International
Jennifer Lawrence reunites with Susanne Bier for ‘The Rules of Inheritance’
MUMBAI: Silver Linings Playbook‘s Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence has been roped in to star and produce the film adaption of The Rules of Inheritance, based on Claire Bidwell Smith‘s acclaimed memoir and will see Jennifer‘s Serena director Susanne Bier at the helm as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The film will be financially backed by Glen Basner‘s Film Nation and will represent foreign rights. The prominent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) that also represents Lawrence has packaged the entire project and will handle the film domestically. Smith too is represented by Wendy Sherman Associates in association with CAA.
The film adaption will see Jennifer Lawrence reuniting with her Silver Linings Playbook producer Bruce Cohen while the adapted script will be written by Abi Morgan who is also doing the screenplay of The Invisible Woman which is in its post production phase.
Commenting about the project, Basner and FilmNation‘s Aaron Ryder commented, "We are thrilled to be working with the dream team of Jennifer Lawrence, Susanne Bier, Abi Morgan and Bruce Cohen. We have no doubt that this inspirational and hopeful book will be turned into an emotionally powerful movie that audiences around the world will fall in love with."
Adding to it, Bohen mentioned "Jennifer, Susanne, Abi and I are incredibly excited to be working on this extraordinary project together. We all believe this film can strike a deeply resonant chord with audiences, just as Claire’s riveting memoir has."
Smith who is a therapist in Los Angeles specialising in grief has herself had a traumatic past. She was the only child, who, over a seven-year period as a young adult, lost both her parents to cancer. While struggling to cope, she propelled herself into many romances, adventures and travels in an inspirational, emotionally charged and surprisingly humorous journey that celebrates life.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
