Screen
10 Nov 2011

View all stories from this issue.

All-star cast set for CBS Films’ Seven Psychopaths

Woody Harrelson, drawing awards season heat for his performance in Rampart, has joined the cast of Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken on the action comedy. Shooting got underway in LA on Nov 7.
Ariztical Entertainment acquires Movie Star for US

The distributor has earmarked a spring 2012 release for the drama starring Shawn Doyle.
Bad Weather

Dir: Giovanni Giommi. Germany-UK. 2011. 82mins
Calvet

Dir: Dominic Allen. UK-US-France-Costa Rica. 2011. 84mins
Danny Dyer to star in John Rackham's Daementia

The low budget British film has been written and will be produced by Philip Milne.
Dublin’s Fantastic Films, MPI Media Group to produce Stitches

Principal photography is set to begin later this year in Ireland on the story of a vengeful children’s clown.
Endgame launches p&a fund to support wide releases

Jim Stern’s financing and production company has announced its long-in-the-works fund, partnering with equity investors, third-party producers and studios to provide marketing and distribution support for wide release Endgame and third party titles such as Rian Johnson’s 2012 sci-fi Looper.
Foresight Unlimited to sell Nicole Kidman-starrer My Wild Life

Mark Damon’s sales and financing company will kick off talks with international buyers this week on Mandalay Pictures’ $35m My Wild Life starring Nicole Kidman and to be directed by Phillip Noyce.
Fukushima Hula Girls

Dir: Masaki Kobayashi. Japan. 2011. 100mins
J. Edgar

Dir: Clint Eastwood. US. 2011. 137mins
Jack And Jill

Dir: Dennis Dugan. US. 2011. 90mins
Land Of Oblivion

Di/scr: Michale Boganim. France-Germany-Poland-Ukraine. 2011. 115mins
Parlay's The Words, Arbitrage speak to buyers

Lisa Wilson has reported strong territory sales on two of her leading titles as the AFM heads into the weekend.
Screen Gems to remake XYZ's martial arts tale The Raid

The Indonesian action film from Gareth Evans earned a wild response from Midnight Madness audiences in Toronto.
Spivak earns digital distribution stripes at SPHE

Jason Spivak has been promoted to the newly created role of svp and general manager of worldwide digital distribution at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE)
Spotlight heads into AFM with four new titles led by The Ghostmaker

The supernatural thriller centres on three friends who discover a coffin that allows them to travel into the world of the undead. It screens on Sunday.
Summit signs output deal with Central Partnership in CIS

The exclusive, six-year agreement runs through December 2017 and covers Summit’s theatrical slate.
The Front Line

Dir: Jang Hun. South Korea. 2011. 133mins
Universal announces first-look deal with Angle Films

Angle Films is the new company jointly owned and operated by Paul Brooks’ Gold Circle Films and Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions.
Work Hard, Play Hard

Dir/scr: Carmen Losmann. Germany. 2011. 90mins
96 Minutes goes to ARC, XLrator for US

ARC Entertainment and XLrator Media have picked up all North American rights to the urban thriller 96 Minutes.
A Few Best Men

Dir: Stephan Elliott. Australia. 2011. 96mins
A Monster In Paris

Dir: Bibo Bergeron. France. 2010. 88mins
A thrilling talent to watch

Iceland-born, London-based filmmaker Borkur Sigthorsson brings his accomplished thriller Come To Harm to Encounters.
Academy issues animation feature film submission guidance

Contenders for the 84th Academy Awards need to submit entry forms and supporting materials to the Academy by 5pm PT on Nov 1.The deadline to submit accompanying film prints is Nov 11.Nominations will be announced on Jan 24, 2012 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.The show itself is set to take place on Feb 26, 2012 at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.
Adopt Films to release Mighty Fine on Memorial Day 2012

Jeff Lipsky has added a third title to the pipeline, taking US rights to Debbie Goodstein’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story.
AFM Finance Conference: Eurozone crisis not disastrous for film deals

Executives on AFM panel note less top dollar projects at AFM but strike positive note on current market
Alcon joins Lionsgate to co-finance rom-com Expecting

Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson have made their first investment outside of Warner Bros and will share production and marketing costs on What To Expect When You’re Expecting starring Anna Kendrick (pictured), among others.
American Film Festival in Wroclaw to open with Solondz's Dark Horse

Todd Solondz and Joe Swanberg to attend for retrospectives.
AMPAS honours Vanessa Redgrave in London

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences held a star-studded tribute to Vanessa Redgrave in London on Sunday night.
Anchor Bay Films takes North America on Mother’s Day

Darren Lynn Bousman directed the horror film starring Rebecca DeMornay, Jamie King, Deborah Ann Woll and Shawn Ashmore.
Anchor Bay takes US on Ten Year, Well Go snaps up Taiwan Oscar bid

Anchor Bay has paid low seven figures for all US rights to the high school reunion film Ten Year starring Channing Tatum and Rosario Dawson.
Anke Engelke to host European Film Awards

Irene Jacob, Ludivine Sagnier and Paz Vega amongst those presenting awards at the ceremony in Berlin.
Arirang wins inaugural Brisbane documentary prize

South Korea’s Kim Ki-duk has won Australia’s richest documentary award with Arirang, six months after taking the top prize in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Arthur Christmas

Dir: Sarah Smith. UK-US. 2011. 97mins
Babycall

Dir/scr: Pal Sletaune. Norway. 2011. 95mins
Bad Meat

Dir: Lulu Jarmen. Canada-UK. 2011. 92mins
BAFTA launches international online resource

The new online platform will include live streaming of lectures taking place at BAFTA and will be available for the first time to New York BAFTA members.
BFI distribution head Peter Buckingham to step down

BFI head of distribution & exhibition to step down after nine years at UKFC and BFI.
BFI launches £200,000 Film Export Fund

The transitional fund is aimed at enhancing export opportunities for British films at key international film festivals including Cannes 2012.
Billy Crystal returns to host 84th Academy Awards

The entertainer will host the show for the ninth time in his career after recently telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer made the announcement on Thursday (10).
Black Nights to open with Either Way, to close with Tree of Life

Screen International Critics Choice programme includes The Turin Horse, Tyrannosaur, The Artist and Las Acacias.
Black Rabbit Film, Impatient Pictures to co-produce Made In China

Isabelle Obadia and Adeline Monzier’s new production company Black Rabbit Film is teaming up with Canadian outfit Impatient Films for the drama, to be directed by Frédéric Colier.
Bob and Jeanne Berney to exit FilmDistrict in March 2012

The president of theatrical distribution and his wife and evp of marketing Jeanne Berney will leave the company on Mar 1 2012 as FilmDistrict consolidates operations in Los Angeles.
Bond 23's title confirmed as Skyfall

British actress Naomie Harris and French actress Berenice Marlohe to star as Bond girls, Javier Bardem confirmed as villain.
Boots tramples US competition on $34m debut

DreamWorks Animation’s Puss In Boots strode to the top of the charts thanks to an estimated $34m haul which combined with the $17m international launch through PPI for a $51m worldwide opening weekend.
Brett Ratner resigns as Oscar telecast producer over gay slur

The filmmaker quit on Tuesday (8) as the awards show producer for the upcoming 84th annual Academy Awards in February 2012 following the public furore over remarks made during a Q&A.
Bristol Encounters to spotlight Irish animation talent

The festival has teamed up with the Irish Film Board to showcase Irish animation talent.
Bruce Tuchman appointed president of Sundance Channel Global

Former head of MGM Worldwide Networks joins AMC international division
Bullhead, Jiro, Heartbeat among AFI FEST winners

“It has been an exciting year for world cinema and emerging international filmmakers,” festival director Jacqueline Lyanga said. “We’ve had incredibly enthusiastic audiences for all of the screenings at AFI FEST. It’s wonderful to discover the films that especially resonate with audiences and put a spotlight on filmmakers as part of awards season critical acclaim.”
Busan West Asian Festival to be bookended by The Host 3D, AfterShock

North American premieres for Korean hit Leafie and Filipino drama Nino, Bong Joon-ho to attend
Busan West Asian Film Festival to screen 11 features

Features from China, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam comprise the line-up as organisers of South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival’s spin-off prepare to get underway on Nov 11.
Buyers attached to Celluloid Dreams' Detachment

Buyers hot for high-school drama Detachment starring Adrien Brody.
CBS Films announces further casting on 7500

Jamie Chung, Christian Serratos and Scout Taylor-Compton have joined the cast of 7500, which CBS Films will release in the US and Lionsgate is selling internationally.
CEG invests in music funding on Parker, Looper

Cutting Edge Group (CEG) has signed new investment deals for the upcoming Parker and Looper and will provide investment in music budgets and music supervision.
Celluloid closes spate of deals on The Year of the Snake

Buyers hot for political thriller; deals with UK, France, Scandinavia, Benelux.
China’s Zhang Yimou to receive FIAPF Award

Zhang Yimou, whose latest film The Flowers Of War is the Chinese foreign language Oscar submission, is to receive the annual award from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
Chris O'Dowd to host the British Independent Film Awards

The Bridesmaids actor will replace James Nesbitt who had hosted for six years.
Christine D'Souza earns stripes at Preferred Content

Kevin Iwashina and Ross Dinerstein’s Preferred Content have promoted Christine D’Souza to vp of content sales and project finance.
Christmas..already?

Arthur Christmas voice stars Bill Nighy and Ashley Jensen were in London last night to turn on the Regent Street Christmas lights.
Cinemavault strikes new deals for Anderson Silva: Like Water

Transmission Films in Australia/New Zealand, California Filmes in Lat Am snap up doc
CPH: DOX winners include Ben Rivers' Two Years At Sea

The year’s winners of the eight competition awards at Copenhagen’s CPH: DOX festival were announced at the festival’s closing gala at the city’s Teater Bremen.
Creative England secures £5m for Digital Champions scheme

The money, which won’t be available until next Spring, will come out of the UK government’s Regional Growth Fund.
David Gordon Green to direct romance Q for Columbia

The studio is in final discussions to acquire rights to Evan Mandery’s novel. Former Columbia Pictures co-president Matt Tolmach will produce.
Dead Man Down scores multiple sales for IM Global

Stuart Ford’s sales, production and finance company has reported a roaring trade on its fully financed thriller to star Noomi Rapace and Colin Farrell.
Dogs on Film

Only at the annual Fido awards would you see a Bond girl sitting next to a Jack Russell.
Dogwoof picks up Sundance winning doc How To Die In Oregon

The acquisition comes ahead of its European premiere tonight at the Rome Film Festival.
Doha Tribeca Film Festival boosts Arab industry

Behind its glitzy exterior, the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) is providing a genuine platform for Arab film-makers and helping to create a local industry.
Donkeys wins best film at Scottish BAFTAs

Peter Mullan wins best director and best writer for Neds.
Drafthouse Films signs ancillary deal with Image

Drafthouse Films has struck an exclusive US distribution deal with Image Entertainment covering VoD, DVD, digital and television platforms.
Dubai to open with world premiere of Mission Impossible 4

Film shot extensively in the Emirate.
Eighteen films submitted for animated Oscar consideration

The Academy has received 18 animated feature submissions including Tintin and The Smurfs.
Eighty Letters

Dir: Vaclav Kadrnka. Czech Republic. 2011. 74mins
EIS backing for films in UK could be hampered by new Treasury consultation

There could be a sting in the tail for British film financiers when the cap on the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is raised from £2 million to £10 million ($15.7 million) next April.
Emmett/Furla team up with Epstein, Witherspoon on Rule # 1

Newly capitalised Randall Emmett and George Furla are partnering on the comedy with Brad Epstein of Panther Films and Reese Witherspoon through her Type A Films.Courtney Hunt, who won wide acclaim for Frozen River, will direct the story from a screenplay by Terrel Seltzer about an OCD woman who takes in a young woman and her newborn baby in an effort to master her anxiety and win back her estranged husband.Witherspoon is in talks to star. Both she and Emmett/Furla Films are repr
eOne acquires Canadian rights to Hysteria

Tanya Wexler’s rom-com charts the invention of the vibrator and stars Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett and Felicity Jones.
eOne takes over Vivendi's home entertainment business in Canada

Labels include Navarre, Classic Media, National Geographic boosting doc and genre share.
eOne takes UK on hot AFM seller 12 Years A Slave

The distributor has prevailed in a bidding war to acquire UK rights to Summit International’s sold-out prestige title to be directed by Steve McQueen.
eOne US, Focus Features sign DVD distribution deal

eOne will handle the DVD release in the US on titles from Focus Features’ recently launched Focus World label.
eOne, Village Roadshow flock to Myriad's Goon

The ice hockey comedy starring Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber and Jay Baruchel drew the buyers at AFM.
Epic brings War Of The Worlds: Goliath to market

Epic Pictures Group is handling international sales at AFM on LA and Kuala Lumpur-based Tripod Entertainment’s $10m 3D animation War Of The Worlds: Goliath.
Estonia’s Black Nights unveils competition line-up

Lynne Ramsay’s We Need To Talk About Kevin, Wojciech Smarzowski’s Rose and Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist are amongst the competition titles at the 15th edition of Estonia’s
Experts convene in Brisbane to discuss creating new lab for Asia Pacific

A thinktank will convene on Saturday in Brisbane to discuss the possibility of creating an Asia Pacific Screen Laboratory.
Fabrication Films adds five to AFM slate

The LA-based company will seek to tempt buyers with a new slate that includes the world war II epic Lidice and horror tale 6 Degree Of Hell.
Fast Girls adds supporting cast, starts shooting Monday

Regan Hall [pictured] directs the sports drama.
Film DIY

As Sound It Out starts its theatrical release, Screen talks to Nottingham based film-maker Jeanie Finlay about her DIY approach to the project, including the use of crowdfunding.
Film Education launches 2011 Young Film Critic competition

The winner from each group will be invited to attend an awards ceremony at BAFTA.
Film-makers to create film in 3 days for new UK film competition

Judges will be Barry Ryan of Warp Films, producer Howard Dawson and Everyman Cinemas CEO Andrew Myers.
FilmNation adds two more Malick projects to AFM line-up

Lawless will star Ryan Gosling, currently drawing heat for his performances in Drive and The Ides Of March, alongside Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Bale and Blanchett will also star in Knight Of Cups.
FilmNation scores major deals on The Raven, House

CEO Glen Basner announced at AFM on Thursday (3) that the company has virtually sold out its first two productions, The Raven and House At The End Of The Street.
Finnish Film Foundation to speed up process for film funding

New scheme has four features in the works.
First Run acquires documentary Wish Me Away

The distributor plans a spring 2012 theatrical release for Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf’s award-winning film with VoD, video and television to follow.
Focus Features on mission with The Last Days On Mars

The sci fi feature about a mission to Mars is being directed by Ruairi Robsinson and produced by Qwerty Films; Focus will start sales at the AFM this week.
Fortissimo keeps punching with Warrior sales

Fortissimo closes more deals on Warriors Of The Rainbow: Seediq Bale.
Fortissimo takes on IDFA competitor El Gusto

Fortissimo Films has taken on international rights outside of France to Safinez Bousbia’s documentary El Gusto, which screens this week in Competition at IDFA.
Fox, HMV launch new bus shelter purchasing system

HMV and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment launch innovative new Blu-ray/DVD purchasing system.
Freeloaders finds way on to Myriad AFM slate

Myriad Pictures has acquired international sales rights from Broken Lizard to the comedy Freeloaders.
Freestyle Digital Media takes US on Donner Pass

New digital platform Freestyle Digital Media has acquired US rights to Arroyo Filmworks’ Donner Pass. The story follows a ski party haunted by the spirits of 19th century cannibal settlers.
Freestyle Releasing launches VoD platform at AFM

Freestyle Digital Media will offer filmmakers a new digital platform and through a cloud-based service will enable DVD distribution across retail rental sites, kiosks, by-mail, subscription streaming, pay-TV and specialty markets like airlines, hotels and cruise ships.
Galway Fleadh gets Academy recognition

Galway Film Fleadh shorts winners to be eligible for Oscar consideration.
Gary Oldman to executive produce Max Mannix drama Clickers

Gary Oldman is attached to executive produce Max Mannix’s Australian drama Clickers.
Gary Tarn

British film-maker Gary Tarn will be attending the upcoming Copenhagen International Documentary Festival (CPH:DOX) for the world premiere of his second feature The Prophet, a contemporary reworking of Kahlil Gibran’s 1923 book.
Genesis books new sales for A Lonely Place To Die

UK sales outfit also closes Japan deal on horror Evil Things.
George Tillman Jr to direct Miles Davis biopic

The film will be based loosely on the book Dark Magus: The Jekyll And Hyde Life Of Miles Davis by the late jazz maestro’s eldest son Gregory Davis.
Goldwyn takes Island President, Strand Releasing acquires Unforgivable

A flurry of domestic distribution deals were announced on Monday [Nov 7], led by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Strand Releasing taking US rights to The Island President and Andre Techine’s Unforgivable, respectively.
Gotham In Progress organisers

This year marks the first Gotham In Progress, a new industry initiative of New York and Paris-based Black Rabbit Films and New Horizons Association (which runs the New Horizons International Film Festival and the American Film Festival).The initiative is a showcase for US indies that are in the final stages of production, presented to 30 European distributors, sales agents, producers and fest programmers. A jury will choose one winning project to recieve a $60,000 post-production packa
Green Isle adds $20m UK-Australia comedy to maiden slate

The new LA-based production company led by industry veterans Edwin Larson And Scott Vandiver is backing the $20m project A Monster Problem.
Green Isle Entertainment launches with $60m backing

LA-based production company Green Isle Entertainment (GIE) led by industry veterans Edwin Larson And Scott Vandiver has launched with a $60m multi-title financing deal with investment bank Allegiance Capital Corporation.
Grindstone takes Golden Network double

Lionsgate’s genre label Grindstone takes US rights to The Sword Identity and SeeFood.
Habemus Papam, Quando La Notte among Cinema Italian Style 2011

As previously announced, Emanuele Crialese’s Italian foreign language Oscar submission Terraferma (pictured) will open the event, which runs in Los Angeles from Nov 10-15 and is dedicated to the work of Dino De Laurentiis.
Halaw wins APSA NETPAC development prize

Filipino first time feature director Sheron R. Dayoc picked up the $5,000 prize on the eve of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Happy Feet 2

Dir: George Miller. US. 2011. 99mins
Hard Romanticker

Dir: Gu Su-yeon. Japan. 2011. 108mins
Haywire

Dir: Steven Soderbergh. US. 2011. 93mins
Haywire revealed as Nov 6 AFI FEST secret screening

Steven Soderbergh’s anticipated action thriller stars Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Angarano, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton and screen newcomer and mixed martial arts star Gina Carano.
Helen McCrory to star in Klimkiewicz's Flying Blind

It is the third film to go into production as part of South West Screen’s microbudget scheme iFeatures.
HFPA selects Morgan Freeman for Cecil B DeMille Award

Freeman will collect the honour at the 69th annual Golden Globes on Jan 15, 2012.
High Fliers buys UK rights to Brake, Elevator at AFM

Brake stars Stephen Dorff, Tom Berenger and Chyler Leigh and centres on a government operative kidnapped by terrorists.
Hot projects on Screenbase

Kristin Scott Thomas, Matt Dillon and Julia Stiles are among the cast for Mike Figgis upcoming feature Seconds Of Pleasure, whilst Samantha Morton has taken on the lead in thriller The Mulo.
Hot projects on Screenbase

Ben Jagger’s The Paddy Lincoln Gang and Alvaro Longoria‘s documentary Sons Of The Clouds: The Last Colony are among the many new additions to Screenbase this week.
Hotel Lux

Dir/scr: Leander Haussmann. Germany-Austria. 2011. 110mins
Huayi Brothers and Bona Film Group to invest in China Lion

The deal will create a distribution bridge between the US and China.
Hyde Park International studies Liberal Arts

The lighthearted drama stars Elizabeth Olsen who has been drawing awards heat for her breakout performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene.
IM Global boards sales on UK thriller Blood

Further details have emerged on IM Global’s new sales title Blood starring Paul Bettany, Brian Cox and Stephen Graham.
IM Global to fully finance Dead Man Down

The $30m action thriller that reunites the original Girl With The Dragon Tattoo director Niels Arden Oplev with Noomi Rapace and will also star Colin Farrell.
IM Global, Vertigo in step on Walking On Sunshine

Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini, the duo behind StreetDance 3D, will direct 3D musical Walking On Sunshine for Vertigo Films. IM Global is handling international sales and Vertigo will release in the UK.
Image, W2 sign ancillary US distribution deal

Titles include Toast, Pete Smalls Is Dead, Smile and The Puck Hogs. W2 retains theatrical distribution rights to its slate.
Immortals

Dir: Tarsem Singh Dhandwar. US. 2011. 110mins
Immortals pips Arthur Christmas at UK box office

Immortals and Arthur Christmas lead a number of underwhelming debuts at the UK box office.
Immortals storms to $38m international debut

Relativity’s fantasy generated a notable first wave of launches outside North America, combining with the number one domestic debut for a $71.3m worldwide opening weekend.
In the mix for Best Picture

A loose consensus is forming around a core of titles in the Best Picture race.
In Time

Dir: Andrew Niccol. US. 2011. 109mins
India's NFDC unveils 22 projects for Film Bazaar

India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has unveiled the 22 projects that will take part in this year’s Film Bazaar co-production market (Nov 24-27) in Goa, including projects from Danis Tanovic and India’s Dibakar Banerjee and Ketan Mehta.
Indomina adds Over The Wall to AFM roster

Melissa Leo and Hayden Panettiere have joined Nick Stahl and Freddy Rodriguez on Over The Wall, a thriller that worldwide rights holder Indomina Releasing is selling at AFM.
Ingenious launches fifth Shelley EIS Fund

UK based Ingenious Ventures has launched its latest EIS fund, which will take advantage of the increase in tax relief for EIS investors.
Instinctive Film launches distributor Interactor Media

The new entity was unveiled at AFM and will focus on digital and home entertainment releases and mount theatrical campaigns for select titles.
Intandem brings Winstone thriller and Arterton comedy to AFM

Winstone to star in Harley Cokeliss adaptation of Melvin Burgess novel.
International Film Festival Bratislava, Slovakia

Winners and attendees at the 13th edition of the International Film Festival Bratislava (Nov 4-9) in Bratislava, Slovakia
Iranian sales agent Katayoun Shahabi released on bail

Accused of collaborating with banned BBC Persian Service, Sheherazad Media International chiefShahabi still faces trial.
ITN Distribution picks up AFM sales title Weight Of The Heart

ITN Distribution has acquired international sales on $3m Bosnian dramatic thriller The Weight Of The Heart for AFM.
James McGough earns corporate stripes at Summit Entertainment

The executive has been promoted from vp to svp of corporate and business development.
Jennifer Lynch talks Chained at AFM

It’s no surprise that Jennifer Lynch is smart and enjoys discussing the darker side of life but she is also disarmingly jolly considering that her credits include Boxing Helena and Surveillance.
Jere Hausfater talking to Asian buyers on Shanghai Calling

The sales veteran represents Asian territories at AFM on the US-China rom-com produced by Janet Yang.
Jessica Chastain, Sigourney Weaver amongst jurors at Marrakech

The Marrakech Film Festival, which runs December 2-10, will be bookended by Moroccan films The Rif Lover and Death For Sale.
K5 International picks up sales rights to Benaroya Pictures' Elvis & Nixon

The film marks the feature directorial debut of Cary Elwes and will star Eric Bana as The King and Danny Huston as the former US President.
King, American Idiots on Eclipse slate for Bradley Reiko

Reiko Bradley is at the AFM representing a packed sales slate for Eclipse International let by Eyes Of The King and American Idiots.
Kurdistan to host first British film festival

City without cinemas to host British film festival, programme includes The Queen, Made in Dagenham, Billy Elliot
Lightning strikes key sales on Cat Run, Brake

Lightning Entertainment has closed key deals across its slate, led by sales on action comedy Cat Run to Quality Filmes for all Latin American rights excluding Brazilian DVD and to Ster Kinekor for South Africa.
Lindhardt, Solomon among jurors for EFP's Shooting Stars

The jury of experts has been named to select Europe’s 10 best acting talents for European Film Promotion’s (EFP) Shooting Stars 2012 showcase, which will be held during the upcoming Berlinale from Feb 11-13, 2012
LipSync boards Newell's Great Expectations

The London-based post production company has boarded the project as an equity investor alongside BBC Films and the BFI Film Fund.
Lisa Aschan, Jane Magnusson among nominees for Stockholm Film Fund

She Monkeys director among five women nominated for new $750,000 (SEK 5m) production grant
Little Film to begin international sales on A Doll’s House

Cinema Alterna’s present-day Henrik Ibsen adaptation and feature debut stars Ben Kingsley, Julian Sands, Jena Malone and Michele Martin.
Love sells at AFM for VMI Worldwide

The sales agent has closed a raft of key sales on its space travel drama Love at AFM.
Mads Brugger, director of The Ambassador

Danish journalist/filmmaker Brugger goes undercover with a diplomatic passport to expose corruption in the Central African Republic.
Magic Tree House

Dir: Hiroshi Nishikiori. Japan. 2011. 105mins
Magnet Media attracts Joe Dante to direct O2

Joe Dante will direct the $50m sci-fi thriller O2, the first of three projects set up by Jeanette Buerling’s Magnet Media Group and effects house Prime Focus.
Malabar picks up US rights to Swedish thriller Nobel's Last Will

Yellow Bird produces the Liza Marklund adaptation.
Malcolm McDowell joins Paramyth’s A Green Story

The biopic centres on Van Vlahakis, a Greek immigrant who allegedly arrived in the US with $22 in his pocket and went on to establish the eco brand Earth Friendly Products.
Mariela Besuievsky to be honoured with EFA co-production award

The Prix Eurimages will be handed out to the Spanish producer at the European Film Awards on December 3.
Market gets underway with slew of hot sales prospects

AFM kicks off today [Nov 2] with a number of commercial draws led by heavyweights like Summit’s Louis Leterrier heist project Now You See Me, IM Global’s gangster thriller Dead Man Down with Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace and Lionsgate’s supernatural shocker Flight 7500.
Mary McGuckian and Larry Mullen Jr

Elnaz Toussi caught up with McGuckian and Mullen Jr to chat about their collaboration on the The Man On The Train, which Tribeca Film has just released on VOD in the US.
Match Factory scores deals on The Sleeping Voice, Superclasico, Babycall

German sales outfit strikes deals on Danish foreign language Oscar hopeful and Noomi Rapace thriller
Match Factory sees more sales on The Sleeping Voice

War drama goes to Brazil (Imovision), Colombia (Cineplex) and Latin American pay TV (Movie City).
Maya Entertainment adds Ass Backwards to AFM line-up

The company will commence sales this week on the road movie starring Alicia Silverstone, Jon Cryer and Vincent D’Onofrio.
Mega-Vision announces Once Upon A Time In Shanghai, sells Naked Soldier

Mega-Vision’s next is $10m-budgeted period action starring Philip Ng, with acton choreographer Yuen Woo Ping
Melancholia leads European Film Awards nominations

Other top nominees include The Artist, The Kid With A Bike, The King’s Speech, Le Havre and In A Better World.
Meryl's wardrobe malfunction and more fun in honour of Vanessa Redgrave

Who would have thought the AMPAS tribute to Vanessa Redgrave in London last night would turn a little saucy?
Metrodome acquires The Innkeepers for UK

Metrodome picks up Ti West horror at AFM.
Metrodome picks up Wu Xia for UK

Metrodome also distributed Peter Chan’s The Warlords.
MGM to turn Where’s Waldo? into feature

The studio struck a deal with rights holder Classic Media and will adapt into a live-action family adventure.
Michael Clarke Duncan, Rebecca Black join US voice cast for Legend of a Rabbit

Producers confirm voice cast and close pre-sales on Legend of a Rabbit 2.
Mike Newell to direct On Chesil Beach

Newell takes over from Sam Mendes on Ian McEwan adaptation.
Mitsuko Delivers

Dir/scr: Yuya Ishii. Japan. 2011. 109mins
More than 50/50 chance of success

The Men’s health charity Movember is getting behind Jonathan Levine’s “cancer comedy” 50/50 which is being released in the UK on Nov 25.
MPI Media Group picks up Bounty Hunters for US

Raven Banner Entertainment licensed rights during AFM to the action title which has been set for a spring 2012 release.
MPI, Salto de Fe Films to produce Here Comes The Devil

MPI Media Group and Mexico City-based Salto de Fe Films are to jointly produce Here Comes The Devil, a thriller from Adrian Garcia Bogliano.
Mullen, O'Connell, Wareing join cast of The Liability

AV Pictures are handling international sales out of AFM on the road movie thriller which begins shooting in the UK later this month.
Myriad to handle int'l sales on Kingsley drama A Common Man

Myriad Pictures has boarded international sales on Asia Digital Entertainment’s action thriller A Common Man starring Ben Kingsley and Ben Cross.
Myriad, STV get Seconds Of Pleasure with Figgis, LaBute

Myriad Pictures has brought a Mike Figgis project into the AFM, acquiring worldwide rights excluding the UK to Seconds Of Pleasure based on a screenplay by Neil LaBute. Shooting is set for summer 2012.
Mysteries Of Lisbon wins top prize at Panorama of European Cinema

Late Chilean director Raul Ruiz’s Mysteries of Lisbon was named best film at the 24th Panorama of European Cinema which wrapped yesterday.
Nashen Moodley named as new director of Sydney Film Festival

The head of programming at the Durban International Film Festival is to replace Clare Stewart who has taken on the role of head of exhibition at the BFI, which includes running the London Film Festival.
Netflix signs UK content deal with Lionsgate

Streaming service locks up exclusive streaming deal in pay TV window for titles including The Hunger Games, The Expendables 2, Dirty Dancing remake
NonStop adds Italian crime drama 5

NonStop Sales has added Italian crime drama 5 (Five) to its slate for AFM.
North East Creative Fund makes 13 film investments

Public investment has created a ‘critical mass’ of film activity in North East England, according to Northern Film & Media chief executive Tom Harvey.
Nu Image issues statement over Expendables 2 stuntman death

The company has also corrected Bulgarian newspaper reports and confirmed that stunt doubles for Sylvester Stallone (pictured) and Jet Li were not involved in last week’s accident.
Octavia Spencer joins Untitled Diablo Cody Project

The star from The Help is the latest cast member on board Mandate Pictures’ comedy, which Lionsgate will introduce to buyers at the AFM this week. Cody (pictured) wrote the screenplay and makes her feature directorial debut.
Office romance

UTA gets a dreamy new building with skybridge and outdoor plaza.
OSCAR UPDATE: Grazer replaces Ratner, Eddie Murphy steps down as host

In his first time producing the show, Brian Grazer will replace Brett Ratner and team up with Don Mischer on the 84th Academy Awards telecast on Feb 26, 2012.
Ounpuu, Härö and Kotwica projects at Baltic co-production market

13 projects from 10 countries will be presented at the Baltic Event’s 7th Co-Production Market in the Estonian capital of Tallinn from November 29 to December 2.
Paddy Considine to star in CinemaNX thriller Honour

Shooting is due to begin on Nov 8 on the Isle of Man and in Glasgow.
Penthouse North goes to Dimension for US

Dimension Films has picked up US rights to the Michelle Monaghan and Michael Keaton thriller Penthouse North, which Lionsgate is selling internationally at the market.
Penthouse North, Flight 7500 join Lionsgate sales slate

Lionsgate has beefed up its roster on the eve of AFM with several titles including thrillers Penthouse North starring Michelle Monaghan and Michael Keaton and Flight 7500 from The Grudge creator Takashi Shimizu.
Perpetual pacts with Prescience to create Bridgeworks Capital

Perpetual has merged its bridge lending operations with UK financier Prescience. Perpetual MD Alastair Burlingham will join Prescience to head its bridge and tactical funding operations via a new specialist lending arm, Bridgeworks Capital.
Peter Webber to direct Emperor for Fellers, Krasnoff/Foster

Webber is in pre-production on the story which takes place in the days after the Japanese surrender in world war two.
Petition to keep AFM in Santa Monica gathers steam

Tom Ortenberg, Gregory Chambet and Bill Johnson are among those who have added their voice to the movement to keep the market by the beach.
Phase 4 takes North American rights to Hick

Derick Martini’s road movie starring Chloë Moretz and Blake Lively and premiered recently in Toronto.
Pinewood film revenues in line with 2010

Pinewood has revealed that its film revenues for the period 1 July 2011 to 14 November 2011 are in line with the same period last year.
PTZ's Headwinds blows to new territories

Headwinds sells to Australia, Benelux, Latin America among other territories.
Puss In Boots repels Heist to stay top in US on $33m

An excellent hold for DreamWorks Animations’ Shrek spin-off was enough to keep the Ben Stiller-Eddie Murphy comedy Tower Heist and the latest Harold & Kumar release at bay.
Ra. One records record-breaking weekend for Eros

Eros reports record Bollywood box office of $35m worldwide from first five days for Shah-Rukh Khan sci-fi
RCR International to handle sales on Phantom

Todd Robinson’s submarine thriller stars Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner and wrapped principal photography on Nov 28.
Reelscape Films brings social cause to Fortune Cookies

Producer Becky Adams is hoping to partly finance the feature via crowdfunding as well as launching a 16 week education programme to run alongside the production process of the low budget British comedy.
Resistance

Dir: Amit Gupta. UK. 2011. 92mins
Rob Marshall to receive CAS Filmmaker Award

The Cinema Audio Society (CAS) will present the director of Chicago and Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides with the honour on Feb 18 in Los Angeles.
Rome's NCN prize goes to Yaqubi's Off Frame

Off Frame, a French-Palestinian project by Mohanad Yaqubi that depicts key moments in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination has won the Eurimages Co production development award for best project at the International Rome Film Festival’s New Cinema Network (NCN).
Ron Howard

Ron Howard will drop in to the AFM this week to rally support among buyers for Rush, a rare foray into the independent space for the director of hits like The Da Vinci Code, A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13.
Royals to attend UK premiere of Hugo in aid of the CTBF

All proceeds from the event will go to the Cinema & Television Benelovent Fund.
Rufus Sewell joins cast of Paradise Lost

The Legendary Pictures project also stars Bradley Cooper and Benjamin Walker and is based on an adaptation of John Milton’s 17th century epic poem about the fall of man.
Sailing to Success

Beautifully shot and with a star performance from John Hurt, Elfar Adalsteins’ short film Sailcloth could be sailing its way to the Oscars.
Sally Caplan named MD of Entertainment One's international division

Caplan to be based in London; Charlotte Mickie will remain in Toronto.
Salt pre-sells Twist 3D, new Aussie sci-fi Skylab

Buyers hungry for Salt slate, Wild Bunch bites on Twist for German speaking Europe.
Samantha Morton joins thriller The Mulo, sold by Intandem

Samantha Morton on board for UK thriller set in gypsy community.
Scandinavian crime wave still surging for Svensk

Svensk sells ‘Scandinavian James Bond’ at AFM; Hypnotist goes to StudioCanal in UK.
Schumacher, Wexler among Cameraimage jury

Roger Donaldson, Hannah McGill, Dick Pope, Dante Spinotti and Walter Lassally on Main Competition jury.
Sea Shadow

Dir: Nawaf Al-Janahi. UAE. 2011. 98mins
Searchlight, Borderline strike first-look deal

Martha Marcy May Marlene producer Borderline Films has struck a first-look, two-year deal with Fox Searchlight.
Sector 7

Dir: Kim Ji-hoon. South Korea-Japan. 2011. 101mins
Seven Arts, GFM take worldwide rights to Cassavetes' Yellow

Seven Arts and GFM have partnered on the first film in their distribution joint venture, taking worldwide rights to Nick Casavetes’ Yellow.
SFFS/KRF names ten grant finallists

Winners will be unveiled in December when more than $305,000 will be up for grabs depending on the production’s economic or professional impact on the bay area filmmaking society.
Shame, Tinker Tailor, Tyrannosaur lead BIFA nominations

They each picked up seven nods; We Need To Talk About Kevin and Kill List follow closely behind with six.
Short but sweet

The Virgin Media Shorts Awards ceremony at the BFI was a star studded affair.
Shorts International acquires LA Love Story

UK-based Shorts International has acquired director Sergio John Myers’ LA Love Story for one year for distribution on iTunes.
Sierra / Affinity closes dozen territories on Europa

Nick Meyer confirmed at the AFM on Wednesday [2] that there had been heavy buyer action on the sci-fi adventure.
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost become patrons of MediCinema

British actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are the newest stars to formally support MediCinema, a charity that brings full-size cinemas into hospitals for patients.
SKE boards Caine melodrama Mr Morgan’s Last Love

Sandra Nettlebeck has begun shooting in Paris based on her adaptation of Françoise Dorner’s novel La Douceur Assassine. Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (SKE) will co-finance and co-produce and Michael Caine stars.
Skillset launches London Media Skills Week

Skillset will be running a week of free training across the capital from November 21-25.
Slash talks horror project Nothing To Fear

Guns n’ Roses guitarist Slash was in town at the AFM on Wednesday night (2), pressing the flesh with his Slasher Films partners to promote their upcoming horror film Nothing To Fear.
Sleepless Night selling a dream for Bac

Australian, Korean and Middle East deals latest for French sales outfit.
Soda secures US deal on Grant Gee's Patience

The sales arm of Soda Pictures has sold Grant Gee’s documentary to independent US distributor Cinema Guild.
Solid $32m launch secures US box office for Immortals

Relativity’s fantasy epic directed by Tarsem and starring Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke and Freida Pinto slew the competition, opening on a decent $32m.
Solid AFM deal-flow despite lack of new high-end fare

AFM trade appeared to be solid at the half-way mark despite a dearth of new high-end packages that in light of an extraordinary Cannes market was perceived more as a foible of the production and financing cycle than any harbinger of doom.
Song For Marion inspires string of sales for eOne

eOne Films International has reported a strong response to its comedy drama Song For Marion, which the Weinsteins are poised to buy for the US.
SPC confirms Hysteria deal

The distributor has confirmed reports that first emerged during Toronto that it had acquired US rights to Tanya Wexler’s rom-com.
Stalker

Dir: Martin Kemp. UK. 2010. 82mins
Stan Lee to receive PGA 2012 Vanguard Award

The comic book legend will collect the honour at the 23rd awards ceremony in Beverly Hills on Jan 21, 2012.
Stealth greenlights The Paddy Lincoln Gang

Four-week LA shoot gets underway this week, film to tour with new Glen Matlock band
Stray Cinema launches new interactive project

2006 open source film experiment, Stray Cinema, is starting a new project that allows the audience to create their own film out of unedited feature film footage.
StudioCanal hot for Relativity's Mirror Mirror

StudioCanal signs deals for the Relativity production for UK and Germany prior to AFM.
Summit renews Spanish output deal with Aurum

The news from AFM follows the announcement earlier this week of the Eastern European deal with Media Pro.
Summit, Media Pro seal Eastern Europe output deal

Summit and Media Pro have signed a three-year output deal on all films produced by Summit covering the territories of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
Sundance unveils New Frontier projects for 2012 festival

The programme has moved to The Yard in Park City and will also exhibit at the Salt Lake Art Center for the second year. Both locations will be open to the public from Jan 20-28 and New Frontier will remain at the latter venue through May 19.
Sundance, President’s Committee select 10 for Film Forward

Sundance Institute and the President’s Committee On The Arts And The Humanities have renewed their initiative to promote cinema to diverse global audiences.
Tallinn kicks off AnimaCampus

Five-day summit runs in parallel with Animation Film Festival Animated Dreams, a sub-festival of Tallinn Black Nights.
The £10m question

Will changes to the EIS scheme help lure wealthy individuals back into UK film financing?
The Adventures Of Tintin to close AFI FEST

Hot off 3D the family adventure’s mighty $56.2m international launch at the weekend, AFI FEST presented by Audi said on Monday (Oct 31) the North American premiere of the film will close the festival on Nov 10.
The Boy From Nine Miles to be adapted into 3D animation

Based on the childhood of reggae legend Bob Marley, the feature will be pitched at the upcoming AFM.
The End

Dir/scr: Hicham Lasri. Morocco. 2011. 105mins
The Healer

Brussels born, Italian raised director Giorgio Serafini is currently in post production on his supernatural thriller which shot in the woods of North Carolina
The Market Vs The Movie

Sales agents and financiers have never been more conservative in their demands for cast, script and budget changes. It’s a complicated problem for film-makers striving to keep their project’s integrity intact.
The Son Of No One

Dir/scr: Dito Montiel. US. 2010. 93mins
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1

Dir: Bill Condon. US. 2011. 117mins
The Woodsman And The Rain

Dir: Shuichi Okita. Japan. 2011. 129mins
Thessaloniki industry award winners include Frantzis' Virus

Works in Progress award goes to Annemarie Jacir’s When I Saw You.
Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece

Winners and attendees at the 52nd annual Thessaloniki International Film Festival (November 4-13).
Tintin adds $41m to surge past $125m internationally

A further $40.8m for the family adventure mostly through Sony pushed it to $125.3m while Constantin’s The Three Musketeers is several swishes of the blade away from $100m through Summit International licensees.
Tintin holds on to top spot in UK on $3.5m

Paramount’s animation drops 67% but still beats out unspectacular newcomers In Time and Tower Heist
Tintin scores big in UK to easily claim crown

Paramount’s 3D animation takes $10.9m (£6.8m) on first weekend; studio scores one-two with Paranormal Activity 3
Tintin to soar past $150m mark internationally

The Adventures Of Tintin has grossed more than $125m in two weeks in release and the family spectacle opens in India through Sony Pictures Releasing International this weekend, as well as in a host of markets through PPI.
Tribeca Film, Bac strike US deal on Sleepless Night

Tribeca Film has acquired all US rights to kidnap thriller Sleepless Night from Bac Films.
TrustNordisk closes deals on Christiansen's ID:A

Trust closes UK, Germany, Korea and more on new crime-thriller from The Roommate director.
Turin to be bookended by Moneyball, Albert Nobbs

Competition focuses on first, second and third films.
Turkey's Malatya Film Festival unveils line-up

Now in its second edition, the festival will run November 18 to 24 with the introduction of a new national film award.
Twilight Breaking Dawn cleared for younger audiences in Sweden

First instalment of Breaking Dawn now gets +11 rating instad of +15 rating.
Twilight Portrait wins Golden Alexander in Thessaloniki

Festival shows a strong 160+ films and shows little impact of Greek financial crisis.
UK Brit List topped by Charles Barker's The Call Up

Other big writing names on the list include William Boyd, David Nicholls, Abi Morgan and Hossein Amini.
UK film tax relief extended until 2015

The film tax relief scheme looks set to be secure for another four years, following the UK government’s announcement today.
UK films among world premiere line-up at Mannheim-Heidelberg

World premieres of films by UK directors Martin Wallace and Zam Salim are in the lineup of the 60th anniversary edition of the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg which kicked off on Wednesday (9) with the international premiere of Reynir Lyngdal’s Our Own Oslo.
UTV, Imtiaz Ali team for My Girlfriend Is An Agent remake

Mumbai-based UTV Motion Pictures and Indian filmmaker Imtiaz Ali [pictured] will co-produce an official Hindi remake of Korean romantic action comedy My Girlfriend Is An Agent.
Vaizey expects film policy review findings in January

Review has gone “incredibly well” says minister at media conference, solution to piracy “lies in the hands of ISPs and content creators working together”
Virtual theatrical exhibitor Constellation launches

CEO James Lawler and co-founder Reid Carolin’s new business offers an enhanced VoD service that will allow viewers to book viewing times and take part in online chats with filmmakers.
W2 boards The Drummer with Aaron Eckhart

The distribution, sales and financing company will commence pre-sales at AFM on the Dennis Wilson biopic after stumping up a seven-figure advance for rights.
W2 Media acquires remake rights to Finnish prestige hit Princess

Busy W2 Media has taken English language remake rights to Arto Halonen’s acclaimed Finnish feature Princess, based on the true story of cabaret dancer Anna Lappalainen.
W2 to back The Theatre Bizarre 2

W2 Media will co-finance and distribute The Theatre Bizarre 2, the sequel to Severin Films and Mataluna Productions’ horror anthology.
Wajda, Seale, Brandauer, Haynes among Camerimage honorees

Andrzej Wajda and John Seale to receive Lifetime Achievement awards at Polish cinematography festival
Weinsteins closing on domestic rights to Song For Marion

Vanessa Redgrave, Terence Stampl, Gemma Arterton and Christopher Eccleston star in the story about a grumpy old man who joins an unconventional choir and in the process learns to embrace life.
Weinsteins confirm US deal on Song For Marion

As first reported by Screen during the AFM, the company has acquired distribution rights to the upcoming release starring Vanessa Redgrave, Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton and Christopher Eccleston.
Well Go USA cuts to Lau's Guillotines

$15m action thriller sells to the US, Germany, Benelux and Ausralia/NZ
WestEnd boards Byzantium and Siberian Education

WestEnd Films brings Gemma Arterton vampire thriller and John Malkovich crime-drama to the AFM.
WestEnd packs punch with Hardwicke, Rapace's Knockout

Paradox Entertainment, Hepp Film and Malte Forssell produce love story starring Noomi and Ola Rapace.
Where Do We Go Now wins audience award at Doha Tribeca Film Festival

Merzak Allouache’s Normal was named Best Arab Narrative Feature, Morgan Spurlock’s Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope won the documentary audience award at the festival, which closed Saturday night.
Wide sells Oliver Sherman for US; Eye on Films network expanding

EoF adds two features, closes distribution deals, announces Brussels meeting.
Wild Bunch picks up Geoffrey Fletcher debut Violet & Daisy

Wild Bunch is introducing the film to buyers this week at the AFM.
Wolfe stalks With Every Heartbeat

Yellow Affair closes US deal on romance-comedy.
Wrekin Hill deal throws The Flowers Of War into Oscar race

Zhang Yimou’s epic tale starring Christian Bale set against the backdrop of the Nanking Massacre in 1937 is China’s foreign language Oscar submission and may now compete for broader awards recognition.
Writer/director Paul Cox turns liver transplant into film idea

Writer/director Paul Cox is planning to make a new film, Force of Destiny, about an artist who survives a liver transplant and falls in love.
Writer's block

Attending the premiere of your first feature is almost as terrifying as skiing off a cliff, according to screenplay writer Chris Grezo, who co-wrote the script for new British comedy How To Stop Being A Loser starring Richard E Grant.
ZDF comes on board Mythic's The Killing House

ZDF Enterprises — the commercial arm of German Broadcaster ZDF — has boarded Mythic International Entertainment’s action/thriller The Killing House.

Screen10 Nov 2011

Screen
10 Nov 2011