Kristen Stewart’s deals. Micro-dramas’ billions.
Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, has been picked up for UK screenings by Les Films Du Losange (A Silence). The film premiered at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard and will get an Oscar run and a December release. LFDL will be taking the film on a cross-world festival spree.
Logline: After enduring an abusive childhood, a woman dives into swimming, desire, and addiction before discovering her voice as a writer in a raw, defiant journey of survival and self-expression.
The Forge will release in the US in December.
Micro-dramas in China are projected to surpass domestic box office revenues this year. The market growing from $0.5B in 2021 to $7B in 2024 is now forecasted to exceed $16.2B by 2030. Still not sure if this will take off in the states in such a big way.
For those who don't know, a micro drama is basically a serialised vertical video that plays out over a series of 1 to 2-minute pieces.
Canal+ has unveiled a new talent development hub, headed by French exec Agnès Judes, who’s been a part of the company for over 20 years. The initiative will focus on identifying, nurturing, and supporting fresh creative voices across television and film, with an emphasis on expanding Canal+’s slate of original programming and strengthening ties with emerging storytellers.
Kazakhstan’s Uni-Q Group is launching its first-ever streaming service, Unico Play. The service debuts with six original shows and over 20 projects in production, ranging from scripted to unscripted, kids' programming, and full-length feature films.
Production is underway on holySmoke, a post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Rhyan LaMarr (Canal Street). Starring Will Yun Lee (The Odyssey), the movie follows survivors in Chicago after a viral outbreak. Their mission is to stop the disease from spreading beyond the city.
Filming is currently underway in Winnipeg and Albuquerque.