Screen
28 August 2009

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Eight new London boroughs eligible for Film London’s film fund

Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Film London have launched this year’s London Borough Film Fund Challenge, which includes new the new Film London in 90 Seconds.
Kaleidoscope snaps up $74 zombie movie

London-based Kaleidoscope Entertainment has picked up UK rights to zombie movie Colin, which was made for a mere $74.
$1.6 million content fund launched for northeast England

Regional screen agency Northern Film & Media is launching a new $1.6m (£1m) content fund for film, TV, games, interactive media and music.The North East Content Fund has earmarked $165,000 (£100,000) for film development, with a further $330,000 (£200,000) of the fund aimed at film production. It is the agency’s first fund and it aims to support projects across the region.Tom Harvey, chief executive of Northern Film & Media, said: “We want to invest in talent and project
3D Entertainment takes global rights to prehistoric adventure Sea Rex

3D Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the prehistoric adventure Sea Rex 3D directed and written by Pascal Vuong and Ronan Chapalain.
9

Dir: Shane Acker. US. 2009
9

Dir: Shane Acker. US. 2009. 81 mins
A Perfect Getaway

Dir/scr. David Twohy. US. 2009. 105 mins
A Single Man

Dir: Tom Ford. US. 2009. 98 mins.
A trip down Memory junction

The anticipated first feature to be co-directed by the UK’s Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais is a 1970s-set comedy celebrating the joys of friendship and the working life. Sarah Cooper visits the set.
Abendland

Synopsis: Documentary charting a personal journey through Europe at the beginning of the 21st centuryProd company: Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion (Austria)Producers: Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Markus Glaser, Michael Kitzberger, Wolfgang WiderhoferBackers: Austrian Film Institute (ÖFI), Filmfonds Wien, ORF, ZDF/3satDirector: Nikolaus GeyrhalterScreenplay: Maria Arlamovsky, Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Wolfgang WiderhoferDoP: Nikolau
Afterschool

Dir:Antonio Campos. US. 2008
Alex Holmes to direct DeLorean project for XYZ, Time Inc Studios

XYZ Films, Time Inc Studios and producer Tamir Ardon have hired Alex Holmes to direct the recently announced feature about auto industry maverick John DeLorean.
Andrea Grau to launch Touchwood PR

Toronto International Film Festival press officer Andrea Gau is leaving after seven years to launch her own full service PR agency.
Angelopoulos, Kapoor to be honoured at Mumbai Film Festival

The Mumbai Film Festival (Oct 29-Nov 5), organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), has announced that it will present lifetime achievement awards to Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos and Indian actor-director Shashi Kapoor.
Angels And Demons, T4 drive Sony past $1bn overseas

Sony Pictures Releasing International has crossed $1bn at the box office, marking the seventh time in the last nine years it has achieved the feat.
Apparition adds The Young Victoria to debut slate

Bill Pohlad and Bob Berney’s new distribution company Apparition has confirmed the third addition to its maiden slate is GK Films’ Toronto closer The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt.
Apparition takes Black Dynamite from SPWAG, increases slate to four

Bill Pohlad and Bob Berney’s fledgling distributor Apparition has added the Sundance hit Black Dynamite to its slate and will release on October 16.
Applause

Dir. Martin Pieter Zandvliet. Denmark, 2009. 86 min.
Asia prepares for 3D injection

Producers at Korea’s Naff have highlighted the boost to revenues that local 3D films can bring.
Australia sees more action as producer offset kicks in

Two action films, the sci-fi disaster thriller Arctic Blast and 3D underwater drama Sanctum, are shooting in Australia, providing further evidence that the 40% producer offset for Australian films has begun to kick in.
Avatar

Dir: James Cameron. US. 2009.
Backwood Philosopher

Two biologists from university and an uneducated, but smart lumberjack set out on a journey through the remote backwoods of eastern Finland, where they learn new things about science, history and human nature. Based on Veikko Huovinen’s novel
Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans

Dir: Werner Herzog. US. 2009. 121 mins.
Beeban Kidron skips out on Hippie Hippie Shake

Hippie Hippie Shake director Beeban Kidron has left the project, now in post-production, because of ‘creative differences’ in editing with the production company, Working Title.
Beineix to head Pusan’s New Currents jury

The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced that Jean-Jacques Beineix has been appointed head of the jury for the New Currents competition, which highlights emerging Asian filmmakers.
Bertuccelli, Gainsbourg plant The Tree in Queensland

French director Julie Bertuccelli has started filming her second feature, The Tree, in Queensland in Australia, with Charlotte Gainsbourg heading the cast.
Biennale unveils entries for inaugural Persol 3-D award

The Venice Film Festival has announced nine films eligible for Venice’s new Persol 3-D award for the best stereoscopic 3-D film of the year.
Blessed

Dir: Ana Kokkinos. Aust. 2009. 115 mins
Blind Dating

Dir: James Keach. US. 2007
Blitz

A cop hating serial killer targets the officers of a South East London police station
Blockbuster sells Irish division for $45m

Blockbuster Entertainment, the home entertainment chain, has sold its Irish subsidiary Xtra-vision to local consortium Birchhall Investments for $45m (€32million).
Callender, Swank, Tarr to judge Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards

Samuel Goldwyn Foundation president Samuel Goldwyn Jr has announced its three judges for the 2009 Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards Competition.
Canada’s Equinoxe Films quits distribution

Montreal-based distributor Equinoxe Films is pulling out of distribution after its principal backer, France Film, withdrew its funding.
Capitalism: A Love Story

Dir/scr: Michael Moore. US. 2009. 120 mins.
Cemetery Junction

Dir: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant. UK. 2010
Chengtian completes takeover of Golden Harvest

Beijing-based Chengtian, also know by its English name of Orange Sky, has completed its takeover of Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest, with some name changes and the ramping up of the combined group’s production activities.
Cherrybomb among five US premieres at LA Irish Film Festival

The US premieres of Cherrybomb, Peacefire, and Gabriel Byrne: Stories from Home are among the line-up at the forthcoming Los Angeles Irish Film Festival (LAIFF).
China set to appeal WTO ruling

China’s Ministry of Commerce has said that it’s preparing an appeal to a ruling last week by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that could open the country’s market for US movies, music and books.
Cinemavault closes key sales on Nik Fackler's romance Lovely, Still

Cinemavault has closed key territory sales on Nik Fackler’s romance Lovely, Still starring Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn.
Cinemavault sells key territories on A Previous Engagement

Toronto-based Cinemavault has closed key territory sales on the Juliet Stevenson comedy of errors A Previous Engagement.
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Dir: Paul Weitz. US. 2009
Content Republic signs digital distribution deal with Arrow Films

Digital distribution company Content Republic has signed a contract with Arrow Films to make a selection of its library titles available online.
Couples Retreat

Dir: Peter Billingsley. US. 2009.
Creation

Dir. Jon Amiel. UK, 2009. 108 Mins
Dance Of The Dragon, Rock Slyde win at Feel Good Film Festival

Max Mannix and John Radel’s Dance Of The Dragon was named best feel good feature as the Feel Good Film Festival (FGFF) came to a close in Los Angeles.
David Kosse named president of international at Universal

Universal’s president of international distribution David Kosse has been promoted to president of international as the studio expands its global focus.
David Wants To Fly

Documentary inspired by the example of David Lynch to explore the world of Transcendental Meditation and the movement’s founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Del Prete's Coronet Films starts shoot on debut feature Lifted

Former Odd Lot Entertainment principal Deborah Del Prete’s fledgling Coronet Films has started principal photography on its first feature Lifted.
Derek Haas, Michael Brandt to adapt Shake for Bruckheimer Films

Wanted and 3:10 To Yuma screenwriters Derek Haas and Michael Brandt will adapt Haas’ original short story Shake for Bruckheimer Films.
Desert Flower

Dir/scr. Sherry Hormann. Ger-Austria-Fr. 2009. 124 mins.
Disney buys Marvel in $4bn surprise deal

Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor and Captain America have new owners after the Walt Disney Co said it had agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment in a stock and cash transaction worth $4bn based on $50 per Marvel share.
District 9

Dir: Neill Blomkamp. New Zealand. 2009. 112 mins.
District 9 is a class apart on $37m debut

Peter Jackson’s protege Neill Blomkamp struck a winner as the R-rated sci-fi allegory District 9 delivered a clear North American number one triumph for TriStar Pictures thanks to an estimated $37m.
Donkey (Kenjac)

Dir/scr. Antonio Nuic. Croatia/Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2009. 90 mins
Dorian Gray

Dir. Oliver Parker. UK. 2009 112 mins
DreamWorks, Reliance close first phase funding

DreamWorks Studios and Reliance Big Entertainment have closed the first phase of funding and announced a further $325m syndicated by J P Morgan Chase that Reliance will match in equity.
E1 Entertainment names Sejin Park director of worldwide acquisitions

E1 Entertainment has hired former Paramount Home Entertainment acquisitions consultant Sejin Park as director of worldwide acquisitions.
E1 picks up Egoyan’s Chloe for Canada

E1 Entertainment Canada has picked up Atom Egoyan’s Chloe in advance of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Eleven Flowers wins Open Doors production grant

Eleven Flowers, a project to be directed by Wang Xiaoshuai and produced by Isabelle Glachant, was awarded a production grant of $46,000 (50,000 swiss francs) at the Locarno Film Festival’s 2009 Open Doors Factory.
Extract

Dir/scr: Mike Judge. US. 2009. 91 mins.
Extract

Dir: Mike Judge. US. 2009
Farsan

to be announced
Fighting for space in a tough market

Why are specialty and independent films getting so squeezed at the US box office this year?
Film Independent unveils Filmmaker Forum panellists

Groundswell Productions founder Michael London, UTA agent Rich Klubeck and Mandalay Pictures’ Cathy Schulman will be among the panellists at Film Independent’s fifth annual Filmmaker Forum in October.
Film Movement takes North America on SXSW winner Mine

Film Movement has picked up North American rights to Geralyn Pezanoski’s SXSW audience award documentary winner documentary Mine.
Film New Zealand takes on promotional role

New Zealand’s locations office, Film New Zealand (FNZ), is taking over the marketing and promotional activities that were previously delivered by Investment New Zealand, which is part of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Film Sales Company boards Cole ahead of Toronto premiere

Andrew Herwitz has further bulked up his Toronto slate at the Film Sales Company by picking up worldwide sales rights to Carl Bessai’s drama Cole.
Film Sales Company boards worldwide rights to Joan Baez doc for Toronto

Andrew Herwitz’s Film Sales Company has secured worldwide sales rights to Joan Baez: How Sweet The Sound ahead of its Toronto premiere.
Film Sales Company to handle domestic sales on Toronto entry My Dog Tulip

The Film Sales Company has been retained by My Dog Tulip Company LLC to serve as the US and Canadian sales agent for the film ahead of its North American premiere in the Discovery section at Toronto on September 13.
Film4 Somerset House series to welcome Almodovar, Cruz, Frears, Hurt

The fifth-annual Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House will welcome guests including Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz.
Filming kicks off in Vancouver on third Twilight film Eclipse

Summit Entertainment has begun principal photography in Vancouver on The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third entry in the series that is scheduled to open in North America on June 30, 2010.
Filming underway on Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky follow-up Untitled 09

Mike Leigh has commenced principal photography in London on Untitled 09, his follow-up to Happy-Go-Lucky.
Fliegende Fische

Comedy/drama about 16-year-old Nana trying to calm down her mother’s embarrassing lifestyle by pairing her off with a decent man… until Nana herself ends up falling in love with “Mr. Right”.
Focus teams up with Quad on French rom-com Heartbreaker

Focus Features International and Quad will co-produce French-language romantic comedy Heartbreaker
Fortissimo picks up Shimizu’s 3D Shock Labyrinth

Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to live-action 3D thriller The Shock Labyrinth, directed by Takashi Shimizu and produced by Japan’s Asmik Ace.
Fox Star Studios hires Sharma as sales chief

After eight years as president of international sales at iDream Productions, Rohit Sharma has joined Fox Star Studios as head of international sales and distribution.
Freeman, Moore start filming romantic comedy Swinging With The Finkels

Production began on August 26 on the romantic comedy Swinging With The Finkels starring Martin Freeman and Mandy Moore.
Frontier Blues

Dir/scr. Babak Jalali. Iran/UK/Italy, 2009. 96 min.
G.I. Joe expected to dominate overseas for second weekend

G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra is the frontrunner to rule the waves for a second consecutive weekend as Paramount/PPI’s action romp should surge towards $90m.
G.I. Joe stays ahead of the pack overseas, approaches $100m

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra held on to the overseas crown as $26.2m propelled the Paramount/PPI release towards the $100m international and $200m worldwide marks.
G.I. Joe storms North American barricades with $56m launch

Paramount’s gung-ho action romp G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra saved the summer with an estimated $56.2m debut that brought seasonal ticket sales back in line following the recent lag.
Gamer

Dirs/scr: Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor (as Neveldine/Taylor). US. 2009. 95 mins.
Gen Art, Rock Media & Entertainment merge to form Rock Media

Gen Art is merging with Rock Media & Entertainment to create Rock Media, an entertainment company that will continue to produce content and events under both labels.
George Lucas to present Golden Lion to John Lasseter

Star Wars director George Lucas will present John Lasseter and the directors of Disney Pixar - Brad Bird, Peter Docter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich - with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 66th Venice International Film Festival.
German sales companies snap up Locarno titles

Berlin-based sales agent Films Boutique has picked up international distribution rights to the Great Britain-France-Germany co-production She, a Chinese, the feature film debut of novelist and documentary maker Xiaolu Guo.
Germany gets Summertime Blues, Antichrist invoked in Spain

ScreenDaily takes a look at the local and independent openings in key markets this week.
GI Joe: Rise Of The Cobra

Dir: Stephen Sommers. US. 2009. 100 mins.
Goethe!

A modern pop fairytale on a love triangle between the young Goethe, his new love Lotte and her fiance Kestner.
Gsponer's Lila Lila to open the fifth Zurich Film Festival

The world premiere of My Words, My Lies — My Love (Lila, Lila), the German-language comedy starring Daniel Brühl, will open the fifth Zurich Film Festival on September 24.
Gummer joins Carpenter's The Ward for Echo lake, A Bigger Boat

Mamie Gummer has joined Amber Heard and Jared Harris on the cast of Echo Lake Entertainment and A Bigger Boat’s psychological thriller The Ward, which John Carpenter is currently shooting in Washington State.
Harry Brown

Dir. Daniel Barber. UK. 2009. 97 mins
Helen Mirren and Pete Postlethwaite join Joffe's Brighton Rock

Helen Mirren and Pete Postlethwaite have joined the cast of Rowan Joffe’s adaptation of Graham Greene’s 1939 classic Brighton Rock.
Herbstgold

Documentary about senior citizens aged between 77 and 100 who have a common goal: to participate in the next Track and Field World Championships for seniors.
Hexe Lilli - Die Reise Nach Mandolan (Lilly The Witch 2)

Further adventures of the girl witch now takes her to India
HFPA hands out $1.2m in grants at annual Installation Lunch

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) presented $1.2m in grants to 29 film schools and non-profit organisations at its annual Installation Luncheon in Beverly Hills on Tuesday [11].
High Point seals a number of deals on Satellites & Meteorites

UK-based High Point Media Group has sold Irish rom-com Satellites & Meteorites to a number of territories including Japan (AMG), Middle East (Prime Pictures), Russia (First Film) and China (DDDream).
House of Angels-Third Time Lucky

Third installment in the series about life in the small country village of Yxared, which was launched 18 years ago
I, Don Giovanni (Io, Don Giovanni)

Dir. Carlos Saura. Italy / Spain / Austria, 2009. 125 min.
Iconic US filmmaker John Hughes dies at 59

Hughes was taking a morning walk during a trip to visit family in Manhattan when he died of a sudden heart attack.
IFC buys sixth Cannes film in North American deal for Vincere

IFC Films’ newest addition to the slate is Marco Bellochio’s Cannes world premiere Vincere, about the Fascist leader Benito Mussolini’s estranged wife Ida Dalser and their child.
IFC Films takes US custody of Police, Adjective

IFC Films has acquired US rights to Corneliu Porumboiu’s Police, Adjective, which has been named Romania’s foreign language Oscar submission for the 2009/10 awards season.
IFC nets US rights to Andrea Arnold's Cannes honouree Fish Tank

IFC Films has acquired US rights to Andrea Arnold’s second feature Fish Tank following its world premiere in Cannes where it shared the special jury prize.
IFP deepens industry ties, unveils 116 Project Forum entries

IFP has strengthened several key industry alliances and unveiled the 116 projects in the Project Forum of its 31st Annual Independent Film Week set to take place in New York from September 19–24.
I'm Glad My Mother Is Alive (Je suis heureux que ma mere soit vivante)

Dir. Claude and Nathan Miller. France, 2009. 90 min.
I'm Going To Explode to open 20th AFI Latin American Film Festival

Gerardo Naranjo’s Mexican New Wave film I’m Going To Explode will open the 20th AFI Latin American Film Festival from September 23-October 12 in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Im Keller

Documentary about the Austrians’ relationship to their cellars.
Inarritu to head jury at Tokyo International Film Festival

The Tokyo International Film Festival has announced that award-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will be the jury president of the international competition at the festival’s 22nd edition (Oct 17-25).
Inglourious Basterds storms past $130m in global revenues

Inglourious Basterdsheld on to the overseas crown courtesy of an estimated $19.4m gross through Universal/UPI that was well ahead the rest of the pack.
Inglourious Basterds storms to the top in record weekend for Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds grossed $65.1m worldwide as the film scored record number one launches for the director in North America and overseas.
Iris Prize Festival

Cardiff, UK 07 October - 10 October
Isabel Hund to head Sony's German production division

Isabel Hund will join Sony’s German production division and European local production headquarters Deutsche Columbia Pictures Film Produktion as director of production starting October 1.
Japanese distributor Xanadeux goes out of business

Xanadeux has become the latest in a string of small to medium-sized Japanese distributors to go out of business, following a contraction in the territory’s independent film and DVD markets.
Jean-Jacques Annaud to direct Wolf Totem

French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud (The Lover, Seven Years In Tibet) has been brought on board to direct $30m Chinese-language drama Wolf Totem, which is being co-produced by Hong Kong’s Bill Kong and Beijing-based Forbidden City Film Co.
Jennifer’s Body

Dir: Karyn Kusama. US. 2009. 103 mins.
Jet Li to star in first non-action drama Ocean Heaven

Action star Jet Li is set to star in a contemporary Chinese-language drama Ocean Heaven, to be directed by debut filmmaker Xue Xiaolu, which marks the actor’s first non-action project.
Jet Tone, Fortissimo appeal GIO ruling

Jet Tone Films and Fortissimo Films – the production company and sales agent behind Cheng Hsiao-tse’s Miao Miao, which is at the centre of a funding row – have issued a statement saying they will pursue “all available legal recourse” to defend their rights to keep Taiwan government funding for the film.
John Greyson pulls out of TIFF over Israel-focused sidebar

Film-maker John Greyson has pulled his short film Covered out of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival in protest against a sidebar dedicated to films from the Israeli capital Tel Aviv.
Judge clears Redbox to pursue antitrust case against USHE

DVD rental kiosk company Redbox has been given the all-clear to pursue its antitrust case against Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE).
Julie & Julia

Dir/scr. Nora Ephron. US. 2009. 123mins.
Kaleidoscope signs first look deal with Instinctive Film

London-based Kaleidoscope Entertainment has struck a deal with Berlin-based Instinctive Film for the UK distributor to release a slate of genre projects to be produced by Instinctive out of a new studio set up in Eastern Europe.
Kazakhs select Kelin as foreign language Oscar submission

Ermek Tursunov’s epic romance Kelin has been named as Kazakhstan’s official foreign language Oscar submission ahead of its North American premiere at Toronto.
Keeping the edge

The Fortissimo Films chief — now steering the company alone after his partner Wouter Barendrecht died earlier this year — tells Liz Shackleton how he and his team are adjusting their strategy in a tough international sales market
Kenny Ortega to direct Jackson tribute film This Is it

Kenny Ortega will direct the Michael Jackson tribute concert film This Is It that Sony will now release early in a limited two-week worldwide run starting on October 28.
KINOSMITH to distribute Hot Docs titles on DVD in Canada

Toronto-based specialty distributor KINOSMITH has partnered with the Hot Docs documentary festival on an online DVD releasing deal targeting popular festival titles.
KOFIC to back Im Kwon-taek’s 101st film

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is awarding master director Im Kwon-taek $319,200 (KW400m) in cash and up to $159,600 (KW200m) in services for his 101st film Sanghwaji (working title).
Kops reteams with Kirkpatrick in Summit marketing and publicity unit

In the run-up to this weekend’s release of its Walden Media co-production Bandslam, Summit Entertainment announced it has hired Eric Kops as senior vice-president of publicity.
Korea selects Mother as foreign-language Oscar entry

The Korean Film Council has announced Korea’s submission to the Oscars Best Foreign Language Film category as Bong Joon-ho’s mystery thriller Mother.
Kore-eda’s Ship, Swarup adaptation among TPG projects

Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Brazilian co-production Ship Is Yet To Come and an adaptation of Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup’s Six Suspects are among the 25 projects that have been selected for this year’s Tokyo Project Gathering (TPG).
Kudos kick off on the Lido

Venice and Toronto will showcase a handful of potential awards candidates, but Hollywood has saved its big guns for November and December.
Leaving (Partir)

Dir. Catherine Corsini. France. 2009. 90 mins
Life During Wartime

Dir/scr. Todd Solondz. USA. 2009. 97mins.
Locarno 2009 award winners

The full list of competition winners at the 2009 Locarno International Film Festival
London Good Pitch unveils eight selected films

Organisers at the inaugural London Good Pitch have announced the project line-up for when the event runs from September 7 and 8.
Lourdes

Dir/scr. Jessica Hausner. Austria/France/Germany, 2009. 99 minutes.
Maggie Q set to star with Bettany in Priest

Asian action star Maggie Q has been cast opposite Paul Bettany in vampire horror Priest which Scott Stewart is directing for Screen Gems.
Magnolia takes North America on Bong Joon-Ho's Mother

Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Bong Joon-Ho’s Cannes Un Certain Regard hit Mother as well as the director’s 2000 film Barking Dogs Never Bite.
Malaysia's Yasmin Ahmad dies aged 51

Renowned Malaysian writer-director Yasmin Ahmad passed away last Saturday after suffering a stroke and brain haemorrhage. She was 51.
Mandate Pictures heads for the highway with female road movie

Mandate Pictures is developing an untitled female road movie comedy from screenwriter Annie Mumolo.Dana Fox and frequent Mandate collaborator Lorene Scafaria will produce, with Mandate president Nathan Kahane serving as executive produce and Tendo Nagenda overseeing for Mandate.The story centres on three disillusioned girls who travel to New York to celebrate New Year’s Eve only to be beset by a snowstorm en route.“I wanted to write a story based on the things my friends
Mannerheim

A biopic on Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, the Swedish-speaking nobleman who served the Russian Tsar, before he returned to Finland in 1917 to become the father and later president of his country. He died in 1951
Marching Band

Dirs. Claude Miller, Helena Cotinier, Pierre-Nicolas Durand. France/ USA, 2009. 95 mins
MarVista launches Six Million For Six Million Holocaust fundraiser

MarVista Entertainment has announced the Holocaust memorial fundraising campaign Six Million For Six Million.
Max Manus wins seven Amanda Awards as Haugesund ends

General consensus was that New Nordic Films, the market at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, offered 22 Nordic features of unusually high quality.
McAvoy, Holofcener board untitled cancer comedy for Mandate

James McAvoy will star in and Nicole Holofcener will direct Mandate Pictures’ untitled comedy formerly known as I’m With Cancer.
Metropia

Dir: Tarik Saleh. Sweden. 2009. 80 mins.
Mueller "back-loads" festival line-up to keep all eyes on Venice

The 66th Venice Film Festival kicked off the autumn festival season on Wednesday (September 2), bringing a raft of new titles to the market, a majority of which are still seeking distribution deals in major territories.
Mumbai cinemas close due to swine flu fears

Continuing concerns over the spread of swine flu in India have prompted the Maharashtra state government to close all cinemas in Mumbai until Sunday.
My Tehran For Sale

Dir/Scr: Granaz Moussavi. Aust/Iran. 2009. 96 mins
Myriad Pictures names Kevin Forester CFO

Myriad Pictures president and CEO Kirk D’Amico has promoted Kevin Forester to chief financial officer, effective immediately.
Nathalie Bloch Laine lands at EuropaCorp as producer

Former Canal Plus executive Nathalie Bloch Laine has joined Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam’s EuropaCorp. as a producer, the company announced on Monday.
NGE takes North America on Chinese smash City Of Life And Death

National Geographic Entertainment (NGE) has swooped on North American rights to Lu Chuan’s Chinese hit City Of Life And Death.
Nikkatsu takes over AMG’s acquisitions unit

Japanese studio Nikkatsu has acquired the buying and selling operations of Japan’s AMG Entertainment in a move designed to strengthen its own acquisitions activities.
Northwest Vision and Media expand board after funding boost

Northwest Vision and Media, the regional screen agency, has expanded its board with four new appointments.
Nothing Personal

Dir/scr. Urszula Antoniak. Netherlands/Ireland, 2009. 85 min.
O’Donoghue to head int'l TV production at NBC Universal International

Leading UK TV production executive Denise O’Donoghue has been named president of international television productions at NBC Universal International.
Odyssey Entertainment ceases trading

Odyssey Entertainment, the London-based sales and financing company, ceased trading on August 28.
Off-balance on online piracy

Online piracy is one of the biggest threats to the film industry yet finding the right approach to tackling it remains a challenge in itself.
OMDC unveils 43 projects in International Financing Forum

New projects from Deepa Mehta, Chris Landreth, Thom Fitzgerald, Hany Abu-Assad, Ralph Fiennes, Terence Davies, Kevin Macdonald and Tony Grisoni selected for Sept 13/14 event in Toronto.
Online service rates DVDs for parents

The Irish Film Classification Office (Ifco) has launched a new scheme that allows parents to check the content of films before this children buy or rent it on DVD.
Orphan

Dir: Jaume Collet-Serra. US. 2009. 123 mins.
Oz jury sends movie pirate to jail for three months

An Australian man, Yong Hong Lin, has gone to jail for three months for music and movie piracy in what is a landmark case for Australia because it marks the first time that someone has been jailed for piracy as a result of a jury conviction.
Paula Le Dieu appointed BFI's digital director

The BFI has appointed new media specialist Paula Le Dieu to the newly created post of director of digital commencing on September 28.
Persecution

Dir: Patrice Chereau. France. 2009. 100 mins.
Petit Indi

Dir. Marc Recha. Spain/ France, 2009. 92 min.
Pina

3D documentary planned now as an homage to the late choreographer Pina Bausch, with excerpts from her dance productions Cafe Müller, The Rite Of Spring and Full Moon.
Police, Adjective and Precious among initial Chicago line-up

Romanian film-maker Corneliu Porumboiu’s fresh IFC pick-up Police, Adjective and Lee Daniels’ Sundance hit Precious: Based On The Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire will screen at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Poulin joins Even at start-up production house Item 7

Acquisitions specialist Marie-Claude Poulin has joined Item 7, Pierre Even’s new Montreal-based production house, as a partner.
Powder

A tell all account of the music industry
PPP unveils line-up including Bong, Aoyama projects

South Korea’s Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) has announced its 2009 line-up of 30 projects from 21 countries, which includes Aoyama Shinji’s Decadent Sisters and Bong Joon-ho’s Le Transperceneige, produced by Park Chan-wook.
Prince Of Tears

Dir/scr/prod des. Yonfan. Taiwan/Hong Kong, 2009. 120 min.
Public invited to vote in MovieHatch screenplay competition

Film and television production company MovieHatch.com has launched a feature screenplay competition that it claims could lead to a production deal of up to $10m.
Reliance Big Pictures pushes into East Asian market

Mumbai-based Reliance Big Pictures has sold action title Ghajini to Korea’s Activers Entertainment and a quartet of pictures to Chinese broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).
Rome Film Festival cuts top prize fund

The International Rome Film Festival has dramatically reduced the prize money for the Golden Marco Aurelio from €200,000 ($284,000) to just €40,000 ($56,800).
Rosen leaves LA, returns to San Francisco as programming director

Rachel Rosen is leaving her post as director of programming at Film Independent and the Los Angeles Film Festival and returning to the San Francisco Film Society as director of programming.
Russell Harvard, Shoshannah Stern join wrestler biopic Hamill

Russell Harvard and Shoshannah Stern will star in Film Harvest’s Hamill, based on the life of deaf championship wrestler and current UFC fighter Matt Hamill.
Sam Worthington joins Summit's Danish thriller remake The Candidate

Summit Entertainment has acquired remake rights to Kasper Barfoed’s Danish thriller The Candidate (Kandidaten) with Sam Worthington attached to star.Beau Willimon will write the screenplay about an aspiring lawyer who tries to escape a blackmail plot after he wakes up in a hotel room and finds the woman he met the night before dead in the bathroom.Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen will produce through Temple Hill Entertainment. Peter Bose and Jonas Allen of Miso Fil
Samson And Delilah wins top AWGIE award

Samson And Delilah, written and directed by Warwick Thornton, won the major AWGIE (Australian Writers Guild) Award and the category for original features on Friday night (Aug 28) in Sydney.
San Sebastian announces 17-strong New Directors section

The San Sebastian International Film Festival has announced a 17-strong film line-up for its New Directors sidebar, which includes British director Tom Harper’s new film The Scouting Book For Boys.
San Sebastian announces complete Zabaltegi line-up

The San Sebastian Film Festival has revealed the remaining projects in it Zabaltegi Specials and Pearls sections.
San Sebastian announces Horizontes Latinos titles

San Sebastian International Film Festival has revealed 13 titles will compete in this year’s Horizontes Latinos section, which covers the new projects coming out of Latin America.
San Sebastian announces Made In Spain line-up

The San Sebastian Film Festival has revealed a 15-strong films for its Made In Spain section, which covers the top local films from 2009 including Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces.
Santa Barbara to honour Tarantino with Kirk Douglas Award

Quentin Tarantino, riding high following the number one global launch of Inglourious Basterds, will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s fourth annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film.
Sarajevo competition lineup includes world premieres, Cannes titles

The 15th-annual Sarajevo Film Festival has announced the lineup of 10 films in its official competition section including two world premieres – First Of All, Felicia which marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Razvan Radulescu with Melissa de Raaf, and Slovenian Girl, the latest film from Damian Kozole (Spare Parts).
Scorpio East expands production, distribution activities

Singapore-based distributor and film investor Scorpio East has made a couple of key appointments as it ramps up its production activity and moves into theatrical distribution in neighbouring Malaysia.
Screen Gems boards civil rights drama Holler from Dana Adam Shapiro

Screen Gems has acquired Murderball director Dana Adam Shapiro’s civil rights screenplay Holler, based on true events at a high school in Mississippi.
Screen names jury for Hollywood World Awards

Screen International has assembled a jury to vote for this year’s best non-US film comprised of critics and festival directors from around the world.
Searchlight promotes Hooper, Allen and DeLoach to key executive roles

Michelle Hooper and Stephanie Allen have been promoted to executive vice-presidents of marketing and Sheila DeLoach to executive vice president of distribution at Fox Searchlight, effective immediately.Allen and Hooper will jointly manage all aspects of marketing while DeLoach will manage all aspects of distribution. The trio reports directly to studio presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula.“Stephanie, Sheila and Michelle are invaluable and integral members of the Searchlight
SFFS unveils screenwriting grant as part of expanded support strategy

The San Francisco Film Society and philanthropist William R Hearst III have established the $15,000 Hearst Screenwriting Grant.
Shadow arts minister backs UK Film Council

Ed Vaizey, the shadow arts minister, has come out in support of the UK Film Council just weeks after Conservative leader David Cameron called for unelected quangos to be scaled back to save money.
She, A Chinese

Dir/scr. Xiaolu Guo. UK / Germany / France, 2009. 98 min.
Sheffield Doc/Fest to open with Moving To Mars

Sheffield Doc/Fest will open with the world premiere of Mat Whitecross’ film Moving To Mars on November 4.
Sherry, Cianciotta launch new Canadian distribution company

Canadian film distribution veterans Jim Sherry and Tony Cianciotta are launching a new boutique outfit, D Films. Sherry will be president of the company while Cianciotta will be the director of acquisitions.
Shirley Adams

Dir. Oliver Hermanus. South Africa, 2009. 92 min.
Shorts International and INgrooves release original Spinal Tap short on iTunes

Shorts International and INgrooves have released Spinal Tap’s new short film Stonehenge: ‘Tis A Magic Place on iTunes to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Rob Reiner’s mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap.
Shorts International launches dedicated 24-hour channel

Shorts International, one of the leading short film entertainment companies, has launched the dedicated short film channel ShortsHD.The channel will run on AT&T U-verseSM TV in the US and will broadcast shorts 24 hours a day in 30 and 60-minute blocks.Content will be divided into thematic zones covering comedy, world cinema, genre, documentaries and festival hits, among others.“We’re thrilled to be giving short movies a home in the US.” Shorts International chief exec
ShoWest organiser Mitch Neuhauser jumps ship to NATO's start-up convention

ShoWest’s top manager Mitch Neuhauser has joined forces with the National Association Of Theatre Owners (NATO) and will act as show manager for the body’s new industry convention that launches in March 2011.
Singapore’s Boku Films to co-produce The Host sequel

Singaporean production company Boku Films has signed an MOU with Korea’s Chungeorahm to co-produce and invest $5m in the Korean sequel to hit monster movie The Host.
Slovenian Girl (Slovenka)

Dir: Damjan Kozole. Slovenia. 2009. 90 mins.
Solomon Kane

Dir. Michael J. Bassett. France/Czech Republic/United Kingdom. 2009. 104 mins.
Sony gets go-ahead to release Michael Jackson concert tribute film

Sony Pictures in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment has been given legal approval to handle the worldwide release of the Michael Jackson concert film This Is It in memory of the late entertainer who died in June.
Sorority Row

Dir. Stewart Hendler. US. 2009. 101 mins
SPC takes US, Australia and New Zealand on Resnais' Wild Grass

Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has taken US, Australian and New Zealand rights to Alain Resnais’ Wild Grassfollowing its premiere at Cannes.
SPHE names John McMahon managing director, Europe

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has appointed John McMahon as managing director, Europe, as the company moves ahead with its regional development plans.
Spielberg eyes Crichton's Pirate Latitudes for DreamWorks

Steven Spielberg will produce and may direct the late Michael Crichton’s unpublished novel Pirate Latitudes after DreamWorks Studios acquired film rights.
St Trinians; The Legend Of Frittons Gold

The girls of St. Trinians are on the hunt for buried treasure after discovering headmistress Miss Fritton is related to a famous pirate
State of a region

A forum about the state of cinema in south-eastern Europe, held at last week’s Sarajevo Film Festival, reflected a diverse industry struggling to support its exploding talent base.
Stephen Woolley to remake Dickens' Great Expectations

Maverick British producer Stephen Woolley is planning a big screen version of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.
StreetDance

Tells the story of a street dance crew forced to work with classical dancers to win the UK Street Dance Championships.
Suck

Dir/scr. Rob Stefaniuk, Canada, 2009, 90 minutes.
Summit extends Twilight into virtual world Habbo

Summit Entertainment is looking to extend its vampire franchise Twilight online through a new deal with social networking site, Habbo.
Sundance Institute names 15 doc grant recipients

The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program has unveiled the 15 projects that will receive grants and creative support from the Sundance Documentary Fund.
Taiwan changes rules for mainland actors

Taiwan’s Government Information Office (GIO) has announced a policy change that enables more mainland actors to work on Taiwanese film productions.
Taiwan’s GIO orders Jet Tone to return Miao Miao grant

Taiwan’s Government Information Office (GIO) has ordered the Taiwan branch of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai’s Jet Tone Films to return the $121,600 (NT$4m) grant that it was awarded for the film Miao Miao.
Tarantino scores personal best as Basterds takes $27.5m overseas

Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds swept across the international arena in an initial sortie that reaped an estimated $27.5m through Universal/UPI.
Tarantino's Basterds looks to set box office alight through UPI

Quentin Tarantino is back and international rights holder Universal wants everybody to know with a wide launch for Inglourious Basterds that sees the war thriller homage infiltrate 22 territories.
Tarantino's Basterds poised to cross $100m worldwide

Inglourious Basterds should have the firepower to retain the overseas box office crown as Universal/UPI’s troops invade a further nine territories.
Tessa Ross joins Screenwriters' Festival line up

Tessa Ross, head of Film4, and an executive producer of Slumdog Millionaire has joined this year’s International Screenwriters’ Festival line up.
Tetsuo The Bullet Man

Dir: Shinya Tsukamoto . Japan. 2009. 77 mins.
The Blacks (CRNCI)

Dirs/scr: Goran Devic & Zvonimir Juric. Croatia. 2009. 78 mins.
The Final Destination topples Basterds in North America

Horror dominated the charts as The Final Destination opened top for Warner Bros on an estimated $28.3m and Dimension Films/TWC’s Halloween II launched in third place on $17.4m.
The Good Pitch In America pairs up with IFP's Independent Film Week

The latest project by Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern will be among eight selected to take part in The Good Pitch in North America in New York during IFP’s Independent Film Week.
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Dir. Neal Brennan. US. 2009. 89 mins
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Dir: Neal Brennan. US.
The Informant

Dir: Steven Soderbergh. US. 2009
The Informant!

Dir: Steven Soderbergh. US. 2009. 108 mins.
The Lion's national pride

On the eve of the Venice International Film Festival (September 2-12), artistic director Marco Mueller tells Sheri Jennings why this year’s event should mark a high point for Italian cinema.
The Search

Dir/scr. Pema Tseden. China, 2009. 117 min.
The Silent Army selected as Dutch Oscar submission

Jean van de Velde’s The Silent Army has been named as the Netherlands’ best foreign language submission for the 2010 Academy Awards.
The Spell

Dir/scr/ed Owen Carey Jones. UK. 2009. 85 mins
The Swiss connection

The Zurich Film Festival’s MD and artistic director talks to Martin Blaney about his other role, as managing director of production outfit Millbrook Pictures, which made a splashy debut with a $4.3m investment in Oliver Stone’s W.
The Wolfman

Dir: Joe Johnston. UK, USA.
This Is The End (Les Derniers jours du monde)

Dirs. Arnaud & Jean-Marie Larrieu. France/Spain, 2009. 134 min.
Three Chinese films pulled from Melbourne film festival

Chinese politics has played a big hand in the withdrawal of two features and a short from the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) just days before it opens.
Tian's Warrior gets world premiere at TIFF

The Toronto International Film Festival has added two final titles to its September line-up - Tian Zhuang Zhuang’s The Warrior And The Wolf and Hana Makhmalbaf’s Green Days.
TIFF adds world premiere documentaries, guest speakers

The Toronto International Film Festival has added a number of world premiere documentaries to its line-up.
Till calls for piracy to be tackled as he bows out as UKFC Chair

Outgoing UK Film Council chairman Stewart Till cites piracy and the need to create a sustainable film industry as the two biggest challenges facing his successor Tim Bevan.
Tim Kwok's Convergence readies Gungrave, Lone Wolf for big screen

Tim Kwok’s Beverly Hills and Asia-based Convergence Entertainment has secured feature rights to the pop culture properties Gungrave and Lone Wolf.Kwok plans to produce both as live-action features in the $30-35m range, with Gungrave set to go into production next year followed by Lone Wolf. Convergence will tap into financing sources through its strategic partners in Asia.Gungrave is based on manga author Yasuhiro Nightow’s story of a
TLA readies start on friendship drama Bearcity

TLA Releasing is due to commence principal photography on the romantic comedy Bearcity on August 10 in Manhattan and the greater New York area.
Toronto International Film Festival line-up

Screen International brings you the comprehensive 2009 Toronto line-up.
Trash Humpers

Dir/scr/cine. Harmony Korine. US. 2009. 78min.
Tribeca keeps April slot, sets opening of 2010 edition for April 21

Tribeca Film Festival organisers have announced that the event’s ninth edition will take place in New York from April 21–May 2, 2010.
Triumvirate replaces Sloan as MGM CEO in rescue gambit

Embattled MGM CEO Harry Sloan has been replaced by a triumvirate comprising the restructuring specialist Stephen Cooper, production chief Mary Parent and CFO Bedi Singh as the studio struggles to shake off heavy debt.
Trudie Styler's Xingu Films boards The Outlander

Xingu Films, the production company run by Trudie Styler, has joined forces with Canadian companies Strada Films and Triptych Media to acquire the film rights to The Outlander.
Tucci to receive Aspen Filmfest's Independent By Nature Award

Stanley Tucci, currently co-starring in Julie & Julia, will be honoured with the Independent By Nature Award at the 31st annual Aspen Filmfest on October 3.
TV chef Mario Batali joins MPI Media's comic thriller Bitter Feast

Celebrity chef Mario Batali has joined MPI Media Group’s darkly comic thriller Bitter Feast, currently filming in Manhattan and Woodstock in New York state.
UK business leader Theo Paphitis to boost Marvel's global brand

UK businessman Theo Paphitis, one of the stars of the hit BBC2 series Dragons’ Den, has joined Marvel Entertainment’s international advisory board as the company seeks to expand its global presence.
UK enjoys Mid-August Lunch, Hunger in Germany

ScreenDaily takes a look at the local and independent openings in key markets this week.
Up In The Air

Dir: Jason Reitman. US. 2009. 108 mins.
US judge says RealDVD copy software breaches copyright law

Signalling a key victory in Hollywood’s anti-piracy war, a US district court has ruled that Seattle-based RealNetwork’s RealDVD duplication software breaches copyright law.
Valhalla Rising

Dir/scr. Nicolas Winding Refn. Denmark/UK, 2009. 90 mins
Valhalla, Platinum, Top Cow hire Ryuhei Kitamura to direct Magdalena

Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Motion Pictures, Platinum Studios and Top Cow Productions have attached Ryuhei Kitamura to direct and Holly Brix to write Magdalena.
Valhalla's Gale Anne Hurd gets her man for The Hunted

Valhalla Motion Pictures has announced its second director hire in two days, putting Kaare Andrews in the hot seat for assassin thriller The Hunted.
Venice reveals “surprise” films

The 66th Venice International Film Festival has announced that Hana Makhmalbaf’s Green Days and The Movie Orgy - Ultimate Version by Joe Dante are this year’s surprise screenings in its Out of Competition and Orizzonti sections.
Venice shorts section opens with Bahrani's Plastic Bag

The Biennale has announced the line up for the international short film competition Corto Cortissimo, to be featured during the upcoming 66th edition of the Venice Film Festival.
Videocracy

Dir/prod: Erik Gandini. Sweden-Denmark. 2009. 85 mins.
vincent will meer

A young man suffering from Tourette’s syndrome absconds from an institution with two other inhabitants to travel to Italy to fulfil his late mother’s wish.
Visit Films takes supermodel doc Picture Me to Toronto

Visit Films has acquired international sales rights to Ole Schell and Sara Ziff’s documentary Picture Me and will commence sales at Toronto.
Warner Home Video cuts out middleman in kiosk and subscription delivery

Warner Home Video (WHV) is cutting out the middleman after informing its wholesalers that starting in October it will apply direct relationships only with kiosk and mail-order subscription vendors.
Warner set for second weekend of Potter magic as Universal expands Public Enemies

New moves internationally are largely quiet this week as Harry Potter continues his worldwide domination for Warner Bros International - building on the record international opening weekend of $236m.
Werner - Eiskalt

Brösel draws on his own experiences as a comic artist for the new adventures of his alter ego Werner.
White Material

Dir: Claire Denis. 2009. France. 102 mins.
Whiteout

Dir: Dominic Sena. Canada, US. 2009
Whores' Glory

Documentary about the lives of prostitutes in Mexico, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Africa and Vienna.
Wild Grass, Broken Embraces bookend auteur-rich New York Film Festival

Alain Resnais’ Wild Grasswill open and Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces will close the 47th New York Film Festival this autumn. Sony Pictures Classics holds domestic rights to both titles.
Winslet to narrate Toronto-bound autism doc The Sunshine Boy

Kate Winslet has come aboard to narrate Fridrik Thor Fridriksson’s Toronto-bound autism documentary The Sunshine Boy.
Wog Boy sequel set to start shooting in Melbourne

A sequel to highly successful Australian comedy The Wog Boy goes into production next week in Melbourne. It will be distributed by the Transmission/Paramount joint venture with Arclight Films handling international sales.
Wolfe bolsters ancillary pipeline to boost filmmaker support

Wolfe Releasing has bulked up its DVD and VOD library with four titles as it continues to build alternative platforms for gay and lesbian filmmakers.
World surrenders to G.I. Joe's $100m box office breach

The brute force of G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra smothered the international scene over the weekend as the troops plundered $44.1m from a 35-market invasion and more than $100m worldwide.
World's best parade themselves on the Lido

The Venice competition line-up spans the globe, and showcases renowned talents alongside exciting new names. Screen gets the inside track on the films creating the biggest buzz.
WTO strikes blow for Hollywood in China monopoly hearing

The WTO has ruled in favour of Hollywood in its fight to open up the Chinese market in a development that Motion Picture Association Of America chief Dan Glickman said would “even the playing field.”
Young Brits are proving digital dunces

Amid the calls for the UK film industry to embrace digital innovation, Arvind Ethan David is concerned about the state of digital literacy in the industry’s entry-level employees.
Yun exits Singapore’s MediaCorp Raintree Pictures

Daniel Yun is leaving his post as managing director of Singapore-based production and distribution company MediaCorp Raintree Pictures after 11 years in the job.
Zurich Film Festival launches day-long industry symposium

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is introducing a new International Industry Day Conference at the upcoming fifth edition of the festiva, which runs from September 24–October 4.

Screen28 August 2009

Screen
28 August 2009