Global Flicks: Amazon Nets Two Exclusive Licensing Deals In Nigeria
pape Boye - mubi
Africa: Pape Boye teams up with Logical Pictures to establish Black Mic Mac. Set in Paris, Black Mic Mac aims to package, produce, and cover sales of upcoming African Film and TV projects. The most notable upcoming project under Black Mic Mac is HALO DAZE. This will be South African director Sibs Shongwe-La Mer's second feature film. His debut film Necktie Youth was celebrated at the Berlin International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and the Sydney Film Festival.
Amazon Studios locked down two exclusive licensing deals with Nigerian production companies Inkblot Studios and Anthill Studios. The studio behind The Wedding Party, Inkblot Studios has a heavy upcoming list of sequels that Amazon will distribute including The Set Up 2 and New Money 3. Anthill Studios had recent, local theatrical success with their films Day Of Destiny and Prophetess. Both these titles will be found globally and exclusively on Amazon Prime.
Bappi Lahiri - SUJIT JAISWAL
Asia: Indian composer and songwriter Bappi Lahiri has passed away at age 69. Lahiri’s work can be found in numerous Bollywood and Tollywood box office hits dating back to the late 1970s. He fittingly held the Guinness Book of World Record for most songs composed for films in a single year.
China has now slated the production of a remake of the Russian sci-fi comedy hit Couple From The Future. Central Partnership sold the rights to the film to Shanghai Matching Culture Media earlier this month. The story follows married couple Evgeniv and Alexandra in the year 2040. No longer in love, the two venture back into the past to break themselves up on the day Evgeniv proposed.
Japanese powerhouse anime studios Toei, Toho, Studio Khara, and Tsuburaya Productions have partnered up to lay the foundation for the Shin Japan Heroes Universe. Inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the universe aims to unite renowned characters like Godzilla, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider, and the fan-favorite world of Evangelion. Anno Hideaki helms the creative series coming off of the smash success of Shin Godzilla in 2016 and 2021’s hit Evangelion 3.0+1.0. He’s gearing up to release Shin Ultraman, a live-action adaptation of the famous series set to release this summer.
Nepalese Filmmaker Deepak Rauniyar has found his lead actress for his upcoming film The Sky Is Mine. Tannishtha Chatterjee will play a light-skinned Nepali policewoman named Pooja who has become the nation’s first female detective. During a rageful protest of prejudice against dark-skinned Madhesi, Pooja must race against time to save two kidnapped, light-skin boys with the help of Mamata, a hard-nosed dark-skinned policewoman who vocally sides with the protestors.
Laïla Marrakchi
Middle East: Front Row Filmed Entertainment’s upcoming Arabic remake of Intouchables has just landed Egyptian/Franco-Lebanese Director Jad Aouad and Egyptian screenwriter Amr El Daly. Set in Egypt, the story will stay true to its roots and follow a wealthy paraplegic’s relationship with his street-wise caretaker. Amr El Daly is coming off his television success with his series Dawaran Shoubra. This will be Jad Aouad’s feature debut.
Moroccan director Laïla Marrakchi will be returning to film after nearly a decade with her new drama titled La Más Dulce. The story follows true events depicting the lives of three Moroccan women working as strawberry pickers who rebel against their torturous living conditions.
Rauw Alejandro - 90thshooter
Latin America: Singer/songwriter Rauw Alejandro has landed a major role on Netflix’s Sky Rojo. The Spanish-language series follows three trauma-riddled men forced into prostitution. The show's final season is set to release later this year.
Europe: Dutch Features has landed the Czech team behind Emmy award-winning series #martyisdead, to produce a new horror film titled Repulse. The story follows two parallel families. One is a father raising his daughter in a lavish and luxurious home while the other is a mother and son struggling to survive in a decrepit house.
Newen Studios has paired with Sigrid Dyekjaer to roll out the new production company Real Lava. The company’s goal is to push groundbreaking and striking documentary content for international viewers. Dyekjaer is notable an Oscar winner for her documentary work and sits comfortably at the forefront of this venture.
