Watson Screening At Monte Carlo TV Festival
CBS’s Morris Chestnut sleuth series, Watson, is making its French premiere at the prestigious Monte Carlo Television Festival. Set to take place on June 13 at the Grimaldo Forum in Monaco, this intriguing series is described as a "medical series with an investigative spine". The storyline picks up six months after the death of the iconic Dr. John Watson’s friend, Sherlock Holmes, who fell at the hands of his arch-nemesis, Moriarty. As he copes with loss, Watson resumes his life as the head of a clinic focused on treating rare disorders. However, the show hints that Moriarty is not finished with him yet, ensuring a thrilling narrative ahead.
Produced by CBS Studios, Watson is being distributed globally by Paramount Global Content Distribution. In an exciting development at the festival, American actress Jaz Sinclair will be honored with the Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent. Sinclair is currently well-known for her performance in The Boys, a superhero drama on Prime Video, and has also captivated audiences with her roles in Netflix’s supernatural series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, as well as films like Paper Towns and When the Bough Breaks, where she starred alongside Chestnut.
Giant Pictures Brings ‘Mockbuster’ To Cannes
In an exciting revelation from New York-based Giant Pictures, a lineup of new films is set to be launched at the Cannes Market this week. Among the notable mentions is Anthony Frith’s Mockbuster, a behind-the-scenes documentary focused on an aspiring filmmaker’s journey to create his first film for the b-movie studio, The Asylum. This production boasts David Farrier—the acclaimed filmmaker known for Tickled—as an executive producer. The documentary is being made in association with various Australian funding sources, showcasing the collaborative spirit of international cinema.
In addition to Mockbuster, Giant Pictures also announced new acquisitions in the documentary genre, including Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue and The Britto Doc, which chronicles the life and art of Brazilian pop artist Romero Britto. This announcement follows Giant’s recent launch of an international sales division, spearheaded by Nick Savva, the General Manager of Giant Pictures. Along with industry veterans Bill Sondheim and Tom Bairstow, the team aims to enhance Giant Pictures’ global reach and presence in the film market. Bairstow will be representing Giant Pictures on the ground in Cannes, looking forward to the event’s promising opportunities.
Alex MacNicoll Leads Indie Horror ‘Near Death’
EXCLUSIVE: Indie horror film Near Death stars Alex MacNicoll, known for his work in Brilliant Minds. He leads a talented cast that includes Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, David A. Chang, Olivia Rose Prince, Del Eswar, and Paige Hapeman. This film, produced by Liminal Space Pictures, is described as an "augmented reality horror" and marks the feature film debut of director Shaina Aidan.
The plot centers on John (MacNicoll), a withdrawn software engineer who invites a group of friends to a mountain cabin to celebrate his birthday while testing a new augmented reality prototype. However, when the experiment spirals out of control, the friends find themselves in a terrifying battle for survival as their reality begins to unravel. The Liminal Space team, consisting of Aidan, Chang, Eswar, and Noel Do-Murakami, is producing the film, while several associate producers, including Brad Bradley, Alexander Clark, and Abby Johnson, are onboard.
This is not the first collaboration for MacNicoll, Aidan, Chang, and Eswar, as they previously served as executive producers on the critically acclaimed 2022 Tribeca Film Festival title Wes is Dying. MacNicoll is currently represented by Gersh and Joanne Horowitz Management, while Xu and Leung are represented by Link Entertainment.
Chaka Khan, Chuck D & More Interviewed In Average White Band Doc
A new documentary titled Average White Band: Soul Searching delves into the influential 1970s Scottish group, Average White Band. This compelling documentary features exclusive interviews with music legends such as Chaka Khan, Questlove, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Mark Ronson, DJ Premier, and Michael McDonald. Notably, former US President Barack Obama also appears, having once remarked, "Those boys could jam," highlighting the band’s significant impact on the history of hip-hop.
Soul Searching explores how Average White Band became one of the most sampled groups in hip-hop history, shedding light on their artistic journey through personal testimonies and archival footage. Directed by Anthony Baxter, the film promises a rich exploration of not just music but the cultural significance of the band, complemented by powerful voices in the industry. A sneak peek of the film will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17 during the Scottish Works-in-Progress Showcase at the Marché du Film. The documentary is produced by Montrose Pictures in collaboration with Screen Scotland, Kartemquin Films, Vertigo Films, and Sky Originals.
As the world of film continues to evolve, these narratives bring a fresh perspective to both mainstream and independent cinema, ensuring that audiences are served a diverse range of storytelling.