Screen
22 Mar 2012

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[●REC]³ Génesis

Dir: Paco Plaza. Spain. 2012. 80mins
Box Office Games

Media have been gloating over the failure of John Carter to connect to audiences. But it is not a cause for celebration and will lead to even less tentpole risk-taking.
Bye Bye Blondie

Dir: Virginie Despentes. France-Belgium-Switzerland. 2012. 97mins
Cloclo

Dir: Florent-Emilio Siri. France-Belgium. 2012. 148mins
Cranston, Kendrick among cast on CBS comedy Get A Job

The company has confirmed the cast of Bryan Cranston, Anna Kendrick, Miles Teller and Christopher Mintz-Plasse on the tentatively titled story about graduates strugging to adjust to post-college life.
Fat Kid, Brooklyn Castle triumph at SXSW audience awards

The Austin festival announced the final winners roster at the weekend (17) as film-goers handed Matthew Lillard’s Fat Kid Rules The World the Narrative Feature Spotlight prize.
Hell Baby calls Darko Entertainment, Principato-Young

The partners will produce the horror comedy starring Rob Corddry and Leslie Bibb as an expectant couple who move into a haunted house in New Orleans and hire a Vatican exorcist.
IFC Films acquires North American rights to Cherry

Stephen Elliott’s directorial debut premiered at Berlin last month and will receive its North American premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival on Apr 24.
In The Family

Dir/scr: Patrick Wang. US. 2011. 169mins
Jeremy Irons in final talks to join Alcon’s Beautiful Creatures

The in-demand British actor whose recent appearances include Margin Call and the upcoming The Words (pictured with Bradley Cooper) is poised to sign on to the supernatural love story.
Joe Jenckes to head production at Benaroya Pictures

The new appointee produced Margin Call and worked closely with financier Michael Benaroya and will serve as executive producer on Kill Your Darlings starring Daniel Radcliffe and Elizabeth Olsen.
Music Box acquires North American rights to Keep The Lights On

Ira Sachs’ drama premiered in Sundance and went on to screen in Berlin where it won the Teddy Award. It screens in Tribeca next month.
Searchlight, Red Flag buy SXSW comedy Do-Deca-Pentathlon

Jay and Mark Duplass wrote and directed the film, set to receive its world premiere in Austin on Mar 11.
Sobini, Payam Films to partner on Manhattan Undying

Mark Amin and award winning Iranian filmmaker Babak Payami are collaborating on the story of a dying artist who paints a beautiful vampire who wants to see an image of herself for the first time.
The Blind Side producer Molly Smith launches Belle Pictures

Smith, who will remain Hilary Swank’s partner at 2S Films, will make features and TV in association with Alcon Entertainment in a four-year discretionary first-look deal.
Vinyl

Dir: Sara Sugerman. UK. 2012. 85mins
Zoey Deutch and Margo Martindale in talks to join Alcon’s Creatures

Shooting on Beautiful Creatures, the supernatural love story about a dark secret in a Southern community, will commence shooting next month in and around New Orelans.
21 Jump Street

Dir: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. US. 2012. 110mins
440 participants take part in Asian Side Of The Doc

440 participants from 30 countries attended the third edition of Asian Side of The Doc which was held in Tokyo from March 19-21.
A Secret World

Dir/scr: Gabriel Marino. Mexico. 2012. 87mins
A Thousand Words

Dir: Brian Robbins. US. 2012. 91mins
Abu Dhabi Film Festival becomes part of twofour54

Joins Abu Dhabi Film Commission, which came under twofour54 in 2011.
Academy awards Palms Springs Int’l Shortfest $20,000

The Palm Spring International ShortFest, set to run this year from Jun 19-25, will apply the grant towards the 2012 ShortFest forums.
Academy sets 85th awards ceremony for Feb 24, 2013

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has decided not to implement a drastic date change as previously mooted.
Adopt Films takes US rights to Berlin hit Tabu

Portuguese director Miguel Gomes’s romantic tale impressed critics in Berlin where it won the FIPRESCI award and the Alfred Bauer Prize for its innovative approach to storytelling.
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry to open Hot Docs

Alison Klayman’s well regarded documentary will receive its Canadian premiere at the festival on Apr 26.
Alcon Entertainment to produce Wally Pfister’s directorial debut

The Oscar winning cinematographer recently completed work on The Dark Knight Rises and will commence principal photography in early autumn from an untitled screenplay by newcomer Jack Paglen.
Alex Holdridge wraps shoot for Meet Me In Montenegro

EXCLUSIVE: In Search of A Midnight Kiss director’s new feature stars Rupert Friend, Jennifer Ulrich.
All eyes on the Netherlands

Ahead of its public opening, Geoffrey Macnab visits the EYE in Amsterdam and looks at how the museum and the EYE Film Institute can boost the Dutch film industry
Anchor Bay takes revenge thriller Girls Against Boys

The distributor has swooped on Austin Chick’s popular SXSW Midnighter entry following its Friday premiere in Austin.
Andreas Rothbauer leaving Beta Cinema

Andreas Rothbauer, Head of Theatrical Sales & International Acquisitions at Beta Cinema, is to leave after 12 years in the post.
Animation UK steps up fight for tax credits

Animation UK has been keeping up the momentum of its tax credits campaign with an eleventh-hour meeting with the Treasury.
Anna Higgs, Film4.0

Film4’s new digital arm will tell stories in ‘parallel places’ with film-makers including Ken Loach.
April shoot for I Give It A Year

Rose Byrne, Anna Faris, Rafe Spall and Simon Baker will star in Dan Mazer’s directorial debut, produced by Working Title.
As 3D novelty wears off, some experts call for more extreme uses

3D’s days as a novelty are up. That was the message at the second 3D Storytelling Conference at London’s Ravensbourne college.
Atlas Independent backs Will Monahan’s Mojave

The new division of Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment has unveiled its fourth project, a crime thriller that Monahan will direct from his original screenplay.
ATM

Dir: David Brooks. US. 2012. 90mins
Autonomy Pictures kicks off with US rights deal on The Bunny Game

Distribution veterans Derek Curl, David Gregory and Lewis Tice’s new distributor aims to release “uncompromising cinema on a worldwide scale” and will handle four films this year, starting with Adam Rehmeier’s torture porn.
BAFTA LA announces three-year scholarship programme

The initiative for graduate students studying in the US will grant a $15,000 scholarship. Runner-up will receive a grant worth $5,000 and there will be two $1,500 honourable mention awards.
Ballroom Marfa selects Cutter for exposure through The Reading

The Nicholl Fellow winning screenplay from Dion Cook will benefit from the initiative to showcase top quality writing, launched last year by the Texas-based non-profit arts group Ballroom Marfa.
Barbara leads nominations for Germany's Lola Awards

Christian Petzold’s Berlinale competition film Barbara has received eight nominations for this year’s German Film Awards, known popularly as the Lolas, which will be presented in a gala ceremony at Berlin’s Friedrichstadtpalast on April 27.
Battleship charts global course on IMAX

Universal’s Hasbro adaptation will be digitally remastered and released on the large screen format in more than 100 international theatres including sites in China and Russia, starting Apr 12.
BBC confirms pay TV download service

The BBC will submit proposals for a paid-for TV download service to the Trust this year, it has revealed.
BBC Films joins RPC for Julien Temple's Kinks feature

EXCLUSIVE: BBC Films is partnering with Jeremy Thomas’s Recorded Picture Company on You Really Got Me, Julien Temple’s feature film about British band The Kinks.
BBC, Directors UK draw up bill of rights for directors

BBC and Directors UK draw up Creative Rights document for directors working on BBC-in house productions.
Beaufoy, Buffini, Watkins among speakers at Page to Screen Festival

UK festival to host preview screening of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen; Beaufoy in conversation with novelist Torday.
Beautiful 2012

Dirs: Kim Tae-yong, Tsai Ming-Liang, Gu Changwei, Ann Hui. China. 2102. 90mins
Bela Bunyik to act as Hungarian producers rep in Los Angeles

The executive producer and founder of Bunyik Enterprises will forge relationships between the Hungarian Producers Association and North American producers.
Ben Roberts likely to remain at Protagonist through Cannes, succession plan underway

EXCLUSIVE: Interview process for Protagonist top position underway; shareholders committed to the sales company.
BFI Southbank launches Made In Britain season

The first installment will kick off in April, with a focus on female directors from the UK.
Blind Detective, Switch make Media Asia bow

Hong Kong’s Media Asia is introducing two high-profile projects at Filmart – Johnnie To’s crime drama Blind Detective and Jay Sun’s action drama Switch.
Bobby Paunescu, Jared Underwood among Solar Pictures co-founders

The financier and filmmaker Bobby Paunescu and former Comerica Entertainment senior executive Jared Underwood have partnered on the feature production venture with producer Kearie Peak and business affairs and acquisitions expert Christopher Taylor.
Bonsai, Imposter claim top prizes at Miami Film Fest

Alejandro Brugués’ Juan Of The Dead won the audience award as the 29th annual Miami International Film Festival came to an end at the weekend after nine days and 100 films from 35 countries
Bradford Film Festival to open with Damsels In Distress

Olivier Assayas, Barbara Windsor and Ray Winstone are amongst the high profile guests expected to attend.
British Council to bring Dickens programme to Abu Dhabi

The British Council is bringing a special Charles Dickens retrospective to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
Bruce Willis to star in Five Against A Bullet for Columbia

Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Jordan Schur and David Mimran are developing the action thriller about a Mexican politician who hires a quintet of ace bodyguards to protect him during an election after his father is killed by drug lords.
Bruno Wu, Justin Lin form Perfect Storm Entertainment

Ambitious Wu’s Seven Stars Film Studios has created a joint venture with Lin to create a feature slate in the first of three multi-million dollar collaborations with leading filmmakers that Seven Stars expects to unveil in the coming weeks.
BSAC conference tackles topics including VOD, decline in UK co-productions

Speakers include Stephen Garrett [pictured], Ben Roberts, Mark Herbert and Josh Berger.
Budget set to grant tax breaks for UK TV drama

The campaign to secure tax breaks for high-end UK drama looks set for victory,with sources suggesting the Chancellor will announce the scheme in next week’s Budget.
Buyers take Five Star’s Dark Flight

Thailand’s Five Star Production has closed a slew of deals on horror picture Dark Flight 3D including a sale to KSM for the UK and German-speaking territories and to Color Entertainment For Japan.
Cameron Bailey gets new Toronto title

Cameron Bailey becomes artistic director, TIFF, in move to streamline and integrate programming.
Cannes L’Atelier announces 2012 selection

Upcoming films from Marco Van Geffen, Mahmoud Al Massad and Mai Masri are among 15 projects to be presented at the financing event.
CAR takes North American rights to Smuggler

US-based Cinema Asia Releasing (CAR) has acquired North American rights to Japanese cult hit Smuggler, which premiered in the Midnight Madness section of last year’s Toronto film festival.
Caradog James to direct The Machine

The sci fi thriller is being produced by UK company Red And Black Films.
Carlo Dusi to head business affairs at Scott Free London

As the new head of business and commercial affairs Dusi will report to head of film and television Liza Marshall.
Casa De Mi Padre

Dir: Matt Piedmont. US. 2011. 84mins
Case Study: Parade's End

Tom Stoppard reteams with Shakespeare In Love producer David Parfitt for the BBC-HBO mini-series Parade’s End, which shot in the UK and Belgium.
Case Study: Titanic

The UK-Canada-Hungary co-production for TV written by Julian Fellowes will be seen in more than 85 countries.
Chadwick, Harris circle Mandela biopic Long Walk to Freedom

EXCLUSIVE: Anant Singh’s long-gestating Nelson Mandela biopic heats up with Justin Chadwick in advanced talks to direct and Skyfall actress Naomie Harris in talks to star as Winnie Mandela opposite Idris Elba.
China in the spotlight at Filmart 2012

The potential of mainland China’s booming film market may have lured many visitors to Hong Kong Filmart (March 19-22), but the present reality in this region are the trends of localisation and the growth of Asian TV.
China’s NCM says Yes to movie remake of Japanese TV hit

Beijing-based New Classic Media has partnered with Japan’s Fuji TV Network to co-finance and co-produce the Chinese film remake of 1991 hit Japanese TV drama 101st Marriage Proposal.
China’s YOU On Demand to distribute large-format films

Chinese video-on-demand (VoD) platform YOU On Demand Holdings has signed a deal with K2 Communications to distribute films made for large formats on VoD in China.
China's Youku and Tudou to merge

The video websites are to merge to form the largest video online company in China.
Chloe Moretz named CinemaCon Female Star Of Tomorrow

The actress will receive her honour at the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards on Apr 26.
Chloë Moretz, Rupert Grint join The Drummer

The youngsters will star alongside Aaron Eckhart and Vera Farmiga in the biopic based on the last six years of the life of Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson.
Chow Yun-fat to star in Wong Jing’s Shanghai

Chow Yun-fat is set to star in Grand Shanghai a big-budget Chinese gangster thriller to be directed by Wong Jing.
Cinedigm, New Video to jointly release The Invisible War

The partners have acquired North American rights to Kirby Dick’s winner of the Sundance US Documentary Audience Award earlier in the year.
Cinedigm/New Video take US rights to SXSW hit Citadel

Cinedigm and New Video have jointly taken US rights to Citadel, the winner of the audience award at SXSW’s Midnighter section.
CinemaCon to honour Diego Boneta as Rising Star Of 2012

The star of upcoming summer release Rock Of Ages will collect the award at the convention in Las Vegas on Apr 26.
Classic Media acquires rights to children’s favourite Noddy

The company secured the property in a deal with Chorion on behalf of the Enid Blyton estate.
Cleanskin

Dir/scr: Hadi Hajaig. UK. 2012. 107mins
CMG snares sales rights to heist thriller Get Lucky

Gateway Films and Atlas Independent are producing the film, currently in post. Atlas retains North American rights.
CMG to sell horror-thriller No Tell Motel in Cannes

Enderby Entertainment’s film follows five friends who get stranded at an abandoned roadside lodging where a terrible fate once befell a young girl and her parents.
Constantin Film, Hulu strike distribution partnership

The German company will bring eight titles to free Hulu and the Hulu Plus subscription service for streaming in the US.
Creative Coalition, Alcon strike marketing alliance

Under its Spotlight Initiative the arts and entertainment charity will integrate issue agendas into promotional campaigns for Alcon’s slate including the upcoming Speedboys.
Creative England appoints talent development team

Caroline Cooper Charles, Anna Seifert Speck and Wendy Bevan Mogg have been appointed to Creative England’s talent development team.
Curzon Artificial Eye announces raft of promotions, looks to fill four positions

Debbie Rowland becomes director of sales, marketing and distribution; company recruiting Curzon Cinemas MD.
Deals round-up: Freestyle travels down The Road

Meanwhile XLrator Media will release We The Party, Film Movement has acquired Teddy Bear, The Cinema Guild samples Step Up To The Plate and Wrekin Hill has acquired Sundance premiere The End Of Love.
Deals round-up: Well Go, Tribeca Film bulk up slates

Well Go USA has acquired all North American rights from Huayi Brothers Media to Tai Chi O, the first in a planned trilogy of films from Detective Dee And The Mystery Of Phantom Flame producer Chen Kuofu.
Denis Villeneuve to direct Hugh Jackman in Alcon’s Prisoners

The Incendies filmmaker with direct from Aaron Guzikowski’s story about a carpenter who goes after his daughter’s kidnappers and runs up against a big city detective assigned to the case.
Deool, Byari share best feature at India’s National Film Awards

Two films made in regional languages – Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni’s Deool and Suveeran’s Byari – will share the best feature film honours at the 59th edition of India’s National Film Awards.
Disney admits John Carter will generate $200m loss

In an astonishing admission, Disney issued a statement on Monday (19) reporting that the ill-fated sci-fi adventure will most likely lead to a $200m operating loss during the second quarter.
Disney's John Carter adds $41m in modest int'l weekend

In its second weekend the studio’s sci-fi adventure brought in a further $40.7m according to estimates to raise the international running total to $126.1m. On the same day (18) PPI registered an extraordinary achievement as Ghost Protocol crossed $100m in China.
Distribution Workshop launches Tycoon, Christmas Rose

Distribution Workshop, the Hong Kong-based sales arm of Chinese studio Bona Film Group, is attending Filmart with a slate of hot new projects including gangster thriller The Last Tycoon starring Chow Yun Fat.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

Dir: Chris Renaud. US. 2012. 85mins
Earliest Charles Dickens film discovered

The oldest surviving film featuring a Charles Dickens character – The Death Of Poor Joe - has been discovered by BFI curator Bryony Dixon.
EC launches public consultation on rules for state film support schemes

The European Commission publishes 12-page draft Cinema Communication which “intends to create a level playing field between member states and to encourage cross-border productions.”
Ecotopia named best film at Ankara Film Festival

Yüksel Aksu also won the Best Director award at the festival for Ecotopia.
Edinburgh Film Festival to close with Disney-Pixar's Brave

It will be the European premiere of the film, which is set in Scotland and features the voices of Billy Connolly, Kelly Macdonald and Robbie Coltrane.
Emil Elmer joins FFI as svp international sales

The executive will be based in London and reports to co-president of Focus Features International Alison Thompson in the run-up to a prestigious Cannes for the company.
Emma Watson to star in Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring

The ensemble project, allegedly based on real events, follows a group of teens as they carry out a series of celebrity break-ins.
Emperor fights fire with Derek Kwok, Nicolas Tse

Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) is launching a big-budget fire-fighting drama at Filmart, to be directed by hot up-and-coming filmmaker Derek Kwok with Nicholas Tse heading the cast.
eOne takes UK rights to The 4th Reich from Mann Made and AV Pictures

Shaun Robert Smith to direct the WW2 action horror; producers include Scott Mann [pictured].
eOne to ramp up TV co-productions, Peter Emerson relocates to London

Entertainment One (eOne) looks to ramp international co-productions with expanded European focus.
Eros acquires international rights to Tezz

India’s Eros International Media has acquired international distribution rights to upcoming action thriller Tezz, directed by Priyadarshan.
European Commission's plans for Creative Europe under scrutiny

The European Commission’s (EC) proposal for a new Creative Europe programme to replace the current Culture, MEDIA and MEDIA Mundus programmes from 2014 has come under criticism from German politicians and representatives of the German arts and media world.
European pictures

How are Europe’s broadcasters adapting their film acquisition policies in the face of changing consumer patterns and economic crisis?
Exclusive Media reports torrent of business on Undefeated

This year’s best documentary Oscar winner has sold to Dogwoof in the UK, Madman in Australia and CDC in Latin America, among others.
Exclusive Media to play The Odds with John Lesher

The company is reuniting with its End Of Watch collaborator and has optioned all rights to Stewart O’Nan’s novel The Odds: A Love Story.
Exclusive Media, Cross Creek announce start of Rush

Ron Howard has begun shooting on the dramatic tale of the rivalry between 1970s Formula 1 icons James Hunt and Niki Lauda starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.
Eye on Films acquires Clip, closes deals

EXCLUSIVE: Wide label picks up Maja Milos’s Rotterdam Tiger Award winner Clip and makes sales across slate.
Fabien Riggall, Future Cinema

A film made in 1949 inspires more than $1.1m in ticket sales in a six-week London run — no wonder the industry is paying more attention to Secret Cinema. Wendy Mitchell talks to Future Cinema founder Fabien Riggall.
Festival Scope adds partnership with HAF

Festival Scope adds HAF pact in addition to Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Fifth annual IFFLA honourees to include Kishore Lulla, Michelle Satter

The Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles has announced its annual Industry Leadership Awards honourees.
Film Independent’s second Documentary Lab begins in LA

Film Independent’s seven-week intensive programme has got underway in Los Angeles for filmmakers in the non-fiction arena.
Film Sales Co boosts slate with SXSW, MIP TV titles

Andrew Herwitz has taken on sale rights to Mark Kendall’s SXSW premiere La Camioneta, about a man who buys a decommissioned yellow school bus and drives it to his native Guatemala to use as a private bus.
Filmart rocked by 4D Sexecution

Hong Kong producer Stephen Shiu Jr has one of the most popular booths at Filmart thanks to his slate of hot 3D movies and teaser demonstration of 4D Sex And Zen.
FilmDistrict hires Christine Birch as president of marketing

Peter Schlessel (pictured) has slotted an important piece of the jigsaw into place in the wake of the departure of former president of theatrical releasing Bob Berney and his wife, evp of marketing Jeanne Berney.
Fine tuning

Movie acquisitions for US TV channels are steady but the picture will soon get more complex as studio output deals come up for renewal and SVoD players step up.
First among sequels

How did the top international territories fare at the box office in 2011? Ian Sandwell looks at Harry Potter’s dominance, local hits and trends in 3D
First Time for Edko, Irresistible

Hong Kong’s Edko Films and Irresistible Films are launching sales on romantic love story First Time, starring Angelababy (Hot Summer Days) and Mark Chao (Monga) here in Filmart.
Fortissimo goes Full Circle

Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights outside China to Zhang Yang’s upcoming feature Full Circle.
Fortune Cookies to shoot at Elstree Studios

The low budget cross cultural comedy is being partly financed via crowdfunding.
Frankenweenie to get IMAX treatment for October release

Tim Burton’s stop-motion animated film will be remastered into the IMAX format ahead of the worldwide day-and-date release through Disney on Oct 5.
Freddie Fletcher joins TallTree Pictures board

Company has produced thriller Harrigan.
Freestyle Digital Media takes North American rights to A Bird Of The Air

The deal with Tashtego Films excludes US theatrical after Paladin released the rom-com in autumn 2011.
French 3D guru, Pina stereographer Alain Derobe dies

French 3D expert Alain Derobe, the stereographer on Wim Winders’ Pina and Laurent Tirard’s upcoming Astérix and Obélix: On Her Majesty’s Service, has died aged 76.
French cinema lobbies for digital update of l’exception culturelle laws

Directors Michel Hazanavicius and Luc Besson join campaigns calling for overhaul of France’s famous cultural exception laws taking into account new digital landscape.
French presidential candidates woo cinema world

France goes to the polls this Sunday for the first round of presidential elections. In a campaign dominated by the economy,immigration and unemployment, candidates have also found time to court the cinema world too.
Gimme The Loot, Beware Of Mr Baker win at SXSW

The festival announced the winners of the narrative and documentary jury prizes on Tuesday evening (13).
Global box office surged 3pc to record $32.6bn in 2011

Annual statistics released by the Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) confirm China as the second biggest market outside North America behind Japan and reveal that the record $22.4bn international gross accounted for 69% of worldwide revenues.
Golden Scene picks up Vulgaria

Hong Kong’s Golden Scene is handling international sales on Pang Ho Cheung’s Vulgaria, which is screening in this year’s HKIFF.
Grace Carley appointed CTBF's head of fundraising

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF), the charity which supports film and television industry employees and their families in times of hardship, has appointed Grace Carley as its new head of fundraising.
Gravitas, Variance Films launch distribution alliance at SXSW

The partners aim to acquire and jointly release seven or eight films a year simultaneously in theatres and on VoD.
Guadalajara International Film Festival (2-10 March)

Industry attendees at the 27th Guadalajara International Film Festival.
Hadi Hajaig to direct Blue Iguana

The $5m comedy heist movie will shoot in the UK and Canada.
Hard Boiled Sweets

Dir/scr: David L.G. Hughes. UK. 2012. 86mins
Harry Potter named Best Film at Jameson Empire Awards

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy won three awards at the ceremony, which took place in London last night.
Horrible Bosses writer to script Tradition Studios feature

Mike Markowitz will get to work on the untitled project from Digital Domain Media Group’s new animated division.
Hot projects on Screenbase

New projects added to Screen’s online production database includes South Africa set thriller Layla FourieI as well as UK comedy I Give It A Year.
Hot projects on Screenbase

Gerard Depardieu will star in French thriller Miserere and the Film Agency For Wales will support Dominic Murphy’s Cassy and Jude.
Human Rights Watch Film Festival to open with UK premiere of The Island President

16th edition of the festival opens tomorrow in London this and runs to March 30.
Hunger Games advance ticket sales close to Twilight, Clash in UK

EXCLUSIVE: Cineworld reports around 22,000 advance ticket sales for Lionsgate blockbuster; exhibitors upbeat but not bowled over ahead of film’s first previews tonight [22].
Hunger Games hits target with $19.8m in midnight grosses

Lionsgate said on Friday morning (23) this was the highest non-sequel North American midnight performance in history and the seventh biggest of all time, beating among others The Dark Knight’s $18.5m score back in July 2008.
Hunger Games plunders $59.3m from 67 international markets

Lionsgate’s runaway train reached $214.3m worldwide after its opening weekend factoring in the $155m North American launch and opened top in virtually every market according to the distributor.
IDFA's Jan Vrijman Fund backs 20 projects with €212,000

Submissions were from 40 countries.
iFeatures2 opens for submissions

Creative England’s low budget film-making scheme has been extended across the UK; 3 projects will be greenlit to shoot on budgets of £350,000 with backing from the BFI Film Fund, BBC and Skillset.
IFFLA heads towards tenth anniversary event in April

Bedabrata Pain’s Chittagong and Prashant Bhargava’s Patang bookend the Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA) which will screen 33 films from around the world.
IFTA, PGA prepare for LA conference season

Eli Roth will give the keynote address at the 13th annual IFTA Production Conference on Apr 20 in Beverly Hills, one of three prominent conferences set to take place in Los Angeles in the next three months.
Image takes all US rights to SXSW thriller The Tall Man

Jessica Biel stars as a nurse whose son is snatched by a figure of local folklore who has abducted children from the town of Cold Rock for years.
Image takes North American rights to Freak Dance

The satire about performers who strive to master a notorious dance move in order to win a contest features Amy Poehler and Tim Meadows.
IMAX to install three systems in Pakistan

IMAX pacts with Cine Star Cinema Pakistan for three new digital systems in new-build cinemas in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, Pakistan, beginning in 2013.
Inaugural Argentine Film Festival in London to deliver Chinese Take-Away

Sebastian Borenzstein’s box office hit will open the UK festival, which runs April 19-22.
Inception Media Group adds five to library

The Santa Monica-based company has acquired North America distribution rights to a quintet of old and new titles that will be made available across multiple platforms including VoD and digital.
Independent swoops on NFTS duo

EXCLUSIVE: “Exceptional year” for NFTS directors sees duo signed early by Independent Talent; United Talent also takes on graduate.
India’s film industry revenues up 11% in 2011

India’s film industry grew by 11.5% to $1.85bn (Rs93bn) in 2011, according to a report issued by KPMG on the eve of the FICCI Frames conference in Mumbai.
India’s Trigno to remake The Infidel in Hindi

India’s Trigno Media has acquired rights to develop a Hindi version of UK comedy The Infidel, which was a hit at the UK box office in 2010.
Indomina tames Filly Brown, Goldwyn saddles up with Cowgirls

Indomina has picked up worldwide rights to Sundance premiere Filly Brown starring Gina Rodriguez, Jenni Rivera, Lou Diamond Phillips and Edward James Olmos.
Industry mobilises support for Twickenham Studios as Taylor Wimpey in talks for redevelopment

EXCLUSIVE: Spielberg, Cronenberg, Daldry among petition signatories; homebuilder Taylor Wimpey in discussions for site redevelopment; Business Secretary and MP for Twickenham Vince Cable contacted by constituents.
Int'l arena spares Disney’s blushes as Carter takes $71m

The sci-fi spectacle opened in 51 territories on $70.6m led by a typically muscular Russian debut of $17.5m that made up for the film’s disappointing North American debut.
Int'l preview: Disney plots global domination for John Carter

The fantasy adventure opens day-and-date around the world this weekend in virtually every major market through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International except China and Japan.
Iran’s A Separation leads Asian Film Awards

Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation was the big winner at the Asian Film Awards last night scooping best film, best director, best screenwriter and best editor.
Istanbul announces competition, juries, ramps industry events

Nuri Bilge Ceylan to preside over Golden Tulip Competition, which includes Death of a Superhero, Wuthering Heights and Albert Nobbs.
Jack Ledwith to receive 2012 CinemaCon Passepartout Award

The svp of international distribution for Universal Pictures will receive the honour at the annual exhibition convention in Las Vegas on Apr 23.
Jean-Pierre Dardenne heads Cannes Cinefondation and short films jury

Director Dardenne to head jury of five for student and short film prizes.
Jerry Pierce to receive Inter-Society’s 2012 Ken Mason Award at CinemaCon

The former svp of technology at Universal Pictures and founder/chairman of the Inter-Society’s Digital Cinema Forum will collect the honour in Las Vegas on Apr 24.
Jesse Owens to open Full Frame, Stanley Nelson honoured

The world premiere of Laurens Grant’s film will screen at the event in Durham, North Carolina, on Apr 12 and is the filmmaker’s first feature for PBS.
Jim Henson Company cuts first deal with China on Sid The Science Kid

The Henson’s first 3D animated film project is headed for MIPTV and involves a partnership with China’s Nine Eyes Stone & Shanghai Animation Film Studios to create a feature version of the TV series.
Jim Orr joins FilmDistrict as president of distribution

The former senior sales and distribution executive at MGM and Paramount slots into place alongside recent marketing chief hire Christine Birch.
Jim Underwood lands top digital job at SPHE

The incoming evp of worldwide digital and commercial strategy will report to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop and assumes oversight of all transactional digital business worldwide.
John Carter

Dir: Andrew Stanton. US. 2012. 133mins
John Carter heads into second session with eyes on $125m

Int’l preview: Embattled Disney executives have endured a difficult week of press speculation about writedowns after the film’s underwhelming North American debut and will look for a solid second international session.
Josh McLaughlin joins Focus Features as svp production

The executive most recently served as evp at Chernin Entertainment and starts work this month, reporting to president of production Jeb Brody.
Jules T-Smith's new Sweet As A Films to produce Stalking Ben Chadz feature

Montserrat Lombard and Olivia Poulet to write and star in comedy; Sweet As A Films to produce, announces slate.
Julian Fellowes to adapt Gypsy for Universal

Barbra Streisand and Joel Silver – the latter making his first foray into Broadway musicals – are adapting the project for the studio.
K5 adds SXSW thriller Girls Against Boys to Cannes slate

Austin Chick’s female revenge tale premiered in Austin in the Midnighters strand on Friday night (9) and stars Danielle Panabaker and Nicole LaLiberte.
K5 snaps up international rights to SXSW screener King Kelly

Andrew Neel’s sparky drama is made up entirely of camera phone diaries and follows an aspiring internet star as she embarks on a hedonistic quest to reclaim a stash of narcotics.
Kadokawa picks up Japanese rights to Marley

Kadokawa Pictures has acquired all Japanese rights to Kevin Macdonald’s Bob Marley documentary Marley from Fortissimo Films.
Kaleidoscope records busy EFM

UK sales outfit sees sales on Interview with a Hitman and Strippers vs Werewolves; acquires four.
Kaleidoscope takes UK, international sales rights to Zombibi

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Dutch Shaun of the Dead’ will be released in UK this summer.
Karlovy Vary plans retrospectives for Erdem, Melville, Antonioni

The 47th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has announced three retrospectives.
Katniss and co leap into record books with $152.5m US debut

UPDATE: Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games grossed a confirmed $152.5m down from the estimated $155m and beat the opening weekend of every Twilight film to date and secured the third biggest launch of all time, the biggest non-sequel debut and the biggest March debut to signal the arrival of the next monster pop culture franchise.
Ken And Mary

Dir: Kenta Fukasaku. Japan. 2012. 87mins
Ken Munekata named president of BBC Worldwide Japan

He had been president of Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan.
Kenneth Branagh to receive San Francisco Film Society honour

The British talent will collect the Founder’s Directing Award at the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival which runs from Apr 19-May 3.
Kevin Macdonald

Oscar winning director Kevin Macdonald talks about the challenges of making his latest documentary about reggae legend Marley.
Khoo fills Urn, engages Apprentice

Gorylah Pictures, one of two production labels run by Singapore filmmaker and Asian Film Awards jury president Eric Khoo, is joining forces with Clover Films and MM2 Entertainment to co-produce supernatural thriller Inside The Urn (working title), to be directed by Gilbert Chan.
Kim to lead post-merger Lionsgate sales force at Cannes

As uncertainty continued to swirl over the fate of international sales staff following Lionsgate’s acquisition of Summit, Screendaily has learned that Helen Lee Kim will stay on through the market and head a team handling titles from both the Lionsgate and Summit slates.
Klitschko documentary sold to Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures has picked up global rights to Sebastian Dehnhardt’s documentary Klitschko about the boxing brothers Vitaly and Vladimir.
Knatchbull outlines vision for Curzon's future

Speaking at BSAC conference, CEO talks about future growth plans for physical venues and on demand platforms.
LFS, Skillset launch industry programme for UK producers

Skillset-backed Fast Forward: the Whole Story tutors include Colin Vaines, Rebecca O’Brien.
Lily Collins joins cast of Informant Media’s Writers

Kristen Bell, Logan Lerman, Nat Wolff and Liana Liberato have also come on board the project, which as previously announced will star Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly. Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel’s fledgling financing and sales house The Solution introduced the project to buyers in Berlin and CAA represents US rights.
Lily Collins to star in Mortal Instruments for Constantin, Unique

Harald Zwart will direct the bestseller adaptation about a young girl in New York who discovers she belongs to a clan of half-angel warriors who must defeat all manner of supernatural creatures.
Lionsgate awaits destiny as The Hunger Games begin

International preview: The independent community will be willing the studio on as it launches the first of what it hopes will become a teen franchise across most of the world this weekend.
Lionsgate takes US, UK rights to Hummingbird

Jason Statham stars in the thriller, set to begin shooting in London on Monday (Mar 12). The studio negotiated the deal with worldwide rights holder IM Global.
LipSync boards Murphy's Blood, Athale's Wasteland

The Soho based post production house will provide equity investment and post services for Murphy’s second feature.
Locarno, Cottbus join partners for Wroclaw's talent event

New partners have joined for the third edition of the training even at Wroclaw, Poland’s T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival.
Locarno's Carte Blanche to focus on Mexico

Now in its second year, Locarno’s Carte Blanche will shine the light on Mexican films in post production.
Loehr to exit CAA’s China office

Peter Loehr is leaving his position as managing director of CAA China, the agency’s seven-year-old outpost in Beijing.
London 2012 film plans include Ramsay's The Swimmer, Kapadia's The Odyssey

Olympics shorts — including one by Mike Leigh — to premiere in Edinburgh on June 24 before screening in London; Woolcock, Temple and Eyre projects also planned.
Lorax prevails in US on $39m as John Carter slumps

Disney’s much hyped and roundly condemned sci-fi adventure limped into action in second place on an estimated $31m as Dr Seuss’ The Lorax stayed top in its second weekend and surged to $122m.
Lorax scores biggest US launch of year-to-date on $71m

Universal’s estimated opening weekend delivered by far the most resounding debut of the year-to-date as Dr Seuss’ The Lorax demolished the competition to maintain the first quarter’s hot pace at the box office.
Lord Puttnam offers seven-point plan for 'copyright rehabilitation'

Speaking at the launch of the Film Distributors’ Association Yearbook today, Lord Puttnam offered “a recipe for copyright rehabilitation”, including a “search function code of ethics.” His speech also touched on proposals around EU licensing rights.
Los Angeles Irish Film Festival founder-director named Irish woman of the year

Lisa McLaughlin will be honoured by the Mayor and city council of Los Angeles with a lunch at a St Patrick’s Day event on Mar 17.
Lotte picks up sales on Ghastly, Architecture 101

South Korean sales company Lotte Entertainment is launching sales at Filmart on horror film Ghastly starring Hyo-min of popular girl group T-ara in her acting debut.
Louisiana Film Prize lures inward investment with $50,000 pot

The Inaugural award from the Louisiana Film Prize Festival will go to global filmmakers whose short film must shoot in the Shreveport-Bossier area.
Love In The Buff

Dir: Pang Ho-cheung. Hong Kong, China. 2012. 112mins
LoveFilm streaming overtakes physical rental

LoveFilm surpasses 2 million subscribers; subs migrate to streaming.
MacLennan Affair, Two Graves among winners at HAF

Derek Tsang and Jimmy Wan’s The MacLennan Affair took the HAF Award for a project originating in Hong Kong at the closing ceremony of this year’s Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
Madagascar 3 to receive world premiere in Cannes

It is understood the DreamWorks Animation spectacle will become the latest in a recent long line of Hollywood tentpoles to launch out of competition on the Croisette.
Magnolia to handle US theatrical release of Bel Ami

The distributor negotiated the deal with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, who will take charge of all other US media, and will open the drama on Jun 8.
Malaysia to introduce 30% production rebate

The Malaysian government is set to introduce a rebate scheme for local and international films shooting in Malaysia.
Marcia Gay Harden signs on Get A Job for CBS Films

Dylan Kidd directs the tentatively titled multi-generational comedy about four college graduates who try to face up to the realities of adulthood.
Marco Mueller appointed Rome artistic director

After weeks of political infighting, Marco Mueller has finally been appointed as the artistic director of the Rome Film Festival.
Marna Grantham, Gloria Lee join Miramax int’l sales team

With MIP and Cannes approaching, Miramax has appointed Grantham svp of domestic and Latin America and Lee director of digital sales.
MarVista Entertainment expands management team

Following new investment in August, the film and television company has brought in finance expert Susan Young as CFO and promoted Vanessa Goglio Shapiro from svp of worldwide sales to evp of sales.
Mass Hysteria prepares shoot on action thriller The Boiling Point

The project is set to go before camers in Manitoba in late spring and tells of a gangster sent to kill an informer who used to be his girlfriend.
Mayor Bloomberg unveils five soundstages at Steiner Studios

The New York City Mayor was at Brooklyn Navy Yard with the city’s media and entertainment commissioner Katherine Oliver today for the ceremony, which brings an extra 45,000 sq ft of film set in addition to the venue’s existing facilities.
Media Luna picks up rights to UK thriller Unconditional

Christian Cooke and Harry McEntire star in thriller from Stone City Films.
Meise's Still Life wins at Diagonale; Fribourg opens with Salt

Michael wins several awards in Graz; Thierry Jobin takes the helm at Switzerland’s Fribourg.
Memento Mori's Min Kyu-dong directs romcom for M-Line

South Korean sales company M-Line Distribution is launching sales on romantic comedy All About My Wife at Filmart in Hong Kong.
MGM cements int’l network with Lusomundo, Selim Ramia deals

Hot on the heels of clearing debt and securing a $500m revolving credit facility, the revitalised studio’s co-chairmen and CEOs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum say they have effectively sealed their global distribution network with two fresh multi-year agreements.
Michael Murphy launches production services company Rockabill Media

Former Windmill Lane executive to work as co-producer and access Irish tax credit.
Miramax CEO Mike Lang announces sudden departure

The widely-admired executive exits after a brief and impressive tenure and will stay on as consultant to the company during the search for a successor.
Mixed blessings

Dutch films have been booming in recent years, but public spending cuts are threatening future success. Screen examines the current state of Dutch production, including 10 hot films.
M-Net launches VOD African Film Library

The service promises to offer the world’s largest online collection of African film content.
Moo-vie making

A competition launched by UK magazine Farmer’s Weekly has inspired us to come up with our own agriculturally themed film titles.
MPI Media Group snatches North American rights to Heineken Kidnapping

The Dutch thriller is based on the actual 1983 abduction of the brewery magnate Alfred Heineken who was eventually released for a €16m ransom.
Musical Chairs

Dir: Susan Seidelman. US. 2012. 100mins
National Youth Film Academy launches apprenticeship scheme

20 budding young film-makers from the UK will take part in the scheme which runs for 9 months.
NEW
New Pangs, Chan films headline Universe slate

Hong Kong’s Universe Films Distribution is unveiling a slate of action films at Filmart, headed by new projects from the Pang Brothers and Benny Chan.
New Regency COO/CFO Louis Santor to step down in July

A statement issued by the company said Santor was leaving to pursue “opportunities and new challenges” after serving 20 years.
New Zealand film-makers Albiston, Sutherland go Shopping

Their feature deubt is being produced by Warp Films Australia.
Newcastle Tynside Cinema launches production scheme

The project has received the support of North East born director Ridley Scott.
NonStop picks up Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom

NonStop has taken Scandinavian rights to the Cannes opener.
Northern Film & Media, Film4, Skillset launch development programme

The 12 week intensive programme will be headed up by Ivana Mackinnon, Kate Leys and Jo McClellan.
Obituary: Tonino Guerra, pillar of postwar Italian cinema

The Italian screenwriter whose work helped define postwar Italian cinema died on Wednesday (21) after battling an ongoing illness. He was 92.
Okinawa fest opens, organiser Yoshimoto steps up international profile

The fourth edition of the Okinawa International Movie Festival (OIMF, Mar 24-31) launched this weekend with increased emphasis on the event’s organiser — comedy giant Yoshimoto Kogyo — working to establish itself internationally.
One World Media Awards unveils nominees

Miss Bala, Otelo Burning and Shuga: Sex, Love And Money are up for the best drama prize.
Oscilloscope acquires North America on Bunohan

Easternlight Films represents international sales on Dain Said’s Malaysian action title Bunohan: Return To Murder.
Oscilloscope Laboratories takes US rights to Samsara

The third feature from Mark Magidson and Ron Fricke premiered in Toronto last autumn and will open theatrically this summer.
Out of Africa

A number of UK industry were at Working Title last night for the UK premiere screening of short film Malika, written and directed by Bee Gilbert, producer of The Cement Garden.
Outfest, NewFest strike strategic alliance

The LA-based non-profit and the New York-based festival are to merge into one national arts organisation dedicated to promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) interests.
Outnumbered team writes feature with Origin, BBC Films

EXCLUSIVE: Writer-directors Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin are developing a feature comedy with similar techniques and themes to hit BBC series.
Outside Bet

Dir: Sacha Bennett. UK. 2012. 101mins
Paolo Ferrari named president of Rome’s Cinema Foundation

The founding partners of Rome’s Cinema Foundation voted on Monday (Mar 5) four to one in favour of Ferrari, ending a fierce political struggle that waged for two months.
Paramount launches film channel in Spain

Available on free to air TV, the new channel will feature more than 600 films.
Parminder Vir to head Ascension Media office in Mumbai

Ascension heads to Mumbai to tap booming entertainment sector.
Parts & Labor, Ocean Size to make Dirty White Boy

Michael K Williams from The Wire is set to star as the late hip-hop artist Ol’ Dirty Bastard (aka Russell Jones). K5 International is financing the project and will handle all worldwide sales.
Payback Season

Dir: Danny Donnelly. UK. 2012. 87mins
Pegasus lines up Kok comedy, 3D horror

Raymond Wong’s Pegasus Motion Pictures is gearing up to shoot two projects in the second quarter of 2012 – Vincent Kok’s Guys Are Like Clothes (working title) and a 3D horror film from Po Chih Leong.
Penny Woolcock amongst Bertha Britdoc grantees

Fourteen grants totaling £230,000 have been awarded through The Bertha Foundation and BRITDOC’s new Connect Fund and Documentary Journalism Fund.
PGA names Susan Sprung associate national executive director

Sprung previously served as special counsel at the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers in Los Angeles and before that she was an associate at Barrett Smith Shapiro Simon and Armstrong in New York.
Phase 4 picks up North America on That’s What She Said

Carrie Preston’s raunchy female comedy premiered at Sundance in the NEXT section and will open day-and-date theatrically and on VOD later this year.
Phase 4, Kevin Smith fall for Slamdance winner Bindlestiffs

The North American rights deal brings in the first film under the recently announced partnership to get the branding support of the Kevin Smith’s SModcast Pictures Presents label.
Producer/writer/director recoupment is hot topic as industry gathers for BAFTA Film Policy Review debate

Panelists touch on producer/writer/director recoupment, commercial value of British films and Review’s lack of attention on sales companies.
Project X

Dir: Nima Nourizadeh. US. 2012. 88mins
Quota deal satisfies both East and West

The recent agreement between China and the US to widen the revenue-sharing quota has been met with enthusiasm by all parties and has been driven by consumer demand.
Radius-TWC takes US rights to Only God Forgives

Nicolas Winding Refn is currently in production in Thailand on the crime thriller with his Drive star Ryan Gosling. Wild Bunch and Gaumont are producing together for the first time.
Rai to take on sales for Cinecitta Luce library

Ahead of MIPTV, Rai International Sales and Cinecittà Luce have struck a pact for Rai to handle international sales of the Cinecitta Luce library. The 10-year deal is renewable.The library includes more than 200 titles, including works from Rossellini, Olmi, Antonioni, Bertolucci, Liliana Cavani and Giuliano Montaldo. The agreement between Rai and Cinecittà Luce will also offer HD restored versions of classics by the likes of Bertolucci, Rossellini, Olmi and Zurlini.
Random House production arm options Dog Loves Books

The production arm of publisher Random House has optioned a book by award-winning children’s author and illustrator Louise Yates.
Redford’s new Sundance Productions lines up Watergate doc

Robert Redford and producing partner Laura Michalchyshyn’s venture will focus on television and multimedia content.
Regent Street Cinema launch event

Industry attendees at the launch event for the Regent Street Cinema, London (Thursday 22 March).
Richard Lester honoured with BFI fellowship

The director was presented with the award following a screening of his 1976 film Robin And Marian, starring Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery, at the BFI Southbank.
RiverRun unveils 14th edition and line-up

Elisabeth Sperling and Trish Dalton’s comedy One Night Stand and Fred Schepisi’s drama The Eye Of The Storm bookend the 14th annual RiverRun International Film Festival, set to take place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, from Apr 13-22.
Riviera Maya festival and Rivieralab market launch in March

Seventy films will screen during the Riviera Maya Film Festival, set to run in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and Holbox from Mar 20-25.
Roadside Fugitive

Dir/scr: Yu Irie. Japan. 2012. 110mins
Robo-G

Dir/scr: Shinobu Yaguchi. Japan. 2011. 95mins
Royo, Eigenberg, Press star in Calloused Hands

Writer/director Jesse Quinones’ debut about a promising baseball player from a tough background is executive produced by Effie Brown.
Sacha Baron Cohen, Paramount agree first-look deal

In advance of the May 11 release of The Dictator, the star’s Four By Two label has signed a three-year deal with Paramount.
Sales Scene Heats Up

New companies with international sales capabilities are pouring into the business, many of them choosing to launch in London. Buyers at Cannes could be spoilt for choice.
Sales veteran Pascal Diot to head Venice Film Market

The Venice Film Festival under the artistic direction of Alberto Barbara has announced that French industry professional Pascal Diot will act as director of the new Venice Film Market to take place from Aug 30-Sept 3 over the first few days of the festival.
San Francisco Film Society announces SFFS/KRF grants

The Society in association with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation have selected 11 narrative feature projects for the seventh round of grants up to $300,000.
Screen Australia backs four new features including Curran's Tracks

Screen Australia also puts money into an omnibus title that has 17 directors including Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska.
Screen Media takes North American rights to Heleno

Jose Henrique Fonseca’s biopic of the 1940’s Brazilian footballer Heleno de Freitas has just screened at the Miami International Film Festival and will open theatrically in summer.
Screen Yorkshire, Northern Film & Media launch Triangle 2012

Screen Yorkshire, Northern Film and Media and Skillset are launching a new national talent development initiative aimed at encouraging writers, directors and producers to develop new working relationships.
Screen's Filmart panel explores online access to China, rest of Asia

How to monetize expensive TV and film content online in Asia was the topic in the opening Filmart panel yesterday “New Prospects for Online Distribution Of Entertainment Content” which featured speakers from Chinese web platforms Youku and Qiyi.
ScreenSingapore pushed back to December

Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has announced that the second edition of ScreenSingapore will move to December to take place at the same time as the Asia Television Forum (ATF).
SeeFlik, Comcast team up for online competition

SeeFlik will bring 20 shorts from student filmmakers to Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand.
Short buzz

Worm (Matt Wilkinson+Emily Leo+Bert&Bertie+Richard Van Den Bergh) = packed BAFTA screening room.
Showbox sends Thieves around Asia

Showbox seals key Asian territory deals on Macau diamond heist film The Thieves from Korean director Choi Dong-hoon.
Sierra / Affinity closes key territories in 'best EFM to date'

CEO Nick Meyer has hailed the company’s most successful sales trip to Berlin as the team licensed multiple territories to Sony for genre title Wer and closed deals on Heat, Everly and Sundance hit Celeste And Jesse Forever.
Sierra/Affinity adds Emperor epic to sales slate

Matthew Fox, Tommy Lee Jones and rising Japanese actress Eriko Hatsune star in the political thriller with romantic undertones set around the time of the Japanese surrender during the second world war. Sierra/Affinity will handle international sales while CAA represents North American rights.
Sightseers

Ben Wheatley follows the acclaimed Kill List with a ‘lighter’ story about serial killers on a caravan holiday. Ian Sandwell visited the set.
Singapore’s Clover Films sets six-picture slate

Singapore’s Clover Films is gearing up to release a slate of six productions before the end of the year, as it responds to growing demand in Singapore and Malaysia for locally-produced films.
Six selected for Rencontres de Toulouse's Cinéma en Construction

Six films have been selected to take part in the 21st edition of Cinéma en Construction (29 – 30 March), part of Cinélatino, Rencontres de Toulouse (23 March – 1 April).
Sofia's Grand Prix goes to Brazil's Julia Murat, local filmmaker Bojanov receives four awards

Stories Only Exist When Remembered wins the Grand Prix for Best Film; Special Award goes to Magic Valley; Konstantin Bojanov wins Best Director and three more.
Sonamu grabs Malaysia’s Bunohan for Korea

Korea’s Sonamu Pictures has acquired action drama Bunohan, directed by Malaysian filmmaker Dain Iskandar Said, from Easternlight Films.
Sony Pictures Classics acquires world on West Of Memphis

The miscarriage of justice documentary premiered in Sundance in January and is produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh.
Sony, Fluent unveil local-language partnership

Under the three-year worldwide first-look deal Sony will distribute local-language films produced by local producers in collaboration with former studio executive Clifford Werber’s fledgling Fluent Entertainment.
Sony-MGM's 21 Jump Street leads US charts on $35m

The action comedy starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum stormed the citadel to dominate the weekend, some way ahead of Universal’s The Lorax in second place which has reached an excellent $158m after three weekends.
Spanish, South American films showcased during online festival

Fourteen titles showcased including A Contracorriente, Medianeras [pictured], La mitad de Oscar.
SPC sets summer release for Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love

The distributor has earmarked Jun 22 for the comedy formerly known as Nero Fiddled on the back of its successful release of Oscar nominee Midnight In Paris.
SPHE names Kim Overall svp Northern Europe

The executive joined Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in 2008 as managing director for Australia and New Zealand.
SPWA takes US and Canadian ancillary to The First Time

Jonathan Kasdan’s teen romance premiered at Sundance and was produced by Friends With Benefits’ Martin Shafer and Liz Glotzer.
Stephanie Denton to head int’l at Indomina Releasing

The veteran of Lionsgate and Lakeshore among others joins in the run-up to Cannes and will take charge of a slate that includes Sundance titles Something From Nothing from Ice-T and Bart Layton’s acclaimed documentary-thriller The Imposter (pictured).
Steve Beeks extends contract as Lionsgate lays off 80 staff

On the day (Mar 9) when management at the post-merger studio were reportedly letting go of approximately 12% of the workforce, Lionsgate chose to announce that Beeks had signed a new contract to continue as co-COO and had been named president of the motion picture group.
Sundance Channel launches in Romania, expands in other Euro markets

AMC Networks’ Sundance Channel is making its debut in Romania; expands service in Hungary and Belgium.
Sundance takes bridge building initiative to India

The Institute’s Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue programme to promote cultural dialogue will tour the sub-continent from Mar 15-22 for the inaugural Mumbia Mantra Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab.
Susan Morris joins London law firm Halebury

Media and technology law firm Halebury has appointed Susan Morris as a senior media lawyer.
Table Ten Films announces cast on Clutter

Joshua Leonard, Carol Kane, Natasha Lyonne and Halley Feiffer will star in Diane Crespo’s dark comedy.
Tai Chi 0 sells to North America, UK, France for Huayi

China’s Huayi Brothers Media has scored major pre-sales on its steam-punk action drama Tai Chi 0 to Well Go USA in North America, Showbox in UK and Wild Side in France.
The Associates PR company to close

Six months after the death of its founder Richard Larcombe last August, London-based film PR company The Associates is to close its doors.
The Cabin In The Woods

Dir: Drew Goddard. US. 2012. 94mins
The China Syndrome

In light of the new Chinese film quotas, how can East and West benefit each other?
The Devil Inside possesses UK box office

Paramount’s found footage horror knocks John Carter from top spot and holds off strong fellow newcomer 21 Jump Street; The Woman in Black crosses £20m.
The Grey

The early success of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in the UK proves that audiences are happy to see entertaining films about older people.
The Hunger Games

Dir: Gary Ross. US. 2012. 142mins
The Hunger Games reigns victorious at the UK box office

Lionsgate’s adaptation defeats good weather to record the year’s highest debut to date and the best ever UK debut for distributor Lionsgate.
The Loved Ones, The FP to get Tugg treatment

Both films have played on the midnight circuit and will get the benefit of the web-based service that enables people to vote which films screen at their local theatres.
The Match Factory closes pre-sales on Sally Potter drama

EXCLUSIVE: Untitled Sally Potter drama starring Elle Fanning, Annette Bening, Christina Hendricks and Alice Englert is shooting now in and around London.
The Oregonian among ten Sundance films headed to Netflix

The streaming package has been assembled under the auspices of the Sundance Institute’s Artist Services self-distribution initiative and comprises films that have screened in Park City stretching back to 1995.
The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists

Dir: Peter Lord. UK-US. 2012. 88mins
The Raven

Dir: James McTeigue. US. 2012. 110mins
This Life continues raid on Danish box office

The World War 2 set film has taken $3.3m at the box office over its first two weekends, making it the most successful launch of a local film in Denmark since Clown - The Movie in 2010.
Tribeca goes for deeper exploration

The revamped programming team of Geoffrey Gilmore, Genna Terranova and new addition Frederic Boyer builds an exciting line-up for the Tribeca Film Festival’s 11th year.
Tribeca top brass announce panel series, new premieres

Festival co-founder Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep and Judd Apatow to take part in a tribute discussion marking the centenary of Universal Pictures.
Tribeca unveils narrative, documentary competitions and Viewpoints

Tribeca Enterprises chief creative officer Geoff Gilmore and incoming artistic director Frederic Boyer, previously artistic director of Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, have unveiled the first tranche of selections for the upcoming 11th festival, set to run in New York from Apr 18-29.
Tribeca unveils Spotlight and Cinemania selections

Among the narrative Spotlight entries are Stefan Ruzowitzky’s thriller Deadfall starring Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde and Fox Searchlight’s Lola Versus with Greta Gerwig, Bill Pullman and Debra Winger, while documentaries include male grooming in Morgan Spurlock’s Mansome and sports in Knuckleball! from Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg.
Turkish cinema gets first push at Filmart

Turkish cinema will have a presence for the first time at Filmart this year, through a booth organised by Turkey’s Izmir Cinema Association (ICA).
UK distributor ad spend surges in 2011

FDA figures confirm record box office in 2011 and 171m admissions; older demographic boost admissions.
UK's DCMS receives 'half a dozen' responses to Creative Europe public consultation

Culture minister Ed Vaizey reiterates government’s opposition to Creative Europe budget increase during House of Lords EU sub-committee.
Underworld duo Marlind and Stein return to Sweden for Collected Swedish Cults

Svensk adapting Anders Fager’s book.
Universal, Focus win bidding war for Fifty Shades trilogy

Ending the most frenzied studio auction in years, the studio partners have snapped up rights to the S&M thriller Fifty Shades Of Grey and its two sequels by West London housewife and former TV executive E L James.
Universal, Hasbro sign deal for Ouija thriller

Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir will produce for Hasbro alongside Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form of Platinum Dunes and Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions.
Universal, Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions sign first-look deal

The two-year agreement with Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg comes as the studio prepares to release American Reunion, the latest American Pie episode that was written and directed by the pair.
Vertigo eyeing StreetDance 3, another Horrid Henry film

If release of StreetDance 2 performs well, StreetDance 3 would follow after Giwa and Pasquini’s Walking On Sunshine.
Viasat appoints Jakob Mejlhede svp acquisitions and programming

Mejlhede responsible for all of Viasat’s centralised programming acquisition and content development for its free-TV and pay-TV channels.
Vulgaria

Dir: Pang Ho-cheung. Hong Kong. 2012. 90mins
Wanda to release Warrior in China

Wanda Media has acquired mainland China distribution rights to Taiwanese Wei Te-sheng’s war epic Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale.
Warner Bros trumpets Sherlock Holmes 2 gross

The studio announced on Tuesday (20) that Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows has reached $529m worldwide to overtake the predecessor’s final tally of $524.4m.
Warner Bros, Legendary sets third Hangover for May 2013

Once again Todd Phillips will direct the comedy, which Warner Bros Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov said would be “a fitting conclusion to our three-part opera of mayhem, despair and bad decisions.”
WBPI continues fantastic Journey on $14.7m, beats War

Journey 2 swept to an international $184.5m tally following a weekend haul from more than 6,600 screens in 52 territories – just enough to nose ahead of chief rival This Means War from Fox on $14.1m.
WBPI continues international Journey while Fox makes War

Warner Bros Pictures International’s family adventure sequel has grossed more than $160m and top brass will rely on a strong German launch plus solid holdover business to climb towards $175m.
Well Go USA takes The Assassins from Arclight

Arclight Films has sold its Chow Yun-fat-starrer to Well Go USA for North America.
Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog discusses Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life, working with US stars and future projects.
Werner Herzog eyes volcano, Helmut Newton docs

EXCLUSIVE: Werner Herzog developing “stylised documentary” about volcanoes, Helmut Newton portrait and Gertrude Bell feature, all with regular producing partner Andre Singer.
Werner Herzog signs up for FILMCLUB webcasts

UK education charity FILMCLUB is giving school pupils the chance to quiz film-makers Werner Herzog, Joe Dante and Frank Cottrell Boyce via webcasts.
Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom to open Cannes

The American indie darling’s ensemble piece will kick off proceedings on the Croisette on May 16, the same day as the film’s release in France through StudioCanal.
Wide House picks up doc Before the New Wave

Doc charts birth of Objectif 49 and the Festival du Film Maudit.
Wiggin launches content protection service

UK media law firm Wiggin is launching a new content protection partnership, Incopro, aimed at helping media companies to tackle piracy.
Women In Film Foundation announces annual Film Finishing Fund

Grants up to $15,000 will be given to films by, for and about women to cover post services such as online editing, sound mixing, colour correction and closed captioning.
Wong Ching Po to direct Shanghai actioner for MVP

Wong Ching Po has been lined up to direct $10m martial arts action film Once Upon A Time In Shanghai for Wong Jing’s Mega Vision Pictures (MVP).
Wong’s Revenge: A Love Story sells to Japan

Hong Kong-based All Rights Entertainment has closed a Japanese deal on Wong Ching Po’s Revenge: A Love Story, which has gone to Tokyo-based Medallian Media Co.
Work from Joe Berlinger, Morgan Spurlock among Dallas roster

The Dallas International Film Festival is set to run from Apr 12-22 and will honour former UA president and Orion CEO Eric Pleskow.
Youku launches year-long Beautiful programme

China’s leading internet TV site is to launch its third annual original content inititative featuring four “micro-movies” from names including Tsai Ming-liang and Ann Hui.
Your Sister’s Sister earns centerpiece slot at San Francisco

Lynn Shelton’s relationship comedy (pictured) starring Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt will screen at the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival on Apr 28.

Screen22 Mar 2012

Screen
22 Mar 2012