WRITERS’ DEVELOPMENT
The U.K.’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) has partnered with “The Crown” producer Left Bank Pictures on the NFTS Diverse Writers Development Programthat kicks off in March 2024. It will select six emerging U.K. screenwriters from under-represented backgrounds to contribute their voices to the entertainment landscape and inject fresh perspectives into scripted drama.
The chosen writers will embark on a paid 10-week program, during which four full series ideas will be developed and pitched, with the aim of creating commercially viable television drama concepts. The participants will work through a curriculum designed by the NFTS. The initiative will connect writers with production executives from Left Bank Pictures and potentially other British production companies.
Applications are open now and close Oct. 31.
PROMOTION
Alexandre Moreau has been promoted to head of sales at Paris-based company Memento International. The executive will oversee Memento International’s slate of films and strategy, alongside Sata Cissokho, head of acquisitions. Moreau will be reporting to company CEO and owner Emilie Georges as she also focuses on her newly-launched production company Paradise City‘s development and production slate.
Moreau is replacing Mathieu Delaunay who recently left the company after eight years. During his tenure, Delaunay handled international sales on Asghar Farhadi’s “A Hero,” Dominik Moll’s “The Night of the 12th,” Kristoffer Borgli’s “Sick of Myself” and Tarik Saleh’s “Cairo Confidential,” among other prestige arthouse movies.
The company will announce new hires shortly. In the meantime, the sales team includes former head of sales Tanja Meissner, Vincent Comoy for marketing and sales, Anaïs Gagliardi for festivals manager and sales, and Paul Pelletier as new distribution and marketing coordinator.
“In today’s volatile market, Memento International remains a haven for filmmakers with a vision thanks to its limited lineup and its dedicated team,” said Cissokho and Moreau in a joint statement. “The past few years have been instrumental in defining our approach to international sales, and we are now more than ever committed to bringing unique voices to the world and keep on partnering with great filmmakers and distributors worldwide.”
Memento International is working on a selective slate of director-driven films from the likes of Luca Guadagnino, Cate Shortland, Asghar Farhadi, Malgorzata Szumowska, Jon Watts, Joachim Trier, Xavier Giannoli and Nuri Bilge Ceylan, among others.
The banner’s current slate includes Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert’s “Woman Of…” which competed at Venice, as well as Nora El Hourch’s Toronto Platform title “Sisterhood.”
DISTRIBUTION
Jio Studios and Maddock Films‘ Indian Air Force action film “Sky Force,” starring Akshay Kumar (“OMG 2”), will release on Oct. 2, 2024. The film marks three debuts – emerging actor Veer Pahariya and Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Kapur making their directorial debuts as co-directors. The film is produced by Dinesh Vijan and Jyoti Deshpande, with Amar Kaushik serving as creative producer.
