FESTIVAL
Patty Jenkins Set to Appear at HollyShorts Film Festival For Q&A
“Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins is set to open the Shorts on Film Program at the upcoming HollyShorts Film Festival with a Q&A.
Jenkins, who is also know for films including “Monster” and television including “The Killing” finale, will appear in conversation with Steve Bellamy, president of Kodak Motion Picture, on August 11 at TLC Chinese 6 theatre. Among the topics she’ll be discussing are her work, artistic process and the state of the industry.
This year’s HollyShorts, which runs from August 10-20, has received a record number of submissions on analog film. Kodak film grants will be awarded to winners in a number of categories, as part of the brand’s long-term collaboration with HollyShorts.
ACQUISITION
The BBC has acquired Australian crime drama “Black Snow” for BBC Four and BBC iPlayer from All3Media International. The six-part series stars Travis Fimmel, Jemmason Power, Talijah Blackman-Corowa, Eden Cassady, Seini Willett and Gulliver McGrath.
In the show, a small-town Australian high-school gathers for the ceremonial opening of a time-capsule buried by a class some 20 years ago, shortly after the murder of class-member Isabelle Baker. Isabelle’s family and the police are shocked when the capsule is opened to reveal cryptic messages in Isabelle’s written statement. The messages and other long-lost items suggest Isabelle knew she was in danger in the days leading to her murder and the case is re-opened.
“Black Snow” (6 x 55′) is produced by Goalpost Pictures for Stan, Australia and Sundance Now U.S..
VENICE AWARD
Production designer Tonino Zera, who created the sets for Roman Polanski’s “The Palace,” will receive the Campari Passion for Film Award of the 80th Venice Film Festival. The award “seeks to highlight the remarkable contribution given by the director’s closest collaborators to the fulfilment of the artistic project that each film represents.”
The ceremony will take place on Sept. 2 in the Palazzo del Cinema before the screening “The Palace.”
As well as “The Palace,” which plays Out of Competition at Venice, Zera’s credits include “The First King,” “Rose Island” and “Angel of Evil.” He is now working on Nick Hamm’s “William Tell.”
Among the directors he has worked with are Sam Mendes, Dennis Hopper, Jonathan Glazer and Spike Lee.
Zera said: “To receive [this award] is not only a personal honor, it is also a recognition of the importance of set design in the world of cinema. The award highlights the role played by visual narration, its ability to evoke emotions, and its power to transport audiences into the heart of a movie.”
MUSIC
The U.K.’s Music Walk of Fame has revealed 11 new music icons who are set to be honored in September. They are Janis Joplin, Harvey Goldsmith, UB40, Kiss FM founder Gordon Mac, Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson, The Sugarhill Gang, Eddy Grant, Buzzcocks, Billy Bragg, Shalamar and The Kinks.
Each artist will be honored with a stone on the historical music trail in London’s famed Camden Town. To coincide with the ceremony on Sept. 9, the organizers of the Music Walk of Fame – which was launched in 2019 to rival Hollywood’s – are also launching the Camden Music Festival, a free all day event.
STREAMING
Free streaming service Pluto TV has added five DAZN channels featuring soccer, darts and fights events across multiple territories. These include DAZN X Pluto TV International Football, DAZN Darts X Pluto TV and DAZN Fights X Pluto TV.
Pluto TV is also adding two women sports channels. DAZN Heldinned X Pluto TV, launching on the platform in Germany and Austria, will offer live broadcasts, highlights and on demand content related to women’s sports and disciplines such as UEFA Women Champions League, German first league and Ladies Professional Golf Association. DAZN Women Football, available in the Nordics, France and Latin America, will have women’s soccer programming.
CAREERS
The Edinburgh TV Festival has launched a new industry initiative to support those returning to the TV industry after a career break. Titled ReConnect, the scheme is supported by the festival’s charitable arm, The TV Foundation. The first cohort for the scheme come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and aim to resume their careers in the next 12 months. They will be given access to networking opportunities and bespoke introductions, among other support.
“Caring responsibilities, parenthood, health issues, bereavement – all these things can cause people to press pause on their careers but by creating pathways for them to return we hope to enrich the talent pool and slow the loss of experienced people, particularly women, in senior roles,” said Sarah Vignoles, talent schemes director for The TV Foundation.
