DISTRIBUTION
antonio la pagliaThe upcoming factual series “The Black Hand” will be distributed internationally by eOne.
The three-part series will explore Australia’s Italian community, looking at the hardships they face, their politics, the threat of war and the mafia. According to the series synopsis, The Black Hand is the name of an Italian criminal gang in Australia.
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Alan Erson, LaPaglia, Michael Tear are executive producers. Adam Grossetti and Kate Pappas produce. “The Black Hand” is directed by Kriv Stenders and written by Grossetti, Stenders, and Anya Beyersdorf.
The series was produced by Wildbear Entertainment for ABC in Australia. The agreement with eOne excludes Australia and Scandinavia.
“The Black Hand is truly the definition of factual premium,” said Kate Cundall, eOne’s vice president of acquisitions. “We are very excited about the opportunity to bring a hugely popular genre like true crime to market with some incredible upsides.”
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Meanwhile, Shout! Childrenin collaboration with Ukraine Animagrad animation studio and Film.UA Groupwill release “Mavka: The Forest Song” in North America on home entertainment and digital on August 15.
Produced by Animagrad Animation Studio in the midst of ongoing Russian attack, the filming process was hampered by shelling, shooting, riots, and property destruction. Based on the Ukrainian drama “The Forest Song” by poet and author Lesya Ukrainka, the English-language film takes place in a universe that blends ancient Slavic traditions and folklore with a modern narrative that showcases Slavic culture, values, designs, and Ukrainian music. Oleg Malamuzh and Sasha Ruban direct, and the voice cast includes Laurie Hymes, Eddy Lee, and Sarah Natochenny.
AWARDS
BAFTA has revealed the timeline for 2024 BAFTA Film Awards. Voting takes place in three rounds: shortlist, nominations and winners, by the academy’s global voting film membership, comprising more than 7,500 industry creatives. The prize regulations will be published during the week beginning July 10; voting for the first round will open on December 8; the shortlists will be published and voting for the second round will open on January 5, 2024; the BAFTA Tea Party in Los Angeles will take place on January 6, 2024; nominations will be announced and voting for the third round will open on January 18, 2024; and the BAFTA Film Awards will take place on February 18, 2024.
ACQUISITION
Gravitas Ventures has acquired the British science fiction film “Coyote” for North America. The film, by Dustin Curtis Murphy, will be released on June 20. It stars Therica Wilson-Read from “The Witcher” and Borislava Stratieva from “Absentia.” According to the tagline, it is “a story of forbidden love in a dystopian future where teleportation technology allows two refugees to escape genocide.”
Addy Raja and Chris Kyriacou co-produced the photo.
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