Evolution Pictures Boards Sci-Fi Horror ‘The Grove’

Evolution Pictures Boards Sci-Fi Horror ‘The Grove’

EXCLUSIVE: Evolution Pictures has taken worldwide sales on horror sci-fi movie The Grove. The movie follows a Black Ops soldier who takes part in a mysterious experiment only to find his life descends into madness when he stops taking his meds and a subsequent lakeside getaway becomes a fight for survival. Acoryé White stars and co-wrote and co-directed alongside Patrycja Kępa. The duo, who previously made horror drama Trinket Box, produce under their Anchored Lens banner. The cast also includes Carl Anthony Payne, Psalms, Haley Sims, and Guxci. Evolution Pictures will launch sales at the market in Cannes. Its slate also includes Frank Grillo and Olga Kurylenko thriller Misdirection and Oak, a supernatural horror starring Joey Lauren Adams and Armand Assante. Evolution’s managing director, Kate Hoffman, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Acoryé and Patrycja at Anchored Lens on the first of what we hope will be many projects. They are innovative filmmakers, and we look forward to working with them for years to come.”

Mischa Hofmann Exiting ‘Spy City’ Maker Odeon Fiction After Two Decades

Mischa Hofmann, MD of Leonine-backed Spy City producer Odeon Fiction, is stepping down after two decades. Hofmann will be replaced by Britta Meyermann, who has been Head of International Co-Production for the German scripted outfit since 2013. Hofmann has been MD for 19 years, during which time Odeon has made Dominic Cooper-starrer Spy City, The Night in Question and The Seed starring Heino Ferch and Ingrid Bolsø Berdal. Meyermann is currently working on the likes of Learning to Fly from Patrick Nebout along with a “major international co-production series with [German network] Degeto.” Leonine boss Fred Kogel said: “We would like to thank Mischa Hofmann for a large number of great and successful productions that have made TV history. We respect his wish to start a new chapter in his life and remain professionally and amicably connected to him. At the same time, we are delighted to have Britta Meyermann with us, an extremely creative, experienced and internationally established producer who will lead our strong Odeon Fiction brand into the future and shape its content strategy from now on.”

MultiVisionnaire Launches 20 Pounds to Happiness

MultiVisionnaire Pictures is launching worldwide sales on romantic-comedy 20 Pounds to Happiness, directed by and starring Yelyna De León (Will and Grace) with Carlo Mendez (Parks and Recreation) and Riley Shanahan (Doom Patrol) also starring. MultiVisionnaire will screen the film at the Cannes market. Written by Sundance-winning writer Josefina López (Real Women Have Curves), the film is about a full-figured Latina in a Real Women Have Curves Support Group who must decide between staying loyal to her girlfriends and risk losing the man of her dreams. Josefina López and Yelyna De León serve as producers.

Germany’s UFA Show Boss Stepping Down After 25 Years

Ute Biernat is stepping down from the helm of Germany’s UFA Show & Factual after 25 years. During her lengthy tenure, she has overseen the likes of the German X Factor, Too Hot To Handle Germany, and Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar. She joined the Cologne-based outfit in 1996 and became CEO in 2000. Last year she became CEO of Hungarian production UFA Produkció. She will maintain close ties with UFA in a consulting capacity. “Since joining Pearson Television, as it was known then, I have been able to celebrate countless unbelievable successes every year with the entire team, not only in all conceivable genres of entertainment, but also across the full spectrum of factual content,” said Biernat. “The key factor that unites all the successful projects that I have overseen in my 25 years as CEO is having a great team behind the scenes.” UFA boss Sascha Schwingel praised the “role model’s” “tireless energy and passion for entertainment.”

CJ’s ENM’s Miky Lee Given Ellis Island Medal of Honor

CJ Vice Chair Miky Lee will be awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Lee, who has been an instrumental figure in K content’s global standing, will be given the gong on May 10. Lee has made many Korean shows and was an EP on both Parasite and Past Lives, creating links between Korea and the U.S. “We are thrilled to include Miky Lee as one of this year’s prestigious honorees,” said the Ellis Island Honors Society, which hosts the event. “Over the past three decades, Miky Lee, Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group, has been instrumental in elevating Korean culture to the world stage.” The Ellis Island Medals have been given out since 1986. Lee’s fellow 2025 honorees include Adrien Brody, Albert Bourla, Frank McCourt Jr., Dr. Frank Luntz, and Nobel Prize winners Dr. James Patrick Allison and former Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu.