Bicoastal/international Partizan has extended its global reach this week with the opening of an office in Berlin under the aegis of executive producer Moritz Merkel.
The new shop will handle representation in Germany for all of Partizan’s labels: Partizan lab (animation and special effects), the darkroom (content) Partizan Films (feature film and documentary) and of course Partizan’s TV commercial division.
Merkel, who recently came aboard Partizan, has years of experience working on both sides of the advertising business, having held senior production roles in German production companies and agencies, including Kolle Rebbe and Jung von Matt, where he was head of TV.
“Germany is one of the seven most important markets for content and films, said Georges Bermann who is chairman and global executive producer of Partizan. “Our rapidly growing activity in feature films, documentaries, TV and Internet content means we had already developed strong contacts there and the only missing piece was a full production operation to offer our directors and experience to the German agencies and advertisers.
“Advertising is changing very quickly these days and will probably evolve even faster than people think,” Bermann continued. “Partizan has anticipated these changes and has prepared for them with a combination of more global offers [films, content, post production, online and print projects] and a local proximity in key territories.
Bermann further noted that in the next six months Partizan’s presence will expand in emerging markets, citing India, China for Asia, and Brazil for Latin America.
Partizan is currently developing and producing six feature films, three TV shows, and several 360˚ content projects with agencies alongside its traditional production activity in commercials and music videos. A new management division will be added next month to provide screenplay writers and content projects.
“The financial crisis is not freezing Partizan’s projects,” said Bermann.
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pérez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More