Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino returns to the Venice Film Festival, opening the 82nd edition with LA GRAZIA, his sweeping exploration of love, morality, and one man’s legacy. Sorrentino’s latest masterwork is powered by a magnetic performance from longtime collaborator Tony Servillo (THE GREAT BEAUTY, THE HAND OF GOD), as the President of Italy.

Sorrentino’s latest resplendent drama has been greeted with rave reviews, including from The Hollywood Reporter’s chief critic, David Rooney, who said, “By the director’s standards, this is a sober and distinctly mature film, centered by the unwavering composure of Servillo’s De Santis. But it’s not without the customary creative arias, the witty humor and visual delights that have distinguished Sorrentino’s best work.”

LA GRAZIA exclusively in US theaters December 5.

Watch the official clip below.

We are thrilled to announce that visionary visual artist and film director Roger Guàrdia has joined us for commercial, branded entertainment and music video representation in the US. With a portfolio that merges art, fashion, commercial and music videos, Guàrdia’s work transcends trends to create powerful, immersive experiences, guided by a profound sense of mystery and emotional depth. 

Known for his rich, atmospheric storytelling and bold, evocative visual style, he has collaborated with global brands including UNICEF, Nike, Converse, Stella McCartney, Zara, H&M, Tecate, Adidas, and YouTube; and photographed celebrities Micheal Phelps, Alex Honnold, Virgil Van Dyke, K-Pop sensation Lay Zhang, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and musician Raye.

His latest is the triptych art film 3xANIMAx3, commissioned by the Italian Magazine Carnale Room to celebrate their launch. Presented in a sensorial triptych format with three synchronized screens projecting at the same time, 3xANIMAx3 explores the eye(s) as the ultimate bridge between desire, erotism, mystery and divinity. The project, which was accompanied by a print and digital photo editorial, premiered in Milan last month and will be part of an upcoming physical film installation in New York.

“As a director, artist and photographer, Roger creates a unique visual language that boldly unites fashion, music, cinema and culture. Driven by immersive soundscapes and nuanced lighting, his cinematic experiences are poetic, sensual and audacious, bringing emotion and edge to his storytelling.” says Serial Founder and Executive Producer Violaine Etienne. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Serial roster.”

VIEW HIS REEL

“Joining Serial feels like a natural evolution in my journey — both an authentic pleasure and an exciting new chapter. I’ve always admired their focus on bold and singular voices, representing a carefully curated and selective group of directors, artists, and photographers whose work is distinctive and truly stands out,” says Guàrdia. “When I met Violaine and Sara, I instantly connected with their vision, sensibility, taste, and human warmth.”

Working with labels like Sony Music, Warp, and Captured Tracks, his music videos for artists like ROSALÍA, Battles, Bad Gyal and Mourn, have garnered him nominations for top awards including the UKMVAs. And his commercial and fashion work has been awarded at CICLOPE, Webby Awards, 1.4 Awards, Berlin Commercial, Berlin Fashion Film festival, Canadian International fashion film festival, Fashion Film Festival Milano and many more.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Barcelona, Guàrdia started developing his style in the Spanish underground, making music videos for the burgeoning artists around him. He brought his curiosity for cinema and ambitions to hone his technique with him to New York City, where he’s been based since.

English-French director, writer and photographer Tom Emmerson has joined Serial Pictures for commercial, branded entertainment and music video representation in the US. Known for his bold, visual aesthetic and off-the-wall humor, Emmerson has worked on campaigns for Adidas Originals, House of Errors and Hermes, and his latest, released this week, is a quirky, clever twist for New Balance’s T500 campaign starring Real Madrid phenomenon Endrick and multi-platinum rapper Jack Harlow, which Emmerson wrote and directed.

The film, which is part of the brand’s larger “Quiet Please” campaign, opens on a high-stakes tennis match, yet this is no ordinary game. One player is armed with a racket, but his opponent is none other than Brazilian football sensation Endrick, playing an unexpected match of foot tennis. In a surreal twist, the heated match is revealed to all be contained within a New Balance shoebox. Meanwhile, a life-sized Endrick watches on with his real-life partner, model Gabriely Miranda, from the comfort of an upscale country club. The match is interrupted when at the next table a boisterous Jack Harlow forgets to respect the quietude of the beautiful game of tennis.

“Tom doesn’t just tell stories,” says Serial Founder and Executive Producer Violaine Etienne, “He invents, dissects, and turns the mundane on its head, igniting each frame with humor and a style that challenges convention and grabs your attention.”

“Serial has got such an amazing roster, team and portfolio of work,” says Emmerson. “I’m really excited to see what we can do together and can’t wait to get started.”

Serial Pictures’ new documentary, BILLY IDOL SHOULD BE DEAD, will World Premiere at Tribeca. The film follows Punk legend turned pop sensation Billy Idol as he bares it all in this electrifying documentary, revealing his rise to fame, battle with addiction and triumphant comeback that captivated millions of fans worldwide.

Serial Pictures Founder and EP Violaine Etienne produces with Jonas Åkerlund directing and producing. Also producing are Live Nation’s Ryan Kroft along with Orian Williams, Laurence Freedman, Mark Monroe, and China Chow.

And after the movie will be an intimate performance by Billy Idol.

Read more at Tribeca and at Variety.

We are thrilled to announce Iranian-American writer and director Abteen Bagheri has joined Serial Pictures for commercial, branded entertainment and music film representation in the US and UK. Bagheri works internationally across commercial and music films, narrative fiction and documentary, pushing the realms of reality with his playful approach and deeply human cinematic poetry as he arrives at a complex tone blurring the lines between realism and the bizarre, comedy and drama.

A rising influence in the industry, Bagheri has developed a prolific body of commercial work with brands such as Google, Apple, Mercedes Benz, Samsung, Nike, Smirnoff, Adobe, Lexus and many more.

“Abteen embodies raw cinematic talent with his unique creative writing, sharp eye for casting and humorous allegorical world building. He has the uncanny ability to find poetry in the mundane as he portrays the nuances of human behavior through their endearing traits, insecurities and remarkable strengths,” says Serial Pictures Founder Violaine Etienne. “We are thrilled to welcome him to Serial Pictures and to support the ongoing evolution of his career.”

View his reel and watch a mashup of his work below.

“Honestly, this is a match made in heaven,” says Bagheri. “I’ve respected Serial’s roster for a long time and admire Violaine’s visionary leadership. Together, I know we can create lasting, boundary-pushing work. I can’t wait.”

Production company Serial Pictures has announced the extension of its longtime collaboration with Anonymous Content into the UK and Amsterdam markets. Effective immediately, Serial Pictures will continue representing industry-leading directors such as: Bradford Young, John Hillcoat, Daniel Askill, BRTHR, Alejandro Landes Echavarría, Fabien Baron, Paolo Sorrentino, Moses Sumney, and Scott Frank for commercials and music videos in the UK and Amsterdam through their UK banner in partnership with Anonymous Content.

“It is a natural progression for Serial Pictures to grow its brand to the UK and Amsterdam as we celebrate 16 years of partnership with Anonymous Content,” says Serial Pictures Founder and Executive Producer Violaine Etienne. “I am thrilled to continue to expand our reach with a more significant market presence in territories known for their boundless creativity.”

View the Serial Pictures UK roster: serialpictures.com/directors-uk/

“Serial Pictures has a long history of representing world-class directors,’’ says Anonymous Content UK managing director and executive producer Tor Fitzwilliams. “We are excited to support them in their work with UK and Dutch agencies, brands and music videos.”

Director, singer-songwriter and actor Moses Sumney has joined Serial Pictures for commercials, branded entertainment and music video representation. While Sumney’s work defies expectation, genre and categorization, a consistent theme across his creative explorations in the worlds of film and music is his assertion that the undefinable still exists and dwelling in it is an act of resistance.

Akin to his upbringing between Southern California and Ghana, his work migrates seamlessly through genre and disciplines. He has directed many of his own music videos, as well as for artists and designers like Thom Browne and magazine platform i-D.

His latest release, the self-directed music video for his new single “Vintage”, bears the hallmarks of his past directorial work – the auteurial lushness of his 2021 live concert film Blackalachia, where he showcased his mastery of cinematic spectacle with angular choreography and songs performed acrobatically mid-air; and the comedic surrealism of “Cut Me,” and the kinetic physicality of “Virile” (a standout from his second album græ).

In close collaboration with Moses and cinematographer Marcell Rév (Euphoria, Malcolm & Marie, Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers”), Kodak supported the music video with a yet-to-be-released and never-before-used motion picture stock, which is similar to a beloved professional still photography film.

Watch “Vintage” and visit his reel: http://serial-pictures.flywheelsites.com/moses-sumney/

“I’m so excited to be repped by Serial Pictures and can already feel the possibilities!” says Smith. “I am thrilled to be expanding my craft to commercials and music videos and to tell stories that are distilled to their essence to move us and make us smile within these short formats.”

After a theatrical run last summer, KOKOMO CITY is now available to stream on Paramount+ and Showtime. Watch the trailer below.

Director and choreographer Jon Boogz won an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography For Scripted Programming for his work on Starz’s “Blindspotting” at the Creative Arts Emmys.

Boogz won for his choreography and movement art for season 2, episode 3’s powerful dream dance sequence in which as Boogz explains, was created for a scene when seven-year-old character Sean uses the N word for the first time, and his parents try their best to explain the complexities of that word and why he shouldn’t use it.

“I love the fact that we’re using Black street dances in vernacular to tell that story. To me, that’s what gives it the magic,” he previously explained to the Los Angeles Times. “Even though it’s traumatic with our history as African Americans in America, I love that we’re telling this historical story using something that’s magical, that comes from our environments and our communities, which is street dance. That’s why the vernacular and style of movement is very specific, because I wanted to honor the Black and brown communities that created these dances that have changed the world.”

“This is history for STREET DANCE CULTURE,” he exclaimed on Instagram.