Foreign Language Oscar contender “Theeb” sells worldwide

PanARMENIAN.Net - Coming off of a BAFTA win for Outstanding Debut, and as it heads into final contention for the Foreign Language Oscar, Naji Abu Nowar’s Theeb has been sold around the world, Deadline reveals.

Fortissimo Films handles international rights with several deals closed during the EFM; further pacts were sealed in the days since. This is only the second ever entry to the Academy Awards from Jordan and the first nomination. Theeb, a coming-of-age tale set during WWI, tells the story of a young Bedouin boy who guides a British officer across the desert to a secret location. The movie has itself been on a long journey having debuted at the Venice Film Festival in 2014. The domestic distributor is Film Movement which released in November to about $250K. Fresh deals are with Film Buro (Spain), Cineplex Inc (Colombia), Cineteca Nacional (Mexico), HBO (Central Europe), DENK & Sinema TV (Turkey) and Skyline IFE (airlines), among others.

MTV has set magician and YouTube personality Rob Anderson as host of its new international reality show, Bugging Out. The hidden camera prank series sees everyday devices turn on their unsuspecting users, from smart phones, and GPS systems to fitness trackers and ATMs. Developed in partnership with DIGA’s Tony DiSanto, this 22-episode first season will air across MTV’s international linear channels and digital platforms from spring 2016. Also joining the series is stand-up comedian Traci Stumpf.

Classic Britcom Are You Being Served? is making a return to the BBC for a one-off special. The series, which first began in 1972, follows the misadventures of the staff at fictional London department store Grace Brothers. Picking up where Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft’s original comedy left off, the show will be set in 1988 where young Young Mr Grace is determined to drag Grace Brothers into the present while Mr Humphries, Captain Peacock, Mr Rumbold and Mrs Slocombe are all stuck in another era. Cast includes Jason Watkins (The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies), Sherrie Hewson (Benidorm, Coronation Street), John Challis (Only Fools And Horses), Roy Barraclough (Coronation Street), Mathew Horne (Gavin And Stacey) and newcomer Kayode Ewumi. Derren Litten (Benidorm, The Catherine Tate Show) is writing.