Italy: Last News

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent “Theatre is Body – Body is Poetry” is the title chosen by Willem Dafoe for his first edition as artistic director of the Venice Biennale‘s International Theatre Festival, which kicks off May 31 with the European premiere of the revival of the Wooster Group’s “Symphony of Rats.” The lineup assembled by Dafoe for the fest – which runs through June 15 – stems from his own experiences and influences, and ranges from a Whose Who of big experimental theatre names such as the Odin Teatret, Italy’s Romeo Castellucci, Germany’s Thomas Ostermeier, and Switzerland’s Milo Rau, to emerging talents like Afro-Belgian multidisciplinary artist Princess Bangura who will present two solo shows: “Oedipus Monologue” and “Great Apes of the West Coast.” Dafoe speaks to Variety from Venice about assembling his lineup and deciding to personally participate with a homage to late great New York experimental theater guru Richard Foreman, who died in January. What are some of the discoveries that are part of your program? One is Davide Iodice’s “Pinocchio – What is a Person,” which I saw in Naples.

This Easter, San Carlo Manchester on King Street is serving up an egg-stra special treat that’s bound to have chocoholics hopping with delight.

The King has had to withdraw from his scheduled engagements after a brief hospital admission due to side effects from his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace confirmed this evening. Charles, who has been receiving weekly treatment for the disease since his diagnosis last February, was admitted for observation earlier today but has since been discharged.The monarch had to cancel his afternoon engagements and completely call off a visit to Birmingham where he was set to meet local communities tomorrow.

Matt Damon is ripped and ready. The shirtless actor, 54, was pictured with a chiseled physique while shooting on set of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film “The Odyssey” in Favignana, Italy, on Tuesday.Damon was on location with Zendaya, 28, as the pair were photographed on a rocky hillside.

EXCLUSIVE: Arienne Mandi (The Night Agent) has been cast as the female lead opposite the previously announced William Moseley and Mark Valley in Luca Elmi’s Hostage, a thriller due to complete principal photography this week in Kentucky.

The Match Factory has closed multiple distribution deals for by Michel Franco’s illegal migrant drama Dreams following its Berlinale premiere.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The Match Factory has closed multiple distribution deals for the Berlinale Competition title “Dreams,” directed by Michel Franco, and starring Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández. The Match Factory has secured distribution in France (Metropolitan Filmexport), Germany and Austria (Weltkino Filmverleih), Italy (Fandango), Spain (Sideral), Scandinavia (Lucky Dogs), Poland (Best Film), Benelux (Paradiso), the Baltics (ACME Film), Portugal (FILMS 4 YOU), Greece (Spentzos Film), Ascot Elite (Switzerland), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Aerofilms), Romania (Transilvania Film), Hungary (ADS), Ex-Yugoslavia (MCF MegaCom), Turkey (Bir Film), MENA (Front Row), South Korea (NK Contents), and Taiwan (Andrews Film).

MFE-MediaForceEurope, the television holding of Italy’s Berlusconi family, has launched a public tender offer for the stake of German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media it doesn’t own.

EXCLUSIVE: Rob Roy, This Boys Life and Memphis Belle director Michael Caton-Jones is set to helm Eternity from scribes King Orba and Rachel Robinson-Zetzer with a story from Orba.

EXCLUSIVE: William Moseley (The Chronicles of Narnia franchise) and Mark Valley (Boston Legal) are leading Luca Elmi‘s new film Hostage, a thriller that will soon wrap principal photography this week in Kentucky.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent MFE-MediaForEurope, the TV group controlled by Italy’s Berlusconi family, has launched a takeover bid for German broadcaster ProSiebensat.1 as part of its stated ambition to build a pan-European broadcaster that can compete with U.S. streaming giants such as Netflix.

Waltzing With Brando,” he knew it was the role of a lifetime.“We’re so excited about the film. It’s coming out in the summertime in theaters.

If there's one piece of bling that everyone should have in their jewellery box, it's a pair of hoop earrings. Ideal for wearing both during the day and in the evening, they're a versatile accessory that can be styled with ease.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent “The Passion of the Christ” will resurrect this summer. Mel Gibson’s long-awaited sequel, titled “The Resurrection of the Christ,” will start shooting in August at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, CEO Manuela Cacciamani has announced. Cacciamani, in an interview with Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, said Gibson and Icon Productions have set an August start-of-shoot date for the follow-up to his 2004 biblical blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ,” which became the largest-grossing independent film of all time.

Alex Ritman From a dark conference hall in Lille, Italy’s Amalfi Coast was given some major screen time as Prime Video used Series Mania to promote “Costiera,” the upcoming action drama series starring Jesse Williams. The audience at the showcase were shown an exclusive sun-soaked teaser of the show — in which Williams plays a fixer at a luxury hotel tasked with finding the owner’s daughter — before it launches on the streaming platform later this year.

Manuela Cacciamani, CEO of Rome’s historic Cinecittà Studios, has said Mel Gibson plans to begin production on The Resurrection Of The Christ at the studio in August. 

Prime Video has been on a YA tear with the Culpables movies and Maxton Hall – and is now placing an international bet on Italian project Love Me, Love Me. Speaking at Series Mania, Nicole Morganti, Head of Originals, Southern Europe at Amazon Studios said: “Right now we are shooting Love Me, Love Me, which is an IP from Stefania S. It’s really a movie that can resonate with a global audience.”

Jamie Lang The highly anticipated first African adaptation of the global hit scripted format “Liar” has been unveiled, marking a milestone for Botswana’s growing film industry. The series, produced by Botswana Ignite in partnership with leading distributor All3Media International, is set for completion in early April 2025.

TV On The Radio have announced a collection of new tour dates across Europe and the UK this summer – see the full list of dates below.The Tunde Adebimpe-led band have taken to social media to announce five new shows in Europe and the UK this summer in between their previously announced festival run and side shows.The new dates will see them play shows in Athens, Lausanne, Berlin, Vienna and Manchester – you will be able to get tickets here beginning this Friday (March 28) at 10am local time.The five newly announced shows will take place in June between a slew of festival performances, with their Manchester show being held at the Albert Hall on June 27, before playing Glastonbury on June 28.JUNE05 – Zurich, Switzerland – Unique Moments06 – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Barcelona08 – Athens, Greece – Lycabettus Hill Theater (NEW)11 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Docks (NEW)13 – Porto, Portugal – Primavera Sound Porto14 – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands – Best Kept Secret15 – Wicklow, Ireland – Beyond the Pale Festival17 – Berlin, Germany – Astra (NEW)20 – Katowice, Poland – Tauron Nowa Muzyka22 – Lido di Camaiore, Italy – La Prima Estate25 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer (NEW)27 – Manchester, England – Albert Hall (NEW)28 – Sommerset, England – GlastonburyAUGUST15 – London, England – Gunnersbury Park 17 – Wales, United Kingdom – Green Man FestivalAmong the previously announced gigs they’ll play are a set at Primavera Sound in Barcelona this summer, and a slot supporting Khruangbin at their huge outdoor gig at London’s Gunnersbury Park in August.The tour and announcement of new dates come after a pretty big 2024 for TV On The Radio, who last year made a comeback and went on to re-release their debut album ‘Desperate Youth, Blood

Evan Peters has been abroad in recent weeks while working on the upcoming series The Beauty alongside creator Ryan Murphy.

European production and sales studio Vuelta Group has acquired a minority stake in Italian distribution and international sales company PiperFilm.