Screen
23 Feb 2012

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38 Witnesses

Dir/scr: Lucas Belvaux. France-Belgium. 2012. 104mins
A Royal Affair

Dir: Nikolaj Arcel. Denmark. 2012. 137mins
About The Pink Sky

Dir/scr: Keiichi Kobayashi. Japan. 2011. 113mins
Anton Corbijn Inside Out

Dir: Klaartje Quirijns. Netherlands-Belgium-Ireland. 2012. 80mins
Any Questions For Ben?

Dir: Rob Sitch. Australia. 2012. 114mins
Ascot Elite secures seven titles at EFM, Splendid Film picks up nine

New films by Brian de Palma and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are among seven new acquisitions made by Zurich-based Ascot Elite Entertainment Group at lastmonth’s European Film Market (EFM), while Cologne’s Splendid Film has picked up nine titles for exploitation in German-speaking Europe and the Benelux.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Dir: Benh Zeitlin. US. 2011. 91mins
Berlin sellers roundup: FSC adds Francine; Shoreline takes Let Go; Media Luna adds Hemel, Before Tomorrow

As Berlin’s EFM kicks off, a number of sellers have announced additions to their slates.
Best Laid Plans

Dir: David Blair. UK. 2011. 108mins
Big Miracle

Dir: Ken Kwapis. US. 2012. 107mins
Black’s Game

Dir: Oskar Thor Axelsson. 2012. Iceland. 100mins
Bliss

Dir/scr: Doris Dorrie. Germany. 2012. 112mins
Canned Dreams

Dir: Katja Gauriloff. Finland. 2012. 81mins
Cherry

Dir: Stephen Elliott. US. 2011. 97mins
Cloudburst

Dir/scr: Thom Fitzgerald. Canada-US. 2011. 93mins
Cohen Media takes US rights to Farewell My Queen from Elle Driver

Berlinale opening film Benoit Jacquot’s Farewell, My Queen (sold by Elle Driver) has been snapped up for US distribution by by Cohen Media Group.
Company Orheim

Dir: Arild Andresen. Norway. 2012. 104mins
David Lipman earns visual effects stripes at Digital Domain

The 30-year industry veteran becomes vp of features visual effects production and will be based in the company’s Venice, California, offices and reports to Jody Madden, who has been promoted to svp of global studio operations.
Faces In The Crowd

Dir: Julien Magnat. US-Fr-Can. 2011. 98mins
Four Horsemen

Dir: Ross Ashcroft. UK. 2011. 97mins
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Dir: Brad Peyton. US. 2012. 94mins
LevelK climbs Devil’s Staircase

Synchronicity Films and Macgwoan Films, in association with Del Rio Films, have announced they are co-producing psychological thriller The Devil’s Staircase.
Living

Dir/scr: Vasily Sigarev. Russia. 2012. 118mins
Lucky Red mans up with Man Down

EXCLUSIVE: Italian producer/distributor Lucky Red is back in the buying groove, closing deals on four major new films during EFM.
Man On A Ledge

Dir: Asger Leth. US. 2012. 102mins
Mercy

Dir: Matthias Glasner. Germany-Norway. 2011. 132mins
Other Angle takes on hot buddy comedy

EXCLUSIVE: French sales outfit Other Angle Pictures has picked up French buddy comedy The Other Side Of The Tracks (De l’autre côté du périph).
Pablo

Dir: Richard Goldgewicht. US. 2012. 103mins
Polish Roulette

Dir: Olaf Lubaszenko. Poland 2012. 105mins
Protagonist sells UK, Australia on Sundance doc Sugar Man

Ben Roberts has wasted little time capitalising on SPC’s deal for North American rights to Malik Bendjelloul’s opening night film.
Renny Harlin ventures to Ural Mountains for Aldamisa thriller

EXCLUSIVE: Renny Harlin will direct an as-yet-untitled thriller set in Russia’s Ural Mountains.
Rent-a-Cat

Dir/scr: Naoko Ogigami. Japan. 2012. 110mins
Shadow Dancer

Dir: James Marsh. Ireland-UK-France. 2012. 100 mins
Side By Side

Dir/scr: Chris Kenneally. US. 2011. 99mins
Simon And The Oaks

Dir: Lisa Ohlin. Sweden-Germany-Denmark. 2011. 120mins
Simon Killer

Dir/scr: Antonio Campos. France-US. 2011. 105mins
Sleep Tight

Dir: Jaume Balagueró. Spain. 2011. 102mins
SPC swoops on Jacques Audiard’s Rust & Bone

The distributor negotiated terms with Hengameh Panahi of Celluloid Dreams to North America, Latin America and East European rights to the filmmaker’s follow-up to his acclaimed 2009 Cannes world premiere A Prophet.
Strand Releasing takes US rights to Crazy Eyes

Adam Sherman’s contemporary noir starring Lukas Haas and Madeline Zima is due to receive its world premiere at SXSW in March.
The Great Northwest

Dir/scr: Matt McCormick. US. 2012. 70mins
The Imposter

Dir: Bart Layton. UK. 2011. 95mins
The Players

Dir: Jean Dujardin & Gilles Lellouche, Emanuelle Bercot, Fred Cavayè, Alexandre Courtès, Michel Hazanavicius, Eric Lartigau. France. 2012. 108mins
The Rest Of The World

Dir: Damien Odoul. France. 2012. 81mins
Thursday Through Sunday

Dir/scr: Dominga Sotomayor. Chile-Netherlands. 2012. 92mins
Update: SAG, AFTRA take another step towards merger

AFTRA’s (American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists) national board of directors voted on Saturday (28) by 94%-6% in favour of a merger with SAG. The matter will go to referendum for membership.
War Witch

Dir/scr: Kim Nguyen. Canada. 2012. 90mins
We need our curators

The digital universe that is poised to transform ancillary rights may not be a good thing for smaller and arthouse titles which rely on a rigorous system of curation to find their audiences.
Xingu

Dir: Cao Hamburger. Brazil. 2012. 102mins
Young & Wild

Dir: Marialy Rivas. Chile. 2011. 92mins
Zarafa

Dirs: Rémi Bezançon & Jean-Christophe Lie. France-Belgium. 2012. 78mins
108 Media adds three more for Berlin

108 Media has added three more titles to its European Film Market sales slate.
2 Days in New York

Dir: Julie Delpy. France-Germany-Belgium. 2012. 91mins
2012 Slamdance honours Bindlestiffs, Pine Hill

The jurors and audiences at the 18th annual event in Park City have spoken.“What a great way to end Slamdance’s 18th festival - by celebrating the films our excellent jurors and incredible audiences have awarded these emerging filmmakers,” Slamdance co-founder and festival director Peter Baxter said. “This year’s narrative and documentary competitions are stronger than ever, and these filmmakers represent the vanguard of true independent filmmaking.”AUDIENCE AWARDS
28 Hotel Rooms

Dir/scr: Matt Ross. US. 2012. 82mins
52nd Cartagena Film Festival unveils line-up

The festival will pay tribute to actress Isabella Rossellini and director Claire Denis.
A Separation, Bullhead make it on to Oscar shortlist

Zhang Yimou’s The Flowers Of War is the notable omission from the foreign language pack and there are shut-outs too for crowdpleasers Le Havre, Where Do We Go Now, Declaration Of War and Miss Bala.
Abduction, Human Centipede 2 arrive on Facebook

Lionsgate distributes John Singleton’s thriller starring Taylor Lautner, which opened in theatres last September.
Academy approves doc and short film rules for 2013

The most significant changes for the 85th Annual Academy Awards expand members’ opportunities to view contenders and allow more members to vote.
Academy committee allows four producers on Tree Of Life

The producers branch executive committee of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has ruled that the official producers are Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner and Grant Hill.
Academy signs deal with electronic vote service Everyone Counts

The announcement comes at the end of an 18-month search for a service to work alongside the Academy’s ongoing accounting firm of record PwC, starting in 2013.
Ace Attorney

Dir: Takashi Miike. Japan. 2012. 135mins
Act Of Valor

Dir: Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh. US. 2012. 101mins
Adult World starts shoot

Principal photography has begun in upstate New York on TreeHouse Pictures and Anonymous Content’s AdultWorld.
Agnieszka Holland to direct mini series for HBO Czech Republic

The Oscar nominated Polish film-maker will direct the mini series about Czech student Jan Palach who buned himself to death in Wenceslas Square in 1968.
Ahmed's Fineline gets funding for development slate in South Africa

Durban-based director/producer Junaid Ahmed plans to use state funding to developing new creative talents from black-filmmakers in South Africa.
Ai Ltd launches new tablet film magazine in UK, Industria

A new interactive tablet film magazine has been launched in the UK called Industria positioned to serve male consumers who engage with digital media.
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

Dir: Alison Klayman. US-China. 2011. 91mins
Alcon takes Peli's Chernobyl Nights

Alcon Entertainment has acquired Oren Peli-written and produced horror thriller Chernobyl Nights for North America, Germany, Spain and Japan.
Alcon to finance, Summit Int'l to sell Beautiful Creatures

Alcon Entertainment has secured rights to Kami Carcia and Margaret Stohl’s bestselling trilogy to star Oscar nominee Viola Davis. Richard LaGravenese will direct from his adaptation.
Alex Lewis appointed vice president and director of marketing, Warner Bros UK

She joins Warner Bros from News Corporation, taking up the role in March.
Alicia Vikander, Rupert Friend circle Country of Last Things

EXCLUSIVE: Writer-director Alessandro Chomski collaborates with Paul Auster on adaptation of novel In The Country Of Last Things; UK-France production seeking partners at EFM
Allen, Fincher, Scorsese among DGA 2011 nominees

The lively pool includes Michel Hazanavicius and Alexander Payne, while Clint Eastwood, Terrence Malick, Stephen Daldry and Steven Spielberg are shut out.
Alliance takes Quartet to Canada

Alliance Films’ recent spree includes the acquisition of Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut for Canada
AMC Networks’ Josh Sapan to give MIPTV 2012 keynote

Sapan will discuss the value of original programming and how to create brands.
Anchor Bay picks up Slasher Films’ Nothing To Fear

Content is handling international sales and introduced the film to buyers at the recent AFM.
Anna Friel joins Steve Coogan in Winterbottom's King Of Soho

Anna Friel, Tamsin Egerton and Imogen Poots have joined the cast of Michael Winterbottom’s next feature, which stars Steve Coogan as infamous porn baron Paul Raymond.
Annapurna, Open Road partner on Soderbergh’s Side Effects

Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures will finance and produce the psychological thriller and Open Road has acquired all US rights. FilmNation is handling international and will introduce to buyers at the EFM next month.
Another Woman's Life

Dir: Sylvie Testud. France-Luxembourg-Belgium. 2012. 96mins
Anysay Keola

The director of the first commercial thriller ever made in Laos talks about kickstarting a film industry in his country.
AR Films, Media Talent Group launch $120m US fund

Producer Alexander Rodnyansky’s AR Films and Geyer Kosinski’s Media Talent Group have launched the fund to develop and produce up to six films in the US over the next two years.
Arbitrage

Dir/scr: Nicholas Jarecki. US. 2012. 110mins
Arc, XLrator take US on Graystone

Father and son duo Sean and Oliver Stone both play in Sean Stone’s directorial debut.
Archstone Distribution takes the world on Night Of The Templar

Sampson Enterprises’ action comedy centres on a Medieval knight who returns from the dead to avenge those who betrayed him.
Arctic Rabbit Pictures lines up Tell No Tales shoot

Filming on the drama is set to begin on Mar 26. Dexter’s Desmond Harrington and Prison Break’s Dominic Purcell will star and the cast includes David Zayas, Michael Nardone, Daniel Garcia and Miguel Angel Munoz.
Arrow strikes for five at EFM, including A Simple Life

UK distributor Arrow Films has picked up Ann Hui’s Venice and Toronto drama A Simple Life.
As Luck Would Have It

Dir: Alex de la Iglesia. Spain-France. 2011. 98mins
ASC award goes to Lubezki

Emmanuel Lubezki has won the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) feature film award for his work on The Tree of Life.
Asia Pacific Film Festival to be held in Shanghai

The organisers of the Asia Pacific Film Festival have announced that the 55th edition will be held in Shanghai, marking the first time the event has been held in mainland China.
Aspect Film acquires Danielle Harris’ debut Among Friends

Aspect will be shopping scream queen Harris’ debut at the EFM.
Australia's Distracted plans Tunnel sequel, sci-fi thriller

The team behind Australian horror film The Tunnel is now in development on sequel The Tunnel: Dead-End. The project has just received funding from Screen Australia.
Avengers to get IMAX treatment for summer

The highly anticipated Marvel Studios production is set to be released through Disney on May 4 and will now be digitally remastered into IMAX 3D format for a worldwide day-and-date release.
Bachelorette

Dir/scr: Leslye Headland. US. 2011. 94mins
BAFTA to host industry debate on film policy review

The session will be hosted by Screen’s editor Mike Goodridge with panelists including Big Talk MD Matthew Justice, Bankside Films’ Stephen Kelliher and British director Iain Softley.
Bankside boards Gillian Armstrong’s The Great and Amma Asante’s Belle

Annette Benning to star in irreverent comedy inspired by the life of Catherine The Great; Damian Jones producing period-drama Belle about a mixed race woman in 18th century London high society.
Barbara

Dir/scr: Christian Petzold. Germany 2012.105mins
Bartkowiak in talks to direct Legends of Hercules

$20m project led by Russian star Alexander Nevsky.
BBCW teams with HBO for atomic bomb drama

Jane Tranter’s LA division of BBC Worldwide Productions is working with HBO to develop a high-profile dramatisation of Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Making of the Atomic Bomb.
Beasts, House I Live In triumph at Sundance

Benh Zeitlin’s fantasy drama Beasts Of The Southern Wild won the grand jury prize in the US dramatic competition while Charles Ferguson’s war on drugs film The House I Live in took corresponding documentary honours at the Sundance 2012 awards ceremony on Saturday night (28).
Beijing Film Market opens doors to China

The Beijing Film Market has unveiled further details of its second edition which will be held April 24-26 in the China National Convention Centre in Beijing.
Being Flynn

Dir: Paul Weitz. US. 2012. 101mins
Bel Ami

Dirs: Declan Donnellan & Nick Ormerod. UK. 2011. 102mins
Belief, Love, Death

Dir/scr: Peter Kern. Austria. 2011. 71mins
Beneath The Darkness

Dir: Martin Guigui. US. 2012. 98mins
Bergman collaborator Josephson dies aged 88

Swedish actor-writer-director Erland Josephson, best known for his collaborations with Ingmar Bergman, has died in Stockholm aged 88.
Berlin Film Festival to honour Theo Angelopoulos and Vadim Glowna

There will be special screenings in memory of the Greek director and German actor/director who both died last month.
Berlinale Competition includes films from Thornton, Petzold, Taviani, Fliegauf

Berlinale confirms 10 more Competition titles, plus Jolie’s In The Land Of Blood And Honey to screen in Berlinale Special.
Berlinale Competition rounds out with Wang Quan’an epic White Deer Plain

Berlin favourite Wang returns to Competition with sweeping epic starring Zhang Fengyi, Zhang Yuqi and Wu Gang.
Berlin's Culinary Cinema section to open with The Chef; Forum Expanded lines up 10

Culinary programme includes 15 features and shorts; Forum Expanded section to feature ten experimental film programmes.
Berlin's Panorama rounds out with world premieres for Cherry, Iron Sky

Cherry - starring Heather Graham, James Franco and Dev Patel - and my Brother the Devil among final Panorama titles.
Bestiaire

Dir: Denis Cote. Canada. 2012. 72mins
Bestiaire

Dir: Denis Cote. Canada. 2012. 72mins
Beta sees brisk sales on In Darkness, Hell

Beta slate in demand; Hell goes to Arc Entertainment for US and Lionsgate for UK
Beyond The Hill

Dir/scr: Emin Alper. Turkey-Greece. 2012. 94mins
BFI backs film academy for UK youth

Programme aimed at 16-19-year-olds to receive £3m over three years; “academy all about creating greater access” to UK industry, says BFI CEO Amanda Nevill.
BFI Film Fund backs projects by Newell, Potter, McDonagh

Films to receive recent production funding from the BFI include Mike Newell’s Great Expectations [pictured], Sally Potter’s Bomb and Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths.
BFI Lesbian & Gay Film Festival to open with Cloudburst

This year’s festival looks set to be 30% bigger than last year, with 53 features and 67 shorts.
BFI to modernise its library

The BFI is in the process of refurbishing its library, which will include more digitised content and a move to a new space at the BFI Southbank.
Billy Connolly joins cast of The Hobbit

Connolly to play Dain Ironfoot, a great dwarf warrior, in Peter Jackson’s anticipated adventure-epics.
Bin Laden zombie-action marches for Highland

Highland Film Group has closed key territories on zombie-action Osombie. Deals include North America (eOne), UK (Signature) and Germany (Splendid).
Bingham Ray taken to hospital after sudden illness

The independent film veteran is being cared for after falling sick at Sundance.
Black Pond directors reveal plans for second feature

EXCLUSIVE: Young British directors Tom Kingsley and Will Shape are the surprise nominees for this year’s BAFTA Outstanding British Debut Award for their low budget feature Black Pond starring Chris Langham.
Black Rock

Dir: Katie Aselton. US. 2011. 83mins
Blacklight, ASI target creatives through HollywoodPitch.com

Zak Kadison’s Blacklight Transmedia has struck a deal with publisher Author Solutions (ASI) and its new production company FuseFrame as part of the launch of HollywoodPitch.com.
Bollywood Films acquires rights to 7 Welcome To London

UK distribution company Bollywood Films has acquired international distribution rights to 7 Welcome To London, a romantic Bollywood/British thriller directed by Asad Shan.
Bombay Berlin brings Prasaad to EFM

Mumbai-based Bombay Berlin Film Production (BBFP) is stepping into international sales with Indian drama Prasaad, which is receiving its market premiere at EFM.
Brazilian box office climbs for third year; local titles falter

Brazil broke the all-time box office record in 2011, grossing $790m (real 1.41bn) from 141.6m admissions.
Breaking Dawn 1 makes big DVD debut

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 sold an estimated 3.2 m DVD and Blu-ray units during its first weekend of release in the US.
Brits at Berlinale Talent Campus tout new features

UK producer Emma Biggins, who is taking part in the Berlinale Talent Campus this year, is to produce sci fi thriller The Calling, for her company Multistory Films.
Buyers connect with Ealing's Chemistry

Ealing Metro International has closed a slew of deals on comedy Better Living Through Chemistry
Buyers enter OEE’s Forbidden Ground

Odin’s Eye Entertainment (OEE) has sold Australian First World War epic Forbidden Ground to Momentum for the UK, Dutch Film Works for Benelux and Star Alliance for China.
Buyers go to Calvary, adds cast

Protagonist is already reaping reward on John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary, which has sold to Alliance-Momentum for UK and Canada and to Transmission Films for Australia and New Zealand.
Buyers hail Caesar for Rai Trade

Caesar Must Die, the Taviani brothers’ Competition entry and early critics’ favourite has US buyers circling.
Buyers hot for HanWay docs

EXCLUSIVE: HanWay has seen brisk business on its slate of documentaries, including the Anton Corbijn doc Inside Out, which screens in Berlinale Special next week, and Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.
Buyers shoot for Lotte’s Arrows

Korea’s Lotte Entertainment has sealed a string of deals on local box office hit The War Of The Arrows, including a Japanese sale to Showgate.
Buyers sign for Solution’s Writers

Lisa Wilson’s new Solution Entertainment Group has sold Joshua Boone’s bittersweet comedy Writers to a number of territories.
C4 tackles ethics of torture in drama

Channel 4 commissions feature drama on torture written by Guy Hibbert.
Caesar Must Die

Dirs: Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. Italy. 2012. 76mins
Call Girl double booked

EXCLUSIVE: TrustNordisk’s political thriller Call Girl, shown here on a three-minute promo, has sold to Benelux (Lumiere) and Korea (Sonamu).
Calm At Sea

Dir/scr: Volker Schlöndorff. France-Germany 2011. 89mins
Camelot Distribution Group takes domestic rights to The Holding

David Bradley, Kierston Wareing and Vincent Regan star in the tale of a mother who lives with a dark secret. Lionsgate UK released the thriller last September.
Camelot Entertainment Group has Berlin slate including Norman, Herbals

President Steven Istock and co-presidents of Camelot Distribution Group and DarKnight Pictures Michael Kananack and Jessica Kelly will attend the EFM next week.
Captive

Dir: Brillante Ma. Mendoza. France-Philippines-UK-Germany. 120mins
Cargo stocks up for EFM with Rob Cohen thriller Undone

The New York and LA-based sales, financing and production company will commence talks with buyers in Berlin on the action-thriller.
Casting update: Hemsworth is Timeless, Sevigny joins Lovelace

The Hunger Games star will play the lead in Relativity Media’s romance to be directed by Phillip Noyce. Sunil Perkash and Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh are producing and Relativity co-president Tucker Tooley serves as executive producer.
Celeste And Jesse Forever

Dir: Lee Toland Krieger. US. 2011. 90mins
Celestial Tiger appoints Miller as president and COO

Former Sony Pictures Television executive Todd Miller has been appointed as president and chief operating officer of newly-formed Asian media company Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE).
Celluloid Nightmares falls into Dead Mine

Celluloid Nightmares has picked up international rights outside Asia to English-language action horror Dead Mine, co-produced by HBO Asia and Singapore-based Infinite Studios.
Charles Finch BAFTA party

Leading luminaries of the British and International film and fashion world joined BAFTA nominees to celebrate a year of film and fashion at the annual pre-BAFTA party co-hosted by Charles Finch and Chanel.
Chelsea Films goes Airborne with Mark Hamill horror

Dominic Burns directs, Mark Hamill - in his first UK horror film – stars with Gemma Atkinson and Julian Glover.
Childish Games

Dir: Antonio Chavarrías. Spain 2011. 95 mins
China agrees to widen market access for US films

The US government has announced that China has agreed to widen its long-standing quota for US films, as well as allow US companies to take a greater share of box office.
Chronicle

Dir: Joshua Trank. US. 2012. 84mins
Chronicle sees off Woman in Black at US box office on Super Bowl weekend

Opener Chronicle scores an estimated $22m in North America as top two impress.
Cinedigm acquires North American rights to UFC documentary

The digital exhibitor negotiated the deal for Like Water with Christine D ‘Souza and Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content on behalf of the producer.
Cinedigm to release Slamdance entry No Room For Rockstars

The digital distributon specialist has set limited US engagements on Mar 1 for Parris Patton’s documentary about the Vans Warped Tour.
Cinedigm, New Video strike strategic partnership

Ambitious digital exhibition leader Cinedigm Entertainment Group and New Video have signed a deal to jointly acquire and distribute independent film.
Cinemais ups digital rollout with AAM

AAM and Cinevise push digital cinema rollout in Latin America, Cinemais signs first deal
Cinemavault picks up La Run and Lawman

EXCLUSIVE: Toronto-based sales company Cinemavault has picked up international rights to crime drama La Run and western reboot Lawman.
Cinetic to support short documentary series

Cinetic Rights Management (CRM) is teaming up with video publisher Cinelan to support the digital distribution of short documentary series Focus Forward - Short Films, Big Ideas.
Cineworld reports 1.5% revenue increase in 2011

UK’s second-largest cinema chain maintains 24.6% box-office market-share.
CJ wages war with epic My Way sales

Korea’s CJ Entertainment has closed a raft of sales on Kang Je-kyu’s My Way, which is screening in Panorama Special.
Clip

Dir/scr: Maja Milos. Serbia. 2012. 100mins
Code Name Geronimo shoot gets underway in New Mexico

Filming began on Wednesday (Feb 1) on Voltage Pictures’ story about the Navy SEAL mission to kill Osama Bin Laden.
Cohen Media Group takes US rights to The Other Son

Cohen Media Group has taken US rights to Lorraine Levy’s The Other Son (Le fils de l’Autre), starring Emmanuelle Devos and Pascal Elbe.
Colin Vaines developing ghost story with genre specialist David Pirie

EXCLUSIVE: My Week With Marilyn exec Vaines to produce “classic genre piece” with BAFTA-nominated chiller specialist David Pirie.
Columbia Pictures to adapt Dutch thriller Taped

Red Wagon’s Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher will produce the English-language feature.
Columbia, Hasbro, Adam Sandler go to Candy Land

The companies are teaming up with Sandler’s Happy Madison to adapt Hasbro’s 1949 fantasy board game.
Comes A Bright Day

Dir/scr: Simon Aboud. UK. 2012. 91mins
Coming Home

Dir/scr: Frédéric Videau. France. 2012. 91mins
Compliance

Dir/scr: Craig Zobel. US. 2011. 90mins
Constanza Arena becomes executive director of Cinema Chile

Replaces Bruno Bettati and Sergio Gandara.
Content adds up sales for Numbers Station

EXCLUSIVE: Content is showing the first promo of The Numbers Station, currently in post, to buyers in Berlin.
Content Film, Preferred Content strike genre deal

The partners will produce a slate of six “elevated” genre, formalising an existing sales relationship on current Sundance entry The Pact and Content’s long-running collaboration with producer and Preferred Content partner Ross Dinerstein.
Contraband

Dir: Baltasar Kormakur. US. 2012. 109mins
Contraband steals US number one for Universal on $24m

Baltasar Kormakur’s remake of the 2008 Icelandic thriller Reykjavik-Rotterdam starring Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale was the clear number one, earning an estimated $24.1m.
Counting costs

Spain is an international talent hotspot and a frequent co-producer. But how will funding cuts affect the health of its film sector?
CPH PIX launches strand for emerging film talent

Copenhagen to host 25 emerging talents for masterclasses, networking and seminars; Athina Rachel Tsangari among speakers
Crawling to success

Aussie thriller Crawl proves to be the highlight of FrightFest day one at the Glasgow Film Festival.
Creative England distributes £465,972 in Film Culture Lottery Funding

39 projects have received funding through Creative England’s first round of Film Culture Lottery Awards, including Sheffield Doc/Fest, Bristol Encounters and the Bradford International Film Festival.
Curzon launches pop-up cinema scheme in UK regions

Momentum, StudioCanal, Soda Pictures, BFI amongst distributors signed up; 6-8 venues expected by end of 2012.
D Films picks up The Paperboy for Canada

Lee Daniels’ drama stars Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and John Cusack.
Daisy Lowe, Alfie Allen to star in London thriller Confine

The film has been written and will be directed by Tobias Tobbell.
Daisy’s Nam spreads Taste of Money

EXCLUSIVE: South Korea’s Daisy Entertainment has brought in a new director for its nascent International Sales division - Erica Nam, formerly of Mirovision.
Davi Oliveira to oversee Brazil for PHMD

Oliveira will oversee marketing, sales and distribution in the territory for Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) and will report to Dave Davis, svp Asia Pacific and Latin America physical and digital transactional sales.
David Stead joins HanWay as finance director

Former 19 Entertainment exec heads to HanWay in move to bolster the company’s film-financing operations.
DCM announces new management structure

The Berlin based distributor announces new management structure after it stepped in to save Delphi Filmverleih from insolvency in January.
DCM assumes sole ownership of Delphi Filmverleih

DCM to become sole owner of distributor Delphi Filmverleih by acquiring remaining 50% stake from founder Claus Boje
Deacon, Hemsworth, Hiddleston, O’Dowd, Redmayne on BAFTA Orange Rising Star shortlist

Orange Wednesdays customers selected the shortlist of five men from a longlist of eight chosen by the award jurors.
Deals round-up: GoDigital goes to Circus, TLA champions Spork

GoDigital has picked up North American VoD and digital rights to You, Me & The Circus produced by Omar Epps.
Deals round-up: Wrekin Hill sets Comic-Con doc tour dates

Together with partner and merchandising specialists the National Entertainment Collectibles Association, Wrekin Hill announced on Thursday (Feb 23) that Morgan Spurlock’s Comic-Con Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope (pictured) will kick off its travelling showcase on Apr 5 in Atlanta.
Death Row

Dir/scr: Werner Herzog. US-UK-Austria. 2012. 188mins
Del Conte joins Prime Focus

Visual effects and 3D conversion studio Prime Focus World has appointed Emmy-winner Chris Del Conte as managing director, Los Angeles.
Del Toro, Reel FX team up on Day Of The Dead

Jorge R Gutierrez will direct the Romeo And Juliet-style CG animation from a screenplay he is writing with Doug Langdale set against the Mexican folklore milieu. Guillermo De Toro is on board as creative collaborator and will also present the film.
Delight, surprise, humility mark day of Oscar reactions

Producer Graham King, whose best picture nomination for Hugo marks his fourth collaboration with acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, said on Tuesday (24), “I dedicate my whole career to [Scorsese]. I think he’s the greatest director that’s ever lived, so for me I’m in great company.”
Deluxe acquires Hong Kong’s Centro Digital Pictures

Deluxe Entertainment Services Group has acquired Hong Kong-based visual effects and post-production company Centro Digital Pictures for an undisclosed sum.
Deluxe expands UK digital cinema operation

The company is building a new £4m purpose built facility in Soho.
Detropia

Dirs: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. USA. 2011. 90mins
Deviation

Dir/scr: J.K. Amalou. UK. 2012. 90mins
DGA announces 2011 doc feature nominees

A prestigious roster includes Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, Martin Scorsese and James Marsh. The winner will be announced at the 64th Annual DGA awards dinner on Jan 28 in Los Angeles.
Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger stars as doomed French Queen Marie Antoinette in Berlinale opening night film, Farewell My Queen (sold by Elle Driver.)
Diaz - Don't Clean Up This Blood

Dir: Daniele Vicari Italy-France-Romania. 2012. 127mins
Diaz recounts harsh lesson

Producer Domenico Procacci discusses Panorama Special entry Diaz Don’t Clean Up This Blood which will strike a chord in Berlin.
Disney acquires controlling interest in India’s UTV

Citing the move as a “cornerstone” of its growth strategy, Walt Disney Company bought the interest through an unnamed subsidiary. UTV is one of the sub-continent’s leading media and entertainment companies.
Distribution Workshop picks up White Deer Plain

Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights excluding China to Wang Quan’an’s White Deer Plain, which was a late addition to Berlin competition.
Dixons launches TVOD service

Service has partnerships with Disney, Warner Bros and Momentum with more deals to be announced soon.
Doc & Film travels with The Minister, A Woman

EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based Doc & Film is reporting brisk sales on several of its EFM titles.
Doha Film Institute boards animated feature The Prophet

Directors onboard the portmanteau animated feature version of Khahil Gibran’s novel include Marjane Satrapi, Tomm Moore and Roger Allers, who will oversee the project’s narrative thread.
Dollhouse

Dir/scr/ed: Kirsten Sheridan. Ireland. 2012. 100mins
Don - The King Is Back

Dir: Farhan Akhtar. India-Germany. 2011. 140mins
Douglas Trumbull to receive Academy’s Gordon E Sawyer Award

Trumbull will receive an Oscar statuette at the Scientific and Technical Awards presentation on Feb 11 in Beverly Hills in recognition of a “lifetime of technical contributions and leadership in the motion picture industry.”
DreamWorks Animation reportedly in China studio venture

DreamWorks Animation is reportedly forming a joint venture with two state-owned Chinese media groups for the construction of a studio facility in Shanghai.
Dreyer, The Tyrannical Dane to screen at CPH PIX

The film/theatre production is directed by Stuart Lynch.
Dujardin, Davis, The Help among big SAG winners

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (29) threw up a surprise as Viola Davis (pictured) trumped Meryl Streep in the lead actress race for her performance in The Help, while Jean Dujardin claimed the lead actor prize for The Artist.
Dutch Film Works takes on top titles including The Tomb and Pierre Pierre

Benelux buyer Dutch Filmworks has been on an acquisition spree at the EFM, picking up several of the most highly sought after titles in the market.
Dylan Sellers to run merged production and acquisitions for TWC

The former independent producer and senior production executive at Unique Features arrives as president of production and acquisitions in the wake of the departure of key executives Peter Lawson and Donna Gigliotti.
Ealing picks up Jessica Yu doc Last Call at the Oasis

EXCLUSIVE: Ealing picks up Jessica Yu’s documentary about global water shortages, film gets its international premiere in Berlin.
EAO: half of European screens now digital

New report reveals 18,500 digital screens in Europe, single-screen cinemas struggling.
Easternlight picks up Chinese trio

Arclight’s Asian division, Easternlight Films, has picked up international rights to three upcoming Chinese productions – The Assassins, The Four and Hur Jin-ho’s Dangerous Liaisons.
EC Culture Minister keen for budget boost

European Commissioner for Culture Androulla Vassiliou has been in Berlin presenting the Commission’s proposal for the new “Creative Europe” programme.
Ecosse planning US expansion

Ecosse Films is planning to use the adaption of BBC1 series Mistresses by US network ABC as a calling card to break into the mainstream market.
EFA launches Young Audience Award

Young audiences across six European cities will vote from three films nominated by the European Film Academy.
EFM announces 15% attendance boost

EFM claims 15% increase in 2012 attendance; first-time initiatives well-received.
Electrick Children

Dir/scr: Rebecca Thomas. US. 2012. 93mins
Element re-opens Dublin’s Light House Cinema

Four-screen Light House cinema shut down last April re-opens today [Jan 20].
Elle Driver bulks up slate, The Words sparks interest

The French sales agency has acquired international rights to Twenty-Eight Hotel Rooms which screens on Saturday (21), while Bradley Cooper drama The Words energised the domestic scene in the morning following a packed buyers screening.
Elle Driver reigns with Queen deals

EXCLUSIVE: French sales outfit closes a slew of deals on Berlinale opening film starring Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette.
Elle Driver visits Black Rock, Millennium sees Red Lights

Katie Aselton’s Midnight entry Black Rock follows three friends on a fateful girls’ getaway to a remote island and was acquired earlier in the festival by LD Distribution for North American rights.
Elles

Dir: Malgoska Szumowska. France-Poland-Germany. 2011. 98mins
Emma Thompson to join cast of Beautiful Creatures

She will star alongside Viola Davis, Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert, in the Alcon Entertainment project.
Emmett Malloy’s doc Big Easy Express to close SXSW

Organisers have announced the line-up for the festival, set to run in Austin, Texas, from Mar 9-17. The Midnighters feature section and the short film programme will be announced on Feb 8.
Encounters Film Festival appoints new short film programmer

Gaia Meucci will replace Mark Cosgrove who takes on his new role as artistic director for the 2012 edition of the short film festival, which is in its ealier slot of September 18-23.
Enders Game shoot begins in Louisiana

Production is underway in New Orleans on Enders Game, the children’s sci-fi adventure that stars Harrison Ford, Oscar nominee Viola Davis, Ben Kingsley and Asa Butterfield from Hugo in the lead role.
Endgame to finance Steven Soderbergh’s Bitter Pill

Jim Stern’s LA-based financing and production company has boarded the project, until recently known as Side Effects, and is in talks with 1984 Private Defense Contractors to co-finance. FilmNation handles international rights and will introduce to buyers at EFM next week.
English-language Lost For Words starts shooting in Hong Kong

Stanley J. Orzel’s English-language romantic drama Lost For Words started shooting this week in Hong Kong.
Entertainment One eyes acquisitions

Peppa Pig distributor Entertainment One has pulled the plug on a potential sale and is instead focusing on acquisitions.
Entertainment One grabs 2 Guns, Love Punch, Side Effects

eOne has secured a slew of multi territory deals during Berlin’s European Film Market.
Entertainment One scoops The Sapphires for the UK, Ireland

It is the latest sale on the film to be secured by UK company Goalpost Film following a successful run at the EFM.
Entertainment One takes Dustin Lance Black’s Virginia for US

Drama starring Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Emma Roberts set for spring 2012 release.
EoF closes deals, adds partners, films

Wide’s indie distribution collective Eye On Films (EoF) continues to see healthy growth of its slate, distribution activity and number of partners.
Eone bringing Henry to North America

Entertainment One has acquired North American rights to Toni Collette/Michael Sheen family comedy Jesus Henry Christ.
eOne picks up Paris Manhattan for North America

Release likely end of 2012; further announcements pending for mini-major which has been voraciously acquiring in recent weeks.
Europa Distribution, Europa International agree digital guidelines

The two professional networks, respresenting distributors and sales agents, have come up with a set of guidelines for the delivery of digital material, via a series of workshops.
European film funding reached peak in 2009

Total spend by European funds grew signigicantly between 2004 and 2009, but began to stagnate in the wake of the economic crisis.
Everybody In Our Family

Dir. Radu Jude. Romania-Netherlands. 2012. 108mins
Exclusive gets international on Therese

Exclusive Media is to handle international sales on Thérèse, the upcoming romantic thriller starring Glenn Close, Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Felton
Exclusive Media Group appoints Paul Davidge COO

The former Relativity Media vp of business development will assume oversight of daily operational management of international sales, marketing and distribution.
Experts discuss foreign-language distribution at Berlinale

A panel of distributors discussed buying and selling world cimema during a panel at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday.
Farewell My Queen

Dir: Benoït Jacquot. France-Spain. 2012. 100mins
Feelgood strikes distribution deal with Village Roadshow in Greece

Exclusive DVD and Blu-ray deals include Midnight in Paris [pictured] and Happy Feet 2.
Fernando Ojeda to head Universal Pictures Benelux

He currently holds the title of managing director Universal Pictures Brazil.
Film and camera giant Kodak files for bankruptcy

Struggling camera and film giant files for bankruptcy protection; further closures and redundancies possible.
Film Comment selects 32 to screen in May

The Film Society Of Lincoln Center’s handpicked selection of films for this year’s Film Comment festival will include films that are alternately previewing prior to their theatrical release or films that may never come back to the big screen.
Film improves literacy claims UK report

Film in education is improving literacy and motivation to learn claims report from BFI and other UK film bodies.
Film Independent appoints co-presidents to replace Dawn Hudson

Senior director Sean Mc Manus [pictured] and director of artist development Josh Welsh will fill the vacancy left by Hudson, who last June became CEO of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Film Movement takes The Day I Saw Your Heart

The French comedy stars Melanie Laurent and played in official selection at Canada’s Cinerama Film Festival and in various US festivals.
Film Republic unveils inaugural sales slate

The slate includes IDFA title Heart of Earth, Heart Of Sky and sci fi documentary Lights Over Phoenix, currently in post.
Filmclub extends into Northern Ireland

The education charity, set up by Beeban Kidron, already operates in 7000 schools in the UK and aims to reach 338 schools in Northern Ireland, rolling out in April 2012.
FilmNation's Aftershock rumbles EFM

EXCLUSIVE: New Eli Roth earthquake thriller sells wide; Roth to star with Selena Gomez, Andrea Osvart among cast
Film's Cool launches documentary initiative

Neil Crombie of Seneca Productions is to head up a new London based course – Change One Thing – which is aimed at introducing school children to documentary film-making.
Finecut launches sales on Kim Ki-duk’s Pieta

Seoul-based sales agent Finecut has picked up international rights to Pieta, the latest film from prolific Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk.
FIP Berlin slate includes Mortensen thriller Plan

Shebnem Askin-Schreger and her Fox International Productions sales team will be at the EFM with a slate led by the Argentinian thriller Everybody Has A Plan.
Fjord-ing it up

Screen samples some Norwegian delights before a screening of crime thriller Headhunters.
Flying Swords leads nominations for Asian Film Awards

Tsui Hark’s Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate scooped the highest number of nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (AFAs), with seven nods in all, including best film, best director and best actor (Chen Kun).
Focus, Working Title sign Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall for thriller

The stars will play former lovers who must collaborate on the defence team at a terrorism trial. Focus owns worldwide rights and Focus Features International plans to commence pre-sales at the EFM next week ahead of April’s start of production in the UK.
For A Good Time, Call…

Dir: Jamie Travis. US. 2011. 86mins
For Ellen

Dir/scr: So Yong Kim. US. 2011. 93mins
Foresight boards Pierre Pierre, closes deals

EXCLUSIVE: Larry Charles’s $30m comedy starring Jim Carrey set to shoot this summer across Europe, Foresight’s hot Berlin continues
Foresight gets Emmett/Furla pair 2 Guns and Rule #1

Foresight Unlimited has added two new Emmett/Furla productions to its slate: Courtney Hunt’s romantic comedy Rule #1 starring Reese Witherspoon and Baltasar Kormakur’s action comedy 2 Guns starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg.
Formentera

Dir: Ann-Kristin Reyels. Germany. 2012. 94mins
Fortissimo takes aim at Monsoon Shootout

Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights outside India/South Asia to Amit Kumar’s UK-India production Monsoon Shootout, which recently wrapped in Mumbai.
Four Suns

Dir: Bohan Slama. Czech Republic. 2011. 105mins
Francine

Dirs/scr: Brian M. Cassidy & Melanie Shatzky. US-Canada. 2012. 74mins
Francisco Barreiro to star in Here Comes The Devil

The rising Mexican star will play the lead in MPI Media Group and Mexico City-based Salto de Fe Films’ supernatural thriller to be directed by Adrian Garcia Bogliano.
Frankenstein's Army gains Momentum

Momentum has picked up UK rights to writer-director Richard Raaphorst’s horror Frankenstein’s Army.
Freestyle sets Tomorrow for Facebook release

Freestyle Digital Media and social entertainment company Milyoni are teaming up to give Australian hit Tomorrow,When the War Began a simultaneous US theatrical, VOD and Facebook release on Feb 24.
Fremes heads international at Nu Image/Millennium

John Fremes has been named head of international at Nu Image/Millennium Films, joining the company’s executive team at Berlin.
French Critics Union honours The Minister

The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival has also unveiled its winners.
Friedman, Wachsberger to lead Lionsgate motion picture group

The contracts have been signed and Summit chiefs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger have been named co-chairs of Lionsgate Motion Pictures Group in the wake of last week’s merger.
Friends After 3.11

Dir: Iwai Shunji. Japan. 2011. 120mins
Full Frame 2012 to honour Stanley Nelson

This year’s Full Frame Tribute will honour filmmaker Stanley Nelson who is best known for A Place of Our Own and Freedom Riders.
Future Cinema launches new initiative

The Other Cinema will launch in London on Feb 14 with a screening of David Lean’s Brief Encounter.
Galano unveils new sales company

Former New Line International president Camela Galano has launched Speranza13 Media, a new international sales and financing company.
Gaumont explores vices with Paulette, Porn In The Hood

EXCLUSIVE: Aside from continuing sales on Culinary Cuisine opener The Chef starring Jean Reno, which has recently sold to Germany (Senator), Canada (Remstar) and Japan (Gaga), Gaumont is set to unveil a slew of new titles at the EFM.
Germany floats towards €1bn

The German box office increased year-on-year in 2011 but didn’t crack the elusive billion-euro mark. Martin Blaney reports on the year’s highlights
GFM takes on BB King; Cassavetes’ Yellow

London and LA-based seller GFM Films has added blues doc BB King: The Life Of Riley to its EFM slate.
Ghost Protocol reclaims int'l pole position on $25m

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol — now the biggest in the franchise on a $571m worldwide tally — got back into the driving seat internationally through PPI thanks to a big debut in China and $25m overall from 7,837 sites in 63 markets to boost the score to $369m.
Ghost Rider Spirit Of Vengeance

Dir: Neveldine/Taylor. US. 2012. 96mins
Glasgow Film Festival

The 2012 edition of the Glasgow Film Festival attracted record numbers and a host of film talent.
Glasgow Film Festival records rise in admissions in 2012; sets 2013 dates

The festival, which closed last night with the UK premiere of Le Havre, sold out over 30 screenings.
Goalpost scores further sales on Sapphires

EXCLUSIVE: London based sales company Goalpost Film has secured a number of sales at the European Film Market in Berlin on Wayne Blair’s Aboriginal girl group story Sapphires, including to Diaphana for France.
Goats

Dir: Christopher Neil. US. 2012. 92mins
GoDigital snaps up Latin Anywhere's Spanish-language film library

The ambitious digital distributor has taken all VoD, electronic sell-thru and PPV rights to the catalogue of more than 1,000 films from Mexico including US digital and VoD rights to more than 600 Spanish-language films and worldwide rights to more than 200 films.
GoDigital swoops on digital rival Might Entertainment

The expanded company controls a library of more than 1,000 films and creates a powerful West Coast digital entity to rival East Coast competitors like SnagFilms and Cinetic Rights Management.
GoDigital to handle digital distribution on Adopt Films slate

The first film under the deal will be Marie Losier’s award-winning The Ballad Of Genesis And Lady Jaye which opens theatrically on Mar 8. GoDigital will exploit VoD and EST rights.
Golden Network plucks Cherry, Yugo & Lala

Hong Kong-based Golden Network Asia has picked up international rights to Chinese black comedy A Cherry On A Pomegranate Tree, from the producer of Venice Horizons title The Sword Identity.
Golden Slumbers

Dir: Davy Chou. France-Cambodia. 2011. 96mins
Goldwyn takes People for US

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired US rights to documentary People v The State of Illusion.
Gone

Dir: Heitor Dhalia. US. 2012. 95mins
Granier-Deferre makes directorial debut with Le Weekend

The British producer is directing from a script by Geoffrey Gunn.
Great British Oscar Cocktail Reception

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt was among the guests at the Great British Film Reception hosted by Consul-General Dame Barbara Hay at her Los Angeles residence on Feb 24.
Greece lowers shooting rates on ancient monuments

In a bid to attract foreign shoots, Greece is lowering rates on monuments including the Acropolis, as well as trying to cut red tape.
Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly in talks to join Writers

Lisa Wilson will introduce the project to international buyers at EFM through The Solution Entertainment Group and serves as executive producer with business partner and co-founder Myles Nestel. CAA represents US rights.
Guadalajara launches with Mike Leigh presenting Another Year

Other guests will include Andy Garcia and Gabriel Retes.
Gypsy Davy

Dir/scr: Rachel Leah Jones. Israel-US-Spain. 2011. 96mins
HAF unveils record line-up of 32 projects

The Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has unveiled an expanded line-up of 32 projects for this year’s edition (March 19-21), which is bolstered by a couple of new international tie-ups.
HAF/Fox unveil finalists for first Chinese development awards

Fox International Productions and the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) have unveiled the five finalists for the first annual HAF/Fox Chinese Film Development Award.
Hammer teams with StudioCanal, Pinewood, Molinare to restore classics

Dracula Prince of Darkness, The Curse of Frankenstein and The Mummy among films to be restored.
HanWay picks up Daniel Stamm thriller The Darkness

HanWay to handle international and co-handle US on thriller set to star Mary Elizabeth Winstead; European shoot set for summer 2012.
HanWay runs with Phil Morrison's Lucky Dog

Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti and Sally Hawkins to star in comedy
Happy Birthday, Mr. (Cannes) President

Cannes is celebrating its 65th anniversary with a poster featuring the iconic Marlyn Monroe.
Harrison Ford to receive ASC Board of Governors Award

Ford will collect the honour at the 26th Annual Outstanding Achievement Awards in Hollywood on Feb 12 in recognition of his “extraordinary achievements to advancing the art and craft of filmmaking.”
Harvey Weinstein to receive 2012 Legion Of Honour

After working hand-in-glove with French filmmakers on the Oscar winning The Artist, the mogul is set collect France’s highest distinction at a ceremony to take place in Paris.
Haunting memories

The director of Rotterdam premiere When The Lights Went Out talks about his personal connection to the horror story.
Hazanavicius scoops DGA prize for The Artist

Michel Hazanavicius has won the DGA’s Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Feature Film award for The Artist, official cementing his status as the favourite to claim the Oscar.
Here Now sets Mark Webber to star in rom-com Moonbeam

Webber is preparing for Saturday’s (21) world premiere in Sundance of The End Of Love, which he directed and stars in, ahead of the anticipated late spring start on The Arranged Marriage Of Moonbeam.LA-based Metamorphic Films is partnering on the project based on a screenplay by Webber’s Here Now partners Mollie Engelhart and Tim Ryan. The story follows hippie parents who try to help their straight-laced daughter find love.Engelhart will direct and shares executive prod
Highway

Dir: Deepak Rauniyar. Nepal-US. 2012. 80mins
Holmes 2 faces Underworld, Descendants at box office

Sherlock Holmes 2 has dominated the international arena in recent weekends but will need to muster all its nous to prevail against Underworld and The Descendants.
Holmes achieves international supremacy on $45 followm weekend

Warner Bros Pictures International’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows finally vanquished Ghost Protocol to assume the crown and stands at a confirmed $180.6ming a revised weekend haul of $44.9m.
Holmes rules international for WBPI on $18m

Sherlock Holmes stayed top of the international charts for the third weekend in a row through Warner Bros Pictures International as it soared past $260m.
Holmes, Hour, Tattoo vie for international supremacy

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows will soar past $200m this weekend for Warner Bros with debuts set for Brazil and China - but it could face strong challenges from Fox’s alien invasion thriller The Darkest Hour and Sony’s Dragon Tattoo remake.
Home Again shooting in Trinidad before move to Toronto

Principal photography is underway in Trinidad for Sudz Sutherland’s sophomore feature film Home Again.
Home For The Weekend

Dir: Hans-Christian Schmidt. Germany. 2012. 88mins
Hong Kong cinema squeezed out by high rents

One of Hong Kong exhibitor UA Cinemas’ flagship multiplexes closed its doors yesterday (Jan 31) after losing its rental lease on the ground floor of the busy Times Square shopping mall.
Hot Docs launches crowd-funding service

Hot Docs is launching Doc Ignite, an online crowd-funding service designed to help independent Canadian film makers.
Hot Docs, Shaw disperse $198k in eighth funding cycle

The Canadian documentary festival and Shaw Media will hand out grants and no-interest loans to 11 projects.
Hot projects on Screenbase

Among this week’s newly added projects are Christopher Granier-Deferre’s comedy Le Weekend, as well as Né Quelque Part starring Jamel Debbouze.
Hot projects on Screenbase

Among this week’s new additions are Walter Salles’ new film Terra, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, as well as Richard Ayoade’s follow up to Submarine.
Hot projects on Screenbase

With this year’s European Film Market now under way in Berlin, plenty of new projects and updates have made their way onto Screenbase.
Hot projects on Screenbase

Martin Freeman will star in British production Svengali while Orlando Bloom has been cast in French drama Zulu.
Hot projects on Screenbase

As the Berlin Film Festival draws to a close, the last week has seen a raft of new productions being announced and added to ScreenBase.
How To Survive A Plague

Dir: David France. US. 2012. 120mins
Hurricane Films, Götafilm board Terence Davies' Sunset Song

Terence Davies’ long awaited adaptation of classic Scottish novel Sunset Song looks set to finally get off the ground, with shooting due to take place in Winter 2012 in Scotland and Sweden.
I, Anna

Dir/scr: Barnaby Southcombe. UK-Germany-France. 2012. 93mins
ID takes on 1940s-set Hamlet

Montreal-based ID Communications has taken worldwide rights to Hamlet, a feature film adaptation written and directed by Bruce Ramsay.
IFC Films buys North American rights to Liberal Arts

The deal was poised to close on Wednesday evening (25) for one of the most popular titles of the festival to date, a coming-of-age tale written and directed by Josh Radnor who also stars alongside Elizabeth Olsen.
IFC Midnight signs The Pact, Magnet drawn to V/H/S

A flurry of Sundance deals led by a pair of domestic buys of Midnight titles closed on Thursday as How To Survive A Plague, Wish You Were Here and Chasing Ice all found homes and VVS took Canadian rights to Arbitrage.
IFP announces programming for Script To Screen Conference

Moneyball director Bennett Miller will take part in an on-stage conversation in the Mar 17 event, presented in partnership with WGA East, the New York Television Festival and BookExpo America.
Image Entertainment picks up Goats

Image Entertainment has acquired North American rights including theatrical, home entertainment, digital and broadcast, to Goats, starring David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga.
Independent strikes deals on Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

Artificial Eye has picked up UK rights and DCM has German speaking rights to the film about Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
Indie Shakedown

The news – not entirely unexpected – that Lionsgate had bought Summit Entertainment comes as good news in that the two companies will together create an independent powerhouse and as depressing news in that the business loses another buyer of material and movies and a key supplier to the international market.
Indie Spirit triumph sets up Artist for awards trifecta

The Artist on Saturday (Feb 25) cleared the final hurdle separating it from the Academy Awards finishing line, taking four major prizes at the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards including best picture after Friday night’s six-strong Cesars haul.
Indomina takes The Imposter for North America

The Sundance deals continued to trickle in on Tuesday [Feb 21] as Indomina announced it had acquired rights to Bart Layton’s directorial debut and was planning a 2012 theatrical release.
Indonesia’s Edwin to receive New Talent Award at AFAs

Indonesian director Edwin will receive the Edward Yang New Talent Award at the upcoming Asian Film Awards (AFAs) in Hong Kong.
Inside Pictures launches 2012 programme

For the second year the programme is open to applicants from across the whole of the European Union.
Instinctive Films launches talent agency

The Berlin-based finance, production and development company has partnered with Das Imperium Management to establish an international talent agency network.
Instinctive Films opens UK hub, readies slate

The Berlin-based company is launching a London office and is gearing up to announce a slate of British films in 2012.
Intouchables to open Rendez-Vous with French Cinema

The 17th edition of the annual showcase of French Film will run March 1-11 in New York, also expanding nationally for the first time this year.
Iron Sky

Dir: Timo Vuorensola. Finland-Australia-Germany. 2012. 93mins
Island President wins Hilton Worldwide LightStay Sustainability Award

The award was launched by Hilton Worldwide and Sundance Institute and includes $25,000 to the winner to be handed out at the Sundance awards ceremony.
Jack O'Connell, Alice Englert in talks for Beautiful Creatures

The film, produced by Alcon Entertainment, is based on the first in the series of best selling novels by Kami Carcia and Margaret Stohl and is also set to star Viola Davis.
Jacqueline Fernandez to star in UK-Canada thriller from James Simpson

EXCLUSIVE: Bollywood rising star Jacqueline Fernandez to play lead in UK-Canadian thriller; film to use NLP techniques to enhance fear factor.
James Bond turns 50 in style with 22-film Blu-ray box-set

Fox Home Entertainment release 22-film Blu-ray box-set in Bond’s golden anniversary year.
Jan De Bont to remake crime drama Five Minutes To Live

The director has teamed up with Joseph and Jack Nasser, executive producers on the Sundance Premieres entry For A Good Time, Call…, to remake the 1961 Johnny Cash film Five Minutes To Live.
Japanese box office falls 18% after lack of mega-hits and March 11 disaster

Overall box office revenue for 2011 totalled $2.36bn (Y181.2bn), a steep drop of 18% from 2010; local films declined by 16%.
Jayne Mansfield’s Car

Dir: Billy Bob Thornton. Russia-US. 2012. 122mins
Jennifer Aniston joins Salt's hot new EFM seller Miss You Already

EXCLUSIVE: Paul Andrew Williams directs and co-writes with Morwenna Banks; Salt pre-sells London-set comedy-drama to Entertainment One for UK, Australia and Canada.
Jens Jonsson to direct third film in Easy Money trilogy

Swedish writer-director Jens Jonsson, whose 2008 feature The King of Ping Pong won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, will direct the third and final instalment in the EasyMoney (Snabba Cash) thriller trilogy.
Jim Sheridan writing US update of Into The West

EXCLUSIVE: Sheridan to direct reimagining of his 1992 Irish Traveller story.
Jinga closes deals for North America

Midnight Son, Zombie Undead, The Hunt and The Scar Crow among slate deasl
Jinga takes rights to US comedy-horror Black Forest

US Hansel and Gretel update stars Lara Flynn Boyle, Michael Welch and Molly C. Quinn
Joe Evea appointed DCM business development director

Cinema advertising firm Digital Cinema Media (DCM) has appointed Joe Evea to the position of business development director.
Joel Cox, Doug Ibold to receive ACE lifetime recognition

The veteran editors will be honoured with the American Cinema Editors (ACE) Lifetime Career Achievement Award at the Eddie Awards Feb 18 in Beverly Hills.
John Hurt to receive BAFTA Outstanding Contribution Award

The legendary British actor will receive his award at the BAFTAs on Feb 12.
John Michael McDonagh wins Guardian First Film Award

McDonagh won the award, which recognises new and emerging talent, for his debut feature The Guard.
Jonas Holmberg appointed as head of international programme at Göteborg

He takes over from Andreas Degerhammar who is to become head of distribution at TriArt Film.
Journey 2 holds firm at the top of the int'l box office

Warner Bros. Pictures International’s sequel has now passed the $100m overseas after adding a further $26m to its bounty.
Journey 2 strides towards $150m mark for Warner Bros

The family adventure from New Line, Walden Media and Contrafilm has grossed more than $130m through Warner Bros Pictures International and with Italy beckoning should cross $150m this weekend and pass $200m worldwide.
Journey 2 ventures to top of int'l chart

Warner Bros. Pictures International’s Journey 2: The Mysterious Island passed the $100m worldwide after adding a further $25.5m for a current overseas haul of $74.7m.
Joyful Noise

Dir: Todd Graff. US. 2012. 118mins
Juno Temple to play Princess Margaret in Ecosse’s Girls' Night Out

Temple to star opposite Alexandra Roach who will play the young Queen Elizabeth in Michael Hoffman’s VE-day story inspired by true events.
Just The Wind

Dir/scr: Bence Fliegauf. Hungary-Germany-France. 2012. 98mins
Justin Kerrigan signs on to Urban Hymn for Instinctive

The Berlin-based company behind The Divide wants to explore UK co-productions and will share producing duties with Powder Keg Pictures in association with Mighty Village and Universal Music UK.
K5 boards Groundswell’s Very Good Girls starring Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Olsen

EXCLUSIVE: K5 boards Naomi Foner directorial debut starring Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen [pictured].
K5 launches LA division with Kevin Frakes as CEO

PalmStar CEO heads new K5 division in LA which starts out with a $30m investment pot.
Kate Hudson is Everly for Crime Scene, Anonymous Content

Sierra / Affinity will commence sales at the EFM next week on Hudson’s first action vechicle based on Yale Hannon’s Black List screenplay.
Kate Walker joins Revolver as head of marketing

Kate Walker is latest staff acquisition for UK distributor Revolver.
Kaurismaki's Le Havre lands top Jussi awards

Le Havre took Best Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at last night’s gala ceremony in Helsinki
Keep The Lights On

Dir: Ira Sachs. US. 2012. 101mins
Kevin Macdonald travels to Black Sea and Eastern Europe

Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald is working with writer Dennis Kelly, writer of Matilda The Musical, on a project called Black Sea.
Kevin named best film at Evening Standard Awards

Olivia Colman continued her awards run picking up the best actress award, making her lack of BAFTA nomination even more glaring.
Kid-Thing

Dir/scr: David Zellner. US. 2012. 83mins
Koch Media acquires a taste for WestEnd’s Love Bite

WestEnd Films has sold German rights for Andy de Emmony’s teen comedy horror Love Bite to Koch Media.
Kon-Tiki to open Norwegian International Film Festival

It will be the world premiere of the Norwegian film about the real life Pacific expedition of 1947, directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg.
Korea’s M-Line opens Doomsday Book

Korea’s M-Line Distribution is launching sales on the sci-fi drama Doomsday Book, co-directed by Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung, at the EFM.
Kuma

Dir: Umut Dag. Austria. 2011. 93mins
L

Dir: Babis Makridis. Greece. 2012. 87mins
Lacy to replace departing Sadoff at ICM

ICM has named Jessica Lacy to take over from the departing Hal Sadoff as head of the agency’s international and independent film department.
Last Call At The Oasis

Dir: Jessica Yu. US. 2012. 105mins
Laura Bickford and Nicholas Jarecki, Arbitrage

Producer Laura Bickford and writer-director Nicholas Jarecki talk to Jeremy Kay about making $15m suspense drama Arbitrage, starring Richard Gere, which is generating buzz at Sundance.
Lay The Favorite

Dir: Stephen Frears. US. 2012. 103mins
Leave It On The Floor

Dir: Sheldon Larry. US-Canada. 2011. 106mins
Legendary names Connors COO

Legendary Entertainment has appointed Tim Connors chief operating officer.
Legendary promotes Ty Warren to evp physical production

Warren previously served as svp of production since joining the company in 2011. He will report to president and COO Jon Jashni.
LevelK boards indie rom com Not Another Happy Ending

Cast includes Jessica Brown Findlay [pictured], Karen Gillan, Emun Elliott.
LFS makes waves

The London Film School and four partners today launch a one-week distribution and marketing workshop at the EFM.
Lighting up Glasgow

Micro-budget Scottish comedy Electric Man impresses at its UK premiere at Glasgow Film Festival.
Lightning Entertainment boards international sales rights to Five Thirteen

The thriller joins the EFM slate for Berlin buyers and marks the Hollywood debut of French filmmaker Kader Ayd.
Lightning lines up comedy The Hot Flashes for EFM

Principal photography is set to begin in New Orleans on Feb 13 on the story of a tough middle-aged women’s basketball team. Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Melanie Griffith, Wanda Sykes, and Camryn Manheim star.
Likely Story sets writers for Too Cool graphic novel adaptation

Rocky Russo and Jeremy Sosenko will adapt the Top Shelf Productions graphic novel about a family man who reverts to his 15-year-old body after a hypnosis course to stop smoking.
Lincoln Center, MoMA announce New Directors / New Films line-up

The 41st annual showcase is scheduled to run from Mar 21-Apr 1 and is bookended by Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now? (pictured) and a surprise closing night selection.
Linkin Park DJ Joe Hahn mixes debut with Chelsea Handler, Vincent D'Onofrio

EXCLUSIVE: Vincent D’Onofrio, Chelsea Handler are among Hahn’s feature debut, an adaptation of 2001 novel Mall.
Lionsgate buys Summit on eve of Sundance, Berlin

The biggest open secret in Hollywood was made public on Friday (13) in a same-day sign-and-close transaction that creates an independent behemoth but leaves questions unanswered.
Lionsgate names Erik Feig as president, production

The appointment follows Lionsgate’s acquisition of Summit Entertainment.
Lionsgate, Wrekin Hill, Row 1 swim with Dark Tide

Lionsgate and Wrekin Hill in association with Row 1 Productions have acquired US rights to the Halle Berry shark thriller from IM Global.
Lisa Wilson, Myles Nestel offer The Solution to sales, financing

The partnership between the two vastly experienced Britons is backed by private equity and Wall Street and will commence pre-sales in Berlin on Writers and Hector And The Search For Happiness.
Liv Tyler to star in The Side Effect for Ti West

The horror filmmaker made the announcement on Wednesday (18) prior to the Feb 3 release of his latest feature The Innkeepers through Magnolia. West is producing with Ted Hope, UTA represents domestic rights and Celluloid Nightmares handles international sales.
Living/Building

Dir: Clemence Ancelin. France. 2012. 117mins
Local heroes vs. pirates

Hit hard by piracy, Spain’s box office was down in 2011. But can a new piracy law, a growing VoD market and the popularity of local films give Spanish distributors cause for optimism? Juan Sarda reports
Locarno increases Concorso Cineasti competition prize money

The festival’s Concorco Cineasti del presente competition is increasing its prize fund as well as adding a new prize.
Locations show dates set

The Locations trade show has been set for June 15-16, marking the fist time that it will run concurrently with the opening weekend of the Los Angeles Film Festival.
London seminar to promote Guernsey as film financing centre

The event is being hosted by Guernsey Finance and Guernsey Film.
Lost In Paradise

Dir: Vu Ngoc Dang. Vietnam 2011. 103 mins
Love In The Buff to open Hong Kong film festival

Pang Ho-cheung’s Love In The Buff will open this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 21-April 5), while Berlin competition entry White Deer Plain will close the event.
Love Is In The Air

Dir: Simon Staho. Denmark. 2011. 84mins
Love Lasts Three Years

Dir: Frédéric Beigbeder. France. 2012. 98mins
Lovefilm boss Calver quits

Lovefilm chief executive Simon Calver is to step down after almost seven years after being poached by high street chain Mothercare.
LoveFilm inks deal with Disney for ABC series

Castle, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Happy Endings among series coming to LoveFilm.
LoveFilm locks content from ITV, BBC

Archive deals include popular programmes Doctor Who and Inspector Morse.
Lubezki, Richardson among five ASC nominees

The organisation has unveiled the 2011 nominees ahead of the 26th Annual ASC Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb 12.
LUV

Dir: Sheldon Candis. US. 2011. 94mins
Lynette Howell, Jamie Patricof spark to Electric City

The veteran independent producers are formally joining forces after working together on such films as Blue Valentine and the upcoming The Place Beyond The Pines.
Madam Butterfly takes flight

A 3D performance of Puccini’s opera is due to hit UK cinemas next week.
Malaventura

Dir: Michel Lipkes. Mexico. 2011. 67mins
M-Appeal strikes Spanish deal for Baikonur

EXCLUSIVE: M-Appeal closes deal on Veit Helmer film Baikonur with Spanish outfit Pirámide Films Distribución.
Mapplethorpe among Tribeca All Access grantees

A jury of industry professionals has culled 11 works in progress from a record breaking 690 submissions for the ninth annual programme.
Marco Mueller nears Rome Film Festival destiny

The president of Rome’s Cinema Foundation Gian Luigi Rondi tendered his resignation on Friday (Feb 24), paving the way for Mueller to be named head of the Rome Film Festival.
Margin Call Oscar nod tees up international box office

The financial crisis drama has already grossed $7.3m outside North America and a number of key upcoming territories received a fillip this week when writer-director JC Chandor earned a best original screenplay Academy Award nomination.
Mariachi Gringo to open 29th Miami Int’l Film Festival

The world premiere of Tom Gustafson’s film stars Shawn Ashmore and Adriana Barraza. The Awards Night Film is the US premiere of Chinese Take-Away starring Ricardo Darín
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present

Dir: Matthew Akers. US. 2011. 106 minutes
Mark Cousins, Keanu Reeves to speak at Berlinale Talent Campus

150 experts will join the 350 upcoming film-makers as part of this year’s 10th anniversary edition of the Berlin Film Festival’s training initiative, the Berlinale Talent Campus.
Mark Mikutowicz earns production stripes at SKE

The creative executive is promoted to vp of production and continues to report to Sidney Kimmel Entertainment production president Matt Berenson and company president Jim Tauber.
Marley

Dir: Kevin Macdonald. UK-US. 2012. 144mins
Martin Freeman, Vicky McClure to star in Root Films' Svengali

Based on Jonny Owen and Dean Cavanagh’s hit youtube comedy series, Svengali will be the first feature to come out of Martin Root and Jonny Owen’s new London based production company Root Films.
Martina Ternstrom joins Revolver

Martina Ternstrom has joined UK distributor Revolver as acquisitions executive; Panizzo promoted; Lucy Taylor gets new role.
Marton Csokas, Hayley Atwell to star in Sky Atlantic's Falcon

The two part production is based on Robert Wilson’s bestselling detective novels and will be Sky Atlantic’s second UK original drama commission following Hit + Miss.
Mary Daily promoted at Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

She steps up from her role as executive vice president of marketing to president and chief marketing officer of worldwide marketing.
MasterImage 3D appoints Adam MacDonald

He will be responsible for the company’s digital cinema division in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Russia.
Match Factory picks up Anup Singh’s Qissa

The Match Factory has picked up international rights to Anup Singh’s Indo-European co-production Qissa, which is currently shooting in Punjab, India.
Matthew Fox to star in Emperor for director Peter Webber

The screenplay by David Klass and Vera Blasi is based on a true story and follows events surrounding the surrender of Japanese Emperor Hirohito at the end of the second world war.
MEDIA says Bosnia & Herzegovina to be full member by end of year

Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to become a full member of the EU’s MEDIA Programme later this year.
Melancholia wins big at Denmark's Robert Awards

Melancholia collected 10 prizes, including best film, director and actress at the Danish Film Academy Awards, held Feb 5.
Memento bites into Jim Mickle's We Are What We Are remake

EXCLUSIVE: Stake Land director sinks teeth into remake of cult cannibal horror
Memento closes deals on Foxfire, Sister, We Are What We Are, Under the Rainbow

EXCLUSIVE: French sales company Memento saw strong demand for its slate at the EFM and has tied up further deals on Competition entry Sister and the next films from Laurent Cantet, Agnes Jaoui and Jim Mickle.
Memento label Artscope picks up Berlin Panorama entry Choco

EXCLUSIVE: Artscope acquires Berlin Panorama entry after Forum pick-up The Delay from Rodrigo Pla
Memento strikes with Cannibals, Sister

Midway through the market, leading arthouse sales agent Memento Films International has reported brisk sales on its EFM titles.
Meteora

Dir: Spiros Stathoulopoulos. Germany-Greece. 2012. 82mins
Metrodome picks up Eduardo Sanchez horror Lovely Molly

Metrodome has taken all UK rights to Blair Witch director Eduardo Sanchez’s new horror Lovely Molly.
Metrodome picks up Piggy

Metrodome has picked up UK & Eire rights for thriller Piggy starring Paul Anderson and Martin Compston.
Meyers Media Group EFM slate includes 7 Red, Midnight Sun

The sales veteran Larry Meyers and Bobby Meyers will attend EFM with their new business and a roster of sales titles for buyers in Berlin.
MGM secures $500m credit facility

A year after coming out of bankruptcy, MGM has secured a new $500 million revolving credit facility, which the studio hopes will allow it to retire its previous debt and contiue to grow its film and television business.
Mia Wasikowska joins cast of Richard Ayoade's The Double

Protagonist Pictures is handling sales on the follow up to Ayoade’s debut feature Submarine.
Miami festival to spotlight four rising international directors

The focus will be on Joong-Hyun Kim, Alejandro Landes, Pippo Mezzapesa, and Susan Youssef whose films will be presented in North America for the first time.
Michael Fassbender joins jury of YouTube's Your Film Festival

He will help to judge the global competition, run by Youtube and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free, as well as acting as a co-executive producer on the winner’s next project.
Michael Fassbender to star in Irish Myths

Fassbender has been developing the project based on Irish myth stories, with writer Ronan Bennett, who has been working on the project since last year.
Michael Kuhn joins Northern Ireland Screen board

The independent producer is one of 8 new appointments to the board.
Millennium finds Heaven in busy day for US deals

The company will release the Kate Hudson rom-com A Little Bit Of Heaven in North America in April, while Sycamore Entertainment has unveiled its second acquisition.
Mimi Steinbauer launches Radiant on eve of Berlinale

The international sales veteran who most recently served at Hyde Park International has resurfaced with her new company, Radiant Films International. Lullaby and I Am are the first two titles confirmed for the EFM.
Miramax inks on-demand deal with BT Vision

Chicago, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, The English Patient included in deal.
Mission Impossible beats Sherlock Holmes, Iron Lady in UK

Ghost Protocol takes £2.2m to narrowly edge out Sherlock Holmes sequel and strong newcomer The Iron Lady.
Modest Reception

Dir: Mani Haghighi. Iran. 2012. 100mins
Momentum keen on Monster Brawl

Momentum has picked up UK rights to Jesse Thomas Cook’s Monster Brawl.
Momentum turns White Collar with Moviehouse

EXCLUSIVE: Momentum Pictures has picked up all UK rights to Moviehouse Entertainment’s thriller White Collar Hooligan for a 2012 release.
Mommy Is Coming

Dir: Cheryl Dunye. US-Germany. 2012 64mins
Monkey King reigns again in digital 3D

Hong Kong and Beijing-based sales agent The Film Library is partnering with Shanghai Film Group to sell The Monkey King – Uproar In Heaven 3D, which screening in Berlin’s Generation section.
Monsoon Shootout

Amit Kumar, director of award-winning short The Bypass, talks about his debut feature Monsoon Shootout, produced by the UK’s Trevor Ingman.
More films revealed for SXSW

SXSW has added 15 more features and four more shorts to its line-up and five more panels to its conference schedule.
Mosquita Y Mari

Dir/scr: Aurora Guerrero. US. 2011. 85mins
Movie Make Over

Swanky London hotel the Corinthia has teamed up with celebrity hairdresser Daniel Galvin and Oscar winning make up artist Lois Burwell to launch the Movie Make-Over Room.
MPI Media Group acquires US rights to Little White Lies

The smash French comedy-drama from Guillaume Canet stars Marion Cotillard and Oscar contender Jean Dujardin and drew 5.3m admissions in its native country.
MPRM promotes Helland, Gotz, McGee

The LA-based PR agency has promoted Leif Helland from account supervisor to director, Guido Götz from senior account executive to account supervisor and Caitlin McGee from account executive to senior account executive.
Mundruczó to head Sarajevo jury

The Sarajevo Film Festival has named Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó president of the jury for its feature film competition programme.
My Brother The Devil

Dir/scr: Sally El Hosaini. UK. 2012. 105mins
My Brother The Devil wins Berlin Europa Cinemas Label

The film has been written and directed by British director (and former Screen Star of Tomorrow) Sally El Hosaini.
MyFrenchFilmFestival.com racks-up over one million viewings

Case Départ, Un Poison Violent and J’aime Regarder Les Filles pick up prizes at Internet festival feting French cinema.
Myriad acquires international rights to Nobody Walks

Ry Russo-Young’s Sundance entry will be presented to international buyers at the EFM in Berlin next week. Magnolia previously acquired US rights in Park City and plans a significant theatrical release.
Myriad brings Chastain-Edgerton double feature to EFM

Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain and rising Australian star Joel Edgerton have signed on to The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby: His and The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby: Hers – a double project that will shoot back-to-back offering alternate perspectives from the male and female protagonists.
Myriad Pictures strikes more sales on Chained

The deals on Jennifer Lynch’s psychological thriller were concluded at the European Film Market.
Nala Films plans festival run for Decoding Deepak

The financier and producer has unveiled its latest project, a documentary that chronicles one year in the life of the spiritualist Deepak Chopra.
Negotiating Love

Dir/scr: Calle Overweg. Germany. 2012. 85mins
Netflix launches streaming-only service in UK

Neflix launches streaming service in UK and offering free trial.
Netflix's Ted Sarandos touts ‘superior’ UK streaming service; says Sky output deals could be threatened

Momentum deal signed, which will include Shame; smaller UK indies to be courted.
Netherlands posts highest admissions since 1978

Buoyant box office sees increased admissions and better performances from Dutch films.
New buyer Breakthrough Entertainment heads to Sundance

The Toronto-based television producer has launched a film distribution platform to handle worldwide rights headed by vp of movies Marina Cordoni.
New Directors/New Films Festival 2012 line-up revealed

The Film Society Of Lincoln Center and MoMA announced the seven titles on Wednesday (18), which include Joachim Trier’s Sundance-bound Norwegian entry Oslo, August 31st that has just been acquired by Strand Releasing.
New German-Russian Fund backs films from Sokurov, Uchitel

The German-Russian Co-development Fund yesterday backed five new productions, including films from Aleksander Sokurov and Aleksey Uchitel, to the tune of 95,000 euros.
New LatAm fest kicks off in Argentina

A week after Argentina’s Un cuento chino (A Chinese Tale) directed by Sebastián Borensztein picked up a Goya for Best Latin American film, the region is set to host a film festival which launches its first edition this September, in San Juan, Argentina.
New Wave surges with Caesar Must Die, Tabu and The Wall

UK distributor New Wave Films picked up a trio of critical hits at the EFM this year, including Golden Bear winnner Caesar Must Die.
Ng joins Fox Taiwan

Twentieth Century Fox International has appointed Anna Ng managing director of Fox Taiwan.
Nicole Kidman in talks for Rowan Joffe thriller Before I Go To Sleep

EXCLUSIVE: Kidman in talks to play lead in Rowan Joffe’s adaptation of Steve Watson’s acclaimed novel; Scott Free produces.
Night Of Silence

Dir/scr: Reis Celik. Turkey. 2012. 90mins
Nina Jacobson recruits Brad Simpson to Color Force

Simpson produced the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid with Jacobson and has been drafted in to expand the pipeline. His appointment begins on Mar 1.
Nobody Walks

Dir: Ry Russo-Young. US. 2012. 83mins
Northern Film & Media launches pilot jobs fund

The £75K fund is aimed at creating more jobs within the creative industries in the North East of the UK.
Northern Film & Media, Channel 4 launch The Artists' Cut

The new lottery backed initiative is aimed at giving artists the chance to make the switch into narrative pieces, inspired by the recent success of artists turned film-makers such as Steve McQueen, Gillian Wearing and Sam Taylor Wood.
Norwegian South Film Fund to encourage co-productions

The new fund, modelled on Rotterdam’s Huber Bals Fund and Berlin’s World Cinema Fund, will invest in film-makers from developing countries,
Now, Forager: A Film About Love And Fungi

Dirs: Jason Cortlund, Julia Halperin. US-Poland. 2012. 93mins
Oak Street, Zero Gravity, Epic unite for The Outsider

Craig Fairbrass is set to star in the action film about a British military contractor who rescues his kidnapped daughter and goes after the internet fraudster who abducted her.
Odin’s Eye to take Forbidden Ground, One Mile Above to Berlin

Sales agent Odin’s Eye Entertainment will be at the European Film Market with Australian war film Forbidden Ground and Chinese adventure drama One Mile Above.
Odyssey hires production and finance veteran Ralph Boral

The new arrival will serve as COO and executive in charge of production and is already involved on Odyssey’s in-the-works animation Hank The Cowdog.
Olswang opens Singapore office

The media law firm is continuing its worldwide expansion with a new Asia hub, based in Singapore.
One For the Money

Dir: Julie Anne Robinson. US. 2012. 91mins
Open Road scores number one US launch for The Grey on $20m

Tom Ortenberg’s second release under his new company after Killer Elite delivered as expected a number one result for the critically acclaimed survival story starring Liam Neeson. Joe Carnahan directed.
Open Road takes US rights to Exclusive’s End Of Watch

Tom Ortenberg has added another high profile title to the roster after acquiring David Ayer’s “mesmerizing” crime saga.
Oren Moverman among directors for I Love You, Berlin

Following Paris, je t’aime and New York, I Love You, Berlin will be the next city in Emmanuel Benbihy’s Cities of Love franchise.
Oscar nominee Jonah Hill to receive IFF LA award

The 26th Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles will present Oscar nominee Jonah Hill with the achievement in film award on opening night Mar 15.
Oscars: The Artist wins big, Hugo also takes five

The 84th Academy Awards ceremony had a distinct French accent as The Artist came out the big winner with five Oscars, including those for best picture, best director and best actor.
Outfest’s Fusion to honour Polk

The event, officially called Fusion: the Los Angeles LGBT People Of Color Film Festival, will open on Mar 22 and honours filmmaker Patrik-Ian Polk.
Outsider Pictures acquires US rights to Juan Of The Dead

The zombie satire will screen at the Miami International Film Festival which runs from Mar 2-11.
Paladin acquires Otter 501 before Santa Barbara world premiere

Mark Urman negotiated the deal with producers Sea Studios Foundation. The film is set to receive its first public screening at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Thursday (2).
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Dirs: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky. US. 2011. 121mins
Paramount be-Devils US box office with $35m launch

Paramount’s poorly reviewed horror The Devil Inside stormed to the top of the first full weekend of 2012 in a full-blooded debut that surprised rival executives.
Paramount to distribute Universal home entertainment in Brazil

Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) and Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE) have agreed terms for a five-year deal commencing in the second quarter.
Paramount, Bad Robot extend first-look deal

The key exclusive relationship between the studio and J J Abrams’ production company will now run through December 2015.
Park Circus sells Harold Lloyd catalogue to Carlotta

The company has signed a licensing agreement with French distributor Carlotta Films for the silent movie producer/star’s films.
Pathe UK signs first-look deal with Damian Jones

Pathe inks first look deal with The Iron Lady producer who is currently working on period-drama Belle from writer-director Amma Asante.
Payback

Dir/scr: Jennifer Baichwal. Canada. 2011. 82mins
Peccadillo to release North Sea Texas in UK

Peccadillo Pictures is to handle UK and Ireland distribution of Bavo Defurne’s directorial debut North Sea Texas, about two teenage boys who fall in love.
Pelayos to open Malaga Film Festival

Festival dedicated to Spanish and Latin American films.
Pellegrino, Myller revisit The Robbers

Roland Pellegrino, producer of more than 35 international films (among them Enemy At The Gates) and writer-director Hagen Myller, are teaming up to make an adaptation of Friedrich Schiller’s classic play, The Robbers.
Penny Wolf leaves Goldcrest Film Sales

EXCLUSIVE: Wolf leaves Goldcrest to pursue consultancy work for her London boutique The Film Consultancy Partners.
Percentage of women directors in Hollywood declining

Women account for just 5% of directors working in Hollywood, according to a new report conducted by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film.
PGA awards honour The Artist, Tintin

The Artist produced by Thomas Langmann won the 23rd annual Producers Guild Of America’s Darryl F Zanuck producer of the year award in theatrical motion pictures in Los Angeles on Saturday night (21).
Phase 4 to bring Horrid Henry to US

Phase 4 Films has acquired US and Canadian rights to British family comedy Horrid Henry: The Movie
Philm Company's new slate includes Killing The Shadows

London based director/producer Phil Hawkins has unveiled details of his new slate, which includes an adaptation of Wire In The Blood writer Val McDermid’s Killing The Shadows.
Pinewood revenues up in 2011

Pinewood has unveiled its results for the 12 months ending December 31 2011, with film revenues up 24% on 2010.
Pixel Lab returns to Potsdam in 2012

Transmedia workshop and training programme Pixel Lab is returning to Potsdam, Germany (July 1-7) for its third edition.
Polisse, The Minister lead Césars nominations

Maiwenn’s gritty drama Polisse picks up 13 nominations, followed by Pierre Schoeller’s political satire The Minister with 11.
Postcards From The Zoo

Dir: Edwin. Indonesia-Germany-Kong Kong-China. 2012. 96mins
Pretty Pictures acquires French rights to Compliance

Craig Zobel’s sophomore feature caused a stir among audiences and critics when it premiered at Sundance due to the inflammatory story about a fast food worker subjected to a humiliating investigation by a man who claims to be a police officer.
Punchline to make jazzy debut

Wide Management and Memento Film International servicing and marketing staffers Lucas Tothe and Sylvain Lagrillère are branching into production with the creation of Punchline Cinema.
Radcliffe mania

Daniel Radcliffe, writer Jane Goldman and director James Watkins were at London’s Apple Store to chat about The Woman In Black.
Raven Banner acquires Manborg ahead of EFM

Toronto-based genre sales company Raven Banner Entertainment has picked up world rights to Steve Kostanski’s Manborg.
Red Hook Summer

Dir: Spike Lee. US. 2012. 130mins
Red Lights

Dir/scr: Rodrigo Cortes. US-Spain. 2011. 119mins
Red Sea Media heads for Berlin with maiden slate

Chairman and CEO Roman Kopelevich has acquired international sales rights to the starry duo of heist thriller Pawn and revenge tale Officer Down and will commence talks with EFM buyers next week.
Red Tails

Dir: Anthony Hemingway. US. 2012. 125mins
Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Reynolds to star in Big Eyes

Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski will write and direct the biopic of Margaret and Walter Keane, whose ‘Big Eye’ paintings shot to fame in the 1960s.
Relativity promotes Gregory Shamo, Happy Walters

Evp of corporate affairs and general counsel Shamo and Relativity Music Group and Rogue Sports president Walters [pictured] are named co-COOs while former Loeb & Loeb senior counsel Michael Rosner joins as general counsel.
Relativity takes over Stretch Armstrong project with Hasbro

Universal has dropped the action adaptation, allowing Relativity to come on board the tentpole based on the action figure launched in 1976 and re-launched in the 1990’s. The parties did not mention Taylor Lautner, who had been attached to the Universal project.
Revolver 2012 slate includes Labaki, Miike and Snoop Dogg comedy

EXCLUSIVE: UK distributor confirms 2012 slate including Nadine Labaki’s Toronto hit Where Do We Go Now?
Revolver and Picturehouse have Electrick Children

UK distributors Revolver and Picturehouse have swooped on Generation entry Elektrick Children, acquiring from M-Appeal.
Revolver’s Offender underway in London

IM Global presales included Metropolitan for France, Tiberius for Germany and G2 for Scandinavia.
Rezo picks up Berlinale porn drama Cherry

EXCLUSIVE: Rezo has picked up international rights to Berlin Panorama entry Cherry, starring Ashley Hinshaw, James Franco, Heather Graham, Dev Patel and Lili Taylor.
Richard Napper steps down as COO, Curzon Artificial Eye

Company will spilt the role of Group COO into two new appointments across Curzon cinemas and Artificial Eye.
Ricky Strauss named president of marketing at Disney

The surprise announcement sees the former Participant Media president replace the outgoing M T Carney.
ro*co films international adds three more to Sundance slate

Annie Roney’s sales company has wasted little time bulking up its sales roster with films headed for Park City following Tuesday’s announcement on Screendaily that ro*co films international had boarded We’re Not Broke.
Ro*Co Productions, 1492 sign production deal

The production arm of ro*co films international is partnering with 1492 Pictures to adapt documentaries into narrative features.
Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate hedge bets on Arbitrage

The distribution partners paid $2.5m for US rights to Nicholas Jarecki’s suspenseful drama starring Richard Gere following the world premiere on Saturday.
Roberta Ibba-Hartog joins Lionsgate UK as head of TV, UK & Eastern Europe

Former vice president of international distribution at HBO joins Lionsgate UK
Robot & Frank

Dir: Jake Schreier. US. 2012. 89mins
Roger Pollock exits Paramount Pictures International

The shakeup continues as it emerged on Monday (Jan 9) that the evp of distribution and operation has decided to leave the company.
Rooks Nest takes off

Julia Godzinskaya and Michael Sackler of new UK production outfit Rooks Nest Entertainment come to Berlin with Panorama entry My Brother the Devil, Sally El Hosaini’s well-received debut which premiered at Sundance.
Room 514

Dir/scr: Sharon Bar-Ziv. Israel. 2012. 90mins
Russian Film Commission coming to LA

Roskino/SEF is to create a Russian Film Commission in Los Angeles to build relationships with American distributors and producers.
Safe As Houses

The US box office so far this year has seen audiences embrace a string of star-driven thrillers and chick flicks. So why are safe, old-fashioned concepts working so well?
Safe House

Dir: Daniel Espinosa. US. 2012. 115mins
Safe House steals US top spot from The Vow over Presidents' Day weekend

A closely-fought battle over the three-day weekend sees Safe House take number one with an estimated $24.0m.
Safety Not Guaranteed

Dir: Colin Trevorrow. U.S. 2012. 85mins
Salt cleans up with Cleanskin

EXCLUSIVE: Salt closes deals for key territories including UK, North America, France, Germany and Australia on thriller starring Sean Bean and Charlotte Rampling.
Samuel Goldwyn, SPWA team up on Robot And Frank

Park Pictures’ comedy-drama starring Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon was a Sundance favourite from the moment it screened in the Premieres section last Friday. Goldwyn and SPWA jointly acquired North American rights and will partner on the US release.
San Sebastian unveils separate New Directors competition

Previously the New Directors competition was part of the festival’s Zabaltegui section.
Sarah Jessica Parker replaces Demi Moore on Lovelace

Parker will play the feminist author and activist Gloria Steinem after Moore left the project last week citing personal reasons.
Screen Media 2012 slate features American Animal, L'Assault

President Suzanne Blech’s line-up includes the New Zealand Western Good For Nothing from Mike Wallis as reported exclusively by Screendaily on Tuesday.
Screen Media takes North America on Good For Nothing

Mike Wallis’ Western was funded by New Zealand’s Mi Films and will most likely open in spring, Screen Media president Suzanne Blech said on Tuesday (17).
Searching For Sugar Man

Dir/scr: Malik Bendjelloul. Sweden-UK. 2011. 85mins
Searchlight buys Surrogate as Sundance awaits avalanche

The distributor reportedly paid around $6m for worldwide rights on Monday night (23) to Ben Lewin’s surprise crowd-pleaser as a number of other deals were poised to close.
Secret

Dir/scr: Przemyslaw Wojcieszek. Poland. 2012. 82mins
Senza Pictures, Garnet Girl sign co-production deal with Norway

An unsual collaboration to make two to three films has been created by a 12 month co-development and co-production deal between the Regional Film Centres of Norway and US independents Senza Pictures and Garnet Girl LLC.
Separate corporate schemes back Sundance shorts

Two initiatives to raise the profile of short film are underway in Park City involving official short film programme sponsor Yahoo! and the separate Focus Forward partnership between video publisher Cinelan and video sharing service Vimeo.
Seven make it on to Academy make-up shortlist

Albert Nobbs (pictured), Anonymous, The Artist, Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, Hugo and The Iron Lady are in contention.
Sharon Stone joins Attachment for W2 Media

Stone will play a married woman who has a one-night stand with a college student who stalks her and her family. Tony Kaye will direct from Christopher Denham’s screenplay.
Sharqiya

Dir: Ami Livne. Israel-France-Germany. 2012. 85mins
Sherlock Holmes rules international for WBPI on $28m

Warner Bros Pictures International’s (WBPI) Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows ruled the roost thanks to an estimated $27.4m haul from 57 markets that boosted the running total to $222m.
Shine Pictures appoints Marina Brackenbury as head of development

She will be tasked with overseeing and expanding Shine’s development slate.
Shooting begins on The Seasoning House

The Sterling Pictures film is the directorial debut of special effects designer Paul Hyett and stars Sean Pertwee.
Shoreline, ro*co Films eye sales on Sundance duo

Morris Ruskin’s Shoreline has picked up worldwide sales rights to Luciano Moura’s Brazilian feature debut Father’s Chair (A Cadeira Do Pai) ahead of its premiere in the World Dramatic Competition in Park City on Friday (20).
ShortsHD hosts second annual award ceremony

The invitation-only event held in West Hollywood at the weekend recognised this year’s Oscar nominated short filmmakers for live action, animation and documentary categories. The lifetime achievement award was presented to Nick Park.
ShortsHD, Magnolia to release Oscar nominated shorts on Feb 10

The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012 series will visit more than 200 theatres in the US and Canada.
Shout! Factory takes North American DVD rights to CJ duo

Korea’s CJ E&M has sold North American home entertainment rights to 3D creature feature Sector 7 and action adventure Quick to Santa Monica-based Shout! Factory.
Sierra / Affinity selling Celeste

Sierra / Affinity has added comedy Celeste and Jesse Forever to its EFM sales slate.
Sierra / Affinity sets April start in Romania for Wer

The company has revealed the title of its new EFM-bound horror project from the producers behind shock US chart-topper The Devil Inside.
Sierra/Affinity to sell new title from Devil Inside team

Nick Meyer will commence pre-sales at the EFM next month on the “genre bending” Untitled Bell/Peterman Project. Director William Brent Bell and his co-writer Matthew Peterman’s The Devil Inside stormed to the top of the US charts last weekend in a shock $33.7m debut.
Silence Is Golden

The Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema will be making the most of this year’s silent sensation The Artist to attract the crowds.
Singaporean, Malaysian film industries increase ties

Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) is taking a delegation of 33 media and entertainment companies to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, as part of a drive to increase ties between the two South-East Asian neighbours.
Sister

Dir: Ursula Meier. Switzerland-France. 2011. 97mins
Sky Atlantic books Richard E Grant hotel series

Richard E Grant is to front a “luxurious” travel series for Sky Atlantic that marks the first commission for Clive Tulloh’s new indie.
Skyfall first Bond to get IMAX treatment

Bond 23 starring Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris and Judi Dench to get IMAX treatment.
Skype founder Friis touts upcoming UK VOD service Vdio

Janus Friis set to enter the UK online video fray with Vdio which he says will offer customers “the best titles.”
Slavery By Another Name

Dir: Sam Pollard. US. 2011. 87mins
Smashed

Dir: James Ponsoldt. US. 2012. 85mins
Soda EFM pick-ups include Woody Allen doc

Soda’s busy EFM included acquisitions of American Masters series doc WoodyAllen: A Documentary from HanWay Films and Eames: The Architect and the Painter from Films Transit.
Sola goes on Christmas Journey, visits Crocodile Mansion

EXCLUSIVE: Happy Happy star Agnes Kittelsen among cast of Norwegian family film.
Soldier/Citizen

Dir: Silvina Landsmann. Israel. 2012. 68mins
Solid $21m holds keeps Journey 2 on top internationally

The family adventure sequel swept past the original’s $143m lifetime haul as another strong weekend through Warner Bros Pictures International boosted the tally to $159.2m.
Sony inks multi-territory deal with The Exchange for Higher Ground

EXCLUSIVE: The Exchange sells key markets on Vera Farmiga’s debut Higher Ground, which SPC had already picked up for US last year.
Sony launches film channel in UK

Sony Movie channel to debut in spring 2012 on Sky.
Sony Pictures to distribute drama Johnny Two Guns

Oak Street Films and Zero Gravity Management will produce the film, which follows a failed musician who becomes an enforcer for a violent Nashville gangster.
Sony streamlines global commercial activities under Matt Brown

As evp of worldwide commercial for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Brown [pictured] will oversee all commercial efforts at the studio. He previously served as evp of North American and international.
Sony to release Torregrossa's The End in Spain

Sony Pictures Releasing has picked up Spanish distribution rights to Jorge Torregrossa’s hotly anticipated thriller The End (Fin) from The Film Factory.
Sony, Film District, Alliance team up for Insidious sequel

Leigh Whannell will once again write the script and James Wan is in talks to reprise his role as director. FilmDistrict will distribute in the US, while the project financier Alliance will release in Canada, the UK and Spain and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions will handle remaining territories.
Southwest

Dir: Eduardo Nunes. Brazil. 2012. 128mins
Spain

Dir:Anja Salmoniwitz. Austria. 2012. 101mins
SPC gets Smashed, IFC Midnight falls for Grabbers

Two late Sundance deals have closed, with SPC taking worldwide rights to Smashed and IFC Midnight acquiring North and Latin America on Grabbers.
SPC takes Celeste, Focus signs on for Good Time

Tuesday morning (24) brought two further deals as Classics acquired all North American, Latin American and Eastern European rights to Celeste And Jesse Forever after it emerged that Focus had paid in the region of $2m for worldwide rights to For A Good Time, Call…
Special Screenings added to Berlin's Forum

12 new titles have been added to the Berlinale’s Forum, making the section complete.
Starbuck, Terraferma among Palm Springs winners

Ken Scott’s Canadian comedy Starbuck has won the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Mercedes-Benz Audience Award Best Narrative Feature.
Starry starry night

The BAFTAs, whicht takes place on Sunday, looks set to be awash with Hollywood stars.
Stealth boards WWII action film Fangs of War

Ken Nakamura produces reimagining of Bram Stoker’s Dracula; EMEI Film Group to handle Chinese distribution.
Stealth Media Group’s Foreverland to screen in Berlinale

The film, based on a script by Shawn Riopelle and Maxwell McGuire, tells the story of a man stricken with cystic fibrosis who is tasked with taking his friend’s ashes to a healing shrine in Mexico.
Stephanie Allain named director of Los Angeles Film Festival

The veteran producer and Film Independent board member replaces Rebecca Yeldham, who stepped down recently for personal reasons.
Stephen Tompkinson to star in Harrigan

Filming is due to begin in Newcastle later this month on TallTree Pictures’ gritty crime thriller.
Stewart Till backs Daniel Battsek as head of BFI Film Fund

Till was speaking at a Skillset event held in London last night to celebrate the Skills Investment Fund reaching the £8m milestone.
Strand takes US on Sundance entry Oslo, August 31st

Joachim Trier’s Norwegian film launched in Cannes last year and is set to screen at Sundance in Spotlight on Friday (20) and follows a young man in drug rehab who reflects on his life.
Strategic Partners co-production spotlight on UK and US

The co-production market is scheduled to take place from Sept 13-16 in Halifax, Canada.
Streep and Roberts set for August: Osage County

Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep have signed up for the Weinstein Company’s August: Osage County.
StreetDance 2

Dirs: Max Giwa, Dania Pasquini. UK. 2012. 85mins
StudioCanal sees Double deal with Protagonist

StudioCanal has struck a UK/Ireland deal with Protagonist Pictures for Richard Ayoade’s comedy The Double.
StudioCanal thrills with Serena sales

Pan-European powerhouse StudioCanal is reporting an “incredible response” to Serena, its $25 million thriller/romance starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.
Summit confirms Garrett departure

Summit Entertainment has confirmed that David Garrett, its London-based president of international sales, is to leave the company.
Summit Int’l leads pack as indies enjoy robust 2011

The runaway success of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 ensured the company’s slate grossed more than $754m through international licensees in 2011 – easily the highest figure for any US sales agent.
Summit titles sell well at EFM

Summit Entertainment has reported European Film Market deals for most of the world on Beautiful Creatures and The Tomb.
Sundance announces Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award winners

The winners of the 2012 Sundance Institute | Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award designed to support emerging global filmmakers have been unveiled.
Sundance Channel locks new Euro and Asia deals

Sundance Channel locks deals with Virgin in France, Veetime in Taiwan after busy 2011.
Sundance hosts unveiling of two online services

Slated is billed as an online financing forum and marketplace for filmmakers and investors while The Watchbox will allow content creators to set their own rental price point. Both launched in Park City on Saturday (21).
Sundance Institute announces Sloan, NHK winners

Robot & Frank, directed by Jake Schreier and written by Christopher Ford and Valley Of Saints, directed and written by Musa Syeed, have each been awarded the 2012 Alfred P Sloan Feature Film Prize. Close far Away wins the Sundance Institute / NHK award.
Sundance Selects takes North America on Ai Weiwei doc

Alison Klayman’s acclaimed Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry premiered at Sundance last month and will benefit from a “major” summer theatrical roll-out planned to coincide with the activist’s first trip outside China since his recent detention.
Sundance: Magnolia takes US rights to Compliance, 2 Days

The deals continued to roll in on Saturday (28) as Magnolia acquired Craig Zobel’s thriller following their previous collaboration on Great Wall Of Sound.
Sundance: Middle Of Nowhere, Simon Killer sell

Participant Media and AFFRM (African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement) have jointly acquired US theatrical rights to AFFRM founder Ava DuVernay’s Middle Of Nowhere, while IFC have added Antonio Campos’ Simon Killer to the pipeline.
Sundance: SPC, Magnolia first out of the gate

Submarine has completed a rare two-for-two, selling its first pair of Sundance screenings as it emerged on Friday (20) that Magnolia had paid low-to-mid six figures for North American rights excluding TV to The Queen Of Versailles.
Sundance: The Words speaks to CBS Films, LD finds Black Rock

After a frenzied 24 hours of negotiations with several heavyweight buyers, the Bradley Cooper drama closed on Sunday (22) in Sundance 2012’s biggest deal yet as US rights went for approximately $3.5m including a $1.5m p&a pledge.
Sundance: Weinsteins take Favorite, Indomina gets Rap, FilmDistrict takes on Safety

In two late-breaking deals on Sunday (29), The Weinstein Company took US rights to Stephen Frears’ caper Lay The Favorite while Indomina Releasing acquired the world on Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap. Also, FilmDistrict took Safety Not Guaranteed.
SXSW reveals Midnighters

The SXSW festival has announced the features in its Midnighters section and revealed its complete line-up of shorts.
Tabu

Dir: Miguel Gomes. Portugal-Germany-Brazil-France. 2012. 110mins
Taiwan’s BMF Forum teams up with Hong Kong Filmart

Taiwan’s Book Meets Film Forum is joining forces with Hong Kong Filmart to create a platform to bring the worlds of Chinese film and publishing closer together.
Target Entertainment goes into administration

International distributor Target Entertainment has gone into administration just 18 months after being bought by Metrodome.
Tate Taylor to receive 2012 WGA Paul Selvin Award

The Writers Guild Of America will honour The Help screenwriter and director with the award in recognition of “work that touches on the constitutional rights and civil liberties.”
Teddy Bear

Dir: Mads Matthiesen. Denmark. 2012. 93mins
Temperature test

From an Oscar winner’s new work to edgy horror films that could become Spain’s next genre breakouts, Juan Sarda profiles the hottest Spanish films coming up in 2012
Ten films in contention for visual effects Oscar

Harry Potter, Hugo, The Tree Of Life are among the contenders. Members of the visual effects branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each film on Jan 19. They will nominate five immediately after the screenings.
Terence Davies, Leopardrama developing Mothers of Sorrows

Davies developing adaptation of Richard McCann memoir about a US family in post-WWII Washington; Leopardrama also closes distribution deal on Swan Lake 3D.
The Artist dominates at the BAFTAs

The Artist won 7 BAFTAs including Best Film; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hugo, Senna and The Iron Lady all picked up two awards.
The Artist named Regional Critics' Film of the Year

The award was voted for by critics and writers in all branches of the UK regional media.
The Artist wins best film at France's Cesars

Untouchable co-star Omar Sy clinches best actor and The Artist’s Bérénice Béjo best actress. Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation picks up best foreign film.
The Artist, Descendants triumph at 2012 Golden Globes

The stage is set for an Oscar showdown after The Artist and The Descendants emerged as the big film and lead actor winners at the 69th annual Golden Globes ceremony, presented by a declawed Ricky Gervais at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday night (15).
The Artist, Dragon Tattoo among ACE nominees

Final ballots for the American Cinema Editors’ (ACE) 62nd annual Eddies awards will be posted on Jan 23 and voting ends on Feb 9. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Feb 18 in Los Angeles.
The Artist, Help triumph at Critics’ Choice Movie Awards

The Broadcast Film Critics Association on Thursday night (12) voted The Artist its best film of 2011 and Michel Hazanavicius best director.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Dir: John Madden. UK. 2011. 123mins
The Cabin In The Woods to open SXSW

The world premiere of Lionsgate’s anticipated horror directed by Drew Goddard from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joss Whedon kicks off the festival in Austin, Texas.
The Coproduction Office secures more sales on Meteora

Philippe Bober’s production and sales outfit The Coproduction Office has announced a raft of new sales of Meteora, which screened in competition in Berlin last week.
The Crown Jewels

Dir: Ella Lemhagen. Sweden. 2011. 120mins
The Decoy Bride

Dir: Sheree Folkson. UK. 2011. 89mins
The Delay

Dir: Rodrigo Pla. Mexico-Uruguay-France. 2012. 84mins
The Devil Inside

Dir: William Brent Bell. US. 2011. 83mins
The End Of Love

Dir/scr: Mark Webber. 2011. US. 90mins
The End of Puberty

Dir/scr: Kimura Shoko. Japan. 2011. 116mins
The Five Parts Of The World wins Grand Prize at FIPAs

The awards celebrating European television production are now in their 25th year.
The Grey

Dir: Joe Carnahan. US. 2012. 117mins
The Guard wins big at the Irish Film And Television Awards

The Guard picked up four awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenwriter and the Irish Film Board Rising Star Award for its director John Michael McDonagh.
The House I Live In

Dir/scr: Eugene Jarecki. U.S. 2011. 110mins
The Invisible War

Dir/scr: Kirby Dick. US. 2011. 93mins
The Legend Of Kaspar Hauser

Dir/scr: Davide Manuli. Italy. 2012. 90mins
The Liability

Producer Richard Johns and director Craig Viveiros talk about shooting North East based road trip thriller The Liability starring Tim Roth and Peter Mullan.
The Match Factory boards Fliegauf’s Just The Wind

German sales outfit confirms it will handle international on Berlin Competition entry
The Parade

Dir/scr: Srdjan Dragojevic. Serbia-Croatia-Macedonia. 2011. 115mins
The Queen Of Versailles

Dir: Lauren Greenfield. US. 2012. 100mins
The Raid is double winner at Dublin International Film Festival

Welsh director Gareth Evans’ martial arts film The Raid was the big winner at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, picking up the Audience Award and the Dublin Film Critics Circle Best Film prize.
The Raid producers to make sequel later this year

Gareth Huw Evans returns to direct his The Raid star Iko Uwais on the project, which will shoot in Indonesia towards the end of the year. Celluloid Nightmares has already closed a slew of territories and SPWA holds US and select territory rights.
The Rat King

Dir: Petri Kotwica. Finland-Estonia. 2012. 93mins
The Sessions

Dir/scr: Ben Lewin. US. 2011. 98mins
The Theatre Bizarre

Dirs: Richard Stanley, Buddy Giovinazzo, Tom Savini, Douglas Buck, Karim Hussain, David Gregory, Jeremy Kasten. US-France-Canada. 2012. 114mins
The Viral Factor

Dir: Dante Lam. Hong Kong. 2012. 122mins
The Virgin, the Copts and Me

Dir: Namir Abdel Messeeh. France-Qatar. 2011. 93mins
The Vow

Dir: Michael Sucsy. US. 2012. 103mins
The Vow enchants audiences to record number one US launch

Screen Gems’ romantic drama notches a superb estimated $41.7m to beat Safe House to the top spot.
The Wall

Dir/scr: Julian Roman Pölsler. Austria-Germany 2012. 108mins
The Woman In A Septic Tank

Dir: Marlon Rivera. Philippines. 2011. 90mins
The Woman In Black

Dir: James Watkins. UK. 2011. 95mins
The Woman In Black continues to chill UK box office

Hammer’s adaptation records hat-trick at the top of the UK box office and is now the most successful British horror film of the last 20 years.
The Woman In Black reigns for a second consecutive week at the UK box office

Momentum’s horror goes from strength to strength to hold off The Muppets and newcomer Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance.
The Woman In Black scares away The Muppets to take UK box office crown

Momentum’s horror adaptation records highest ever opening for a Hammer film in the UK.
The Woman Who Brushed Off Her Tears

Dir/scr: Teona Strugar Mitevska. Macedonia-Germany-Slovenia-Belgium, 2012. 103mins
The Words

Dir/scr: Brian Klugman & Lee Sternthal. US. 2011. 96mins
Theo Angelopoulos dies after road accident on shoot near Athens

The acclaimed Greek director died after sustaining severe injuries in a road accident on Tuesday evening (24) while shooting The Other Sea in Piraeus. He was 76.
Thirteen Sundance films to open through Artist Services

The self-distribution initiative covers festival entries from last year stretching back to 1994, all of which will be available to rent, download or stream on platforms like iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, SundanceNOW, YouTube and Netflix.
This Means War

Dir: McG. US. 2012. 97mins
Three Dragons embarks on desert trek with Badanhelan

Hong Kong-based production company Three Dragons Films is launching sales on Gobi Desert-set drama Badanhelan at the EFM.
Thurman, Davis, Lohan, Giamatti among cast of Marilyn Monroe doc

EXCLUSIVE: All-star ensemble cast on board Liz Garbus documentary about Marilyn Monroe
Tianjin’s Rabbit sells to Portugal

China’s Tianjin Film Studio has sold hit animation Legend Of A Rabbit to Portugal’s Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuals.
TIFF divides children's festival Sprockets into two events

TIFF creates separate festivals for children aged 3-13 and 14-18.
TIFF unveils big plans for celebration of 25th edition

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is planning a range of special programmes to celebrate its 25th edition which is taking place this year (Oct 20-29).
TIFFCOM market moves to Tokyo Bay

This year’s TIFFCOM contents market (October 23-25) will change venues from the Roppongi Hills complex to the Grand Pacific Le Daiba hotel in Odaiba, Tokyo.
Tim And Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie

Dir/scr: Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim. US. 2011. 94mins
Tinker Tailor, The Artist triumph at Richard Attenborough Awards

The Artist was named best film, with Michel Hazanavicius taking the best director award; Tinker Tailor picked up three awards including Best British Film.
TLA pacts with Poland’s Tongariro

TLA Releasing has signed a strategic deal with Polish LGBT distributor Tongariro for the acquisition and day-and-date release of content, so Polish audiences will see films in line with the US and UK.
TLA picks up feature version of Faltz's Weak Species

TLA Releasing has acquired worldwide rights to upcoming genre film Weak Species, writer-director Dan Faltz’s feature version of his award-winning short of the same name.
TLA's Curl buys Optimale

Derek Curl, majority owner of US and UK distributor TLA Releasing, has acquired French distributor Optimale.
Today

Dir/scr: Alain Gomis. France-Senegal. 2011. 89mins
Toei’s Admiral conquers UK, Germany

Japanese studio Toei has closed several deals on its big-budget war epic Admiral Yamamoto, including a sale to Germany’s Pandastorm Pictures.
Tommy Lee Jones joins Emperor for Peter Webber

As previously announced the world war two saga will star Matthew Fox as a lovelorn Japanese expert investigating war crimes charges against Emperor Hirohito.
Tomorrow

Dir: Andrey Gryazev. Russia. 2012. 91mins
Tore Fredrik Dreyer appointed MD Twentieth Century Fox Norway

Dreyer takes over from Bjorn Jacobsen, effective May 2012
Tribeca 2012 to open with The Five-Year Engagement

The projects reunites writer-director Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel five years after they collaborated on Forgetting Sarah Marshall and will kick off the New York event on Apr 18.
Tribeca Film picks up US rights to comedic drama Collaborator

Martin Donovan’s directorial debut stars Donovan, David Morse and Olivia Williams and will go out this summer in a multi-platform launch. eOne will handle select US home video distribution rights.
Tribeca Film takes US rights to The Giant Mechanical Man

The cast includes Jenna Fischer (who is also producing), Chris Messina, Topher Grace and Malin Akerman.
Tribeca Teaches programme expanded to Los Angeles

The Tribeca Film Institute launches new programme in Los Angeles and celebrates African American women’s leadership in its Tribeca Youth Screening Series.
Tropfest to host Las Vegas event at The Cosmopolitan

Tropfest will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Las Vegas with “indie spirited” musical performances and an all-star competition featuring films from the festival over the past 20 years.
TrustNordisk bites with Frost

Scandinavian sales company TrustNordisk has picked up international sales rights to sci-fi-thriller Frost.
TrustNordisk tempts more buyers with A Royal Affair

As Nikolaj Arcel’s royal epic gears up for its competition screening tonight in Berlin, TrustNordisk has completed more sales, taking the number of countries up to nearly 30.
Tyler Perry's Good Deeds

Dir/scr: Tyler Perry. US. 2012. 111mins
UK actor Daniel Kaluuya signs with ICM

Kaluuya, a former Screen International UK Star Of Tomorrow, starred in the E4 UK teen drama Skins and went on to become a head writer on the series.
UK box office up 4.5% in 2011, Warner Bros leads the way

UK box office crossed £1bn mark for third consecutive year in 2011, 3D receipts down 5.9%.
UK comedy Booked Out plans DIY distribution

Sylvia Syms, Rollo Weeks star in the UK comedy which will tour the UK in March.
UK digital cinema rollout likely complete by Q1, 2013

The vast majority of UK cinemas will be fully digital by Q1, 2013, according to industry experts; Vue CEO suggests digital upgrade could lead to more UK films in cinemas.
UK domestic productions down, co-productions up in 2011

Inward investment reached a record high in 2011, whilst the number of films shooting in the UK fell slightly in 2011; independent British films recorded best ever year at the UK box office.
Ulrike Ottinger – Nomad From the Lake

Dir/scr: Brigitte Kramer. Germany 2012. 86mins
Under African Skies

Dir/scr: Joe Berlinger. US. 2011. 102mins
Underworld: Awakening

Dirs: Måns Marlind and Björn Stein. US. 2011. 88mins
Underworld: Awakening rules US charts on $25m debut

Screen Gems’ latest foray Underworld delivered a respectable opening gross that returned the franchise to winning ways after the third episode opened in second place three years ago.
Universal signs two-year deal with Paul Walker’s Laguna Ridge

The first project to go under the production arrangement is the action thriller Skyscraper based on an original idea by Mike Sobel.
Universal, Blumhouse, Platinum Dunes unite for Vigilandia

Why Not Productions is also on board the futuristic thriller to star Ethan Hawke and set to commence production on Feb 13.
Universal, Imagine extend partnership through 2016

The once exclusive production arrangement between the parties has been changed to a first-look deal.
Urban goes to Guimaraes

Urban Distribution International is to handle international rights on Fundacao Cidade de Guimaraes, the new portmanteau co-directed by Manoel De Oliveira, Aki Kaurismaki, Victor Erice and Pedro Costa.
US box office surges onward as Valor debuts on $25m

The buoyant US box office showed little sign of flagging as Relativity’s combat adventure Act Of Valor stormed to the top on an estimated $25m.
Vajna puts emphasis on new Hungarian talent

Speaking in Berlin this week, Hungarian film commissioner and troubleshooter Andy Vajna has responded to criticisms from members of the Hungarian Filmmakers’ Association (led by Bela Tarr) that film artistry and culture is being stifled under the film regime he now heads.
Valley Of Saints

Dir/scr: Musa Syeed. 2012. India-US. 82mins
Venice’s Latest Renaissance

Outgoing festival director Marco Mueller returned Venice to its former glory by focusing on the movies. Incoming Alberto Barbera has been charged with creating a market infrastructure. But does Venice need it?
Vera Farmiga to play Fleetwood Mac singer in The Drummer

The Oscar nominated actress joins Aaron Eckhart in the Beach Boys film and will play singer-songwriter Christine McVie. W2 is co-financing the project and represents international sales.
Viaplay strikes Walt Disney Nordic and Sony Pictures Television deals

Agreements will give online pay-TV service access to the likes of Salt, Easy Rider, Tangled and Pretty Woman in Nordic territories.
Vision 3 wins 3D Lumiere Award for The Foundling

It was part of the 3D Society’s Lumiere Awards which took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel, LA.
Visual Effects Society elects officers for 2012

Jeffrey A Okun was re-elected as board chair for a fourth one-year term at the Visual Effects Society’s (VES) board meeting on Jan 18. Okun is also the head of visual effects for Prana Studios.
Volcano leads winners at Iceland’s Edda awards

Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson’s feature debut Volano scooped five prizes at the Edda awards
Wanderlust

Dir: David Wain. US. 2012. 98mins
Warner Bros, VIZ Media strike deal over manga property Bleach

The studio envisions a live-action adaptation centred on the character of Ichigo, a teenager with the ability to see ghosts who helps lost souls find peace.
WBPI's Holmes targets $250m as Sony unleashes Underworld

Warner Bros Pictures International’s (WBPI) reigning champion Sherlock Holmes 2 has reached $239m and should coast past $250m this weekend in the face of Sony’s Underworld Awakening.
Weekend producer Tristan Goligher appointed iFeatures executive producer

He will head up iFeatures 2 which is being launched by Creative England in March as a UK nationwide scheme.
Weinstein mulls MPAA exit after Bully ruling

Heading into Oscar weekend Harvey Weinstein buffed up his image with a strong statement in favour of allowing children to see the documentary Bully after the MPAA upheld its R rating.
Weinstein, Netflix content deal includes The Artist

The Oscar frontrunner will receive its pay-TV premiere on the streaming service rather than on traditional premium cable following a multi-year deal between the parties.
WestEnd boards The Invisible Woman, Kristin Scott Thomas joins cast, Fiennes to star as Dickens and direct

EXCLUSIVE: WestEnd Films has boarded sales on Ralph Fiennes’ period drama which will see The English Patient duo Fiennes and Scott Thomas reunite; shoot set for April 23; creative team includes DoP Rob Hardy, costume designer Michael O’Connor and production designer Maria Djurkovic.
WestEnd picks up thriller Bethlehem ahead of EFM

EXCLUSIVE: WestEnd picks up debut about a complex relationship between an Israeli secret services agent and a Palestinian teenager.
WestEnd sells Invisible Woman in UK, Australia

EXCLUSIVE: UK sales outfit WestEnd Films has closed “substantial” EFM deals on Ralph Fiennes’ in-demand sophomore drama to Lionsgate for UK and E1 for Australia. Fiennes stars as Charles Dickens alongside Felicity Jones and Kristin Scott Thomas.
WGA announces 2012 screenplay nominations

The Artist is snubbed in the original screenplay category but Bridesmaids makes the cut. Shame, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Margin Call and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy were ineligible for consideration because they were not made in compliance with Guild rules.
When The Lights Went Out

Dir/scr: Pat Holden. UK. 2012. 85mins
White Deer Plain

Dir: Wang Quanan. China. 2011. 177mins
Wilaya

Dir/scr: Pedro Pérez Rosado. Spain 2011. 88mins
William Friedkin to be awarded at the 30th BIFFF

American director to receive the Knight of the Order of the Raven award at the festival, which runs April 5-17.
Winter Nomads

Dir: Manuel von Stürler. Switzerland 2012. 90mins
Wish You Were Here

Dir: Kieran Darcy-Smith. Australia. 2011. 93mins
Women In Film announces grant winners at Sundance

Women In Film, Los hosted its sixth annual filmmakers panel discussion and brunch event in Sundance this week when it announced two grant recipients.
Woody Allen, Alexander Payne among WGA winners

Woody Allen won Best Original Screenplay at the WGA Awards on Sunday night for Midnight in Paris; Alexander Payne, Jim Rash and Nat Faxon won for Best Adapted Screenplay
Works rises with Matt Whitecross' Ashes

EXCLUSIVE: UK sales outfit boards Mat Whitecross thriller starring Ray Winstone, Jim Sturgess, Lesley Manville, Jodie Whittaker
Wrekin Hill to release The Inbetweeners Movie in US

President and CEO Chris Ball made the announcement on Thursday (12) and plans a late spring theatrical release for the cult TV adaptation which grossed around $70m at the UK box office.
Wrong

Dir/scr: Quentin Dupieux. France-US. 2011. 94mins
Yamada’s Tokyo Story remake back on track

Japanese studio Shochiku is attending EFM with Yoji Yamada’s long-gestating homage to Tokyo Story, which is now back on track and scheduled to start shooting in March.
YouTube earmarks £10m for UK content

Youtube is understood to have earmarked a fund of £10m to invest in UK-created content as it looks to roll out a range of entertainment, music and lifestyle channels.
YouTube, Emirates dangle $500k carrot over Your Film Festival

YouTube and Emirates, in partnership with the Venice Film Festival and Scott Free have launched the competition to find the best 15-minute video storyteller.

Screen23 Feb 2012

Screen
23 Feb 2012