Celeste Parr: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: Revenge star Emily VanCamp has found her next role, and it’s a juicy one.

Ben Croll “Maudie” director Aisling Walsh describes her upcoming feature, “Ethel,” in recognizable terms. “We all understand what it is to struggle to be the best at what we can,” Walsh tells Variety. “We’re all looking for that chance to make something happen.” Written by Celeste Parr, produced by Marie-Claude Poulin (“Brooklyn”) of Sphere Media, and presented at this year’s Venice Production Bridge gap-financing market, “Ethel” tells the true story of Ethel Stark – a trailblazing Canadian musician who broke barriers when she founded a mixed-race, all-female orchestra in the 1940s.

Naman Ramachandran The BBC Studios Natural History Unit has commissioned three series for BBC One, BBC Two and iPlayer. “Mammals” (6 x 60’), coproduced by France Televisions, ZDF and BBC America, offers insights into the most widespread animal group in the world. “Big Little Journeys” (3 x 60’), coproduced by PBS, follows the real-life adventures of six tiny animals as they voyage into the unknown. “Wild Scandinavia” (3 x 60’), coproduced by PBS and Sveriges Television, and narrated by actor Rebecca Ferguson (“Dune”), celebrates the wildlife, landscapes and culture of the furthest northern reaches of Europe. BBC Studios is handling international distribution and will present the series to international customers at BBC Studios Showcase taking place on Feb. 27 and 28.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentShira Haas, the star of “Unorthodox” and “Shtisel,” is set to headline “Ethel,” a period musical drama about the true story of Ethel Stark, the groundbreaking conductor who founded the first all-female orchestra in Montreal. Besides breaking barriers in the music world, Stark has also been credited for championing social change across gender, race, language and class starting in the 1940’s. Aisling Walsh, the Irish-born helmer of “Maudie” and BAFTA-winning “Elizabeth Is Missing” will direct the film, based on an original screenplay by Celeste Parr (“Gurov and Anna”).

Rotterdam Winners This year’s virtual International Film Festival Rotterdam has crowned the winners from its film program. Southern India-set Pebbles by Vinothraj P.S won the Tiger Award, while I Comete – A Corsican Summer by French filmmaker Pascal Tagnati and Looking for Venera by Norika Sefa from Kosovo both won Special Jury Awards.