Screen
21 Apr 2011

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3D Sex And Zen: Extreme Ecstasy

Dir: Christopher Sun. Hong Kong. 2011. 113mins
A Heartbeat Away

Dir: Gale Edwards. Australia. 2010. 91mins
Age Of The Dragons

Dir: Ryan Little. US. 2011. 90mins
Aktis Films picks up Thome’s Red Room and Adlon re-issue

Aktis Film International has taken on films by two New German Cinema veterans for this year’s European Film Market.
Anuvahood

Dirs: Adam Deacon, Daniel Toland. UK. 2011. 89mins
Artificial Paradises

Dir: Yulene Olaizola. Mexico. 2011. 83mins
BAFTA to honour Christopher Lee with highest accolade

British actor to receive British Academy Fellowship.
BKO continues to punch with buyers

Sahamongkolfilm International secures spate of deals on action film.
Buyers blow into PTZ’s Headwinds

Universal is handling Headwinds in France while Cineart will be releasing the film in Benelux (on behalf of Movies Benelux).
DeaPlaneta pick up The Awakening for Spain

Major distributor DeaPlaneta has picked up Spanish theatrical rights to Nick Murphy’s supernatural thriller The Awakening from
Europe's national film agencies support MEDIA future

Agencies offer Declaration in support of MEDIA after Berlinale meeting.
Eye On Films signs dramas from Iran, Iraq

Eye on Films signs Mourning and Red Heart to its label
FDA, Skillset launch distribution training scheme

Digital Dynamics to take place in London in June and July 2011
George The Hedgehog

Dirs: Wojciech Wawszczyk, Jakub Tarkowski, Tomasz Lesniak. Poland. 2010. 79mins
Gnomeo & Juliet

Dir: Kelly Asbury. UK-US. 2011. 84mins
Here I Am

Dir/scr: Beck Cole. Australia. 2011. 86mins
High Point climbs Wicker Tree

The London-based sales company has picked up international sales rights to Robin Hardy’s Wicker Man follow up.
His Mother's Eyes

Dir: Thierry Klifa. France. 2011. 109mins
Island

Dirs: Elizabeth Mitchell, Brek Taylor. UK. 2011. 97mins
Jane Eyre

Dir: Cary Joji Fukunaga. UK. 2011. 118mins
Jesus Henry Christ

Dir: Dennis Lee. US. 2011. 91mins
Limitless

Dir: Neil Burger. US. 2011. 104mins
Little Black Dress

Dir/scr: Heo In-moo. Korea. 2011. 108mins
Luciano Barisone

The new director of Swiss documentary festival Visions Du Réel which runs April 7-13, talks about his plans to boost the festival’s international profile.
Maryanne Redpath and Florian Weghorn

The co-directors of Berlin’s Generation section talk about its new venue and why film-makers keep coming back for more.
MEDIA Mundus launched by EU Commissioner in Berlin

MEDIA Mundus aims to strengthen ties between the European and global film industries.
Miranda July

US director Miranda July, on the pressures of making her second feature, being in competition in Berlin and talking cats.
My Piece Of The Pie

Dir/Scr: Cedric Klapisch. France. 2011. 104mins
On Demand Group signs TVOD, SVOD deal with Inview

Transactional VOD and subscription VOD deals inked for connected TV sets in Europe.
Paramount options futuristic young adult novel Earthseed

Twilight screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg will adapt the story and will produce through her Tall Girls Productions.
Red Riding Hood

Dir: Catherine Hardwicke. US. 2011. 99mins
Rio

Dir: Carlos Saldanha. US. 2011. 96mins
Sam Worthington to star in one of two new Screen Australia films

New Australian action surf drama Drift is to be filmed in south-west Western Australia and is a passion project for actor Sam Worthington (Avatar) and producers Tim Duffy and Myles Pollard, all of whom are originally from there.
Silver Tongues

Dir/scr: Simon Arthur. US. 2010. 87mins
Snowtown

Dir: Justin Kurzel. Australia. 2010. 115mins
Sony launches UK TV channel geared toward female audience

Sony Entertainment Television will launch on April 7 with the UK premiere of US medical drama Hawthorne, starring and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith.
Spain’s Arcadia Motion Pictures to make gothic Snow White film

Ibon Cormenzana’s Arcadia Motion Pictures are set to produce an alternative version of Snow White set in 1920s Spain, written and directed by Pablo Berger and starring Maribel Verdu.
Splinters

Dir: Adam Pesce. US. 2011. 95mins
The Bleeding House

Dir: Philip Gelatt. US. 2011. 86mins
The Destiny of Lesser Animals

Dir: Deron Albright. Ghana-US. 2011. 87mins
The Terrorists

Dir: Thunska Pansittivorakul. Thailand-Germany 2011. 103mins
TriPictures pick up Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark for Spain

Major distributor TriPictures has taken Spanish theatrical rights to the Guillermo Del Toro backed horror Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark from Miramax.
TT3D: Closer To The Edge

Dir: Richard De Aragues. UK. 2011. 103mins
Turn Me On, Goddammit

Dir/scr: Jannicke Systad Jacobsen. Norway. 2011. 76mins
What A Beautiful Day

Dir: Gennaro Nunziante.Italy. 2011. 97mins
“Departure for Culture, Media and Sport...”

A Freudian slip echoes Lord Puttnam’s concerns about the UKFC-BFI merger…
15th annual COL•COA to open with Service Entrance

Philippe Le Guay’s rom-com and upcoming Strand release Service Entrance and Dany Boon’s comedy Nothing To Declare bookend the 15th Annual City Of Lights, City Of Angels (COL•COA).
20 Cigarettes

Dir: James Benning. US. 2011. 99mins
25th anniversary Israel Film Festival to honour Liev Schreiber

The actor will receive the IFF Achievement in Film Award while philanthropist Charles Bronfman will collect the IFF Humanitarian Award and producer-director Micha Shagrir will receive the IFF Cinematic Achievement Award.
2929 Productions to finance Tim And Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie

Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy’s Gary Sanchez Productions and its Funny or Die Films label will co-produce the film. 2929’s sister company Magnolia Pictures has acquired US rights.
2B Pictures to adapt Alan K Baker's Dyatlov Pass

The feature adaptation about a real life skiing incident in Russia will be directed by Simon Fellows and financed by Future Films.
A biscuit fit for Royalty

Patriotic biscuit DVD promotion is a tasty Regal treat.
A Few Best Men

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert director Stephan Elliott is currently shooting his latest film, a comedy about a group of English friends attending a wedding in Australia, which has already secured an impressive number of pre-sales.
A Mysterious World

Dir/scr: Rodrigo Moreno . Argentina-Germany. 2011. 112mins
A right Royal romance comes to DVD

Tale of the British royal romance set to hit the small screens with new DVD release
A 'United' Easter

UK viewers can have a dramatic Easter with the BBC Two premiere of United. The film, shot late last year, will be launched theatrically around the world but airs first in the UK on Sunday night.
ABC Cinemien picks up slew of EFM titles for Benelux

ABC-Cinemien has picked up distribution rights for Benelux on a number of EFM titles including Ole Giaever’s Norwegian feature debut The Mountain, which screened in the Panorama section, from Bavaria Film International.
Abhinav Kashyap to direct next project for Viacom 18

Viacom 18 Motion Pictures is teaming with Movie Temple Productions to co-produce a project to be written and directed by Abhinav Kashyap, who directed the biggest Hindi hit of 2010, Dabangg.
Above Us Only Sky wins Berlin Europa Cinemas Label

Jan Schomburg’s drama awarded the Europa Cinemas Label for Best European Film at the Berlinale.
Absent

Dir/scr: Marco Berger. Argentina. 2011. 90mins
Abu Dhabi Film Festival announces new prizes

The fifth edition of the festival will have an increased focus on Arab film-makers; producers awards added to competition sections.
Abu Dhabi to host Priyadarshan’s Athar And Madhavan Naayar

Indian filmmaker Priyadarshan is gearing up to shoot Malayalam-language project Athar And Madhavan Naayar in Abu Dhabi, with logistical support from Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC).
Academy, ABC extend Oscars contract through 2020

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences and ABC Television Network have extended their contract to broadcast the Oscars through 2020.
Accelerator commences EFM talks on Malcolm McDowell thriller L.A. I Hate You

Little Film Company’s genre Accelerator Division label has boarded worldwide sales rights to the Malcolm McDowell thriller L.A. I Hate You.
Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington to star in Silent Hill: Revelation 3D

Adelaide Clemens and Kit Harington have been cast as the leads in the horror sequel, which started shooting in Toronto today [Mar 7].
Adrian Vitoria to direct black-ops thriller Black Money

UK outfits Mann Made Films, Rosebud Pictures team for high-octane political man-hunt thriller.
Adu Dhabi delegation has busy Berlin

The Abu Dhabi Film Commission, in partnership with the European Producers Club, brought five UAE producers to the Berlinale.
AFI appoints Tom West to key fundraising role

The American Film Institute (AFI) has hired fundraising veteran Tom West to lead its advancement initiatives covering such matters as corporate sponsorships and grants.
AFI FEST unveils 2011 dates, extends free ticket deal

The event will run from Nov 3-10 in Hollywood, in tandem with its market partner the AFM in Santa Monica that goes from Nov 2-9.
African Cats

Dirs: Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey. US. 2011. 89mins
Ahern, Lougham pick up Untitled screenwriting award

The pair will now go into production on their first feature, The Bogman King.
Alcon sets sights on entering Blade Runner universe

Alcon Entertainment are on the cusp of pulling off a major coup as they enter final negotiations to secure film, television and ancillary franchise rights to produce prequels and sequels to Blade Runner.
Alexandra McGuinness

The Dublin-born, London-based first-time feature director talks about her Tribeca world premiere Lotus Eaters and her next projects.
Aliens storm US box office as Battle claims $36m

Sony’s alien invasion action film dominated the charts in its first weekend out thanks to an estimated $36m launch.
Allessando Nivola to lead cast of A Single Shot

Chris Coen of Unanimous Entertainment has developed the thriller, which will feature an all star cast including William H. Macy and Terence Howard.
Alliance Films closes Gambit sale with FilmNation

The distributor will release the caper starring Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz through its network of Alliance in Canada, Momentum in the UK and Aurum in Spain.
Alliance Films, Miramax renew distribution partnership

The extended long-standing relationship covers new titles and a library that includes Pulp Fiction, ShakespeareIn Love, No Country For Old Men (pictured) and Chicago.
Almanya: Welcome To Germany

Dir: Yasemin Samdereli. Germany. 2011. 97mins
Amanda Seyfried is Gone for Lakeshore, Sierra / Affinity

Amanda Seyfried will star in Lakeshore Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment’s thriller which Lakeshore International and Sierra / Affinity will commence selling jointly at the EFM.
AMPAS announces student Academy Awards finalists

Five finalists selected from 52 entries spanning 32 countries will advance in the foreign student film category in the Academy’s 38th Annual Student Academy Awards competition.
AMR strikes VOD deals with Tidepoint, New People

Asian VOD distributor in North America signs two deals.
Amstel takes Jonathan Parker's Untitled for Benelux

Amstel Film has picked up all Benelux rights to Jonathan Parker’s New York set comedy Untitled, starring Adam Goldberg, from Argentinian sales company Film Sharks.
Andres Veiel

German director Andres Veiel talks about his competition film If Not Us, Who, which focuses on the real life turbulent relationship between Bernward Vesper and Baader-Meinhof militant Gudrun Ensslin in 1960’s Germany.
Andrew Adamson to direct Hugh Laurie in Mr Pip

The creative force behind the Shrek and Chronicles Of Narnia franchises will direct his first indie feature based on the bestseller by New Zealand author Lloyd Jones.
Angela Bosch removed from post as director of Catalan Films & TV

Respected industry figure Angela Bosch has been removed from her job as director of Catalan Films and TV as part of a reshuffling within the Catalan government’s film body ICIC.
Animated birds soar over North American box office on $40m

A strong debut for Fox’s global family hit Rio eclipsed a subdued start for Scream 4, the latest entry in The Weinstein Company/Dimension’s 15-year-old horror spoof series.
Anonymous Content announces trio of hires

Doug Wald, Sandra Chang and Tony Lipp have joined the company and will head the talent division.
Antonia Bird's Cross My Mind to shoot in May

The film marks a further collaboration between Film & Music Entertainment and Rotterdam-based Kasander Film.
Apichatpong to produce Concrete Clouds

Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, winner of best film at Monday’s Asian Film Awards, has boarded Lee Chatametikool’s Concrete Clouds as a producer.
ARC strikes US deal with ContentFilm on Ironclad

ARC Entertainment in collaboration with Barry Gordon’s XLrator Media has taken all US rights from ContentFilm International to the James Purefoy medieval thriller Ironclad.
ARC, XLrator take US rights to action title Bunraku

Snoot Entertainment’s martial arts bonanza stars Josh Hartnett, Ron Perlman, Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson.
ARC, XLrator take US rights to John Carpenter's The Ward

ARC Entertainment in collaboration with Barry Gordon’s XLrator Media have partnered to acquire US rights to John Carpenter’s The Ward.
Archstone tempts EFM buyers with $20m sci-fi Biosphere

LA-based Archstone Distribution has been talking to buyers here about My Own Worst Enemy Productions’ $20m sci-fi action title Biosphere.
Arclight closes UK, Germany on thriller The Courier

Arclight Films president of sales and acquisitions Mark Lindsay has closed a pair of key territories on action thriller The Courier.
Arthouse takes US and select rights to Norman Foster documentary

Arthouse Films has acquired all North American, Australian and New Zealand rights to the documentary How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr Foster?
Arthur

Dir: Jason Winer. US. 2011. 110mins
Arthur star Brand completes one-two as Hop stays top

Russell Brand dominates the North America charts as Hop stayed top on $21.7m for $68.2m after two weekends for Universal and Warner Bros’ new release of its Arthur remake opened in second on $12.6m for a rare one-two punch.
Arts Alliance Media to roll out digital cinemas across Netherlands

AAM has signed a deal with Cinema Digitaal to expand across 500 screens.
Ashamed

Dir/scr: Kim Soo-hyun. S. Korea. 2010. 129mins
Asia Bridge takes on Little Big Panda

Asia Bridge, a Taipei, Beijing and LA based sales and production team has taken on sales to China-Germany co-produced animated film Little Big Panda.
Asian Side of the Doc wraps with two project awards, one pitch prize

Participants up 60% to 340, with two-thirds from Asia.
AT&T, Magnolia team up for SXSW doc Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop

AT&T becomes p&a and multi-platform distribution and marketing partner alongside Richard Abramowitz’s theatrical pipeline Abramorama as Magnolia Home Entertainment takes remaining VOD and home entertainment rights for the new documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop.
Atrix Films boards The Sandman for Cannes Marché

Munich-based sales outfit readies comedy The Sandman (Der Sandmann) for Cannes.
Attack The Block

Dir/scr: Joe Cornish. UK. 2011. 87mins
Attack The Block among SXSW audience winners

Joe Cornish’s Attack The Block was voted best Midnight Feature as SXSW announced the final audience awards on Friday [18].
Attack The Block to receive SXSW world premiere

The world premieres of Joe Cornish’s UK action film Attack The Block (pictured), Xavier Gens’ US-Canadian horror The Divide and the US premiere of James Wan’s Insidious are among entries in the SXSW midnight section.
Aurum announces 7.7pc market share in Spain in 2010

Spanish distributor Aurum Producciones announced a 7.7% local market share in 2010, which the company claimed represented close to a 33% rise on the previous year.
AV Pictures takes on Truth Or Dare

Currently in post, the teen horror is being directed by Robert Heath and features a young British cast.
AWP closes key deals on fantasy adventure Jabberwocky

LA-based American World Pictures has closed key territory sales on its fantasy adventure Jabberwocky, led by a UK deal with Artificial Eye.
AWP completes principal photography on Sand Sharks

LA-based American World Pictures’ sci-fi feature is directed by Mark Atkins and stars Corin Nemec and Brooke Hogan.
Baftas 2011: Best film The King's Speech rules the night

Bafta best film winner The King’s Speech converted seven of its 14 nominations into wins as the 2011 ceremony played out at London’s Royal Opera House on Sunday night [13].
Bal, Armadillo among RiverRun prize-winners

Semih Kaplanoglu’s Bal won the best narrative feature prize and Bent Hamer’s Home For Christmas took the audience award at the 13th RiverRun International Film Festival.
Battle: LA bids to hold on to Hollywood's overseas crown

Sony’s alien invasion film climbed to the top of the charts last weekend but does it have enough firepower to hold off the initial forays of Warner Bros’ Sucker Punch?
Battle: LA dominates international arena on $29m

In its second weekend Sony’s action sci-fi overtook its chief rival Rango in fine style, adding $28.7m from 8,344 screens in 55 markets to boost the early tally to $51.6m.
Battle: Los Angeles

Dir: Jonathan Liebesman. US. 2011. 116mins
Bavaria finds Love with Michael Caine, Sandra Nettelbeck

Bavaria to pre-sell Sandra Nettelbeck’s comedy starring Michael Caine at EFM.
Beastly

Dir: Daniel Barnz. US. 2011. 86mins
Bedlam, LillaVision offer The King's Speech documentary

The UK production company behind The King’s Speech has made a documentary about the life of speech therapist Lionel Logue, which is being sold at MIPTV by LillaVision.
Beginners to open San Francisco Int'l Film Festival

Mike Mill’s Beginners starring Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor will open the San Francisco International Film Festival, set to run from Apr 21-May 5.
Ben Stassen readies African Safari 3D

Belgian animation supremo and nWave boss reveals further details of his first live-action 3D venture.
Bening, Freeman, Reiner spark to Voltage's Third Act

Oscar nominee Annette Bening has found her next project after The Kids Are All Right, signing up with Morgan Freeman for Rob Reiner’s TheThird Act.
Berlin buyers rally to sound of Myriad’s Call

Santa Monica-based Myriad Pictures enjoyed a strong response to J C Chandor’s Berlinale competition entry Margin Call, closing deals with ARP in France and Wanda in Spain.
Bertolucci to receive first official Honorary Palme D'Or

The award, which will be presented to important film-makers who have never received the Palme d’Or, is to become an annual fixture at the Cannes Film Festival as of this year.
Betsy Rudnick promoted to vp at Falco Ink

The publicity and marketing firm partners Janice Roland and Shannon Treusch made the announcement today [22]
BFI announces £2m fund to support UK specialised audience development

Temporary fund will provide financial support to “specialised” film sector for one year.
BFI London Film Festival announces October dates

The 55th BFI London Film Festival will take place from October 12-27.
BIFF announces further changes

The newly renamed Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced changes in its main venues and the foundation of a subsidiary research lab in addition to changes in official names.
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

Dir: John Whitesell. US. 2011. 107mins
Bill Nighy, Stanley Tucci join Bryan Singer's Jack The Giant Killer

Bill Nighy and Stanley Tucci have joined the cast of New Line, Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures’ upcoming fantasy adventure Jack The Giant Killer.
Billy Bob Thornton, Eva Longoria join LLeju’s The Baytown Disco

LLeju is financing and producing the story of three redneck brothers who get more than they bargained for after agreeing to help a woman recover her son from his seemingly abusive father.
Black Blood

Dir/scr: Miaoyan Zhang. China. 2011. 123mins
Black Bread sweeps the board at the Goya awards

De La Iglesia confirms resignation as Academy president
Black Butterflies

Dir: Paula van der Oest. Germany-Netherlands-South Africa. 2011. 100mins
Black Swan beset by rivals to the overseas crown

Can Fox International’s Black Swan rule for a second consecutive weekend as it bears down on $100m? It stands a good chance, although there are going to be several major scraps in key markets.
Black Swan dominates Spirits on eve of Academy Awards

Black Swan and Fox Searchlight triumphed at Saturday afternoon’s [26] Indie Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, while 127 Hours, Winter’s Bone and The Kids Are All Right left a notable impression.
Black Swan leads overseas pack on $17m weekend haul

Fox International’s Black Swan once again held on to the overseas crown – but only just – thanks to a confirmed $17.5m weekend haul from 3,950 screens in 45 markets.
Black Swan looks to rule the waves yet again

Fox International’s Black Swan will be vying to maintain its overseas dominance and build on that $100m-plus running total heading into Oscar weekend.
Black Swan rules the waves on $17m as Paul dominates UK

There was to be no dislodging Black Swan from its overseas berth as Fox International’s Oscar nominee held on to the crown thanks to an estimated $17.2m weekend haul. Meanwhile there was a sensational $9.2m debut for Universal-Working Title’s Paul in the UK.
Blackthorn

Dir: Mateo Gil. Spain. 2011. 98mins
Bleiberg Entertainment picks up sales title There Be Dragons

The sales agency is preparing to commence business at the Cannes market on Roland Joffe’s sweeping drama produced by Ignacio Gomez Sancha, Ignacio Nunez and Joffe.
Bleiberg starts EFM talks on David Ondricek co-pro Horse

Bleiberg Entertainment is handling world sales here on Lucky Man Films’ upcoming film noir In The Shadow Of The Horse that will unite multiple Czech Lion winner Ivan Trojan with German star Sebastian Koch.
Blockbuster opts for DISH Network’s $321m purchase offer

The bankrupt rental and retail video and game outlet confirmed last night [6] that it had selected DISH Network Corporation’s $320.6m bid following what it called a “robust” auction.
Blooded

Dir: Ed Boase. UK. 2011. 76mins
Bodyguards team throws Flying Guillotines with We Distribution

Hong Kong-based We Distribution is launching pre-sales on The Flying Guillotines, from the award-winning hit team who created Bodyguards And Assassins.
Bradford International Film Festival to close with The Messenger

The festival has announced its full line-up which will feature 11 world premieres and 31 UK premieres.
Bristol Calling

Tom Hughes and Ophelia Lovibond give us the gossip from the set of Eight Minutes Idle.
Brit actors join cast of Clash Of The Titans sequel

Rosamund Pike, Toby Kebbell and Bill Nighy have joined the cast of Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures’ Clash Of The Titans 2, which has just started shooting at Shepperton Studios in the UK.
British Film Institute to partner with the British Library

The two UK public bodies will look at ways of increasing access to their collections through the partnership.
Brownian co-producers to reunite for Leopold’s next film

The Netherlands’ Circe Films and Germany’s Coin Film, co-producers of Nanouk Leopold’s Forum film
Brownian Movement

Dir: Nanouk Leopold. Neth-Ger-Bel. 2010. 102mins
Bullhead

Dir/scr: Michael R Roskam. Belgium. 2011. 129mins
Busan IFF pacts with China's Zonbo Media

Newly renamed Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and Chinese investment and distribution company Zonbo Media have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for industry exchange and greater cinema-cultural business collaboration.
Buyers check into Wide's Mill

WideManagement closes a number of eyecatching deals on The Mill And The Cross.
Buyers hopping for hot Chinese animation Rabbit

Tianjin Film Studio off to a roaring start with Legend Of A Rabbit.
Buyers leave EFM with deals despite slow festival

A largely uninspiring festival selection did not dampen spirits at the market, where attendees reported robust business with one eye on the prospect of great riches to come in Cannes.
Buyers ride with Goldcrest’s Dark Horse

Todd Solondz’s latest finds suitors in Scandinavia and Australia; Goldcrest readies A Thousand Kisses.
Buyers see the light as Visit starts sales on Cave

Visit Films has started talks with buyers on Werner Herzog’s 3D documentary Cave Of Forgotten Dreams after acquiring international sales excluding the UK, Japan and select television rights.
BVA launches Facebook home entertainment hub for studios

New Facebook page showcases news and trailers for major studios
California's Dodge College launches pioneering Chapman Entertainment

Chapman University’s Dodge College Of Film And Media Arts has formed a production and distribution venture, becoming what is believed to be the first film school in the US to do so.
Cannes 2011 analysis: Four women, two debuts in competition

Films in official selection are from 33 countries; total submissions were 1,715.
Cannes to honour Jean-Paul Belmondo

The upcoming Cannes Film Festival will host a tribute to the French actor which will include the premiere of Vincent Perrot and Jeff Domenech’s documentary Belmondo, The Career.
Captured in the east

Studio 7 showed off its new Virtual Camera System to journalists and industry on Friday
Carrie-Anne Moss, Malcolm McDowell join Silent Hill 2

The newest recruits to Samuel Hadida and Don Carmody’s horror sequel join the previously announced cast of Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington, Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean and Deborah Kara Unger.
Cary Elwes, Jason Alexander join Fantastic’s Delhi Safari

Fantastic Films International heads Roxane Barbat and Fred deWysocki are handling worldwide pre-sales on the 3D animated Bollywood adventure and will be introducing to buyers in Cannes.
Celestial moves into social games, expands channel business

Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has appointed Justin Weng as vice president, Game Development and Licensing, marking the company’s entry into the social games business.
Celestial seals trio of pre-sales on My Kingdom

Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has sealed three pre-sales on its upcoming martial arts drama My Kingdom, which is currently in post-production.
Celluloid Dreams takes on Panorama title Bullhead

Celluloid Dreams has snapped up international rights to Panorama entry and critical/box-office hit Bullhead, from debut Belgian director Michael R. Roskam.
Celluloid Dreams, Blue Lake fund partner on "high-end" specialty slate

Blue Lake Entertainment Fund, the new financing entity from Doug Mankoff’s Echo Lake Entertainment and Canadian financier-producer Blue Ice Entertainment, has teamed up with Celluloid Dreams on a slate of specialty films.
Central Media Enterprises acquires Bontonfilm

The vertically integrated entertainment company has bought film distribution company Bontonfilm, which is based in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Chalet Girl

Dir: Phil Traill. UK. 2011. 96mins
Cheer & fear at EFM

The international business was looking robust again for the first time in a long time, but rumblings over the future of the MEDIA programme cast a pall over the future health of European public funding.
China Lion signs up for A Beautiful Life

China Lion Film Distribution has acquired rights for North America, Australia and New Zealand to Andrew Lau’s latest film A Beautiful Life from Hong Kong’s Media Asia.
China's Henan teams with Branko Lustig on Holocaust drama

Chinese Henan Film & Television Production Group Corporation (Henan Film Group) is ramping up two big budget film productions - $30m US-China co-production Melanie’s Violin and $22.5m (RMB150m) historic epic Generals Of The Yang Family.
Choi Dong-hoon assembles stars for Macao heist pic

South Korean director Choi Dong-hoon is putting together a top flight cast for his upcoming The Professionals, led by Kim Yun-seok from The Yellow Sea, Gianna Jun from Blood The Last Vampire, Kim Hye-su from Tazza: The High Rollers and Lee Jung-jae from TheHousemaid.
Chris Columbus to remake Korean hit Hello Ghost

Columbus’ 1492 Pictures acquired remake rights from Next Entertainment World (NEW) to the project, about a failed suicide who must banish four ghosts by granting each its wish.
Chris Green promoted to theatrical marketing director at Fox UK

Green takes over from Cameron Saunders, who was promoted last year.
CinemaCon: Arab Spring forces Disney to put brakes on Jordan project

Disney top brass are revising the release strategy for an “inspirational” local language football drama following the wave of unrest across the Arab world.
CinemaCon: China holds box office destiny in its hands

Relaxing import restrictions on Hollywood films will accelerate China’s ascendency to the number one market in the world, attendees at the inaugural CinemaCon heard during opening remarks on International Day [28].
CinemaCon: DirecTV ignites premium VoD controversy

The satellite TV operator has pitched itself into the heart of a mighty clash brewing between studios and exhibitors over shrinking windows – a hitherto verboten subject at CinemaCon that reared its head on the convention’s final day.
CinemaCon: Lucas, Cameron, Katzenberg look to future

Three of the godfathers of event filmmaking reassured CinemaCon attendees yesterday [30] that the best is yet to come in digital filmmaking.
CinemaCon: new MPAA chief Dodd addresses piracy, China

Senator Chris Dodd sent out all the right signals and said nothing new in his inaugural address as chairman and CEO of the MPAA at CinemaCon on Tuesday [29].
Cinepool presents four new titles in lineup at Cannes Marché

Titles include comedy, historical drama and family film.
Cinequest Film Festival to open with Passione, close with Soul Surfer

John Turturro’s Italian music documentary Passione and Sean McNamara’s true drama Soul Surfer bookend the Cinequest Film Festival, set to run in San Jose from Mar 1-13.
Cinereach awards $400,000 to 13 winter grant recipients

The non-profit body said it had received more than 1,000 submissions from more than 70 countries.
Cineworld leads 2010 exhibitor market share in UK; negotiating new funding

Cineworld claims a market-leading box office share of 26.2% (EDI Rentrak) in the UK in 2010; chain negotiating a $273m (£170m) facility with banks.
Cineworld makes first continental acquisition in Spain

Cineworld takes 100% of the share capital in Spain’s fifth-largest exhibitor.
Claire Denis heads jury of 30th Istanbul Film Festival

230 films in 21 sections to be shown at 30th Istanbul Film Festival (April 2-17).
Classic film Royal Wedding All-Nighter

Supernatural and horror programme provides the perfect movie treat for Royal Wedding loving film fans
Cohen Media Group to release Oranges And Sunshine in US

The distributor will handle the US release of Jim Loach’s true story about social worker Margaret Humphreys who in the late 80s uncovered a secret UK government programme to deport children from the UK to Australia.
Columbia to adapt Moonwalking With Einstein

Science correspondent Joshua Foer’s book chronicles his participation in the US Memory Championship.
Come Rain, Come Shine

Dir/scr: Lee Yoon-ki. S Korea. 2011. 105mins
Congress, MPAA step up anti-piracy rhetoric

In a big day of tub-thumping against IP violation, leaders on Capitol Hill pledged support for legislation to combat online piracy while the MPAA said the studios were suing the unlicensed film streaming service Zediva.
Content Film announces territory deals on SXSW hit The Divide

Content Film has announced a slew of sales on Xavier Gens’ SXSW hit The Divide in the wake of the North American sale to Anchor Bay.
Content Film to handle sales on SXSW hit 96 Minutes

Aimee Lagos wrote and directed the film, based on true events involving a day in the life of four people caught up in a carjacking.
Convergence has Nuptials with Astro Shaw

LA-based production company Convergence Entertainment is set to co-produce supernatural horror feature Nuptials Of The Dead with Malaysian film conglomerate Astro Shaw.
Coriolanus

Dir: Ralph Fiennes. UK. 2010. 122mins
Corsan looks to future with $60m sci-fi adventure 2525

Corsan CEO Paul Breuls, riding high after closing high profile US and UK deals on Sundance hit The Devil’s Double, has announced the $60m sci-fi adventure thriller 2525.
Cotillard, Gordon-Levitt board Nolan’s third Batman project

Christopher Nolan is reuniting with his Inception stars on Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures’ The Dark Knight Rises, scheduled to open on Jul 20, 2012.
CPH PIX plans new editing initiative

As a 2011 pilot project, CPH PIX has created a new platform for knowledge-sharing and creative professional cooperation between filmmaker and film editor.
Creative England begins consultation process on 2011/2012 strategy

The locations of its three main hubs are not up for consultation; DCMS confirms its initial budget will be $7.3m (£4.5m) in combined grant in aid and lottery funding.
Crime Scene

The Nordic countries appear to have a monopoly on crime fiction in print and on screen. So why is the world so mesmerized by the laconic northerners?
Crossing Europe Film Festival, Linz, Austria

Winners at the Crossing Europe Film Festival (12-17 April)
Dallas Star Award to go to Ann-Margret

Ann-Margret will receive the Dallas International Film Festival’s Dallas Star Award at the upcoming event, set to run from Mar 31-Apr 10.
Dallas to honour The Interrupters director Steve James

James, riding high following his competition award at Miami over the weekend for The Interrupters (pictured), will become the Dallas International Film Festival’s first documentary filmmaker to receive the Dallas Star Award.
Daniel Craig to narrate BBC documentary One Life

The upcoming BBC Earth and Magic Light Pictures collaboration will mark the first time the actor has lent his voice to a documentary feature.
Danish doc heads to the stage

Acclaimed Danish documentary makes the rare transition from screen to stage.
Darclight feels the Monster Love from Dante

Arclight Films genre label Darclight will kick off sales at EFM on Joe Dante’s Monster Love, a teen comedy horror love story currently in pre-production.
Darren Aronofsky to head Venice jury

The acclaimed US filmmaker won Venice’s Golden Lion in 2008 for The Wrestler and is riding high following the $295m worldwide success of Black Swan.
Dawn Hudson

In her 20th year as Film Independent executive director, Dawn Hudson tells Jeremy Kay about the organisation’s core beliefs, moving the Los Angeles Film Festival to its new home and the long-running Independent Spirit Awards.
Dawn Hudson named CEO as Academy restructures

The board of governors voted on Thursday [7] to establish a new executive structure, replacing retiring executive director Bruce Davis with the former Film Independent head as CEO and long-time Academy executive Ric Robertson as COO.
Day Is Done

Dir: Thomas Imbach. Switzerland. 2011. 111mins
Defending A Serbian Film

Attempts to censor or ban Srdjan Spasovjevic’s shocking horror film miss the point of the director’s intentions and his considerable skills.
Del Toro, Henson Company, Pathe plan 3D stop-motion Pinocchio

Guillermo Del Toro, The Jim Henson Company and Pathe envision a dark retelling of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale that will entail a series of adventures.
Delphi back in business, buying at EFM

Berlin-based Delphi Filmverleih busy at Berlin and Unifrance Rendezvous.
Denis Bieber, Wayne Duband to produce The Chinese General

The $45m project centres on the gun-runner Morris Abraham Cohen (aka Two-Gun Cohen) and his role as aide-de-camp to China’s first modern president, Sun Yat-Sen.
Desire

Dir/scr: Gareth Jones. UK. 2009. 95mins
Detective Dee, Assassins lead race for Hong Kong Film Awards

Tsui Hark’s Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame and Su Chao-Pin’s Reign Of Assassins scooped the most nominations for this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards with 13 and 11 nods apiece.
Devine launches Pacific Northwest Pictures

Easy A producer Zanne Devine has formally unveiled the Canadian multi-platform distributor Pacific Northwest Pictures.
Diagonale, Festival of Austrian Film 2011, Graz

Winners at Diagonale, Festival of Austrian Film 2011 (March 22 -27)
Diane Lane to play Superman's mother for Warner Bros

Diane Lane has joined Zack Snyder’s Superman project and will play the hero’s mother Martha Kent.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Dir: David Bowers. US. 2011. 99mins
Digital Entertainment Group Europe appoints new chair

Don Hunton, Executive Vice President, Europe, Paramount Home Entertainment International, is appointed Chair of DEGE.
Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji

Dir: Madhur Bhandarkar. India. 2011. 116mins
Disney pushes Monsters Inc prequel into summer 2013

Disney has pushed back the release of its 14th Pixar film Monsters University from Nov 2 2012 to Jun 21 2013.
Disney ramps up Chinese production with Becoming A Hero

The Walt Disney Company is gearing up to produce Mandarin-language films for the Greater China market with plans to produce three titles a year starting 2011.
Disney starts building Shanghai resort

Disney has begun construction today on its first resort in mainland China with approval from the Chinese central government; the $3.7 billion park is expected to open in five years.
Disney strikes out alone in Hong Kong distribution

Walt Disney Studios is launching its own distribution operation in Hong Kong, effective March 1, ending a long-standing relationship with local outfit Intercontinental Film Distributors.
Disney's Zokkomon to close Indian Film Festival in LA

The world premiere of Disney’s Hindi-language action adventure written and directed by Satyajit Bhatkal will close the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles on Apr 17.
Distribution Workshop takes on Jet Li project White Snake

Hong Kong-based sales outfit takes $25m-budgeted The Sorcerer And The White Snake.
Dodge College Of Film to host 12th Annual Women In Focus Conference

Fox Searchlight president Nancy Utley and The Kite Runner producer and Los Angeles Film Festival Director Rebecca Yeldham to take part in panel.
Don Carmody

Screen sat down with the veteran producer on the set of his 100th feature, Silent Hill II, now shooting in Toronto.
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Dir: Johnnie To. Hong Kong-China. 2011. 117mins
Downton Abbey sells in more than 100 territories for NBC Universal

More than 100 territories license series following successful UK run in 2010
Dream State, Port Of Call take top prizes at HAF

Philip Yung’s Port Of Call took the HAF Award for best film project from Hong Kong at the close of the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), while Dream State, from Vietnam’s Bui Thac Chuyen, took the HAF Award for best project originating from outside Hong Kong.
Drive Angry

Dir: Patrick Lussier. US. 2011. 104mins
Drucker bestseller tops TBS sales slate

Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) is debuting a slate at Hong Kong Filmart led by Drucker In The Dug-Out, the story of how a girl mistakenly uses business consultant Peter Drucker’s Management principles to shape up her high school baseball team.
Dubai Film Festival 2011 to offer German focus

Dubai festival partners with the Goethe-Institut, German Films and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg among others.
DuBow's Opus acquires worldwide rights to Bad Behaviour, Septien

Ken DuBow’s Opus Distribution strides into Berlin with worldwide sales right to Joseph Sims’ debut feature Bad Behaviour and Michael Tully’s Sundance genre gem Septien.
Duncan Stripp joins High Fliers Films

Duncan Stripp replaces Tom Stewart as Head of Acquisitions at UK distributor High Fliers Films.
Ealing Studios and Prescience merge sales operations

The joint venture, Ealing Metro, will see the UK studio and the UK fillm financier merging their respective sales divisions; the company’s new slate will be announced in the run up to Cannes, with a planned 10-15 films a year.
Ealing turns a page with New York Times documentary

Ealing Studios International takes rights to Andrew Rossi documentary.
East End Film Festival unveils 10th annniversary programme

The East End Film Festival will celebrate its tenth anniversary this April with a six-day programme of screenings, discussions and a royal wedding themed street party.
Easter with Ozzy

Tribeca offers a crowd-pleasing (and fist-pumping) world premiere of God Bless Ozzy Osbourne.
Eastern Promises writer Steve Knight to make directing debut with Hummingbird

Casting underway on thriller produced by Shine, New Regency, Paul Webster and Tracey Seaward.
Eat Drink sequel to start for Hsu, Taihe

Taiwanese producer Hsu Li-kong, whose credits include Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Eat Drink Man Woman, and his Tangmeng Films are teaming with mainland film outfit Taihe Film And TV Co to co-finance Joyful Reunion, the long-mooted sequel to Eat Drink Man Woman.
Echo Bridge, Miramax strike home entertainment deal

The companies have announced a long-term domestic distribution deal that will provide retailers with titles from the coveted library.
Ed Vaizey to speak at BSAC annual conference

MP Ed Vaizey among those addressing the BSAC conference in London on Thursday.
Edinburgh to host two new talent labs

The events are being launched by the Centre for the Moving Image.
EFI boards romance The Look Of Love to star Ed Harris, Diane Keaton

Exclusive Films International (EFI) president Alex Walton will be talking to EFM buyers about company’s first pick-up using its new acquisition fund announced last month.
EFP Film Sales Support scheme backs ten features at Guadalajara fest

80 Days, Wasted Youth and Shelter among films to receive support at Guadalajara International Film Festival
Eight Minutes Idle

The second feature to come out of South West Screen’s iFeatures scheme is a romantic comedy set in a Bristol call centre, starring Brit actors of the moment Tom Hughes and Ophelia Lovibond.
E-Love

Dir: Anne Villacèque. France 2010. 97 mins
EM Media heads east with Career Acceleration Programme

The scheme aims to support film-makers in the east of England following the demise of regional screen agency Screen East.
Emir Kusturica to head up Un Certain Regard jury

The Serbian film-maker is a double Palme d’Or winner and has previously sat on the Cannes competition jury.
Emma Watson, Logan Lerman to star in Summit's Wallflower

British starlet Emma Watson has signed on to one of her first post-Harry Potter roles and will star for Summit Entertainment in The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
Emperor conjures up slate led by The Great Magician

Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has unveiled a new slate of productions, headed by Derek Yee’s period mystery The Great Magician starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
Endgame eyes Prague shoot for Wenceslas Square

Philip Noyce’s new thriller Wenceslas Square is looking at a Prague shoot sometime this spring.
eOne and Summit renew output deal in UK and Canada

eOne to release up to eight Summit films a year until 2015.
eOne US strikes new distribution deal with Palisades Tartan

The American arm of Toronto-based eOne has forged a new deal with the US division of UK-based film and video distributor Palisades Tartan.
eOne, Image renew Canadian distribution deal

Toronto-based eOne and California’s Image Entertainment have renewed their exclusive distribution agreement of Image product for theatrical, home entertainment, television and digital release in Canada, through 2015.
Epic lines up financing on action adventure Blood & Iron

Patrick Ewald’s LA-based Epic Pictures Group has closed a deal with WTW Films in the UK and Ukraine’s Film.UA Group to jointly finance and produce the action adventure Blood & Iron (aka The Rus).
Era New Horizons plans Norway focus

Polish festival will work with the Norwegian Film Institute and Music Export Norway on the event.
Erik Lomis lands top distribution job at Weinstein Comapany

Lomis will serve as president of theatrical distribution and home entertainment and previously served as MGM’s president of worldwide theatrical distribution, home entertainment and acquisitions.
Eros lines up worldwide release for Pakistani drama

Eros International is planning a worldwide release for hard-hitting Pakistani drama Bol, directed by Shoaib Monsoor, who previously directly Khuda Kay Liye.
Eros pacts with Ocher to produce Rana

Eros International and Ocher Studios team for K.S Ravikumar feature.
EU culture ministers reaffirm support for MEDIA Programme

Future support for the European Union’s MEDIA Programme was given additional boost at an informal meeting of EU Ministers for Culture held at the Royal Palace in the Hungarian town of Gödöllö this week.
Europa Distribution offers united front in support of MEDIA

European body representing independent distributors requests meeting with European Commission to discuss the future of MEDIA programme.
European film industry faces MEDIA showdown with EU

Securing the future of the MEDIA Programme could be just one battle of many to come betwen leading lights of theEuropean film industry and their counterparts at the European Commission.
European Independent Film Festival announces line-up

The festival, now in its sixth edition, will take place in April in Paris.
European Producers Club (EPC) heads to China

The European Producers Club (EPC) announced yesterday that they will partner with the Beijing International Film Festival to bring its first edition to life on April 23-28.
Evening Standard Film Awards, London

Evening Standard Film Awards, London, Feb 7
Excuse me For Living ready to shoot in NYC and Westchester

Tom Pelphrey, Melissa Archer and Ewa Da Cruz have joined the comedy as production is about to get underway.
F&ME to produce London thriller Mercy Street

Sam Taylor and Mike Downey of F&ME Entertainment are teaming with David Marlow of SilverLight Productions to produce Mercy Street, based on an original screenplay by Peter Miligan.
Fairbanks Productions launches with sci fi thriller

The first project on the slate will be Shaune Harrison’s reality TV show inspired directorial debut KTD 2020.
Familiar Ground

Dir/scr: Stephen Lafleur. Canada. 2011. 88mins
Fandango Portobello shakes Salt Of Life for more deals

Italian comedy The Salt Of Life sells in ten more territories, including the UK, Germany and Spain.
Fast & Furious 5

Dir: Justin Lin. US. 2011. 130mins
Fast & Furious 5 speeds past UK rivals

Universal’s hit scores the year’s second biggest opening (including previews), with an impressive $8.8m (£5.3m) from 437 screens
Festival Scope to partner with documentary festivals

The online service has teamed up with Cinema Du Reel, CPH: DOX, FID Marseille and the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival to add a collection of festival docs to its offering.
FFI, Hanks join Wachowskis, Tykwer on Cloud Atlas

Focus Features International has come on board to commence pre-sales in Cannes on the white-hot David Mitchell adaptation to star Tom Hanks. Andy and Lana Wachowski are confirmed to jointly write and direct with Tom Tykwer.
Fifth Korean American Film Festival to honour Kim-Gibson

The fifth annual Korean American Film Festival (KAFFNY) in New York will stage a retrospective of six films from documentary filmmaker Dai Sil Kim-Gibson.
Film freebies

Free streaming of Oscar winners at indiemoviesonline.com
Film Independent launches documentary lab

The seven-week enterprise sponsored by Latino Public Broadcasting will take place in Los Angeles and accommodate 14 filmmakers and nine projects.
Film London launches fifth year of Microwave scheme

The UK microbudget scheme, which produced Eran Creevy’s Shifty, is now in its fifth year; creative services company Technicolor has come onboard as a partner.
Film Movement acquires US rights to Vera’s Karen Cries On The Bus

The company’s third acquisition of a Colombian film in two years follows will open in New York this summer followed by nationwide release and day-and-date VOD launch.
Film Sales Company adds Shakespeare High, Gone to Tribeca sales slate

Andrew Herwitz has boarded two more world premiere documentaries as the New York festival heads into the first weekend.
Film Sharks closes Spanish deal for Just Like Me

Film Sharks sells Diego Kaplan’s Just Like Me to Flins Y Piniculas.
Filmart, HKIFF rally behind Japan

In the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, Hong Kong Filmart and the concurrent Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) are rallying to show support for the Japanese film industry as exhibitors attempt to carry on with business as usual.
FilmDistrict to release Johnny Depp starrer The Rum Diary

The fledgling distributor issued a timely announcement out of CinemaCon in Las Vegas as it prepares to release its first film Insidious on Friday.
FilmDistrict, Miramax partner on US rights to Del Toro's Dark

FilmDistrict and Miramax announced that FilmDistrict has acquired all US rights to the horror film Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark and will release on Aug 12.
Filming begins on Red Tie’s Lost And Found In Armenia

The bilingual feature is the first production by Gor Kirakosian, Valerie McCaffrey and Maral Djerejian’s LA-based Red Tie Films and the partners claim it is the first film fully financed by Armenian private investors to shoot in the US.
Film-makers should be more resourceful, UK experts urge

At a debate chaired by Stewart Till, top industry names urged the next generation of film-makers to take inspiration from the succes of low budget UK hits Monsters and Streetdance 3D.
FilmNation boards sales on Sundance entry Take Shelter

Busy FilmNation head Glen Basner has taken on international sales on the Sundance premiere Take Shelter starring Michael Shannon and has already struck a deal with Ad Vitam for France.
FilmNation hires Karen Lunder as evp production

Lunder arrives from Landscape Entertainment where she served as president of production and will report to president of production Aaron Ryder.
FilmNation reports roaring trade on Midnight's Children

Glen Basner’s FilmNation Entertainment has closed key territories on the upcoming Salman Rushdie adaptation Midnight’s Children, led by deals with
FilmNation to start talks in Berlin on Hillcoat's Wettest County

Glen Basner’s FilmNation arrives in Berlin with John Hillcoat’s The Road follow-up, based on a script by Hillcoat’s The Proposition collaborator Nick Cave.
Films Boutique does roaring trade on The Turin Horse

The sales company secures deals for Bela Tarr’s latest in 25 territories at EFM, with more under negotiation.
Filmsharks takes Finnish feature Hella W

The Argentina-based sales company will begin international sales on Juha Wuolijoki’s film in Cannes.
FineCut sells 71-Into The Fire to Showbox for US, Australia

Korean sales company FineCut has announced post-EFM deals including Korean War film 71- Into The Fire which the film’s UK distributor Showbox Media Group has picked up US and Australia rights for as well.
FineCut sells Chaw, Cyrano to Japan

Korean sales company FineCut has closed two deals for Korean titles Chaw and Cyrano Agency in Japan.
Fireworks International seals raft of TV deals for BAFTAs

BAFTAs will be available in more than 75 territories.
First Beijing Film Market sees backing for major titles

John Woo’s Flying Tigers among big budget international co-productions to secure backing at first Beijing Film Market.
First Hand Films moves into production

The Switzerland-based distributor is launching its own production arm under the banner Kiss the Frog Films Gmbh.
First Night

Dir: Christopher Menaul. UK. 2010. 112mins
Flood

Dir: Guy Nattiv. Isr-Can-Fr-Ger. 2010. 101mins
Flowers to bloom with Iraqi release

Fariborz Kamkari’s The Flowers Of Kirkuk, being sold by Adriana Chiesa in the EFM, is set to be released in Iraq in late March.
Flying Concorde

In an extract from Screen’s new Independent Distribution Report, Martin Blaney looks at how larger German independents grew their market share despite an overall dip in box office.
Flying down to Rio...

New animated movie highlights the location delights of the vibrant Brazilian city
Forever

Dir: Wee Li Lin. Singapore. 2010. 90mins
Former Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd to lead MPAA

The new head of the Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) is former Democratic Senator Christopher J Dodd.
Fortissimo strikes deal for Yonfan library

On the eve of Hong Kong Filmart (March 21-24), Fortissimo Films has signed a deal to represent the library of iconic Hong Kong director Yonfan.
Fortissimo to receive special award at 5th Asian Film Awards

The Asian Film Awards has announced that it will give a special award to Hong Kong and Amsterdam-based Fortissimo Films for its long-time promotion of Asian cinema.
Fox / Blue Sky's Rio in a league of its own on $56m hold

Fox International’s animated release is on its way to becoming a smash and shredded the competition as it soared to $131.2m in the second weekend.
Fox Home Entertainment to release Relativity titles

The arrangement covers the Relativity slate on DVD and Blu-ray and includes the upcoming thriller Limitless (pictured), adventure epic Immortals and the untitled Snow White project with Julia Roberts.
Fox International Productions finds Love In Space

Principal photography on Wing Shya and Tony Chan’s follow-up to Hot Summer Days will begin on Mar 8 in Beijing and Sydney.
Fox International's Rio set to rule the roost this weekend

Blue Sky Studios’ family animation takes off in approximately 45 territories and should have little trouble soaring to the top of the charts in a number of territories.
Fox to launch 3D Phantom Menace in February 2012

The 3D version of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace will open in theatres on Feb 10, 2012 through Fox.
Fox, Huayi, Sundream join forces in Space

Fox International Productions, Beijing-based Huayi Brothers and Hong Kong’s Sundream Motion Pictures are co-producing the second feature to be directed by Tony Chan and Wing Shya, Love In Space.
Frankenstein's Army conscripts MPI, XYZ and Pellicola

MPI Media Group, LA-based XYZ Films and Amsterdam’s Pellicola will jointly produce Richard Raaphorst’s horror story Frankenstein’s Army.
Free Hands

Dir: Brigitte Sy. France 2010. 100mins
Freestyle takes US rights from Strategic on A Little Help

Alex Barder’s LA-based Strategic Film Partners has secured US distribution for dramedy A Little Help through Freestyle Releasing.
Fubar: Balls To The Wall lands at Screen Media Films

Screen Media Films has acquired North American rights to Michael Dowse’s comedy Fubar: Balls To The Wall.
Futurikon follows Dragon Hunters with Playground Stories

French animation specialist Futurikon plans its first live action feature.
Gael Garcia Bernal to co-produce drama doc with Pulse

Bernal will also star in the film, which has received backing from the Channel 4 BRITDOC foundation.
Gallants, Detective Dee triumph at Hong Kong Film Awards

Tsui Hark’s Detective Dee And The Mystery of The Phantom Flame scooped six prizes at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, while kung-fu tribute Gallants picked up best film and three other awards.
Gangs Of Wasseypur

After becoming a familiar face on the festival circuit with films such as That Girl In Yellow Boots and Dev D, Mumbai-based director Anurag Kashyap is attempting something much more ambitious with his current project, Gangs Of Wasseypur.
Gen Art names new leadership following take-over

The branding and marketing company Gen Art has relaunched following its acquisition by Sandow Media and unveiled new leadership.
German cinemas sold 20m fewer tickets in 2010

Ticket sales down but every sixth cinemagoer saw a 3D film.
German-Turkish Co-Production Development Fund launched

Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FilmFörderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein team with Istanbul film festival and Turkey’s Ministry for Culture.
Gerry Barr to head Directors Guild of Canada

He will take up the new post in August 2011.
GK Films to reboot Tomb Raider franchise

GK Films is to revive the Tomb Raider property on-screen after acquiring rights from Square Enix.
Global box office reached record $31.8bn in 2010

The level climbed 9% from 2009 while the booming Chinese market fuelled a 13% climb in international ticket sales to a $21.2bn high, according to the Motion Picture Association Of America’s (MPAA) annual Theatrical Market Statistics Report.
Gnomeo & Juliet returns to the summit in the UK

eOne’s animation-comedy Gnomeo & Juliet returned to the top of the UK box office over the February 25-27 weekend, grossing $4m (£2.5m).
Gold Harbour to produce Give Me Five in 3D

Hong Kong’s Gold Harbour International Films is to produce $1.92m (HK$15m) Give Me Five to be shot in stereoscopic 3D, with a cast led by Josie Ho (The Courier), Taiwan’s Jiro Wang and mainland actors Siqin Gaowa and Sun Li.
Gold View lands Italian deal for Rising Sex

Japan’s Gold View has sold 72-year-old pornographer documentary Yoyochu – In The Land Of The Rising Sex to Rai Three for Italy.
Goldcrest lines up for Rice's Wedding starring Felicity Jones

Goldcrest Films International has taken on worldwide sales for Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, the feature directorial debut of Donald Rice.
Goldman, Stenham to pen Origin-Film4 co-productions

Jane Goldman to adapt Paul Murray’s futuristic short story Anubis; Stenham adapting her play Tusk Tusk.
Gopo Awards, Bucharest

Winners at the Romanian Film Academy’s Gopo Awards (March 28)
Grabbers

Shooting has just wrapped on Jon Wright’s comedy monster film Grabbers, which is being unleashed on Berlin’s EFM by international sales company Salt.
Grande Hotel

Dir/scr: Lotte Stoops. Belgium. 2011. 67mins
Gravitas picks up A Matador’s Mistress

The film formally known as Manolete stars Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz and chornicles the life of one of Spain’s great cultural icons.
Grey Matter

Dir/scr: Kivu Ruhorahoza. Australia-Rwanda. 2011. 100mins
Gromozeka

Dir/scr: Vladimir Kott. Russia. 2011. 104mins
Guardans joins European Broadcasting Union

Ignasi Guardans has been appointed director of public affairs and member relations at the European Broadcasting Union six months after departing his post as director general of Spain’s film institute ICAA.
Gulf Film Festival adds shorts competition

2011 edition expands to include in competition shorts section
Gulf Film Festival hands out more than $136,000 in awards

The fourth edition of the Gulf Film Festival concluded with an awards ceremony where the best filmmakers from the region picked up more than half a million dirhams (more than $136,000) in prizes and awards.
Gus Van Sant’s Restless goes to SPC for likely autumn release

The Columbia Pictures and Imagine Entertainment production was originally set to premiere at Sundance before the studio pulled it from the line-up.
Habemus Papam

Dir: Nanni Moretti. Italy-France. 2011. 104 mins
Hail

Dir/scr: Amiel Courtin-Wilson. Australia. 2011. 103mins
Hall Pass

Dirs: Peter Farrelly & Bobby Farrelly. US. 2010. 108mins
Hall Pass rises to the top in North America on $13.5m

New Line’s comedy Hall Pass starring Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis opened top in the US through Warner Bros according to official studio figures released on Monday [28]. The Farrelly Brothers comedy grossed $13.5m.
Hankyu Train wins double prize at Okinawa fest

Yoshishige Miyake’s Hankyu Train (Hankyu Densha Katamichi 15-fun No Kisekitook) has taken top honors at the Okinawa International Movie Festival (OIMF) which wrapped yesterday evening in Ginowan City.
Hanna

Dir: Joe Wright. UK-Germany. 2010. 111mins
Hansel and Gretel 3D picked up by Bloomage for Korea

Michael Bay, Scott Gardenhour’s The Institute pre-sells live-action 3D fairytale.
Hard Labour

Dir/scr: Juliana Rojas, Marco Dutra. Brazil. 2011. 99mins
Harry Treadaway, Honor Blackman to star in Optimum's Cockneys Vs Zombies

Principal photography will begin in London next week.
Harvey and Bob Weinstein launch TWC Games

The initiative will develop and publish video games from The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films properties.
Herrick revealed as Lionsgate's partner on Devil's Double deal

Lionsgate today [Feb 3] confirmed its acquisition of North American rights to Corsan’s Sundance hit The Devil’s Double, as first reported on Screendaily on Jan 27.
HFPA donates $250,000 to Japanese earthquake disaster

The funds will help the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) efforts to bolster the capacity of immediate response groups.
Hi, Fidelity

Dir: Calvin Poon. Hong Kong. 2011. 91mins
High Point takes Donor Unknown, Road To Las Vegas

The two feature documentaries will sit under the London sales company’s growing factual label High Point Horizons.
HighView Media opens London office

Former Babelgum UK MD Mark Cranwell to run London office of media advisory boutique.
Hollywood star Jane Russell dies aged 89

The voluptuous star of the 1940s and 1950s was most famous for her roles in Howard Hughes’ The Outlaw and in the musical Gentleman Prefer Blondes alongside Marilyn Monroe.
Honey PuPu

Dir: Chen Hung-i.Taiwan. 2011. 100mins
Hong Kong Filmart to feature US, pan-European pavilions

The organisers of the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart) have unveiled further details of this year’s event, which marks the 15th anniversary of the market.
Hong Kong International Film Festival unveils line-up for 35th edition

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai, and Quattro Hong Kong 2, from four South-East Asian filmmakers, have been announced as the opening films of this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).
Hop

Dir: Tim Hill. US. 2011. 95mins
Hop skips to the top of US charts in $38m debut

Universal’s family film Hop featuring the voice of Russell Brand in the lead bounced to the top of the North American charts on an estimated $38.1m for the highest launch of the year-to-date.
Hop, Sucker Punch set for overseas weekend tussle

Universal’s family confection and Warner Bros’ action fantasy are shaping up to be the ones to beat this weekend as Hop lands in around 30 territories and Sucker Punch debuts in four major markets.
Hot Docs Forum announces 27 projects

Hot Docs top brass have unveiled the 27 projects that will be presented at this year’s Hot Docs Forum, set to run in Toronto from May 4-5 during the 2011 Hot Docs festival.
Hot Docs unveils 199 film line-up and talks ‘cluster funds’

Announcing the 18th edition of Hot Docs executive director Chris McDonald told a packed press conference in Toronto today [22] that top brass would unveil “a major new international initiative” to “help finance and distribute films in a meaningful way.”
Hot projects on Screenbase

Spain’s Javier Rebollo is in the middle of production for his latest feature El Muerto Y Ser Feliz, Glen Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa are preparing Good Vibrations and Mexican director Ianis Guerrero is readying himself for the shoot of Juan and Vanesa.
Hot projects on Screenbase

This week’s new films on Screen’s European Film Index include German production Clean, Belgian-French-Moroccan co-production The Bag Of Flour as well as French comedy Les Seigneurs.
Household X

Dir/scr: Yoshida Koki. Japan. 2010. 90mins
How To Train Your Dragon wins big at Annie awards

DreamWorks studios claimed 15 of the 24 awards at Saturday’s Annie awards.
HP7 is biggest overseas hit in Potter series on $657.24m

The franchise’s 10-year international box office record of $657m set by Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone has finally fallen, Warner Bros Pictures international distribution head Veronika Kwan-Rubinek confirmed last night [9].
HSI lines up Wayne Wang's Einstein biopic

Wayne Wang is lining up an Albert Einstein biopic based on a script by Oscar winner Ron Bass which Hollywood Studios International Films president Eric Christenson is talking to buyers about in Berlin.
HSI's Eric Christenson to commence talks on Brooklyn Brothers

Hollywood Studios International president Eric Christenson has picked up sales rights to comedy The Brooklyn Brothers Beat The Best featuring Oscar nominee Melissa Leo.
Hubert Bals, Jan Vrijman funds plan second tour of African festivals

The joint film programme will run again in June 2011.
Huppert Captured by Brillante Mendoza’s next film

French sales outfit Film Distribution is to handle sales on new Brillante Mendoza project Captured.
Hutcherson, Hemsworth feel Hunger for Lionsgate

Lionsgate today [4] confirmed reports that Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth have joined Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence its spring 2012 tentpole The Hunger Games, about an annual televised fight to the death between teenagers.
Hyde Park International Cannes-bound with Bernie

Richard Linklater’s dark comedy for Mandalay Vision and Wind Dancer Films stars Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and Shirley MacLaine.
I Am

Dir/scr: Tom Shadyac. US. 2011. 80mins
I Am Number Four

Dir: D. J. Caruso. US. 2011. 109mins
I, Anna

Debut feature director Barnaby Southcombe is currently shooting this moody, noirish London-set thriller starring Charlotte Rampling and Gabriel Byrne.
ICM names trio to lead streamlined talent representation

Lorrie Bartlett, Dar Rollins and Adam Schweitzer are named co-heads of talent and will oversee clients’ careers across film, television, theatre, branding and new media.
Icon confirms UK deal for Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive

Ryan Gosling thriller will be in competition in Cannes.
Icon International brings on Preferred Content to act as US consultant

Icon Entertainment International (IEI) has brought on Preferred Content as a US-based consultant to source projects for the international sales operation.
Icon takes UK rights to The Devil's Double

Icon Film Distribution has snapped up UK rights to €15 million The Devil’s Double , the Lee Tamahori film that proved one of the stand out hits in Sundance last month.
Idleness

Dirs: Juan Villegas, Alejandro Lingenti. Argentina. 2010. 70mins
IFC acquires US rights to Patrick Dempsey heist comedy Flypaper

Foresight Unlimited’s film premiered in Park City and stars Dempsey and Ashley Judd as a customer and bank teller caught up in a double robbery attempt.
IFC Midnight takes North America on The Catechism Cataclysm

The distributor also acquired television and digital rights for France, Benelux, Spain, Portugal, East central Europe, Turkey and Greece.
IFC Midnight takes US on evil Santa tale Saint

The Dutch slasher film receives its North American premiere tonight [21] in the Cinemania programme at Tribeca and reimagines Father Christmas as a serial killer of children.
IFC Midnight takes US to thriller The Shrine

Jon Knautz’s film won Best Canadian Feature at the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal and played at 2010 ScreamFest in Los Angeles.
IFC Midnight takes Wheatley's SXSW horror Kill List

The genre label said last night [14] it was in the process of acquiring North American rights to Ben Wheatley’s Down Terrace follow-up which screens in Austin in the SX Fantastic sidebar.
IFC takes multiple territories on UK horror Spiderhole

IFC has acquired North America and a slew of territories from Raven Banner to the low budget UK horror film
IFC, SPC, Zeitgeist in flurry of US deals

IFC Midnight is partnering with MPI Media Group and its subsidiary Dark Sky Films to release Jim Mickle’s Stake Land.
IFFLA announces panel series for Seminar Day

The 9th annual event runs from Apr 12-17 at the Arclight in Hollywood and will also see the return of the Rhythm Village dancers and musicians.
IFP and Power To The Pixel unveil programme

The partners’ first annual Cross-Media Forum NYC will run on Apr 19 when project creators will get the chance to pitch their ideas to financiers and brand leaders.
IFTA releases first independent box office top 50 list

Summit’s Twilight Saga: Eclipse was easily the highest grossing independent film worldwide in 2010 on $698.5m, according to a new index released by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA).
Ignacio Nunez

Producer Ignacio Nunez talks about the making of Roland Joffe’s Spanish Civil War film There Be Dragons, which stars Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley and Olga Kurylenko.
Il Gioiellino

Dir: Andrea Molaioli. Italy-France. 2011. 105mins
IM Global bolsters executive ranks heading into EFM

IM Global CEO Stuart Ford has bolstered his executive suite heading into EFM, expanding the role of London-based sales executive Tim Grohne and hiring dealmaker Michael Roban.
IM Global, EMJAG team up for Stallone thriller Headshot

IM Global will commence pre-sales in Berlin this week on the Sylvester Stallone action project Headshot.
Image swoops on North American rights to The Perfect Game

William Dear directed the feel-good story of a lowly team from Monterrey, Mexico, that won the 1957 Little League World Series ending with a perfect final game.
IMAX and Cinema Park sign deal for eight more theatres in Russia

Russia’s Cinema Park becomes Europe’s largest IMAX exhibitor.
IMAX announces record revenue, profits for 2010

IMAX Corporation reported today [24] that its 2010 revenues, earnings and adjusted EBITDA were the highest of any year in the company’s 43-year history.
IMAX inks biggest international deal, creates IMAX China

IMAX reaches 75-theatre agreement with China’s largest cinema operator and establishes local office in Hong Kong
IMAX names David Keighley chief quality officer

The renowned technical expert assumes the new role and will continue to ensure that IMAX films attain the highest possible grade.
IMAX promotes Phil Groves to key distribution and exhibitor relations role

In Grove’s expanded role as svp of worldwide distribution, studio-exhibitor relations, he will oversee IMAX’s global distribution operation and manage the company’s booming number of international relations.
IMAX, Premiere Cinema Corp agree terms for Texas theatres

Three IMAX theatre systems are expected to open by the end of the year in Houston, Lubbock, and El Paso.
In A Better World scoops top prize at Birds Eye View Festival

The seventh edition of the London festival celebrating women film-makers has attracted record attendance levels.
Incendies, Barney's Version dominate Canada's Genies

Canada’s divisive bilingual markets bellowed from the nation’s capital at this year’s Genie awards last night [10].
India’s 52 Weeks snaps up Summit’s Source Code, The Impossible

Indian distributor 52 Weeks Entertainment has acquired Indian rights to two Summit Entertainment titles – action thriller Source Code, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and The Impossible, with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor.
India’s Yash Raj Films launches youth-oriented label

Mumbai-based Yash Raj Films has launched a production banner, Y-Films, to produce films catering to India’s youth audience.
Indian Film Festival Los Angeles to honour business trio

Sony Pictures Television Networks president Andy Kaplan, Multi Screen Media Private Limited CEO Man Jit Sing, and PVR Cinemas chairman and managing director Ajay Bilji are in line for honours.
India's digital warriors look overseas

Whilst racing to convert their home territory, India’s digital cinema integrators, Scrabble and UFO Moviez, are planning to expand to other emerging markets.
India's media industry up by 11% in 2010

India’s media and entertainment industry grew by 11% to $14.5bn (Rs652bn) in 2010 according to a report issued by KPMG at the FICCI Frames conference in Mumbai this week.
IndiePix launches subscription VOD service

200 new indie titles available on new site, IndiePix Unlimited
Indi-genous picks up Viva Riva

The producers of the Congolese gangster film are also in negotiations with distributors for the first Africa -wide simultaneous release.
InDigEnt founder Gary Winick dies aged 49

The champion of independent cinema who made several forays into mainstream Hollywood died from brain cancer on Feb 27. He was 49.
Indomina Releasing, Vivendi sign exclusive distribution pact

The deal will cover home video, digital, internet, television, VOD and mobile platforms in North America through 2014.
Industry Trust launches new pro copyright cinema trailer

The advertising campaign, Moments Worth Paying For, has been directed by Olly Blackburn and will screen in UK cinemas.
Innocent Saturday

Dir/scr: Alexander Mindadze. Russia-Ukraine-Germany 2011. 90mins
Inside Pictures extends reach outside UK

The UK training programme will be open to applicants from the EU for the first time in 2011.
Intandem announces half yearly results for end 2010

London-based sales agent Intandem Films has announced its six month results to December 31, 2010.
Intandem boards sales for Libertine's US drama K-11

UK-based Intandem will handle international sales on Jules Stewart’s drama K-11.
Into The White Night

Dir: Yoshihiro Fukagawa. Japan 2011. 149 mins
Invisible

Director Michal Aviad. Israel-Germany. 2011. 90mins
Iron Sky to seek funding through Interactor

Timo Vuorensola is going the crowd-sourcing route for his long-gestating dark comedy about Nazis on the Moon and plans to raise $70,000.
Ironclad

Dir: Jonathan English. UK-US-Germany. 2011. 120mins
Irvine Welsh's Eleven closes financing

Stealth Media Group closes financing on The Magnificent Eleven.
Israel, AJC call for New York premiere of Miral to be cancelled

The film’s director Julian Schnabel, producer Jon Kilik, screenwriter Rula Jebreal and distributor Harvey Weinstein have issued a response to claims that the film “portrays Israel in a highly negative light.”
Italian Cinema London returns for second edition

Paola Randi’s Into Paradiso to open second edition of Italian Cinema London.
Italy’s state of South Tyrol launches €5m film fund

South Tyrol received the greenlight from the European Commission in Brussels this week.
James Knox appointed vice president, UK publicity at DDA

He handled the UK publicity campaign for The King’s Speech whilst covering for previous UK head Bronwyn Pyke last year.
James McAvoy to star in Welcome To The Punch

Eran Creevy’s London-set action thriller is set to start production this summer and follows the unlikely union between an ex-con and the detective who has pursued him for years as they uncover a conspiracy.
James Wan, Icon Entertainment International strike eight-film deal

Saw creator James Wan has closed an eight-film deal with Icon Entertainment International kicking off with House of Horror.
Jamie Foxx to present and executive produce Thunder Soul

Jamie Foxx has leant his weight to the documentary and will present the film, which Roadside Attractions will release in the US in September.
Japanese pay-TV service Wowow establishes LA hub

Japanese pay-TV company Wowow Inc has set up an office in Century City, Los Angeles, as it sources content for three new HD channels set to launch in October.
Japanese stars including Rinko Kikuchi join cast of Universal's 47 Ronin

They join Keanu Reeves in the film, which will begin shooting in Budapest on March 14 before moving to Shepperton Studios in the UK.
Jia Zhangke urges China to revise technical requirements

Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke has called for the Chinese government to abolish the country’s technical qualification requirements which mean that only films of a certain technical quality can be submitted for the censorship process.
John Cassy appointed as director of Sky 3D

James Hunt replaces former Sky Arts director Cassy who assumes newly created role
John Flock launches distributor and sales operation W2 Media

Former Peace Arch CEO John Flock and film financing experts Warren Nimchuk and Warren Fergus have launched LA, Vancouver and Toronto-based distributor and sales company W2 Media.
John Sachs appointed exec producer at Eclipse Films

The company has a number of feature and TV projects in development.
Josh Lucas joins Nicolas Cage as Medallion shoot kicks off

Nu Image is representing international rights on the action thriller, which commenced principal photography in New Orleans this week [4].
Julia’s Eyes director to make English-language horror Venom

The Orphanage producers Rodar Y Rodar have revealed a new slate of projects to Screen, including Julia’s Eyes director Guillem Morales’ $17m English-language horror-thrille
Julie Fontaine to head Lionsgate theatrical publicity

The executive most recently served as vp of domestic publicity at Disney where she worked on The Queen, Tron: Legacy and Gnomeo & Juliet, among others.
Julien Temple, F&ME head to Brazil for rockumentary

UK-based Film & Music Entertainment teams with Julien Temple for rock doc.
Jumping The Broom

Dir: Salim Akil. US. 2011. 112mins
Just Go With It

Dir: Dennis Dugan. US. 2011. 117mins
Just Go With It wins close US box office race on $31m

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston ensured Sony enjoyed a number one launch for Just Go With It and led an all-new top four asthe rom-com launched top by a narrow margin on an estimated $31m.
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Dir: Jon M. Chu. US. 2011. 105mins
Justin Long to play wild best man in comedy Lumpy

Long, Jess Weixler, Tyler Labine and Addison Timlin will star in writer Ted Koland’s directorial debut.
K5 boards sales on Belafonte biopic Sing Your Song

K5 International has picked up international sales rights to Susanne Rostock’s Harry Belafonte biopic Sing Your Song following its recent Sundance world premiere.
Kabul Dream Factory

Dir/scr: Sebastian Heidinger. Germany-Afghanistan, 2011. 82mins
Kapur produces Bollywood documentary for Cannes

Shekhar Kapur has produced a documentary about Indian cinema, Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, that will screen out-of-competition at Cannes.
Karen Arikian appointed director of Perugia Film Festival

The new festival, run by Stratus Media Group, will take place in March 2012.
Kate Crowe joining Scott Free UK in TV role

Misfits producer Kate Crowe is joining Scott Free UK as executive producer of TV.
Katherine Butler, Film4

Film4’s senior commissioning executive talks to Screen about the Film4 philosophy, discovering new talent and why SXSW is the festival to be at.
Keisha Castle-Hughes to star in Greener Grass

The Light & Dark Films production is an adaptation of Hagen Engler’s novel about post-Apartheid South Africa.
Khaled Laith, Razane Jammal to head up cast of Djinn

Shooting is underway in UAE on Imagenation Abu Dhabi’s supernatural horror Djinn, directed by Tobe Hooper.
Khodorkovsky doc to premiere at Berlinale despite break-in

The world premiere in Berlin of Cyril Tuschi’s Khodorkovsky will apparently now go ahead despite reports that a final version of the film was stolen from the LALA Films offices yesterday [Feb 3].
Kill List

Dir: Ben Wheatley. UK. 2011. 95mins
Killing Bono

Dir: Nick Hamm. UK. 2011. 114mins
King's Speech crosses $100m at overseas box office

The King’s Speech, riding high on its Bafta triumph on Sunday night, has crossed $100m overseas and will reach $200m worldwide today [16].
Kish Film Festival set to launch in April

The island festival will showcase films from Iran, Middle East and Central Asia.
Komplizen Film co-produces new films by Gomes, Albert

Berlin/Munich-based company hot for Tabu and Otherworld.
Korean Film Council reveals plan to support local industry

It will support location shoots and coproductions, invest in contents funds and provide support for labour costs on low-budget films.
Korea's Zamie starts up with 'Uzbek Trainspotting'

Korean producers Ellen Y.D. Kim and E.K. Heo have set up a new production and acquisitions company, Zamie Pictures.
L’Atelier selects directors including Kenyeres, Verbeek, Al-Daradji, Vega brothers

L’Atelier invites 15 projects from 15 countries to participate in the Cinefondation-supported programme.
LA Asian Pacific Film Festival to screen 180 films

Running Apr 28-May 7, the festival programme includes a retrospective of cinematographer James Wong Howe and the C3 Digital Conference and will open with Fast Five.
La Délicatesse

Shooting is currently taking place on this $9.5m romantic comedy directed by French brothers Stephane and David Foenkinos, starring Audrey Tautou.
LA, Italia to stage Marco Bellocchio retrospective

Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio will be honoured during the sixth edition of the Los Angeles, Italia Film, Fashion And Art Festival that runs from Feb 20 to 26.
Largo Winch II

Dir: Jerome Salle. France-Belgium-Germany. 2011. 118mins
Larry Angrisani joins GK Films in top marketing/publicity role

Larry Angrisani has joined Graham King’s GK Films as svp worldwide marketing and publicity.
Larry Crowne to screen at closing night gala of ScreenSingapore

Larry Crowne, directed by and starring Tom Hanks, will screen at the closing night gala of ScreenSingapore on June 11.
LA's Archstone bulks up sales force with Jeffrey Giles

LA-based distributor Archstone Distribution has hired the former Nu Image distribution staff member as international sales executive.
LA's MultiVisionnaire launches specialty label Fringe Features

LA-based distributor MultiVisionnaire Pictures has launched the specialty label Fringe Features here.
Late Bloomers

Dir: Julie Gavras. Fr-UK-Belg. 2010. 95mins
Lee Tamahori

The director of The Devil’s Double talks about the film’s genesis, casting Dominic Cooper as Saddam Hussain’s son and shooting on digital.
Legendary Pictures, del Toro team up on Pacific Rim

The Warner Bros-based company confirmed today [9] that Guillermo del Toro will direct and is preparing a September start on the fantasy creature feature.
Life Goes On

Dir/scr: Sangeeta Datta. UK. 2010. 120mins
Life In A Day gets UK release through Vue, HanWay books international sales

Exhibitor Vue teams with Scott Free and HanWay for UK theatrical release of YouTube-inspired film.
Lightning acquires international sales to Cat Run heading into EFM

The Santa Monica-based company will commence sales at EFM this week on the story of two couch potatoes who help a dazzling escort stay one step ahead of assassins.
Limitless breaks free at top of UK box office

Three new entries make up the top three at the UK box office over the March 25-27 weekend.
Limitless rules US box office on $19m in cautious weekend

Relativity’s thriller starring Bradley Cooper as a man who acquires a pill that allows him to use his entire brain opened top on an estimated $19m in a slow weekend.
Lincoln Center to unveil new landmark site in June

The Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center will open in June in the heart of Lincoln Center’s redeveloped 16-acre campus with distribution veteran Bingham Ray as its first strategy consultant.
Lincoln Center unveils Norman Jewison retrospective

This will be the first major tribute to the director’s work in New York and is set to run from May 25-30.
Lionsgate add Fred Durst, Kim Jee-woon to EFM sales roster

Fred Durst, the former frontman of US rock band Limp Bizkit, is lining up the action caper Pawn Shop Chronicles.
Lionsgate launches microbudget initiative, names first three films

The programme will focus on films under $2m and the first three are post-apocalyptic comedy Rapture-Palooza, comedy Gay Dude and supernatural thriller 6 Miranda Drive, to be directed by Wolf Creek creator Greg McLean.
Lionsgate partners with Janet Jackson’s jdj Entertainment

In her first outing as a film producer, Jackson has signed a deal with the studio to select, develop and produce a feature project.
Lionsgate sets director for What To Expect When You're Expecting

The studio has hired Kirk Jones of Nanny McPhee and Waking Ned Devine fame to direct the ensemble rom-com based on Heidi Murkoff’s bestselling maternity manual.
Lionsgate UK plans feature version of The Professionals

The big screen version of the cult TV series will be Lionsgate UK’s third foray into production following Blitz and
Lionsgate wades into The Bay for US distribution

Barry Levinson’s found footage eco-horror film stems from the producers behind Paranormal Activity and Insidious.
Lionsgate, Studiocanal, Miramax seal home entertainment deal

Lionsgate and Studiocanal have signed a worldwide home entertainment distribution deal with Miramax.
Lionsgate, Tyler Perry renew multi-year first-look deal

The studio announced today [Mar 31] it had extended its lucrative partnership with Perry through a multi-year arrangement.
Lionsgate, Varsity, Collective line up Night Of The Living Fred

The partners are turning the YouTube sensation into a 3D feature and Lionsgate will produce alongside Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett of Varsity Pictures and Gary Binkow and Evan Weiss of The Collective.
Lipstikka

Dir: Jonathan Sagall. Israel-UK. 2011. 90mins
Little Film Co acquires Jewish sex abuse doc Standing Silent

The Little Film Company has picked up worldwide sales on the documentary Standing Silent.
Little Film Company comes aboard Greenpeace founder doc

The Little Film Company has acquired worldwide sales rights to the documentary Confessions Of An Eco-Terrorist.
Little Film Company tempts EFM buyers with Stuart Gordon's The Men

The Little Film Company has boarded sales on thriller The Men from Re-Animator director Stuart Gordon.
Lleju Productions lines up May start on The Baytown Disco

LLeju Productions will finance and produce the dark comedy and has scheduled a May start in Louisiana.
Location, Location, Location

Screen gets the low down on the life of a location manager, at a special event hosted at BAFTA.
Loic Magneron

The head of French sales outfit Wide Management talks about new global network Eye On Films (EoF).
London Italian Film Festival announces programme

Festival to open with concert by Nicola Piovani at Cadogan Hall.
London's Hackney Picturehouse to open in autumn

It is the latest addition to City Screen’s growing number of cinema venues in the UK.
Looking For Simon

Dir/scr: Jan Kruger. Ger-Fr. 2011. 89mins
Lorber Films acquires US rights to French wartime drama Korkoro

Lorber Films has taken US rights to Tony Gatlif’s world war two drama Korkoro (Liberté).
Lord Puttnam calls for increase in P&A Fund; says education is key in future of film

FDA President Lord Puttnam calls for rise in Distribution Fund budget as Lottery investment rises; expresses “dismay” at the delay of the Digital Economy Act.
Los Angeles-based Ginsberg/Libby bulks up executive ranks

The ambitious publicity house has announced several new hires and names Lisa Danna director of the film and corporate entertainment unit.
Lost Land

Dir: Pierre-Yves Vandeweerd. Fr-Bel. 2011. 75mins
Lotte Verbeek replaced in van den Berg's Suskind

Dutch actress Nyncke Beekhuyzen takes over lead in war drama
Love finds Australian thriller

House Macgowan teams with Film & Music Entertainment to produce Needlepoint.
Love Hewitt-starrer Café on Maya's EFM sales roster

Maya Entertainment has picked up international rights to the rom-com Café starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jamie Kennedy and Alexa Vega.
LoveFilm becomes first UK SVOD outfit to stream Disney features

More than 50 films from Disney’s library to become available on LoveFilm
Loznitsa re-teams with Deckert for WWII drama In The Fog

My Joy director’s second feature is set to start shooting in Latvia in September
Luc Besson

The French film-maker talks to Screen about the EuropaCorp strategy following the departure of Le Pogam and his new project The Lady, starring Michelle Yeoh.
Lucrecia Martel to be honoured at Sarajevo

Argentine director first woman subject of a “Tribute to” programme at the festival.
Luhrmann readies Sydney shoot for The Great Gatsby

Cameras are expected to roll at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney in August on Baz Luhrmann’s big screen adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s American literary classic The Great Gatsby for Warner Bros.
Luis De La Madrid readies thriller Chonicle Beyond The Border

Renowned Spanish director/editor De La Madrid to make thriller Chronicle Beyond The Border
Luke Evans to star in FilmNation's Amateur American

Rising star Luke Evans is to play the lead in action thriller The Amateur American, to be directed by Ross Katz, which is due to start shooting in Europe in September.
Luke Evans, Robert Carlyle to star in Dogs Of Law

The London-set police thriller is the feature directorial debut of Declan O’Dwyer, who is also gearing up to direct Broken Cove later in the year.
Lumiere takes Benelux rights to Fjållabacka Murders

Underlining its appetite for Scandinavian crime fare, Benelux distributor Lumiere has snapped up the rights to writer Camilla Läckberg’s bestselling The Fjållabacka Murders.
Lyn Goleby and Clare Binns

Picturehouse MD Lyn Goleby and director of programming and acquisitions head Clare Binns talk to Screen about the exhibitor’s new directions.
MacKinnon leaves Cloud Eight to produce Cheerleaders 3D

The teen dance movie will be directed by Scouting Book For Boys director Tom Harper.
Mad Bastards

Dir: Brendan Fletcher. Aust. 2010. 96mins
Madeline Zima to star in UK psycho-thriller Storage

The star of Showtime’s series Californication will play a woman who joins forces with a mysterious group of strangers to escape a terrifying underground facility.
Magnolia licenses Humpday French remake rights to UGC

The deal with UGC is an example of how buyers in several territories are exploring ways to develop Lynn Shelton’s Sundance 2009 crowd-pleaser for local audiences.
Magnolia picks up Point Blank for North America

Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to French thriller Point Blank (A Bout Portant) from Gaumont.
Magnolia recruits Headhunters to North American slate

Magnolia Pictures and TrustNordisk have struck their second deal in two days at the EFM with the North American sale of Morten Tyldum’s Norwegian thriller Headhunters.
Magnolia takes domestic rights to Lars von Trier's Melancholia

The distributor has swooped on Lars Von Trier’s vision of the apocalypse here in a seven-figure North American deal with TrustNordisk.
Magnolia takes North America on Jiro Dreams Of Sushi

The news comes amid reports that Mark Cuban is considering selling Magnolia Pictures and Landmark Theaters – first reported on Screendaily more than three months ago.
Magnolia takes the world on Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja

Magnolia Pictures has added the documentary to its slate and plans a 40-city campus tour later in the year. Magnolia International will commence sales in Berlin this week.
Magnolia takes worldwide rights to Tribeca premiere Limelight

The distributor plans an August release after the film premiered at the New York festival on Apr 22.
Magnolia, TrustNordisk seal EFM deal for Happy, Happy

Magnolia and TrustNordisk have concluded a fruitful EFM, rounding out a trio of deals with a North American sale on Sundance World Cinema Grand Jury winner Happy, Happy from Norway.
Mama Africa

Dir: Mika Kaurismäki. Ger-S Afr-Fin 2011. 90 mins
Man At Sea

Dir/scr: Constantine Giannaris. Greece. 2011. 93mins
Man up

Sarah Cooper rides the TT course on the Isle of Man. Sort of.
Manchevski plans fake documentary

Mothers director tackles mockumentary.
Marimbas From Hell, The Interrupters win in Miami

Marimbas From Hell, The Piano In A Factory and The Interrupters were among the big winners as the 28th Miami International Film Festival came to a close at the weekend.
Mars Needs Moms

Dir: Simon Wells. US. 2011. 88mins
Martin Scorsese's Hugo Cabret goes from Sony to Paramount

Paramount Pictures has taken over from Sony on the bulk of worldwide distribution on Scorsese’s family 3D film Hugo Cabret and has set a Nov 23 Thanksgiving release in the
Mat Whitecross, Paul Viragh re-team for Coldplay-backed film noir

Ray Winstone, Jim Sturgess and Lesley Manville head the cast of the CinemaNX backed project which is being co-financed by UK rock band Coldplay.
Matador to develop Her Royal Spyness franchise

The UK production company has acquired the rights to Rhys Bowen’s adventure novel series Her Royal Spyness; Chalet Girl writer Tom Williams to pen the script.
Match Factory signs slew of deals on The Future

German sales outfit seals deals for UK, Spain, Benelux, Scandinavia and others.
Matchmaking Mayor

Dir/scr: Erika Hnikova. Czech Republic-Slovak Republic. 2010. 72mins
Maui 2011 festival to run from Jun 15-19

The 12th Annual Maui Film Festival will run from Jun 15-19 at the Wailea Resort.
Mauricio Durán promoted at Universal

He will take on the role of senior vice president Latin American marketing and distribution for UPI.
Maxine Leonard launches marketing and publicity consultancy

Leonard is leaving GK Films where she most recently served as svp marketing and publicity and will kick off by handling Lisa Wilson’s Parlay Films in all areas.
Maya co-founder Moctesuma Esparza earns lifetime achievement honour

Maya Entertainment founder, co-chairman and CEO Moctesuma Esparza has received the Henry L Lacayo Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI).
Maya swoops on sales rights to La Mission prior to Berlin

Maya Entertainment has picked up international rights to Peter Bratt’s La Mission starring Benjamin Bratt and will introduce to buyers at EFM this week.
Media Asia backs next Johnnie To/Wai Ka-fai romantic comedy

Hong Kong studio Media Asia has unveiled Hong Kong-China co-production Romancing in Thin Air, to be directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai, and star Sammi Cheng, Louis Koo and Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan.
Medianeras

Dir/scr Gustavo Taretto. Arg-Ger-Sp. 2011. 95mins
Meet Monica Velour

Dir-scr: Keith Bearden. US. 2010. 98mins
Meeting Spencer

Dir: Malcolm Mowbray. US. 2010. 87mins
Mei Ah Entertainment gears up for Windseeker

Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Entertainment is gearing up produce 1950s-set spy thriller Windseeker, to be directed by Alan Mak and starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
Mena Suvari joins cast of British rom com The Knot

The film has been co-written by Noel Clarke, who will also star alongside rising British actors Talulah Riley and Matthew McNulty.
Metropolis’ sales for The Guard include Optimum for UK

UK based sales company Metropolis International Sales has closed multiple deals on John Michael McDonagh’s The Guard (screening in Panorama.)
Mexico’s Sanchez wins Nyon’s Grand Prix

Mexican filmmaker Tatiana Huezo Sanchez’s El Lugar Mas Pequeno won the Grand Prix for Best Feature-Length Film at this year’s Visions du Réel international documentary festival in Switzerland’s Nyon.
MGM, Fox renew home entertainment distribution deal

The agreement covers worldwide Blu-ray and DVD distribution and runs through 2016 and covers the MGM library as well as new productions such as the upcoming Bond 23.
Michael Garin appointed Imagenation CEO

Garin assumes the role after three and a half years on the executive committee of Imagenation parent company Abu Dhabi Media Company.
Michael Hoffman to direct Dakota Fanning in Girls’ Night Out

Ecosse Films produces the romance centred on former British Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth; HanWay handles international sales at EFM.
Michael Lewis

RealD CEO Michael Lewis talks to Screen about the early days of RealD and the company’s strategy going forward.
Michael Shannon to receive RiverRun’s Emerging Master Award

The Oscar nominated scene stealer from Revolutionary Road and Boardwalk Empire will collect the honour on Apr 11.
Michel Gondry to head Cannes short film jury

The French director recently opened a lab in Paris for short film-makers; he will head short and Cinefondation jury.
Michel Ocelet to direct third Kirikou in 3D and Paris-based animation

Tales Of The Night director plans third Kirikou sequel and a Paris-centred animation.
Michel Ocelot

The director of Competition entry Tales Of The Night talks about being an inventor, stereoscopic 3D and some audiences’ fear of breasts.
Mike Day

Screen talks to Palma Pictures MD Mike Day about his expanding business and working with recent local productions The Inbetweeners and Mad Dogs.
Milan Popelka promoted to COO at FilmNation

Popelka joined the company at its inception in 2008 as evp of strategic planning and creative affairs.
Miley Cyrus action comedy So Undercover sells for Exclusive

Exclusive Films International head Alex Walton has reported a deluge of interest here on the Miley Cyrus action comedy So Undercover.
Milocrorze - A Love Story

Dir/scr: Yoshimasa Ishibashi. Japan. 2011. 90mins
Minghella Film Festival awards four shorts

The inaugural awards took place as part of the Minghella Film Festival on the Isle of Wight, which was set up in 2009 in memory of the late British director Anthony Minghella.
MIPTV wraps with key deals

Interconnectivity and the monetising of splintering platforms were buzz themes at this year’s MIPTV, which also saw a number of deals on starry product.
Miramax hires Mitzi Reaugh to lead business development

The latest addition to the company’s executive suite recently served as svp of client solutions at The Nielsen Company.
Miramax names Eric Doctorow evp

The former Fox home entertainment general manager will oversee worldwide home entertainment distribution and explore digital opportunities.
Mitchell, Bean, Unger return to Silent Hill

The franchise’s original stars Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean and Deborah Kara Unger are returning to the horror property and will star alongside previously announced Adelaide Clemens and Kit Harington.
M-line heats up with Haunters deals pre-EFM

Korea’s M-line Distribution has done a slew of pre-sales on the action drama Haunters, starring young heartthrobs Gang Dong-won and Koh Soo.
Mohamed Al Fayed reveals himself as Pinewood bidder

Any offer he makes would be in competition to the takeover bid made earlier this month by Peel Holdings.
Momentum bites on Wettest County and Headhunters

Momentum/Alliance Films takes UK and Canada rights to John Hillcoat’s crime-drama The Wettest County In The World from FilmNation and Morten Tyldum’s thriller Headhunters from TrustNordisk.
Mongrel takes Canada on Shut Up Little Man!

Matthew Bate’s documentary launched at Sundance and was represented by Submarine Entertainment.
Mongrel, Submarine strike Canadian deal on Project Nim

Mongrel Media has acquired all Canadian rights to James Marsh and Simon Chinn’s Project Nim following its award winning world premiere at Sundance last month.
Morgan Creek prepares Tupac biopic for spring / summer shoot

As Morgan Creek continues to find a way to assemble its ambitious sci-fi project Passengers the LA-based company announced it is moving ahead with its long gestating Tupac Shakur biopic.
Mori, Kwok drive CAR into North American distribution

LA-based distribution veteran Ko Mori of Eleven Arts and producer Tim Kwok of Convergence Entertainment are launching a North American distribution outfit, Cinema Asia Releasing (CAR), which will focus solely on Asian product.
Moving Pictures Film & TV closes sales on First Dog

Buyers of the family film include Free Dolphin in France, Central Partnership in Russia and Eagle Entertainment in Australia.
MPA & APSA renew Academy Film Fund

Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Motion Picture Association renew Beijing fund for new Asia Pacific films
MPF&TV carves out Filmart sales on Miss Nobody, Grey Skies

Moving Pictures Film & TV has concluded the sale of horror film Grey Skies and 3D film Robin Hood: Ghosts Of Sherwood to HGC Entertainment in China.
Mrs Carey’s Concert

Dirs: Bob Connolly, Sophie Raymond. Australia. 2011. 95mins
MUBI signs VOD deal with Belgacom TV

MUBI adds to global contracts with Belgian deal.
Music Box, Sundance Selects swoop on Sundance duo

US buyers have snapped up two more Sundance titles with Music Box Films taking US rights excluding TV to Liz Garbus’ documentary Bobby Fischer Against the World and Sundance Selects adding Göran Hugo Olsson’s The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 to its roster.
Mutual market intelligence is key, says ACE seminar

Producers in China and Europe need to reach a deeper understanding of each other’s markets before they can work together successfully, said panellists at a Sino-European co-production seminar at Filmart on Tuesday.
My Best Enemy

Dir: Wolfgang Murenberger. Austria-Luxembourg. 2011. 109mins
My Perestroika goes to International Film Circuit in US

International Film Circuit has acquired US rights to Robin Hessman’s My Perestroika and has set a spring theatrical release.
MyStreet documentary competition launched

The UK initiative is picking up on the current trend for user generated content.
Nader And Simin - A Separation

Dir/scr: Asghar Farhadi. Iran-France. 2011. 122mins
Natural Selection wins SXSW Grand Jury prize

The Austin festival unveiled jury and audience award winners in the narrative and documentary feature, Spotlight Premieres and Emerging Visions sections on Tuesday night [15].
NBC Universal restructures international team; Jeff Shell new president

Restructure of London-based office follows transfer to Comcast majority ownership; Peter Smith steps down in early March.
Neal Moritz, Columbia extend first-look by three years

The producer and Original Film founder’s upcoming credits include imminent release Battle: Los Angeles and Fast Five.
New Directors/New Films selects 28 features

J.C. Chandor’s Margin Call and Maryam Keshavarz’s Circumstance to bookend New York festival.
New Films Cinema strikes 10-film pact with Turkish business leader Jak Kamhi

Nesim Hason’s fledgling US distributor New Films Cinema has struck a 10-film production deal with investment partner Jak Kamhi.
New heads for funding bodies in Ireland, Austria, Switzerland

Funder appointments met with widespread approval.
New Hungarian outfit plans slate of English-language films

Gabor Váradi’s new production outfit Blue Danube Films kicks off with English-language thriller.
New Jerusalem

Dir: R. Alverson. US. 2011. 92mins
New report: UK is leading audiovisual market, but not self-sustaining

A new European Audiovisual Observatory report says UK is reliant on EU and US projects.
New Video, China Lion seal US distribution union

The partnership between the New York-based distributor and digital content aggregator and China Lion Film Distribution makes New Video the latter’s exclusive North American distributor across cable VoD, television, digital and DVD.
Newly launched Omni/FSR to release Dylan Dog in US in April

Australia and New Zealand-based Omnilab Media announced today [Mar 1] that Dylan Dog: Dead Of Night will open wide in the US through the newly launched Omni/FSR label on Apr 29.
NFTS unveils graduate films

NFTS unveils graduate films at BFI Southbank in the week one graduate’s short competes for an Oscar.
Niki Caro's The Vintner's Luck goes to Panorama for US

Panorama Entertainment has acquired all US rights to Niki Caro’s The Vintner’s Luck from the New Zealand Film Commission.
Ninja Kids!!!

Dir: Takashi Miike. Japan. 2011. 100mins
Nobody does it better than Disney!

Even this cynical journalist couldn’t help being taken in by the Disney magic at a special launch event in London.
Nokia launches $10K short film competition

The winning film will be screened at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival in June.
Nolan to shoot third Batman film in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Film Office announced today [5] that the upcoming Warner Bros / Legendary Pictures tentpole The Dark Knight Rises will shoot in the Pennsylvania city this summer.
NonStop full of energy at Berlinale

Swedish outfit acquires Sundance and Berlin titles The Future, Circumstance, Another Happy Day among others.
North Carolina shoot on Hick gets underway

Chloe Grace Moretz, Blake Lively and Eddie Redmayne star in the story of a precocious youngster who travels across the US with a glamorous young woman.
Northern Film + Media pilot funds secured 100 jobs

Olsberg SPI report reveals positive impact of pilot funds Network Television Investment Programme and Content Fund.
Norton resigns as CEO of Screen West Midlands

It comes as the UK regional agencies become part of new umbrella body Creative England.
Norwegian Wood, Au Revoir Taipei bookend Pan-Asia Film Festival

Academy Award nominated director Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood and Arvin Chen and Wim Wenders’ Au Revoir Taipei bookend the third Pan-Asia Film Festival set to run from March 1-13.
NYC-based Wayfare announces trio of key hires

Jeremy Kipp Walker is named head of production, Sarah Shepard vice-president of development and production and Evelynda Rivera director of physical production.
Of Gods And Men, Polanski triumph at Cesars

The Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent to the Oscar, were handed out in Paris on Friday night [25] with Of Gods And Men taking the best film prize.
Off Plus Camera, Krakow, Poland (8 - 17 April)

Park Jung-Bum’s drama The Journals of Musan (Musa il-gy) won the Making Way Main Competition award.
Old Dog wins digital competition at Hong Kong fest

Pema Tsedan’s Old Dog scooped the Golden Digital Award in the Asian Digital Competition at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).
Oliver Sherman gets distribution in France, Hungary through EoF scheme

Thriller Oliver Sherman has been confirmed to screen at several festivals and has distribution in two territories under the new Eye On Films initiative.
Omnilab prepares Australia shoot on Tomorrow 2

The producer-financier has tentatively lined up a September start in the Australian state of New South Wales on the follow-up to its box office hit Tomorrow When The War Began.
Online French film festival attracts 300,000 users

Over 300,000 Internet users tuned into the first edition of the uniFrance and Allocine presented online French film festival at myFrenchFilmFestival.com.
Open Sesame takes on Pyuupiru doc

Japanese sales agent Open Sesame picks up rights to Pyuupiru 2001 - 2008.
Optimum takes UK rights to Beyond The border from NonStop

Optimum swoops on Swedish WWII drama.
Oscar nominated shorts win at Shorts International event

Shorts International presented its first ever Shorts Awards in Los Angeles last week.
Oscars: The King's Speech edges out The Social Network

By the time Steven Spielberg took to the stage to announce the best picture winner as the crowning moment of a largely predictable 83rd Academy Awards, The King’s Speech and The Social Network were neck-and-neck on three wins apiece.
O-Scope takes US rights to If A Tree Falls

Marshall Curry’s follow-up to Racing Dreams and Street Fight recently earned a special mention at the Miami International Film Festival.
O-Scope, Showtime acquire Sundance doc Rebirth

Jim Whitaker’s film follows the transformation of five people over 10 years after the 9/11 attacks and through time-lapse photography charts the evolution of the space where the Twin Towers once stood.
Oslo Municipal acquires Sandrew Metronome Norge

Norway’s largest public cinema circuit Oslo Municipal Cinemas (Oslo Kino) has signed a deal with Norway’s Schibsted Media Group to buy Sandrew Metronome Norge, the country’s leading distributor which captured 19.5% share of market share in 2010.
Our Grand Despair

Dir/scr: Seyfi Teoman. Turkey-Germany-Netherland. 2011. 102mins
Outdoor screening of Cameron Crowe’s The Union to open Tribeca

The documentary follows Elton John as he collaborates on an album with his early-career idol Leon Russell.
Paladin to release Meeting Spencer in April

Paladin will release Malcolm Mowbray’s comedy Meeting Spencer starring Jeffrey Tambor this spring.
Palisades Tartan picks up North America, UK on Some Days

Palisades Tartan has acquired North American and UK rights to Matt McCormick’s debut feature Some Days AreBetter Than Others.
Paramount pushes True Grit into 15 overseas markets

Paramount’s Berlinale opener True Grit gets a big heave in around 15 new markets this weekend, among them the UK, Russia, Spain and Brazil.
Paris Cinema Film Festival pays tribute to Don Siegel

The festival, now in its 9th edition, will run from July 2-13, with a special focus on Mexico.
Park Jung-Bum wins at Off Plus Camera

Korean director scoops $100,000 prize at fourth edition of Krakow festival
Parlay boards sales on Bradley Cooper drama The Words

Bradley Cooper will play an author who pays a price for stealing another man’s work in The Words, which Lisa Wilson’s Parlay Films is introducing to buyers at the EFM.
Pascal Verdosci to direct World War II drama

The Swiss director has acquired the rights to two WWII diaires which will be adapted for the big screen by novelist Zoe Jenny.
Paul

Dir: Greg Mottola. US-UK. 105mins
Paul lands at top spot in UK

Universal’s comedy-sci-fi Paul opened top at the UK box office over the January 18 -20 weekend, plundering $8.9m (£5.5m), including previews.
PCG opens East Coast office, names Joe Libonati head

Libonati started work in New York City on Mar 7 as managing director of Principal Communications Group’s new office and reports to PCG managing directors Paul Pflug and Melissa Zukerman.
Peccadillo Pictures and blinkbox launch LGBT genre page

LGBT-themed titles to be available on blinkbox’s website via a unique lesbian and gay genre page.
Peel Group poised for Pinewood takeover

Property investor Peel Group looks to up its share in UK studio; Pinewood board backs the bid
Perfect Family among Tribeca trio for Film Sales Company

Andrew Herwitz has announced three films on his sales slate ahead of the festival launch on Apr 20 in lower Manhattan.
Perfect World starts 33 Days Out Of Love

Perfect World Culture, the entertainment branch of Chinese online game operator Perfect World, has begun production on romantic comedy 33 Days Out of Love (working title) with Teng Huatao (The Matrimony) directing and Wen Zhang (Ocean Heaven) in the lead role.
Peter Hampden and Norman Merry, LipSync

Post production house LipSync’s managing director Peter Hampden and financial director Norman Merry talk about the benefits of investing in films at the production stage and working with the US studios.
Peter Strickland gears up for Berberian Sound Studio shoot

It is the director’s second feature following his critcally acclaimed debut Katalin Varga.
Phase 4 kicks off VOD initiative with Sassoon, Brotherhood

Phase 4 Films is moving into VOD distribution with the launch of Vidal Sassoon The Movie and SXSW hit thriller Brotherhood.
Pina

Dir/scr: Wim Wenders. Germany. 2011. 103mins
Pinewood Shepperton to invest in smaller-budget British films

The UK studio group will invest equity in up to four British films a year; separately, annual results reveal increase in revenues in 2010.
Pinewood studios in new takeover bid

Pinewood Shepperton Studios has received another takeover approach, just two weeks after its largest shareholder, Peel Holdings, made a bid for the company.
Pinewood to build new studio in Dominican Republic

The UK studio group is hoping to tap into the Latino film and television market; Dominican Republic to offer tax credit of 25% to productions shooting in the country.
Pixel Lab moves to Germany

Power To The Pixel’s cross-media course to be held in Potsdam, Germany (June 26 – July 02).
Plan B joins cast of The Sweeney

The UK singer/actor will star opposite Ray Winstone in the feature version of the 1970s British TV series, which is being produced by UK outfit Vertigo Films.
Poetry wins Grand Prix in Fribourg, The Fatherless bags prizes at Graz’s Diagonale

South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-Dong’s Poetry picked up the Le Regard d’Or Grand Prix and FIPRESCI Award at Switzerland’s Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) which celebrated its 25th edition this year.
Polish fest Off Camera Plus expands

Peter Weir, Amitabh Bachchan, Roger Christian, Elvis Mitchell and Klaus Eder to attend Polish festival.
Poliss

Dir: Maïwenn. France. 2011. 127mins
Polly Cochrane promoted to SVP & Group Marketing Director at Warner UK

Cochrane will develop the 40-strong integrated marketing group at WB, including theatrical, video game, TV and Blu-ray and digital divisions.
Popping up in Yorkshire

A new community cinema project, Screenwaves, is helping to bring the big screen to the people of rural Yorkshire.
Populus Pictures to develop feature about WWII survivor Vera Laska

The screenplay, which is based on the experiences of Resistance fighter Vera Laska, has been written by Caitlin McCarthy.
Press

Dir: Sedat Yilmaz. Turkey. 2010. 100mins
Prime Focus Productions signs TV deal for Terry Pratchett Discworld spinoff

Terry Jones, Gavin Scott on board to write episodes of the fantasy series The Watch.
Production begins on Rialto International animated comedy Toonstone

Production is underway on the animated comedy Toonstone, one of the first titles that Robbie Little is selling here under the Rialto International label.
Production underway on Sony's The Amazing Spiderman

Sony’s upcoming Spider-Man reboot will be called The Amazing Spiderman, the studio revealed this week.
Prom

Dir: Joe Nussbaum. US. 2011. 103mins
Providence invests $58m in India’s UFO Moviez

Global private equity firm Providence Equity Partners has pumped $58.38m (Rs2.6bn) into Indian digital cinema company UFO Moviez for an undisclosed minority stake.
Pure team plans violent follow-up

Lisa Langseth and Helen Ahlsson plan new feature together.
Pusan, Mumbai festivals link together

Pusan and Mumbai festivals sign MOU for mutual support.
QED International takes select territories on Soul Surfer

QED International has closed a deal with the producers to handle sales on the upcoming true-life drama Soul Surfer for the whole of Europe, Russia and Japan.
Qualia Capital co-founder Ken Schapiro named MGM COO

MGM co-heads Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have appointed Ken Schapiro as the studio’s new COO.
Quartet joins Fantastic Films’ Bollywood animation Delhi Safari

Vanessa Williams, Brad Garrett, Jane Lynch and Christopher Lloyd have joined the stereoscopic 3D project, set to screen in the Cannes market.
Quattro Hong Kong 2

Dirs: Stanley Kwan, Brillante Mendoza, Ho Yu-hang, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. China. 2011. 60mins
Rachel Millward

The director of the Birds Eye View Film Festival, which kicked off in London this week, shares some of the highlights of this year’s edition and her views on female presence in the film industry.
Rafi Pitts urges cinema world to support Panahi today

Events planned at the Berlinale and in Paris.
Ralph Fiennes

British actor Ralph Fiennes talks about the challenges of making his directorial debut, Coriolanus, which had its world premiere in Berlin.
Rango

Dir: Gore Verbinski. US. 2011. 107mins
Rango rules North America on $38m

The animated release reunites Johnny Depp with his Pirates Of The Caribbean director Gore Verbinski and it proved an auspicious reunion as the film opened top on an estimated $38m.
Rango the new sheriff at the UK box office

In a busy week, Univeral’s The Adjustment Bureau opens in second place and Optimum has its best opening with Unknown.
Rango to hit UK, Germany, Spain in first wave

Paramount, Nickelodeon and GK Films’ animation Rango opens day-and-date with North America in approximately 35 territories and looks like the one to beat.
Rango, Battle: LA ready to resume overseas hostilities

The pair will lock horns again at the international box office this weekend as each heads into new markets. Black Swan, The Adjustment Bureau and The King’s Speech should help to keep things lively.
Rapid Eye takes German rights to Dhobi Ghat

UTV Motion Pictures has sold German rights to Kiran Rao’s Mumbai Diaries (Dhobi Ghat) to Rapid Eye Movies.
RCR Media Group extends co-fi pact with SPWA

Rui Costa Reis and Eliad Josephson’s Beverly Hills-based private equity group has extended its deal with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) through 2012.
Red Flag acquires AIDS doc We Were Here

The fledgling distributor will release theatrically in September in association with the filmmakers, The Film Collaborative, New Video and PBS’ Independent Lens.
Red Lights

Hot off the huge success of his first English-language film Buried, Spanish director Rodrigo Cortes moves on to an even bigger thriller with heavyweights Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver.
Relativity crowns Julia Roberts Queen for Snow White project

Relativity Media has cast Julia Roberts to play a wicked queen in its untitled Snow White adventure.
Relativity marketing and distribution head Peter Adee to leave

In a statement issued on Friday Adee said he will leave on Jun 1 and said he had “always planned to depart when the time was right.”
Relativity picks Noyce to direct actioner Hunter Killer

Phillip Noyce will direct Relativity’s action film Hunter Killer, set to commence shooting towards the end of the year.
Relativity picks up US rights to House At The End of The Street

The thriller from FilmNation Entertainment and A Bigger Boat stars Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue and Max Theriot.
Relativity signs Spanish output deal with Tripictures

Relativity Media has slotted Spain into its network of international distributors after striking a four-year output deal with Tripictures.
Relativity, Alliance extend output deal to August 2015

All of Relativity’s single picture business productions will continue to be handled by Alliance Films in Canada and by Momentum Pictures in the UK.
Reliance Broadcast to form joint venture with RTL Group

Following its joint venture with US broadcaster CBS, India’s Reliance Broadcast Networks (RBN) is planning a similar deal with Bertelsmann-owned RTL Group to launch a bouquet of channels.
REM movies into Utopia Ltd

Rapid Eye Movement takes Sandra Trostel’s debut feature.
Revolver in tune with Plan B’s ill Manors

Singer and actor’s directorial debut strikes chord with UK distributor
Revolver launches Anuvahood app

UK distributor launches free app for upcoming urban comedy.
Revolver's Anuvahood sets company record; Submarine rises despite weak UK box office

Paramount’s Rango returned to the top of the UK box office thanks to a tepid $1.6m (£1m) haul over one of the weakest box-office frames in recent months.
Rezo falls for Un Certain Regard title Bonsai

Rezo takes international rights to Cristian Jimenez’s second feature
Richard Kelly lines up Texas thriller Corpus Christi

The US filmmaker has selected his next project, a contemporary thriller about an unstable Iraq War veteran who forges a strange bond with a politically ambitious retail magnate.
Rickman, Courtenay join Gambit cast for Crime Scene

Alan Rickman and Tom Courtenay have joined the crime caper as the producers prepare for a May start in London before ultimately moving on to New Mexico.
Right Charlies promote UK short film comp

A troupe of Charlie Chaplins went for a tramp on the London streets to shoot a short film.
Rik Mayall on board psycho-thriller Errors Of The Human Body

Veteran British comedian Rik Mayall has joined Eron Sheean’s psychological thriller Errors Of The Human Body, which has just begun shooting in Dresden [13].
Rio faces Scream 4 in overseas weekend battle

Fox International’s Rio is the one to beat this weekend as it opens in a further 19 territories en route to $100m.
Rio flies past $200m overseas as Fast Five roars into life

Fox International’s Rio added a confirmed $44.9m to stay top in the third weekend and soar past $200m while Universal reported a $24m initial release for Fast & Furious
Rio injects a little samba into listless UK box office

Fox’s animation grosses $2.5m (£1.5m) to lead the pack in one of the year’s weakest frames
Rio rides high in US as $27m just beats Tyler Perry

Rio’s estimated $26.8m East weekend haul enabled Fox’s family film to stay top for the second weekend in a row despite a stiff challenge from Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family on $25.8m.
Rio soars sky high on $55m overseas launch for Fox

Fox International co-presidents Paul Hanneman and Tomas Jegeus hailed “a fantastic start for a new franchise” as the animated family film debuted on 11,714 screens in 45 markets.
Rio to extend overseas rule as $200m beckons

Fox International’s Rio will look to stay top for a third consecutive weekend as the film bears down on another box office milestone. Meanwhile Marvel Studios’ Thor descends on Australia.
Roadie

Dir: Michael Cuesta. US. 2011. 95mins
Rob Kraitt joins London agency Casarotto Ramsay

He will work as an agent in the film and TV department.
Rob Wilkerson

The CEO of Target Media talks about the importance of consumer research, squeezed P&A budgets, and how new technology can benefit film campaigns.
Robbie Little, European producers launch Rialto International at EFM

Robbie Little’s The Little Film Company and an alliance of European producers have formed Rialto International and will be at the EFM to meet with potential partners.
Robert D'Avila takes over shareholding at Moonshot Pictures

The Brazilian producer has plans to “internationalise the company’s projects.”
Robert Kessel named svp production for Matt Tolmach

Kessel most recently worked as evp production and acquisitions at Overture Films.
Rocket Releasing to launch Tomboy in US

The company has picked up US distribution rights to Celine Sciamma’s French drama which opened the Panorama section at Berlin earlier this month.
Roger Garcia

The new executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Roger Garcia, talks about his vision for the event and the challenges facing Hong Kong filmmakers.
Ronald Neame tribute, DGA, Los Angeles (April 23)

BAFTA Los Angeles hosted a celebration of acclaimed British director Ronald Neame
Roommate rules the US under shadow of Super Bowl weekend

Screen Gems scored another number one genre release even if The Roommate’s estimated $15.6m opening haul was not as emphatic as previous launches from the company’s storied past.
Rosch wins Berlin Talent Campus Score Competition

German composer Felix Rösch picked up the top prize in the Berlinale Talent Campus’ Score Competition awards ceremony which took place today (February 17).
Rose Shiner joins Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton

Rose P Shiner has joined the Los Angeles / Century City office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton as a partner in the firm’s entertainment, media and technology practice.
Rossellini, Van Sant to be guest curators at new look EIFF

Isabella Rossellini, Gus Van Sant and Apichatpong Weerasethakul are to guest curate their own sections of the coming edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, as part of a radical overhaul of its current format.
Rubbing The Sheen Off Stars

In today’s amorphous online world, personal publicists cannot control the image of the stars like they used to. But maybe the tabloid obsession with actors only serves to fuel their public appeal.
Rupert Grint starts shooting Norwegian WWII epic Comrade

Norway’s Petter Næss directs the story based on true story of German pilot and British soldiers who became unlikely friends in Norway in 1940.
Russia becomes member of Eurimages

The move is likely to increase opportunities for Russian and European producers to team up on projects.
Sacrifice

Dir/scr: Chen Kaige. China. 2100. 127mins
Sales heat up for IM Global over Madonna's W.E.

Stuart Ford’s IM Global was poised last night [13] to close a UK deal with Optimum on Madonna’s dual timeline drama W.E.
Sally Field joins DreamWorks' Abraham Lincoln project

The two-time Academy Award winner will play Mary Todd Lincoln, wife to the 16th US President, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in the starring role.
Sam Dickerman promoted to evp production at Columbia Pictures

Dickerman served as svp of production since joining the studio in 2005 and oversaw Click and Salt, among others.
Samuel Goldwyn Films hires Ian Puente as vp business affairs

Ian Puente has joined Samuel Goldwyn Films as vp of business development and general counsel, effective immediately.
Samuel Jackson to star in noir thriller The Samaritan

Andras Hamori of H2O Motion Pictures is producing and filming is set to begin in Toronto on Mar 20 and will continue in Rio de Janeiro through Apr 30.
San Francisco becomes first US festival to join Festival Scope

As the festival got underway last week [21], top brass said they would use the internet platform to enable film industry professionals to view programming online.
Sanctum swallows up $9.1m to push overseas tally to $38m

The cave diving adventure held its head high among the overseas studio titans at the weekend and grossed an estimated $9.1m to boost the running total to $37.5m.
Sara Frain joins Picturehouse as Director of Film Marketing

Former Metrodome GM assumes marketing role at Picturehouse.
Sarajevo Film Festival, 22 - 30 July

Angelina Jolie and husband Brad Pitt were among winners and attendees at the 17th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Scorsese, Liman, De Niro among Tribeca special events

Brian Williams will interview Robert DeNiro and Alec Baldwin will put questions to Doug Liman in two of several on-stage attractions unveiled by festival top brass today [23].
Scott Cooper to direct Out Of The Furnace for Relativity

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Ridley and Tony Scott’s Scott Free are producing with Relativity and Energy Entertainment.
Scream 4

Dir: Wes Craven. US. 2011. 110mins
Scream 4 slashes its way to top of resurgent UK box office

Scream 4 was the best of five top-ten openings in the UK, taking £2.1m from 408 screens
Screen Gems to release SXSW hit Attack The Block in US

Joe Cornish’s action film recently received its world premiere in Austin where it won the Midnight Feature Audience Award.
Screen launches Independent Distribution report

Screen International today launches Independent Distribution In Western Europe 2011, a new report offering insight, analysis and data on the health and size of the indie sectors in a range of key markets: the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Benelux and the Nordic region.
Searchlight has ear for Sound Of My Voice

The studio has moved in on English-speaking territories including North America, the UK and Australia as UTA sells its 13th title from Sundance.
Sekai Good Morning!

Dir/scr: Satoru HiroharaJapan. 2010. 81mins
Serbian football hit set for sequel; Soul Food sells original

The sequel to the current Serbian box-office hit Montevideo, Taste of a Dream, is set to begin shooting at original locations in Uruguay from March.
Serbian, Slovenian box office hits coming to EFM

Miha Hocevar’s Going Our Way, the highest local grosser ever in Slovenia, and Dragan Bjelogrlic’s Montevideo, Taste Of A Dream, the highest local grosser in Serbia since 2005, will be sold at the European Film Market in Berlin.
Service Entrance

Dir: Philippe Le Guay. France 2010. 100 mins
Shadows And Faces

Dir/scr. Dervis Zaim. Turkey. 2010. 116mins
Sharni Vinson joins Snoot’s You’re Next

The rising Australian star of Step Up 3D comes on board as the home invasion thriller commenced shooting on Tuesday [29] in Missouri.
Sheffield Doc/Fest partners with IndieGoGo

The documentary festival is teaming up with crowdfunding website IndieGoGo to promote alternative ways of financing films.
Sheinberg to self-distribute indie horror Creature

Sid Sheinberg’s production venture The Bubble Factory will directly distribute its upcoming Creature in 1,000-2,000 US screens on Sept 9.
Shengshi Huarui boards Unison Co’s $30m Song Of Justice

Start-up Chinese production outfit The Unison Company is teaming with Beijing Shengshi Huarui to produce $30m epic action movie Song Of Justice.
Shirley MacLaine, Chris Walken go Boom Boom Boom for Arclight

Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Walken, Twilight franchise star Ashley Greene and Adam Beach from the upcoming summer release Cowboys And Aliens will star in mystical drama The Boom Boom Room which Arclight Films is selling here.
Shooting on Charlie Zone commences in Halifax

The $1m+ redemption thriller is scheduled to wrap on Apr 13 and stars Glen Gould and newcomer Amanda Crew. Myriad Pictures is handling international and US rights.
Shooting underway on Aaron Eckhart thriller The Expatriate

Philipp Stolzl is directing the film in Montreal before production relocates to Brussels in May.
Shoreline has the taste for Berlin entry The Ways Of Wine

Morris Ruskin’s LA-based sales company has picked up worldwide sales rights to The Ways Of Wine (El Camino Del Vino) ahead of its Berlinale premiere.
Showbox to release Entertainment One's Asian catalogue

Titles will be released under the new banner Cine Asia presents HKL.
Sidus sells Camellia to Movie On in Japan

South Korea’s Sidus FNH has announced a raft of deals on its titles, led by the omnibus film Camellia, produced by the Busan film festival and showcasing stories set in the port city of Busan.
Sierra / Affinity brings Man On The Train to Croisette

Mary McGuckian’s remake of the light drama from Patrice Leconte sees the screen debut of U2 drummer Larry Mullin Jr alongside Donald Sutherland.
Sierra / Affinity unveils executive line-up for EFM

Nick Meyer and Marc Schaberg have rounded out their Sierra / Affinity senior executive roster as the EFM gathers steam.
Silent Sonata

Dir/scr: Janez Burger. Slovenia-Ireland-Sweden-Finland. 2011. 84mins
Simon Phillips joins Black & Blue Films

Next on the slate will be horror comedy Strippers Vs Werewolves which will start shooting on May 16.
Sing Your Song

Dir: Susanne Rostock. US. 2010. 100mins
Sing Your Song hits right note for HBO

HBO has picked up US television rights to the Harry Belafonte documentary that premiered at Sundance and subsequently screened in Berlin.
Singapore’s MDA opens submissions for International Film Fund

Media Development Authority will invest up to $3.9m in each selected film.
Skillset training academy launched in UK

It will focus on seven key areas where Skillset research has revealed a short fall of qualified talent.
Sleeping Sickness

Dir/scr: Ulrich Koehler. Ger-Fr-Neth. 2011. 91mins
Sonoma applauds Absentia, Michael Rockerfeller

Mike Flanagan’s horror film Absentia earned best narrative feature honours as the 14th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival came to a close at the weekend.
Sony Pictures Animation acquires rights to Muncle Trogg

The preemptive deal is the first since Michelle Raimo-Kouyate arrived from DreamWorks Animation last November to become president of production.
Sony promotes Scott Sherr to evp worldwide marketing and distribution

The executive will continue to negotiate and help guide the studio’s theatrical digital delivery strategy and is also involved in deal making and assessing 3D releasing strategies.
Sony, MGM reach Bond 23 co-fi, marketing and distribution deal

The studios announced the agreement last night [13] and will explore co-financing opportunities on future features produced by each studio over the next five years.
Sony's Battle: LA extends overseas reign on $16m

Battle: Los Angeles added $16.2m from 7,714 screens in 55 markets through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) as the tally climbed to $79.5m. Warner Bros had not re
Soul Surfer

Dir: Sean McNamara. US. 2010. 106mins
Sound mixer Dennis L Maitland dies

The renowned professional’s feature credits include Moonstruck, Three Days Of The Condor, Lenny and …And Justice For All. He died in New York on Apr 1 a day after his 80th birthday.
Source Code

Dir: Duncan Jones. US. 2010. 93mins
Spanish actress Maria Isbert dies aged 94

Viridiana and El Verdugo actress dies aged 94 after a career spanning almost 70 years
SPC acquires worldwide rights to Damsels In Distress

Whit Stillman directed the comedy and stars alongside Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody and Analeigh Tipton.
SPC confirms North American deal on Carnage

Sony Pictures Classics confirmed today [14] it has acquired North American rights to Roman Polanski’s comedy starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C Reilly.
SPC takes North American rights to Beats, Rhymes & Life

Michael Rapaport’s directorial debut Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest launched at Sundance.
Speakers confirmed for Produced By Conference

The Producers Guild Of America and the Association Of Film Commissioners International unveiled the roster today [29] for the event, set to run from Jun 3-5.
SPHE takes all media worldwide to God Loves Caviar

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has acquired all worldwide media rights from Alexandros Film for the upcoming Greek feature God Loves Caviar.
SPRI wages Battle on international marketplace

Battle: Los Angeles opens day-and-date through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) in around 30 territories this weekend.
Spring, F&ME to shoot Manila child prostitution story

Jacco Groen’s Spring Films teams with Film and Music Entertainment (F&ME) to produce
SPRI's Green Hornet bids to retain overseas crown

Sony Pictures Releasing International top brass will be looking for the latest wave of releases to push The Green Hornet over the $75m mark.
Spurlock's Greatest Movie Ever Sold to open Sheffield Doc/Fest

Morgan Spurlock is expected to attend the opening night of the festival, which will take place in June for the first time this year.
SPWA, Samuel Goldwyn take US rights to A Good Old Fashioned Orgy

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) and Samuel Goldwyn Films have jointly acquired US rights on the ensemble comedy A Good Old Fashioned Orgy.
Stanley Donen to be honoured at Israel Film Festival

The director and choreographer will receive the plaudits at opening night in New York on May 5.
State Of Violence

Dir/Scr: Khalo Matabane. South Africa/France. 2010. 77mins
Steinborn’s Arden lines up films with directors including Ainouz

Former X-Filme exec Andro Steinborn lining up projects by Karim Ainouz, Nadav Schirmann and Marianne Sägebrecht culture clash comedy with his new company Arden Film
Steve Carell to star in Dogs Of Babel for Mandate

Lionsgate International is handling foreign sales on the adaptation of Carolyn Parkhurst’s bittersweet novel of love and loss for Mandate Pictures.
Strategic Partners puts spotlight on Australia

Australian producers are being invited to attend the Canadian co-production market which takes place during the Atlantic Film Festival in Nova Scotia.
Streep in talks to join Mandate comedy Great Hope Springs

Meryl Streep, currently channelling Margaret Thatcher on the UK shoot of The Iron Lady, is in final talks to reunite with her The Devil Wears Prada director David Frankel on the project.
Stuart Pollok joins Indomitable as evp-executive producer

The producer-financier will run the New York and LA-based company’s film and film consulting business for the company, whose credits include Soul Surfer.
Submarine boards Norman Mailer adaptation

Michael Epstein, Michael Mailer and Stanley Buchthal of Dakota Group are to produce the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Armies Of The Night.
Submarine sells flotilla of titles to Canada’s filmswelike

The deals include all rights in Canada to Bill Cunningham New York by Richard Press, Blank City by Celine Dahnier, The Last Mountain by Bill Haney and Resurrect Dead: The Mystery Of The Toynbee Tiles by Jon Foy.
Submarine, Madman close Australian deal over doc trio

The agreement covers all rights to Bill Cunningham New York by Richard Press, Blank City by Celine Dahnier, How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr Foster? by Carlos Carcas and Norberto Lopez Amado and Resurrect Dead: The Mystery Of The Toynbee Tiles by Jon Foy.
Sucker Punch

Dir: Zack Snyder. US. 2011. 110mins
Sucker Punch confirmed as Hollywood overseas champ

Warner Bros Pictures International’s action fantasy leapfrogged Battle: LA thanks to a confirmed $11.5m haul as Sony executives revised their weekend take from $14.7m to $10.3m.
Summit casts Hoult in zombie tale Warm Bodies

Nicholas Hoult will star for Summit Entertainment in the story of an angst-ridden zombie who forms a friendship with the girlfriend of one of his victims.
Summit confirms $750m refinancing, boards Deepwater Horizon project

In a busy day for Summit Entertainment the company confirmed major refinancing and announced it was partnering with Participant Media and Imagenation Abu Dhabi on a film about the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster.
Sundance Institute, Honda unveil diversity initiative

The Honda Power Of Dreams Lab Fellowship will provide a stipend to “an outstanding filmmaker participating in the Institute’s renowned Feature Film Program Directors Lab.”
Sundance Selects goes for Marston drama, Film Buff unveils VoD deals

Sundance Selects has picked up US rights to The Forgiveness Of Blood, Joshua Marston’s feature follow-up to his acclaimed Maria Full Of Grace,while Film Buff said it would release The Wild Hunt and Zonad on VoD ahead of their DVD launches.Marston and Andamion Murataj shared the Berlin Silver Bear for best screenplay in February for The Forgiveness Of Blood, about a blood feud that ensues after an Albanian man is accused of murder. Tristan Halilaj, Sindi Lccej
Sundance Selects takes North America and territories to SXSW drama Weekend

Andrew Haigh’s film won the SXSW Emerging Visions Audience Award and tells the story of two gay men who get to know each other over a weekend. Tom Cullen and Chris New star and Tristan Goligher produced.
Sundance Selects takes North America on Last Days Here

Don Argott and Demian Fenton’s documentary premiered at SXSW and explores the tumultuous life of heavy metal legend Bobby Liebling and features the music of Liebling’s band Pentagram.
Sundance Selects takes Pina, Phase4 gets Lucky

Sundance Selects has acquired US rights to Wim Wenders’ 3D documentary Pina, while Phase4 announced today [Mar 31] it had picked up all North American rights to Gil Cates Jr’s dark comedy Lucky.
Swan rules overseas on $19m, Tangled crosses $300m

The Black Swan led the Hollywood exports over the weekend thanks to an estimated $18.6m haul through Fox International that beat out Sony’s The Green Hornet by a whisker.
Swans

Dir/scr: Hugo Vieira da Silva. Germany/Portugal 2011. 126mins
Swish reps Birmingham music documentary

Swish Films likes the sound of music doc Made In Birmingham - Reggae, Punk, Bhangra.
Tagore-themed drama starts production in Calcutta

Production started this week on Suman Ghosh’s Nobel Thief (Nobel Chor), a drama that is being made to tie in with the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore.
Taiwan's Seediq Bale to be released in two parts in Asia

Taiwanese filmmaker’s Wei Te-sheng’s war epic Seediq Bale will be screened as two films in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Wei’s production company ARS Film Productions said today.
Take Me Home Tonight

Dir: Michael Dowse. US. 2011. 97mins
Tales Of The Night

Dir/scr/storyboard: Michel Ocelot. France. 2011. 84mins
Tanel Toom to make feature debut with Black Ice

The Estonian-born, London-based director, who was Oscar nominated for his short film The Confession, will begin shooting the heist thriller in Canada later this year.
Tangled on top at UK box office

Tangled remained the top film after taking $7.4m (£4.6m) over the Feb 4 – 6 weekend.
Tangled ties up overseas rivals with $24m hold

Disney’s Tangled is fast approaching $300m following another mighty weekend that saw the film hold on to its international berth.
Target

Dir: Alexander Zeldovich. Russia. 2011. 154mins
Target MCG launches new joined-up agency model Film3Sixty

London-based Target Media and Communications Group is unveiling a new agency model to better serve the needs of film clients in the changing media landscape.
Tarifa to offer festival titles online

Festival to offer selected titles on VOD platform AfricanFilms.tv
Tayrona lines up major LatAm launch for Joffe's There Be Dragons

US financier-distributor Tayrona Entertainment has acquired Latin American rights to Roland Joffe’s There Be Dragons and has committed to a 1,000-screen release before th
Technicolor ups US digital distribution footprint, announces Q2 revenue of €747m

Technicolor acquires Cinedigm’s distribution assets, increasing satellite network to 1,100 locations in US and Canada.
Terry Curtin named new Relativity marketing head

Curtin currently serves as co-president of entertainment at the Cimarron Group and in her new post will report to Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh.
Terry Gilliam

The visionary director of Brazil and The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus will pick up a Fellowship Award at the Bradford International Film Festival this weekend. He talks to Screen about financing struggles, pasta, and the dangers of too much hype.
Tesco acquires 80% stake in blinkbox

UK supermarket chain acquires majority stake in UK streaming service
Thailand approves tax breaks for actors but not VAT reduction

Thailand has agreed to exempt foreign actors who are shooting in the country from paying tax, but has not approved a raft of other potential incentives including reduction of VAT.
Thailand’s OCAC to hold project pitching event at Cannes

Thailand’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC) has selected four projects to take part in a pitching initiative to be held during the Cannes market.
The Adjustment Bureau

Dir/scr: George Nolfi. US. 2011. 105mins
The Beaver

Dir: Jodie Foster. US. 2010. 91mins
The Caller

Dir: Matthew Parkhill. UK-Puerto Rico. 2011. 90mins
The Change-Up

Dir: David Dobkin. US. 2011. 112mins
The Collective, Bloody Disgusting to release Atrocious in US

The increasingly dynamic US distribution arena will see the management company and horror website release the genre title in at least 32 key cities through their partnership with AMC Theatres.
The Dead marches on for TriCoast Worldwide

TriCoast Worldwide has closed a slew of territories on horror film The Dead led by a deal with Global Cinema Distribution for North America.
The Dragon Pearl

Dir: Mario Andreacchio. Australia-China. 2010. 94mins
The Economist Film Project unveils maiden slate

The Edge Of Joy, Wagah, Last Train Home and Good Fortune will all go out on PBS Newshour and were selected by the partners to “reflect the types of issues The Economist is known for covering.”
The Fairy

Dir/scr: Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel, Bruno Romy. France-Belgium. 2011. 94mins
The Fatherless

Dir: Marie Kreutzer. Austria 2011. 105mins
The Forgiveness Of Blood

Dir: Joshua Marston. US-Albania-Denmark-Italy. 2011. 108mins
The Gift Maker wins British Council competition for Yemeni film-makers

The competition was launched last year by the British Council to give a platform to aspiring Yemeni film-makers wanting to raise awareness about issues affecting their country.
The Good Doctor

Dir: Lance Daly. US. 2011. 85mins
The Handover

This week, the first 16 UK Film Council staff move over to the BFI as part of the absorption of UKFC functions into a new BFI super-structure. There’s a good deal of common sense at work in the new entity.
The Hidden Face

Previously known as Bunker, this Fox International backed psychological thriller about love, jealousy and betrayal shot in Bogota, Colombia.
The House

Dir/scr: Zuzana Liova. Slovak Republic-Czech Republic. 2011. 100mins
The Insatiable Moon

Dir: Rosemary Riddell. New Zealand. 2010. 100mins
The Interrupters goes to Cinema Guild in US

Steve James’ epic tale of former gang members in Chicago premiered at Sundance and was recently named best documentary in the Miami International Film Festival.
The King’s Speech crosses $200m overseas

The best picture Academy Award winner grossed $16m from 3,980 screens at the weekend to boost the international running total to $206.4m.
The King's Speech rules overseas on $19m weekend

The Oscar winner has emerged as the leading performer at the international box office after an estimated $18.9m weekend haul through FilmNation licensees, the New York-based company said on Monday [7].
The Lincoln Lawyer

Dir: Brad Furman. US. 2011. 119mins
The Little Film Company picks up Scott Rosenfelt doc

The LA based company will handle sales on Rosenfelt’s documentary about an orthodox Jew who stands up to his community.
The Lords, Nicostratos among Other Angle line-up for Cannes market

France’s Other Angle has announced its line-up for the upcoming Cannes Film Market with hot new project The Lords leading the pack.
The Mill sold to Barclays

VFX and post house The Mill has been sold to Barclays Private Equity in a deal that values the company at $194 (£119m).
The Miners’ Hymns

Dir: Bill Morrison. UK-US. 2011. 52mins
The Mountain

Dir/scr: Oli Giaever. Norway. 2011. 72mins
The Night Watchman

Dir/scr: Natalia Almada. US-Mexico. 2011. 66mins
The Perfect Family

Dir: Anne Renton. US. 2011. 84mins
The Prize

Dir/scr: Paula Markovitch. Ger-Mex-Fr-Pol. 2011. 115mins
The Prodigies

Dir: Antoine Charreyron. France-Luxembourg-Belgium. 2011. 96mins
The Raven

Producer Marc D Evans took The Raven to Hungary and Serbia to create James McTeigue’s dark vision of 19th century Baltimore — at a considerable saving.
The Red Eagle

Dir/scr: Wisit Sasanatieng. Thailand. 2010. 130mins
The Resident

Dir: Antti Jokinen. UK-US. 2011. 91mins
The Residents

Dir: Tiago Mata Machado. Brazil. 2010. 120mins
The Roommate

Dir: Christian E Christiansen. US. 2011. 91mins
The Salt Of Life

Dir: Gianni Di Gregorio. Italy. 2011. 88mins
The Slut

Dir/scr: Hagar Ben Asher. Israel-Germany. 2011. 87mins
The Space Between

Dir/scr Tim Barrow. UK. 2010. 85mins
The Stool Pigeon

Dir: Dante Lam. Hong Kong. 2010. 113mins
The Turin Horse

Director: Bela Tarr. Hungary-France-Switzerland-Germany 2011. 146mins
The Union

Dir: Cameron Crowe. US. 2010. 90mins
The VOD Debate

The premium VOD controversy that kicked off at Cinema Con heats up even more as directors including James Cameron write an open protest letter this week.
The Warring States

Dir: Jin Chen. China. 2011. 125mins
The Ways Of Wine

Dir: Nicolas Carreras. Argentina. 2011. 95mins
The World Belongs To Rio

The fact that most international audiences saw Rio a week before domestic shows how the North American release is losing its power in dictating the success of film.
The Young Butler

Dir/scr: Marcela Said, Jean de Certeau. Chile, 2011. 70mins
Theodore Garcia named MD at PwC US entertainment practice

Theodore Garcia has joined PwC’s US entertainment, media and communications practice as managing director.
There Be Dragons

Dir/scr: Roland Joffé. Spain-US. 2010. 122mins
Thor

Dir: Kenneth Branagh. US. 2011. 113mins
Thornton's The King Of Luck to close SXSW

Billy Bob Thornton’s Willie Nelson documentary will close the event on Mar 19.
Tianjin firms up Rabbit distribution, dubbing cast

Tianjin Film Studio has recruited comedic star Fan Wei (If You Are The One) and Yan Ni (A Simple Noodle Story) to head the dubbing cast of its 3D kung fu animated film Legend Of A Rabbit.
TIFF appoints programmer for Africa, Middle East Cinema

Curator/writer Rasha Salti appointed to new role.
TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign receives $7m boost

The Toronto film centre has reached 96% of its total campaign goal; HSBC Canada to sponsor one of the organisation’s galleries.
Times Group makes friends with Hitler

Rakesh Ranjan Kumar to direct feature on Mahatma Gandhi.
Titan's El Chico Blanco to star shooting in June

Principal photography will commence in June in New Mexico on Titan Worldwide Entertainment’s true-life gangster story El Chico Blanco.
Tobe Hooper to direct Imagenation's horror Djinn

Poltergeist and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre director takes on horror to shoot in UAE.
Toby Jones hears Berberian Sound

UK producer Keith Griffiths has revealed further details of Peter Strickland’s new project Berberian Sound Studio (working title).
Toby Roberts developing US road movie

UK film-maker Toby Roberts, whose short film Spoilt Broth was competing for the Berlin Today Award at the festival, is developing his first feature, a US set roadtrip movie called Four For The Border.
Toll Booth

Dir/scr: Tolga Karacelik. Turkey. 2010. 98mins
Tom Hughes, Ophelia Lovibond star in Eight Minutes Idle

The iFeatures backed project is being directed by Mark Simon Hewis; Shooting is underway in Bristol.
Tom Ortenberg staffs up at new venture Open Road

The CEO of the new distributor announced today [13] that Jason Cassidy becomes president of marketing, Elliott Kleinberg general counsel and evp of operations and business affairs, Steven Andriuzzo CFO and Ben Cotner svp of acquisitions.
Tomboy

Dir/scr: Celine Sciamma. France. 2011. 82mins
Tomorrow When The War Began to screen at ActionFest 2

The official US debut of Japanese cult genre Battle Royale and the North American premiere of Australian smash Tomorrow When The War Began (pictured) are among entries in ActionFest 2 in North Carolina.
Tomson signs first-look deals with Lion Rock, Abundance

Tomson International Entertainment Distribution, the new outfit established by veteran producer Hsu Feng, has entered into first-look deals with John Woo and Terence Chang’s Lion Rock Productions, and Abundance Pictures, established by Chang and Laura Fu.
Tony Blair Faith Foundation launches second short film competition

Open to young film-makers aged between 14 and 18 years old, the competition aims to bring together films and religion.
Tony Jaa to star in 3D sequel to Tom Yum Goong

Thailand’s Sahamongkolfilm has announced that the team behind Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong – including action star Tony Jaa – are reteaming for a sequel to Tom Yum Goong to be filmed in digital 3D.
Tony To named evp of production at Disney

To has built a distinguished track record as producer that includes the Tom Hanks miniseries From The East To The Moon and earned a co-executive producer credit on Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s Band Of Brothers.i
Top directors register protest on eve of premium VoD launch

One day before the first premium-VoD release, a group of leading filmmakers including James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Gore Verbinksi, Michael Bay and Guillermo del Toro have signed a letter calling on the studios to scrap the proposal.
Top Floor Left Wing

Dir/scr: Angelo Cianci. France-Luxembourg. 2011. 93mins
Torrente 4 grosses record $20m in its first week in Spain

Santiago Segura’s comedy Torrente 4: Lethal Crisis has blown away the competition and set new records as it amassed an incredible $20m in its first week at the Spanish box office up to Mar 20.
Trailer released for Lars von Trier’s Melancholia

Watch the trailer for Lars von Trier’s anticipated latest
Treatment

Dirs/scr: Sean Nelson, Steven Schardt. US. 2010. 84mins
Tribeca adds Tony Kaye, Kings Of Leon doc

The world premiere of Kaye’s Detachment and a work-in-progress screening of Stephen C Mitchell’s Talihina Sky: The Story Of Kings Of Leon join the line-up.
Tribeca announces 12 projects in Tribeca All Access

In its eighth year the programme will introduce $10,000 grants for each project along with individually tailored mentorships.
Tribeca announces HBO Fellowships for first TFI doc fund

Three filmmakers will receive a total of $100,000 towards their projects in fellowships and grants.
Tribeca announces short film selection

Brendan Gleeson, Jean Reno and Eddie Marsan feature in the line-up of shorts unveiled by Tribeca today [16].
Tribeca Film announces four VoD festival premieres

Tribeca Film executives announced last night [29] that four selections from next month’s Tribeca Film Festival will go out on VoD day-and-date with the start of the festival on Apr 20.
Tribeca Film to distribute Janie Jones in US

Tribeca Film plans a summer release for the Abigail Breslin road movie after negotiating a US deal with Unified Pictures.
Tribeca Film to double distribution slate

The fledgling distributor has committed to release 26 films over the next year, more than two times the number of titles released in 2010.
Tribeca Institute, JustFilms partner on $750,000 fund

The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) has partnered on what it claims to be the biggest fund for US filmmakers using cross-platform storytelling to promote social change.
Tribeca panel: Arab cinema could enter a new golden age

The Arab world is poised to offer new kinds of storytelling, and Middle Eastern uprisings could help those uncensored voices be heard — that was the message at a Tribeca Film Festival panel on Monday.
Tribeca to close with world premiere of Edward Burns drama Newlyweds

Burns is a familiar face at the festival and has previously brought Ash Wednesday, Looking For Kitty, Purple Violets and Nice Guy Johnny.
Tribeca to launch online film festival

The event runs concurrently with the established festival from Apr 20-May 1 and will grant free access to features and shorts.
Tribeca top brass unveil free community events roster

The line-up includes the Tribeca Drive-In from Apr 21-23, the Family Festival Street Fair on Apr 30 and the free panel series Tribeca Talks: Pen To Paper and Tribeca Talks: Industry that run from Apr 23-30.
Tribeca unveils Spotlight, Cinemania, special screenings

World premieres for A Good Old Fashioned Orgy and documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne are Tribeca-bound as festival organisers announced the Spotlight, Cinemania and special screenings roster.
Tributes pour in for US director Sidney Lumet

The 12 Angry Men director died on Saturday, aged 86.
Tropfest heads to Abu Dhabi

Tropfest Arabia will premiere in Abu Dhabi in November 2011; competition open to Middle East and North African countries.
TrustNordisk closes French deal for Mackenzie’s Perfect Sense

French outfit Pretty Pictures attracted to David Mackenzie’s romance-drama.
TrustNordisk takes on Christiansen’s ID: A

Danish sales outfit is handling Christian E. Christiansen’s thriller.
TWC to release PG-13 version of The King’s Speech

The best picture Oscar winner grossed $133.1m as an R rated film at the North American box office and will open on 1,000 screens on Apr 1 only in the more family-friendly version.
Twenty8k shoot underway in London; AV Pictures to handle sales

Parminder Nagra stars in thriller written by Jimmy Dowdall and Paul Abbott.
Tykwer’s Three picks up six Lola nominations

Tom Tykwer’s love triangle with a difference Three (Drei) has picked up six nominations for this year’s German Film Awards which will be presented at a gala ceremony in Berlin’s Friedrichstadtpalast on Friday, April 8.
Udaan, I Am among winners at Indian Film Festival of LA

Vikramaditya Motwane’s Udaan won the best narrative feature grand jury prize and Sonali Gulati’s I Am took the documentary award as the 2011 Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA) came to a close at the weekend.
UK chancellor to extend Enterprise Investment Scheme

New EIS rules could be a major boost for UK production companies looking to raise private financing for films; government also sets up new Creative Industries Council.
UK independent distributors form new alliance

Twelve UK distributors have formed the Independent Film Distributors’ Association (IFDA)
UK’s House of Lords calls for continued support for future MEDIA Programme

The United Kingdom’s House of Lords has added its voice to the growing line of supporters for a future MEDIA Programme.
UKFC study reveals UK women and minorities disgruntled with portrayal in film

Study reveals that industry could increase profitability by better understanding audiences
UKFC's P&A fund backs releases including Submarine, Norwegian Wood

UKFC also backs 3D films Closer To The Edge, Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
UKFC's Tina McFarling to join Premier PR

McFarling, who has been at the UKFC since its inception in 1999, will head up the London firm’s corporate PR department.
UK's Prime Focus to move into production

UK post production company Prime Focus is launching its own production division, Prime Focus Productions, specialising in TV dramas.
Uncle Boonmee takes best film at Asian Film Awards

Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul echoed his Cannes Palme d’Or victory at the Asian Film Awards last night, winning best film for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
Underwater Love

Dir: Shinji Imaoka. Japan-Germany. 2011. 87mins
Universal to release StudioCanal's Tinker Tailor in US

StudioCanal confirmed [Feb 27] it had struck a deal with Universal to release the Working Title production Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in the US.
University of Salford launches media psychology course

It is aimed at media professionals who want to improve their understanding of audiences and media channels.
Unknown

Dir: Jaume Collet-Serra. US. 2011. 108mins
Unknown clinches top spot in the US on $22m launch

He did it with Taken in 2009 and Liam Neeson proved he hasn’t lost his allure as a lead action star as Unknown opened at number one on an estimated $21.8m through Warner Bros.
UPDATE: Restrepo co-director killed in Libya

Tim Hetherington died on April 20 while covering the Civil War in Libya.
US indie streaming platform Fandor launches; Ted Hope, Chris Kelly join board

Producer Ted Hope and former Facebook chief privacy officer Chris Kelly join Fandor board of advisors.
Utopians

Dir/scr: Zbigniew Bzymek. US. 2011. 84mins
Vajna promises swift action on Hungarian film crisis

Newly appointed Hungarian Film Commissioner Andy Vajna says Hungary won’t duck its co-production obligations despite the current crisis in the local film industry.
Valhalla, GK-TV partner on period drama series Port Royal

The one-hour television series is based on an original idea by Valhalla Entertainment’s Gale Anne Hurd and is set to go into development immediately.
Variance feels friendly towards Sayles' Amigo for North America

The New York-based company will release Amigo in conjunction with Anarchist’s Convention on Aug 20.
Variance Films picks up US on How To Live Forever

Variance Films has set a May 13 platform release in New York for Mark Wexler’s documentary about ageing.
Venevision acquires multiplatform rights at Miami to With Or Without Love

Venevision International Films has picked up US and Puerto Rican ancillary rights to the Colombia-Spain rom-com.
Victor Salva to direct Rose McGowan in Voltage horror Rosewood Lane

Rose McGowan will star in the Jeepers Creepers director’s new nightmare which Voltage is financing and introducing to EFM buyers this week.
Victoria Mahoney

US director Victoria Mahoney talks about making her directorial debut, Yelling To The Sky, which is in competition at Berlin.
Vidal Sassoon: The Movie

Dir: Craig Teper. US. 2011. 93mins
Vikram Malhotra

The new COO of Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, the rebooted film division of Viacom’s India joint venture, talks about the company’s restructuring and production plans.
Vincent Scordino joins Millennium Entertainment as director of acquisitions

Prior to joining Millennium Entertainment, Scordino served as manager of acquisitions at Apparition where he was involved in buying TheYoungVictoria and The Square.
Vincent Wants To Sea wins gold at German Lolas

Ralf Huettner’s Vincent Wants To Sea (Vincent Will Meer) picked up the Golden Lola for best feature film at this year’s German Film Awards in Berlin. Tom Tykwer’s Three (pictured
Vishal Bhardwaj

Mumbai-based director Vishal Bhardwaj talks about his latest film, dark comedy 7 Sins Forgiven (7 Khoon Maaf), which has its world premiere in thePanorama Special section of Berlin.
Vision & Media to make 40% of staff redundant

The regional screen agency has made the move in preparation for the launch of Creative England.
Visit Films closes deal with Ascot Elite for Herzog's Cave

Ryan Kampe of New York’s Visit Films has closed a deal with Ascot Elite for German-speaking territories on Werner Herzog’s Cave Of Forgotten Dreams.
Vue confirms deal for Sony 4K projectors

Vue Entertainment is set to become the largest cinema circuit equipped with Sony 4K digital capability in Europe.
Vue in discussion with studios to relax windows, plans VOD platform

UK cinema chain in talks with the studios to relax windows at certain times of the year.
Wake Wood

Dir: David Keating. Ireland-UK. 2011. 90mins
Wally Pfister wins ASC cinematography prize for Inception

Wally Pfister has won the 25th Annual American Society Of Cinematographers’ top feature film award for his work on Warner Bros’ box office smash Inception.
Warner Bros adds five to Facebook rental scheme

Titles include Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Inception, Life As We Know It, Yogi Bear.
Warner Bros confirm Costner casting on Superman

The studio and its partner Legendary Pictures said last night [17] that Kevin Costner will play the Man of Steel’s adoptive father Jonathan Kent.
Warner Bros shuts down international acqusitions unit

The dedicated international acquisitions division launched just over a year ago and had been developing a high-profile slate.
Warner Bros to offer films on Facebook

Consumers can rent films, including The Dark Knight, for $3 using Facebook ‘credits.’
Warner Bros to slim down New Line supply line

Warner Bros is expected to reduce the input from its feeder division as the studio focuses on developing a leaner slate of commercial heavyweights.Reports circulating Hollywood yesterday [22] said the annual number of films provided by New Line would drop to around four.Warner Bros declined to comment on such a move or on the potential impact on staffing levels at New Line, however it is understood the reduction could come into effect around 2013.New Line provided four fi
Water for Elephants

Dir: Francis Lawrence. US. 2011. 122mins
We Were Here

Dir: David Weissman. US 2010. 90mins
Weekly International Box Office April 1-3

Warner Bros.’ Sucker Punch scored a narrow points victory over its rivals on the least impressive international box office weekend of 2011.
Weekly International box office April 15-17

Fox’s Rio soared above its international rivals on $56m, $38m more than second-placed Scream 4.
Weekly international box office April 8-10

Fox’s animated-comedy Rio pummelled its international opposition, grossing $47m more than its nearest rival.
Weekly International Box Office Feb 04 - 06

Tangled held firm at the top of the international box office for a second consecutive week after adding $23.9m for a formidable $287.3m.
Weekly International Box Office Feb 11-13

Black Swan leapt from fifth to first on the international stage after posting $19.4m, a 56% week-on-week improvement.
Weekly International Box Office Feb 18-20

Fox’s thriller Black Swan remained at the top of the international class in its fifth week, posting a further $17.6m - only a 9% week-on-week decline.
Weekly International Box Office Feb 25 -27

Fox’s Black Swan continued to lord it over its international rivals in its sixth week, posting a third consecutive number one performance.
Weekly International Box Office Mar 25-27

Battle: Los Angeles narrowly edges out Rango at the top of a stagnant international box office
Weekly International Box Office March 04-06

The King’s Speech finally made it to the top of the international chart in its 11th week, grossing $20.1m from a week-high 51 territories.
Weekly International Box Office March 11-13

Rango king of the international box office last weekend, taking $24.1m from 5,214 screens; Japanese box office suffers.
Weekly International Box Office March 18 – 20

Battle: Los Angeles and Rango flip-flopped at the top of the international chart, with Sony’s first-placed action-sci fi taking $28.7m.
Weighing Up The Grit

The opening night of the Berlinale might serve True Grit’s international box office prospects, but in general US studios are far more cautious than they used to be about bringing tentpole pictures to festivals.
Weinsteins swoop on Tribeca doc The Bully Project

TWC has acquired all rights for the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Germany as well as pan-Asian satellite TV. The company will act as sales agent for outstanding territories.
Weinsteins takes US rights to Exclusive's So Undercover

US distributors were circling the Miley Cyrus action comedy in Berlin where Exclusive Films International closed multiple territories.
Weinsteins win PG-13 rating for alternate version of Speech

The Classification And Rating Administration (CARA) has assigned a PG-13 rating to an alternate version of The King’s Speech.
Whole Foods, Silverdocs launch green grant

The nationwide retailer of natural and organic food has teamed up with AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Festival on a $50,000 award for films about the environment to be awarded at Silverdocs on Jun 25.
Will Davies to adapt This Book Will Save Your Life

The big screen version of AM Homes darkly comic novel is being developed by Smuggler Films.
Willow Shields joins Lionsgate’s Hunger Games

The latest casting fanfare on the project surrounds a young newcomer who will play the heroine’s younger sister.
Wimbledon Film and Television Studios launched

Formerly known as Merton Studios, the newest addition to the UK studio sector is to be officially launched today by London mayor Boris Johnson.
Wimpy Kid shows box office muscle on $24m US debut

Fox’s family sequel Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules debuted at number one on an estimated $24.4m as Warner Bros’ Sucker Punch had to settle for second place.
Win Win premiere, New York

The team behind upcoming comedy Win Win at the film’s premiere in New York last week.
Win Win to open, Potiche to close 13th RiverRun

Thomas McCarthy’s comedy Win Win and Francois Ozon’s Potiche (pictured) bookend the 13th annual RiverRun International Film Festival, set to run in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from Apr 8-17.
With great power comes great responsibility...

The UKFC’s new report on (the lack of) diversity in film ignites a pressing issue: why are minorities underrepresented and misrepresented in film?
WME to represent life rights of celebrated Chilean miners

WME will represent of the official life rights of the 33 Chilean miners who famously survived 69 days trapped 2,000 feet below ground following a cave collapse.
Wrekin Hill, NECA form strategic distribution alliance

Wrekin Hill’s arrangement with film merchandising giant the National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) gives Chris Ball’s distributor the ability to reach retailers and the fanboy demographic.
Wrekin Hill, signs output deal with eOne in Canada

Wrekin Hill and eOne have signed a multi-year Canadian output agreement.
Writer Scott Burns in line for Dallas honours

Scott Z Burns, whose credits include The Bourne Ultimatum, The Informant and the upcoming Contagion, will receive the Dallas International Film Festival’s Dallas Star Award.
Yelling To The Sky

Dir/scr: Victoria Mahoney. US. 2011. 94mins
Yim Ho floats City for Mandarin Films

Production starts this week on Mandarin Films’ historical epic, Hundred Years Of A Floating City, to be directed by Yim Ho.
You Instead

Dir: David Mackenzie. UK. 2011. 90mins
Your Highness

Dir: David Gordon Green. US. 2011. 102mins
Zac Efron to play romantic action lead for Mandate

Commercials director Fredrik Bond will direct the untitled project from Matt Drake’s Black List screenplay originally titled The Necessary Death Of Charlie Countryman.
ZagrebDox, Croatia

Winners and attendees at ZagrebDox (Feb 27 - March 06), the biggest documentary festival in the Balkans
Zeitgeist acquires US rights to The Salt Of Life

Gianni Di Gregorio’s comedy stars Valeria de Franciscis as a spendthrift mother in a family of strong female characters.
Zentropa, Nordisk, Network pact for crime thriller series

Trio partner on new series based on successful novelist Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Danish series about a Danish police force.
Zohra: A Moroccan Fairytale

Dir/scr: Barney Platts-Mills. UK-Morocco. 2011. 80mins
Zvyagintsev, Szabo, Claro added to Bergman Week

Bergman dedication to include a never-seen-before film from the Swedish master

Screen21 Apr 2011

Screen
21 Apr 2011