Screen
24 April 2009

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Nordic countries to promote region to producers

An alliance of Nordic film commissions has launched a new strategy to promote the region as an attractive location to international producers.
2009 BAFTA Nominees

Screen brings you the 2009 Orange British Academy Film Awards nominees.
2009 BAFTA Winners

Screen brings you the 2009 winners if the Orange British Academy Film Awards.
Aardman, Sony line up pair of animated features

Stop-motion animation studio Aardman has begun production on its next two features,Arthur Christmas andPirates!to be distributed by Sony.
Afghan Star

Dir. Havana Marking
Away We Go

Focus
Awaydays

Dir: Pat Holden.UK. 2009
Babelgum's second online film festival presents $130,000 in prizes

The Babelgum Online Film Festival presented more than $130,000 in prizes last night at the TribecaFilm Festival in New York City.
British cinematographer Jack Cardiff dies aged 94

Jack Cardiff, the cinematographer, died at his home in Kent today (April 22) after a short illness. Hepassed away surrounded by his family.
Brüno

Universal Studios
Cannes announces Cinefondation and short films line-up

Cannes Film Festival organisers have announced the line-up for the Cinefondation and short films competition.
Cannes president reveals digital streaming initiative

Cannes Festival president Gilles Jacob has unveiled a new digital initiative aimed at encouraging more young people to go to the cinema.He made the announcement at the launch of the festival’s official selection today (April 23).Filmmakers with a title in one of the official selection berths will be offered the chance to stream the first five minutes of their film on the Cannes website at the time of its theatrical release.Jacob announced the initiative a
Cayman Islands Film Commission launches 30% production rebate

International producers have a new location to consider after The Cayman Islands Film Commission announced its 30% rebate on film, video, commercial, and television productions that shoot in the Caribbean locale.
cineFinance announces it will not close new film completion bonds

Completion bond company cineFinance has reacted to the economic downturn by announcing it willnot be closing any new film completion bonds.
Cineplex expands 3D systems in Canada

Canada’s Cineplex Entertainment has announced plans to install RealD 3D technnology in more thanhalf of its cinemas by the end of May.
Cinetic launches international arm under Shebnem Askin-Schreger

New York-based consulting and sales outfit Cinetic Media is launching Cinetic International, a new unit which will offer clients a range of services including foreign sales, consulting, financing and packaging capabilities.
Cinetic Media launches international arm under Shebnem Askin-Schreger

New York-based consulting and sales outfit Cinetic Media is launching Cinetic International, a new unit which will offer clients a range of services including foreign sales, consulting, financing and packaging capabilities.
Coach 14 acquires international sales rights for Police, Adjective

French sales house Coach 14 has acquired Corneliu Porumboiu’s Police, Adjective for internationalsales. The film is running in the Un Certain Regard section of next month’s Cannes Film Festival.
ContentFilm International picks up Eric Bana's Love The Beast

ContentFilm International will represent Eric Bana’s Love The Beast to international buyers in Cannes next month after acquiring the film ahead ofWednesday’s [April 29] world premiere at Tribeca.
Costa-Gavras scoops top prize as COLCOA draws to a close

Costa-Gavras’ Eden Is West was awarded the top prize by the jury of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association at the 13th Annual City Of Lights, City Of Angels, (COLCOA).
Danish director Boe starts shooting fourth feature

Danish director Christoffer Boe has begun shooting his fourth feature, which has the working title Everything Will Be Fine (Alting Bliver Godt Igen).
David Shear promoted to head of theatrical distribution at Revolver

David Shear of Revolver Entertainment has been promoted to the role of head of theatrical distribution. He was previously sales director at Revolver, where he has worked for the past two years.
Defamation

Dir: Yoav Shamir
Dennis Lim joins New York Film Festival selection committee

Dennis Lim, editor of the Museum Of The Moving Image’s online publication Moving Image Source, has joined the New York Film Festival’s selection committee.
Doghouse

Dir: Jake West. UK. 2009.
Domenico Procacci announces film on 2001 G8 violence

Domenico Procacci, the founder of independent production company Fandango, has announced anew project called Diaz. It will be based on the police raids at Diaz School during the anti-globalisation protests at the G8 summit in Genoa 2001.
Eduardo Campoy named interim president of Spanish Film Academy

Leading film producer Eduardo Campoy has been named as the interim president of the Spanish FilmAcademy following the appointment of former chief, Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde, as minister of culture.
EFP selects candidates for Producers On The Move in Cannes

European Film Promotion (EFP), the Hamburg-based promotional organisation, has selected 23aspiring European producers for the 10th edition of its Producers On The Move networking initiative,which will be held during the Cannes Film Festival next month.
Eichinger and Edel reunite for Bushido biopic

The Baader Meinhof Complex’s writer-producer Bernd Eichinger and director Uli Edel are to bereunited this summer for a biopic of Germany’s No. 1 rapper Bushido.
Encounters At The End Of The World

Video:Encounters at the End of the World
Eurocinema VOD service to carry Image content

VOD channel Eurocinema has signed a deal to carry content from Image Entertainment, the North American distributor with a library of roughly 3,500 exclusive DVD titles.
Europe embraces 3D, but will it pay off?

The Cannes film festival’s surprise choice of Pixar’s Up as its opening film this May sends a symbolic message. By embracing a 3D film, the world’s most prestigious film festival is underlining the point that 3D is now not only part of the mainstream but that it is respected by programmers and critics too.
Evokative picks up South Korea’s Daytime Drinking for Canada

Montreal-based Evokative Films has picked up Canadian rights to Noh Young-seok’s Daytime Drinking. The deal was negotiated with Eleven Arts, which had North American rights, and sales agent Finecut.
FAQ About Time Travel

Lionsgate Films
Fast & Furious eyes key debuts in third weekend and sets sights on $150m

Both Universal/UPI’s Fast & Furious and DreamWorks Animation/PPI’s Monsters Vs Aliens have cleared the first hurdle and crossed $100m as they head into their third and fifth weekends respectively and will be at the vanguard of Hollywood’s latest international incursion.
Fast & Furious is overseas champ for third weekend and cruises to $170m

Universal’s Fast & Furiousheld on to the number one spot among Hollywood releases for the third consecutive weekend as an estimated $15.2m haul through UPI from 6,340 sites in 59 territories boosted the running total to $170m.
Film co-operative TheMoviesClub poised to make acquisitions

TheMoviesClub, the UK co-operative set up last summer to enable movie fans to buy the rights toindependent movies, is ready to make its first acquisitions after raising $22,360 (£15,000).
Film London pushes locations to review costs

Film London has started talks with the city’s locations and boroughs as part of a move to make the capital cheaper and more accessible to productions.
Film Sales Company boards Adrienne Shelly film for Tribeca

Andrew Herwitz’ Film Sales Company boards rights to three films at Tribeca including Cheryl Hines’ romantic comedy Serious Moonlight based on a screenplay by the late Adrienne Shelly.
Filmax refinances debts to set aside $32m a year for new technologies

Major Spanish studio Filmax has closed a deal with 41 banking institutions to refinance its debts so that it can set aside $32.5m (Euros 25m) annually to expand and improve its new technology business.
First Run acquires US rights to Tribeca doc Defamation

First Run Features has acquired US rights to Israeli director Yoav Shamir’s anti-semitism documentary Defamation, following its US premiere at Tribeca on Thursday night [April 23].
Florian Gallenberger’s epic drama John Rabe wins four Lolas

Florian Gallenberger’s epic drama John Rabe about the “Oskar Schindler of China” was the big winner at this year’s German Film Awards, taking home four Golden Lolas, including for Best Film and Best Lead Actor for Ulrich Tukur as John Rabe.
French animation Les Lascars receives Critics' Week slot

Albert Pereira-Lazaro and Emmanual Klotz’s animated feature LesLascars will receive a special out of competition screening at Cannes Critics’Week, which runs from May 14 – 22.
Funny People

Video:Funny People
Gabriel's Passion (la pasion de Gabriel)

Senal Creativa/Caracol Televisa
German director Marc Forster wins Social Cinema Award

German director Marc Forster will be awarded the Social Cinema Award 2009 at this year’s Ischia Global Fest, which runs July 12-19.
Ghosted appears in Germany, UK has The End in sight

ScreenDaily rounds up the local and independent releases in key markets.
Giffoni Film Festival relaunches for 39th edition

The Giffoni Film Festival, which focuses on productions for kids and young people, is relaunching asthe Giffoni Experience.
Going Up in the world

The tale of a grumpy old man who attaches balloons to his house and flies to Latin America took five years and hundreds of animators to produce. Director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera take Screen through the process.
Golden Globes Winners 2009

The full list of winners from the Golden Globes 2009.
Green Lantern among productions set to light up Australia

The Green Lantern has confirmed that it will go into pre-production at Fox Studios in Sydney in July and will begin filming in November. It comes as rumours grow that two other major films are planning to film in Australia.
Hawaii International Film Festival (Fall Showcase)

Hawaii, USA, October 15 - 25
High Point to distribute Renown's library of British Films

UK distributor High Point Media Group has signed a deal with Renown Pictures to distribute its libraryof British films. Highpoint’s TV division will handle the catalogue.
HMV, Curzon Artificial Eye to create in-store cinema venues

HMV and Curzon Artificial Eye (CAE) are to partner in a highly unusual venture - setting up new cinemas in selected HMV stores.
Hong Kong video distributors, retailers tussle over fees

Hong Kong video distributors are pushing for a rental rights fee of 50% of the wholesale price of a disc, a move that local rental shops are claimingwill put them out of business.
Hong Kong's PAM pumps equity into Scandal

South Korea producer-distributor Ssamzie Entertainment has sold a $500,000 equity stake in up coming heist film Insadong Scandal to Prince Asset Management (PAM).
Hot Docs extends screenings after strong advance sales

Hot Docs Toronto Documentary Film Festival is reporting strong advance box office sales on a number of titles and has scheduled extra screenings for the final day of the festival, which runs from April 30 to May 10.
Huayi Brothers' Tracing Shadow sells across Asia

Beijing-based Huayi Brothers has tied up a slew of Asian sales on Hong Kong actor Francis Ng’s martial arts comedy Tracing Shadow, which is proving to be a hot seller in the run-up to Cannes.The $3m action comedy has been sold to Scorpio East for Singapore and Malaysia, New Action Entertainment for Taiwan and WEG India for India and the Middle East, among other territories.Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has also come on board to co-distribute
Icon takes UK rights to Sundance hit Black Dynamite

David Jourdan’s T&C Pictures International and Icon have struck a deal for UK rights to Scott Sanders’ Sundance hit Black Dynamite.
IFP Independent Filmmaker Lab announces ten documentary projects

Ten new documentaries at the rough cut stage have been selected to participate in IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Lab taking place this week.
Imprint dials up Mirovision for US remake of Phone

Seoul-based sales agent Mirovision has announced that it is teaming with LA-based Imprint Entertainment to co-produce a US remake of Ahn Byung-ki’s Korean horror film Phone.The film clocked up 2.2 million admissions on its local release in 2002 after a world premiere at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).Mirovision says it is excited because this co-production remake deal follows in the footsteps of successful remakes of Asian film
In the Loop

BBC Films/Optimum
In The Loop circles UK while France laughs along with Dujardin sequel

In this week’s local and independent releases in key international territories, Il Divo moves into Germany on 37 prints; France welcomes Rachel Getting Marriedand local comedy OSS 117 starring Jean Dujardin; UK readies for Sundance hit In The Loop.
Independent takes Exam

British sales and production outfit Independent has boarded Stuart Hazeldine’s Exam.
Indian cinemas go dark as producer stand-off continues

Programming has virtually dried up at Indian multiplexes due to the on-going stand-off betweenexhibitors and the United Producers Forum which started on April 4.
India's Moser Baer strikes distribution deal with Nokia

Indian disc manufacturer and DVD distributor Moser Baer Entertainment has sold the licensing rights of eight films to Nokia for one year.
IndiePix, Lucky Hat Entertainment sign six-film production deal

New York-based online distributor IndiePix has signed a six-film production deal with Lucky Hat Entertainment in Los Angeles that covers two films set to premiere at Tribeca later this month – P-Star Rising and Entre Nos.
Is Anybody There?

Video:Is Anybody There?
Italian Film Commission presents new tax credit in LA

The Italian Film Commission is presenting the country’s first film incentive at a meeting in Los Angelestoday (April 16). It will be held at Shutters in Santa Monica this evening.
Italian film industry rallies as cost of earthquake $15.8bn

The Italian film industry has announced a second round of fund raising initiatives to help to victims oflast week’s earthquake.
Italy's Far East Film Festival announces line-up

The 11th edition of Italy’s Far East Film Festival will kick off on April 24 with the European premieresof Thai martial action film, Ong Bak 2, and Chinese black comedy, Crazy Racer.
It's show time

Cannes fever is upon us once again, as film-makers and sales agents await news on whether their new films have found favour with - and favourable slots in - the world’s most prestigious film festival.
Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong to co-direct action adventure

Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan and director Stanley Tong will co-write and co-direct an action adventure tentatively titled Chinese Zodiac. JackieChan will star in the $37m (RMB250m) film.
Jane Wright and Christine Langan to head up BBC Films

Jane Wright has been appointed as managing director of BBC Films and Christine Langan has been appointed to the role of creative director of the division.Wright will oversee day-to-day responsibility for business, operations and marketing aspects of the division and will retain an executive producing role within BBC Films, while Langan will be responsible for developing the editorial strategy and commissioning of the film slate.The restructure follows the depart
Jennifer Baichwal to direct documentary on Atwood’s Payback

Jennifer Baichwal is to direct a feature documentary based on novelist Margaret Atwood’sPayback: Debt And The Shadow Side Of Wealth, a non-fiction treatise on the notion of debt.
John Woo's Red Cliff II storms Japanese box office

John Woo’s Red Cliff II scaled to the top of the Japanese box office this past weekend, with earnings of$8.66m (Y869m) over the three-day period (April 10-12).
Laila's Birthday takes top honour at Singapore fest

The 22nd Singapore International Film Festival has awarded its top honour, the Silver Screen Awards’Best Asian Feature Film, to Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi’s Laila’s Birthday.
Lightning boosts Cannes slate with Coach and Taking Chances

Santa Monica-based Lightning Entertainment has added international rights to two romantic comedies heading into Cannes.
Lionsgate signs debt refinancing deal to stall takeover

Lionsgate, the independent Hollywood film and TV studio, has stalled investor Carl Icahn’s takeoverbid by agreeing a $66.6m refinancing deal with two of its largest bondholders.
London Film Festival set for cash windfall

The UK Film Council (UKFC)’s Festival Fund is poised to inject $2.7m (£1.88m) of extra funding into theThe Times BFI London Film Festival. A decision on the new money is expected in the next two weeks.
London still attracting productions despite economic gloom

London will play host to the same number of productions as last year despite fears the recessionwould affect film shoots in the capital, according to Film London.
Love Child begins principal photography in Toronto

Love Child, the romantic comedy starring Donald Sutherland, has begun principal photography in Toronto.The Myriad Pictures and Alcina Picture co-production is directed by Michael Melski and produced by Toronto-based Alcina’s Paul Barking and Larissa Giroux, with theSanta Monica-based Myriad Pictures and Toronto-based Alcina Pictures have commenced principal photography in Toronto on the romantic comedy Love Child.Rossif Sutherland, Rebecca Romijn, Sarah Roemer an
Lu Chuan's City Of Life And Death heats up Chinese cinemas

Chinese director Lu Chuan’s war drama City Of Life And Death had a strong opening in mainland China,grossing an estimated $10.2m (RMB70m) in five days (April 22-26).
Marvel Studios names Douglas Finberg evp international marketing

Marvel Studios has appointed Douglas Finberg executive vice president of international marketing in a significant move that demonstrates its intent to broaden global awareness of the slate.
Matsuoka to step down after 52 years with Toho Studios

Toho Studios chairman Isao Matsuoka will step down from his post after 12 years in the position and 52 years of service at the company.
Medienboard boosts 2009 budget by $1.3m

Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB), the German regional fund, will invest an additional $1.3m(Euros 1m) in the film projects this year.
Medienboard fund supports international productions

New films by Roman Polanski, Christopher Smith, Danis Tanovic and Agnieszka Holland are among 36projects awarded more than $5.9m (Euro 4.5m) by Germany’s second largest regional film fund,Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
MK2 picks up Dogtooth, The Misfortunates, Rien De Personnel

MK2 has announced pick-ups of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dogtooth and Felix van Groeningen’s The Misfortunates.
Netherlands Film Fund appoints Doreen Boonekamp as director

Doreen Boonekamp, currently the festival director at the Netherlands Film Festival, has been appointed as the new head of the region’s film fund.
Nick Moran's The Kid to start filming in London

The Kid, Nick Moran’s first film since Telstar, will begin shooting in London next week. The film isbased on the harrowing autobiography by Kevin Lewis, who is also writing the screenplay.
Norwegian Film Institute backs Terje Rangnes' debut

Norwegian director Terje Rangnes’ feature debut, An Ordinary Day at Work (En Helt Vanlig Dag På Jobben), about the daily life of an unscrupulous journalist, will be backed by $1.4m (NOK 9m) from the Norwegian Film Institute.
Obsessed

Dir: Steve Shill. US. 2009. 105 mins.
Ocean Films takes French rights to Kore-eda's Air Doll

France’s Ocean Films has snapped up all French rights to Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Air Doll from Fortissimo Films. The film has secureda berth in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes film festival.
Oscilloscope takes North American rights to Irish box office hit Kisses

New York-based Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired North American rights to Lance Daly’s Irish box office hit Kisses.
Osian's Cinefan appoints Kaul as director general

Indian filmmaker Mani Kaul has been appointed director general of Osian’s Cinefan Film Festival,which is scheduled to hold its 11th edition in New Delhi from July 17-26.
Oz distributor to target foreign-language films

Australian sales agent Antony Ginnane and exhibitor Robert Ward have formed a theatricaldistribution joint venture, IFM/Filmways, which will focus on acquiring foreign-language pictures.
Pan-Asian auteurs line up for Chengdu omnibus

Beijing-based Zonbo Media is preparing a three-part film set in the earthquake-stricken city ofChengdu in Western China, to be directed by Korea’s Hur Jin-ho, Hong Kong’s Fruit Chan and Chineserock singer and filmmaker Cui Jian.
Piracy costs Italian industry about $700m annually

Italy’s cinema industry loses an estimated $699m (Euros 530m) to piracy annually, according to the first in-depth study of the impact of piracy in Italy. The findings were announced by Italy’s Anti Audiovisual Piracy Federation.
Pirate Bay founders call for retrial

The jailed operators of Pirate Bay are calling for a retrial after allegations that district court judge Tomas Norström has links to three copyright protection organisations.
Pirate Bay's founders sentenced to one year in jail

A court in Stockholm has today ruled against the four operators of file-sharing site The Pirate Bay, saying they are guilty of contributing to copyright infringement and sentencing each to one year in prison. Copyright holders in the film and music industry cheered the decision.
Pretty Pictures acquires three Chinese features

French distributor Pretty Pictures has acquired three films produced by China’s August First Studios: My Long March, The First Of August and Night Attack.
Prospect of WMA-Endeavor agency merger draws closer

Following months of speculation, an announcement on the proposed merger between William Morris Agency and Endeavor is expected to materialise early this week.
Regent/Here take North America on The Art Of Being Straight

Regent Releasing and Here Media have acquired North American rights from Great Graffiti Films to Jesse Rosen’s comedy The Art Of Being Straight.
Regent/Here take North American rights to Eichmann

Regent Releasing and Here Media have acquired North American rights from UK-based E-Motion to Robert Young’s drama Eichmannstarring Thomas Kretschmann, Troy Garity and Franka Potente.
Reliance cables Bollywood films to US cinemas

Adlabs Films has gained access to sister company Reliance Globalcom’s massive global fibre-opticnetwork to deliver Indian films to digital screens in the US.
Ricky Gervais' Cemetery Junction to start shooting in June

Cemetery Junction, the first film written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the award -winning team behind The Office, will start shooting on June 15.The project, which is filming in London, will star Gervais and Ralph Fiennes alongside newcomers Christian Cooke, Felicity Jones, Tom Hughes and Jack Doolan.Cemetery Junction focuses on three blue-collar friends who spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing
Roissy closes sales deals for Singing Nun tale Soeur Sourire

Shortly after announcing it had acquired Soeur Sourire; Roissy Films has closed sales with Canada andSwitzerland.
Rumours continue to swirl around Relativity-Lionsgate deal

Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media and Lionsgate declined to comment last night on ongoing rumours about an impending North American distribution deal.
Sam Mendes' Away We Go to open Edinburgh Film Festival

Sam Mendes’ Away We Go will premiere at the Opening Gala of this year’s Edinburgh InternationalFilm Festival (EIFF).
San Francisco Independent Film Festival

San Francisco, US, February, dates TBC
SC Films picks up international rights to Awaydays

Simon Crowe’s new sales company SC Films International has picked up the rights to Awaydays.
Screen Gems hits North American jackpot with Obsessed

Screen Gems’ thriller Obsessed starring Beyonce Knowles, Idris Elba and Ali Larter roared to the top of the charts on an estimated $28.5m over the weekend.
Seattle International Film Festival to honour Spike Lee

The 35th Seattle International Film Festival will present the 2009 Golden Space Needle Award For Outstanding Achievement In Directing to Spike Lee.
Senator and E1 Entertainment sign pact for Canada and UK

Canada’s E1 Entertainment and Marco Weber’s new US releasing outfit Senator Distribution havesigned a six picture all-media distribution agreement for five films in Canada and one for the UK. Thedeal includes digital rights.
Shifty

BBC Films
Shooting to start on Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll will start shooting on May 3 in London.
SILVERDOCS to honour legendary documentarian Albert Maysles

The AFI-Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Festival will honour Albert Maysles at the Charles Guggenheim Symposium, the centrepiece of the eight-day documentary festival that takes place in June outside Washington DC.
Simon Channing Williams loses his battle with cancer

UK producer Simon Channing Williams has lost his long-term battle with cancer. He died at his homein Cornwall on Saturday (April 11) aged 63.
Sita Sings The Blues, Children Of The Pyre share IFFLA honours

Nina Paley’s Sita Sings The Blues won the 7th Annual Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA) grand jury prize for best narrative feature and Rajesh Jala’s Children Of The Pyre took corresponding documentary honours.
Smuggler, Ascension acquire 2008 Mann Booker winner White Tiger

Newly minted New York, Los Angeles and London-based Smuggler Films in association with Ascension Entertainment has acquired film rights to Aravind Adiga’s bestselling 2008 Mann Booker Prize winner White Tiger.
SnagFilms signs deals with five new partners

SnagFilms has entered into Founders’ Alliances with Hot Docs in Toronto, Outfest in Los Angeles and North Carolina’s Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.The has also entered deals with the film competitions group CINE and the International Documentary Association.SnagFilms will carry channels on its website for each festival and organisation, providing free, complete viewing of films they will select from titles that have received current or past festival scree
So Close to premiere at COLCOA

Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s relationship comedy So Close (Tellement Proches) will receive itsworld premiere at the City Of Lights City Of Angels (COLCOA) festival in Los Angeles, which runs fromApril 20 - 26
Sony signs deal with Hollywood's leading digital cinema integrator

Sony Pictures Releasing Corporation has signed an agreement with Digital Cinema Implementation Partners, the leading integrator behind the digital conversion of North American theatres.
South East European Film Festival in LA kicks off April 30

The fourth South East European Film Festival kicks off on April 30 at the Goethe Institute in Los Angeles with a screening of Behind The Glassfollowed by the documentaryDivorce Albanian Style.
Spanish minister of culture looks to boost film funding

Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde, the new Spanish minister for culture, is seeking to help local film companiessecure loans through a deal with Aval Audiovisual SCR (Reciprocal Guarantee Society).
Spurlock footage available to view at Cannes

Celsius will introduce Freakonomics to buyers at Cannes and will be showing footage from Morgan Spurlock’s contribution to the five segment film.
Stefan Faldbakken to direct new Varg Veum featurePro

Norwegian director Stefan Faldbakken will direct the first feature in a new $14.2m (NOK 94m) film andtelevision package based on the best selling Varg Veum novels by Gunnar Staalesen.
Stephen Frears' Cheri faces tough competition at French box office

Stephen Frears’ Cheri lost out to tough competition at the French box office this weekend despiteopening in France ahead of its US and UK release. The film scored 67,649 admissions from 133screens in its first five days to Sunday night, according to distributor Pathe.
Stephen Fry to star in adaption of The Liar

Stephen Fry is to take a leading role in the film adaptation of his novel, The Liar, with newcomer Tony Hagger producing and directing.
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li

First look at the new Street Fighter movie, The Legend of Chun Li.
Sundance names 12 for June Directors and Screenwriters Labs

Sundance Institute has announced the 12 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah from June 2-26.
Swedish TV show to be remade for the big screen

Skärgårdsdoktorn (The Archipelago Doctor), one of Sweden’s most popular TV shows during the Nineties, is being revived as a film.
The End to open the East End Film Festival

London’s East End Film Festival will open with the UK premiere of The End, the debut title fromdirector Nicola Collins and her sister Teena, who produced the film.
The Enemy (El Enemigo)

Dir: Luis Alberto Lamata. Venezuela. 2008. Jerico LL Films
The London Independent Film Festival awards first time directors

Co-directors David Mills and Danielle Boucher took the grand prize at the London Independent Film Festival for their debut film The Burial.
The Milk Of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada)

Wanda Vision/Oberon Cinematografica/Vela Producciones
The Works boards Anvil! The Story of Anvil

The Works International has picked up Sacha Gervasi’s Anvil!The Story of Anvil for worldwide sales.
TIFF gets C$6m federal grant to promote Toronto

The Toronto International Film Festival will receive a two-year grant of $4.9m (C$6m) from the Canadian government to promote Toronto to the world.
Tim Bevan seen as frontrunner to be UK Film Council chairman

Working Title co-chairman Tim Bevan is emerging as a front-runner to become the new chairman of the UK Film Council when current chair Stewart Till leaves at the end of July.
Tribeca All Access wraps after 430 meetings, $55,000 in prizes

Tribeca All Access, the year-round diversity initiative of the Tribeca Film Institute, handed out a total of $55,000 in cash prizes with its awards last night in New York.
Tribeca awaits first major deal as festival enters final week

As the first weekend of Tribeca drew to a close no major deals had been signed although sellers claimed several titles were in play and HBO was understood to be poised to announce an acquisition early this week.
Tribeca Film Festival's World Premieres

Screen International’s lists of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival world premieres, with sales contacts.
Tribeca Sloan Fund gives $170,000 to five feature projects

The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) Sloan Filmmaker Fund has given a total of $170,000 to five film projects that integrate science into cinema.
Tributes pour in for Simon Channing Williams

Mike Leigh has led the tributes to British film producer Simon Channing Williams, who died of canceron April 11 at his home in Cornwall, England.
UK shoot begins on Searchlight, DNA, Film4's Never Let Me Go

Principal photography has commenced in the UK this week (April 14) on DNA Films, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Film4’s futuristic dramaNever Let Me Go.
UK's Intandem boards Humpty Dumpty

Intandem Films has secured worldwide sales rights to Humpty Dumpty, a sci-fi horror film featuring a 3D half-human, half-alien creature.The horror flick is the debut film from new writer Billy Majestic and it will be directed by David R Ellis (Snakes on a Plane).Former New Line Cinema executive, Mark Ordesky will produce with Darryn Welch of Instinctive Film, Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones of The iDream Company. Fabienne Villette will co-pr
Universal's Your Highness to begin shooting in Northern Ireland

Universal’s medieval fantasy Your Highness is to begin pre-production in Northern Ireland and is dueto start shooting in July.
Vue to introduce 'mystery' cinema screenings

UKexhibitor Vue Entertainment is launching ‘mystery’ film screenings at 33 screens across England onMay 5.
Where the Wild Things Are

Warner Bros
Who's Afraid Of The Wolf named Best Feature in Plzen

An international jury led by Czech scriptwriter Milena Jelinek awarded the Golden Kingfisher to Maria Prochazkova’s film Who’s Afraid Of The Wolf atthe 22nd Finale festival of Czech film in Plzen.
William Morris Endeavor Entertainment super-agency is born

Board members from William Morris Agency and Endeavor have agreed to merge the companies in a move that ends months of speculation and creates a super-agency to rival CAA.The new entity will be called William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment once the transaction is completed in the second quarter subject to customary closing conditions.Former William Morris Agency CEO Jim Wiatt is named chairman while Endeavor chiefs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell are
Wolverine slayed by swine flu

20th Century Fox has cancelled plans to release X-Men Origins: Wolverine in Mexico this weekend because most of the city’s cinemas are closed.The swine flu outbreak, which has already claimed nearly 150 lives in Mexico, has forced the country’s leading cinema chains to shut down dozens of cinemas throughout Mexico City.Market leader Cinepolis said its cinemas in the capital, the surrounding state of Mexico and the northern state of San Luis Potosi will
World’s Greatest Dad to close 11th Annual Cinevegas Festival

Bobcat Goldthwait’s dark comedy World’s Greatest Dad starring Robin Williams will close the 11th Annual CineVegas Festival, which as previously reported will open on June 10 with Hue Rhodes’ insurance fraud comedy Saint John Of Las Vegas.
Wrong Rosary wins Crossing Europe

Turkish director Mahmut Fazil Coskun’s Wrong Rosary has won the European Competition at the 6th Crossing Europe Film Festival in Linz.
Zeitgeist to handle epic journey doc The Horse Boy in North America

Zeitgeist Films has acquired all North American theatrical and home entertainment rights to Michel Orion Scott’s Sundance premiere Over The Hills And Far Away and changed the title to The Horse Boy.

Screen24 April 2009

Screen
24 April 2009