, best-known for his movie about an imaginary assassination of George W Bush.
"[This] is not a traditional rock biopic [because] no one dies at the end," producer Egoli Tossell said. Tentatively titled Lust for Life, Range's film will explore the period when Pop and Bowie had relocated to Germany, collaborating on 1977's Low and the Stooges leader's first two solo albums. It's an era that Bowie himself has recently returned to, paying tribute to Potsdamer Platz and Nürnberger Strasse in his new single.
"Berlin was the first time in years that I had felt a joy of life and a great feeling of release and healing," Bowie...
- 2/7/2013
- by Sean Michaels
- The Guardian - Film News
A David Bowie and Iggy Pop movie biopic is in the works.
Lust for Life will chart the famous friendship between the two musicians, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Death of a President director Gabriel Range is attached to helm the film, which will be produced by Altered Image and Egoli Tossell Film.
Lust for Life will centre on the period in the 1970s when Bowie and Pop lived together in Berlin and produced their seminal albums Idiot, Lust for Life and Low.
The story of the pair's glam rock lifestyle inspired Todd Hayne's unofficial 1998 biopic Velvet Goldmine, which starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor in roles based on Bowie and Pop.
Bowie recently returned with 'Where Are We Now?' - his first new single in a decade. Watch the video below:...
Lust for Life will chart the famous friendship between the two musicians, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Death of a President director Gabriel Range is attached to helm the film, which will be produced by Altered Image and Egoli Tossell Film.
Lust for Life will centre on the period in the 1970s when Bowie and Pop lived together in Berlin and produced their seminal albums Idiot, Lust for Life and Low.
The story of the pair's glam rock lifestyle inspired Todd Hayne's unofficial 1998 biopic Velvet Goldmine, which starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ewan McGregor in roles based on Bowie and Pop.
Bowie recently returned with 'Where Are We Now?' - his first new single in a decade. Watch the video below:...
- 2/7/2013
- Digital Spy
Gabriel Range ("Little Matador," "Death Of A President") has come onboard to direct a biopic based on David Bowie and Iggy Pop’s collaboration in West Berlin in 1976.
Altered Image and Egoli Tossell Film are teaming to co-produce the project, entitled "Lust for Life," which will explore the friendship and creative collaboration of the charismatic musicians.
The pair produced some of their best work in the divided city. Range helms from a screenplay by writer-musician Robin French ("Cuckoo").
Source: Screen Daily...
Altered Image and Egoli Tossell Film are teaming to co-produce the project, entitled "Lust for Life," which will explore the friendship and creative collaboration of the charismatic musicians.
The pair produced some of their best work in the divided city. Range helms from a screenplay by writer-musician Robin French ("Cuckoo").
Source: Screen Daily...
- 2/7/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
While the '70s were a musical stew of rock, glam, disco, punk and the early seeds of new wave and hip hop, there are few figures to emerge from the era who have endured quite like David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Together, they delivered some of the most iconic records of the era, and now someone wants to bring that story to the big screen. Gabriel Range, the helmer behind the kinda gimmicky "Death Of A President," will direct "Lust For Life" which puts Bowie and Pop front and center. Written by Robin French (the BBC comedy series "Cuckoo" starring Andy Samberg), the movie will zero in on the musicians' fertile collaboratie period in West Berlin in the 1970s, where Bowie would help Pop write and records his albums The Idiot and Lust For Life (Pop would reciprocate by appearing on Bowie's Low). The books "Starman: David Bowie" and...
- 2/6/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Berlin -- Brit producers Altered Image have joined forces with Berlin-based Egoli Tossell Film to co-produce Lust for Life, a biopic about the legendary collaboration between pop stars David Bowie and Iggy Pop in 1970s West Berlin. Gabriel Range (Death of a President) is attached to direct Lust for Life from a screenplay by Robin French, a writer for BBC comedy series Cuckoo. Range will co-produce through his Altered Image shingle together with Egoli Tossell's Jens Meurer. Video: Iggy Pop Serenades Jennifer Lopez on 'American Idol' Pop and Bowie relocated to West Berlin in the late ’70s and began
read more...
read more...
- 2/6/2013
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Montreal International Black Film Festival will close its 7th edition with I Am Slave, based on the life of Mende Nazer, a 21st century slave.
“We’re proud to close the festival with such an intense film and have its director Gabriel Range with us, here in Montreal”, declared Mibff programming director Émile Castonguay.
I Am Slave, official selection of the 2010 Tiff, is the latest film of Gabriel Range, who directed Death of a President. It was written by Jeremy Brock, who also wrote The Last King of Scotland, for which Forest Whitaker won an Oscar for Best Actor. Gabriel Range wanted to depict Mende Nazer’s dramatic life, “This woman demonstrated exemplary courage. She’s an inspiration to us all. I hope this film will raise awareness and start a debate to stop slavery.”
Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Malia, the daughter of wrestling champion Bah, gets kidnapped from her Sudanese...
“We’re proud to close the festival with such an intense film and have its director Gabriel Range with us, here in Montreal”, declared Mibff programming director Émile Castonguay.
I Am Slave, official selection of the 2010 Tiff, is the latest film of Gabriel Range, who directed Death of a President. It was written by Jeremy Brock, who also wrote The Last King of Scotland, for which Forest Whitaker won an Oscar for Best Actor. Gabriel Range wanted to depict Mende Nazer’s dramatic life, “This woman demonstrated exemplary courage. She’s an inspiration to us all. I hope this film will raise awareness and start a debate to stop slavery.”
Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Malia, the daughter of wrestling champion Bah, gets kidnapped from her Sudanese...
- 9/5/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
From the award winning team behind ‘Death Of A President’ and ‘The Last King Of Scotland’, I Am Slave is a hard-hitting thriller about the horror and brutality of the modern day slave trade and one woman’s fight to escape from it.
Directed by Gabriel Range and written by Jeremy Brock, the film is based on the real-life experiences of a young African girl called Mende Nazer and will be released on retail DVD by High Fliers on August 22nd.
It stars Isaach De Bankole (‘24’; ‘Casino Royale’; ‘Miami Vice’), Wunmi Mosaku (‘Law & Order UK’; ‘Silent Witness’) and Lubna Azabal (’Body of Lies’; ‘Coriolanus’) and was nominated for a BAFTA at this year’s Awards.
The film tells the story of twelve-year-old Malia who is snatched from her father during a Muharaleen raid on their Sudanese village in the Nubar Mountains and sold into slavery to a woman in Khartoum.
Directed by Gabriel Range and written by Jeremy Brock, the film is based on the real-life experiences of a young African girl called Mende Nazer and will be released on retail DVD by High Fliers on August 22nd.
It stars Isaach De Bankole (‘24’; ‘Casino Royale’; ‘Miami Vice’), Wunmi Mosaku (‘Law & Order UK’; ‘Silent Witness’) and Lubna Azabal (’Body of Lies’; ‘Coriolanus’) and was nominated for a BAFTA at this year’s Awards.
The film tells the story of twelve-year-old Malia who is snatched from her father during a Muharaleen raid on their Sudanese village in the Nubar Mountains and sold into slavery to a woman in Khartoum.
- 8/23/2011
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
The list of nominees in the fiction categories at the 51st Monte Carlo Television Festival, to be held in June, is as follows: TV Films Best Television Film
Born Without Childbirth (Czech Republic)
Death Of A President (France)
Mademoiselle (France)
Defenseless (Germany)
Kongo (Germany)
Edda Ciano and the Communist Man (Italy)
A School Behind Bars (Japan)
The Goddess of the Toilet (Japan)
Threads of our Hearts (Japan)
It's Me, Grandma (South Korea) Best Director
Filip Renc - Born Without Childbirth (Czech Republic)
Pierre Aknine - Death Of A President (France)
Christian Faure - Mademoiselle (France)
René Heisig - Defenseless (Germany)
Peter Keglevic - Kongo (Germany)
Graziano Diana - Edda Ciano and the Communist Man (Italy)
Makoto Kiyohiro - A School Behind Bars (Japan)
Hajime Takezono - The Goddess of the (more)...
Born Without Childbirth (Czech Republic)
Death Of A President (France)
Mademoiselle (France)
Defenseless (Germany)
Kongo (Germany)
Edda Ciano and the Communist Man (Italy)
A School Behind Bars (Japan)
The Goddess of the Toilet (Japan)
Threads of our Hearts (Japan)
It's Me, Grandma (South Korea) Best Director
Filip Renc - Born Without Childbirth (Czech Republic)
Pierre Aknine - Death Of A President (France)
Christian Faure - Mademoiselle (France)
René Heisig - Defenseless (Germany)
Peter Keglevic - Kongo (Germany)
Graziano Diana - Edda Ciano and the Communist Man (Italy)
Makoto Kiyohiro - A School Behind Bars (Japan)
Hajime Takezono - The Goddess of the (more)...
- 4/20/2011
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
While it’s not the media witch hunt of the mid-90s, it needs to be reiterated that movies and other pieces of art are not to blame for violent acts. A national tragedy has both left us numb and stirred up the slumbering emotions of a fevered national discourse, and while it’s important to air those grievances (no matter what end of the spectrum we fall on), it’s imperative that pundits of all stripes keep a level head and avoid irresponsibly throwing art under the bus for the sobering acts of one individual. Unfortunately, several media outlets have – in their hurry to toss more examples onto the argumentative fire – evoked the name of a four-year-old festival film from Britain (that few people saw) in order to help prove a trend in filmmaking of inciting violence against public officials. A trend, of course, that does not exist. To callously toss Death of a President out...
- 1/12/2011
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
A new docu-drama depicting what would have happened if Prince Harry was kidnapped by Taliban forces in Afghanistan is causing uproar in Britain.
The royal served just 10 weeks on duty with the British Army in Afghanistan in 2007 before news of his whereabouts leaked online and he returned home for security reasons.
Now an imaginary documentary, featuring a Harry lookalike, will air on British TV at the end of the month. It reportedly chronicles the prince's capture and mock execution.
The film, The Taking of Prince Harry, has sparked outrage in Britain with leading politicians calling the Channel 4 production "deeply distasteful" and "in incredible poor taste".
A spokesman for the British Army says, "The depiction, fictional or otherwise, of a member of the armed forces being taken hostage and mistreated is deeply distasteful."
According to news show Access Hollywood Live, royal family officials are holding crisis meetings to discuss the film, starring Sebastian Reid as Harry, and its implications.
A representative says, "Speculation about the security of Prince Harry, both as a serving member of the armed forces and as a senior member of the royal family is unhelpful."
A source close to the Prince tells The Daily Mirror, "He (Harry) was made aware of the film on Tuesday and you can imagine his reaction, he was furious."
Armed forces officials and senior royal aides are urging Channel 4 network bosses not to air the film, claiming the project will give terrorists a view of how the British government would operate if a prince was captured.
It's not the first time Channel 4 executives have come under attack for a fictional account of a 'what-if' scenario involving a leading world figure - in 2006's Death of a President, they depicted what might have happened if former U.S. President George W. Bush had been assassinated.
The royal served just 10 weeks on duty with the British Army in Afghanistan in 2007 before news of his whereabouts leaked online and he returned home for security reasons.
Now an imaginary documentary, featuring a Harry lookalike, will air on British TV at the end of the month. It reportedly chronicles the prince's capture and mock execution.
The film, The Taking of Prince Harry, has sparked outrage in Britain with leading politicians calling the Channel 4 production "deeply distasteful" and "in incredible poor taste".
A spokesman for the British Army says, "The depiction, fictional or otherwise, of a member of the armed forces being taken hostage and mistreated is deeply distasteful."
According to news show Access Hollywood Live, royal family officials are holding crisis meetings to discuss the film, starring Sebastian Reid as Harry, and its implications.
A representative says, "Speculation about the security of Prince Harry, both as a serving member of the armed forces and as a senior member of the royal family is unhelpful."
A source close to the Prince tells The Daily Mirror, "He (Harry) was made aware of the film on Tuesday and you can imagine his reaction, he was furious."
Armed forces officials and senior royal aides are urging Channel 4 network bosses not to air the film, claiming the project will give terrorists a view of how the British government would operate if a prince was captured.
It's not the first time Channel 4 executives have come under attack for a fictional account of a 'what-if' scenario involving a leading world figure - in 2006's Death of a President, they depicted what might have happened if former U.S. President George W. Bush had been assassinated.
- 10/7/2010
- WENN
For the past few months, the Internet has speculated about Cobalt Neural 9 (formerly CN9), the latest film from the Wachowski siblings following their divisive, family-friendly adaptation, Speed Racer.
Thus far, web journalists (including myself) have been referring to it as their “gay Iraq drama” because that’s the extent of what we know. It’s reportedly a cinema verite-style film about a homosexual U.S. soldier and an Iraqi who fall in love. Additionally, Web maven Arianna Huffington and nutty conspiracy theorist/former politician Jesse Ventura filmed test footage against green screens with Andy and Lana Wachowski in December 2009, and casting supposedly started this summer.
Luckily, Vulture got a hold of the script for more insight into the project. Their report starts by explaining the title isn’t particularly significant because it isn’t mentioned once in the story, so don’t bother trying to decipher its hidden meaning.
Thus far, web journalists (including myself) have been referring to it as their “gay Iraq drama” because that’s the extent of what we know. It’s reportedly a cinema verite-style film about a homosexual U.S. soldier and an Iraqi who fall in love. Additionally, Web maven Arianna Huffington and nutty conspiracy theorist/former politician Jesse Ventura filmed test footage against green screens with Andy and Lana Wachowski in December 2009, and casting supposedly started this summer.
Luckily, Vulture got a hold of the script for more insight into the project. Their report starts by explaining the title isn’t particularly significant because it isn’t mentioned once in the story, so don’t bother trying to decipher its hidden meaning.
- 9/27/2010
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Reviewed at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival.
With a title like "I Am Slave," one can reasonably expect neither subtlety or uplift from this true-life drama about the plight of one young Sudanese girl who is taken from her village in and sold into serving a family of Arabs in contemporary England. And for about two-thirds of "I Am Slave" that presumption would seem accurate, as "Last King of Scotland" screenwriter Jeremy Brock has no objection to leaving the caps lock on at times when depicting the particularly brutal treatment that befalls the village princess-turned-urban slave Malia (Wunmi Mosaku). Nor does director Gabriel Range, who last caused a stir in Toronto in 2006 with the premiere of the faux assassination of President Bush drama "Death of a President," have any qualms about pushing buttons.
But patience is a virtue, for both the audience and Malia, as much of the heavyhandedness serves a...
With a title like "I Am Slave," one can reasonably expect neither subtlety or uplift from this true-life drama about the plight of one young Sudanese girl who is taken from her village in and sold into serving a family of Arabs in contemporary England. And for about two-thirds of "I Am Slave" that presumption would seem accurate, as "Last King of Scotland" screenwriter Jeremy Brock has no objection to leaving the caps lock on at times when depicting the particularly brutal treatment that befalls the village princess-turned-urban slave Malia (Wunmi Mosaku). Nor does director Gabriel Range, who last caused a stir in Toronto in 2006 with the premiere of the faux assassination of President Bush drama "Death of a President," have any qualms about pushing buttons.
But patience is a virtue, for both the audience and Malia, as much of the heavyhandedness serves a...
- 9/8/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
From the producer of The Last King Of Scotland, Andrea Calderwood, comes I Am Slave, directed by Gabriel Range, whose last film, Death of a President, from 2006, caused quite a bit of controversy thanks to its fictional account of an assassination of then president, George W. Bush.
I Am Slave, said to be inspired by real life events, is a thriller centered on London’s present-day slave trade, and stars Isaach de Bankolé, as a Sudanese father, whose young daughter is captured and sold to a wealthy Arab family, sent to London to work, unseen, trapped, without money, and no passport, behind the gates of their home, as her father desperately searches for her.
It screens at next month’s Toronto International Film Festival. And, while I tend to be weary of films like these, that show what I feel is a limited Pov of Africa and its people (see...
I Am Slave, said to be inspired by real life events, is a thriller centered on London’s present-day slave trade, and stars Isaach de Bankolé, as a Sudanese father, whose young daughter is captured and sold to a wealthy Arab family, sent to London to work, unseen, trapped, without money, and no passport, behind the gates of their home, as her father desperately searches for her.
It screens at next month’s Toronto International Film Festival. And, while I tend to be weary of films like these, that show what I feel is a limited Pov of Africa and its people (see...
- 8/27/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
The sophomore film from the director of Ex Drummer, Swedish thriller Bad Faith, Pablo Trapero's Carancho (my personal favorite film from Cannes 2010), Tsui Hark's Detective Dee, Tom Tykwer's Three and a host of others populate one of the more exciting lineups for the Tiff Contemporary World Cinema Program in recent years. Here's the complete lineup:
22nd of May Koen Mortier, Belgium World Premiere
The director of Ex-Drummer returns with an artful meditation on political violence. A security guard fails to prevent a horrific explosion in a shopping mall, then lives through the aftermath as a series of overlapping what-ifs.
Africa United Debs Gardner-Paterson, United Kingdom World Premiere
Africa United tells the extraordinary story of three Rwandan children and their bid to achieve their lifelong dream - to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg.
Aftershock Feng Xiaogang, China North American Premiere...
22nd of May Koen Mortier, Belgium World Premiere
The director of Ex-Drummer returns with an artful meditation on political violence. A security guard fails to prevent a horrific explosion in a shopping mall, then lives through the aftermath as a series of overlapping what-ifs.
Africa United Debs Gardner-Paterson, United Kingdom World Premiere
Africa United tells the extraordinary story of three Rwandan children and their bid to achieve their lifelong dream - to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg.
Aftershock Feng Xiaogang, China North American Premiere...
- 8/24/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Planning logistics and hiring crew for film productions like The Hurt Locker is hard graft with little in the way of glitter, Donall McCusker tells Jill Insley
Most people have pictures of their children, pets and partners on their iPhone. Not Donall McCusker: his gallery includes soldiers hefting large guns, profile shots of Arabic-looking men and perfectly timed snaps of explosions – the kind of thing that would immediately lead to his detention if spotted by airport security staff.
It might take him some time to convince them of his innocence: he was brought up in Belfast and still has a distinct accent which, combined with the photos, might start alarm bells ringing.
But McCusker has the best reason in the world to be carrying these photos: he was co-producer on the war film The Hurt Locker, which picked up six Academy Awards this year, and his photos are all...
Most people have pictures of their children, pets and partners on their iPhone. Not Donall McCusker: his gallery includes soldiers hefting large guns, profile shots of Arabic-looking men and perfectly timed snaps of explosions – the kind of thing that would immediately lead to his detention if spotted by airport security staff.
It might take him some time to convince them of his innocence: he was brought up in Belfast and still has a distinct accent which, combined with the photos, might start alarm bells ringing.
But McCusker has the best reason in the world to be carrying these photos: he was co-producer on the war film The Hurt Locker, which picked up six Academy Awards this year, and his photos are all...
- 5/14/2010
- by Jill Insley
- The Guardian - Film News
In spite of all its controversy and its Emmy and Toronto Film Festival awards, the faux documentary Death of a President was not worth all the hype it received four years ago. I won't say it was terrible, because I've come around to respect some of the positive things said about its purpose, but I certainly did not enjoy watching the film, which depicted the hypothetical assassination of George W. Bush using real footage of the former U.S. president.
However, I'm willing to give director Gabriel Range another shot, especially now that I've learned his next film comes from a script by one of the writers of The Last King of Scotland, Jeremy Brock. Though Peter Morgan may have been the better screenwriter involved in that adaptation, Brock's involvement with other decent British films, such as Charlotte Gray and Driving Lessons, which he also directed, are indicative of his talent.
However, I'm willing to give director Gabriel Range another shot, especially now that I've learned his next film comes from a script by one of the writers of The Last King of Scotland, Jeremy Brock. Though Peter Morgan may have been the better screenwriter involved in that adaptation, Brock's involvement with other decent British films, such as Charlotte Gray and Driving Lessons, which he also directed, are indicative of his talent.
- 2/6/2010
- by Christopher Campbell
- Cinematical
By Wrap Staff
ContentFilm International has acquired worldwide rights to the next film by the writer and producers of "The Last King of Scotland," the studio announced on Thursday.
The as yet untitled project will be directed by Gabriel Range ("Death of a President") and reunites Jeremy Brock and Andrea Calderwood, (writer and producer of "The Last King of Scotland").
The project is a thriller about the underground slave trade in London. Currently in production i...
ContentFilm International has acquired worldwide rights to the next film by the writer and producers of "The Last King of Scotland," the studio announced on Thursday.
The as yet untitled project will be directed by Gabriel Range ("Death of a President") and reunites Jeremy Brock and Andrea Calderwood, (writer and producer of "The Last King of Scotland").
The project is a thriller about the underground slave trade in London. Currently in production i...
- 2/4/2010
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
London -- Writer Jeremy Brock and producer Andrea Calderwood are reuniting to write and produce Gabriel Range's sophomore directorial outing.
The producer-writer team behind the award-winning "The Last King of Scotland" is uniting with Range on his follow-up to his debut outing "Death of a President."
Wunmi Mosaku, Isaach De Bankole, Lubna Azabal, Igal Naor, Hiam Abbass, Nonso Anozie and Nasser Memarzia are all cast in the project inspired by extraordinary real-life events currently shooting in Kenya.
Billed as a controversial thriller about London's slave trade it details the story of one woman's fight for freedom.
Produced by Calderwood and exec produced by Gail Egan, Liza Marshall, Katherine Butler and Range, the picture is bankrolled by the U.K. Film Council, Channel 4, Film Agency for Wales, Limelight and Molinare.
U.K.- and U.S.-based sales and finance house ContentFilm has taken worldwide sales duties on the...
The producer-writer team behind the award-winning "The Last King of Scotland" is uniting with Range on his follow-up to his debut outing "Death of a President."
Wunmi Mosaku, Isaach De Bankole, Lubna Azabal, Igal Naor, Hiam Abbass, Nonso Anozie and Nasser Memarzia are all cast in the project inspired by extraordinary real-life events currently shooting in Kenya.
Billed as a controversial thriller about London's slave trade it details the story of one woman's fight for freedom.
Produced by Calderwood and exec produced by Gail Egan, Liza Marshall, Katherine Butler and Range, the picture is bankrolled by the U.K. Film Council, Channel 4, Film Agency for Wales, Limelight and Molinare.
U.K.- and U.S.-based sales and finance house ContentFilm has taken worldwide sales duties on the...
- 2/4/2010
- by By Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Writer Jeremy Brock and producer Andrea Calderwood working on 90-minute one-off, which may get UK cinema release
Channel 4 is reuniting the makers of its award winning film The Last King Of Scotland to make a new drama inspired by the evils of people-trafficking.
The film, currently untitled, will bring together the writer Jeremy Brock and producer Andrea Calderwood on their first project since The Last King of Scotland, with which Forest Whitaker won the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin. The new film is being directed by Gabriel Range, who directed Channel 4's 2006 spoof documentary Death of a President.
Their new project tells the story of Malia, played by Moses Jones actor Wunmi Mosaku, who is snatched from her Sudanese village and sold into slavery before eventually being sent to work in London.
Co-starring will be Nonso Anozie, who appeared in the BBC1 Iraq film Occupation,...
Channel 4 is reuniting the makers of its award winning film The Last King Of Scotland to make a new drama inspired by the evils of people-trafficking.
The film, currently untitled, will bring together the writer Jeremy Brock and producer Andrea Calderwood on their first project since The Last King of Scotland, with which Forest Whitaker won the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin. The new film is being directed by Gabriel Range, who directed Channel 4's 2006 spoof documentary Death of a President.
Their new project tells the story of Malia, played by Moses Jones actor Wunmi Mosaku, who is snatched from her Sudanese village and sold into slavery before eventually being sent to work in London.
Co-starring will be Nonso Anozie, who appeared in the BBC1 Iraq film Occupation,...
- 2/4/2010
- by Ben Dowell
- The Guardian - Film News
After first debuting at the Cannes Film Festival some six months ago, Alejandro Amenábar's Agora has finally been picked up for distribution in the Us by Newmarket Films (who has released other indies like Death of a President and Passion of the Christ). Agora is an ambitious $60 million film that tells the story of religious conflict in Roman-governed Alexandria as the Christian and pagans battle, often violently, for religious and intellectual supremacy. The period story centers on he enlightened thinker Hypatia as well as both her philosophical and romantic conflicts. Rachel Weisz stars as does Max Minghella and Oscar Isaac. "Alejandro Amenábar has crafted a film that not only offers a visual spectacle but also deals with religious intolerance in a way that makes this film feel modern and relevant even though it is set centuries ago," said Exclusive Media Group (who recently bought Newmarket) co-chairmen Chris Ball in...
- 11/18/2009
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Here’s one way to stir up interest in a long-out-of-print book: do a cover story on it. Vanity Fair’s October article by contributing editor Sam Kashner on the making of The Death of a President, William Manchester’s bestselling 1967 account of the Kennedy assassination, has produced a surge in sales of the book, which Jackie Kennedy—after originally commissioning it—fought to have killed before its publication because it contained uncomfortable details about her husband and family. The book, which was published by Harper & Row but went out of print just years after it was published (Manchester’s son claims the Kennedy family has prevented new printings), was the No. 1 best-seller on AbeBooks.com during the month of September, according to spokesman Richard Davies, and continues to sell well. The most expensive copy—at an asking price of $1,603.81—is one Manchester inscribed to historian and former Kennedy aide Arthur Schlesinger.
- 10/14/2009
- Vanity Fair
London – Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan announced his resignation Wednesday morning, following a board meeting in which he told Channel 4 bosses that he would leave the broadcaster before the year-end.
The move brings to an end Duncan's five-year tenure atop the broadcaster behind such shows as "Death of a President" and multi Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire," and marks a likely end to merger talks between Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide that had been under discussion for almost a year.
It also mean that Channel 4 will be without a chairman and a chief executive by the end of the year, when current chairman Luke Johnson steps down, with speculation that ITV director of channels Peter Fincham, Talkback Thames chief executive Lorraine Heggessey, Channel 4 director of programs Kevin Lygo and BBC director of vision Jana Bennett could all pitch for the CEO job.
Duncan, who said that under his watch Channel 4 had "punched...
The move brings to an end Duncan's five-year tenure atop the broadcaster behind such shows as "Death of a President" and multi Oscar winner "Slumdog Millionaire," and marks a likely end to merger talks between Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide that had been under discussion for almost a year.
It also mean that Channel 4 will be without a chairman and a chief executive by the end of the year, when current chairman Luke Johnson steps down, with speculation that ITV director of channels Peter Fincham, Talkback Thames chief executive Lorraine Heggessey, Channel 4 director of programs Kevin Lygo and BBC director of vision Jana Bennett could all pitch for the CEO job.
Duncan, who said that under his watch Channel 4 had "punched...
- 9/16/2009
- by By Mimi Turner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
By Dylan Stableford
Vanity Fair sees dead people – as cover subjects.
This month the magazine published its third consecutive issue (fourth, if you count September’s Michael Jackson/Farrah Fawcett double issue) featuring a dead person on its cover.
This time, it’s Jackie Kennedy, illustrating a cover story about William Manchester’s 1967 book, “The Death of a President,” and the subsequent tussle over its publication.
Jackie O.'s Vf cover ...
Vanity Fair sees dead people – as cover subjects.
This month the magazine published its third consecutive issue (fourth, if you count September’s Michael Jackson/Farrah Fawcett double issue) featuring a dead person on its cover.
This time, it’s Jackie Kennedy, illustrating a cover story about William Manchester’s 1967 book, “The Death of a President,” and the subsequent tussle over its publication.
Jackie O.'s Vf cover ...
- 9/8/2009
- by Dylan Stableford
- The Wrap
William Manchester in Hartford in 1962; the photo of J.F.K. behind him was taken by Arnold Newman. Right, Jacqueline Kennedy in 1964. From John Manchester; by George Silk/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images. Sam Kashner’s cover story for the October issue unearths the story behind the best-selling book about the events of November 23, 1963: The Death of a President. Vf Daily sat down to talk with Kashner about J.F.K.’s assassination, the Kennedy family, and the chilling echoes of anti-Kennedy radicalism in today’s town-hall debates. Vf Daily: Do you think that The Death of a President is among the best books about J.F.K.'s assassination? Sam Kashner: Somewhere in the piece it says that there are about 2,000 books on the assassination, in every imaginable language. So I can't say I've read them all—I haven't read all of Nabokov—but I think Manchester's is a masterpiece.
- 8/31/2009
- Vanity Fair
Within months of J.F.K.’s death, the president’s widow asked William Manchester to write the authorized account of the assassination. He felt he couldn’t refuse her. Two years later, nearly broken by the task, Manchester found himself fighting a bitter, headline-making battle with Jackie and Bobby Kennedy over the finished book. The author chronicles the toll Manchester’s 1967 best-seller, The Death of a President, exacted—physically, emotionally, and financially—before it all but disappeared.
- 8/31/2009
- Vanity Fair
LONDON -- Channel 4 documentaries boss Hamish Mykura has been named head of the broadcaster's arts and documentaries for digital TV channel More4, reporting to director of content Kevin Lygo.
Mykura replaces Peter Dale, who has left to set up his own production company. He will retain his documentaries portfolio for the main channel alongside the More4 position.
"Through its close association with the British Documentary Film Foundation, More4 champions original documentaries from around the world, and so I am delighted that Hamish will be bringing his expertise in this area to the channel," Lygo said.
Mykura joins More4 -- home to such broadcasts as "Death of a President" and "The Trial of Tony Blair" -- at a time when the channel saw last year's share of viewers up 36% from the previous year.
Forthcoming highlights include "Kubrick's Cubes", which has access to the legendary filmmaker's private archives, and Brian Woods' "Chosen", a blistering expose of child abuse at a British public school.
Mykura replaces Peter Dale, who has left to set up his own production company. He will retain his documentaries portfolio for the main channel alongside the More4 position.
"Through its close association with the British Documentary Film Foundation, More4 champions original documentaries from around the world, and so I am delighted that Hamish will be bringing his expertise in this area to the channel," Lygo said.
Mykura joins More4 -- home to such broadcasts as "Death of a President" and "The Trial of Tony Blair" -- at a time when the channel saw last year's share of viewers up 36% from the previous year.
Forthcoming highlights include "Kubrick's Cubes", which has access to the legendary filmmaker's private archives, and Brian Woods' "Chosen", a blistering expose of child abuse at a British public school.
British broadcasters, led by the BBC, racked up a half-dozen of the key programming awards at the 35th annual International Emmy awards Monday night in New York.
The Street, a Granada Television production for BBC1, won for best drama series.
Street star Jim Broadbent shared best actor honors with Pierre Bokma, who was cited for his role in VPRO Television/IdtV Film BV's The Chosen One (the Netherlands).
Death of a President (Borough Films for More4, U.K.), about the fictional assassination of the U.S. president, won for best TV movie/miniseries. It debuted as a film at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and ran as a miniseries in the U.K.
Muriel Robin took home a solo trophy as best actress for playing the Black Widow title role on Ramona/ FTBF/To Do Today Prods. production of Marie Besnard: The Poisoner, a French production.
The academy's attempts to broaden the international list of winners worked in the category of children and young people, where Poland's TVP SA won for the live-action fairy tale The Magic Tree.
In addition to the programming nods, Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore received the I-Emmy Founders Award for his work against global warming and for launching the news channel Current TV.
The Street, a Granada Television production for BBC1, won for best drama series.
Street star Jim Broadbent shared best actor honors with Pierre Bokma, who was cited for his role in VPRO Television/IdtV Film BV's The Chosen One (the Netherlands).
Death of a President (Borough Films for More4, U.K.), about the fictional assassination of the U.S. president, won for best TV movie/miniseries. It debuted as a film at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and ran as a miniseries in the U.K.
Muriel Robin took home a solo trophy as best actress for playing the Black Widow title role on Ramona/ FTBF/To Do Today Prods. production of Marie Besnard: The Poisoner, a French production.
The academy's attempts to broaden the international list of winners worked in the category of children and young people, where Poland's TVP SA won for the live-action fairy tale The Magic Tree.
In addition to the programming nods, Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore received the I-Emmy Founders Award for his work against global warming and for launching the news channel Current TV.
- 11/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Channel 4 on Monday said it will go ahead with the broadcast of a film showing previously unseen photographs of Princess Diana in the car crash that killed her in 1997, despite anger from the late Princess' friends and criticism from politicians.
The broadcaster, which earlier this year stoked controversy with the fictionalized assassination of President George Bush in Death of a President, has denied the program is sensationalizing Diana's death and has described the film as "responsible," dismissing the media furor.
Channel 4 said it will broadcast Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel next week, to mark the 10th anniversary of the princess' death. Newspapers here have reported that the program features previously unpublished photographs of the princess receiving medical attention from a doctor as she lay dying in the back of the black Mercedes S-class vehicle in which her lover, Dodi Fayed, and the driver, Henri Paul, also were killed.
Very few of the photos taken by paparazzi and passers by on the night of the crash in August 1997 have surfaced in the media, and many were confiscated as evidence by the French legal authorities in the aftermath of the crash in the Pont d'Alma in Paris.
The broadcaster, which earlier this year stoked controversy with the fictionalized assassination of President George Bush in Death of a President, has denied the program is sensationalizing Diana's death and has described the film as "responsible," dismissing the media furor.
Channel 4 said it will broadcast Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel next week, to mark the 10th anniversary of the princess' death. Newspapers here have reported that the program features previously unpublished photographs of the princess receiving medical attention from a doctor as she lay dying in the back of the black Mercedes S-class vehicle in which her lover, Dodi Fayed, and the driver, Henri Paul, also were killed.
Very few of the photos taken by paparazzi and passers by on the night of the crash in August 1997 have surfaced in the media, and many were confiscated as evidence by the French legal authorities in the aftermath of the crash in the Pont d'Alma in Paris.
- 5/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Helen Mirren added another gong to her already overstuffed awards cabinet Tuesday night, winning the best actress award for her performance in ITV's Prime Suspect at the Royal Television Society television awards.
Mirren was recognized for performance as embattled female cop Jane Tennison in the final season of the show, which sees her character battling alcoholism and struggling to protect her collapsing career.
Michael Sheen's performance as comic legend Kenneth Williams in BBC4's Fantabulosa earned him the best actor award while writer-comedian Stephen Merchant won best comedy performance for Extras. West End audition show "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria" was named best entertainment show for BBC1 while More 4's Death of a President was voted best digital program.
ITV's wartime biopic Housewife 49 was named best single drama and ITV2's HBO-produced Entourage was voted best acquisition. The Queen screenwriter Peter Morgan was named best writer for Channel 4 drama Longford.
Mirren was recognized for performance as embattled female cop Jane Tennison in the final season of the show, which sees her character battling alcoholism and struggling to protect her collapsing career.
Michael Sheen's performance as comic legend Kenneth Williams in BBC4's Fantabulosa earned him the best actor award while writer-comedian Stephen Merchant won best comedy performance for Extras. West End audition show "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria" was named best entertainment show for BBC1 while More 4's Death of a President was voted best digital program.
ITV's wartime biopic Housewife 49 was named best single drama and ITV2's HBO-produced Entourage was voted best acquisition. The Queen screenwriter Peter Morgan was named best writer for Channel 4 drama Longford.
- 3/15/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Fresh off her best actress Oscar for The Queen, Helen Mirren is in the running for the Royal Television Society's top acting nod, this time for reprising the role of Detective Inspector Jane Tennyson in the final Prime Suspect, it was announced Monday.
The annual RTS awards will be held March 13 at the Grosvenor House hotel on London's Park Lane.
The Granada-produced drama that has gripped audiences since Mirren debuted the role in 1991 also has been nominated in the best drama series category along with Channel 4 cop drama Low Winter Sun and Sky One fairytale Hogfather.
Nominated alongside Mirren in the best actress category are Susan Lynch for her portrayal of a police sign-language interpreter who becomes involved with a deaf murder suspect in the BBC2/Blast Films production Soundproof and Julia Davis for her portrayal of '60s TV cook Fanny Cradock in BBC4 drama Fear of Fanny.
Jim Broadbent's portrayal of the British peer who attempted to befriend Moors murderer Myra Hindley in Longford, a Granada/HBO production for Channel 4, will compete for best actor against Philip Glenister in Life on Mars and Michael Sheen for his role in Kenneth Williams biopic Fantabulosa.
Controversial Channel 4 drama Death of a President will compete for the best digital channel program against BBC3 classical music extravaganza Manchester Passion and BBC4 entertainment show Charlie Brooker's Screen Wipe.
Doctor Who, Life on Mars and The Street are in competition for the best drama series award, while in the international category the HBO-produced Baghdad E.R. takes on Entourage and Canal Plus-produced Spiral.
The annual RTS awards will be held March 13 at the Grosvenor House hotel on London's Park Lane.
The Granada-produced drama that has gripped audiences since Mirren debuted the role in 1991 also has been nominated in the best drama series category along with Channel 4 cop drama Low Winter Sun and Sky One fairytale Hogfather.
Nominated alongside Mirren in the best actress category are Susan Lynch for her portrayal of a police sign-language interpreter who becomes involved with a deaf murder suspect in the BBC2/Blast Films production Soundproof and Julia Davis for her portrayal of '60s TV cook Fanny Cradock in BBC4 drama Fear of Fanny.
Jim Broadbent's portrayal of the British peer who attempted to befriend Moors murderer Myra Hindley in Longford, a Granada/HBO production for Channel 4, will compete for best actor against Philip Glenister in Life on Mars and Michael Sheen for his role in Kenneth Williams biopic Fantabulosa.
Controversial Channel 4 drama Death of a President will compete for the best digital channel program against BBC3 classical music extravaganza Manchester Passion and BBC4 entertainment show Charlie Brooker's Screen Wipe.
Doctor Who, Life on Mars and The Street are in competition for the best drama series award, while in the international category the HBO-produced Baghdad E.R. takes on Entourage and Canal Plus-produced Spiral.
- 2/27/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Unlike the U.S. market where some major exhibitors are boycotting the George W. Bush assassination film Death of a President, Canadian distributor Maple Pictures expects clear sailing when it releases the hot-button British documentary Oct. 27, day-and-date with its Newmarket Films release south of the border. "In Canada, we're not divided on George W. Bush. It would be hard to find a Bush supporter here," John Bain, senior vp at Toronto-based Maple Pictures, said this week. Maple is piggybacking on the Newmarket Films campaign for Death of a President, or DOAP as the film was called last month when it had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and picked up the critics' prize.
- 10/12/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Unlike the U.S. market where some major exhibitors are boycotting the George W. Bush assassination film Death of a President, Canadian distributor Maple Pictures expects clear sailing when it releases the hot-button British documentary Oct. 27, day-and-date with its Newmarket Films release south of the border. "In Canada, we're not divided on George W. Bush. It would be hard to find a Bush supporter here," John Bain, senior vp at Toronto-based Maple Pictures, said this week. Maple is piggybacking on the Newmarket Films campaign for Death of a President, or DOAP as the film was called last month when it had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and picked up the critics' prize.
- 10/12/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Quick Links > D.O.A.P > Newmarket Films Autumn brings us bright colored leaves and a reason to wear that old favorite sweater filled with holes, but with it comes a movie-watching menu with substance and when lucky, a ratification of positions of those in power. The folks at Newmarket Films know a thing or two about politics. Elections for the United States House of Representatives will be held on November 7, Death of a President will be released the weekend before. Coincidence? Don’t think so. The most controversial and buzzed-about films at this year's Toronto International Film Festival was Gabriel Range’s mockumentary follows the investigation of the fictional assassination of President George W. Bush in October 2007. Combining real archival footage with a credible but fictional story, this presents a fascinating and thought-provoking political thriller. Today we present the one-sheet – just click the small poster image on
- 9/29/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
A first-time director from Mexico has shocked critics by picking up the top award at this year's Toronto Film Festival in Canada for his romantic drama Bella. Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, 29, was voted favorite by movie-goers and his film scooped the prestigious People's Choice award on Saturday. The stunned director said, "I really hope that this is not a dream and that I don't wake up at film school. This festival is my first festival, it's my first film, it's my first everything." Bella beat out stiff competition from Patrice Leconte's Mon Meilleur Ami and the politically charged Dixie Chicks: Shut Up And Sing. The critics' best film prize went to the controversial mock documentary Death Of A President, which imagines the assassination of Us President George W. Bush. The jury said it was noted "for the audacity with which it distorts reality to reveal a larger truth."...
- 9/18/2006
- WENN
TORONTO -- Newmarket Films has picked up all U.S. rights to Death of a President, the most controversial film at this year's Toronto International Film Festival because of its realistic depiction of an imagined assassination of President Bush. The distributor paid $1 million for the film, and Maple Films paid $500,000 for all Canadian rights. Newmarket is expected to give President a wide release within the next few months. Financed by Film 4/Channel 4, it will air on U.K. television next month. Foreign sales, totaling around $3 million, have been completed to a consortium of distributors including France's Hart et Court, Italy's Lucky Red, the Netherland's A-Film, Belgium's Cineart and Switzerland's Frenetic. Director Gabriel Range's $2 million faux-documentary mixes real footage and dramatized segments to depict the aftermath of an October 2007 Bush assassination and its impact on U.S. civil liberties. The director was reportedly the subject of death threats just days before its Sunday world premiere, though sources close to the production said the reports were exaggerated.
- 9/12/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Newmarket Films has picked up all U.S. rights to Death of a President, the most controversial film at this year's Toronto International Film Festival because of its realistic depiction of an imagined assassination of President Bush. The distributor paid $1 million for the film, and Maple Films paid $500,000 for all Canadian rights. Newmarket is expected to give President a wide release within the next few months. Financed by Film 4/Channel 4, it will air on U.K. television next month. Foreign sales, totaling around $3 million, have been completed to a consortium of distributors including France's Hart et Court, Italy's Lucky Red, the Netherland's A-Film, Belgium's Cineart and Switzerland's Frenetic. Director Gabriel Range's $2 million faux-documentary mixes real footage and dramatized segments to depict the aftermath of an October 2007 Bush assassination and its impact on U.S. civil liberties. The director was reportedly the subject of death threats just days before its Sunday world premiere, though sources close to the production said the reports were exaggerated.
- 9/12/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.