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French-American actor and director Julie Delpy has tackled culture clash in comedies before in ”Two Days in Paris” and “Two Days in New York,” but it’s never been as poignant as in “Meet the Barbarians,” where she explores the journey of a Syrian family who find refuge in a village in Northern France.

The movie, which marks Delpy’s feature comeback after helming the Netflix series “On the Verge,” is set in Paimpont, a small town in France’s Brittany region that is preparing to welcome Ukrainian refugees. But instead of Ukrainians, Syrian refugees settle in town, causing some tension among locals and testing their liberal beliefs.

Charades is at Venice selling the film, which will screen at the Toronto Film Festival, and also has “Vermiglio” and “Their Children After Them” on its sales slate.

Delpy penned, directed and stars in the film as Joelle, a progressive schoolteacher who...

French cinema rarely ventures into full-blown sci-fi — a genre largely dominated by deep-pocketed U.S. productions — but filmmaker Aude Lea Rapin (“Heroes Don’t Die”), rose to the challenge with “Planet B,” a dystopian thriller headlined by Adele Exarchopoulos and Souheila Yacoub (“Dune 2”) playing rebels with a cause. The movie world premieres at Venice where it kicks off the Critics’ Week section.

Like many sci-fi movies, “Planet B” has a politically charged storyline, centering on hardcore climate activists who get locked up in a virtual prison in a seemingly idyllic location. Among the hot-button topics explored in the movie are immigration, police brutality, the limits of radical activism and threats to democracy.

Yacoub and Exarchopoulos star alongside an ensemble cast of up-and-comers, including India Hair, Jonathan Couzinié, Yassine Stein, Paul Beaurepaire and Eliane Umuhire.

Exarchopoulos plays Julia, the leader of the group of eco-activists who are imprisoned and tortured psychologically,...

"You're in danger, Madame." Vertical has unveiled an official US trailer for Maïwenn's Jeanne du Barry, which is finally getting a theatrical release in he US one full year after it premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival last May. It already opened in France the same week as its Cannes premiere, but hasn't shown up in the US until now. In this film, Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and her allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favorite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court... The film also stars Maïwenn as Jeanne, plus Johnny Depp as King Louis Xv, along with Benjamin Lavernhe,...

Roll up, roll up for Part 2 of our Cannes Film Festival preview, this time with a focus on international, mainly non-English-language fare. If you didn’t catch Andreas’ English-language-focused Part 1, check it out.

As the fest basks in the warm glow of the Oscar wins for 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall and Grand Jury Prize winner The Zone of Interest, delegate general Thierry Frémaux and his team are furiously tying up the 2024 Official Selection.

With less than four weeks to go until the bulk of the 77th edition (running May 14-25) is revealed at the press conference in Paris on April 11, we’ve rounded up a host of the titles ready and in the running for a splash in either Official Selection or the main parallel sections of Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week.

The registration deadline was March 15, with March 22 the official cut-off for submissions to arrive...

Jeanne Du Barry starring Johnny Depp (Photo Credit – IMDb)

The last film Johnny Depp starred in was W Eugene Smith’s Minamata. In 2022, the actor was busy with the court trial in a defamation case filed against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The trial lasted six weeks, and Johnny won a defamation suit. Depp has been absent from movies since then. Well, his film Jeanne Du Barry is all set to release in theatres soon.

Jeanne Du Barry is cited as Johnny Depp’s comeback film after his trial ended. He has had no release for three years now. On the other hand, Amber Heard was last seen in Aquaman 2 (2023). Depp’s film was premiered during the opening of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The Depp starrer has not got a US release date. Read more details about the same below.

Jeanne Du Barry Cast

The film stars Johnny Depp as Louis Xv,...

Exclusive: France TV Distribution has posted new deals for French director Delphine Deloget’s custody battle drama All To Play For (Rien à perdre) starring Virgine Efira.

The drama has sold to Canada (Films We Like), Spain (Divisa Red), Benelux (Vertigo Films), Italy (Just Wanted), Portugal (Outsider Films), Switzerland (Agora Films), Poland (C+ Poland) and Latin America (Imovision).

The film, which is Deloget’s debut fiction feature, world premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard in 2023. It is produced by Curiosa Films, Unité and France 3 Cinema.

Ad Vitam released the film last November in France, where it has grossed around $1.4M to date.

Efira stars as a single mother who loses custody of her son when he is injured in an accident at home, while she is away working at night to support them.

Accused of negligence, the situation spirals as the family finds itself caught in the cross hairs of social services.

Pyramide is also handling the directorial debut of Johanna Pyykkö, former assistant to Joachim Trier.

Paris-based Pyramide International has acquired Emmanuel Mouret’s comedy drama Une Honnête Femme, starring Camille Cottin, Sara Forestier and India Hair.

It will launch the film at next week’s Rendez-Vous in Paris, along with Thierry de Peretti’s drama A Son Image and Johanna Pyykkö’s My Wonderful Stranger.

Une Honnête Femme zooms in on three friends with different views on love – one who has just left a relationship, one who advocates for a relationship without love, and one who sees love as an adventure.

Pyramide is also handling the directorial debut of Johanna Pyykkö, former assistant to Joachim Trier.

Paris-based Pyramide International has acquired Emmanuel Mouret’s comedy drama Une Honnete Femme, starring Camille Cottin, Sara Forestier and India Hair.

It will launch the film at next week’s Rendez-Vous in Paris, along with Thierry de Peretti’s drama A Son Image and Johanna Pyykkö’s My Wonderful Stranger.

Une Honnête Femme zooms in on three friends with different views on love – one who has just left a relationship, one who advocates for a relationship without love, and one who sees love as an adventure.

Pyramide is also handling the directorial debut of Johanna Pyykkö, former assistant to Joachim Trier.

Paris-based Pyramide International has acquired Emmanuel Mouret’s comedy drama Une Honnete Femme, starring Camille Cottin, Sara Forestier and India Hair.

It will launch the film at next week’s Rendez-Vous in Paris, along with Thierry de Peretti’s feature documentary A Son Image and Johanna Pyykkö’s My Wonderful Stranger.

Une Honnête Femme zooms in on three friends with different views on love – one who has just left a relationship, one who advocates for a relationship without love, and one who sees love as an adventure.

Paris-based sales company is bringing eight new titles to Rendez-Vous.

Julie Delpy’s immigration-themed comedy Meet The Barbarians (Les Barbares) is among eight new titles Paris-based sales company Charades is launching at Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous with French Cinema this month.

The event takes place from January 16-23 in Paris.

Charades extensive Rendez-Vous line-up also includes 3D animation Flow, romantic comedy Just A Couple of Days starring Camille Cottin, Jeremie Sein’s Olympic sports comedy Game Changers, Antoine Raimbault’s political thriller Smoke Signals, Gustave Kervern’s revenge story Enough Is Enough!, dark comedy Plastic Guns plus recently announced adaptation And...

They instructed her no one must turn their back to the king, but she did so anyway. They warned that she was not to look Louis Xv directly in the eyes, lest others take it as “an invitation,” but she ignored Versailles’ advisers on this point as well, defiantly meeting the king’s gaze.

Jeanne Bécu was not the type of woman to do as she was told. In this respect, divisive French actor-director Maïwenn can relate, casting herself as the courtesan-turned-comtess in “Jeanne du Barry,” a sensitive and surprisingly low-key portrait of the French monarch’s last mistress. That Maïwenn saw fit to engage tabloid-embattled Johnny Depp as “her king” is just one of the many hurdles she set for herself — but then, no one embarks on such a project with the intention of pleasing her critics.

Kicking off the Cannes Film Festival just two weeks after Charles III’s coronation across the Channel,...

Where’s Johnny?

In a normal year at the Cannes Film Festival, the premiere of a warmly received French period drama would be followed by a decidedly understated press conference, with director and stars patiently lined up to discuss the work’s creation for the international media. But that’s not how it goes down when the film happens to star Johnny Depp, one of the world’s biggest celebrities in the midst of an attempted career reboot following several years of damaging and divisive scandal.

On the first full day of screenings Wednesday at the world’s most prestigious film festival, the hottest ticket in town was nonetheless the press conference for the prior night’s opening film, Jeanne du Barry, starring Depp as King Louis Xv and the director Maïwenn as his favored mistress. But as the film’s director and cast walked into the hall for the press briefing,...

Michael Douglas also received his honorary Palme d’Or,

Photographers crowded the Cannes red carpet to capture the controversial comeback of Johnny Depp, star of the opening night film Jeanne Du Barry, on Tuesday night (May 16).

Depp was all smiles as he signed autographs and posed for selfies with fans gathered outside before making his way into the theatre, walking hand in hand beside the film’s directorr Maiwenn and the main supporting cast of the film including Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, India Hair and Diego Le Fur.

Maiwenn received a standing ovation as they entered the theatre...

The Cannes Film Festival has kicked off its 76th edition Tuesday with the opening ceremony to be followed by the world premiere of Jeanne Du Barry, starring and directed by Maïwenn and featuring the return of Johnny Depp to the big screen.

The premiere was attended by Maïwenn, who stars opposite Depp and alongside Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud and India Hair.

Related: Cannes Film Festival 2023: Film Premieres And Parties Gallery

Other guests who attended included Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Catherine Deneuve, Uma Thurman, Elle Fanning, Helen Mirren, Mads Mikkelsen, Emmanuelle Béart, Franz Rogowski, Maria de Medeiros, Pom Klementieff and Fan Bingbig.

The film follows the life of Jeanne Bécu, who was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743 and went on to rise through the Court of Louis Xv to become his last official mistress.

Other buzzy premieres taking place at the...

This year’s Cannes Film Festival could be a defining moment for Johnny Depp’s acting career comeback. Jeanne du Barry will open this year’s festival on the evening of May 16 in a coup for Depp and widely known French multihyphenate Maïwenn. The period royal drama stars Depp as King Louis Xv, while Maïwenn plays the titular character in addition to directing.

The following day, Depp will participate in the festival’s official press conference for Jeanne du Barry, according to sources familiar with his schedule.

The various events — as well as the movie itself — will provide a chance for Hollywood to assess Depp’s current composure. “I haven’t seen the movie, but it feels like was a good way for him [Depp] to get into back into everything,” says a veteran specialty distributor.

Jeanne du Barry will open in theaters in France timed to its Cannes debut, but...

Maiwenn Le Besco, the director of Johnny Depp’s Cannes opening night film “Jeanne du Barry,” has admitted that she spit in the face of an investigative journalist in February. The filmmaker confessed to the act just days ahead of the May 16 world premiere of “Jeanne du Barry.”

The actor-director, who goes by Maiwenn, was asked on the French TV talkshow “Quotidien” if she could confirm that she had assaulted Edwy Plenel, the founder of Mediapart, which had published a report that several women had accused her ex-husband, director Luc Besson, of rape. “Do I confirm that I assaulted him? Yes,” she answered the interviewer, according to The Telegraph.

Plenel filed a police complaint on March 7, which accused Maiwenn of aggression while he was eating in a restaurant. The director, who was sitting by herself at a nearby table, allegedly grabbed Plenel by the hair and spit in his face,...

Cannes Film Festival’s longtime director Thierry Fremaux has commented on the controversial decision to open this year’s event with Johnny Depp’s new film.

Jeanne Du Barry is directed by and stars French filmmaker Maïwenn alongside Depp. The French-language film tells the story of King Louis Xv’s mistress Jeanne Vaubernier.

In an interview with Variety ahead of the May festival, Fremaux said he didn’t believe it was a “controversial” move to open with Maïwenn’s film.

“I don’t see Maïwenn’s film as a controversial choice at all, because if Johnny Depp had been banned from working it would have been different, but that’s not the case,” he said.

“We only know one thing, it’s the justice system and I think he won the legal case. But the movie isn’t about Johnny Depp.”

The film was shot in 2022, around the time of...

Actress-director Maïwenn, whose film Jeanne du Barry starring Johnny Depp is set to open the Cannes Film Festival next month, has been accused of assaulting a journalist in a bizarre encounter at a Paris restaurant in February, according to multiple local French news outlets Friday.

Edwy Plenel, co-founder of the online newspaper Mediapart, filed a complaint in March that, according to Le Figaro, “a woman, previously seated, alone, at another table…arose and in a very short time grabbed [Plenel] violently by the hair, throwing his head back and sketching a spit on his face.” The woman then “hastily left the restaurant without anyone being able to intervene given the speed of the action.” Restaurant staff reportedly identified her as the director, whose full name is Maïwenn le Besco but who goes by her first name.

No words were spoken during the alleged assault, according to the reports, but the complaint...

Le Pacte has revealed an official French trailer for the film Jeanne du Barry, which was just revealed as the opening night film at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in May. Directed by Maïwenn, this stars Johnny Depp as King Louis Xv, her lover in this story. It would seem Cannes is all about the attention that will come from Depp on the red carpet more than the quality, as this seems lavishly redundant and derivative. We've seen all this before in other ball & gown films. In this film, Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and her allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favourite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles,...

Johnny Depp’s new film Jeanne Du Barry will open the Cannes Film Festival, it has been announced.

Directed by and starring French filmmaker Maïwenn, the French-language film tells the story of King Louis Xv‘s mistress Jeanne Vaubernier.

Maïwenn will play the eponymous lead in the period drama, with Depp, in his first feature film role in three years, playing her king in the French-speaking role.

The supporting cast includes Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair.

In the film’s synopsis, Vaubernier is described as “a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one”.

“She becomes the favourite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles,...

Johnny Depp will be making his return to the Cannes Film Festival when his new historical drama, “Jeanne du Barry”, will open the 2023 edition of the iconic film fest, making its world premiere.

Directed by French actress and filmmaker Maïwenn (whose films include “DNA” and “My King”), “Jeanne du Barry” is set in France during the reign of King Louis Xv (played by Depp), with Maiwenn playing the title role of the real-life courtesan who enchanged the French the monarch.

“Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one,” reads the film’s official synopsis. “She becomes the favourite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love. Against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court.

In what will no doubt provoke some considerable noise, Johnny Depp’s latest film — Jeanne du Barry — is set to open the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

The film, directed by Maïwenn, will have its world premiere in the Palais on May 16.

In Jeanne du Barry, Maïwenn plays herself as the title character alongside Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. Recounting the life, rise and fall of the King Louis Xv‘s favorite, the film will be released in French cinemas simultaneously with its Cannes bow.

The film follows Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favorite of King Louis Xv (Depp) who, unaware of her status as a courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love.

’Jeanne du Barry’ will be released on the same day in French cinemas.

The world premiere of Jeanne du Barry, directed by Maïwenn and starring Johnny Depp, will open the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on May 16.

The festival didn’t specify whether the film will bow in or out of Competition.

Jeanne du Barry will be released the same day in French theatres via Le Pacte. The costume drama was produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Gregoire Sorlat’s Why Not Productions.

Also producing is Depp’s production company In.2 alongside La Petite Reine and France Télévisions, with the Red Sea International...

Johnny Depp’s comeback movie Jeanne Du Barry is to open the Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Maïwenn, who also stars, the film’s world premiere will take place on Tuesday, May 16 and the film will be released in cinemas the same day in France, the festival said Wednesday.

Maïwenn herself plays the eponymous main character alongside Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. The film will recount the life, rise and fall of French King Louis Xv‘s court favorite, Jeanne Vaubernier.

The French-language film’s official synopsis describes Vaubernier as “a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favourite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love.

Introduced at the Berlinale’s EFM, production on Aude Léa Rapin‘s sophomore feature has officially begun with Adele Exarchopoulos and Souheila Yacoub toplining what is coined as a female-driven science-fi thriller. Produced by Les Films du Bal, Planète B will be shot in both French and English with a cast that is rounded out by Souleymane Touré, India Hair, Jonathan Couzinié, Paul Beaurepaire, Léo Chalié and Grace Seri. Filming will last until May in Grenoble and Lyon, France.

The film follows Julia Bombarth (Exarchopoulos), one of the activists who mysteriously disappeared after participating in a violent protest. After being shot in the eye by a flash-ball gun, Julia fainted and woke up in an unknown world, known as Planet B.…...

The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea Iff), today announced through the Red Sea film Foundation, they are backing the upcoming French period drama ‘Jeanne du Barry’ directed, co-written and featuring French actress and filmmaker Maïwenn. The film stars Johnny Depp as 18th century French King Louis Xv, with Maïwenn in playing the role of the titular courtesan, Madame du Barry.

‘Jeanne du Barry’ also stars Pierre Richard, Benjamin Lavernhe, Noémie Lvovsky, Melvil Poupaud, India Hair and Pascal Greggory.

Since 2019, the Red Sea film Foundation has supported the development, production, and post-production of 170 films from the Arab world and Africa. ‘Jeanne du Barry’ is the Red Sea Iff’s first international co-production with France and demonstrates the Festival’s ongoing mission to support distinctive filmmaking and champion visionary female talent both on and behind the camera from around the world.

Shot in France and currently in post-production, ‘Jeanne du Barry...

Marks the Red Sea Film Foundation’s first international co-production with France.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival (Rsiff) is backing Maïwenn’s upcoming period drama Jeanne Du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, marking its first international co-production with France.

The investment through the Red Sea Film Foundation will see Rsiff serve as an executive producer on the feature, which was shot in France and is in post-production. The financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed.

The fund was established in 2021 with a pot of 14m and has supported the development, production and post-production of 170 films from the Arab world and Africa.

Marks the Red Sea Film Foundation’s first international co-production with France.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival (Rsiff) is backing Maïwenn’s upcoming period drama Jeanne Du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, marking its first international co-production with France.

The investment through the Red Sea Film Foundation will see Rsiff serve as an executive producer on the feature, which was shot in France and is in post-production. The financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed.

The fund was established in 2021 with a pot of 14m and has supported the development, production and post-production of 170 films from the Arab world and Africa.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has announced they are backing upcoming French period drama “Jeanne du Barry,” toplining Johnny Depp as 18th century French King Louis Xv.

The pic, now in post, is directed by French actress and filmmaker Maïwenn, who also plays the role of the titular courtesan, Madame du Barry. Pierre Richard, Benjamin Lavernhe, Noémie Lvovsky, Melvil Poupaud, India Hair and Pascal Greggory also star.

“Jeanne du Barry,” which is being co-funded through the Red Sea film foundation, marks the Red Sea fest’s first international co-production with France and “demonstrates the Festival’s ongoing mission to support distinctive filmmaking and champion visionary female talent both on and behind the camera from around the world,” the fest said in a statement. Since 2019, the Red Sea film Foundation has supported the development, production, and post-production of 170 films from the Arab world and Africa. This investment marks...

Jeanne du Barry

Set to be a distracting world premiere unveiling due to on-set difficulties, Maïwenn directs herself, Johnny Depp, Louis Garrel, Pierre Richard, Noémie Lvovsky, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pascal Greggory and India Hair in a historical biopic on Jeanne du Barry and Louis Xv. Maïwenn enjoys working with lots of moving parts – ensembles that touch upon many points — it’s no different here with what is now her sixth feature which at one time was called La Favorite. 2011’s Polisse is her best film to date having won the Jury Prize in Cannes, and she has since been invited back to the fest for 2015’s Mon Roi and the Cannes Label 2020 edition with DNA.…...

French filmmaker Maïwenn is teasing the first look at Johnny Depp as the controversial King Louis Xv in “Jeanne du Barry,” a historical romance drama about a royal’s concubine.

It’s Depp’s first film role since his highly publicized defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. The jury found that Heard had defamed Depp in her 2018 Washington Post opinion piece, which alluded to being a victim of domestic violence. However, the jury also found that Depp defamed Heard, through his attorney, while fighting back against her charges.

“Jeanne du Barry” started shooting at the end of July (after the trial wrapped in June) in Paris and the Île-de-France region, using landmarks like the Palace of Versailles as backdrops. Maïwenn, who also wrote the screenplay with Teddy Lussi-Modeste, is playing the title role.

The story follows Jeanne, a young working-class woman who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the social hierarchy.

Exclusive: France’s Why Not Productions has unveiled a playful first teaser image of Johnny Depp in the role of King Louis Xv in French director Maïwenn’s historical love story Jeanne du Barry, in which she also co-stars as the titular courtesan. Check it out below.

Rust And Bone and A Prophet production company Why Not has also confirmed that shoot began on July 26 for 11 weeks, with locations including Versailles and other chateaux in the Paris region as well as the studio.

The production marks Depp’s first feature film role in three years, and follows hot on the heels of his victory in his turbulent defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

The ambitious drama is freely inspired by the life of Jeanne du Barry, Louis Xv’s last royal mistress at the Court of Versaille, after Madame de Pompadour.

Born into poverty, she is a young working-class woman...

La ligne

Excluding her docu features, Ursula Meier is now at the three feature film mark with La ligne (The Line) – a project that began lensing in Switzerland around this time last year. Co-written by Stéphanie Blanchoud, Antoine Jaccoud and Meier (with additional help from Robin Campillo and Nathalie Najem), this stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, India Hair, Benjamin Biolay and Blanchoud as Margaret — this reunites the filmmaker with with her cinematographer Agnès Godard. Meier moves from shipwrecked family in 2008’s Home to disproportionately supporting one’s sibling in 2012’s L’enfant d’en haut to a film that pokes the family tree with a stick.…...

Stars: Grégoire Ludig, David Marsais, Adèle Exarchopoulos, India Hair, Roméo Elvis, Coralie Russier, Bruno Lochet | Written and Directed by Quentin Dupieux

DJ-turned-writer-director-cinematographer-editor-composer Quentin Dupieux returns with another inspired one-joke movie, this time about two dumb losers and their giant fly. Warm-hearted, brilliantly acted and packed with big laughs, it’s a delightful comic treat with plenty of buzz.

Mandibles opens with beach-sleeping dimwit Manu (Grégoire Ludig) recruiting best buddy Jean-Gab (David Marsais) for a car theft and mysterious suitcase delivery misson that will net them the princely sum of 500 Euros. However, their plan hits an unexpected setback when they open the trunk of their newly nicked automobile and discover a giant fly.

Jean-Gab isn’t one to miss an opportunity, so he quickly suggests they train the fly and use it to rob banks, “like a drone”. However, their plans hit another snag when they’re unexpectedly invited to stay...

Watch the Trailer for Mandibles: "When simple-minded friends Jean-Gab and Manu find a giant fly trapped in the boot of a car, they decide to train it in the hope of making a ton of cash."

Written and Directed by Quentin Dupieux

Starring Gregoire Ludig, David Marsais, Adele Exarchopoulos, India Hair, Romeo Elvis,

Coralie Russier, and Bruno Lochet

Magnet Releasing will release Mandibles everywhere July 23rd, 2021

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Third Killer Shorts Screenwriting Competition Announced: "Calling all horror writers! The third annual Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition is accepting entries from July 1st, 2021.

The Killer Short Contest celebrates horror short screenwriters from around the world, connecting them with managers, producers, and filmmakers. The Top 10 scripts will be read by a star-studded panel of judges, with over $5,000 worth of prizes up for grabs including Final Draft 12 screenwriting software, Shudder subscriptions, career consultations, memberships to Stan Winston’s School of Creative Arts,...

"The world is out of whack." Magnolia Pictures has released an official US trailer for the absurdist comedy Mandibules, the latest from wacky French musician / filmmaker Quentin Dupieux. This also goes under the English title Mandibles, but I prefer the original French spelling more. This originally premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year to mostly rave reviews (here's mine) and it deserves to be the sleeper hit of the summer in the US this year. Two simple-minded friends discover a giant fly in the trunk of a car and decide to domesticate it to earn money with it. But it's about much more than just that. Definitely a kooky Dupieux concept and it's hilarious. One of my favorite films he's made so far. Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, Grégoire Ludig, Bruno Lochet, Coralie Russier, India Hair, David Marsais, with Dave Chapman as "La Mouche" (aka The Fly). It's best to see...

Quentin Dupieux, also known in some circles by his musical stage name of Mr. Oizo, has a cult following for his deadpan, dry-as-a-bone comedies about oddball corners of humanity. They’ve so far included films like “Rubber,” “Reality,” and most recently “Deerskin.” Now he’s back with “Mandibles,” a droll lowlife comedy about two simple-minded friends who discover a giant fly in the trunk of a car and decide to domesticate it to earn money. Watch the trailer for the film below.

The cast includes Gregoire Ludig, David Marsais, Adele Exarchopoulos (in a reportedly scene-stealing role as a brain-damaged woman who can only speak at screaming volume), India Hair, Romeo Elvis, Coralie Russier, and Bruno Lochet. Dupieux also wrote the film in addition to directing it.

“Mandibles” first premiered at the Venice Film Festival back in September of 2020. This was followed by runs at Sitges Catalonia, Busan, Thessaloniki, and Rotterdam.

The film will be shooting in June, with a cast also including Laurent Stocker, India Hair and Pascale Arbillot. An Aurora Films and Local Films production sold by Indie Sales. In mid-June will begin in Île-de-France the shoot for Annie Colère, the third feature film by Blandine Lenoir after Zouzou (2014) and Fifty Springtimes (2017). In the cast, the director is working for the third time with Laure Calamy who will be flanked by Zita Hanrot (winner of the 2016 César award for Most Promising Actress for Fatima, and a stand...

Magnolia Pictures has acquired domestic rights to “Mandibles,” a new French comedy directed by Quentin Dupieux, the company announced on Thursday.

Magnolia is planning a 2021 release for the film.

“Mandibles” centers on two simple-minded friends, Jean-Gab and Manu, who find a giant fly trapped in the trunk of a car and decide to train it in the hope of making a ton of cash. The film stars Gregoire Ludig, David Marsais, Adele Exarchopoulos, India Hair, Romeo Elvis, Coralie Russier and Bruno Lochet.

“It’s really hard to make smart look stupid but Quentin Dupieux has managed the feat spectacularly,” says Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles in a statement to TheWrap. “‘Mandibles’ had me howling. I wish I could have seen it in a packed theatre.”

Directed by Quentin Dupieux,”Mandibles” was produced by Hugo Selignac and Vincent Mazel for Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, in co-production with Memento Films Production, C8 Films, Artémis Productions,...

Gregoire Ludig, David Marsais star in slacker comedy.

Magnolia Pictures has picked up US rights to Quentin Dupieux’s surreal French comedy Mandibles, one of the most talked-about films at Venice Film Festival.

The film earned a strong reception on the Lido and stars Gregoire Ludig and David Marsais as friends who try to train a giant fly they find in the boot of a car in the hope of getting rich.

The cast includes Adele Exarchopoulos, India Hair, Romeo Elvis, Coralie Russier, and Bruno Lochet.

Hugo Selignac and Vincent Mazel produced Mandibles for Paris-based Chi-Fou-Mi Productions. Patrick Quinet of...

"Never saw them, never met them." Memento Films in France has revealed the first full festival trailer for the film Mandibules, the latest from wacky French musician / filmmaker Quentin Dupieux. This just premiered at the Venice Film Festival last weekend to mostly rave reviews (here's mine) and it's going to hit the Sitges Film Festival next this fall. Two simple-minded friends discover a giant fly in the trunk of a car and decide to domesticate it to earn money with it. But it's about more than just that. Definitely a Dupieux concept and it's hilarious. One of my favorites this year. The film stars Adèle Exarchopoulos, Grégoire Ludig, Bruno Lochet, Coralie Russier, India Hair, David Marsais, with Dave Chapman as "La Mouche" (aka The Fly). This is a good taste of what the film offers, and I'm big-time fan of it already. Enjoy. Here's the full festival trailer for Quentin Dupieux's Mandibules,...

Whacky road movie stars comedy duo Grégoire Ludig and David Marsais with Adèle Exarchopoulos in a supporting role.

Screen can reveal a first international trailer for French director Quentin Dupieux’s surreal comedy road movie Mandibles ahead of its world premiere out of competition at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday (Sept 5).

French comedy duo Grégoire Ludig and David Marsais co-star as two goofy friends who find a giant fly trapped in their car boot and decide to train it as moneymaking venture. Adèle Exarchopoulos, Coralie Russier and India Hair as well as Belgian rapper and hip hop artist Romeo...

Hi, fly. Memento Films in France has unveiled a short 15-second teaser trailer for the film Mandibules, the latest from wacky French musician / filmmaker Quentin Dupieux. The pandemic hasn't stopped him from working! Mandibules was also announced as part of the line-up for the 2020 Venice Film Festival, kicking off in September. So what the heck is this film about? Two simple-minded friends discover a giant fly in the trunk of a car and decide to domesticate it to earn money with it. Of course. Definitely a Dupieux concept. The film stars Adèle Exarchopoulos, Grégoire Ludig, Bruno Lochet, Coralie Russier, India Hair, David Marsais, with Dave Chapman as "La Mouche" (aka The Fly). There isn't really much to this teaser trailer except a quick shot of the giant fly drinking water from a pool, but still, you've gotta see this trailer with a giant fly drinking water from a pool! Because who knows what happens next.

The cast of the film, which is being produced by Agat Films & Cie and sold by Be for Films, includes Niels Schneider, Sofian Khammes, India Hair, Denis Lavant and Thomas Daloz. On 16 March, the first clapperboard is due to slam for Sentinelle Sud (lit. “South Sentry”) by Mathieu Gérault, who made a splash with his short film Hautes herbes. The cast includes Niels Schneider, Sofian Khammes (who rose to fame in Chouf, turned heads in The World Is Yours and Fast Convoy, and can be seen in movie theatres from 1 April in Fishlove and, in the second half of the year, in The Swarm and Arthur...

Mandibules

Quentin Dupieux shows no signs of slowing, with his eighth feature Mandibules a new premiere in three consecutive years. Produced by Hugo Selignac and Vincent Mazel, Dupieux lines up another interesting concoction in casting with his latest, starring Gregoire Ludig and David Marsais (the comedy duo known as Palmashow) alongside celebrated actors Adèle Exarchopoulos, Anaïs Demoustier and India Hair. Belgian rapper Romeo Elvis plus Coralie Russier and Bruno Lochet round out the cast. Dupieux became an immediate cult figure following his 2010 sophomore film Rubber, which played in Critics’ Week at Cannes. 2012’s Wrong competed in the World Dramatic program at Sundance 2012, while 2013’s Wrong Cops premiered in Locarno.…...

Slate also features directorial duo Gustave Kervern and Benoit Delépine’s comedy drama Delete History.

Wild Bunch has boarded sales on Just Philippot’s fantasy drama The Swarm about a woman who develops an obsessional bond with grasshoppers she is breeding as a high-protein crop.

The film, produced by Capricci and Manuel Chiche’s The Jokers Films, is a first feature for Philippot.

The emerging French director participated in Sundance’s international shorts competition earlier this year with his Canal+ acquired short film Acide, about a disturbing acidic cloud which passes over a country spreading panic.

In The Swarm, Suliane Brahim...

As we near a new year and a new festival season, commencing with The Sundance Film Festival later this month, one of the great gems of last year’s cavalcade of festivals is finally arriving in Us theaters.

Nearly a year after it debuted at the 2015 edition of the Cannes Film Festival, Staying Vertical marks the return of beloved French filmmaker Alain Guiraudie, whose previous film, The Stranger By The Lake turned him in a relatively household name among film circles privy to world/arthouse cinema. Winner of various awards including the Queer Palm and the Un Certain Regard Best Director award for the aforementioned Stranger, Guiraudie’s latest continues his trajectory as one of French cinema’s most esoteric and exciting voices.

The film introduces the viewer to Leo (Damien Bonnard, who is a real find here), a screenwriter/filmmaker suffering from an intense case of writer’s block,...

Jury led by Jeremy Thomas awards Terence Davies title with top award.

The 43rd annual Film Festival Ghent (Oct 11-21) awarded Terence Davies’ A Quiet Passion with the Grand Prix for Best Film.

Shot largely at Aed Studios in Antwerp, the Emily Dickinson biopic is a UK-Belgium co-production.

The international jury was led by Jeremy Thomas. The veteran UK producer was also recognised by the festival for his contribution to cinema, receiving the lifetime achievement award.

Ahead of the closing-night screening of Belgian film-maker Bavo Defurne’s romantic drama Souvenir, Thomas and his jury – including Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung, author Jonathan Coe and actresses Maaike Neuville, Lina El Arabi and India Hair – handed out the prizes.

Davies’ A Quiet Passion win came with $47.500 (€43,500) in prize money; special mention went to Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov’s Glory.

The Georges Delerue Award for best score went to Us producer/composer Johnny Jewel for Fien Troch’s Home...

British director’s Palme d’Or winning film opened the 43rd edition of the festival.

I, Daniel Blake director Ken Loach and actress Hayley Squires were in Ghent, Belgium last night (Oct 11) for the opening of the 43rd Film Fest Gent.

Loach, tireless at age 80, passionately introduced his Palme d’Or winning drama five times in five separate cinema screens at the Kinepolis multiplex. Loach said, “This is a story we needed to share. It is in a sense about how we choose to live together.”

The veteran director also held a Q&A away from the red carpet, at a public screening at the Vooruit, a venue that has long been associated with socialist causes, where the audience gave him a lengthy standing ovation.

Festival artistic director Patrick Duynslaegher said he wanted to open the festival with I, Daniel Blake because it offered a shared artistic experience “without excluding social and political relevance.”

Loach was also...

The 43rd edition of the Belgian film festival to open with Cannes Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake.Scroll down for competition line-up

The programme for the 43rd Film Fest Gent (Oct 11-21) has been officially announced, including 12 films in official competition, as well as a diverse array of features in the Nordic, Japanese and Belgian cinema categories.

The festival will open with Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake, which won this year’s Palme d’Or in Cannes.

International guests will include Loach, Isabelle Huppert, Terence Davies, Olivier Assayas, Mark Rappaport, Derek Cianfrance, Asghar Farhadi and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The official competition opens on 16 October with Fien Troch’s Home, with the cast and crew in attendance.

Other directors presenting films in competition include Ivo Ferreira, Kôji Fukada and Terence Davies.

The international jury consists of producer Jeremy Thomas, director Tran Anh Hung (Norwegian Wood), actors Lina El Arabi (A Wedding) and India Hair (Staying Vertical...