Howard admits he wasn’t an avid opera fan before his Eight Days a Week producer Nigel Sinclair pitched him the Pavarotti project.

“Similar to The Beatles: Eight Days a Week movie, he said ‘Look, we found some new footage. I think the family is interested or willing to talk. We don’t know for sure, but does the character interest you at all?’” Howard says in this week’s episode of Variety and iHeart’s movie podcast The Big Ticket.”

“And I said ‘Well, it’s kind of perfect for me because I love explorations where I have an innate respect and fascination, but not necessarily all that much knowledge,’ which by the way even includes The Beatles.”

“I understood how charismatic he was,” Howard said. “A little bit later in my life, I began to appreciate the talent but I had no idea what the journey was.”

Luciano Pavarotti was one of opera’s most celebrated tenors. He was 71 when he died in 2007 from pancreatic cancer.

Pavarotti utilizes never-before-seen footage, as you might expect, but also uses state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos sound technology to make the documentary sound as if you’re sitting there listening to the singer perform for you. So, while you may be used to checking out docs from the comfort of your own home, which works for many of the genre’s best offerings, Pavarotti begs you to watch it in a theater, on the biggest possible screen, with the best possible sound.

Howard’s film is a love letter to the icon, but ultimately Pavarotti is a more of a celebration of the individual behind that façade and a reminder that it’s as much his humanity as his talent that made him a star.

Prorom will release Pavarotti in Slovakia on July 4, in Czech Republic on July 11 (in collaboration with Bonton) and in Hungary through our own company Big Bang Media on October 10, 2019.

Sources: Variety, The Playlist, The Wrap.

It’s 1968 in America. Change is blowing in the wind… but seemingly far removed from the unrest in the cities is the small town of Mill Valley where for generations, the shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large.

It is in their mansion on the edge of town that Sarah, a young girl with horrible secrets, turned her tortured life into a series of scary stories, written in a book that has transcended time - stories that have a way of becoming all too real for a group of teenagers who discover Sarah’s terrifying home.

The Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series was first published during the 1980s, written / adapted from folklore by Alvin Schwartz and gorily illustrated by Stephen Gammell.

The movie is directed by André Ovredal and is co-written by Daniel and Kevin Hageman along with Guillermo del Toro, who provided the screen story (and is also the producer of the film).

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will star Zoe Margaret Colletti, Austin Abrams, Gabriel Rush, Michael Garza, Austin Zajur, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, Lorraine Toussaint and Natalie Ganzhorn.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will open on August 9, 2019 in the US, in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania on August 16, and in Hungary on November 28.

Following the destruction of their ship, young Willy is separated from his parents with whom he traveled through space. His rescue capsule lands on a wild and unexplored planet. With the help of Buck, a survival robot, he will have to hold on until the arrival of a rescue mission. Meanwhile, Willy, Buck and Flash, an alien creature which they befriended, are discovering the planet, its fauna, its flora... but also its dangers.

The adventure of Willy will be peppered with events or "mini-quests", as emotional as they are physical or precarious. And when our heroes think they have finally "domesticated" the planet (symbolically represented by a creature resembling a giant beetle which Willy is going "tame"), nature will reassert its rightful place…

Terra Willy is a coming-of-age tale, one of apprenticeship and even "redemption" through the intimate quest of our little hero's exploratory mission (Willy is partially responsible for his separation from his parents) – Eric Tosti.

Over and beyond the vegetation and landscapes, the film will depict a wide variety of creatures, from the funniest to the most fearsome.

Once again the contribution of the graphic artists will be preponderant, and their creations might even directly inspire gags and full-fledged sketches as they become an integral part of the story, thereby enriching it.

Eric Tosti started making animation in 8 mm format at the age of 13. He co-directed his first stop motion short film in 1998 (Mon copain?) with David Alaux. In 2000 they founded their own production company, TAT productions, with their third partner Jean-François Tosti.

Eric Tosti, David Alaux and Jean-François Tosti started working in 3D animation in 2006. Then, they wrote, produced and directed the TV special Spike and started developing The Jungle Bunch licence. Season 3 of the TV series The Jungle Bunch to the Rescue is in production at the moment. Distributed worldwide, the series is a great success.

The first feature film from TAT productions The Jungle Bunch movie, co-authored by Eric Tosti, David Alaux and Jean-François Tosti, garnered admission of 700.000 in France and was the 4th best-selling French film abroad for 2017 (sold in more than 50 countries).

Prorom will release Terra Willy in Romania on May 31 and in Hungary on November 7.

The film, which premiered at Sundance in January, stars Keira Knightley as Gun.

Official Secrets tells the true story of British Intelligence whistle-blower Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley) who, during the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, leaked a top secret NSA memo exposing a joint US-UK illegal spying operation against members of the UN Security Council. The memo proposed blackmailing smaller, undecided member states into voting for war.

At great personal and professional risk, journalist Martin Bright (Matt Smith) published the leaked document in The Observer newspaper in London, and the story made headlines around the world. Members of the Security Council were outraged and any chance of a UN resolution in favour of war collapsed.

But within days, Bush declared he no longer needed UN backing and invaded anyway. As Iraq descended into chaos, Katharine was arrested and charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act. Martin faced potential charges too. Their legal battles exposed the highest levels of government in both London and Washington...

Official Secrets is directed by Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ender's Game) and the cast includes Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Conleth Hill, Indira Varma, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans, Shaun Dooley and Jeremy Northam.

Hood teamed with Sara Bernstein and Gregory Bernstein to adapt the book “The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War: Katharine Gun and the Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion” by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell.

This is the second time Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes have starred alongside each other, the first being in The Duchess (2008).

Élodie Fontan started very young in French commercials for Nissan, Quick and Euro Disney. She gained notoriety in 2009 by playing Alyzée, Clem's best friend, in the Clem series, broadcast on TF1.

Nicky Larson et le Parfum de Cupidon (Nicky Larson and Cupid's Perfume) is a name of the latest French action comedy directed by Philippe Lacheau in wich Élodie Fontan appears alongside Philippe Lacheau, Tarek Boudali, Julien Arruti and Pamela Anderson.

It is an adaptation of the Japanese manga and anime series City Hunter (known as Nicky Larson in France) by Tsukasa Hojo.

Nicky Larson is the best bodyguard, an outstanding private investigator. He is called for a high-risk mission: to recover the Perfume of Cupid, a perfume that would make irresistible the one who uses it.

This weekend, in Romania, Prorom and Ro Image will release the comedy Nicky Larson et le Parfum de Cupidon, and we invite you to read an interview with the leading actress Élodie Fontan.

How did you feel when Philippe Lacheau came up with the idea of making a movie about Nicky Larson?
I remember that moment: I was on the train in a promotional tour for Babysitting 2. Like the boys, I've been a fan of Nicky Larson since I was little, and this idea seemed great to me, though none of us had any idea if we could get the rights. Especially because I did not know if I would have a role in the movie or not…

How did you imagine Laura?
I had a strong attachment to this character. The challenge was to make her realistic - which is not always easy with the manga characters, because of their gestures, while preserving the characteristics of his character. Laura is an impulsive girl, she has a very tough face, but at the same time she's very protective with Nicky, she's taking care of him. So she is very calm and she manages a lot of things, but she can also be crazy. Finally, it was nice to interpret all these different emotions. Besides, this is the first time I played such a character, and it was very dear to me.

Did you made some researched for this character?
Before I started the project, I rewatched most of the animated episodes and I never missed Laura's look: on stage, during lunch breaks or makeup. I was happy to go back to an episode every time to find the right tone or mimic of my character.

What instructions did Philippe Lacheau give you?
He wanted Laura to be faithful to the manga series, but to adapt her to me, so that she would remain credible. Because people who do not know Nicky Larson's world to appreciate it and understand her, she does not have to be too crazy. And Philippe and I made sure she never became annoying.

What she "borrowed" from you?
I gave her some gentleness. I wanted her to be very loving and very protective with Nicky, probably more than in the animated series. Actually, I think I softened her and made her more balanced.

Did you like the idea that she would bring emotion to the movie?
What I liked above all was to have a character in my hands that allowed me to use my all acting skills. Through her I could go from comedy to drama or anger, and that's a gift for an actor. I remember when I read the script, the scene where Laura understands that Nicky is sacrificing for her touched me a lot, and I can hardly wait to play it. But seeing it, I think it's actually a beautiful sequence that brings a lot of emotions and a different tone. The film is very rich, there is action, comedy, laughter, emotions, and that's also the memory I keep from the cartoon.

How did you prepare for action scenes?
I've been boxing for a long time, and I have always dreamed that this discipline would serve me in cinematography one day. That's why, when the guys wrote the script, I suggested that they include battle sequences with Laura.

Did it take long before you found Laura's look?
No, it was pretty fast, it came naturally. The costume designers knew Nicky Larson's world very well, and we had the same ideas for Laura's character. We wanted to be as loyal as possible, giving her a touch of modernity. The capillary part was a little more delicate, it was necessary to find the right color, the good haircut, which was far from me! I knew hair was important for the character, but I think the bet was a winning one, since I was asked during the promotion tour if I really cut my hair…

This duo with Philippe has brought you closer to him?
Surely. We worked long before the shooting and I knew exactly the direction we wanted to take. Nicky Larson is the third collaboration between us, and from one movie to another, we are naturally more "closer" on the screen. The other actors were the same: we are all very close, we see each other a lot outside the set and the more we work together, the more the automatisms are triggered. But Philippe is quite efficient because he knows what he wants, how to pass on his ideas and how to take us where he wants.

What is the most beautiful memory from the shooting of the movie?
The scene in the factory where there is a general fight will be memorable. Very strict shooting times put us under great pressure, because we could not overcome them, and the filming program was so busy that sometimes wondered how we could shoot all the sequences in a single day. So we were a little tense, especially Philippe, but it's a beautiful sequence, worthy of an American action movie!

What was your reaction when you saw the movie?
I was very proud, because I can say that so far this is my best role and my best film. The bet was not obvious from the start, but it proved to be a success. Besides, I was amazed by the music, extremely well chosen, by the direction, by the editing ... Regarding the actors, we were all very happy to make this movie and I think that's is something that you see on the screen.

Interview by Clara Géliot.

Explosive action and bold humour collide in this crowd-pleasing and fiercely entertaining high-octane thriller that will reinvent the female assassin genre.

StudioCanal is thrilled to announce that Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Paul Giamatti will be joining Karen Gillan and Lena Headey in Gunpowder Milkshake - an explosive cocktail that will blow your mind!

From acclaimed director Navot Papushado and the Producers of Non Stop and The Commuter.

The first-class crew includes Director of Photography Michael Seresin (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes), Costume Designer Luise Frogley (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Lucy in the Sky), and Production Designer David Scheunemann (Fast & Furious presents Hobbs and Shaw, Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde).

Prorom has acquired the rights for Gunpowder Milkshake in the following territories: Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia.