VIEWFINDER PICTURES

Viewfinder Pictures is the Los Angeles based film and television production company of Carol Palokoff.

Filming has wrapped on Speak Sunlight, the debut film by producer Carol Polakoff

On Tuesday 28 June, filming wrapped on Speak Sunlight, the first directorial venture for Washington producer Carol Polakoff (The Death of Cinema and My Father Too [+]), a friend of the real-life protagonist of the story, Alan Jolis, who captured the summer that marked his life in the novel that also lends its name to this debut: Speak Sunlight. Natxo López (Jefe [+]) together with the filmmaker herself and John Milarky have adapted the script; and its cast is led by Carmen Machi (who stars in Full of Grace [+] currently in Spanish cinemas), Karra Elejalde (who will premiere the comedy Too Many Chefs [+] in September), Ahikar Azcona (seen in the series Money Heist) and the new face Matteo Artuñedo.

The action unfolds in Paris, 1965: Maruja and Manolo live there after 30 years in exile from Spain, working for the family of an American ambassador, the Jolis. But this year, she decides to confront her past and to do so, she embarks on a journey with her partner and Alan Jolis to her origins in Spain. A journey in which she will have to ensure that the young man will grow up to be a good man. In turn, Manolo and Alan will learn to enjoy their present and focus on the future, because this journey will not only be physical, but also emotional.

"This film is about life, loss and love," says the director. "To do this, the audience will play an active role: who will feel as though they are in the kitchen, on the train, running with the bulls... Memory often lapses into sentimentality and a lack of confrontation with the people who perpetuated difficult times and hurtful truths. However, in Speak Sunlight, this will be a gift, allowing the audience to develop a real emotional connection with the characters and their humanity."

"Speak Sunlight is a vision of the future through the eyes of a child. Because of this it is timeless, because what we see are the relationships that change the boy's life and stay with him forever," the filmmaker continues. "Despite the timelessness of these feelings, I hope to give the film a political quality: Franco's government will be felt and seen, especially to understand Manolo's hidden past and to make Alan see that life is not fair.”

Speak Sunlight is a production of the Spanish company Babieka Films and US company Viewfinder Pictures with José Luis Alcaine as director of photography, Lucas Vidal composing the soundtrack and Teresa Font in charge of editing. The Navarra towns of Estella, Pamplona and Gallipienzo, as well as Madrid, Segovia and Toledo are the locations where the film was shot between May and June.

Taraji P. Henson, Jennifer Hudson & Pauletta Washington Join ‘Tell It Like A Woman’ Anthology Film

It was announced today that Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures, What Men Want, Proud Mary), Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls, Sex and the City) and Pauletta Washington (Philadelphia) have joined Iervolino Entertainment’s star-studded anthology project Tell It Like a Woman. The trio enter the project with the Henson directed segment titled ‘Pepcy & Kim.’

‘Pepcy & Kim,’ inspired by the true story of Kim Carter (CNN Heroes), with Jennifer Hudson starring as both Pepcy and Kim, opposite Pauletta Washington. Catherine Hardwicken penned the segment. Chiara Tilesi, Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi produce with Jennifer Ryan and Carol Polakoff executive producing.

With their involvement in Tell It Like a Woman, Henson, Hudson and Washington join an esteemed group of female filmmakers and actors that includes Cara Delevingne, Catherine Hardwicke, Margherita Buy, Marcia Gay Harden, Eva Longoria, Leonor Varela, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anne Watanabe and Mipo O. 

Tell It Like a Woman, described as a film by women – about women – but for everyone, is comprised of seven segments, making a feature length film. The segments are directed by female directors from different parts of the world; shot in Italy, India, Japan, and USA, and range through different genres, from drama to comedy, through docudrama and animation. Segments include: “Unspoken” – directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi and starring Margherita Buy; “Lagonegro” – directed by Lucia Puenzo and starring Eva Longoria; “Elbows deep” – directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Cara Delevingne, Marcia Gay Harden and Jasmine Luv; “Sharing a Ride” – directed by Leena Yadav and starring Jacqueline Fernandez and Anjali Lama; “A Week in My Life” – directed by Mipo O and starring Anne Watanabe; and this final piece ‘Pepcy & Kim’ – directed by Taraji P. Henson and starring Jennifer Hudson and Pauletta Washington.

“The talents of Taraji, Jennifer and Pauletta are awe-inspiring and on full display in their adaptation of the amazing Kim Carter story,” Iervolino said. “This trio is a marvelous compliment to the spirited filmmakers and talent banding together for this one-of-a-kind film, and their sincerity in delivering a ‘must see’ segment is simply moving. We can’t wait to show this film to the world.”

All segments come together in an intertwining feature film from Iervolino Entertainment S.p.A. – the global film & television production company founded by producer Andrea Iervolino and co-owned with Monika Bacardi. The project is the result of the collaboration with ‘We Do It Together’, a non-profit film production company that advocates for gender equality, founded by producer Chiara Tilesi.

“‘Tell It Like A Woman’ has been a very long journey, almost six years producing this film, and we couldn’t have asked for a better ending segment in ‘Pepcy & Kim.’ said ‘We Do It Together’ founder & producer Tilesi. “We are honored to have the immense talents of Taraji, Jennifer, and Pauletta, to bring Kim Carter’s powerful story to life. This segment reminds us that in life no matter how difficult the circumstance, there is a way to overcome any obstacle. It is so inspiring to see Kim Carter helping women across the United States with her non-profit, The Time for Change Foundation.”

Cara Delevingne, Eva Longoria, Jacqueline Fernandez, Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Hardwicke & More To Tell ‘Women’s Stories’

Cara Delevingne, Eva Longoria, Margherita Buy, Marcia Gay Harden, Leonor Varela and Jacqueline Fernandez are among the all-star cast for anthology feature Women’s Stories, whose segments will be directed by filmmakers including Catherine Hardwicke.

The film will be comprised of six segments directed by female directors from different parts of the world, shot in Italy, India and the U.S. They will range in genre from drama to comedy, docu-drama to animation. Cast will be all female.

The first four segments have been mapped out: Unspoken will be directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi (Me, Myself & Her) and star decorated Italian actress Margherita Buy (My Mother), the seven-time David di Donatello award-winner; Lagonegro will be directed by Lucia Puenzo (La Jauria) and be led by Sylvie’s Love star Longoria; Elbows Deep will be directed by Twilight filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke and star model and actress Delevingne (Suicide Squad), Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock) and Jasmine Luv (Starter Pack); and Sharing A Ride will be directed by Leena Yadav (Three Cards) and feature Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez and transgender model Anjali Lama.

Producing are Iervolino Entertainment (Waiting For The Barbarians) and non-profit production company We Do It Together, which campaigns for gender equality. Producers will be Chiara Tilesi, Andrea Iervolino, Lucas Akoskin and Monika Bacardi. Executive producer is Carol Polakoff.

Chiara Tilesi, founder and President of We Do It Together, said of the project: “At We Do It Together, our mission is to enhance and change the image of women in films and media, from object to subject. We are dedicated to telling stories of women, both in front of and behind the camera. That’s why Women Stories is so important to us – we have brought together female directors, from all over the world, who collaborate and share personal stories from their own point of view. We are telling the stories of these heroines and their aspirations: from health workers to mothers, artists and business women, to name a few. We also want to be inclusive and have as many different perspectives as possible, which is why connecting globally is so important to us. Now more than ever, especially after the latest UN policy brief The Impact of Covid-19 On Women, it has emerged that gender inequality is still a very present reality and, unfortunately, we remain far from a solution. Some of the achievements that were made, are at risk of being erased once again. This is why it is so important for us to continue to tell stories about women, by women, but for everyone. Only together can men and women finally change these paradigms.”

Andrea Iervolino, President and founder of Iervolino Entertainment, added: “It gives me tremendous pride to collaborate with such an astounding ensemble, and to help deliver a message larger than the film itself. It’s important for us that this be done on a global scale, which is why we’re shooting, very carefully and safely, in Italy, India and the US.”

The project was initially announced five years ago in different form as Together Now.

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Babieka, Viewfinder Co-Produce DGA Winner Carol Polakoff’s ‘Speak Sunlight’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Spanish production house Babieka Films is teaming with L.A.-based Viewfinder Pictures to co-produce a feature adaptation of Alan Jolis’ book “Speak Sunlight” (“La voz del sol”), the directorial debut of journalist-screenwriter-producer Carol Polakoff.

A coming-of-age story set in Paris and Pamplona during the Franco regime, the Spanish-language “Speak Sunlight” will begin production next spring in Navarre.

Polakoff, winner of two Directors Guild of America awards, has a producer’s credit on Dani Rosemberg’s Cannes Official Selection title “The Death of Cinema and My Father Too,” featuring in Thierry Frémaux’s First Features category.

Top Spanish TV scribe Natxo López, author of recent TV dramas “Perdida,” “Caronte” and “Unauthorized Living,” has adapted “Sunlight’s” Spanish-language version from Polakoff’s English script.

Babieka’s Denise O’Dell and Polakoff at Viewfinder are producing the film, with Orlando and Denis Pedregosa as executive producers, and Marta Ferrer García as associate producer.

“The project is currently in the casting stage. We are looking for two Spanish and an American actor for the key roles,” Denis Pedregosa said.

“From the moment I heard Alan Jolis read his own words at a book signing, the movie started playing out in my head. He has delivered unforgettable moments of a fateful summer and his coming of age in a sun drenched summer on the page and I can’t wait to bring them to life on the screen,” Polakoff said.

In a parallel move, Babieka has just inked film adaptation rights to Spanish writer Jesús Cañadas’ best-selling apocalyptic novel “Pronto será la noche.”

“One of the reasons we were drawn by this project is its similarity to current circumstances, dealing with both the end of a stage and a collective hysteria,” Pedregosa said.

Babieka is currently working on attaching a writer and director to the project.

Films Boutique Acquires Cannes 2020 Title ‘The Death of Cinema And My Father Too’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Berlin-based Films Boutique (“There is No Evil”) has acquired world sales to Dani Rosenberg’s feature debut “The Death of Cinema And My Father Too,” which is part of the Cannes 2020 Official Selection.

“The Death of Cinema And My Father Too,” set to have its market premiere in the Cannes Virtual Market, was described by the festival’s artistic director Thierry Fremaux as a “strong take” and “somewhere between a creative documentary and fiction film.”

Penned by Rosenberg and Itay Kohay, the movie tells the story of Yoel, who hears about an imminent Iranian military attack on Tel Aviv and sets off to escape with his family to a safe haven in Jerusalem. His son Assaf, who is a filmmaker and about to become a father himself, wants to give Yoel one last lead role in his movie by weaving the fictional world into bittersweet reality.

“Working on this film felt like sewing and stitching a red satin fabric, an intricate handmade piece of art, which is thoughtful and delicate at the same time,” said Stav Meron, who produced the film with Rosenberg through their banner Pardes Films, and with Carol Polakoff.

“The greatest challenge we faced, was to remain loyal to the work itself and the story, while searching for a unique and uncompromising cinematic language,” added Meron.

The movie is produced by Pardes Films and is co-produced by the French outfit Tu Vas Voir, whose credits include Walter Salles’ “The Motorcycle Diaries” and Jayro Bustamante’s “Ixcanul.”

“Dani Rosenberg is a rare talent who can mix an original fictional story with documentary elements from his own life and mash it all together into an entertaining, touching and innovative film full of life and humor,” said Gabor Greiner, COO of Films Boutique.

A promising up-and-coming filmmaker, Rosenberg graduated from the Sam Spiegel Film School and created the series “Milk & Honey” for the Israeli channel Yes in 2015. His several short films have been critically-acclaimed, notably “Susya” which played at the Berlinale, Hot Docs and IDFA; “Don Quixote in Jerusalem” which won a Special Mention at the Berlinale; and “Fence” which played at the Cinefondation in Cannes.

Founded by Jean-Christophe Simon, Films Boutique’s current roster includes politically-engaged and acclaimed movies such as Mohammad Rasoulof’s “There is No Evil,” winner of this year’s Berlin’s Golden Bear. The outfit is also handling Agnieszka Holland’s “Charlatan,” which world premiered in Berlin.

Carol Polakoff’s Busy Viewfinder Teams With Stephen Rivele On 2 Drama Projects

Filmmaker and TV producer-director Carol Polakoff last year expanded her Viewfinder Pictures banner into television with projects that include The Iron King at FX. Based on the French book series, it’s adapted by Christopher Kyle (and is particularly close to Polakoff’s heart as an American who lived in France for 21 years). That project is now joined by a host of timely dramatic properties that Polakoff has acquired and which are sparking interest from studios and networks around town. Among them are two with Oscar-nominated screenwriter Stephen Rivele, and based on his own books.

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