Latest news with #1-2Special
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
1-2 Special Takes Radu Jude's ‘Dracula' for North America
Neophyte distributor 1-2 Special has picked up North American rights to Dracula, the upcoming horror comedy from Romanian auteur Radu Jude (Bad Luck Banging Or Loony Porn). The film, which will have its world premiere in competition at the Locarno Film Festival, is billed as a very singular take on the legendary vampire, featuring 'vampires, zombies, lots of blood, sex, AI images, car chases, and Jude's trademark black comedy.' More from The Hollywood Reporter ITV's Long-Running Detective Drama 'Grantchester' Will End With Season 11 Trump's Hollywood Tariffs, an "Incentives War" and a Streaming Levy in Focus at KVIFF 'Squid Game' Hero Lee Jung-jae on Letting Go of Player 456, His Final Thoughts on Show's Urgent Message 'I am very happy and extremely grateful that Dracula will be brought to American audiences,' said Jude. 'One can say 'brought back', since this myth circled the world and the American cinema changed it so many times. I hope it is now time to see the myth wearing new clothes, made in the heart of real Transylvania. When I am asked who is Dracula in the film, I always reply that the film itself is Dracula. I would also add that this film is my humble homage to some great American underrated auteurs: Ed Wood, Andy Warhol and the Fluxus filmmakers.' The deal was negotiated by Luxbox on behalf of the filmmakers with 1-2 Special. The acquisition marks the continuation of 1-2 Special's relationship with Radu Jude, whose Kontinental '25 the company picked up out of the Berlin film festival this year, marking their first international acquisition. The modern-day drama, won Jude the silver bear for best screenplay. Former Sideshow executive Jason Hellerstein launched 1-2 Special earlier this year, with backing from private equity, pitching the company as a new theatrical-first, all rights distributor, dedicated to domestic and international art house cinema. Dracula is produced by Romania's Saga Film, together with Austria's Nabis Filmgroup, Luxembourg's Paul Thiltges Distribution, Brazil's RT Features, Luxembourg's Samsa Film, Switzerland's Bord Cadre Films, the UK's Sovereign Films and Romania's MicroFILM. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
1-2 Special Takes North America For Radu Jude's ‘Dracula' Ahead Of Locarno Debut
1-2 Special has acquired all North American rights to Romanian director Radu Jude's new movie Dracula ahead of its world premiere in Competition at the Locarno Film Festival in August. Shot and set in Transylvania, where the vampire myth began, the film sees Jude embark on an epic odyssey to make Dracula great again. More from Deadline Locarno Title 'God Will Not Help' Sets Sales With New Europe Locarno: Radu Jude, Abdellatif Kechiche & 'Viet And Nam' Filmmaker Trương Minh Quý Among Directors Set To Debut New Works In Competition Locarno Sets Short & Medium Length Competition Titles, Neo Sora & Salvatore Mereu To Debut New Works 1-2 Special described the movie as a trademark Jude black comedy paying tribute to one of cinema's greatest legends and featuring 'vampires, zombies, blood, sex, AI images and car chases'. The Locarno premiere will mark Jude's second major festival outing this year, after Kontinental '25, which won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at this year's Berlinale. The acquisition continues 1-2 Special's relationship with Jude after it acquired the latter film out of Berlin. 'I am very happy and extremely grateful that Dracula will be brought to American audiences. One can say 'brought back', since this myth circled the world and the American cinema changed it so many times,' said Jude. 'I hope it is now time to see the myth wearing new clothes, made in the heart of real Transylvania. When I am asked who is Dracula in the film, I always reply that the film itself is Dracula. I would also add that this film is my humble homage to some great American underrated auteurs: Ed Wood, Andy Warhol and the Fluxus filmmakers.' Jude's previous work includes Golden Bear-winner Bad Luck Banging Or Loony Porn and Aferim!, which won the Silver Bear for Best Director. Dracula is produced by Romania's Saga Film, with Austria's Nabis Filmgroup, Luxembourg's Paul Thiltges Distribution, Brazil's RT Features, Luxembourg's Samsa Film, Switzerland's Bord Cadre Films, the UK's Sovereign Films and Romania's MicroFILM. The deal was negotiated by Luxbox on behalf of the filmmakers with 1-2 Special. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's Next Film – 'The Odyssey': Release Date, Cast And More
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes-Bound ‘Left-Handed Girl,' ‘Heads or Tails?' Producer Cinema Inutile Takes Stake in 1-2 Special
Alex C. Lo's Cinema Inutile has taken a stake in distribution banner 1-2 Special. The New York and Tokyo-based production company, which has been steadily building a slate of festival darlings, has joined as a founding partner in the recently launched North American distributor headed by Jason Hellerstein, a former Sideshow executive who debuted the venture in February. More from Variety Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve Family Drama 'Fjord' Sells to Neon Variety to Host Global Conversations Summit at Cannes Film Festival Cannes' Thierry Fremaux on Trump's Tariff Plan, Resilience of American Film Culture: 'The United States Remains a Great Country for Cinema' Cinema Inutile slate includes recent festival hits 'Stranger Eyes' (Venice Competition 2024), 'Happyend' (Venice Orizzonti 2024), and 'Viet and Nam' (Cannes Un Certain Regard 2024). Its development pipeline features collaborations with art-house heavyweights including Ruben Östlund's 'The Entertainment System Is Down,' Manuela Martelli's 'The Meltdown,' and Jim Jarmusch's 'Father, Mother, Sister, Brother.' The move represents a significant evolution for Cinema Inutile, expanding its end-to-end capabilities in the independent space. The company now stands positioned to shepherd projects from development through theatrical release, a rarity in today's challenging art-house market. The announcement comes as Cinema Inutile celebrates a banner year on the festival circuit, with two high-profile entries set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival: Shih-Ching Tsou's 'Left-Handed Girl' (co-written and edited by 'Anora' helmer Sean Baker) in Critics' Week, and Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis' 'Heads or Tails?' in Un Certain Regard. The theatrical-first strategy represents a bullish stance on traditional exhibition at a time when many independent distributors are pivoting toward streaming and day-and-date strategies. 1-2 Special plans to release up to 10 films annually, with Radu Jude's 'Kontinental '25' from this year's Berlinale marking its inaugural acquisition. 'This partnership with 1-2 Special is a natural and exciting next step for Cinema Inutile,' Lo told Variety. 'Be it 'The Settlers,' 'Girls Will Be Girls,' or 'Stranger Eyes,' we've always championed stories that challenge conventions and ignite conversation. Collaborating with Jason, who shares that same passion for risk-taking cinema, is incredibly inspiring.' 'We're both committed to supporting films that deserve to be seen on the big screen, and to creating a home for filmmakers who bring new and unique perspectives to the conversation,' Lo added. Cinema Inutile is represented by Hayden Goldblatt at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
