European production and sales studio Vuelta Group has bought German producer Telepool from Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook.
The deal, struck through Vuelta subsidiary SquareOne, will see a combined business operating under the SquareOne banner. SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany CEO Al Munteanu will lead the banner, with Michael Heyd serving as CFO and COO.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the combined group will boast a library of over 1,200 titles such as Drive, Intouchables, Olympus Has Fallen, Transporter 3 and the recently released One Life. It will form part of the growing Vuelta Group, which in July last year we revealed had formed through the acquisitions of SquareOne, Paris-based international sales firm Playtime Group and Nordic distributor-producer Scanbox.
Vuelta Group Chairman Jeromt Levy, who launched the group with $50M backing from an unnamed U.S. private equity firm, announced the news today along with Munteanu.
The deal, struck through Vuelta subsidiary SquareOne, will see a combined business operating under the SquareOne banner. SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany CEO Al Munteanu will lead the banner, with Michael Heyd serving as CFO and COO.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the combined group will boast a library of over 1,200 titles such as Drive, Intouchables, Olympus Has Fallen, Transporter 3 and the recently released One Life. It will form part of the growing Vuelta Group, which in July last year we revealed had formed through the acquisitions of SquareOne, Paris-based international sales firm Playtime Group and Nordic distributor-producer Scanbox.
Vuelta Group Chairman Jeromt Levy, who launched the group with $50M backing from an unnamed U.S. private equity firm, announced the news today along with Munteanu.
- 5/8/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
German distributor-producer SquareOne Entertainment, part of rising European film studio Vuelta Group, has acquired German film and TV production, distribution and licensing company Telepool, which was owned by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook.
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,” “Lone Survivor,” “Book Club,” “Transporter 3,” “King Richard,” “Maurice the Tomcat” and the recently released “One Life” among others.
“For over 60 years, Telepool has been one of the leading global content houses and we are proud of the work we did with the company,” said Westbrook CEO Kosaku Yada.
The news was announced Wednesday by Vuelta Group chairman Jerome Levy and CEO of SquareOne and Vuelta Group Germany Al Munteanu.
Munteanu will spearhead the newly combined entity under the SquareOne banner with Michael Heyd serving as CFO/COO.
The newly combined SquareOne entity will boast a library consisting of over 1,200 titles such as “Drive,” “Intouchables,” “The Olympus Has Fallen,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Imitation Game,” “Lone Survivor,” “Book Club,” “Transporter 3,” “King Richard,” “Maurice the Tomcat” and the recently released “One Life” among others.
“For over 60 years, Telepool has been one of the leading global content houses and we are proud of the work we did with the company,” said Westbrook CEO Kosaku Yada.
- 5/8/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy and Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Global Screen has closed further presales for “Lassie — A New Adventure,” the sequel featuring the most famous dog in the history of cinema.
The film, directed by Hanno Olderdissen, has sold to A Contracorriente for Spain; Ads Service for Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Moldavia; Turkey’s Bir Film; Gpi for the Baltic states; Bulgaria’s Pro Films; Karantanija for ex-Yugoslavia; and Greece’s Zinos Panagiotidis. Poland and Benelux are in negotiation.
Sales were previously concluded with Lucky Red (Italy), Ab Svensk Filmindustri (Scandinavia) and Film House (Israel).
The prequel “Lassie Come Home,” which was also directed by Olderdissen, was sold to every territory around the world.
“Lassie — A New Adventure” tells a heartwarming story about the friendship between a boy and his dog. The family entertainment film will be released in German cinemas in July by Leonine, which also served as a co-producer on the film.
Inspired...
The film, directed by Hanno Olderdissen, has sold to A Contracorriente for Spain; Ads Service for Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Moldavia; Turkey’s Bir Film; Gpi for the Baltic states; Bulgaria’s Pro Films; Karantanija for ex-Yugoslavia; and Greece’s Zinos Panagiotidis. Poland and Benelux are in negotiation.
Sales were previously concluded with Lucky Red (Italy), Ab Svensk Filmindustri (Scandinavia) and Film House (Israel).
The prequel “Lassie Come Home,” which was also directed by Olderdissen, was sold to every territory around the world.
“Lassie — A New Adventure” tells a heartwarming story about the friendship between a boy and his dog. The family entertainment film will be released in German cinemas in July by Leonine, which also served as a co-producer on the film.
Inspired...
- 5/17/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Global Screen has racked up presales to multiple territories for the animated family adventure movie “Niko — Beyond the Northern Lights,” the third in the box office hit franchise about a flying reindeer.
The sales agency will be showing a first scene to buyers at Cannes Film Market.
The animated movie has been picked up Kino Swiat for Poland, Bluelabel for South Korea, Just4Kids for the Benelux, Gpi for the Baltic states, Karantanija for ex-Yugoslavia, Zinos Panagiotidis for Greece, Bad Unicorn for Romania, Bohemia Motion Pictures for Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Pro Film for Bulgaria and Bir Film for Turkey.
As previously announced, Telepool will release the film in Germany, and Bac Films in France.
In the new film, Niko is now a pre-teen. His biggest dream is to become a member of Santa’s Flying Forces, but he is challenged by the super talented reindeer girl Stella, who shatters that dream.
The sales agency will be showing a first scene to buyers at Cannes Film Market.
The animated movie has been picked up Kino Swiat for Poland, Bluelabel for South Korea, Just4Kids for the Benelux, Gpi for the Baltic states, Karantanija for ex-Yugoslavia, Zinos Panagiotidis for Greece, Bad Unicorn for Romania, Bohemia Motion Pictures for Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Pro Film for Bulgaria and Bir Film for Turkey.
As previously announced, Telepool will release the film in Germany, and Bac Films in France.
In the new film, Niko is now a pre-teen. His biggest dream is to become a member of Santa’s Flying Forces, but he is challenged by the super talented reindeer girl Stella, who shatters that dream.
- 5/16/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Playmaker Munich has signed with producer Ulysses Films to handle international sales for its upcoming family animation project “Pirate Mo & the Legend of the Red Ruby,” which has a planned release of early 2026.
Ulysses produced animation box-office hits such as “The Amazing Maurice” and “Niko & the Way to the Stars.”
The script for “Pirate Mo,” which is based on Kirsten Boie’s bestselling novel, was written by Richie Conroy, and the director is Florian Westermann, co-director of “The Amazing Maurice.”
The Playmaker team will present “Pirate Mo” at the Marché du Film in Cannes, and will deliver the first teaser presentation at their booth, and at their upcoming highlights market screening on May 18.
Emely Christians, one of the film’s producers, and CEO of Ulysses, said: “I’m really happy that we’ve found a great ‘world sales port’ for our ‘Pirate Mo’ film. The project is very close to my heart.
Ulysses produced animation box-office hits such as “The Amazing Maurice” and “Niko & the Way to the Stars.”
The script for “Pirate Mo,” which is based on Kirsten Boie’s bestselling novel, was written by Richie Conroy, and the director is Florian Westermann, co-director of “The Amazing Maurice.”
The Playmaker team will present “Pirate Mo” at the Marché du Film in Cannes, and will deliver the first teaser presentation at their booth, and at their upcoming highlights market screening on May 18.
Emely Christians, one of the film’s producers, and CEO of Ulysses, said: “I’m really happy that we’ve found a great ‘world sales port’ for our ‘Pirate Mo’ film. The project is very close to my heart.
- 5/8/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Munich-based sales agency Global Screen has acquired “You’re Not Me,” the debut feature of the directors Moisés Romera and Marisa Crespo, for worldwide theatrical distribution. It is a dark elevated genre thriller with elements of satire, focusing on two of the filmmakers’ obsessions: family relationships and social differences.
In the film, Aitana returns home for Christmas, for the first time in three years, to find that her parents have replaced her with an unknown woman. She is her own age, sleeping in her bed, wearing her clothes, living in her house, and treated by her parents as if she were their daughter.
From that moment on, torn by jealousy, suspicion, and misunderstanding, Aitana tries to find out what is happening and who the intruder is that has taken her place in the family – until she discovers an unexpected and disturbing truth that is darker and way bloodier than she would ever have thought possible.
In the film, Aitana returns home for Christmas, for the first time in three years, to find that her parents have replaced her with an unknown woman. She is her own age, sleeping in her bed, wearing her clothes, living in her house, and treated by her parents as if she were their daughter.
From that moment on, torn by jealousy, suspicion, and misunderstanding, Aitana tries to find out what is happening and who the intruder is that has taken her place in the family – until she discovers an unexpected and disturbing truth that is darker and way bloodier than she would ever have thought possible.
- 4/28/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Buyer plans early 2023 theatrical release.
Germany’s Global Screen has reported a strong response in Toronto to Klaus Haro’s TIFF Contemporary World Cinema selection My Sailor, My Love and has struck a deal with Signature for UK & Ireland.
Härö’s English-language debut premiered last Friday (September 9) and stars James Cosmo and Bríd Brennan as a retired sea captain and the home help he falls for, much to the chagrin of his grown-up daughter who feels she has never truly known her father. Catherine Walker also stars.
Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Wikman wrote the screenplay. Haro’s 2015 Finnish drama The Fencer...
Germany’s Global Screen has reported a strong response in Toronto to Klaus Haro’s TIFF Contemporary World Cinema selection My Sailor, My Love and has struck a deal with Signature for UK & Ireland.
Härö’s English-language debut premiered last Friday (September 9) and stars James Cosmo and Bríd Brennan as a retired sea captain and the home help he falls for, much to the chagrin of his grown-up daughter who feels she has never truly known her father. Catherine Walker also stars.
Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Wikman wrote the screenplay. Haro’s 2015 Finnish drama The Fencer...
- 9/16/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Munich-based world sales company Global Screen has closed further deals in major territories for the family entertainment adventure “School of Magical Animals,” the most successful German film at the local box office last year. Global Screen will also be selling the sequel, it announced Tuesday.
Deals have been closed for China (A-Quest Culture Media), Japan (Fine Films), Latin America (Discovery), Hungary (Ads), Serbia and Croatia (Investacommerce), and Portugal (Nos). Worldwide airline rights were sold to Eagle International.
Previously announced deals include Spain (Flins y Penicuals), Italy (Adler Entertainment), Cis (Voxell), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Israel (Red Cape Distribution), Taiwan (CaiChang), and Middle East (Selim Ramio & Co), with Scandinavia in negotiation.
The warm-hearted adventure with CGI-animated animals is set in an unusual school where the children receive a magical animal as a companion. When Ida moves to a new town with her mother, she is not at all thrilled by the prospect. But...
Deals have been closed for China (A-Quest Culture Media), Japan (Fine Films), Latin America (Discovery), Hungary (Ads), Serbia and Croatia (Investacommerce), and Portugal (Nos). Worldwide airline rights were sold to Eagle International.
Previously announced deals include Spain (Flins y Penicuals), Italy (Adler Entertainment), Cis (Voxell), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Israel (Red Cape Distribution), Taiwan (CaiChang), and Middle East (Selim Ramio & Co), with Scandinavia in negotiation.
The warm-hearted adventure with CGI-animated animals is set in an unusual school where the children receive a magical animal as a companion. When Ida moves to a new town with her mother, she is not at all thrilled by the prospect. But...
- 2/1/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Annecy’s short film competition is many things. It is a celebration of the best short, animated films from the previous year, a barometer of bigger things to come from filmmakers on the rise, a place of recognition for established filmmakers still going strong decades into their careers, and a home to experimentation impossible to find almost anywhere else.
Each year, Variety watches each of the shorts in Annecy’s main competition selection and picks ten of our favorites. We’re not saying these are the best 10 shorts this year, we’ll leave that to the judges, but we believe each brings something that shouldn’t be missed.
“Affairs of the Art”
24 years after sweeping the Special Jury, Ufoleis and Mellow Manor awards at Annecy 1987, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joanna Quinn is back with her iconic creation Beryl, in a new story of aging, body image, sisterly love and fond memories. One...
Each year, Variety watches each of the shorts in Annecy’s main competition selection and picks ten of our favorites. We’re not saying these are the best 10 shorts this year, we’ll leave that to the judges, but we believe each brings something that shouldn’t be missed.
“Affairs of the Art”
24 years after sweeping the Special Jury, Ufoleis and Mellow Manor awards at Annecy 1987, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joanna Quinn is back with her iconic creation Beryl, in a new story of aging, body image, sisterly love and fond memories. One...
- 6/17/2021
- by Jamie Lang, Emilio Mayorga and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Announcing its second major rights pick-up in a matter of days, Superights, part of France’s Superprod Group, has secured global distribution rights to Tencent Video’s slapstick series “The Adventure of Little Penguin.”
Nathalie Pinguet, Superights’ deputy general manager, will introduce the 52-episode animated show to buyers at Annecy’s four-day MIFA market, which kicked off Tuesday June 15 in the fairy-tale looking French Alpine town. Superights will bring brand new episodes of “The Adventures of Little Penguin” onto the market at events throughout 2021.
The deal marks Superights’ second sales pact with Tencent Video, after their partnership on 52-part animated series “Osmond,” currently in development.
It also represents early fruit of a move by Tencent Video into international co-production from 2018 – on “Adventures,” with Melbourne’s Luce Creative – to create animated series which appeal not only to Tencent Video’s massive domestic market but also international audiences.
Directed by the Academy...
Nathalie Pinguet, Superights’ deputy general manager, will introduce the 52-episode animated show to buyers at Annecy’s four-day MIFA market, which kicked off Tuesday June 15 in the fairy-tale looking French Alpine town. Superights will bring brand new episodes of “The Adventures of Little Penguin” onto the market at events throughout 2021.
The deal marks Superights’ second sales pact with Tencent Video, after their partnership on 52-part animated series “Osmond,” currently in development.
It also represents early fruit of a move by Tencent Video into international co-production from 2018 – on “Adventures,” with Melbourne’s Luce Creative – to create animated series which appeal not only to Tencent Video’s massive domestic market but also international audiences.
Directed by the Academy...
- 6/15/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
U.S. distribution deals for German films are of great strategic value for international rollouts, but lucrative prospects largely depend on the type of film on offer.
The spectrum of German film continues to broaden, encompassing everything from arthouse, historical drama and family entertainment to animation, action and horror – not to mention English-language German productions.
“With German-language dramas that do well at festivals and gain some prestige, you do have high chances of finding a passionate U.S. indie distributor who will release your film in limited cinemas in New York, L.A., Chicago and other major U.S. cities,” says Moritz Hemminger, deputy head of sales and acquisitions at Arri Media.
“Economically, the U.S., for those kind of films, isn’t always the most financially lucrative market, but a sale there helps for the international sales strategy, as a U.S. distribution deal can trigger international sales in other territories,...
The spectrum of German film continues to broaden, encompassing everything from arthouse, historical drama and family entertainment to animation, action and horror – not to mention English-language German productions.
“With German-language dramas that do well at festivals and gain some prestige, you do have high chances of finding a passionate U.S. indie distributor who will release your film in limited cinemas in New York, L.A., Chicago and other major U.S. cities,” says Moritz Hemminger, deputy head of sales and acquisitions at Arri Media.
“Economically, the U.S., for those kind of films, isn’t always the most financially lucrative market, but a sale there helps for the international sales strategy, as a U.S. distribution deal can trigger international sales in other territories,...
- 11/8/2019
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Fairies, dragons, a trip to the moon and the fall of the Berlin Wall are just some of the family-friendly highlights in German and European animation this year.
While the current crop of animated pics offer historical themes and adaptations of beloved books, a popular German toy line serves as the basis for one highly anticipated film. The European Film Market is buzzing with animation.
Produced by leading Hamburg-based animation house Ulysses Films, maker of recent hits like “Luis and the Aliens” and “Ooops! Noah Is Gone…” (a.k.a. “All Creatures Big and Small”), “Bayala” explores a fantasy world populated by elves, fairies, unicorns and dragons based on the hot-selling figurines manufactured by German toymaker Schleich.
The film follows two fairy princesses who embark on a journey with a dragon egg to save their magical kingdom.
“‘Bayala’ is everything that small humans aged 5 to 10 just love,” a timeless story of “fantasy,...
While the current crop of animated pics offer historical themes and adaptations of beloved books, a popular German toy line serves as the basis for one highly anticipated film. The European Film Market is buzzing with animation.
Produced by leading Hamburg-based animation house Ulysses Films, maker of recent hits like “Luis and the Aliens” and “Ooops! Noah Is Gone…” (a.k.a. “All Creatures Big and Small”), “Bayala” explores a fantasy world populated by elves, fairies, unicorns and dragons based on the hot-selling figurines manufactured by German toymaker Schleich.
The film follows two fairy princesses who embark on a journey with a dragon egg to save their magical kingdom.
“‘Bayala’ is everything that small humans aged 5 to 10 just love,” a timeless story of “fantasy,...
- 2/8/2019
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Global Screen has closed further sales deals for its 3D animated feature film “Marnie’s World,” which is close to selling out worldwide. The movie is written and directed by Oscar winners Christoph and Wolfgang Lauenstein.
In the film, pampered pussycat Marnie is lured into becoming a secret agent. Marnie teams up with a bunch of runaway animals, and sets off on a dangerous mission to track down a gang of notorious thieves.
Among the latest territory deals are the U.K. (sold to Signature), Scandinavia (Scanbox), Africa (Black Sheep), the Benelux (Dutch Filmworks), Israel (Five Stars Distribution) and Poland (Kino Swiat). The film will be released by Universum Film in Germany in spring 2019. Negotiations are underway with buyers for the U.S. and Australia.
Previously announced deals include France (Septieme Factory), Spain (Flins y Peniculas), China (Vision Film), Hungary (ADService), Latin America (Cdc Film), Portugal (Films4You), Turkey (Tme), Bulgaria...
In the film, pampered pussycat Marnie is lured into becoming a secret agent. Marnie teams up with a bunch of runaway animals, and sets off on a dangerous mission to track down a gang of notorious thieves.
Among the latest territory deals are the U.K. (sold to Signature), Scandinavia (Scanbox), Africa (Black Sheep), the Benelux (Dutch Filmworks), Israel (Five Stars Distribution) and Poland (Kino Swiat). The film will be released by Universum Film in Germany in spring 2019. Negotiations are underway with buyers for the U.S. and Australia.
Previously announced deals include France (Septieme Factory), Spain (Flins y Peniculas), China (Vision Film), Hungary (ADService), Latin America (Cdc Film), Portugal (Films4You), Turkey (Tme), Bulgaria...
- 9/26/2018
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Sharon Strickland.
Finally confirmed as CEO of the Dendy Icon group, Sharon Strickland is keen to continue the company’s growth in exhibition and distribution.
Ticket sales at the 43-screen Dendy circuit are up 26 per cent this year after the opening of the 10-screen Coorparoo cinema in Brisbane last December and the expansion of the Dendy Canberra location from 9 to 15 screens in June 2017.
“We have a very loyal community who value our differentiated movie offering,” says Strickland, formerly the chief operating officer who has been running the company since CEO Greg Hughes departed last December.
The first Dendy Cinema on the Gold Coast will be part of the new Queen Street Village development.
Bruce Davey, Dendy Icon chairman and co-owner with Mel Gibson said: “Sharon has been a tremendous asset to our business over the last eight years and I’m delighted to appoint her to the leadership position to...
Finally confirmed as CEO of the Dendy Icon group, Sharon Strickland is keen to continue the company’s growth in exhibition and distribution.
Ticket sales at the 43-screen Dendy circuit are up 26 per cent this year after the opening of the 10-screen Coorparoo cinema in Brisbane last December and the expansion of the Dendy Canberra location from 9 to 15 screens in June 2017.
“We have a very loyal community who value our differentiated movie offering,” says Strickland, formerly the chief operating officer who has been running the company since CEO Greg Hughes departed last December.
The first Dendy Cinema on the Gold Coast will be part of the new Queen Street Village development.
Bruce Davey, Dendy Icon chairman and co-owner with Mel Gibson said: “Sharon has been a tremendous asset to our business over the last eight years and I’m delighted to appoint her to the leadership position to...
- 9/19/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
To celebrate the release of Luis And The Aliens, out now,Warner Bros. Pictures is giving away 5 DVD Bundles, with a special Luis And The Aliens pencil case!
No-one believed Luis’s dad when he said he’d been attacked by an alien. And growing up with an obsessed Ufologist for a father hasn’t been easy for 12-year-old Luis, either.
But then three crazy aliens crash their ship right in front of Luis, and finally he’s got the proof his dad needs to show the world he’s not crazy. The problem is, if Luis tells his dad, he’ll blast the aliens with his homemade ‘shockfrost’ gun – but if he doesn’t, Luis risks being sent away to boarding school.
Can Luis save the day? Perhaps three wacky aliens and a little bit of space could be just the thing to bring everyone closer together…
Find out in this out-of-this-world adventure,...
No-one believed Luis’s dad when he said he’d been attacked by an alien. And growing up with an obsessed Ufologist for a father hasn’t been easy for 12-year-old Luis, either.
But then three crazy aliens crash their ship right in front of Luis, and finally he’s got the proof his dad needs to show the world he’s not crazy. The problem is, if Luis tells his dad, he’ll blast the aliens with his homemade ‘shockfrost’ gun – but if he doesn’t, Luis risks being sent away to boarding school.
Can Luis save the day? Perhaps three wacky aliens and a little bit of space could be just the thing to bring everyone closer together…
Find out in this out-of-this-world adventure,...
- 8/30/2018
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Further openers include The Spy Who Dumped Me, The Children’s Act and A Northern Soul.
New releases led by Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and a duo of family animations are hoping to light up the UK box office this weekend (Aug 24-26) after last weekend was dominated by holdovers.
Universal is opening BlacKkKlansman wide on over 300 screens. The film, which premiered in competition at Cannes earlier this year, stars John David Washington (son of Denzel) and Adam Driver and is based on the true story of a Southern black policeman who went undercover in the Ku Klux Klan in the late1970s.
New releases led by Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and a duo of family animations are hoping to light up the UK box office this weekend (Aug 24-26) after last weekend was dominated by holdovers.
Universal is opening BlacKkKlansman wide on over 300 screens. The film, which premiered in competition at Cannes earlier this year, stars John David Washington (son of Denzel) and Adam Driver and is based on the true story of a Southern black policeman who went undercover in the Ku Klux Klan in the late1970s.
- 8/24/2018
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
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