Screen
09 October 2009

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Une Femme Parfaite

In a highly-charged office of a major multinational, one woman, after suffering a public humiliation, masterminds the perfect revenge on her senior colleague.
2012

Dir: Roland Emmerich. US. 2009.
A Passionate Woman

A young wife and mother falls in love with her Polish neighbour in 1950s Britain only for her affair to implode 30 years later on her son’s wedding day.
Abbas Kiarostami, Deepa Mehta among MEIFF jurors

The Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) has unveiled its jury roster for the event, which runs from October 10-19.
Abel Ferrara, Wesley Snipes reunite on Game Of Death for Voltage

Abel Ferrara has commenced principal photography in Michigan on the action thriller Game Of Death starring Wesley Snipes.
About Elly, City Of Life And Death head nominations for APSAs

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s About Elly and Chinese filmmaker Lu Chuan’s City Of Life And Death scored the most nominations for the 2009 Asia Pacific Film Awards (APSAs), with four and three nods respectively.
Academy announces narrowed shortlist of eight doc shorts

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has announced that the field of documentary short contenders for the 82nd Academy Awards has been narrowed to eight films.
Adam Fogelson, Donna Langley take over at Universal Pictures

Adam Fogelson has been named chairman and Donna Langley co-chairman at Universal Pictures, ending months of speculation over who would succeed chairs David Linde and Marc Shmuger following a disappointing summer.
Afghan Star named UK's foreign language Oscar submission

Roast Beef, Redstart and Kaboora Productions’ Afghan Star has been selected as the UK’s official Academy Award foreign language submission.
AFI FEST adds Everybody's Fine, launches New Lights section

The world premiere of Kirk Jones’ road movie Everybody’s Fine will screen as a gala at AFI FEST on November 3, while Israeli Oscar hopeful Ajami (pictured) plays in a new strand for first and second time film-makers.
AFM to screen 445 films including 73 world premieres

A total of 445 films in 27 languages including 73 world premieres and 311 market premieres will screen during the 30th AFM, set to run in Santa Monica from November 4-11.
Alberta plans Canada's newest studio in Calgary

The province of Alberta will house Canada’s newest purpose-built studio in Calgary as it emerged that the government there is planning a 30,000 sq ft soundstage with a 40-foot clear span.
Altiplano wins at solid edition of Bangkok fest

Peter Brosens and Jessica Hope Woodworth’s Altiplano, a hyperstylised environmental drama set in a Peruvian village, won the Grand Prix at this year’s Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF).
AMC to handle distribution deal for education doc Ten9Eight

50 Eggs Productions has signed a direct distribution deal with AMC Entertainment Inc to handle Ten9eight: Shoot For The Moon during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Anna Kendrick named 2010 Palm Springs festival's rising star

Anna Kendrick will receive the 21st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival’s (PSIFF) Rising Star Award in January for her performance in Up In The Air.
Archibald Films picks up Italian rights to Ford’s A Single man

Independent distributor Archibald Film Enterprise has taken Italian rights to Tom Ford’s directorial debut A Single Man following the film’s Venice debut.
Asian producers bemoan dearth of bond companies

Industry experts bemoaned the global decline in completion bond companies at a financing seminar during Pusan’s Asian Film Market, observing that only one or two companies remain to bond independent films.
Audience Takes Control

Video:Audience Takes Control
AV Pictures takes worldwide rights to Menhaj Huda's Comedown

Vic Bateman’s London-based sales outfit AV Pictures has snapped up worldwide sales rights to Comedown, an urban horror picture from Kidulthood director Menhaj Huda.
Baaria to open Cinema Italian Style 2009 showcase in LA

The US premiere of Giuseppe Tornatore’s Baaria and Marco Bellocchio’s Vincere bookend the Cinema Italian Style 2009 showcase that runs from November 10-18 in Los Angeles.
Babelgum to launch second season of Radar on October 28

Mobile and web content platform Babelgum announced the second season of its video series Radar will launch on October 28.
Ben Wheatley’s Down Terrace wins best feature at 17th Raindance

Down Terrace was named Best UK Feature at the 17th Raindance Film Festival, which closed its 12-day event in London yesterday.
Beresford’s Mao dances into the record books

Bruce Beresford’s Mao’s Last Dancer has grossed $2.93m (A$3.32m) in its first five days on release in Australia, making it the biggest local hit of 2009.
Berlin kicks off birthday year with Market pass discounts

The Berlin Internationa Film Festival has kicked the celebrations for its 60th birthday next year by slashing the price of its Market Badge and European Film Market (EFM) Screening Pass for a limited period.
Business Street opens as Rome Film Festival gets underway

As the Rome Film Festival opens its fourth edition with Danis Tanovic’s Triage today – the festival’s collateral industry events – Business Street and New Cinema Network also kick off.
City of dreams by the Thames

The London Film Festival celebrates the city’s successes in film, bringing the brightest in world cinema to London, but the capital is also looking to build on its achievements.
CJ launches joint venture with Japan’s T-joy

Korea’s CJ Entertainment and T-Joy, the theatre chain affiliate of major Japanese studio Toei, are launching a joint investment and distribution venture that will start operations in April 2010.
Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival

Mons, Belgium, February 01 - 09
Constantin signs first-look deal with LA's fledgling Dare Filmz

Constantin Film has closed a first-look deal with German writer Bora Dagtekin, his US-producing partner Marie-Amelie Rechberg and their newly formed Los Angeles-based company Dare Filmz.
Couples Retreat offers hope for Universal with $35.3m US launch

The Universal comedy Couples Retreat gave the studio’s new regime a timely shot in the arm as it soared to the top on an estimated $35.3m over the weekend.
D-Day for US studio model

Would you pay $250 to have Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen delivered to your living room on the same day it is released in theatres?
Disney expects strong overseas performance for Surrogates, Up

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International (WDSMPI) has a promising weekend ahead with 15 launches for its sci-fi thriller Surrogates and further solid business expected for Up.
Disney wields axe at Miramax, slashing jobs and slate

Walt Disney Company announced on Friday (October 2) it was restructuring Miramax in a move that will cut the number of films the specialty division puts out annually from the current level of six to eight down to around three.
Distribution: A Love Story

Overture Films has emerged as one of the main ports of call for independent films looking for US distribution. Key executives Chris McGurk, Danny Rosett and Peter Adee talk to Mike Goodridge about their coming of age
Don't waste time looking for a US pre-buy, Jeremy Thomas tells film-makers

Independent international film-makers who come to the US in search of financing are making “a wasted trip”, the Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas said over the weekend.
Dutch film industry set for major shake-up

Ronald Plasterk, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, is expected to announce plans for a major shake-up of Dutch film with the launch of a single national film agency.
E1 Entertainment to handle North American DVD for Here and Regent

E1 Entertainment has signed to become the exclusive North American DVD distributor of all Here Films and Regent Releasing titles until August 2012.
EFA picks The Sound Of Insects for outstanding doc award

The European Film Academy has chosen Swiss documentary The Sound Of Insects: Record Of A Mummy as the recipient of their outstanding documentary award, which will be presented at the 22nd European Film Awards ceremony on December 12.
Eldorado first title under Fantastic Films Int'l, House Of Fear sales pact

Roxane Barbat and Fred deWysocki’s Los Angeles-based Fantastic Films International (FFI) has signed a deal to handle worldwide sales on multiple films from Richard Driscoll’s UK company House Of Fear.
EuropaCorp’s Le Pogam to make keynote speech at London’s PFM

French producer and co-founder of EuropaCorp Pierre-Ange Le Pogam will make a key note speech at the 3rd Production Finance Market (PFM), which takes place in London on October 21 - 22.
Ex-Miramax executive Colleen Seldin to handle sales for Locomotive Group

Former Miramax senior vice-president of international distribution and operations Colleen Seldin has resurfaced at New York-based Locomotive Entertainment Group.
Finecut sells Chaw to Australia’s Madman

South Korean sales company Finecut has announced a slew of Toronto deals, led by black comedy Chaw which has been sold to Madman Entertainment for Australia.
Flynn takes UK rights to Taiwanese drama

London-based Flynn Entertainment has acquired Ian Lou’s award-winning Taiwanese film A Place Of One’s Own for UK theatrical release in spring 2010.
Focus Features names five winners in Africa First Program

For the second consecutive year five film-makers have been awarded $10,000 apiece in Focus Features’ Africa First Program for short films.
Future Weather wins FIND Sloan Producers Grant

Film Independent has awarded Jenny Deller and Kristin Fairweather its third annual Sloan Producers Grant for their project Future Weather.
Golden Shell winner City continues selling streak

Hong Kong’s Media Asia Films has sold Lu Chuan’s City Of Life And Death to Latin America and Greece, following its success at San Sebastian where it won the Golden Shell for best film and best cinematography.
Good Morning President

Dir/scr. Jang Jin. S. Korea. 2009. 131mins.
Haifaa Al Mansour wins Circle Conference's $100,000 Shasha Grant

Saudi film-maker Haifaa Al Mansour was awarded the $100,000 Shasha Grant for her screenplay Wajda as the Circle Conference came to a close in Abu Dhabi.
He can do good all by himself

Lionsgate’s relationship with prolific film-maker Tyler Perry is set to pay ever greater dividends.
HFF announces line-up, Hollywood Movie Awards nominees

The 13th annual Hollywood Film Festival (HFF) will open on October 23 with Greg W Swartz’s drama Another Harvest Moon starring Ernest Borgnine, Piper Laurie and Cybill Shepherd.
HFF to honour Robert De Niro with Hollywood Actor Award

Robert De Niro will receive the 13th Hollywood Film Festival’s (HFF) Hollywood Actor Award at the gala ceremony on October 26 in LA.
How London sets the tempo

One small area of the UK’s capital generates nearly a tenth of the country’s total box office - so a release on a West End screen is essential for arthouse films.
Huang to head jury for Asia Pacific Screen Awards

Chinese filmmaker Huang Jianxin is to head the international jury that will decide who will be going home with Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSAs) after the presentation on Australia’s Gold Coast on November 26.
IFC takes North America on Bruno Dumont's Hadewijch

IFC Films has picked up North American rights to Bruno Dumont’s Hadewijch, which won the FIPRESCI prize at Toronto following its world premiere last month.
Imagenation Abu Dhabi, Parkes / MacDonald launch $10m development fund

Imagenation Abu Dhabi and Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald of Parkes/MacDonald Productions have launched a development financing venture backed by an initial $10m investment.
Imagenation and Hyde Park team up with Singapore's MDA

Imagenation Abu Dhabi and Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group have extended their partnership to create a strategic alliance with Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA).
Into the unknown

The model for exhibition, finance and consumption of movies has remained the same for the best part of a century - but digital technologies are changing everything. ScreenDaily teamed with Ernst & Young, Heenan Blaikie and First California Bank to assemble a panel of experts who made their observations on this watershed moment.
Israeli distributor pledges Loach profits to support local film

Ken Loach’s Israeli distributor, Lev Cinema and Films, has pledged to use the local profits from Looking For Eric and his next film, Route Irish, to promote Israeli cinema following the director’s recent protests against the state’s action in Gaza.
Japanese court acquits creator of Winny P2P software

Japanese courts in Osaka and Tokyo have handed down rulings on two closely watched cases involving intellectual property rights in the peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and DVD arenas.
Jere Hausfater steps down as Essential CEO

Jere Hausfater has stepped down as CEO of Essential Entertainment less than three years after he founded the financing, production and sales company with chairman and Palo Alto businessman Jim Kohlberg.
Julianne Moore, Ryan Kavanaugh among HFF honourees

Julianne Moore, Bradley Cooper and Ryan Kavanaugh are among the latest honourees to be feted at the upcoming 13th Annual Hollywood Film Festival (HFF) and Hollywood Awards.
Kadokawa produces remake of Malle’s Elevator

Japanese producer-distributor Kadokawa Pictures is producing a remake of Louis Malle’s 1958 thriller Elevator To The Gallows.
Karim Dridi reveals details of next project to shoot in Brazil in 2010

French film-maker Karim Dridi, whose Khamsa receives a gala screening at the Rio de Janeiro Film Festival on Friday [2], has announced he will shoot his next feature in Brazil in 2010.
Kathryn Bigelow, Nora Ephron among HFF honourees

Kathryn Bigelow will receive the Hollywood Director Award and Nora Ephron will collect the Hollywood Screenwriter Award at the 13th Annual Hollywood Film Festival (HFF) and Hollywood Awards.
Kelin (The Daughter-in-Law)

Dir: Ermek Tursunov. Kazakhstan. 2009. 84 mins.
Kelly Hu to star in Slew Pictures rom-com Almost Perfect

Kelly Hu will star in writer-director Bertha Bay-Sa Pan’s romantic comedy Almost Perfect for New York-based Slew Pictures.
Kirk Douglas, Colin Firth, Danny Boyle latest BAFTA/LA honourees

BAFTA/LA will honour Kirk Douglas for his contribution to worldwide filmed entertainment at the upcoming awards gala on November 5.
KRU Studios appoints Epic Pictures as sales agent

Malaysia’s KRU Studios has appointed Los Angeles-based Epic Pictures as its sales agent for its slate of international feature films.
La Nana, Down For Life added to LA Latino Int'l Film Fesival roster

The 13th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) has unveiled its line-up, with screenings set for Sebastian Silva’s Chilean comedy La Nana, Adrian Biniez’ drama Gigante, and the US premiere of Alan Jacobs’ gang drama Down For Life.
La Pivellina to be first Austrian title to open Viennale

Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel’s debut feature The Little One (La Pivellina), will become the first Austrian production in the Viennale’s 47-year history to open the festival, which runs October 22 to November 4.
Lakeshore's Fame overtakes US box office overseas

Fame grossed approximately $10m over the weekend for a $27.4m international running total, according to fresh data released by Lakeshore Entertainment.
Lars Von Trier ventures into disaster genre with next project

Having ventured into horror with Antichrist, the bad boy of Danish cinema Lars Von Trier is to make his next foray into genre cinema with a disaster movie.
Le Pacte sells The Refuge to Spain, Argentina

French sales company Le Pacte has sold Francois Ozon’s drama The Refuge (Le Refuge) to Karma Films for distribution in Spain and to Distribution Company for Argentina following screenings at Toronto and San Sebastian.
Lenders agree to let MGM defer three interest payments

Embattled MGM has earned a reprieve in its fight to pay down massive debt as creditors allowed the studio to forgo three interest payments.
Liam Neeson joins Lionsgate thriller The Next Three Days

Liam Neeson has joined the cast of Lionsgate’s Pour Elle remake The Next Three Days, written and to be directed by Paul Haggis.
Lightning strikes sales deal on Mexican Oscar hopeful Backyard

Santa Monica-based Lightning Entertainment has picked up all international sales rights excluding Latin America to Carlos Carrera’s Mexican foreign language Oscar submission Backyard (El Traspatio).
Like A Dream, No Puedo lead Golden Horse race

Clara Law’s Like A Dream and Leon Dai’s No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti head the nominations for this year’s Golden Horse Awards with nine and eight nods respectively.
Lionsgate, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock board Black Friend

Lionsgate and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films will develop the Chris Rock vehicle Will You Be My Black Friend?
London Film Festival opens with "dual" premiere of Anderson's Fox

The 53rd The Times BFI London Film Festival opened last night with a “dual” world premiere of Wes Anderson’s animated adaptation of Fantastic Mr Fox – a first for the festival.
London stakes its claim as gateway to Europe

The London Film Festival (Oct 14-29) has long been a good place to launch films into the UK market. Now, with a budget increase and a pivotal slot in the autumn calendar, it hopes to become the gateway into Europe for some of the biggest films of the year.
Lorber Films takes North America on Kimjongilia and Nobody's Perfect

New York-based Lorber Films has acquired all North American rights to Kimjongilia and North American theatrical, TV, video and educational rights to Nobody’s Perfect.
Major seasonal push for Blu-ray

This Christmas is make or break time for the format - and five studios are joining forces to market it in the UK, reports Tim Murray.
Mary McGuckian to receive WIFTS lifetime career award

Mary McGuckian will collect the Women’s International Film & Television Showcase career achievement award on December 4 in Los Angeles.
Meirelles, Padilha sign on to direct segments of Rio, I Love You

Fernando Meirelles and Jose Padilha have signed on to direct segments of Rio, Eu Te Amo (Rio, I Love You), the fourth instalment of the Cities of Love franchise created by the French producer Emmanuel Benbihy.
Mike Nichols to receive AFI's lifetime achievement award

Mike Nichols will receive the 38th AFI Life Achievement Award, the American Film Institute’s board of trustees chair Sir Howard Stringer announced over the weekend.
Moon dominates Sitges festival awards

Duncan Jones’ debut feature Moon scooped the best film, screenplay, actor and production design awards at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, which closed today (October 12).
Moon touches down in Spain, UK gets Le Donk

ScreenDaily’s weekly round up of the local and independent openings in key markets this week.
MPower commences talks at AFM on Hello, I Love You

Steve McEveety’s LA-based Mpower Pictures will produce the tween romantic comedy Hello, I Love You to be directed by Sunu Gonera.
Murphy's White Lightnin' and Johnson's Teen Spirit scoop Dinard prizes

Dominic Murphy’s White Lightnin’ and Jamie Jay Johnson’s Sounds Like Teen Spirit took the top prizes at this year’s Dinard British Film Festival, which closed on Saturday October 10.
NBC Universal launches SCI FI HD in Japan

NBC Universal Global Networks Asia Pacific will launch SCI FI HD in Japan in October, the company’s first HD channel foray in the Asia-Pacific region.
NBC Universal moves to reassure staff over rumours as Comcast denies acquisition

Speculation continued to swirl over the fate of NBC Universal today as company chief Jeff Zucker issued a memo designed to reassure staff that in fact told them nothing they didn’t already know.
NBC Universal relaunches five channels

NBC Universal is relaunching five channels in early 2010 led by its flagship entertainment platform Universal Channel.
New LA-based RendezVous lines up French shoot for rom-com Kiss The Frog

Newly formed LA-based production company RendezVous launched by commercials director Kevin Dole has lined up its inaugural project, romantic comedy Kiss The Frog.
New York, I Love You

Dirs: Jiang Wen, Mira Nair, Shunji Iwai, Yvan Attal, Brett Ratner, Allen Hughes, Shekhar Kapur, Natalie Portman, Fatih Akin, Joshua Marston, Randy Balsmeyer. US. 2009. 104 mins.
New-look Rome shows it means business

The International Rome Film Festival (Oct 15-23) is hoping to establish a reputation as a place to do business - and even as a replacement for the now-defunct Mifed.
Odeon IMAX partnership expands ahead of Avatar release

IMAX Corporation and Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group have announced plans for a new IMAX cinema in Cardiff ahead of the release of James Cameron’s 3D epic, Avatar, this December.
Oz producers head to LA for pitching session

Screen Australia is taking a delegation of ten producers to Los Angeles in 10 days to tout films that might attract US investors and claim the 40% producer offset for Australian production.
Paju

Dir: Park Chan-ok. South Korea. 2009. 110 mins.
Paranormal Activity director Oren Peli prepares shoot on follow-up Area 51

Oren Peli, whose Paranormal Activity is rapidly growing into a cult hit in North America, will start shooting next week on his follow-up Area 51.
Pathe appoints Olivier Cottet-Puinel as senior VP of business affairs

Pathe has announced the appointment of Olivier Cottet-Puinel to the post of senior vice president business affairs for its production and distribution divisions.
PIFF lines up Asian auteurs for omnibus project

The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced the production of an omnibus film about people falling in love in the city of Busan, to be executive produced by festival head Kim Dong-ho.
PIFF, EAVE join forces to boost Asian-Euro collaboration

The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) and Europe’s EAVE organisation have announced the launch of “EAVE Ties That Bind”, a new development workshop for Asian and European film producers.
Polanski refused bail by Swiss authorities

Roman Polanski’s request to be released from prison pending his possible extradition to the US was turned down by the Swiss Justice Ministry today (October 6).
Power to the Pixel

Power to the Pixel is a company dedicated to supporting film and the wider media in its transition to a digital age with a passion for connecting creative talent to audiences.
Power to the Pixel’s Cross-Media Forum to be webcast live on ScreenDaily

Power to the Pixel’s Cross-Media Forum will be held in association with The Times BFI London Film Festival tomorrow, October 14.
Power to the Pixel's webcast

ScreenDaily brings you a live webcast from Power to the Pixel’s Cross-Media Film Forum, October 14-15.
PPP 2009 project list

Screen International brings you the 2009 Pusan Promotion Plan list.
Precious, Law Abiding Citizen bookend Philly Film Fest

The Film Sales Company’s director of acquisitions Michael Lerman has been appointed director of programming at the Philadelphia International Film Festival.
Producer Eric McLeod boards fantasy DevaShard for Vanquish

Bioshock producer Eric McLeod has boarded DevaShard, the fantasy property recently acquired by Vanquish Motion Pictures.
Production starts on Melissa Leo 9/11 drama The Space Between

Production got underway in Los Angeles this week on TSB Films’ drama The Space Between starring Oscar nominee Melissa Leo and AnnaSophia Robb.
Production starts on Perfect Weekend's Whitney Brown

Production has begun in Atlanta, Georgia, on Perfect Weekend’s family comedy The Greening Of Whitney Brown.
Pusan pulls out all the stops

Seemingly undaunted by financial gloom, this year’s Pusan International Film Festival (Oct 8-16) boasts a record 355 films and a new cash prize. But will travel-weary buyers and sellers be in town to see them?
Rena Ronson joins Rich Klubeck at UTA to co-head independent film group

Film finance and packaging expert Rena Ronson has resurfaced at UTA and will join Rich Klubeck in heading the independent film group.
Rich Ross named chairman of Walt Disney Studios

As expected Rich Ross, president of Disney Channels Worldwide, has succeeded Dick Cook as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.
Richard Jenkins joins cast of Hammer/Overture's Let Me In

Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz and Richard Jenkins will star in Let Me In, Matt Reeves’ English-language adaptation of Swedish arthouse hit Let The Right One In that Overture Films will release in the US.
Richard Mettler joins Peep Show as editor

Richard Mettler has joined London and New York post-production facility Peep Show Post Productions as editor.
Robert A Daly elected AFI board of directors chair

Former Warner Bros chairman and CEO Robert A Daly has been elected chair of the AFI board of directors.
Russia plots legislation to increase international interest

A group of deputies in Russia has put forward an amendment request regarding the definition of “national film” in Russia in order to lure more foreign investment.
Samuel Goldwyn Foundation unveils screenwriting finallists

Samuel Goldwyn Foundation president Samuel Goldwyn Jr has announced the five finallists for this year’s writing awards competition.
Screen International Editorial Calendar 2011

Screen International’s monthly editorial schedule, updated for 2011.
Selected World Premieres at Rome

Screen brings you a selection of world premieres at this year’s Rome International Film Festival.
Sharon Stone, Carice Van Houten get Satisfaction with Media 8

Sharon Stone and Carice Van Houten are attached and Chris Evans is in talks to star in the drama Satisfaction, which Media 8 represents worldwide and will introduce to buyers at AFM.
Sherlock Holmes

Dir: Guy Ritchie. Australia/UK/US. 2009.
Sitges to honour Metropolitan's Sammy Hadida with Maria Honorifica

Metropolitan chief Samuel Hadida will receive the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival’s Maria Honorifica honourary award this weekend.
Six film-makers selected for latest Cannes Residence

The Cannes Residence has announced participants for its autumn session, which runs from October 1 to February 15.
Slaves In Their Bonds gets Greek Oscar nod

Slaves In Their Bonds, the comeback film of veteran director Tonis Lykouresis, has been selected as Greece’s official submission for the foreign language Academy Award.
Sony chiefs Michael Lynton, Amy Pascal to receive PGA's Milestone Award

Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and co-chairman Amy Pascal will receive the Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) 2010 Milestone Award.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment consolidates brand marketing group

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is uniting the division’s domestic and international brand marketing groups into a single worldwide team.
Sony's Zombieland slays rivals with $25m launch

Sony is riding high with a one-two punch as the horror road movie Zombieland opened top on an estimated $25m, nudging Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs into second place.
SPC takes North and Latin American rights to Tolstoy drama The Last Station

Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has picked up North America and Latin American rights to Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station starring Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, James McAvoy and Paul Giamatti.
SPWAG acquires Atom Egoyan's Chloe for US from StudioCanal

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) has paid low seven figures for US rights to Atom Egoyan’s Chloe, the first international production fully financed by StudioCanal.
Steve Perrin to lead UK’s Digital Funding Group

Steve Perrin, the former senior vice president and head of international at Rentrak Theatrical, has been appointed as chief executive of the UK Digital Funding Group (DFG).
Strand acquires US rights to historical epic John Rabe

Strand Releasing has acquired all US rights to Florian Gallenberger’s epic historical drama John Rabe and will release in spring 2010.
Strand Releasing takes all US rights to Bluebeard

Strand Releasing has acquired all US rights to Catherine Breillat’s Bluebeard ahead of its US premiere on October 9 at the New York Film Festival.
Sundance Institute names seven RAWI Middle East Screenwriters Lab Fellows

The Sundance Institute has announced the seven projects chosen to participate in the fifth annual RAWI Middle East Screenwriters Lab.
Tehroun

Dir: Nader T Homayoun. Iran/France. 2009. 95 mins.
Terracotta takes UK rights to Yang’s Breathless

Terracotta Distribution has acquired UK rights to Rotterdam Tiger award-winner Breathless from Korea’s Showbox Mediaplex.
The 3rd Russian Film Festival to show 10 UK premieres

The 3rd edition of Academia Rossica’s Russian Film Festival will host 10 UK premieres including Russia’s Oscar entry Ward No.6.
The Beaches Of Agnes

Dir: Agnès Varda. France. 2009.
The crest of a wave

Rome’s New Cinema Network aims to help second-time directors realise their visions by matching producers with international partners and financiers.
The Famous And The Dead claims best picture prize at Rio

The joys and anxieties of adolescence captured by Esmir Filho in The Famous And The Dead (Os Famosos Eos Duendes Da Morte) brought the 27-year-old director the most prestigious prize as the 11th Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival came to a close.
The Hurt Locker, Precious to screen in Savannah

The Hurt Locker, Precious: Based On The Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire, White Ribbon and The Messenger will screen at the 12th annual Savannah Film Festival.
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

Dir. Leanne Pooley. NZ. 2009. 84 mins
The Ugly Truth claims overseas crown for Sony with $12.1m weekend haul

A powerful surge across German-speaking Europe helped The Ugly Truth claim top spot among overseas Hollywood releases as the romantic comedy grossed an estimated $12.1m through Sony Pictures Releasing International.
The Works picks up UK rights to When You're Strange

The Works UK Distribution has picked up all UK rights to Tom DiCillo’s documentary about rock group The Doors, When You’re Strange. It will be released next year.
Third film in Boys trilogy rules Japanese box office

The third installment in NTV-Toho’s 20th Century Boys trilogy has become the most successful entry in the series, with an unbroken reign of six weeks at the top of the Japanese box office.
Tom Ortenberg unveils multi-purpose entertainment company One Way Out Media

Less than a week after departing from The Weinstein Company, Tom Ortenberg has unveiled plans for his new venture One Way Out Media.
Tories "committed" to tax credit Vaizey tells Screen Film Summit

Shadow Arts minister Ed Vaizey sent out a reassuring message about Tory film policy in a speech to key industry figures today (October 13).
UK's National Theatre appoints NT Live producer as digital chief

The National Theatre has appointed David Sabel as its first digital head of media to oversee its developing digital strategy, including its cinema initiative NT Live.
Up eyes top five berth among Hollywood's overseas elite

Sony Pictures Releasing International’s (SPRI) overseas champion The Ugly Truth will need to rely on strong holdovers to fend off the challenge of Disney/Pixar’s Up this weekend.
Up flies high above studio pack with $21m overseas haul

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s Up was back on top of Hollywood’s overseas elite at the weekend thanks to an estimated $21m haul that boosted the running total to $257.1m.
USC film school names Stephanie Kluft dean of communications

Stephanie Kluft is joining USC’s School Of Cinematic Arts as associate dean of communications, effective October 5.
Vietnam to launch international film festival

The city of Hanoi is set to celebrate its 1000th anniversary with the opening of Vietnam’s first international film festival in 2010.
Vitagraph and FilmBuff take US theatrical and VOD rights to financial doc Collapse

Vitagraph Films and FilmBuff have signed deals to handle the US theatrical and VOD release respectively of Chris Smith’s documentary Collapse.
Where The Wild Things Are

Dir: Spike Jonze. US. 2009. 101 mins.
Where The Wild Things Are

Dir: Spike Jonze. US. 2009
Won Bin is the Man for United Pictures

Korean actor Won Bin, who recently starred in Bong Joon-ho’s Mother, has been cast as the lead in action drama This Man (working title), which is being sold internationally by United Pictures.
Zombieland

Dir: Ruben Fleischer

Screen09 October 2009

Screen
09 October 2009