After reaping the rewards of a protracted growth spurt, Italy’s film industry is facing a forced slowdown as the country’s right-wing government dithers with modifications they plan to make to several key regulations, most significantly to the country’s now stalled tax incentives for film and TV production.
At a packed protest event held earlier this month in Rome’s Cinema Adriano multiplex, industry figures from all sectors – including producers, writers, actors and big-name directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Marco Bellocchio – lashed out against having to wait endlessly for the government to approve new guidelines so production companies can apply for the 40% tax credits that basically drive the business. Some are also concerned that their projects might end up not complying with still murky new eligibility criteria.
“We are waiting for the new regulatory framework, and more importantly we need to know how much money the government will grant,...
At a packed protest event held earlier this month in Rome’s Cinema Adriano multiplex, industry figures from all sectors – including producers, writers, actors and big-name directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Marco Bellocchio – lashed out against having to wait endlessly for the government to approve new guidelines so production companies can apply for the 40% tax credits that basically drive the business. Some are also concerned that their projects might end up not complying with still murky new eligibility criteria.
“We are waiting for the new regulatory framework, and more importantly we need to know how much money the government will grant,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The great Martin Scorsese returned to the Eternal City, accompanied by the star of the moment, Lily Gladstone, as the guests of honor of a gala dinner at the Hotel Hassler by the Spanish steps Wednesday night. The event, honoring Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and hosted by co-chief of Leone Film Group, Raffaella Leone, daughter of great Italian film director Sergio Leone, and Paolo Del Brocco, head of Rai Cinema, the Italian distributor of Killers. Hot off the film’s 10 Oscar nominations, including a record-setting 10th best director nod for Scorsese and the historic best actress nod for Gladstone as the first Native American nominated in the category, the event was a must-attend for the Italian film scene.
The Hollywood Reporter Roma was the only media outlet admitted to the event, and we were a fly on the wall for the parade of A-list industry guests, which...
The Hollywood Reporter Roma was the only media outlet admitted to the event, and we were a fly on the wall for the parade of A-list industry guests, which...
- 2/1/2024
- by Manuela Santacatterina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Wattpad Webtoon Studios, the entertainment arm of the user-generated fiction and comics entertainment outfit, and Italy’s Leone Film Group have announced two new adaptations based on hit young-adult Wattpad novels.
Taiwan-based author Ann Rae’s romantic mystery “The Locker Exchange,” which is set in a U.S. high school and has over 26 million reads globally on the Wattpad platform, is set to become an English and Italian-language feature film. And “Love Me, Love Me” by Italian writer Stefania S, which has scored 12 million reads in Italy, is to be adapted into an Italian-language series by Leone’s Lotus Production unit.
The two new adaptations expand on an existing deal that Leone inked last year to co-develop a slate of films for the Italian and international marketplace based on original fiction stories from Wattpad. That pact came after the two companies partnered to make a movie based on Blair Holden...
Taiwan-based author Ann Rae’s romantic mystery “The Locker Exchange,” which is set in a U.S. high school and has over 26 million reads globally on the Wattpad platform, is set to become an English and Italian-language feature film. And “Love Me, Love Me” by Italian writer Stefania S, which has scored 12 million reads in Italy, is to be adapted into an Italian-language series by Leone’s Lotus Production unit.
The two new adaptations expand on an existing deal that Leone inked last year to co-develop a slate of films for the Italian and international marketplace based on original fiction stories from Wattpad. That pact came after the two companies partnered to make a movie based on Blair Holden...
- 4/26/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Francesco Zippel’s Sergio Leone doc, which premieres on Tuesday at the Venice Film Festival, is the first portrait of the Italian master made with full support of his children Raffaella and Andrea.
Titled “Sergio Leone: The Man Who Invented America,” the high-profile doc is premiering in the Venice Classics section for docs on cinema. It features an impressive list of voices holding forth on what makes Leone special for them. Among these are: Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Giuseppe Tornatore, Frank Miller, Darren Aronofsky, Damien Chazelle and Robert De Niro (see clip).
But aside from Leone’s visionary talent as a director what emerges is that as his career escalated from the so-called “Dollars Trilogy” to “Once Upon a Time in the West” through to his final masterpiece, “Once Upon a Time in America,” Leone’s life was steeped in two inextricably linked passions: film and family.
Titled “Sergio Leone: The Man Who Invented America,” the high-profile doc is premiering in the Venice Classics section for docs on cinema. It features an impressive list of voices holding forth on what makes Leone special for them. Among these are: Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Giuseppe Tornatore, Frank Miller, Darren Aronofsky, Damien Chazelle and Robert De Niro (see clip).
But aside from Leone’s visionary talent as a director what emerges is that as his career escalated from the so-called “Dollars Trilogy” to “Once Upon a Time in the West” through to his final masterpiece, “Once Upon a Time in America,” Leone’s life was steeped in two inextricably linked passions: film and family.
- 9/6/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Disney+ has greenlit The Lions of Sicily, an Italian series based on Stefania Auci’s The Florios of Siciliy from Paolo Genovese.
The eight-parter tells the story of the Florio family. It follows brothers Paolo and Ignazio, two small spice merchants who have escaped from a Calabria stuck in the past and in search of social redemption. In Sicily they invent a future, turning a small, run-down shop into a flourish business activity that young Vincenzo, with his revolutionary ideas, will transform into an economic empire.
The series stars Michele Riondino, Miriam Leone, Donatella Finocchiaro, Vinicio Marchioni, Eduardo Scarpetta, Paolo Briguglia, Ester Pantano and Adele Cammarata.
The show is the latest to come from Disney+ Italy, which was also behind The Ignorant Angels.
“The Lions of Sicily confirms Disney+’s commitment to create Italian contents that enrich and make the already wide and varied offer of the platform unique,” said Daniel Frigo,...
The eight-parter tells the story of the Florio family. It follows brothers Paolo and Ignazio, two small spice merchants who have escaped from a Calabria stuck in the past and in search of social redemption. In Sicily they invent a future, turning a small, run-down shop into a flourish business activity that young Vincenzo, with his revolutionary ideas, will transform into an economic empire.
The series stars Michele Riondino, Miriam Leone, Donatella Finocchiaro, Vinicio Marchioni, Eduardo Scarpetta, Paolo Briguglia, Ester Pantano and Adele Cammarata.
The show is the latest to come from Disney+ Italy, which was also behind The Ignorant Angels.
“The Lions of Sicily confirms Disney+’s commitment to create Italian contents that enrich and make the already wide and varied offer of the platform unique,” said Daniel Frigo,...
- 7/6/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney+ has commenced production on Italian original series “The Lions of Sicily,” a family saga based on Stefania Auci’s bestseller “The Florios of Sicily.”
Principal photography has started in Rome and will take place between there and Sicily. It is directed by Paolo Genovese (“Superheroes”).
Set between 1800 and 1861, the eight-part series follows the Florio family where brothers Paolo and Ignazio are two small spice merchants who have escaped from a Calabria stuck in the past and in search of social redemption. In Sicily they invent a future, turning a small, run-down shop into a flourish business activity that young Vincenzo, with his revolutionary ideas, will transform into an economic empire. However, overwhelming Vincenzo’s life and that of the entire family is the disruptive arrival of Giulia, a strong and intelligent woman who is in contrast with the rigid rules of the society of the time.
The series is...
Principal photography has started in Rome and will take place between there and Sicily. It is directed by Paolo Genovese (“Superheroes”).
Set between 1800 and 1861, the eight-part series follows the Florio family where brothers Paolo and Ignazio are two small spice merchants who have escaped from a Calabria stuck in the past and in search of social redemption. In Sicily they invent a future, turning a small, run-down shop into a flourish business activity that young Vincenzo, with his revolutionary ideas, will transform into an economic empire. However, overwhelming Vincenzo’s life and that of the entire family is the disruptive arrival of Giulia, a strong and intelligent woman who is in contrast with the rigid rules of the society of the time.
The series is...
- 7/6/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Even before the pandemic, the foreign sales market became mired down with some risky bets, i.e. the over exorbitant Roland Emmerich sci-fi disaster title Moonfall which carried a 140M production cost (resulting in a 44.3M WW gross), and Simon Kinberg’s femme spy ensemble The 355 at a 75M cost (which grossed just under 28M WW).
But there’s arguably a safer way to make moolah in the foreign sales sphere and that’s off of YA feature adaptations.
True, it’s been a while since the grand slam days of Lionsgate’s Hunger Games series and Summit International’s Twilight franchise, however, these movies can be made off a low cost yielding singles, doubles, or even home runs at the box office. Or worst case scenario, be in the black simply off their sales to streamers. And if a movie strikes out, it doesn’t sting so...
But there’s arguably a safer way to make moolah in the foreign sales sphere and that’s off of YA feature adaptations.
True, it’s been a while since the grand slam days of Lionsgate’s Hunger Games series and Summit International’s Twilight franchise, however, these movies can be made off a low cost yielding singles, doubles, or even home runs at the box office. Or worst case scenario, be in the black simply off their sales to streamers. And if a movie strikes out, it doesn’t sting so...
- 5/16/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Wattpad Webtoon Studios, the user-generated fiction entertainment outfit, and Italy’s Leone Film Group have announced a deal to co-develop a slate of films for the Italian and international marketplace based on original fiction stories from Wattpad.
The pact is an expansion of their previously announced deal to make a film based on Blair Holden’s “The Bad Boy’s Girl,” which is among the most popular stories on the storytelling platform.
Australian writer Hannah Lehman, whose series “Two Sides,” released under Snapchat’s ‘Snap Originals’ in 2019, started out with a self-made pilot and reached 6.5 million views on Facebook, is set to pen the script.
Lehman also wrote and directed Facebook Watch’s first ever digital series, “The Unboxing.”
Leone Film Group has now also optioned the full series of novels in “The Bad Boy’s Girl” saga, which has more than 223 million reads on the platform.
Aside from the “Bad Boy’s Girl” franchise,...
The pact is an expansion of their previously announced deal to make a film based on Blair Holden’s “The Bad Boy’s Girl,” which is among the most popular stories on the storytelling platform.
Australian writer Hannah Lehman, whose series “Two Sides,” released under Snapchat’s ‘Snap Originals’ in 2019, started out with a self-made pilot and reached 6.5 million views on Facebook, is set to pen the script.
Lehman also wrote and directed Facebook Watch’s first ever digital series, “The Unboxing.”
Leone Film Group has now also optioned the full series of novels in “The Bad Boy’s Girl” saga, which has more than 223 million reads on the platform.
Aside from the “Bad Boy’s Girl” franchise,...
- 5/12/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
ViacomCBS International Studios and Italy’s Leone Film Group have forged a strategic partnership by signing a long-term agreement to co-produce a wide range of Italian content for the global market.
This potentially milestone pact between Vis and Leone — the prominent indie production and distribution shingle owned and operated by late master director Sergio Leone’s children Raffaella and Andrea — will create “vast opportunities for the development and creation of Italian language content, original, scripted, and unscripted formats,” the companies said in a joint statement.
“As part of its commitment to investing in quality content as a strategic lever to generate value for all platforms globally, Vis is bolstering its production capacities in Europe by tapping into the creativity and talent in Italy,” the statement added.
Italy now has an attractive 40% tax rebate for international productions and is in the process of radically revamping Rome’s iconic Cinecittà Studios in...
This potentially milestone pact between Vis and Leone — the prominent indie production and distribution shingle owned and operated by late master director Sergio Leone’s children Raffaella and Andrea — will create “vast opportunities for the development and creation of Italian language content, original, scripted, and unscripted formats,” the companies said in a joint statement.
“As part of its commitment to investing in quality content as a strategic lever to generate value for all platforms globally, Vis is bolstering its production capacities in Europe by tapping into the creativity and talent in Italy,” the statement added.
Italy now has an attractive 40% tax rebate for international productions and is in the process of radically revamping Rome’s iconic Cinecittà Studios in...
- 7/19/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Italy’s Leone Film Group has teamed up with Wattpad, the user-generated fiction entertainment company, to develop a feature film based on “The Bad Boy’s Girl,” which is among the most popular stories on the storytelling platform.
Leone Film Group, a leading Italian production and distribution company, has also optioned the full series of novels in author Blair Holden’s “The Bad Boy’s Girl” saga, which is touted as having more than 220 million online reads, with plans to turn it into a teen romance film franchise.
The story of “The Bad Boy’s Girl” revolves around protagonist Tessa O’Connell, who has only two goals for senior year: to keep her head down, and to get over the heartbreak of seeing her longtime crush date her ex-best friend, according to promotional materials.
“But Tessa fears the worst when her childhood bully, Cole, returns to town from military school.
Leone Film Group, a leading Italian production and distribution company, has also optioned the full series of novels in author Blair Holden’s “The Bad Boy’s Girl” saga, which is touted as having more than 220 million online reads, with plans to turn it into a teen romance film franchise.
The story of “The Bad Boy’s Girl” revolves around protagonist Tessa O’Connell, who has only two goals for senior year: to keep her head down, and to get over the heartbreak of seeing her longtime crush date her ex-best friend, according to promotional materials.
“But Tessa fears the worst when her childhood bully, Cole, returns to town from military school.
- 4/27/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: London-based production studio Pulse Films is expanding its global footprint with the addition of an office in Milan, Italy.
The move is part of a larger partnership with local indie Indiana Production, which has recent credits including Liam Neeson pic Made In Italy and The Burnt Orange Heresy. The endeavor will see Pulse produce Italian content across film, docs, TV, music and commercials under the banner Pulse Films Italia.
Kicking off the venture is a feature documentary about legendary Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone, which will be made in co-production with the Leone Film Group. Francesco Zippel is directing and writing the pic, which will chronicle how Leone became one of the most influential directors of his era. In particular, Leone is noted for his pioneering Spaghetti Western movies A Fistful Of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly,...
The move is part of a larger partnership with local indie Indiana Production, which has recent credits including Liam Neeson pic Made In Italy and The Burnt Orange Heresy. The endeavor will see Pulse produce Italian content across film, docs, TV, music and commercials under the banner Pulse Films Italia.
Kicking off the venture is a feature documentary about legendary Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone, which will be made in co-production with the Leone Film Group. Francesco Zippel is directing and writing the pic, which will chronicle how Leone became one of the most influential directors of his era. In particular, Leone is noted for his pioneering Spaghetti Western movies A Fistful Of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly,...
- 6/18/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Gianni Nunnari’s Hollywood Gang (300) is teaming with the producing arm of Leone Film Group, Lotus Productions, to co-produce Paolo Genovese’s upcoming English-language project The First Day Of My Life.
Pic is based on Genovese’s own novel. Kirk Jones (Everybody’s Fine) adapted the screenplay.
The story focuses on the lives of four struggling strangers. As each character grows increasingly despondent and seeks to end it all, they are offered a unique chance at redemption in the form of a disgruntled angel, who shows them what the world would be like without them.
The U.S.-Italy co-pro project is aiming to shoot in 2020. It will be filmed in English and dubbed into Italian for Italy.
Producers are Hollywood Gang and Lotus Productions Srl, the producing arm of the Leone Film Group run by Marco Belardi with Andrea and Raffaella Leone, the children of legendary Italian director Sergio Leone.
Pic is based on Genovese’s own novel. Kirk Jones (Everybody’s Fine) adapted the screenplay.
The story focuses on the lives of four struggling strangers. As each character grows increasingly despondent and seeks to end it all, they are offered a unique chance at redemption in the form of a disgruntled angel, who shows them what the world would be like without them.
The U.S.-Italy co-pro project is aiming to shoot in 2020. It will be filmed in English and dubbed into Italian for Italy.
Producers are Hollywood Gang and Lotus Productions Srl, the producing arm of the Leone Film Group run by Marco Belardi with Andrea and Raffaella Leone, the children of legendary Italian director Sergio Leone.
- 11/8/2019
- by Tom Grater and Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Stefano Sollima, the Italian director known in Hollywood for “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” and TV series “Gomorrah,” is set to shoot “Colt,” an English-language Western based on a Sergio Leone concept. The plan is to start shooting next winter.
“Colt” is being produced by Leone’s children Raffaella and Andrea, via their Leone Film Group. They are shopping the project in Cannes to prospective U.S. partners.
Originally conceived as a TV series, “Colt” takes its cue from the six-shooter packed by Clint Eastwood in “A Fistful of Dollars,” which becomes a narrative device as it is passes from owner to owner throughout the Old West.
Sollima, who is in advanced talks for a top U.S. writer to come on board, has tweaked Leone’s concept so that the gun changes hands between kids.
“It’s a coming-of-age story of three kids, aged 12 or 13, who as orphans come into possession of this weapon,...
“Colt” is being produced by Leone’s children Raffaella and Andrea, via their Leone Film Group. They are shopping the project in Cannes to prospective U.S. partners.
Originally conceived as a TV series, “Colt” takes its cue from the six-shooter packed by Clint Eastwood in “A Fistful of Dollars,” which becomes a narrative device as it is passes from owner to owner throughout the Old West.
Sollima, who is in advanced talks for a top U.S. writer to come on board, has tweaked Leone’s concept so that the gun changes hands between kids.
“It’s a coming-of-age story of three kids, aged 12 or 13, who as orphans come into possession of this weapon,...
- 5/16/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
In a key step in its ongoing expansion Leone Film Group in 2014 partnered with young producer Marco Belardi and bought his small but commercially flourishing Lotus Production shingle, which has since become a bigger affair.
Raffaella Leone says while Lfg was being floated on the Milan bourse she knew they “had to guarantee content” to investors beyond titles available in Hollywood and on the international market at large. She also knew it was tough to build a production company from scratch, since “production was not our specific know-how.”
So Raffaella and Andrea zeroed in on Lotus, which in 10 years of activity had forged exclusive relationships with up-and-coming Italian directors such as Paolo Genovese, now known for 2016 megahit “Perfect Strangers.” After a few meetings, Belardi and the Leones struck up “a good personal feeling,” she says. And from there sprung a “fortunate match.”
Belardi recalls he was a bit taken aback...
Raffaella Leone says while Lfg was being floated on the Milan bourse she knew they “had to guarantee content” to investors beyond titles available in Hollywood and on the international market at large. She also knew it was tough to build a production company from scratch, since “production was not our specific know-how.”
So Raffaella and Andrea zeroed in on Lotus, which in 10 years of activity had forged exclusive relationships with up-and-coming Italian directors such as Paolo Genovese, now known for 2016 megahit “Perfect Strangers.” After a few meetings, Belardi and the Leones struck up “a good personal feeling,” she says. And from there sprung a “fortunate match.”
Belardi recalls he was a bit taken aback...
- 5/10/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Ansel Elgort is going to high school, “Rockaway” gets a release, and “Suspiria” producer Bradley Fischer is honored.
Casting
Ansel Elgort has come aboard to star in the drama “The Great High School Imposter” for Participant Media and Condé Nast Entertainment.
The project is based on a Daniel Riley GQ Magazine article published this year about Artur Samarin, a young Ukranian man who posed as a teenager so he could be adopted by a childless couple in a small Pennsylvania town and became the top student in his high school. Saramin was five years older than he claimed. His adopted parents turned him into the authorities.
Mike Makowsky is adapting the script. Jeremy Steckler of Condé Nast Entertainment is producing. Makowsky, Elgort, and Emily Gerson Saines will be executive producers. Robert Kessel and Jonathan King are overseeing for Participant.
Elgort starred in “The Fault in Our Stars...
Casting
Ansel Elgort has come aboard to star in the drama “The Great High School Imposter” for Participant Media and Condé Nast Entertainment.
The project is based on a Daniel Riley GQ Magazine article published this year about Artur Samarin, a young Ukranian man who posed as a teenager so he could be adopted by a childless couple in a small Pennsylvania town and became the top student in his high school. Saramin was five years older than he claimed. His adopted parents turned him into the authorities.
Mike Makowsky is adapting the script. Jeremy Steckler of Condé Nast Entertainment is producing. Makowsky, Elgort, and Emily Gerson Saines will be executive producers. Robert Kessel and Jonathan King are overseeing for Participant.
Elgort starred in “The Fault in Our Stars...
- 12/18/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Co-chief Raffaella Leone talks future plans for the high-end distribution and production outfit.
Italy’s historic film company the Leone Film Group – founded by late “spaghetti western” maestro Sergio Leone and now run by his heirs Andrea and Raffaella - has gone from strength to strength since floating on the Milan stock market at the end of 2013. Under the new management of Leone’s children, it has expanded into a major high-end distribution and production player in Italy, updating its line-up to appeal to younger generations in the process.
The company currently has output deals with Lionsgate, DreamWorks and Summit Entertainment and has several high-profile titles on its slate this year including La La Land, The Girl On The Train and Hacksaw Ridge. It also has growing clout as a domestic producer through the success of Marco Belardi’s Lotus Production, acquired by the company in July 2104, with films like Paolo Genovese’s hit comedy Perfect Strangers...
Italy’s historic film company the Leone Film Group – founded by late “spaghetti western” maestro Sergio Leone and now run by his heirs Andrea and Raffaella - has gone from strength to strength since floating on the Milan stock market at the end of 2013. Under the new management of Leone’s children, it has expanded into a major high-end distribution and production player in Italy, updating its line-up to appeal to younger generations in the process.
The company currently has output deals with Lionsgate, DreamWorks and Summit Entertainment and has several high-profile titles on its slate this year including La La Land, The Girl On The Train and Hacksaw Ridge. It also has growing clout as a domestic producer through the success of Marco Belardi’s Lotus Production, acquired by the company in July 2104, with films like Paolo Genovese’s hit comedy Perfect Strangers...
- 11/7/2016
- ScreenDaily
The Leone Film Group has begun developing an English-language TV series titled "Colt," based on an idea developed by the late and great iconic spaghetti western filmmaker Sergio Leone.
The concept centers around the six-shooter gun packed by Clint Eastwood in "For a Fistful of Dollars." In 1987 Sergio Leone hooked up with his old writing partners Sergio Donati and Fulvio Morsella to work on an idea for a TV series about a Colt revolver that passes from owner to owner throughout the Old West.
Leone was said to be interested in a more naturalistic take on the Spaghetti Western genre than his earlier works, hoping to show the Old West "like it really was." Donati wrote a treatment draft, but then the project was abandoned.
Italian director Stefano Sollima (Sky's "Gomorra") will direct the first two episodes and act as showrunner along with writing the screenplay alongside Luca Infascelli and Massimo Gaudioso.
The concept centers around the six-shooter gun packed by Clint Eastwood in "For a Fistful of Dollars." In 1987 Sergio Leone hooked up with his old writing partners Sergio Donati and Fulvio Morsella to work on an idea for a TV series about a Colt revolver that passes from owner to owner throughout the Old West.
Leone was said to be interested in a more naturalistic take on the Spaghetti Western genre than his earlier works, hoping to show the Old West "like it really was." Donati wrote a treatment draft, but then the project was abandoned.
Italian director Stefano Sollima (Sky's "Gomorra") will direct the first two episodes and act as showrunner along with writing the screenplay alongside Luca Infascelli and Massimo Gaudioso.
- 5/25/2016
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Exclusive: Road movie has premiered at Cannes in Directors’ Fortnight.
Bac Films has racked up sales on Italian director Paolo Virzi’s comedy road movie Like Crazy (Pazza Gioia) following its well-received premiere in Directors’ Fortnight.
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti star as two unlikely allies who break out a secure psychiatric unit and hit the road on a journey of liberation.
In Cannes, the film has sold to Scandinavia (Scanbox), Portugal (Alambique), Canada (Axia Film), Colombia (Babilla Cine) and Taiwan (Av-Jet International), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Turkey (Filmarti) Brazil (Imovision) and Argentina (Cdi Films).
Previously done deals include to Benelux (Imagine), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Germany (Neue Visionen), Spain (Caramel Films), Greece (Strada), Austria (Filmladen), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Hungary (Vertigo), Israel (Lev Cinema) and Australia (Hi Gloss Entertainment).
The film is produced by Lotus Production, a subsidiary of the Leone Films Group which is headed by the late Sergio Leone’s daughter Raffaella Leone, with the backing...
Bac Films has racked up sales on Italian director Paolo Virzi’s comedy road movie Like Crazy (Pazza Gioia) following its well-received premiere in Directors’ Fortnight.
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti star as two unlikely allies who break out a secure psychiatric unit and hit the road on a journey of liberation.
In Cannes, the film has sold to Scandinavia (Scanbox), Portugal (Alambique), Canada (Axia Film), Colombia (Babilla Cine) and Taiwan (Av-Jet International), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Turkey (Filmarti) Brazil (Imovision) and Argentina (Cdi Films).
Previously done deals include to Benelux (Imagine), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Germany (Neue Visionen), Spain (Caramel Films), Greece (Strada), Austria (Filmladen), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Hungary (Vertigo), Israel (Lev Cinema) and Australia (Hi Gloss Entertainment).
The film is produced by Lotus Production, a subsidiary of the Leone Films Group which is headed by the late Sergio Leone’s daughter Raffaella Leone, with the backing...
- 5/17/2016
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Road movie has premiered at Cannes in Directors’ Fortnight.
Bac Films has racked up sales on Italian director Paolo Virzi’s comedy road movie Still Crazy (Pazza Gioia) following its well-received premiere in Directors’ Fortnight.
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti star as two unlikely allies who break out a secure psychiatric unit and hit the road on a journey of liberation.
In Cannes, the film has sold to Scandinavia (Scanbox), Portugal (Alambique), Canada (Axia Film), Colombia (Babilla Cine) and Taiwan (Av-Jet International), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Turkey (Filmarti) Brazil (Imovision) and Argentina (Cdi Films).
Previously done deals include to Benelux (Imagine), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Germany (Neue Visionen), Spain (Caramel Films), Greece (Strada), Austria (Filmladen), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Hungary (Vertigo), Israel (Lev Cinema) and Australia (Hi Gloss Entertainment).
The film is produced by Lotus Production, a subsidiary of the Leone Films Group which is headed by the late Sergio Leone’s daughter Raffaella Leone, with the backing...
Bac Films has racked up sales on Italian director Paolo Virzi’s comedy road movie Still Crazy (Pazza Gioia) following its well-received premiere in Directors’ Fortnight.
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Micaela Ramazzotti star as two unlikely allies who break out a secure psychiatric unit and hit the road on a journey of liberation.
In Cannes, the film has sold to Scandinavia (Scanbox), Portugal (Alambique), Canada (Axia Film), Colombia (Babilla Cine) and Taiwan (Av-Jet International), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Turkey (Filmarti) Brazil (Imovision) and Argentina (Cdi Films).
Previously done deals include to Benelux (Imagine), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Germany (Neue Visionen), Spain (Caramel Films), Greece (Strada), Austria (Filmladen), ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Hungary (Vertigo), Israel (Lev Cinema) and Australia (Hi Gloss Entertainment).
The film is produced by Lotus Production, a subsidiary of the Leone Films Group which is headed by the late Sergio Leone’s daughter Raffaella Leone, with the backing...
- 5/17/2016
- ScreenDaily
Companies look to build on growing number of Us and international shoots in Italy.
Cinecittà Studios and The Hateful Eight co-distributor Leone Film Group are teaming up with the ambition to attract international productions to the country.
The union is aimed at growing ties with Us and international producers and promoting Rome’s Cinecittà as a shoot facility for incoming productions.
Cinecittà will offer its facilities (20 sound stages and outdoor locations), set building workshops shooting equipment and post-production services to producers, while Leone, the production and distribution outfit founded by Sergio Leone, and which has strong distribution ties with Lionsgate, Dreamworks and The Weinstein Company, will offer expertise about the territory, including knowledge of the local tax credit.
In recent years, Italy has welcomed a string of major international productions including Ben Hur, Nine, Zoolander 2, Everest and Spectre.
Cinecittà served as executive producer on MGM and Paramount’s Ben Hur remake.
“This joint venture...
Cinecittà Studios and The Hateful Eight co-distributor Leone Film Group are teaming up with the ambition to attract international productions to the country.
The union is aimed at growing ties with Us and international producers and promoting Rome’s Cinecittà as a shoot facility for incoming productions.
Cinecittà will offer its facilities (20 sound stages and outdoor locations), set building workshops shooting equipment and post-production services to producers, while Leone, the production and distribution outfit founded by Sergio Leone, and which has strong distribution ties with Lionsgate, Dreamworks and The Weinstein Company, will offer expertise about the territory, including knowledge of the local tax credit.
In recent years, Italy has welcomed a string of major international productions including Ben Hur, Nine, Zoolander 2, Everest and Spectre.
Cinecittà served as executive producer on MGM and Paramount’s Ben Hur remake.
“This joint venture...
- 2/22/2016
- ScreenDaily
The 20th edition of the Capri-Hollywood International Film Festival wrapped Saturday night, with Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight proving to be the big winner of the festivities. The director’s eighth pic took home four awards, including best movie, best actor for Samuel L. Jackson, best supporting actress for Jennifer Jason Leigh and best score for Ennio Morricone. The film, set to be released Feb. 4 in Italy, is being distributed by the Leone Group’s Andrea and Raffaella Leone, who were also honored during the fest with Capri’s producers of the year award. Among other big winners on the night,
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- 1/2/2016
- by Ariston Anderson
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical
Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America' was just released on Blu-ray this January. If you purchased a copy of the disc, you're unfortunately already the unlucky owner of an outdated cut. Variety reports that Andrea and Raffaella Leone (the maestro's children) have picked up the Italian rights to the 1984 gangster tale and will be working with Bologna Cinemetheque L'Immagine Ritrovata to digitally restore the film. They're also going to be adding 40 minutes of original footage to the new director's cut.
All restoration is being supervised by 'America's' original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai. The film's in good hands with Bologna Cinematheque, who have worked on Leone's epic spaghetti westerns and also manage the Charlie Chaplin archives. An Italian theatrical release and VOD may be on the way, but the Leone family are eyeing up the Cannes and Venice film festivals for a possible 2012 screening.
Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America' was just released on Blu-ray this January. If you purchased a copy of the disc, you're unfortunately already the unlucky owner of an outdated cut. Variety reports that Andrea and Raffaella Leone (the maestro's children) have picked up the Italian rights to the 1984 gangster tale and will be working with Bologna Cinemetheque L'Immagine Ritrovata to digitally restore the film. They're also going to be adding 40 minutes of original footage to the new director's cut.
All restoration is being supervised by 'America's' original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai. The film's in good hands with Bologna Cinematheque, who have worked on Leone's epic spaghetti westerns and also manage the Charlie Chaplin archives. An Italian theatrical release and VOD may be on the way, but the Leone family are eyeing up the Cannes and Venice film festivals for a possible 2012 screening.
- 3/11/2011
- by Alison Nastasi
- Moviefone
Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical
Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America' was just released on Blu-ray this January. If you purchased a copy of the disc, you're unfortunately already the unlucky owner of an outdated cut. Variety reports that Andrea and Raffaella Leone (the maestro's children) have picked up the Italian rights to the 1984 gangster tale and will be working with Bologna Cinemetheque L'Immagine Ritrovata to digitally restore the film. They're also going to be adding 40 minutes of original footage to the new director's cut.
All restoration is being supervised by 'America's' original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai. The film's in good hands with Bologna Cinematheque, who have worked on Leone's epic spaghetti westerns and also manage the Charlie Chaplin archives. An Italian theatrical release and VOD may be on the way, but the Leone family are eyeing up the Cannes and Venice film festivals for a possible 2012 screening.
Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America' was just released on Blu-ray this January. If you purchased a copy of the disc, you're unfortunately already the unlucky owner of an outdated cut. Variety reports that Andrea and Raffaella Leone (the maestro's children) have picked up the Italian rights to the 1984 gangster tale and will be working with Bologna Cinemetheque L'Immagine Ritrovata to digitally restore the film. They're also going to be adding 40 minutes of original footage to the new director's cut.
All restoration is being supervised by 'America's' original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai. The film's in good hands with Bologna Cinematheque, who have worked on Leone's epic spaghetti westerns and also manage the Charlie Chaplin archives. An Italian theatrical release and VOD may be on the way, but the Leone family are eyeing up the Cannes and Venice film festivals for a possible 2012 screening.
- 3/11/2011
- by Alison Nastasi
- Cinematical
Sergio Leone's New York gangster epic 'Once Upon a Time in America' is getting the redux treatment. The film will be fully restored by Italy's Bologna Cinemetheque L'Immagine Ritrovata lab, using digital techniques and adding 40 minutes of original footage to its 229-minute running time.
Leone's children, Andrea and Raffaella Leone, have acquired Italian rights to "Once Upon a Time in America," from Arnon Milchan's New Regency, and now aim to bow their redux version, which is being supervised by the pic's original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai, at either the Cannes or Venice fests in 2012.
Warner Bros. rereleased the 229-minute cut of the pic in January re-remastered on Blu-ray.
Leone's children, Andrea and Raffaella Leone, have acquired Italian rights to "Once Upon a Time in America," from Arnon Milchan's New Regency, and now aim to bow their redux version, which is being supervised by the pic's original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai, at either the Cannes or Venice fests in 2012.
Warner Bros. rereleased the 229-minute cut of the pic in January re-remastered on Blu-ray.
- 3/11/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Flicks News)
- FlicksNews.net
Sergio Leone has been deceased since 1989, but thanks to his children Andrea and Raffaella Leone, we are still going to see a new, more definitive cut of his classic crime epic Once Upon a Time in America. Apparently the new cut will restore 40 minutes of new footage to the 229 minute version of the film and will now clock in at a little under 4 1/2 hours. The new cut will be supervised by Fausto Ancillai, the sound editor on the original film. Given that Leone shot over ten hours of footage, maybe his children's children will boost the running time to 5 or 6 hours in another 30 years? [Variety]...
- 3/11/2011
- Movieline
Director Sergio Leone's 1984 Italian/American gangster feature, "Once Upon a Time in America", starring actors Robert De Niro and James Woods, will be fully restored by Italy's Bologna Cinemetheque L'Immagine Ritrovata lab, adding 40 minutes of original footage to its 229-minute running time.
Leone's children, Andrea and Raffaella Leone, acquired Italian rights to "Once Upon a Time in America," from Arnon Milchan's New Regency, with the new restoration being supervised by sound editor, Fausto Ancillai.
Rome-based Leone Films are in talks with Sky Italia for the 'redux' version to air, as well as an Italian theatrical release.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Once Upon A Time In America"...
Leone's children, Andrea and Raffaella Leone, acquired Italian rights to "Once Upon a Time in America," from Arnon Milchan's New Regency, with the new restoration being supervised by sound editor, Fausto Ancillai.
Rome-based Leone Films are in talks with Sky Italia for the 'redux' version to air, as well as an Italian theatrical release.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Once Upon A Time In America"...
- 3/11/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
It is reported that Sergio Leone‘s Once Upon a Time In America, starring Robert De Niro and James Woods, is set to have forty minutes added to the film, making it's running time 229 minutes. The film was drastically cut for it's 1984 American release. Leone was reportedly so disheartened by the cuts, that he never made another film before his death five years later.
For those of you who aren't familiar, the film spans decades as it depicts the rise of three kids from the Jewish ghetto within New York crime world. It was initially planned by Leone as one film, but ended up premiering at Cannes as one 229-minute film and then was trimmed to 139 minutes for the Us release. Critics who saw both versions consider the cut a huge tragedy. A three-hour vision aired on TV in the ’90s, and there was a 227-minute version that was nearly identical to the Cannes cut.
For those of you who aren't familiar, the film spans decades as it depicts the rise of three kids from the Jewish ghetto within New York crime world. It was initially planned by Leone as one film, but ended up premiering at Cannes as one 229-minute film and then was trimmed to 139 minutes for the Us release. Critics who saw both versions consider the cut a huge tragedy. A three-hour vision aired on TV in the ’90s, and there was a 227-minute version that was nearly identical to the Cannes cut.
- 3/11/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Purists can argue over the identity of Sergio Leone's most enduring classic -- I'd go with Once Upon a Time in the West -- but there is little argument over which of his films had the most rocky path to a proper release. Once Upon a Time In America, starring Robert De Niro and James Woods, was drastically cut for the American release in 1984, which reportedly saddened the director to such a degree that he did not make another film before his death five years later. The same version that played Cannes in 1984, running 229 minutes, was finally released years later. And now there are plans to restore up to forty additional minutes in order to create the longest cut of the film yet. Sergio Leone initially envisioned Once Upon a Time in America, which spans decades as it depicts the rise within New York crime of three kids from a Jewish ghetto,...
- 3/11/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone had a massive impact on my childhood and movie education. His Man With No Name trilogy made me fall in love with cinema. That he made Once Upon A Time in the West as well (with a script co-written by Dario Agrento) proves he deserves his place in film history alongside my own affections. He also directed a sprawling and disturbing gangster epic in the early 1980s called Once Upon A Time In America.
Leone died in 1989 but his children Andrea and Raffaella Leone have picked up the Italian rights to his gangster masterpiece and will be teaming with Bologna Cinemetheque L’Immagine Ritrovata for a restoration and re-cut. They also plan to add forty minutes of extra footage into the film. It’s already nearly four hours long in its definitive cut (the 1984 Cannes version). Leone originally envisioned his film as being seen in two parts,...
Leone died in 1989 but his children Andrea and Raffaella Leone have picked up the Italian rights to his gangster masterpiece and will be teaming with Bologna Cinemetheque L’Immagine Ritrovata for a restoration and re-cut. They also plan to add forty minutes of extra footage into the film. It’s already nearly four hours long in its definitive cut (the 1984 Cannes version). Leone originally envisioned his film as being seen in two parts,...
- 3/10/2011
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Did you just buy the recently released BluRay of Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time In America"? It might already be dated. Leone's sprawling gangster tale, which has long been subject to various cuts and edits, is now going to get a fresh coat of paint in a new director's cut that is now being prepared. Variety reports Leone's children, Andrea and Raffaella Leone, have snagged the Italian rights and will be teaming with Bologna Cinemetheque L'Immagine Ritrovata to digitally restore the film, adding forty more minutes. Starring a massive ensemble lead by Robert De Niro and James Woods, the…...
- 3/10/2011
- The Playlist
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