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Mike Goodridge

  • The Crown Jewels

    9-Feb-2012

    Dir: Ella Lemhagen. Sweden. 2011. 120mins

  • Gothenberg closes in style

    9-Feb-2012

    The closing night ceremony at the 35th Gothenberg International Film Festival (GIFF) last night was a cheerful affair livened up by brassy host Shima Niavarani a Swedish hybrid of Bernadette Peters and Bette Midler who had a whipsmart sense of humour (in English, no less) and a powerful singing voice.

  • The Power Of Two

    9-Feb-2012

    Leading UK producers Ruby and See Saw are going out to investors together next week with a new EIS investment scheme designed to raise working capital for upcoming productions.

  • Love Is In The Air

    7-Feb-2012

    Dir: Simon Staho. Denmark. 2011. 84mins

  • Company Orheim

    6-Feb-2012

    Dir: Arild Andresen. Norway. 2012. 104mins

  • Gothenberg's Dragon Award goes to Norwegian drama Company Orheim

    5-Feb-2012

    Other winners include She Male Snails, Corpo Celeste, Stopped On Track and Sons of Norway.

  • Indie Shakedown

    2-Feb-2012

    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.

  • The stage is set

    31-Jan-2012

    EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros Studios Leavesden is set to become both a major production centre and a huge tourist attraction when it opens for business this year. Screen editor Mike Goodridge took an exclusive tour of the site and spoke to studio managing director Dan Dark and Warner Bros UK chief Josh Berger about the transformation of Leavesden into a world-class production facility for hire.

  • Shadow Dancer

    25-Jan-2012

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

  • Remembering Bingham Ray

    24-Jan-2012

    The film world lost one of its most colourful and passionate characters this week when Bingham Ray died at the age of 57 after a stroke at the Sundance Film Festival.

  • On the audience and UK films

    19-Jan-2012

    In light of the Film Policy Review, remembering that you can’t force audiences to watch a film they don’t want to watch; and noting how the UK benefits from US box-office domination.

  • 2012 preview: the prestige pictures

    17-Jan-2012

    There is a wealth of high-prestige pictures set for release this year and a potentially classic end-of-year awards season featuring new movies by Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee, the Coen brothers, Terrence Malick, Quentin Tarantino, Baz Luhrmann, Paul Thomas Anderson, David O Russell, Tom Hooper and Kathryn Bigelow. Mike Goodridge and Leon Forde profile the movies being readied for the awards podium in 2013, both with US distribution in place and without.

  • Great expectations for 2012

    12-Jan-2012

    Welcome to Screen International 2012, a year that could see a silent French film win the best picture Oscar and Angelina Jolie win the Golden Globe for best foreign-language film.

  • Streep for the win

    6-Jan-2012

    Meryl Streep is always outstanding — but that doesn’t mean that BAFTA and Oscar voters should take her for granted this year.

  • Foundation For Jewish Culture backs six documentaries

    5-Jan-2012

    The New York-based organisation grants finishing funds to six projects, selected from 80 applications.

  • Venice’s Latest Renaissance

    5-Jan-2012

    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?

  • Steven Zaillian

    5-Jan-2012

    A-list screenwriter and a film-maker in his own right, Zaillian tells Screen how he adapted Stieg Larsson’s epic novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo into the pacy Sony Pictures movie.

  • Lonergan’s Period Piece

    22-Dec-2011

    The seven year-old film Margaret, which has finally been released by Fox Searchlight, is very much of its time for a number of reasons.

  • Ralph Fiennes

    20-Dec-2011

    It is more than a year since he locked his directorial debut Coriolanus, and Ralph Fiennes is keen for it to be in front of audiences, he tells Mike Goodridge

  • Studying the Snubs

    16-Dec-2011

    What can you do in a year of such strong movies? There are bound to be casualties. Besides, what is a snub?

  • Online versus face time

    15-Dec-2011

    How can the internet help the film industry at a time when online-only businesses are still struggling to devise effective revenue models?

  • The Flowers Of War

    11-Dec-2011

    Dir: Zhang Yimou. China. 2011. 145mins

  • This year's contenders: Mike Goodridge speculates about likely nominees

    9-Dec-2011

    In a year when voters will be divided among many good movies, Screen looks at the likely nominees for Oscars and Baftas; plus 30 contenders who have everything to play for.

  • Glittering European Prizes

    8-Dec-2011

    The EFAs and the BIFAs celebrate their respective constituents’ art and talent in as pure a way as possible, largely indifferent to the Hollywood awards hype machine.

  • An Undervalued Master

    1-Dec-2011

    Ken Russell, who died this week, was one of the UK’s most audacious film-makers so why was he so wildly under-appreciated?

  • Jerusalem Film Lab launches this week with 12 projects

    29-Nov-2011

    Intensive seven month film lab modeled on Sundance, Binger and Turin and created by the Sam Spiegel Film & TV School brings 12 film-makers to Israel this week including Alvaro Brechner, Nadav Lapid, Burhan Qurnabi and Ernesto Contreras.

  • An Oscars What If?

    24-Nov-2011

    If the Oscars move into January in 2013, the Academy will set in motion a sea change in the production cycle and distribution of prestige titles.

  • UIP: The comeback?

    17-Nov-2011

    The dramatic reorganization of Paramount Pictures International, which will see 80 people lose their jobs in the UK, raises big questions for all the studios’ international businesses.

  • UK Brit List topped by Charles Barker's The Call Up

    10-Nov-2011

    Other big writing names on the list include William Boyd, David Nicholls, Abi Morgan and Hossein Amini.

  • Is Downtown LA the wrong move for AFM?

    10-Nov-2011

    The possible move to a new part of Los Angeles in 2013 has met with early resistance, but it could be a great way to freshen up the market.

  • Canada's one-stop shop

    6-Nov-2011

    Montreal-based Mediabiz — now reorganised into production arm Mediamax and financial products division Mediabiz Capital — is making an aggressive play in the international film business. Mike Goodridge spoke to group CEO Karine Martin

  • J. Edgar

    4-Nov-2011

    Dir: Clint Eastwood. US. 2011. 137mins

  • The Market Vs The Movie

    3-Nov-2011

    Sales agents and financiers have never been more conservative in their demands for cast, script and budget changes. It’s a complicated problem for film-makers striving to keep their project’s integrity intact.

  • Predicting the foreign-language shortlist

    28-Oct-2011

    Which of the 63 submissions might make the cut…

  • Tokyo Story

    27-Oct-2011

    Take an Iranian, a Turk, an American and a Frenchman, throw in some Korean funding and start shooting a Japanese film in Tokyo. That is the story behind the critically acclaimed film Cut.

  • Family Decisions

    20-Oct-2011

    Parents and their young kids are champing at the bit as they wait for the European release of The Adventures Of Tintin, reflecting a chronic shortage of quality films suitable for the unfashionable but super-lucrative family market.

  • The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn

    16-Oct-2011

    Dir: Steven Spielberg. US-New Zealand. 2011. 106mins

  • LFF: Film Central

    13-Oct-2011

    This year’s London Film Festival showcases a rich selection of UK titles and celebrates the BFI’s new role in the production sector with style. And with funds only looking to increase in the next two years, it’s up to the film community to build on the current wave of quality.

  • Sonny Boy

    11-Oct-2011

    Dir: Maria Peters. Netherlands. 2010. 132mins

  • David Stone gets tribute at Portobello Pop Up

    11-Oct-2011

    I went to a celebration last Friday for the late, great David Stone and the legendary Gate Cinema in, you guessed it, Notting Hill – the home of the famous cinema.

  • To Be Or Not To Be...in a Franchise

    6-Oct-2011

    The Simpsons cast is playing hardball in its salary battle with Fox, but actors in big film franchises have to tread carefully when getting involved in the same standoffs.

  • Titans turn out for George Harrison doc premiere

    3-Oct-2011

    I have been to some fairly star-studded film premieres in my time, but I wasn’t prepared for the megastar wattage rolled out on a hot London Sunday afternoon for the UK premiere of Martin Scorsese’s 208-minute documentary George Harrison: Living In The Material World.

  • Among Us

    3-Oct-2011

    Dir: Marco van Geffen. 2011. Netherlands. 90mins

  • Rise Of The Gatekeeper Brands

    29-Sep-2011

    As consumers embrace new ways of finding and watching movies, independent distributors need to make sure that audiences know their brand.

  • Toronto Download #2: Moneyball, Machine Gun Preacher, Anonymous

    21-Sep-2011

    A look at the awards chances of more Toronto titles, plus the 10 must-see films that have yet to be screened by critics this year.

  • Butter

    20-Sep-2011

    Dir: Jim Field Smith. US. 2011. 91mins

  • Machine Gun Preacher

    20-Sep-2011

    Dir: Marc Forster. US. 2010. 123mins

  • Toronto download #1: The Descendants, Albert Nobbs

    19-Sep-2011

    Now that the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is over (just), distributors everywhere can take a deep breath and gauge which world premieres from TIFF will play a major role in the awards season.

  • Gaga closes deal on Paul WS Anderson's Pompeii

    15-Sep-2011

    Gaga Corporation has closed a deal on its second major film at Toronto, buying Japanese rights to Impact Pictures’ $100m romantic adventure epic Pompeii from Summit Entertainment.

  • Lovers of TIFF

    15-Sep-2011

    The world’s top buyers and sellers descended onto Toronto last week for an annual event which is looking increasingly like a major film market as well as a festival.

  • Superclasico

    14-Sep-2011

    Dir: Ole Christian Madsen. Denmark. 2011. 99mins

  • Gaga takes Japan on StudioCanal's Tinker Tailor

    14-Sep-2011

    Gaga Corporation has bought Japanese rights to Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy from StudioCanal. The deal closed at the Toronto International Film Festival between StudioCanal’s Harold Van Lier and Gaga’s Tom Yoda.

  • Binoche-starrer Elles flies for Memento

    12-Sep-2011

    Memento Films International has scored a slew of deals on Malgoska Szumowska’s Elles which had its world premiere here last Friday.

  • Fortissimo adopts Toronto world premiere Michael

    12-Sep-2011

    Fortissimo Films has acquired international rights outside India to Ribhu Das Gupta’s Michael, which will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday.

  • In Darkness

    11-Sep-2011

    Dir: Agnieszka Holland. Canada-Germany-Poland. 2011. 145mins

  • The Descendants

    10-Sep-2011

    Dir: Alexander Payne. US. 2011. 115mins

  • Anonymous

    10-Sep-2011

    Dir: Roland Emmerich. Germany-UK. 2011. 130mins

  • Toronto 2011: Guy Maddin

    10-Sep-2011

    Iconic Canadian director Guy Maddin is presenting his latest mind-bending opus Keyhole here as a Special Presentation.

  • From Up On Poppy Hill

    9-Sep-2011

     Dir: Goro Miyazaki. Japan. 2011. 91mins

  • Acting notables: Smiley and sexy

    8-Sep-2011

    More insights into awards-friendly titles at Venice including Tinker Tailor, Shame and Contagion.

  • The Madonna Factor

    8-Sep-2011

    W.E. is being declared a bomb after its Venice world premiere, even before it’s screened anywhere else. But Madonna’s movie should have a second wind. It’s no masterpiece but it’s an ambitious second film which should recover and find its audience.

  • Stockholm East

    2-Sep-2011

    Dir: Simon Kaijser Da Silva. Sweden. 2011. 93mins

  • New Awards Season Blog: Tracking early contenders from Venice

    2-Sep-2011

    Welcome to Open Season, Screen’s new blog on the awards race, an on- the-ground account of the movies and performances in contention for this year’s awards, giving first reaction, word of mouth and plenty of opinion about the avalanche of films that will start falling onto our screens over the next four months.

  • Café De Fore

    1-Sep-2011

    Dir/scr: Jean-Marc Vallee. Canada-France. 2011. 120mins

  • Let the smart season begin

    1-Sep-2011

    Summer is for inane, mindless spectacle, but autumn and winter – as if the harsher weather demands it – bring on the thinking movies.

  • The next chapter

    25-Aug-2011

    As the number of Nordic crime film and TV adaptations increases, Mike Goodridge talks to two of the region’s most successful novelists, Jo Nesbo and Camilla Lackberg, about the process of bringing their hot properties to the screen.

  • Criticising The Critics

    18-Aug-2011

    I think Goodbye First Love is a great film, but Screen’s critic Lisa Nesselson didn’t respond in the same way. When it comes to movies, it seems everyone has their own opinion.  

  • The Loneliest Planet

    16-Aug-2011

    Dir: Julia Loktev. US/Germany. 2011. 113 mins.

  • Give That Ape An Oscar

    4-Aug-2011

    Movie magic takes a giant leap in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes as a group of digital apes give fully realised performances that outclass their human counterparts.

  • Made In Britain, but not set there

    28-Jul-2011

    It’s a strong year for British movies as the upcoming festival season tells us, but why aren’t there any movies set in today’s Britain?  

  • Venice 2011 competitors likely to include Arnold, Kolirin, Solondz, Ferrara

    26-Jul-2011

    As Venice gears up for its lineup announcement on Thursday, word has it that competitors could include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Wuthering Heights, Shame, The Exchange, Dark Horse and more.

  • Storm Over Jerusalem

    21-Jul-2011

    Perhaps befitting the volatile nature of Israel itself, the Jerusalem Film Festival this year stirred up heated divisions for its films and its jury.

  • Policeman

    20-Jul-2011

    Dir/scr: Nadav Lapid. Israel. 2011. 107mins

  • Bold visions needed from new festival heads

    8-Jul-2011

    As several major festivals recruit new artistic directors, a reminder of why these positions are crucial within the film industry.

  • British talent on the global stage

    30-Jun-2011

    UK actors are important exports, especially when they come home again.

  • Charlotte Rampling to curate Katrin Cartlidge Foundation Award

    21-Jun-2011

    She aims to award a young film-maker from the Arab world.

  • 2011: A Golden Awards Season

    16-Jun-2011

    Who said prestige film-making was dead in Hollywood? After The King’s Speech and Black Swan, studios are racing back into the business of serious stories and ambitious talent. Thank heavens.

  • Superhero Fatigue

    9-Jun-2011

    The deluge of superhero movies this summer could spell saturation for a genre that is exhibiting a serious lack of adventure.

  • Paramount to shut down worldwide acquisitions group

    3-Jun-2011

    Division’s hits had included Cell 211 and Tomorrow When The War Began.

  • UK producers must lobby to rejoin Eurimages

    2-Jun-2011

    For too long UK producers have been been deprived of access to funds and co-producers that their European counterparts take for granted.

  • Beloved

    21-May-2011

    Dir/scr: Christophe Honore. 2011. France. 135mins

  • Anatolia is long, powerful; Source is long, conventional

    21-May-2011

    Also, Mike’s predictions for the Palme d’Or.

  • Moscow Business Square adds screenings

    19-May-2011

    Business event will also showcase anticipated Russian projects for 2011-2012

  • Lars von Trier apologises for 'Nazi' remark in Cannes

    18-May-2011

    Melancholia director says he was egged on by a provocation.

  • Chelsom to direct Egoli Tossell's Hector

    17-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Project based on Francois Lelord’s bestseller

  • Pressman signs Noyce for Bloodsport; lands Venice slot for Moth Diaries

    17-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Phillip Noyce to direct and Robert Mark Kamen to script a reinvention of iconic Jean Claude Van Damme actioner Bloodsport.

  • Camilla Lackberg talks up Fjallbacka movies, TV series for TrustNordisk

    16-May-2011

    Lackberg is in Cannes talking up hot project The Fjallbacka Murders, which TrustNordisk is pre-selling

  • ASPAs to start some member voting with fifth annual awards

    16-May-2011

    The Asia Pacific Screen Awards has announced that it will introduce member voting rights for the first time for select categories of the fifth annual APSAs.

  • Lone Scherfig conducts Danish epic Music and Silence

    15-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Martin Sherman adapts Rose Tremain’s novel.

  • Muse lines up slate of hot literary adaptations

    15-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Slate includes films of novels Lunar Park by Brett Easton Ellis, An Expensive Education by Nick McDonell and London Fields by Martin Amis.

  • Author Jo Nesbo talks about adaptations of Headhunters, The Snowman

    15-May-2011

    Bestselling Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbo is in Cannes to promote the film of his novel Headhunters, which is being sold here by TrustNordisk.

  • Northern Ireland Screen plans Cannes preview for George's Whole Lotta Sole

    14-May-2011

    Northern Ireland Screen will present a two minute promo teaser from Terry George’s siege comedy Whole Lotta Sole starring Brendan Fraser at its networking chairman’s lunch today in Cannes.

  • Paramount strikes deal for Rainbow's Not Born To Be Gladiators

    13-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Rainbow CEO Iginio Straffi talks to Screen about the $57m animation project.

  • Poliss blends real life, soap opera

    12-May-2011

    Even oral sex goes on too long in Maewenn’s sprawling police story.

  • Going Gaga in Cannes

    12-May-2011

    Lessons on why you shouldn’t serenade Robert De Niro, nor mix Lacroix and Chanel.

  • Restless

    12-May-2011

    Dir/scr: Gus Van Sant. US. 2011. 95mins

  • Ramsay's back with a vengeance, Leigh one to watch

    12-May-2011

    Female directors are in the frame with Sleeping Beauty and We Need To Talk About Kevin.

  • MediaXchange launches LA’s first project finance market

    11-May-2011

    Katrina Wood’s international media consultancy MediaXchange is launching the first ever MediaXchange International Finance Market (MIFM) to be held in Los Angeles Oct 30-Nov 1 this year

  • Budapest to launch new film festival in September 2012

    11-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: A major new film festival and market is being launched in Budapest, Hungary, with the first event scheduled to take place Sept 22-30, 2012.

  • Industry veteran David Stone dies at age 78

    10-May-2011

    David Stone, a producer, distributor and exhibitor best known as the head of Cinegate Film Distribution and the Gate Cinema in west London, has died at the age of 78 after a short illness.

  • Memorial service announced for advertising veteran Peter Howard-Williams

    9-May-2011

    Former Rank Screen Advertising MD to receive London memorial service on May 25

  • Beware Cannes scams

    3-May-2011

    Crooks are already swindling some festival goers with fake accomodation deals.

  • A New Approach To The Window Wars

    28-Apr-2011

    Some smart exhibitors are looking to get into the VOD business and extend their reach beyond the first window. It makes sense.

  • Mark Tonderai

    28-Apr-2011

    Director Mark Tonderai talks to Screen about buzz horror House At The End Of The Street, starring Jennifer Lawrence.

  • Udo on the go

    19-Apr-2011

    Udo Kier talks about his seven new film and TV roles, including playing a wedding planner in Lars von Trier’s Cannes competitor Melancholia.

  • Egypt's Microphone wins Golden Tulip in Istanbul

    17-Apr-2011

    Other prize winners include Our Grand Despair, A Useful Life, and Hair.

  • The World Belongs To Rio

    14-Apr-2011

    The fact that most international audiences saw Rio a week before domestic shows how the North American release is losing its power in dictating the success of film.

  • Rubbing The Sheen Off Stars

    7-Apr-2011

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

  • Selling sales to the UK

    5-Apr-2011

    Screen talks to representatives of Film Export UK as the export budget of the UK Film Council is lost

  • Exclusive: Amanda Nevill details top priorities for revamped BFI

    1-Apr-2011

    BFI director Nevill outlines new plans, including addition of a deputy chief executive; 38 UKFC staff who move to BFI stay at same salary level.

  • The Handover

    31-Mar-2011

    This week, the first 16 UK Film Council staff move over to the BFI as part of the absorption of UKFC functions into a new BFI super-structure. There’s a good deal of common sense at work in the new entity.

  • Defending A Serbian Film

    24-Mar-2011

    Attempts to censor or ban Srdjan Spasovjevic’s shocking horror film miss the point of the director’s intentions and his considerable skills.

  • Fremaux faces A-list deluge in countdown to Cannes

    21-Mar-2011

    With April 14 set as the day when Cannes festival director Thierry Fremaux unveils his 2011 lineup, Fremaux and his programming team are screening a deluge of titles from A-list European directors which promises a vintage year on the Croisette.

  • Colombia Pictures

    10-Mar-2011

    The president of Colombia gave a rousing rallying cry for local cinema at the opening of the Cartagena Film Festival late last month, showing one country that is taking its industry seriously.

  • The Forgiveness Of Blood

    18-Feb-2011

    Dir: Joshua Marston. US-Albania-Denmark-Italy. 2011. 108mins

  • Cheer & fear at EFM

    17-Feb-2011

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

  • Tales Of The Night

    13-Feb-2011

    Dir/scr/storyboard: Michel Ocelot. France. 2011. 84mins

  • Tomboy

    11-Feb-2011

    Dir/scr: Celine Sciamma. France. 2011. 82mins

  • Lucrecia Martel to be honoured at Sarajevo

    10-Feb-2011

    Argentine director first woman subject of a “Tribute to” programme at the festival.

  • Weighing Up The Grit

    10-Feb-2011

    The opening night of the Berlinale might serve True Grit’s international box office prospects, but in general US studios are far more cautious than they used to be about bringing tentpole pictures to festivals.

  • Brownian Movement

    10-Feb-2011

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

  • Taking the stage

    9-Feb-2011

    Cross Creek Pictures, a new film fund backed by US oil and gas players, has jumped onto Hollywood’s radar with its first investment, Black Swan. Its president, Brian Oliver, tells Mike Goodridge the company’s gameplan

  • Mourning Eichinger

    3-Feb-2011

    Bernd Eichinger wore many hats in his long career, but is celebrated here as a ground-breaking Germany-based producer of English-language films tailor-made for the international markets.

  • An African Election

    30-Jan-2011

    Dir: Jarreth Merz. 2010. US-Switzerland. 89mins

  • Letters From The Big Man

    27-Jan-2011

    Dir/scr: Christopher Munch. US. 2011. 115mins

  • King's Speech leads Oscar race with 12 nominations

    25-Jan-2011

    True Grit follows with 10, The Social Network and Inception with 8, The Fighter with 7, and 127 Hours with 6.

  • Foreigners In Hollywood

    20-Jan-2011

    Golden Globes weekend was an opportunity for Hollywood to engage in an orgy of parties, networking and awards ceremonies. And there were even a couple of occasions for foreign talent to seize the spotlight.

  • Fantastic International Voyage

    13-Jan-2011

    The snowballing international box office numbers for The Tourist, Narnia and Gulliver’s Travels are showing that audiences outside the US are deciding what is a hit and what is not.

  • What Went Wrong?

    6-Jan-2011

    The box office holiday season in North America was a big letdown, as a series of major box office hopes stumbled by the wayside. The problem lies not with the audience but with the films.

  • The Foreign Awards Race

    22-Dec-2010

    Many are eligible, few will be rewarded. Mike Goodridge reports as the race heats up for this year’s foreign-film glory

  • A closer look at the Golden Globe nominations

    22-Dec-2010

    The Golden Globe nominations are a significant signpost on the road to the Oscars. Mike Goodridge reports on the main contenders – and those which may have been overlooked

  • Illumination’s bright vision

    9-Dec-2010

    Despicable Me, the first production from Chris Meledandri’s Universal-owned Illumination Entertainment, heralds the arrival of a new star player in CG-animation. Mike Goodridge talks to Meledandri about his production model and to Universal Pictures International chief David Kosse about the film’s stellar global performance

  • One Night In Tallinn

    9-Dec-2010

    The European Film Awards turned 23 last weekend in Estonia and the event has found a comfortable groove and a fixed place on the calendar.

  • A New Hope

    2-Dec-2010

    The UK film industry is entering another new chapter courtesy of the new government. So now we know the plans, there’s an occasion for optimism.

  • Foreign affairs

    1-Dec-2010

    Screen profiles all 65 films submitted for this year’s foreign-language Academy Award — a true smorgasbord of styles, genres and personal and political subjects

  • Parallel lives

    1-Dec-2010

    Arguably India’s biggest film star, Aamir Khan has had a prolific year as a producer, with Peepli Live named this year’s Indian Oscar submission. But he also chose to star in his latest production Dhobi Ghat and, Khan tells Mike Goodridge, he wants his fanbase to know what to expect when ...

  • Toth leaving Hungarian Film Foundation

    30-Nov-2010

    Erzsebet Toth is to step down from her role as general secretary of the Hungarian Public Film Foundation once her current tenture is up on Dec 31.

  • Jeremy Thomas feted by AMPAS in London

    26-Nov-2010

    The crème de la crème of the British film industry turned out last night in central London for a glittering tribute to the legendary producer.

  • The Minister’s Speech

    25-Nov-2010

    The UK government’s new film policy plan unveiled in a speech by Ed Vaizey next week promises another crucial period of consultation and reorganization in a local industry weary from upheaval.

  • Jeremy Thomas to be honoured by Academy

    23-Nov-2010

    Veteran UK producer Jeremy Thomas will be celebrated with a tribute evening from the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) in London on Thursday.

  • The Greatest Showman On Earth

    18-Nov-2010

    The late Dino De Laurentiis can be remembered for a spectacular producing career but he also invented the foreign sales business and spawned a breed of international movie moguls.

  • The Horror, The Horror

    11-Nov-2010

    The American Film Market (AFM) highlighted the increasing diversity and creative richness of the horror genre, as buyers snapped up original and ingenious movies from around the world.

  • Ruby/BBC's Sex Education leads Brit List of hot screenplays

    5-Nov-2010

    The 35 scripts on this year’s list also include Saul Dibb’s adaptation of Suite Francaise and screenplays by Paul Andrew Williams, Jack Thorne and John Hodge.

  • World Exclusive

    4-Nov-2010

    Nigel Sinclair and Guy East talk to Mike Goodridge about building Exclusive Media Group, now in its third year of operations, into a diversified global operation for the digital age

  • Falling Stars?

    4-Nov-2010

    Are movie stars losing their power in the film business? At the AFM as well as in the executive offices of the studios, the appetite is for high concepts and visionary film-makers over pricey star vehicles.

  • Exclusive's Nigel Sinclair and Guy East

    2-Nov-2010

    Nigel Sinclair and Guy East talk to Mike Goodridge about building Exclusive Media Group, now in its third year of operations, into a diversified global operation for the digital age

  • Barriers to entry in Japan

    28-Oct-2010

    In a brutal Japanese market for world cinema, the Tokyo International Film Festival is doing everything in its power to encourage buyers to take on foreign films.

  • Universal strikes multi-territory deal for The Troll Hunter

    22-Oct-2010

    Universal Pictures International (UPI) has acquired a host of territories on The Troll Hunter, the verite-style CGI creature feature from Norway which caused a sensation after its secret screening at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas last month.

  • Non-Lottery, non-BFI film funding to be chopped in half as part of UK's budget cuts

    21-Oct-2010

    After yesterday’s sweeping cuts across the board by the UK government, it has emerged that film-sector funding outside Lottery funds and the British Film Institute (BFI) has been slashed by over 50%.

  • Middle East Is Middle East

    21-Oct-2010

    Tarak Ben Ammar, Ed Pressman and others gave the UAE states plenty to think about at the Circle Conference last week in Abu Dhabi.

  • Facing The Film Industry

    14-Oct-2010

    How did Ed Vaizey measure up in his first public address of the industry since abolishing the UK Film Council?

  • Puttnam challenges Jeremy Hunt to explain UKFC abolition

    13-Oct-2010

    Lord Puttnam tracks UK government backing for film over the last century in a new article, claiming the culture secretary has betrayed his own party’s role in the evolution of the industry.

  • Monika Wagenberg becomes director of Cartagena Film Festival

    11-Oct-2010

    Monika Wagenberg has been named the new director of the Cartagena Film Festival (FICCI) which will next take place in Cartagena, Colombia, Feb 24 to March 3, 2011.

  • Graham King

    7-Oct-2010

    With two mega-budget films in production under a new deal at Sony Pictures and the launch of their own distribution outfit, FilmDistrict, Graham King and his business partner Tim Headington have become Hollywood’s most ambitious empire-builders.

  • Festival Scope launches online platform with festival hits

    5-Oct-2010

    Festival Scope, the new online platform which allows screenings of select films from the world’s major film festivals for industry subscribers, has gone live with a lineup including the winning films from this summer’s Sarajevo, ERA New Horizons, Paris Cinema, Taormina and Locarno Open Doors.

  • Mumbai Diaries (Dhobi Ghat)

    4-Oct-2010

    Dir: Kiran Rao. India. 2010. 100mins

  • A Smiley Face For Europe

    30-Sep-2010

    StudioCanal has stepped up to fully finance Working Title’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It is a significant deal for all parties.

  • The Foreign Film Conundrum

    23-Sep-2010

    Foreign language films made with a mainstream wide-audience sensibility often fall through the cracks when being sold overseas. So why the snobbery?

  • Pandora’s Lightbox

    16-Sep-2010

    This year’s Toronto Film Festival is coming to an end, having successfully opened its new C$200m film centre over last weekend, but keeping everybody happy during this year’s event was a tough task.

  • In A Better World

    14-Sep-2010

    Dir: Susanne Bier. Denmark. 2010. 113mins

  • Dirty Girl

    13-Sep-2010

    Dir: Abe Sylvia. US. 2010. 99mins

  • The Conspirator

    13-Sep-2010

    Dir: Robert Redford. US. 2010. 122mins 

  • Julia’s Eyes

    12-Sep-2010

    Dir: Guillem Morales. Spain. 2010. 112mins

  • Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs)

    12-Sep-2010

    Dir/scr: Guillaume Canet. France. 2010. 154mins

  • Precious Life (Chaim Yakarim)

    9-Sep-2010

      Dir: Shlomi Eldar. Israel. 2010. 86mins.

  • Amanda Nevill, director of BFI

    9-Sep-2010

    The BFI has had budgetary setbacks and its National Film Centre plan was shelved by the new government, but the organisation has reconnected with audiences and there are bright prospects for the future.

  • Protecting Inward Investment

    9-Sep-2010

    A new proposal to make the UK tax credit recoupable seems to ignore the fact that virtually every other country in the world is lining up to steal big productions away from the UK.

  • Festival Scope

    7-Sep-2010

    An online service is looking to help rights holders and festivals to take their films to a wider industry viewing base.

  • OMDC selects 39 projects for fifth annual Financing Forum

    1-Sep-2010

    New projects from Christopher Smith, Rowan Woods, Keith Gordon, Richie Mehta in lineup

  • Black Swan

    1-Sep-2010

    Dir: Darren Aronofsky. US. 2010. 110 mins

  • UK government should direct Lottery funds to arthouse film

    26-Aug-2010

    Commercial UK cinema should live or die on the open market both in financing and distribution, but artistic cinema needs government support.

  • Redistributing the wealth

    12-Aug-2010

    With new titles increasingly being squeezed into the schedules of the four major festivals, is it time that sales agents took a punt on other festivals, like Locarno?

  • The Counsel (L’Avocat)

    12-Aug-2010

    Dir: Cedric Anger. 2010. France. 100 mins.

  • Man At Bath (Homme Au Bain)

    10-Aug-2010

    Dir: Christophe Honore. 2010. France. 72 mins.

  • Brazil blooms

    5-Aug-2010

    Screen editor Mike Goodridge introduces Elaine Guerini’s territory focus exploring the production and distribution scene in Brazil.

  • Scenes from Bergman Week

    5-Aug-2010

    The seventh Bergman Week offered guests unprecedented access to the legendary film director’s home and screening theatre — which have found a new lease of life as an artists’ retreat. Screen editor Mike Goodridge reports.

  • Learning from the UKFC backlash

    4-Aug-2010

    UK Film Council naysayers are having a field day in the wake of the organisation’s death sentence, and, bitchiness aside, they cannot be ignored.

  • UKFC: Tim Bevan talks next steps for UK industry

    30-Jul-2010

    UKFC heads Tim Bevan and John Woodward to meet with government ministers Jeremy Hunt and Ed Vaizey this afternoon to discuss the future of tax credit and Lottery funding.

  • Screen Opinion: Black day for UK film

    26-Jul-2010

    Screen editor Mike Goodridge argues that the British government’s proposed abolition of the UK Film Council is a major betrayal to film-makers, the industry and the medium of film.

  • A return to common sense

    15-Jul-2010

    Indie films may not be achieving the grosses of years gone by, but we shouldn’t judge them against the inflated goal posts of the past.

  • Profile: Razor Film

    13-Jul-2010

    Roman Paul and Gerhard Meixner’s Razor Film has become one of the most prolific production houses in Europe. The principals tell Mike Goodridge how they got there.

  • Rosa Bosch

    8-Jul-2010

    Rosa Bosch has spent the last year building B&W Films, a London-based management and production outfit, which looks after a small but prestigious stable of artists on their fiercely independent projects.

  • Is Film Losing Its Value?

    8-Jul-2010

    The ongoing attempts to sell MGM and Miramax Films highlight the steep decline in the valuation of libraries but consumers are also feeling the cheapening of the product.

  • UK Stars Of Tomorrow 2010

    6-Jul-2010

    Introducing the UK actors, film-makers, writers and animators who are shaping up as the hottest prospects in the business and whose stars are most likely to be on the rise in the coming year

  • PACT proposals: ambitious but timely

    1-Jul-2010

    UK producers have long survived on resourcefulness rather than reward; trade association PACT is determined to rebalance the industry although its plans to help producers get their share have met with lively debate.

  • Honeymooner  

    27-Jun-2010

    Dir/scr: Col Spector. UK. 2010. 75mins

  • Vacation!

    25-Jun-2010

    Dir: Zach Clark. US. 2010. 95mins

  • Summer Chill

    17-Jun-2010

    This summer not many of the tentpole movies have been delivering the goods, Mike Goodridge argues.

  • Popcorn and Other Disasters

    10-Jun-2010

    Mike Goodridge confesses to being a cinema shusher who is offended by the loud popcorn crunchers and mobile phone talkers. That’s why exhibitors need to keep upping the ante to draw us into the theatrical experience.

  • Big Talk to make UK cheerleading film Ascension Eagles

    4-Jun-2010

    Nira Park and Damian Jones to produce true-life project which falls under Big Talk’s deal with Optimum/StudioCanal and Film4.

  • TrustNordisk seals key territories on Bier, Von Trier titles

    4-Jun-2010

    Japan, Korea sold on In A Better World, Melancholia lands in Germany, Italy.

  • Sex and the Souk

    2-Jun-2010

    Sex And The City 2’s trip to the Middle East can either be seen as silly fun or deeply offensive. Mike Goodridge goes further and asks why Hollywood and the Gulf States aren’t making as many strides together as expected.

  • Ed Pressman

    2-Jun-2010

    The veteran producer talks about the process of revisiting Wall Street for a “bookend” sequel and his plans for reinventing The Crow as a $70m tentpole.

  • The Boys Are Back

    27-May-2010

    Forget Stallone and Schwarzenegger. This year’s Cannes market unleashed a tsunami of action movies starring 21st Century tough guys like Gerard Butler, Jason Statham and Clive Owen.

  • Andrea Riseborough to play Wallis Simpson for Madonna

    24-May-2010

    Rising UK star Riseborough replaces Vera Farmiga in Madonna’s W.E. to shoot this summer; Edward casting announcement imminent.

  • Outside The Law (Hors La Loi)

    21-May-2010

    Dir: Rachid Bouchareb. Algeria-France-Belgium. 2010. 137mins

  • Les Miserables

    20-May-2010

    Mike Leigh and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Cannes competition titles offer bleak portraits of the human condition that will both polarise audiences and provoke debate. Where else would such ambitious world cinema find a home but at Cannes.

  • Route Irish

    19-May-2010

    Dir: Ken Loach. UK-Fr. 2010. 109mins

  • Abu-Assad, Begic line up for Istanbul portmanteau

    19-May-2010

    Directors from across the Balkans and Middle East will contribute to the project, which will highlight the city’s cultural influence.

  • 5 and counting

    18-May-2010

    An ambitious new international player has emerged from Germany in K5 Media Group, the Munich-based development, finance and sales outfit. Principals Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur speak to Mike Goodridge.

  • The content converters

    18-May-2010

    Run by Mark Ordesky and Ileen Maisel, former senior production executives at New Line Cinema, with New Line stablemate Jane Fleming and documentary film-maker Lawrence Elman, Amber Entertainment is combining new film paradigms with old. The principals talked to Mike Goodridge.

  • StudioCanal’s Kinowelt unveils first German titles

    18-May-2010

    Kinowelt CEO Wolfgang Braun reveals three local titles including Stefan Ruzowitzky’s Braincopy.

  • BRIC countries come under spotlight at Moscow

    18-May-2010

    MIFF Business Square will boast the central theme of development of the film industries between the EU and BRIC countrires (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

  • Teutonic shift

    17-May-2010

    Germany has re-invented itself as an attractive place to make international films. In this special production focus, Screen explores the opportunities inGermany for overseas films, from co-production partners to finance, studios and locations.

  • Black Heaven (L'Autre Monde)

    17-May-2010

    Dir: Gilles Marchand. France-Belgium. 2009. 104mins

  • Puttnam to lead Asia Pacific Screen Awards jury

    17-May-2010

    Lord Puttnam revealed as the president of the jury for this year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

  • Heartbeats (Les Amours Imaginaires)

    16-May-2010

    Dir-scr: Xavier Dolan. Can-Fr. 2010. 102mins

  • TIFF’s Bell Lightbox to shine on Sept 12  

    15-May-2010

    The brand new film centre will be unveiled to the public three days into year’s edition of the festival.

  • Time To Get Back To Basics

    13-May-2010

    Bob Berney’s resignation from Apparition highlights how much money is required to release prestige movies in the high-spending US distribution arena these days. So perhaps it’s time to get back to basics.

  • Saint Juste shouts for Oy Vey!

    13-May-2010

    Saint Juste Films has picked up worldwide rights to Evgeny Afineevsky’s family comedy OyVey! My Son Is Gay!starring Lainie Kazan, Saul Rubinek and Carmen Electra.

  • Hathaway, Sturgess sign to Scherfig's One Day for Focus

    12-May-2010

    Film of bestselling novel by David Nicholls is being produced by Nina Jacobson.

  • Berney's departure from Apparition: Unfair Games?

    12-May-2010

    Cannes competition title Fair Game appears to be the chief reason behind Bob Berney’s abrupt departure from Apparition, the company he co-founded with Bill Pohlad and unveiled this time last year.

  • StudioCanal has Awakening with Hall, West, Staunton

    12-May-2010

    Supernatural thriller will mark feature directorial debut of UK TV director Nick Murphy.

  • Inferno launches new sales label, Ember Films

    10-May-2010

    Specialist sales outfit will be headed up by Inferno’s president of international sales Kimberly Fox and vice president of international sales Jana Toepfer.

  • Loach's Route Irish added to Cannes Competition

    10-May-2010

    There are now 19 films in competition at the festival.

  • Robin Hood

    10-May-2010

    Dir: Ridley Scott. US. 2010. 140mins

  • A Spoonful Of Sugar

    6-May-2010

    The Cannes Film Festival’s annual cocktail of art and glamour looks decidedly art-heavy this year and could use an injection of razzle dazzle, Mike Goodridge writes.

  • The romance of remakes

    29-Apr-2010

    It’s easy to scoff at remakes but only if you don’t understand that a US remake will be seen by millions more around the globe than a non- English language original, Mike Goodridge argues.

  • The Hedgehog takes audience award at COLCOA

    26-Apr-2010

    Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno takes critics award at City of Lights City of Angels in LA.

  • Ridley Scott promises "nasty" Alien prequel in 3D

    26-Apr-2010

    Ridley Scott unveiled details over the weekend of his Alien prequel which will be his next project as a director for 20th Century Fox.

  • Letters to Juliet

    26-Apr-2010

    Dir: Gary Winick. US. 2010. 105mins

  • Australia: a brand new day?

    22-Apr-2010

    Editor Mike Goodridge introduces Screen’s Australia territory focus.

  • As the volcanic dust settles

    22-Apr-2010

    Perhaps the only thing that is clear following the travel chaos that engulfed Europe last week is just how enmeshed the US film industry has become with the rest of the world.

  • Small is beautiful

    16-Apr-2010

    It’s inconceivable that even 10 years ago, an actress of the calibre of Kate Winslet and a film-maker as world-class as Todd Haynes would be working together in television. But that is exactly what the two cinema luminaries are doing in a five-hour mini-series of James M Cain’s 1941 Mildred Pierce that is now in production. Haynes is returning to the Cain source material rather than the classic 1945 Michael Curtiz film and has cast Evan Rachel Wood as Mildred’s daughter Veda ...

  • Direct response unit

    15-Apr-2010

    The UK Film Council’s latest three-year plan, launched on April 1, is designed to meet the needs of an industry facing mounting market challenges. Chief executive officer John Woodward explains strategy to Mike Goodridge

  • A Hollow Clash

    15-Apr-2010

    Tentpole movies are being cut down to the minimum narrative basics with no room for characterisation or nuance. But why should audiences care?

  • Selling the Sizzle, Not the Steak

    8-Apr-2010

    Sales agents are finding it increasingly difficult to close pre-sales, as cash-strapped buyers practice a wait-and-see policy.

  • In rewarding creative ambition, let's not ignore genre films

    1-Apr-2010

    The UK Film Council’s new three-year plan will focus on “creative excellence”, meaning more risky projects, but will genre films take a back seat?

  • UKFC's new Film Fund launches with £15m

    1-Apr-2010

    Wharton, Francke, Collins confirmed as executives working under Seghatchian in newly streamlined fund.

  • Love In A Puff

    25-Mar-2010

    Dir: Pang Ho-Cheung. Hong Kong. 2010. 95 mins

  • China: Film, Revenue Sharing, Sex

    25-Mar-2010

    China Film Group reaps big profits from the country’s growing cinema audience, but there is a dark side when local authorities deem a film unpatriotic or too sexually explicit.

  • Amphetamine

    25-Mar-2010

    Dir/scr/prod: Scud. 2010. Hong Kong/China. 97 mins

  • Studio building

    24-Mar-2010

    With distribution outfits in three key territories, an international sales arm and an active production programme, StudioCanal is fulfilling its ambition to be a true European studio. CEO Olivier Courson talks to Mike Goodridge.

  • France: the centre of Europe

    24-Mar-2010

    Home to some of the continent’s only movie majors and a production and sales sector which embraces the world, France is the cinema centre of Europe.

  • Life in public

    19-Mar-2010

    DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg talks to Mike Goodridge about the DWA business model, the attention the company pays to international distribution, the relationship with Paramount and the pressures of running a public company

  • Whither The Message Movie?

    18-Mar-2010

    The lacklustre perfomance of Green Zone has proved again that cinema audiences are not enticed by Iraq war dramas but more than that it could mark a turning point for high-priced movies with message.

  • R

    17-Mar-2010

    Dirs/scr: Michael Noer & Tobias Lindholm. Denmark. 2010. 96 mins

  • Mr Nice

    15-Mar-2010

    Dir/scr: Bernard Rose. UK. 2010. 116 mins.

  • COLCOA to screen restored classic Pierrot Le Fou

    11-Mar-2010

    Restored version of Jean-Luc Godard’s Pierrot Le Fou to screen as part of the City Of Lights, City Of Angels showcase.

  • Awards season blues: films fighting films

    11-Mar-2010

    Now that the awards season is over, it’s time to get back to judging films on their own merits, rather than creating artificial battles.

  • Bullish buyers warm up market

    26-Feb-2010

    The European Film Market in Berlin offered a ray of hope for international sales as buyers stepped up aggressively to pre-buy hot new titles. Mike Goodridge reports

  • Boy

    26-Feb-2010

    Dir: Taika Waititi. New Zealand. 2010. 87 mins.

  • A window to the future

    25-Feb-2010

    Exhibitors have survived many technological advances but they are now facing an even tougher challenge; a generation that demands movies instantly and is indifferent to whether that is on a big screen or iPod.

  • Sandra Bullock

    22-Feb-2010

    Leading actress, The Blind Side

  • Morgan Freeman

    22-Feb-2010

    Leading actor, Invictus

  • Dumas (L'Autre Dumas)

    22-Feb-2010

    Dir: Safy Nebbou. France. 2010. 105 mins.

  • Mo’Nique

    22-Feb-2010

    Supporting actress, Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire

  • Meryl Streep

    22-Feb-2010

    Leading actress, Julie & Julia

  • Jeff Bridges

    22-Feb-2010

    Leading actor, Crazy Heart

  • Helen Mirren

    22-Feb-2010

    Leading actress, The Last Station

  • Christoph Waltz

    22-Feb-2010

    Supporting actor, Inglourious Basterds

  • Mammuth

    19-Feb-2010

    Dirs/scr: Benoit Delepine & Gustave Kervern. France. 2010. 90 mins.

  • In their own words

    19-Feb-2010

    Some of this year’s leading nominees talk about their work on the selected films

  • And then there were 10

    19-Feb-2010

    From Sundance favourites to extraordinary sci-fi visions, this year’s best picture nominations embrace every aspect of contemporary film-making. Mike Goodridge reports

  • Playing to the crowd

    19-Feb-2010

    For all the hoopla surrounding the announcement that the Academy had expanded its best picture category to 10 features, four or five films have taken the lead in this year’s race.

  • Berlin: Balance Shifts Back To Independents

    18-Feb-2010

    The imminent collapse of the independent sector, loudly predicted at last year’s Berlin, has not only failed to materialise; this year’s festival suggest is may even benefit from the crumbling studio model.

  • StudioCanal rallies US sale on Army Of Crime

    18-Feb-2010

    Robert Guédiguian’s Army Of Crime, which had its world premiere out of competition at Cannes last year, has been sold to Lorber Films for the US by StudioCanal.

  • TIFF firms 2010 move downtown

    17-Feb-2010

    The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has set some major changes for visiting industry for its 2010 event, which takes place September 10-19

  • Era New Horizons expands into distribution

    16-Feb-2010

    Era New Horizons International Film Festival, the Polish event which takes place in July, has started a distribution arm, picking up six films from its 2009 festival — Steve McQueen’s Hunger, Ivan Vyrypaev’s Oxygen, Johan Grimonprez’s Double Take, Agnes Varda’s The Beaches Of Agnes, Henrik Hellstrom and Frederik Wenzel’s Burrowing and Piotr Dumala’s The Forest.

  • Icon closes big sales on How I Spent My Summer

    15-Feb-2010

    Icon Entertainment International (IEI) has scored big sales on its Mel Gibson-starrer How I Spent My SummerVacation about a career criminal caught by Mexican authorities who is sent to a dangerous prison and has to learn how to survive. Adrian Grunberg is directing.  

  • Serkis, Cave plan motion-capture Opera

    15-Feb-2010

    Andy Serkis, famous for pioneering motion-capture performance in The Lord Of The Rings, King Kong and the upcoming Tintin films, has revealed he will collaborate with musician Nick Cave on a motion-capture movie of The Threepenny Opera. The Brecht and Weill musical play was first performed in 1928 in Berlin.

  • Going South (Plein Sud)

    14-Feb-2010

    Dir: Sebastien Lifshitz. France. 2010. 90mins.

  • Greenberg

    14-Feb-2010

    Dir: Noah Baumbach. US. 2010. 107mins.

  • Independents step up to Hollywood funding crisis

    14-Feb-2010

    The crisis in the Hollywood studio system could signal a major upturn for the independent production and finance business, key players are hinting in Berlin.

  • Irvine Welsh to direct The Magnificant Eleven

    13-Feb-2010

    Trainspotting novelist Irvine Welsh will direct gritty UK comedy The Magnificent Eleven, a modern-day version of the classic 1960 western The Magnificent Seven in which the Cowboys are a local amateur soccer team, the Indians run a nearby Tandoori restaurant and the bandits are a group of menacing thugs run by a maniac called Blonde Bob.

  • Tokyo enlists Thomas, Umehara

    13-Feb-2010

    The Tokyo International Film Festival has enlisted celebrated producer Jeremy Thomas and seasoned Japanese buyer Ken Umehara to the film selection panel for its 23rd annual event which takes place Oct 23-31.

  • E1 takes three from H20 for Canada

    13-Feb-2010

    E1 Entertainment has closed a deal for Canadian rights to three films from Andras Hamori and Mark Horowitz’s H20 Motion Pictures.

  • Memento lands high profile duo

    12-Feb-2010

    Memento Films arrives in Berlin with The Woman In the Fifth and Hello Darkness

  • Dumont gets tribute at Sarajevo

    11-Feb-2010

    French auteur Bruno Dumont will be the subject of the annual Tribute at the Sarajevo Film Festival, which runs July 23 to 31.

  • Bibliotheque Pascal

    9-Feb-2010

    Dir/scr: Szabolcs Hajdu. Hungary. 2010. 111 mins.

  • Bran Nue Dae

    9-Feb-2010

    Dir: Rachel Perkins. Australia. 2009. 84 mins.

  • The price of festivals

    4-Feb-2010

    Film festivals may not be cheap to attend but, on a cultural level, they still have an important role to play in screening ambitious and challenging films that struggle to find mainstream distribution.

  • Big guns line up for global domination

    3-Feb-2010

    Which are the big films waiting to dazzle audiences in 2010? In the first of a two-part feature covering the year’s highlights, Mike Goodridge profiles the key studio releases at the US box office, with opening dates accurate at time of press

  • Faith in the audience

    29-Jan-2010

    Faith-friendly films may be drawing in the crowds, but Hollywood is still scared of interacting with religious audiences.

  • And then there were nine

    29-Jan-2010

    Nine films are on the foreign-language film Oscar shortlist this year. Mike Goodridge assesses what was left off the list and which might go forward to the final five

  • Edge Of Darkness

    24-Jan-2010

    Dir: Martin Campbell. US. 2009. 117 mins.

  • Producers who actually produce

    21-Jan-2010

    The film industry’s recent equity era turned executives, financiers and, sometimes, stars into “producers” but, in reality, that is often not where the real credit is due.

  • Extraordinary Measures

    21-Jan-2010

    Dir: Tom Vaughan. US. 2010. 106 mins.

  • Roll out the red carpet

    15-Jan-2010

    Heading into Golden Globes weekend in Los Angeles, it is clear which films have heat and which do not in the final six weeks leading up to the Academy Awards. Mike Goodridge looks at some of this year’ groundbreakers and surprises

  • Globes prompt annual sniping

    14-Jan-2010

    The domestic media has long used Golden Globes week as an excuse to mock The Hollywood Foreign Press Association; but the tide is turning and US studios are increasingly coming round to the huge potential of the international market.

  • The Book Of Eli

    11-Jan-2010

    Dirs: Allen & Albert Hughes. US. 2010. 118 mins

  • Lessons from Avatar

    7-Jan-2010

    Mega-blockbusters such as Avatar may be extreme rarities but it serves to remind the industry that while there are big problems yet to be solved; great entertainment and storytelling remain key winning over audiences.

  • Kathryn Bigelow

    23-Dec-2009

    For many, Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker is one of the most tense cinematic experiences of the year, but Bigelow insists she is merely reflecting the real lives of the US bomb-disposal units in Baghdad.

  • Lee Daniels

    23-Dec-2009

    “When I read the book [published in 1996], I thought it was just for me,” says Lee Daniels of the novel Push by Sapphire, on which his award-winning film Precious is based.

  • James Cameron

    23-Dec-2009

    .

  • Best Picture: The gold standards

    23-Dec-2009

    This year has been an unusually rich season for prestige awards contenders, kicking off as early as the Sundance Film Festival in January when Lee Daniels’ Precious (then called Push) was first seen as well as Lone Scherfig’s An Education, Cary Fukunaga’s Sin ...

  • Wise words

    17-Dec-2009

    From Up to Inglourious Basterds,

  • Awards Countdown: Original Screenplay

    17-Dec-2009

    Screen brings you a selection of this year’s potential screenplay awards contenders.

  • Awards Countdown: Adapted Screenplay

    17-Dec-2009

    Screen brings you a selection of this year’s potential adapted screenplay awards contenders.

  • Based on a wealth of life experience

    17-Dec-2009

    Nancy Meyers, It’s Complicated.

  • A Locker full of gold

    17-Dec-2009

    Despite the difficulties in producing and distributing The Hurt Locker, the heart-pounding Iraq drama is a perfect example of how an independent production can reap the greatest rewards.

  • Avatar

    15-Dec-2009

    Dir/scr: James Cameron. US. 2009. 161 mins.

  • Nine

    14-Dec-2009

    Dir: Rob Marshall. US. 2009. 110mins

  • Stars earn their stripes

    10-Dec-2009

    With all the year’s films now out of the gate and screening to media, guilds and other awards groups, the complexion of the acting categories has become clearer.Mike Goodridge assesses the hottest contenders at this stage of the race.

  • It's Complicated

    10-Dec-2009

    Dir/scr: Nancy Meyers. US. 2009. 116 mins.

  • Best Performance By An Avatar

    10-Dec-2009

    The stars of James Cameron’s Avatar put in such compelling performances as animated blue-skinned aliens that it raises many questions about how actors will work in the future and how that will be recognised.

  • Blockbusters kill the movie star

    3-Dec-2009

    Movies stars have had a tough year with less films being made and falling earnings; now the success of film such as The Hangover, which used a lesser known cast, suggests that star power is losing its pull with younger audiences.

  • Invictus

    3-Dec-2009

    Dir: Clint Eastwood. US. 2009. 133 mins.

  • Cinematography

    3-Dec-2009

    Andrew Lesnie Cinematographer, The Lovely Bones

  • Costume design

    3-Dec-2009

    Colleen Atwood Costume designer, Public Enemies

  • Crazy Heart

    30-Nov-2009

    Dir: Scott Cooper. US. 2009. 111 mins.

  • From Paris with love

    27-Nov-2009

    Paris-based EuropaCorp has cemented its early standing as one of the world’s most prolific vertically integrated film outfits. Pierre-Ange Le Pogam talks to Mike Goodridge about the company he co-founded with Luc Besson, how it has achieved global profile from a distinctively French base and its next steps

  • New Moon's new line of success

    26-Nov-2009

    Independent distributors lamented the loss of New Line Cinema and the Hollywood-level product it supplied but the global success of The Twilight Saga: New Moon shows it was not as damaging as first feared

  • A world of difference

    26-Nov-2009

    Sixty-five films have been submitted for the foreign-language film Academy Award category this year but the Globes and Baftas might well recognise some of the films that failed to make the Academy cut, writes Mike Goodridge.

  • The golden night

    26-Nov-2009

    The Golden Globes is hoping to make its annual banquet awards presentation (Jan 17) even more lively than usual with the addition of Ricky Gervais as host.

  • The Princess And The Frog

    25-Nov-2009

    Dirs: Ron Clements & John Musker. US. 2009. 96 mins.

  • The Lovely Bones

    24-Nov-2009

    Dir: Peter Jackson. US. 2009. 135 mins.

  • Brothers

    23-Nov-2009

    Dir: Jim Sheridan. US. 2009. 110 mins.

  • Beating Up

    19-Nov-2009

    2009 has been a landmark year for animation and, as if to reflect that, the feature animation Oscar category is swelling to the full five nominations for the first time since 2002.

  • Academy Awards animation: the directors

    19-Nov-2009

    Screen International brings you three of the directors of this year’s Oscar-nominated animation films.

  • New indies could renew awards

    19-Nov-2009

    The effective closure of Miramax Films come January further depletes the supply of quality drama to US, and indeed, global audiences.

  • Panning for Precious metal

    19-Nov-2009

    The 2009-2010 awards season has begun in earnest with only a few much-anticipated films yet to be seen and some front-runners finally emerging.

  • The Twilight Saga: New Moon

    18-Nov-2009

    Dir: Chris Weitz. US. 2009. 130 mins.

  • Rise of the new power hubs

    12-Nov-2009

    As Hollywood studios begin to crumble, a new breed of media company that is rooted in its local market but has an eye for the smart international deals is rising.

  • 2012

    10-Nov-2009

    Dir: Roland Emmerich. US. 2009. 150 mins.

  • Wild Bunch takes Edge, Victoria from GK for Germany

    9-Nov-2009

    Wild Bunch Germany, the new German distribution arm of the French film group, has signed a two-picture deal with Graham King’s GK Films, taking rights in Germany to Martin Campbell’s Edge Of Darkness starring Mel Gibson and Jean-Marc Vallee’s The Young Victoria with Emily Blunt.

  • Hollywood Middle East

    29-Oct-2009

    Imagenation Abu Dhabi has laid the groundwork to become a major backer of international features, striking partnerships with three well-capitalised US independents to co-finance slates of films. Chief executive Edward Borgerding and COO Stefan Brunner talk strategy with Mike Goodridge

  • Success on a local level

    29-Oct-2009

    If there has ever been a time for locally sourced product to succeed, apparently it is now.

  • Michael Jackson's This Is It

    28-Oct-2009

    Dir: Kenny Ortega. US. 2009. 112 mins.

  • Paramount to release My Last Five Girlfriends in UK

    26-Oct-2009

    Paramount Pictures International (PPI) has taken on UK rights to Willing Pilowsky Media’s romantic comedy My Last Five Girlfriends and set a March 2010 release on over 100 prints.

  • Reading between the numbers

    22-Oct-2009

    How do we know whether a film is a hit?

  • Finding blockbusters in the UK

    15-Oct-2009

    Why is the UK short of homemade mainstream films?

  • Tehroun

    8-Oct-2009

    Dir: Nader T Homayoun. Iran/France. 2009. 95 mins.

  • Kelin (The Daughter-in-Law)

    8-Oct-2009

    Dir: Ermek Tursunov. Kazakhstan. 2009. 84 mins.

  • D-Day for US studio model

    8-Oct-2009

    Would you pay $250 to have Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen delivered to your living room on the same day it is released in theatres?

  • Distribution: A Love Story

    8-Oct-2009

    Overture Films has emerged as one of the main ports of call for independent films looking for US distribution. Key executives Chris McGurk, Danny Rosett and Peter Adee talk to Mike Goodridge about their coming of age

  • UK Brit List topped by George Kay's Good Luck Anthony Belcher

    2-Oct-2009

    The 2009 Brit List, a list of the most liked and recommended unproduced screenplays in the UK and Irish film communities, has started circulating in London with Ruby Films’ Good Luck Anthony Belcher written by George Kay coming out on top.

  • Precious poised for perfect Push

    1-Oct-2009

    So far, so good for Precious as the Toronto People’s Choice award continues the film’s positioning on the road to theatres - and awards.

  • Fortissimo does strong festival trade with Labyrinth, Wartime

    30-Sep-2009

    Fortissimo Films has announced a wave of sales closed on its current slate after the Venice and Toronto film festivals.

  • Ben Chaplin joins cast of Peggy Glanville-Hicks biopic Owl Song

    30-Sep-2009

    Ben Chaplin will play the young Yehudi Menuhin in Owl Song, the story of Australian composer Peggy Glanville-Hicks which is being produced by MusicArt Dance Films in Australia.

  • The Refuge (Le Refuge)

    30-Sep-2009

    Dir: Francois Ozon. France. 2009. 90 mins.

  • Small is beautiful at Toronto

    24-Sep-2009

    Buyers at Toronto were unwilling to bet big on expensive, star-driven films, preferring the low-risk gamble of smaller foreign-language films and smaller distribution costs.

  • Micmacs (Micmacs A Tire-Larigot)

    17-Sep-2009

    Dir: Jean-Pierre Jeunet. France. 2009. 105 mins.

  • Metrodome, Rialto buy I Am Love

    15-Sep-2009

    UK distributor Metrodome Distribution has teamed with Rialto Distribution to acquire rights in UK/Ireland and Australia/New Zealand to Luca Guadagnino’s breakout Venice title I Am Love (Io Sono Amore) starring Tilda Swinton.

  • Werc Werk Works to back Jill Sprecher's latest

    14-Sep-2009

    Werc Werk Works, the independent production and finance outfit behind Todd Solondz’s Life During Wartime, will produce and fully finance The Convincer, the latest film from Jill Sprecher (13 Conversations About One Thing)

  • The Vintner's Luck

    14-Sep-2009

    Dir: Niki Caro. New Zealand/France. 2009. 126 mins.

  • Fortissimo closes Italian deal on Venice prizewinner Wartime

    13-Sep-2009

    Archibald Enterprise Film has picked up Italian rights to Todd Solondz’s Life During Wartime just a day before the film won the Golden Osella for best screenplay at the Venice Film Festival.

  • The Secret In Their Eyes (El Secreto De Sus Ojos)

    12-Sep-2009

    Dir: Juan Jose Campanella. Spain/Argentina. 2009. 129 mins.

  • Cracks

    11-Sep-2009

    Dir: Jordan Scott. UK/Ireland. 2009. 104 mins.

  • Icon to handle worldwide sales on East Is East sequel

    11-Sep-2009

    Sales outfit has come on board to handle worldwide sales on West Is West, the sequel to BAFTA-award winner East Is East which grossed over £10m in the UK in 1999.

  • Turtle sets out on seven territory European launch after TIFF

    11-Sep-2009

    Wildlife documentary Turtle:The Incredible Journey has its world premiere in Toronto this weekend, then sets out on a theatrical journey starting in Germany, Austria, Italy and Benelux in October.

  • Acting for US intelligence

    10-Sep-2009

    At a time when internet-savvy teenagers are the key movie-going demographic, George Clooney has used his celebrity to become the standard-bearer for smart, political cinema.

  • White Material

    8-Sep-2009

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

  • The Men Who Stare At Goats

    8-Sep-2009

    Dir: Grant Heslov. 2009. US. 90 mins.

  • My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?

    7-Sep-2009

    Dir: Werner Herzog. US. 2009. 90 mins.

  • The Informant!

    7-Sep-2009

    Dir: Steven Soderbergh. US. 2009. 108 mins.

  • Persecution

    6-Sep-2009

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

  • Capitalism: A Love Story

    6-Sep-2009

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

  • Metropia

    4-Sep-2009

    Dir: Tarik Saleh. Sweden. 2009. 80 mins.

  • Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans

    4-Sep-2009

    Dir: Werner Herzog. US. 2009. 121 mins.

  • Lost in movies

    3-Sep-2009

    The Venice-Toronto marathon offers such challenges for buyers and press, plenty of films can get lost in the shuffle. So why don’t producers experiment with other festivals?

  • [REC]2

    3-Sep-2009

    Dirs: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza. Spain. 2009.85 mins.

  • OMDC unveils 43 projects in International Financing Forum

    31-Aug-2009

    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.

  • Kudos kick off on the Lido

    27-Aug-2009

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

  • State of a region

    27-Aug-2009

    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.

  • Slovenian Girl (Slovenka)

    24-Aug-2009

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

  • The Blacks (CRNCI)

    24-Aug-2009

    Dirs/scr: Goran Devic & Zvonimir Juric. Croatia. 2009. 78 mins.

  • Donkey (Kenjac)

    24-Aug-2009

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

  • The top drawer

    21-Aug-2009

    As Ponyo hits US theatres, Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki arrived in Los Angeles for a rare promotional trip. He spoke to Mike Goodridge about the Miyazaki process and his passion for hand-drawn animation

  • 9

    18-Aug-2009

    Dir: Shane Acker. US. 2009. 81 mins

  • The Time Traveler's Wife

    10-Aug-2009

    Dir: Robert Schwentke. US. 2009. 107 mins.

  • GI Joe: Rise Of The Cobra

    6-Aug-2009

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

  • The triumphant transformation of Sarajevo

    31-Jul-2009

    As the Sarajevo Film Festival (August 12-20) grows in stature, so does its importance as a launch pad for international films into the region. Mike Goodridge reports

  • Funny People

    31-Jul-2009

    Dir: Judd Apatow. US. 2009. 140 mins.

  • The US deal conundrum

    30-Jul-2009

    With US distributors in crisis, international buyers might be able to fill the gap - except they’re only interested in English-language films that have US distribution sewn up .

  • Curse of the time bandits

    23-Jul-2009

    As Harry Potter racks up its 15th hour of celluloid adventure and the Transformers battle it out for two-and-a-half hours, Mike Goodridge is watching the clock.

  • Sarajevo competition lineup includes world premieres, Cannes titles

    23-Jul-2009

    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).

  • Harry Potter sweeps the globe with $104m opening day gross

    17-Jul-2009

    Warners Bros Pictures’ Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince took $58.18m in North America, including the record Tuesday midnight screening tally of $22.2m, and a further $45.85m in 33 international markets for a record breaking one-day global total of $104m.

  • Antichrist, Bronson among Sarajevo's Panorama titles

    16-Jul-2009

    The Sarajevo Film Festival, which takes place this year from Aug 12 to 20, has announced the lineup in its Panorama section programmed by regular Screen critic Howard Feinstein.

  • Chameleon

    14-Jul-2009

    Dir: Krisztina Goda. Hungary. 2009. 103 mins.

  • Restoring lustre to prestige titles

    9-Jul-2009

    Increasing the number of films in the best picture category could be the shot in the arm Oscar needs as audiences turn their back on the cynical ‘awards movie’.

  • Salt closes key pre-sales on The Infidel

    9-Jul-2009

    London-based sales and financing outfit The Salt Company has confirmed a number of key pre-sales closed during and after Cannes on its UK comedy The Infidel which is now in post-production.

  • Tales from the script

    8-Jul-2009

    The hotshot Hollywood duo Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman explain how they learned the key elements of screenwriting and applied them to some of the biggest pictures in the business.

  • Romania's Golden Age to open Sarajevo

    6-Jul-2009

    Romanian portmanteau film Tales From The Golden Age, which had its world premiere in Un Certain Regard at Cannes this year, has been selected as the opening night film of the 15th annual Sarajevo Film Festival which takes place from August 12-20.

  • Fox's Ice Age 3 dawns in 68 territories day-and-date

    3-Jul-2009

    20th Century Fox International launches its animated blockbuster-in-waiting Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosuars this weekend on 11,370 prints in 68 territories day-and-date with North America in a bid to knock megahit Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen off the top spot.

  • Shock and awe

    25-Jun-2009

    Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest incarnation will catapult US audiences out of their comfort zone. It may offend some, but Brüno is a welcome antidote to the political-correctness pandemic.

  • Putting the foreign first

    18-Jun-2009

    As the blockbuster success of Angels & Demons outside the US is proving, a number of major studio films are being crafted and targeted with international markets in mind.

  • Playing Away

    18-Jun-2009

    The Oscar winner Sam Mendes tells Mike Goodridge why his Edinburgh opener Away We Go is a far cry from big-budget Hollywood.

  • Small Crime to open Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

    12-Jun-2009

    The third annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival will open on June 25 with Christos Georgiou’s Small Crime and close on June 28 with Alexis Kardaras’ Guinness.

  • Millennium: a new era for Europe

    11-Jun-2009

    Sweden’s Millennium Trilogy could mark a watershed moment in the way producers think about scoring a pan-continental hit - and it doesn’t involve thinking about the US market

  • The French Kissers (Les Beaux Gosses)

    8-Jun-2009

    Dir: Riad Sattouf. France. 2009. 90 mins

  • Was the Marché the real deal?

    28-May-2009

    Buyers on the Croisette were decisive — and surprisingly plentiful — for international sales companies with solid projects.

  • The trouble with critics

    28-May-2009

    Cannes is the world’s greatest showcase for international cinema, but film-makers take a bold risk exposing their works to the festival’s critical hothouse

  • Inglourious Basterds

    25-May-2009

    Dir/scr: Quentin Tarantino. 2009. US-Germany. 154 minutes.

  • Enter The Void

    22-May-2009

    Dir: Gaspar Noé, France. 2009. 163mins.

  • The White Ribbon

    22-May-2009

    Dir: Michael Haneke. 2009. Germany-Austria-France-Italy. 145 minutes.

  • In The Beginning (A L’Origine)

    21-May-2009

    Dir/scr: Xavier Giannoli. France. 2009. 155 minutes.

  • Tales From The Golden Age (Amintiri Din Epoca De Aur)

    19-May-2009

    Dirs: Cristian Mungiu, Ioana Maria Uricaru, Hanno Hofer, Razvan Marculescu, Constantin Popescu. Romania, 2009, 134 mins (varied)

  • The King Of Escape (Le Roi De L’Evasion)

    19-May-2009

    Dir: Alain Guiraudie. 2009. France. 97 minutes.

  • Eastern Plays

    18-May-2009

    Dir/scr Kamen Kalev. 2009. Bulgaria/Sweden. 89 minutes.

  • Kinatay

    18-May-2009

    Dir: Brillante Mendoza. 2009. France/Philippines. 110 minutes

  • Agora

    17-May-2009

    Dir: Alejandro Amenabar. Spain. 2009. 141 minutes.

  • Ralph Fiennes revs up thrilling Coriolanus with Icon

    17-May-2009

    Ralph Fiennes spoke exclusively to ScreenDaily yesterday (May 16) about his directorial debut Coriolanus.

  • Levine, Belsito leave IMDB Pro

    17-May-2009

    Sydney Levine and Peter Belsito have left online industry database IMDB Pro after 18 months at the company.

  • Mother

    16-May-2009

    Dir: Bong Joon-ho. 2009. South Korea. 129 minutes.

  • Interview with John Cameron Mitchell

    15-May-2009

    Director John Cameron Mitchell talks exclusively to Screen International about his new project, which starts shooting in New York on June 1.

  • Breaking the boundaries

    14-May-2009

    Slumdog Millionaire shot Anil Kapoor onto a global stage. Now, he tells Mike Goodridge, he’s discovering what Indian film-makers can learn from Hollywood.

  • Entertaining the text generation 

    14-May-2009

    With technology integral to their lives, teens are growing up expecting everything to be available immediately — and for free. Can the film industry still meet their needs?

  • Bill Pohlad and Bob Berney buy rights to Bright Star

    12-May-2009

    Bill Pohlad and Bob Berney’s new North American distribution venture has bought US rights to Jane Campion’s competition entry Bright Star.

  • Up

    12-May-2009

    Dir: Pete Docter, US, 2009. 104mins

  • Thomas Mai sets up new LA sales outfit Festival Darlings

    8-May-2009

    Sales veteran is leaving Trust Nordisk and relocating to Los Angeles to set up a new sales company called Festival Darlings.

  • Team values

    7-May-2009

    Iconic film-maker John Lasseter believes animation should be a collaborative process. He tells Mike Goodridge how he creates the right environment

  • Going Up in the world

    7-May-2009

    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.

  • The wolf at the arthouse door

    7-May-2009

    Film festivals have a key role in promoting art cinema, which is why Cannes is offering to screen on the web the first five minutes of all the films in its official selection.

  • Angels & Demons

    5-May-2009

    Dir: Ron Howard. US. 2009. 138 mins.

  • Market Correction

    30-Apr-2009

    The Wall Street Journal caused panic declaring the death of international sales but cost-effective, marketable films can still secure pre-sales.

  • Humpday

    28-Apr-2009

    Dir: Lynn Shelton. US. 2009. 92mins.

  • A new departure

    24-Apr-2009

    When Yojiro Takita’s Departures was named best foreign-language film at the Academy Awards ceremony on March 3 this year, there was a gasp of surprise from many. But four men sitting in the second mezzanine level of the Kodak Theatre were cheering with delight. For Paul Colichman, Stephen Jarchow, Mark Reinhart and Jonathon Aubry, the win was a major step forward in a new foreign-language initiative hatched at their company, Here Media, and its theatrical arm, Regent Releasing, ...

  • The Limits Of Control

    24-Apr-2009

    Dir: Jim Jarmusch. US. 2009. 116 mins.

  • Bullet proof

    24-Apr-2009

    The return of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in the fourth The Fast And The Furious film - Fast & Furious - was never seen as a guarantee of success at the box office. Tokyo Drift, the third in the series, had underperformed and many viewed Universal’s fourth movie as too late to salvage the franchise.

  • Summit launches four at Cannes including new Pattinson romance

    24-Apr-2009

    Summit Entertainment is presenting four new titles to buyers at Cannes this year including two new Summit productions - a romantic drama starring Twilightsensation Robert Pattinson and a generational love story set in Italy starring Amanda Seyfried.

  • Cinetic launches international arm under Shebnem Askin-Schreger

    22-Apr-2009

    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.

  • Star Trek

    22-Apr-2009

    Dir: JJ Abrams. US. 2009. 125 mins.

  • Cinetic Media launches international arm under Shebnem Askin-Schreger

    22-Apr-2009

    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.

  • Tony Manero, Men On The Bridge take top awards at Istanbul

    20-Apr-2009

    The 28th International Istanbul Film Festival closed yesterday (Sunday) after a 16 day run in the cosmopolitan Turkish city.

  • It's show time

    17-Apr-2009

    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.

  • Editorial - Beyond cinemas

    9-Apr-2009

    Selling non-English-language films into overseas markets is never easy these days, especially now that DVD is on the wane. But a Screen-sponsored panel at Filmart in Hong Kong last month offered a more optimistic look at new business models for world cinema that are emerging in some territories and platforms.

  • Screen's tribute to Wouter Barendrecht: International film loses a unique talent

    9-Apr-2009

    Screen International’s US editor Mike Goodridge pays tribute to the unique talent of Wouter Barendrecht.

  • The Investigators, Cherry Blossoms among winners at Cleveland

    3-Apr-2009

    Dorris Dorrie’sCherry Blossomswas the winner of the audience choice award at the 33rd annual Cleveland International Film Festival which ended last week.Sean Baker’s Prince Of Broadway won the $2,500 cash prize American Independent Award also determined by audience vote from the films in the American ...

  • John Hart teams with Smuggler Partners to form Smuggler Films

    31-Mar-2009

    Veteran independent film producer John Hart has teamed up with Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody of commercial and music video outfit Smuggler Partners to form Smuggler Films, a production company designed to produce content in film, theatre, television and other media.With offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, the new company plans to offer artists the opportunity to work in multiple media. In its first year, for example, ...

  • Opinion: the troubled star system in the tabloid era

    27-Mar-2009

    If movie stars are what sells movies, movies might be in trouble. The coverage of celebrities not just in the tabloids but in the mainstream media and the unregulated online universe has now become so relentless that any actor who steps out of line in public runs the risk of seriously hurting the movies they star in.

  • Dragonball Evolution

    24-Mar-2009

    Dir: James Wong. US. 2009. 85 mins.

  • France bangs the drum for new tax incentive in Hong Kong

    23-Mar-2009

    The French consul general for Hong Kong and Macau declared on Monday that the future ‘belonged to co-production between Europe and Asia’ and urged Asian producers to look at shooting films in France. He made the comments at an information session outlining the new 20% tax rebate for international productions instituted last year by the Sarkozy government.Jean-Pierre Thebault said that producers should look at the fact that France has ...

  • Opinion: the changing face of acquisitions

    20-Mar-2009

    International sellers and producers going into Cannes will encounter a severely depleted troupe of acquisitions executives from the US studios and their specialised divisions.

  • Duplicity

    16-Mar-2009

    Reviewed by Mike Goodridge

  • Opinion: taking superheroes seriously

    13-Mar-2009

    The global opening of Watchmen last weekend - $55.7m in North America through Warner Bros and $27.5m in 45 territories through PPI - was strong, but considered by many commentators to be disappointing.

  • Reviews - Race to Witch Mountain

    13-Mar-2009

    'Reimagining' of Disney's classic 1975 action favourite.

  • Tony Gilroy on Duplicity's important complications

    13-Mar-2009

    Tony Gilroy has been working in Hollywood since 1986 when he sold his first script as a vehicle for Chuck Norris. Although that film was never made, he fast became one of the biggest names in screenwriting, clocking up credits such as Dolores Claiborne, Armageddon and the three Bourne movies.

  • Race To Witch Mountain

    12-Mar-2009

    Dir: Andy Fickman. US. 2009. 98 mins.

  • Costa-Gavras to receive film-maker focus at COLCOA in April

    9-Mar-2009

    Costa-Gavras will be the subject of this year's 'Focus On A Film-maker' at the 13th annual City Of Lights, City Of Angels (COLCOA), the annual showcase of new French cinema in Los Angeles which this year takes place April 20-26.The director's latest film Eden Is West, which closed Berlin this year, will have its west coast premiere at COLCOA on April 23; the event is ...

  • Zack Snyder: filming the unfilmable of Watchmen

    6-Mar-2009

    The January courtroom battle between Warner Bros, which was the lead studio backing the new movie Watchmen, and Twentieth Century Fox, the studio which claimed it still had distribution rights to the property under a 1994 turnaround agreement with producer Larry Gordon, threatened to derail what promises to be one of the year's biggest openings this weekend.

  • Andrew Bujalski: 'Mumblecore doesn't mean much for me'

    27-Feb-2009

    If Andrew Bujalski never heard the word 'mumblecore' again, he'd be quite happy. 'I'm tired of hearing about it,' he explains from Austin, Texas, days after his latest film, Beeswax, had its world premiere in Berlin. 'I'm tired of the reduction inherent in it. It's designed to take a lot of film-makers and dismiss them all in one fell swoop. I understand why it's useful for critics and writers, but it doesn't mean much or do much for me.'

  • Opinion: UnderstandingIndia beyond Slumdog

    27-Feb-2009

    The triumph of Slumdog Millionaire this week at the Academy Awards as well as its enormous success at the domestic and the global box office has directed the world's attention to India, its talent - such as composer and music star AR Rahman - energy, locations and the narrowing gap with the west as witnessed in the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' format.

  • The Wrestler named best feature, actor at Independent Spirit Awards

    22-Feb-2009

    The Wrestler was named best feature and won the best actor award for Mickey Rourke and the best cinematography award for Maryse Alberti at the 2009 Film Independent Spirit Awards which took place today (Saturday) in Santa Monica.The annual event, which honours films embodying independence and 'who dare to challenge the status quo', also saw Woody Allen's

  • Opinion: Going back to basics

    20-Feb-2009

    It wasn't just the critics who were gloomy at Berlin this year. Most of those attending the European Film Market (EFM) were facing some hard realities: buyers and sellers were shaking their heads trying to figure out the numbers, which no longer seemed to make sense. The mood was set when top seller Focus Features International passed on taking its traditionally grand stand at the Martin Gropius Bau, arguing that its sales focus will be in Cannes.

  • Will Cannes 2009 deliver on high expectations?

    20-Feb-2009

    With Berlin over, selectors at the Cannes film festival (May 13-24) are facing a deluge of films from the world’s greatest auteurs - so many, in fact, some big names could end up being excluded from official selection.

  • Kloiber's TMG extends US deal with Augsberger for three years

    18-Feb-2009

    Herbert Kloiber's Tele Muenchen Group (TMG) has extended its exclusive US representation deal with Thomas Augsberger's LA-based Eden Rock Media for the next three years.The extension follows a busy Berlin for TMG during which Augsberger acquired German rights to Robert Redford's The Company You Keep and Terry Gilliam's Zero Theorem from Voltage Pictures ...

  • A dog's path to glory: The ups and downs of financing and producing Slumdog Millionaire

    13-Feb-2009

    The UK's Film4 rarely buys a book without a production company involved, but chief Tessa Ross did just that when she first read Q&A by Vikas Swarup, the source novel for Slumdog Millionaire. 'It had a fantastic landscape, a clever plot and a way of telling the story of a boy's life in the present that I liked,' she recalls.

  • My One And Only

    12-Feb-2009

    Dir: Richard Loncraine. US. 2009. 108mins.

  • Cannes selectors face deluge of auteurs in 2009

    11-Feb-2009

    As Berlin draws to a close, selectors at the Cannes Film Festival are facing such a deluge of films from the world’s greatest auteurs that many will no doubt be rejected from official selection.

  • Phaidon Press buys Cahiers Du Cinema from Le Monde

    11-Feb-2009

    French movie institution Cahiers du Cinema has found a new home in Phaidon Press which closed a deal to purchase the venerable film magazine from Le Monde this week.

  • Cheri

    10-Feb-2009

    Dir: Stephen Frears. UK. 2009. 100mins.

  • Bernard Rose's Kreutzer Sonata picked up by IFC Films for US

    10-Feb-2009

    IFC Films has picked up US rights to Bernard Rose's The Kreutzer Sonata and will release it this year on its Festival Direct movies-on-demand label. The film, which stars Danny Huston, Elisabeth Rohm and (in a cameo) Anjelica Huston in a dissection of modern marriage based on the Tolstoy novella, had its world premiere at Edinburgh last year.

  • Rudo y Cursi

    10-Feb-2009

    Dir: Carlos Cuaron. Mexico. 2008. 103 mins.

  • Elephant Eye scores precious Icon deal on Push

    10-Feb-2009

    Icon Film Distribution has picked up UK and Australian rights to Lee Daniels' Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire, the Sundance sensation which won both the jury and audience awards in US dramatic competition.

  • Lionsgate UK gets Heartless from Omega

    10-Feb-2009

    Lionsgate UK has picked up UK rights to Philip Ridley's psychological thriller Heartless from Omega Entertainment. Jim Sturgess stars as a troubled young man struggling to cope with the mindless violence taking place on the city streets around him.The film, currently in the final stages of post-production, will have its premiere at Cannes. Produced by Richard Raymond and Pippa Cross, it also stars Clemence Poesy, Noel Clarke and Timothy Spall.

  • Beeswax

    9-Feb-2009

    Dir/scr: Andrew Bujalski. US. 2009.100mins.

  • Babelgum gets 24 from Content Republic

    9-Feb-2009

    Babelgum, the free-to-view independent web TV service, has sealed a deal with digital distributor Content Republic to present 24 world cinema films on Babelgum as online exclusives.

  • Bellamy

    8-Feb-2009

    Dir: Claude Chabrol.France. 2009. 110mins.

  • Pierpoline, Lormand see Red with Mei

    8-Feb-2009

    Joyce Pierpoline and Richard Lormand, the producers behind competition entry Happy Tears, are working to put together their next project Seeing Red with first-time director Liselle Mei.

  • Costa gets into Brazilian rhythm with Anderson, Barreto

    8-Feb-2009

    Eduardo Costantini's Buenos-Aires-based Costa Films is making a concerted push into Brazil, mounting a $9m music drama to be directed by Brad Anderson and co-produced by Spain's Filmax and Rio-based Bananeira Filmes, as well as partnering with the Barreto family to make a biopic of current Brazilian president Lula Da Silva currently shooting under director Fabio Barreto (O Quatrilho

  • White Lightnin' team sign with WMA for worldwide

    8-Feb-2009

    The team behind Sundance hit and Berlin Panorama title White Lightnin' - UK director Dominic Murphy and producers Mike Downey and Sam Taylor - have signed a worldwide representation deal with William Morris Agency for themselves and their associated companies. Aside from sourcing material for Murphy, the agency's independent division under Cassian Elwes will work with the trio to maximize talent ...

  • Pink Panther 2

    6-Feb-2009

    Dir: Harald Zwart. US. 2009. 92 mins.

  • Sundance winners team for Second Child

    6-Feb-2009

    Lee Daniels, fresh from his Sundance triumph as director of multiple prize-winner Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire, is teaming up with Chilean film-maker Sebastian Silva, whose film The Maid won the world cinema dramatic grand jury prize at Sundance, to produce Silva's next film Second Child.

  • Festival review: Park city's sparkling show of independents

    6-Feb-2009

    It was a happy coincidence that in the year it was celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Sundance Film Festival showcased a bumper crop of new independent cinema. As Robert Redford, festival director Geoff Gilmore and director of programming John Cooper reiterated, Sundance is about discovering new talent - and this year's films did just that.

  • Sundance winner Push lands at Lionsgate

    2-Feb-2009

    Lionsgate has won the battle for North American distribution rights to Lee Daniels' Sundance winner Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire and has tied up with Tyler Perry's 34th Street Films and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films for the release.The company acquired the rights from Smokewood Entertainment Group in a deal brokered by Cinetic Media.

  • He's Just Not That Into You

    2-Feb-2009

    Dir: Ken Kwapis. US. 2009. 129 mins.

  • Coraline

    2-Feb-2009

    Dir: Henry Selick. US. 2009. 100 mins.

  • Sundance 2009 Roundup

    2-Feb-2009

    La Nana (The Maid)

  • Samuel Goldwyn Films takes US rights to Cold Souls

    31-Jan-2009

    Samuel Goldwyn Films has picked up US rights to Cold Souls, Sophie Barthes feature debut which recently played in US dramatic competition at Sundance. The film stars Paul Giamatti alongside David Strathairn, Emily Watson and Lauren Ambrose.Goldwyn is planning a late summer release for the comedy in which Giamatti plays an actor called Paul ...

  • Anchor Bay picks up US, UK and Australia to Not Forgotten

    31-Jan-2009

    Just days after Anchor Bay Films announced it had picked up North American rights to David Mackenzie's Sundance premiere Spread, the company has sealed another deal, this time picking up rights in the US, UK and Australia to Dror Soref's thriller Not Forgotten ...

  • Awards Countdown - Oscar nominations - By the numbers

    30-Jan-2009

    MERYL STREEP'S OSCAR HISTORY

  • Endgame

    26-Jan-2009

    Dir: Peter Travis. 2009. UK. 109 mins.

  • Sin Nombre

    26-Jan-2009

    Dir/scr: Cary Joji Fukunaga. 2009. Mexico. 96 mins.

  • Precious

    22-Jan-2009

    Dir: Lee Daniels. US. 2009. 109 mins.

  • The Messenger

    22-Jan-2009

    Dir: Oren Moverman. US. 2009. 105 mins.

  • Benjamin Button tops Oscar nominations

    22-Jan-2009

    Paramount/Warner Bros co-venture The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button led the pack at the 81st annual Academy Award nominations announcement in Los Angeles with 13 nominations including best picture, best director and best actor for Brad Pitt. Only two films in Oscar history - All About Eve in 1950 and Titanic in 1997 - have been nominated 14 times.

  • Five Minutes Of Heaven

    21-Jan-2009

    Dir: Oliver Hirschbiegl. UK/Ireland. 2009. 90 mins

  • Helen

    20-Jan-2009

    Dir/scr: Sandra Nettelbeck. US. 2009. 119 mins.

  • Unmade Beds

    19-Jan-2009

    Dir: Alexis Dos Santos. UK. 2009. 92 mins.

  • Spread

    19-Jan-2009

    Dir: David Mackenzie. US. 2009. 91 mins.

  • I Love You Phillip Morris

    19-Jan-2009

    Dirs: John Requa & Glenn Ficarra. US. 2009. 100 mins.

  • Film Sharks takes on international sales to Tear This Heart Out

    19-Jan-2009

    Guido Rud's Argentina-based Film Sharks International has picked up sales rights outside Latin America to Roberto Sneider's Tear This Heart Out (Arrancame La Vida) which is on the shortlist of nine films for this year's best foreign language film Oscar.The film, which has drawn over two million admissions in Mexico through Fox, is a romantic ...

  • Mary And Max

    16-Jan-2009

    Dir: Adam Elliot.Australia. 2008. 92mins .

  • Awards People: Kristin Scott Thomas

    16-Jan-2009

    Kristin Scott Thomas talks to Mike Goodridge about her latest film I’ve Loved You So Long.

  • In Focus: the 2009 Hollywood blockbusters

    15-Jan-2009

    Some of the world's biggest film-makers, including James Cameron, Peter Jackson and Martin Scorsese, have new films this year, while the latest in the Harry Potter, Terminator, X-Men and Twilight franchises will hope to build on their existing fanbases.

  • Sundance hope for new indie dawn

    12-Jan-2009

    This year’s Sundance Film Festival is a crucial bellwether for the independent film business.

  • New dawn for Sundance Indies

    9-Jan-2009

    This year’s Sundance Film Festival is a crucial bellwether for the independent film business. Even as end-of-year hits such as Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler, The Reader and Milk pack theatres across North America, the domestic acquisitions business has been sluggish to say the least.

  • Jolene

    7-Jan-2009

    Dir: Dan Ireland. US. 2008. 110mins

  • The Spirit

    19-Dec-2008

    Dir: Frank Miller. US. 2008. 108 mins.

  • Awards Countdown - Best Director

    19-Dec-2008

  • Awards Countdown - Best Screenplay

    19-Dec-2008

    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

  • The Tale of Despereaux

    15-Dec-2008

    Dir: Sam Fell & Rob Stevenhagen. US. 2008. 93 mins.

  • Awards Countdown: Meryl Streep, Doubt

    12-Dec-2008

    Meryl Streep, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

  • Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Doubt lead Golden Globe Nominations

    11-Dec-2008

    The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, a co-production between Paramount and Warner Bros, and Frost/Nixon, an Imagine/Working Title production for Universal led the pack in the 66th annual Golden Globe nominations which were announced this morning in Los Angeles. Both films took five nominations each.

  • Gran Torino

    5-Dec-2008

    Dir. Clint Eastwood. US. 2008. 116 mins.

  • Awards Countdown - Best actor/Best supporting actor - Command performances

    5-Dec-2008

    BEST ACTOR: THE TOP 10 CONTENDERS

  • ID opens London office, hires Rupert Fowler as vice president

    1-Dec-2008

    Well-known UK publicist Rupert Fowler has left London-based agency Public Eye Communications to head up a new London office for US entertainment PR firm ID.Fowler joins ID as vice president after six years at Public Eye where his clients included James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Andrew Garfield, Jamie Parker and others. It is not yet known whether they will be following him to ID.'We are delighted to have Rupert join ID,' said ID ...

  • The Reader

    30-Nov-2008

    Dir: Stephen Daldry. 2008.US/UK/Germany. 122 mins.

  • Awards countdown foreign-language films - Strong language

    27-Nov-2008

    In June this year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) announced it would be making yet another tweak to its foreign-language film category.

  • The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

    24-Nov-2008

    Dir: David Fincher. US. 2008. 166 mins.

  • Awards Countdown focus: Contenders yet to show hand

    21-Nov-2008

    By mid-November last year, the majority of awards contenders were already in the public domain. Only a handful of stragglers - There Will Be Blood, Sweeney Todd, The Great Debaters, Charlie Wilson's War, The Bucket List - remained to be seen by press and Oscar commentators. As it turned out, the season's heaviest hitters - No Country For Old Men, Juno, Michael Clayton and Atonement - were screened ...

  • Awards Countdown: Animation Oscar preview

    21-Nov-2008

    Fourteen feature films were announced for the shortlist for this year's animated feature Oscar in early November. The range was wide. Of course there was the latest Pixar extravaganza, Wall-E, and the two annual DreamWorks Animation films Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Blue Sky Studios' early-year hit for Fox Dr Seuss' Horton Hears A Who! made the list as did Disney's Bolt, which is the studio's first in-house ...

  • Alexandra Stone leaves Recorded to set up CMP Film

    20-Nov-2008

    Alexandra Stone, who has spent the last 14 years in senior production roles at Jeremy Thomas' Recorded Picture Company (RPC), has left Recorded to head up a new film division for Creative Management And Productions (CMP) called CMP Film Ltd.Based in London, she will be charged with developing and producing a slate of director- and writer-driven films. She joins CMP partners Nick Frankfort and Tobias Round, who were previously producers at the prestigious London ...

  • Twilight

    20-Nov-2008

    Dir: Catherine Hardwicke. US. 2008. 121 mins.

  • LAFF director Raddon donated to campaign to ban gay marriage

    17-Nov-2008

    Rich Raddon, the director of the Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF), has been the centre of a local firestorm in his hometown after it emerged last week that he had donated $1,500 to the campaign for Yes On 8, the statewide proposition which was narrowly passed on Nov 4, eliminating same-sex marriage rights in the state of California.Raddon, who is a Mormon, is one of the senior executives at Film Independent, the non-profit membership organization which according to its mission ...

  • Last Chance Harvey

    9-Nov-2008

    Dir: Joel Hopkins. UK/US. 2008. 99 mins.

  • MGM to take domestic on Purple's 2012-ish

    8-Nov-2008

    MGM is in negotiations to buy US distribution rights to end-of-the-world comedy 2012-ish: The Day The Earth Bent Over, formerly known as Armageddagain. Odd Lot International meanwhile has closed key territories coming into AFM including DeA Planeta in Spain, Hoyts in Australia, Quality in Latin America, Nordisk in Scandinavia, Mirovision in South Korea and Mediafilm in Italy.The MGM deal is being ...

  • Hurd to receive first career award at new LA Women's Showcase

    4-Nov-2008

    Producer Gale Anne Hurd will receive the first career achievement award from the Women's International Film & Television Showcase (The WIFTS) which is holding its first event in Los Angeles from Dec 4-7.The award will be presented on the final night of the four-day showcase which will present ten films from eight countries and will present awards for best female director, best female cinematographer, best film, pre-eminent breakout role, audience favourite and other honorary ...

  • Milk

    2-Nov-2008

    Dir: Gus Van Sant. US. 2008. 128 mins.

  • Locarno's Finzi named director of Miami International Film Festival

    1-Nov-2008

    Tiziana Finzi, who has spent the last nine years at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, serving as deputy director for the last three years, has been named director of the Miami International Film Festival in Florida, US. She will officially begin at the festival, which is held under the aegis of Miami Dade College, on Dec 1, 2008.The Italian-born Finzi is a festival veteran with more than 20 years' experience in programming and ...

  • Arsenal takes German rights to Argentinian music doc El Ultimo Aplauso

    27-Oct-2008

    Arsenal has bought German rights to German Kral's Argentinian music documentary El Ultimo Aplauso, following its world premiere at the Hof Film Festival. The deal was closed on Sunday night with Beatrix Wesle's Atrix Films.The company plans an early 2009 release.The film follows a group of forgotten Tango singers, who used to perform in the famous El Chino Tango Bar in Buenos Aires. Battling to earn a living during the country's ...

  • Sola Media takes on international rights to Long Shadows

    27-Oct-2008

    Stuttgart-based Sola Media has picked up international rights to terrorist drama Long Shadows which had its world premiere in competition in Rome this week.Directed by Connie Walther and starring Franziska Petri and Ulrich Noethen, the film follows a former German RAF terrorist released after two decades in prison who falls for his next door neighbour, a fragile young woman who has just lost custody of her son.'My generation ...

  • Rio International Film Festival

    21-Oct-2008

    Should Nothing Else Work Out (Se Nada Mais Der Certo)

  • United States - Hard Times In Rio

    17-Oct-2008

    Even though Bruno Barreto is one of Brazil's most celebrated film-makers, he had trouble finding finance to complete his latest film, Last Stop 174, a well-received drama which had its world premiere at Toronto and two weeks later opened the Rio International Film Festival.

  • Skin

    13-Oct-2008

    Dir: Anthony Fabian. 2008. UK/South Africa. 107 mins .

  • Imagenation Abu Dhabi teams with National Geographic for slate of films

    11-Oct-2008

    Imagenation Abu Dhabi, the film financing arm of Abu Dhabi Media Company launched last month, is teaming up with National Geographic Entertainment on a $100m slate of films over the next five years. The fund was announced in Abu Dhabi on Saturday by Tim Kelly, president of National Geographic Global Media, and Edward Borgerding, CEO of Imagenation.The slate - 10 to 15 films according to the principals budgeted up to $60m - will focus on people's relationship to ...

  • Erin Stam joins Participant as svp of production

    10-Oct-2008

    Erin Stam has been named senior vice president of production at Participant Media, and will be responsible for supervising the development and overseeing the production of narrative features for the company.She reports to Jonathan King, executive vice president of production at Participant.Stam joins Participant from Spyglass Entertainment where she was involved in the production of films such as 27 Dresses, Underdog and ...

  • Sundance Institute, Time Warner name 2008 storytelling fellows

    10-Oct-2008

    The Sundance Institute and Time Warner have named the recipient of the 2008 Time Warner Storytelling Fellows as playwright Kristen Greenidge and film-makers John Magary and Dees Rees.Greenidge participated in the 2008 Sundance Theatre Lab with her project Bossa Nova while Magary with Blood Abundance, Or The Half-Life Of Antoinette and Rees with her project Pariah ...

  • In Focus: Groundbreaking indie film My Suicide

    10-Oct-2008

    Independent movie My Suicide is unlike anything you have ever seen. Ostensibly the story of a 17-year-old boy who announces he will commit suicide on camera for his school project, the story is told from the point of view of the boy (newcomer Gabriel Sunday) as a visual stream of consciousness - blending animation, archive footage, YouTube clips, doodles and other effects that will leave older viewers dizzy from the visual overload.

  • Interview: Ridley Scott

    10-Oct-2008

    'Ridley Scott is the most efficient director I've ever worked with,' says Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars in Scott's latest epic Body Of Lies.

  • Eight films shortlisted for documentary short subject Oscar

    9-Oct-2008

    Eight films have been shortlisted for the documentary short subject Oscar by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Three to five will make the final nominations shortlist announced on Jan 22 next year.Voters from the Academy's documentary branch viewed this year's 31 eligible contenders and submitted their ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers for tabulation.The final eight are:The Conscience ...

  • Sambo Do Maazouz wins $100,000 grant at Circle Conference

    8-Oct-2008

    The second annual Circle Conference ended on Wednesday with the $100,000 Shasha Grant being awarded to Moroccan film-maker Hicham Ayouch for his project Sambo Do Maazouz.The story is about a Moroccan who speaks and prays in Portugese and is infatuated with Brazilian culture and obsessed with the Brazilian TV soap heroine.Sambo Do Maazouz will be Ayouch's third feature after

  • AFI FEST to include tributes to Danny Boyle, Tilda Swinton

    8-Oct-2008

    AFI FEST has announced its full programme which includes a tribute to Danny Boyle preceding a screening of Slumdog Millionaire and a tribute to Tilda Swinton including a clip retrospective of her career and a Q&A session with the actress.The 22nd annual festival, running from Oct 30 to Nov 9, will feature 100 features and 48 shorts from a total of 38 countries. As previously announced the opening night gala is Joe Wright's The Soloist ...

  • IFC picks up Jaoui's Let It Rain, Annila's Sauna

    8-Oct-2008

    IFC Films has acquired Agnes Jaoui's latest film Let It Rain which has its North American premiere on Friday at the New York Film Festival.IFC has also picked up North American rights to AJ Annila's gothic horror film Sauna which had its world premiere at Toronto recently.Jaoui's social satire stars herself, Jean-Pierre Bacri and Jamel Debbouze. IFC will release it next year through ...

  • Shoreline picks up worldwide rights to Spring 1941

    8-Oct-2008

    Morris Ruskin's Shoreline Entertainment has picked up worldwide rights to Spring 1941 the first ever Israeli-Polish co-production, which stars Joseph Fiennes and Clare Higgens. Directed by Uri Barbash (Beyond The Walls) and financed by the Israeli Rabinavitz Film Fud and the Polish Film Insititute, the film is the story of a successful doctor, his wife and two daughters who seek shelter from ...

  • Competitive 3D Film Festival launches this month in Florida

    8-Oct-2008

    The first ever 3-D Film & Interactive Festival (3DFF) will take place in Orlando, Florida, from Oct 10-12 and continue at nearby Cocoa Beach from Oct 17-19. The festival is hosted by AMC Entertainment and presented by RealD 3D, The Kerner Company, Domaine de Canton and Florida's Space Coast. The festival claims to be the first competitive film festival in the world to feature a programme composed entirely of digital 3-D stereoscopic content in all forms of entertainment media.

  • Frances Fisher, Dominique Swain to star in Dead Whisper

    8-Oct-2008

    Frances Fisher and Dominique Swain are to star in paranormal thriller Dead Whisper for Two Of A Kind Productions.The film is set to begin shooting in Louisiana on Nov 10 with Oley Sassone directing and John Kersey producing. The script was written by Jennifer Kersey and follows an emotionally scarred young woman (Swain) tortured by memory loss, taunting whispers and recurring nightmares. Fisher plays a psychiatrist trying to restore ...

  • TriStar to release Cadillac Records in the US in Dec

    7-Oct-2008

    TriStar Pictures will release Sony BMG's production Cadillac Records on Dec 5 in North America this year.The music-themed film chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists in Chicago in the 1950s. It stars Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, Columbus Short as Little Walter, Mos Def as Chuck Berry and Beyonce Knowles as Etta James.Darnell Martin wrote and directed the film which ...

  • Voltage acquires international rights to Seventh Moon

    7-Oct-2008

    Voltage Pictures has acquired all international rights to Haxan Films' Seventh Moon, a new thriller written and directed by The Blair Witch Project's Eduardo Sanchez.The film stars Amy Smart, Tim Chiou and Dennis Chan and had its world premiere recently at Fantastic Fest in Austin. It will next screen on Oct 11 at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain.Cinetic Media is representing domestic ...

  • W.

    7-Oct-2008

    Dir: Oliver Stone. US. 2008. 129mins.

  • Marvel pacts to shoot next four films in southern California

    7-Oct-2008

    Marvel Studios has made an agreement with LA-based Raleigh Studios to make its next four films at Raleigh's facility in Manhattan Beach just south of Los Angeles on the coast of California. The projects named in the agreement are Iron Man 2, Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America and The Avengers.In addition, Marvel will move its executive and production offices, formerly based in ...

  • Mandalay, Liquid Comics team up for film of Ramayan 3392 AD

    7-Oct-2008

    Mandalay Pictures is teaming up with Liquid Comics (formerly Virgin Comics) on a film of Liquid's graphic novel Ramayan 3392 AD.Mark Canton and his Atmosphere Entertainment (300, The Spiderwick Chronicles) will produce the film alongside Mandalay Pictures. Gotham Chopra and Sharad Devarajan of Liquid Comics will executive produce the Mandalay Pictures/Atmosphere Entertainment production.

  • Visit Films picks up international on Baghead, Half-Life

    7-Oct-2008

    Visit Films has acquired international rights to the Duplass Brothers' horror comedy Baghead and sci-fi drama Half-Life from director Jennifer Phang. Both films had their world premieres at this year's Sundance Film Festival in January.Baghead is set to have its international premiere at the Rome International Film Festival later this month and

  • Abu Dhabi's Circle Conference kicks off with Gianopuolos, Banderas

    5-Oct-2008

    The second annual Circle Conference will take place this week in Abu Dhabi from Oct 6-8 at the Shangri-La Hotel.As previously announced the conference, designed as a forum for international producers, financiers, film-makers and local communities to create new filmmaking opportunities in the Middle East, will feature a keynote address from Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chairman Jim Gianopulos.The conference takes place in advance of the opening of the Middle East ...

  • LA Hungarian Festival opening on Oct 15 with Ezster's Inheritance

    5-Oct-2008

    The eighth Hungarian Film Festival Of Los Angeles will take place Oct 16-23 in West Hollywood presented by Laemmle Theatres and Bela Bunyik's Bunyik Entertainment.The event will screen numerous US premieres of Hungarian films as well as a compilation of US studio films produced, directed, written, shot or featuring music composed by Hungarians called Hungarians In Hollywood.The festival will open on Oct 15 with Eszter's Inheritance ...

  • Body Of Lies

    3-Oct-2008

    Dir: Ridley Scott. US. 2008. 129 mins.

  • Second 'Brit List' highlights year's best unproduced scripts

    29-Sep-2008

    The second annual 'Brit List', which lists the most liked and recommended unproduced screenplays in the UK and Ireland, has begun circulated across the local film community.Compiled from a survey of 40 producers, acquisitions executives, agents, sales agents and public funders, the list is intended to echo the success of the US Black List in drawing attention and perhaps finance to these projects.This year's table is topped by a project which should go into production ...

  • In Focus: Epoch and Killer join forces for Gigantic

    26-Sep-2008

    Gigantic, which saw its world premiere in Toronto recently, represents the first co-production between Epoch Films run by Mindy Goldberg and Killer Films run by Christine Vachon.

  • Once Upon A Time...

    22-Sep-2008

    Dir: Breno Silveira. Brazil. 2008. 117 mins.A Romeo And Juliet tale about the doomed love between a Rio favela boy and a rich girl from Ipanema, Once Upon A Time (Era Uma Vez...) is a glossier, sudsier take on crime and poverty in the favelas than we have seenin films like City Of God, City Of Men and

  • Nights In Rodanthe

    22-Sep-2008

    Dir: George C Wolfe. US. 2008. 110 mins.Novelist Nicholas Sparks seems to have single-handedly resuscitated the women's picture in the last few years with films of his bestsellers including The Notebook, Message In A Bottle and A Walk To Remember. Nights In Rodanthe, which teams up ...

  • Profile: Anne Francois

    21-Sep-2008

    This is a big year for Anne Francois and her company Tactics. The producer, who divides her time between Los Angeles and Paris, has been actively developing four projects for the last few years and she says the scripts are ready to go; 2009 is her target year to move into production on at least one.

  • Kisses

    19-Sep-2008

    Dir: Lance Daly. 2008. Ireland/Sweden. 76 mins.A small Irish charmer about two children who run away from their abusive homes and spend an eventful night in Dublin, Lance Daly's Kisses is so slight and whimsical that sometimes it feels more like a fairy tale than a dramatic feature film. Running to a mere ...

  • Festival review: Toronto brings cold comfort for US indies

    19-Sep-2008

    When Marco Mueller programmed The Hurt Locker and The Wrestler on the last two days of this year's Venice film festival, he might have anticipated a flurry of attention from US buyers. These new films from Kathryn Bigelow and Darren Aronofsky had been pre-sold around the world but neither had a domestic deal in place.

  • United States/India - A Taste For India

    16-Sep-2008

    When producer Debra Martin Chase was looking for a location for the third film in Disney's Cheetah Girls franchise, she immediately thought of India.

  • In Focus: Grosvenor Park

    12-Sep-2008

    When Lionsgate released the spoof Disaster Movie in North America in the last weekend of August, Don Starr, the founding partner and chairman of Grosvenor Park, was in his native Canada anxiously waiting for the opening.

  • A Year Ago In Winter

    10-Sep-2008

    Dir: Caroline Link. Germany. 2008. 128 mins.

  • The Women

    10-Sep-2008

    Dir: Diane English. US. 2008. 114 mins.

  • MEIFF names eight films in competition, Laila's Birthday screening

    9-Sep-2008

    Eight films have been set for the international competition feature film and documentary sections at the second annual Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi (Oct 10-19)Toronto festival favourite Laila's Birthday from Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi will also have its Middle Eastern premiere at the festival. The film, about a father who tries to make his daughter's birthday memorable amid the daily chaos in Palestine, ...

  • Fear Me Not

    8-Sep-2008

    Dir: Kristian Levring. 2008. Denmark. 95 mins.

  • Krabat

    8-Sep-2008

    Dir. Marco Kreuzpaintner. Germany. 2008. 120 mins.

  • Miracle at St. Anna

    8-Sep-2008

    Dir. Spike Lee; US/Italy. 2008. 166 mins.

  • Stewart Till buys Icon as foundation for international network

    8-Sep-2008

    Stewart Till's company Stadium has agreed a deal to acquire the international operations of Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey's Icon Group comprising sales outfit Icon Entertainment International, the UK and Australian distribution operations and the Majestic Films & Television library. The deal is subject to due diligence.The acquisition marks the foundation for Till's ambitious plans to build an international distribution network along the lines of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment ...

  • Rain (Lluvia)

    7-Sep-2008

    Dir: Maria Govan. The Bahamas. 2008. 93 mins.

  • Ghost Town

    6-Sep-2008

    Dir: David Koepp. USA. 2008. 103 mins.

  • Appaloosa

    6-Sep-2008

    Dir: Ed Harris. USA. 2008. 114 mins.Ed Harris’s first film as a director since his Oscar-winning Pollock in 2000 is a gentle, warmly human and quietly compelling western with a wry sense of humour and some engaging performances from a group of fine actors. A bizarre love triangle of sorts between two cowboy buddies in the old west and a woman who disrupts their ...

  • Shroder to direct mythological movie for SCI FI in Romania

    27-Aug-2008

    Ricky Schroder is to direct Hellhounds, an original movie for the US SCI FI Channel which will shoot on location in Romania from Aug 31 to Sept 19.The film is an international co-production between Canada's Muse Entertainment and Romania's SC Studiourile Media Pro. Muse's Michael Prupas is executive producing alongside RHI Entertainment's Robert Halmi Sr and Robert Halmi Jr. RHI will handle worldwide distribution.The film ...

  • In Focus: The awards season

    27-Aug-2008

    Between last September and December, studios and independents unleashed 42 prestige English-language films on domestic audiences. On paper it was a bumper Oscar-qualification season which featured titles from Tim Burton, David Cronenberg, Sidney Lumet, the Coen brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ridley Scott, Robert Redford and Mike Nichols.

  • Shochiku buys Japanese rights to Chorus Line doc Every Little Step

    27-Aug-2008

    Shochiku Co Ltd has taken Japanese rights to Endgame Entertainment's documentary Every Little Step which has its world premiere as a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept 6.The company plans to release the film, which charts the Broadway musical A Chorus Line from idea to global phenomenon, on Oct 25 in Japan.The deal was negotiated by William Morris ...

  • Cast lines up for Warner biopic Coco Before Chanel

    27-Aug-2008

    Production is set to begin on Sept 15 in Paris on Anne Fontaine's Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel), a new film about the life of the legendary French fashion designer which is being produced by Warner Bros International in association with Haut Et Court, Cine-@, Warner Bros Entertainment and Films Distribution.Audrey Tautou stars in the film which focuses on Chanel's younger years. The supporting cast includes Benoit Poelvoorde, ...

  • Joel B Michaels joins Halcyon as president of production

    25-Aug-2008

    Veteran producer Joel B Michaels has been named president of production at The Halcyon Company, it was announced today by co-CEOs Victor Kubicek and Derek AndersonMichaels, who is currently serving as executive producer on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for TV, joins the company immediately and will oversee Terminator Salvation which recently completed principal photography in New Mexico.

  • CMG sells Chemical Wedding to North America, France, Benelux

    25-Aug-2008

    Edward Noeltner's Cinema Management Group (CMG) has closed several major territorial deals throughout the summer on Chemical Wedding, an occult thriller written by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson.Starz/Anchor Bay Entertainment has taken rights in North America and Universal Pictures Video (France) bought rights in France, Belgium and The Netherlands.Julian Doyle directed the film in which Simon Callow plays the reincarnation ...

  • Goldcrest forms New York division to co-produce independent films

    25-Aug-2008

    The Goldcrest Group has formed a new New York-based division called Goldcrest Features which plans to integrate the production process for independent film-makers from pre-production through post-production and delivery all under one roof. The remit is to co-produce up to seven films a year with budgets up to $15m.Gretchen McGowan, who ran production at Mark Cuban's HDNet Films and most recently produced Jim Jarmusch's The Limits Of Control, ...

  • Jaman.com signs over 100 Lionsgate titles to its online service

    25-Aug-2008

    Online distribution service and film community Jaman.com has signed a deal with Lionsgate to make over 100 Lionsgate titles to Jaman's users.Under the terms of the deal, Jaman.com will showcase Lionsgate titles on its site, some of which will be available for free, ad-supported and instantly streamed in high-definition quality. Viewers can watch the films immediately in their web browser with one click and no need to download an additional client. Premium feature ...

  • Buick Riviera wins prizes for best film, actor at Sarajevo Film Festival

    23-Aug-2008

    Goran Rusinovic’s Buick Riviera, a co-production between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the big winner in the competition section of the 14th annual Sarajevo Film Festival which closed on Saturday night.

  • Popular LA journalist Yani Begakis dies at 81

    15-Aug-2008

    Yani Begakis, a veteran LA-based film journalist and longtime member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), has died in Los Angeles at the age of 81.An enormously popular and well-respected man, Begakis was a fixture in Hollywood with a deep love - and intensive knowledge - of movies as well as a legendary sense of humour. He was an active journalist right up to his final illness.Begakis was born to Greek parents in Istanbul (then Constantinople) in ...

  • Judd Apatow & Seth Rogen on anew kind of comedy

    14-Aug-2008

    Judd Apatow has produced 10 movies in the Hollywood studio system in the last five years. The films have grossed nearly $1.1bn worldwide and that excludes most of the revenues for this summer's releases Step Brothers and Pineapple Express which opened in North America this month. It is a dizzying ascent to movie monarchy for a man who made his name on TV shows such as The Larry Sanders Show, The Critic and his own creations Freaks And Geeks and Undeclared.But ...

  • In The Animation Vanguard: John H Williams on Space Chimps

    25-Jul-2008

    Space Chimps, which opened in the US through Twentieth Century Fox last weekend, taking $7.4m, is the second CG-animated film financed independently by Vanguard Animation.

  • Brideshead Revisited (2007)

    21-Jul-2008

    Dir: Julian Jarrold. UK . 2008. 120 mins.

  • Verhoeven attached to direct The Forgotten Soldier

    21-Jul-2008

    Paul Verhoeven, whose last film Black Book was one of his most acclaimed in years, has become attached to another World War II story The Forgotten Soldier based on the memoir by Guy Sajer.The story follows Sajer's harrowing experiences as a teenager as a French recruit in the German army on the eastern front during the war.Michael Frost Beckner, whose writing credits include

  • Amy Israel out, Guy Stodel in as Vantage changes direction

    16-Jul-2008

    Paramount Vantage has undergone a further sea change this week with the announcement yesterday that Amy Israel is leaving the company and Guy Stodel has been appointed in her stead as executive vice president of production and acquisitions.The move appears to confirm speculation that Vantage is moving away from the prestige films on which it was founded in 2005 and further towards a genre label like Sony's Screen Gems or Universal's Rogue Pictures. Stodel, who was ...

  • In Focus: Fox Filmed Entertainment

    4-Jul-2008

    When New Regency's adventure movie Jumper opened through Fox in Korea in February, Fox co-chairman and co-CEO Jim Gianopulos called New Regency president of filmed entertainment Sanford Panitch to deliver the good news.

  • Mamma Mia! The Movie

    30-Jun-2008

    Dir: Phyllida Llloyd. US/UK. 2008. 120 mins.

  • Hellboy II: The Golden Army

    30-Jun-2008

    Dir: Guillermo Del Toro. US. 2008. 115 mins.

  • Francis Ford Coppola finishes 63-day shoot of Tetro

    26-Jun-2008

    Francis Ford Coppola has wrapped on his latest feature Tetro after 63 days of principal photography in Buenos Aires and Patagonia. A spring 2009 release is anticipated.Additional shooting of a ballet by Ana Maria Stekelman will still take place in Madrid but the main leg of the shoot is complete. 'I am pleased to report that we wrapped exactly on time, shooting every day we were scheduled and finishing on budget,' he said.Post-production ...

  • Wall-E

    26-Jun-2008

    Dir: Andrew Stanton. US. 2008. 100 mins.

  • Wesle's Atrix takes on sales for Kyrgyzstan love story Tengri

    23-Jun-2008

    Beatrix Wesle's Munich-based sales agent Atrix Films has picked up international rights to Marie Jaoul de Poncheville's Tengri - Blue Heavens, a love story set in Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia which has its world premiere at the Munich Film Festival this week.The film will then be screened for buyers at the German Preview Screenings in Cologne in July (10-13).Directed by Jaoul de Poncheville, whose earlier films are

  • Academy welcomes 105 new members including Cotillard, Haneke

    23-Jun-2008

    The Academy Of Arts & Sciences has welcomed 105 new members into its hallowed ranks representing 'artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.'Among the new members were Oscar winners from 2007 such as Marion Cotillard (best actress), Diablo Cody (best original screenplay), Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald (best makeup), Suzie Templeton (best animated short) and Philippe Pollet-Villard (best live action short).

  • Patricia Clarkson takes lead in Ruba Nadda's Cairo Time

    18-Jun-2008

    Patricia Clarkson is starring in Ruba Nadda's romantic drama Cairo Time which started shooting this week in Cairo, Egypt.The Canada-Ireland co-production co-stars Alexander Siddig, Elena Anaya and Tom McCamus and will shoot through to July 13.Producers on the film are Daniel Iron of Foundry Films (Away From Her, Manufactured Landscapes) in Canada and David Collins of Samson Films (

  • Interview: Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson

    13-Jun-2008

    It has been a long-term ambition for John Stevenson to direct his first animated feature and Kung Fu Panda is a pretty good start - bearing in mind it recently screened in official selection at Cannes.

  • The Happening

    11-Jun-2008

    Dir: M Night Shyamalan. US. 2008. 90 mins.

  • Second Cinema Verite to focus on intercultural understanding

    7-Jun-2008

    The second Cinema Verite, the international rendezvous for socially conscious cinema, will take place this year in Geneva on Oct 9-10 and then in Paris on Oct 11-12. This year's theme is 'Intercultural Understanding And Dialogue Between Peoples' to coincide with and celebrate the first anniversary of the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.Cinema Verite, founded by Paris-based documentary film-maker Joel Soler, held its first rendezvous in Monaco and Paris last ...

  • Interview: Walter Salles

    30-May-2008

    Brazilians Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas have an agreement to co-direct films every few years which take a close look at life in Brazil.

  • Interview:Oliver Stone

    30-May-2008

    'America has defined itself in the early 21st century as a cowboy state. George W Bush has hyperbolically expressed all the cowboy mentality the world holds of America.'

  • Brandauer joins cast of Coppola's Tetro as Gallo's father

    28-May-2008

    Klaus Maria Brandauer is the latest addition to the cast of Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro which is in its ninth week of shooting in Buenos Aires.

  • Wendy And Lucy

    23-May-2008

    Dir: Kelly Reichardt. US. 2008. 80mins.

  • The Class (Entre Les Murs)

    23-May-2008

    Dir: Laurent Cantet. France. 2008. 128mins.

  • O' Horten

    22-May-2008

    Dir: Bent Hamer. 2008. Norway. 90mins.

  • Warner Bros, Overbrook to remake Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis

    20-May-2008

    Warner Bros Pictures has acquired remake rights from Pathe to the French blockbuster Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis (aka Welcome To The Shticks) for Will Smith and his Overbrook Entertainment to produce. Pathe International will handle the sales rights to the film.James Lassiter, Smith and Ken Stovitz will produce for Overbrook with Agnes Mentre; Lynn Harris is overseeing for Warner Bros.

  • Changeling

    20-May-2008

    Dir: Clint Eastwood. US. 2008. 141mins.

  • Liberation acquires North American rights to Tokyo!

    20-May-2008

    Liberation Entertainment has acquired North American rights to triptych Tokyo! in which Michel Gondry, Bong Joon-ho and Leos Carax direct three short films about the Japanese capital. The film played in Un Certain Regard here.The deal was negotiated by Rob Williams for Liberation and Laurent Baudens for sales agent Wild Bunch, and Liberation is planning a theatrical release in 2008. Liberation was launched in 2006 by entrepreneur ...

  • The Silence Of Lorna (Le Silence De Lorna)

    19-May-2008

    Dirs: Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne. Belg-Fr-Italy. 105mins.

  • Clint Eastwood's Changeling changes name

    19-May-2008

    Clint Eastwood's Changeling has undergone a transformation of its own, with the director changing the film's title on the eve of its competition screening in Cannes.It will now be called The Exchange. The film, about a woman in 1920s Los Angeles whose son is kidnapped, has always been dubbed L'Echange in France and evidently Eastwood liked that ...

  • Fox uncorks Japanese remake of Sideways

    19-May-2008

    20th Century Fox is moving fast to bulk up local productions for its new Fox International Productions (FIP) unit, signing a production deal with Fuji TV in Japan to remake Alexander Payne's Oscar-winning Sideways.'There is a growing affection for wine and the art of savouring wine in Japan and they took an interest in the remake idea,' explained Fox co-chairman and co-CEO Jim Gianopulos, who was in town yesterday with the new president ...

  • Brazil's Otero Group partners with Latin American Film Co

    19-May-2008

    The Latin American Film Co (TLAFCo), the three year-old joint venture between Eduardo Costantini of Costa Films and Harvey Weinstein of The Weinstein Company, has established a new strategic partnership with The Otero Group in Brazil.Julia Otero of Otero Group will act as the senior partner of TLAFCo in Brazil and focus on the development of future projects to be shot in the country. Otero will also aim to secure tax incentive funds and evaluate potential investors to further ...

  • Summit Entertainment rises above Cannes sales gloom

    19-May-2008

    Defying gloom on the Croisette about a dearth of big-ticket Hollywood product, Summit Entertainment has closed major deals on its Cannes slate just four days into the market. Among the deals was a five-territory sale to the newly assembled Alliance network, consisting of Momentum in the UK, Aurum in Spain, Eagle in Italy, Scanbox in Scandinavia and Alliance in Canada, of genre spoof Disaster Movie from the same team behind

  • Jaman launches 100 free ad-supported movie downloads

    17-May-2008

    US-based online film distribution portal Jaman.com has launched free ad-supported streamed downloads of 100 independent and international films in high definition quality. The films which include award-winners like Theo Van Gogh's Cool and Shake Hands With The Devil, classics like Charade and a slew of Bollywood titles, are free with advertisements. Alternatively, ...

  • Vicky Cristina Barcelona

    17-May-2008

    Dir: Woody Allen. Sp. 2008. 97 mins .

  • Salles in post on companion piece documentary to On The Road

    17-May-2008

    Walter Salles, who is preparing a film of Jack Kerouac's seminal beat novel On The Road, has finished principal photography on a companion piece documentary in which he follows the trip taken by Kerouac's alter-ego Sal Paradise through North America.'We met the several people who are still alive that he met in On The Road and interviewed some of the remaining beat poets like Gary Snyder, Lawrence ...

  • Mythic International Entertainment kicks off with Ironclad

    16-May-2008

    Rick Benattar, Jonathan English and Andrew Curtis' Mythic International Entertainment has teamed with Zephyr Films and Picture Park for its first feature, the $30m medieval action film Ironclad directed by English.Set in 13th Century England, the film tells the story of a Templar Knight who defends Rochester Castle against the tyrant King John and his army. James Purefoy and Paul Giamatti are being lined up to star as the Templar and ...

  • United States - High roller

    16-May-2008

    Barry Mendel is speaking from the set of Peacock in Iowa, an intense drama featuring Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Susan Sarandon, Bill Pullman and Josh Lucas, which is financed by Mandate Pictures. But Mendel is not on the phone to talk about that intriguing project but another Ellen Page-starrer with Mandate behind it called Whip It!, which will start shooting on July 14.

  • Sex And The City

    15-May-2008

    Dir: Michael Patrick King. US. 2008. 140mins.

  • Echo Bridge takes on Kormakur thriller, Rusell Wong actioner

    14-May-2008

    Echo Bridge Entertainment has acquired two new films for worldwide sales at Cannes - Run For Her Life, an action thriller starring Dermot Mulroney and being directed by Iceland's Baltasar Kormakur, and martial arts thriller Unshakeable starring Russell Wong and Ving Rhames.Kormakur, whose thriller Jar City was the top award-winner at Karlovy Vary last year, ...

  • Filth And Wisdom gets its North American premiere at Provincetown

    12-May-2008

    The tenth annual Provincetown International Film Festival, which will take place June 18-22, has announced that it will present Gael Garcia Bernal with the Excellence In Acting Award and Jane Lynch with the Faith Hubley Memorial Award.Quentin Tarantino has already been announced as the recipient of the Filmmaker On The Edge Award.Madonna's directorial debut Filth And Wisdom has its North American premiere as the opening night ...

  • Hyde Park, Platinum to co-produce film of Italian comic book Dylan Dog

    8-May-2008

    Ashok Amritraj's Hyde Park Entertainment Group and LA-based comic book company Platinum Studios have teamed up to co-produce Dead Of Night, a film of best-selling Italian comic book series Dylan Dog.Brandon Routh, who played Superman and Clark Kent in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns, will play Dylan, a private investigator drawn into the world of the undead. ...

  • IFC owner Rainbow buys Sundance Channel

    7-May-2008

    Rainbow Media Holdings, the Cablevision subsidiary which owns The Independent Film Channel (IFC), has reached an agreement to acquire The Sundance Channel for $496m, bringing together the two channels under the same umbrella in a move which could have major implications for film sellers worldwide.Sundance and IFC have long been rivals in the business of specialty film programming and they were traditionally the only consistent TV outlets for independent and foreign films in ...

  • Menemsha crosses $1m mark with art doc The Rape Of Europa

    7-May-2008

    Menemsha Films has passed the $1m gross mark with The Rape Of Europa after a year on release in cities across the country.Based on the book by Lynn H Nicholas and narrated by Joan Allen, the film takes a look at the fanaticism, greed and warfare that threatened to wipe out the artistic heritage of Europe. It begins and ends with the story of Gustav Klimt's Gold Portrait which was stolen from Viennese Jews in 1938 and shows how the Nazis ...

  • Aubry promoted to vp, theatrical marketing, at Regent Releasing

    6-May-2008

    Jonathon Aubry has been promoted to vice president, theatrical marketing, at Regent Releasing, the US independent distributor which is owned by Paul Colichman and Stephen P Jarchow's Regent Entertainment.Aubry, who was formerly director, marketing and corporate communications, at Regent Entertainment, will report to Mark Reinhart, general manager, west coast operations and executive vice president, distribution and acquisitions, for Regent Releasing.In his new position, ...

  • Akin's Heaven wins top honours at Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

    6-May-2008

    Fatih Akin's The Edge Of Heaven won the best juried fiction feature award at the tenth annual Miami & Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festivals over the weekend.Guido Santi and Tina Mascara's Chris & Don: A Love Story about the love affair between Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy won the juried documentary prize.Shamjim Sarifis' Indian lesbian drama

  • Strand picks Cherry Blossoms for US from Bavaria

    5-May-2008

    Strand Releasing has acquired US rights to Doris Dorrie's Cherry Blossoms - Hanami which had its world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival this year.Bavaria Film International, which is handling sales on the film, also sold it to Sunrise Film Distribution in Denmark and Edko Films in Hong Kong.The film, which won three German Film Awards including best actor for Elmar Wepper, has been a considerable local ...

  • Speed Racer

    4-May-2008

    Dirs: Andy & Larry Wachowski. US. 2008. 130 mins.

  • Profile: The Latin Amercian Film Company

    2-May-2008

    Eduardo Costantini Jr first met Harvey Weinstein at a dinner during the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

  • Liz Friedlander to direct film of Wolfe's I Am Charlotte Simmons

    29-Apr-2008

    Liz Friedlander, a veteran music video director who made her feature debut last year with Take The Lead, will direct a film of Tom Wolfe's best-selling novel I Am Charlotte Simmons, marking the first time Wolfe has allowed one of his novels to be optioned since The Bonfire Of The Vanities in 1987.Jere Hausfater's Esssential Entertainment is executive producing ...

  • Roth's The Little Traitor to open third LA Jewish Film Festival

    29-Apr-2008

    The third annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival will take place May 8-15 with special honours being presented to Theodore Bikel and Joan Rivers and screenings of over 30 features, documentaries and shorts.Opening the festival is Lynn Roth's The Little Traitor, a drama set in 1947 Israel starring Alfred Molina, Ido Port and Bikel himself who will be honoured that night.Closing the festival on May 15 is

  • Rob Williams gets key acquisitions job at Liberation Entertainment

    28-Apr-2008

    Rob Williams, formerly an acquisitions executive at Netflix/Red Envelope Entertainment, has been named vice president of acquisitions and theatrical distribution at aggressive new US independent Liberation Entertainment.Williams will develop and oversee the company's US acquisitions strategy for film and TV across multiple platforms.The announcement was made by Jay Boberg, the chairman and CEO of Liberation, which he launched in 2006 with the backing of private ...

  • Magnolia picks up North American rights to Red

    28-Apr-2008

    Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Red, the revenge thriller directed by Trygve Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee which had its world premiere at Sundance this year.The film stars Brian Cox, Robert Englund, Amanda Plummer and Tom Sizemore in the story of an elderly recluse (Cox) who tracks down the teenager who killed his dog and embarks on a series of increasingly violent acts of retribution.New York-based ...

  • Filmaka names first annual contest winner as 21 year-old Londoner

    28-Apr-2008

    Filmaka, the digital entertainment studio and online creative community, has announced the winner of its first annual feature film competition as the UK's Nuru Rimington-Mkali for his short film And I Refuse To Forget.The 21 year-old will be awarded the opportunity to direct his first feature, which Filmaka will produce.Founded by producer Deepak Nayar and run by Sandy Grushow, Filmaka is run as a series of themed monthly ...

  • RiverRun top prizes go to Edge Of Heaven, Up The Yangtze

    28-Apr-2008

    The tenth annual RiverRun International Film Festival ended on Sunday (April 27) with the announcement that Fatih Akin's The Edge Of Heaven had won the narrative juried competition and Yung Chang's Up The Yangtze had won the documentary competition.RiverRun takes place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.The audience award for best narrative feature went to Gareth Lewis'

  • Richie Mehta's Amal wins Grand Jury Prize at IFFLA

    28-Apr-2008

    The sixth annual Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles finished on Sunday with the announcement that Richie Mehta's Amal, which opened the festival last Tuesday, won the Grand Jury Prize for best narrative feature and Yunus Vally's The Glow Of White Women won the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary.Shivajee Chandrabhushan's Frozen won a special mention ...

  • Filmaka- the contest Engine

    25-Apr-2008

    Deepak Nayar's original idea in hatching Filmaka in late 2006 was to create a platform for pitching material that would then be judged by peers and a panel of A-list judges.

  • Shyer, HandMade set nine year-old Australian Beatty to play Eloise

    23-Apr-2008

    Nine year-old Australian actress Jordana Beatty has been cast in the title role of Eloise in the new live action feature of children's classic Eloise In Paris being backed by HandMade Films and directed by Charles Shyer.Beatty joins Uma Thurman, who has been cast as Nanny in the contemporary adaptation which is intended as an ongoing franchise for the Eloise characterThe film begins principal photography on Aug 12 in Paris, ...

  • Marcie Bloom launches Marcie Bloom Fellowship In Film

    23-Apr-2008

    Marcie Bloom, a founding partner of Sony Pictures Classics, is launching The Marcie Bloom Fellowship In Film.The New York-based initiative is a mentoring programme designed to introduce up to four students a year to the world of independent film production and distribution. The fellowship will allow the fellows to define their particular areas of interest be it development, screenwriting, production, distribution, advertising, marketing or publicity as well as offering ...

  • MGM buys domestic rights to How To Lose Friends...

    22-Apr-2008

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) has acquired domestic rights to How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, Robert B Weide's film of Toby Young's bestselling memoir, and set a US release date of Oct 3 this year.Simon Pegg, currently shooting Star Trek in which he plays Scotty, stars in the film as Sidney Young, an English journalist who proves a dismal failure on the staff of New York's most prestigious ...

  • Nayar, Grushow team up for digital studio Filmaka

    21-Apr-2008

    LA-based producer Deepak Nayar and former Fox TV chief Sandy Grushow have officially launched Filmaka, an ambitious 'digital studio' and online creative community which plans to create a new model for identifying talent and developing entertainment properties.Nayar founded the company, which is based at www.Filmaka.com, in late 2006 as a series of monthly competitions in which budding film-makers produce and submit short films on a designated theme. They are then judged by ...

  • Island In The Mainstream: bringing Nim's Island to the big screen

    11-Apr-2008

    Paula Mazur found the book Nim's Island, by Wendy Orr, in her local Santa Monica library and took it out to read to her seven-year-old son.

  • Nim's Island (2007)

    4-Apr-2008

    Dirs: Mark Levin & Jennifer Flackett. US. 2008. 96 mins.

  • Street Kings

    4-Apr-2008

    Dir: David Ayer. US. 2008. 107 mins.

  • Carmen Maura takes key role in Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro

    3-Apr-2008

    Carmen Maura has stepped in to replace Javier Bardem to play a character which has switched gender in Francis Ford Coppola's new film Tetro.Maura will shoot for two weeks in the key supporting role as the mentor to the title character, who is played by Vincent Gallo.Coppola made the following statement: 'I have always continued to write and edit, during the rehearsal process and as shooting evolves and the actors become ...

  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall

    2-Apr-2008

    Dir: Nicholas Stoller. US. 2008. 112 mins.

  • Veteran international executive Sandy Cobe dies in Los Angeles

    1-Apr-2008

    Veteran international sales executive Sandy Cobe died on Feb 20 in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was 79.Cobe's varied career included work in exhibition, sales and production and he served on the board of directors of the AFMA (now IFTA) from 1982 to 1992.Born in New York City, Cobe was the son of cinematographer Mark Cobe. He followed his father into photography and became a photographer for The New York Daily News and later a news cameraman for local NYC ...

  • Mos Def, Gabrielle Union join the cast of Cadillac Records

    28-Mar-2008

    Mos Def has been cast as Chuck Berry and Gabrielle Union will play Geneva Wade in Sony BMG Film's Cadillac Records, a music drama set in 1950s Chicago and following the turbulent lives of legends like Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess and Elvis Presley.Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce Knowles, Columbus Short, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Cedric The Entertainer and Tammy Blanchard are also starring in the film which is currently shooting under the direction of Darnell Martin.

  • Cast assembled for Ti West's The House Of The Devil

    28-Mar-2008

    Jocelin Donahue, Greta Gerwig, Tom Noonan, Mary Waronov, AJ Bowen and Dee Wallace head the cast of Ti West's horror thriller The House Of The Devil which has started shooting in northern Connecticut.In the film, which West also wrote, Donahue plays a broke college student who answers an ad seeking a babysitter and ends up trapped in a big scary house fighting for her life. Noonan and Waronov play the satanist couple who lure her into ...

  • Lionsgate acquires film rights to Einstein thriller The Last Equation

    28-Mar-2008

    Lionsgate has acquired film rights to The Last Equation, the debut novel by screenwriter Stuart Gibbs.The novel is about the mystery surrounding Albert Einstein's last equation which he named Pandora. The Pandora equation had the potential to solve the world's energy problems but Einstein either hid or destroyed the equation before his death. The story, set in the present day, follows a fugitive criminal and mathematical genius enlisted ...

  • Editorial - A World-class film-maker

    28-Mar-2008

    If there was ever a director who could be described as international, it was Anthony Minghella. His career, tragically cut short by his death last week at the age of just 54, was one unhampered by restrictive national borders - a worldview Screen has always sought to serve.

  • Summit options screenplay The Tomb for Jeff Wadlow to direct

    27-Mar-2008

    Summit Entertainment has optioned the action screenplay The Tomb by Miles Chapman which is currently in development.Jeff Wadlow will direct the project and Jason Keller has been hired to rewrite. The Tomb marks Summit's second collaboration with Wadlow after Never Back Down. He also directed Cry_Wolf for Rogue Pictures.

  • RiverRun Film Festival opens with Phoebe In Wonderland

    27-Mar-2008

    The RiverRun International Film Festival, which takes place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has announced its lineup of films for its 10th anniversary edition which takes place April 23-28.The festival will open with Daniel Barnz's Phoebe In Wonderland while Helen Hunt's Then She Found Me will be the centerpiece premiere on April 26. Closing night will be a screening of the silent classic

  • Ricky Ghai joins Abu Dhabi Media Company overseeing digital media

    27-Mar-2008

    UAE-based media conglomerate Abu Dhabi Media Company has hired Ricky Ghai as executive director of digital media.Ghai has 20 years' experience in pay and free TV platforms in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. His career highlights include channel development for Universal in Scandinavia, a compliance and regulatory advisor to BT Entertainment, director of programming for TV3 Sweden, CEO of MBC subsidiary ARA Programming & Distribution and held various positions in BT ...

  • Arts Alliance America picks up US rights to Chops

    27-Mar-2008

    US distribution outfit Arts Alliance America, formerly Hart Sharp Video, has acquired US rights to Chops, the documentary which follows high school jazz students from around America who compete in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival at New York's Lincoln Center.Arts Alliance plans to release the film theatrically and then on DVD in the third quarter of this year.

  • Voltage takes on Eric Valette's creature car movie Hybrid

    27-Mar-2008

    Voltage Pictures has acquired international rights to Stallion Media's horror action film Hybrid which will be directed by Eric Valette (One Missed Call, Malefique).Oded Fehr and newcomer Shannon Beckner (pictured) are starring in the film about a female mechanic in a Chicago police garage who spends a night of terror with a hybrid car unlike any other.

  • Titles screening at IFFLA 2008 include Frozen, The Pool, Shot In Bombay

    26-Mar-2008

    The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has announced the full schedule of films for the sixth edition of the festival which runs April 22-27 in Hollywood.As previously announced, Richie Mehta's Amal will open the festival and the world premiere of portmanteau film Mumbai Cutting A City Unfolds will close it.Among the highlights of the lineup are Shivajee Chandrabhushan's acclaimed ...

  • Cale Boyter joins MGM in senior production role from New Line

    26-Mar-2008

    Cale Boyter has been named executive vice president, production, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM), marking the first hire in the worldwide motion picture group by its new chair Mary Parent who joined the company a week ago.Boyter arrives at MGM from New Line Cinema where he has spent ten years, most recently as executive vice president of development. During his tenure at New Line, he executive produced films including Elf, Wedding Crashers ...

  • Scott Shooman promoted to vice president at SPWAG

    26-Mar-2008

    Scott Shooman has been promoted to vice president, acquisitions and productions, for Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG). He will continue to report to both Steven Bersch, president of SPWAG, and Lara Thompson, senior vice president of acquisitions for the division.He will continue to acquire both finished films and projects at script stage for SPWAG as well as overseeing productions. He was part of the team which acquired various rights for films such as

  • Miller named evp, worldwide marketing, at nascent CBS Films

    26-Mar-2008

    Debbie Miller has been named executive vice president, worldwide marketing, for CBS Films which was established in 2007 to develop and produce four to six films a year with budgets up to $50m a film. The films will be released domestically through a new US theatrical distribution unit to be established within CBS Films, international distribution plans are not yet set.Miller will report to Amy Baer who is president and chief executive officer of the company. She will be responsible ...

  • Alex Ben Block to programme The American Pavilion at Cannes

    26-Mar-2008

    Historian and journalist Alex Ben Block has been named director of programming for The American Pavilion at this year's Cannes Film Festival.He will develop and oversee all programming for the Pavilion, while also moderating panels, conducting interviews and leading discussions with critics. He reports to Julie Sisk who is founder and director of the Pavilion, which is now in its 20th year as a base for American attendees at Cannes.Block is a former editor of The ...

  • Tarantino named Filmmaker On The Edge by Provincetown

    26-Mar-2008

    The Provincetown International Film Festival, celebrating its tenth year at this year's event (June 18-22), has announced that Quentin Tarantino will be the recipient of this year's Filmmaker On The Edge Award.The announcement was made by film festival executive director Gabby Hanna, artistic director Connie White and director of programming Andrew Peterson.The event, which takes place in the Massachusetts coastal town, will also highlight the nine previous honourees ...

  • de Abreu launches Hollywood NetAwards for entertainment on internet

    26-Mar-2008

    Carlos de Abreu, founder of the Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards, is launching Hollywood NetAwards, a competition targeting excellence in the entertainment field on the internet.The NetAwards, which will take place on Oct 22 in Los Angeles, will feature 22 categories including best actor and actress sites, celebrity site, entertainment blog site, entertainment news site as well as best net actor and actress, net director and web series.'Our vision provides ...

  • Blank, Schamus to be honoured by Museum Of The Moving Image

    26-Mar-2008

    Showtime Networks chairman and CEO Matthew C Blank and Focus Features CEO James Schamus have been selected as this year's honourees at the Museum Of The Moving Image's annual black tie benefit.The event, which takes place on April 30 in New York City, is designed to honour two leaders in the entertainment industry 'whose vision and innovations have dramatically influenced the moving image.'Dinner co-chairs are Ron Meyer, president and chief operating officer of ...

  • TLA Releasing takes domestic rights to Jung Brothers' horror Epitaph

    26-Mar-2008

    US independent distributor TLA Releasing has acquired North American rights to Epitaph, the directorial debut of the Jung Brothers from South Korea. The deal was closed at Filmart in Hong Kong last week.The psychological horror film is scheduled to play in New Directors/New Films in New York and the Philadelphia Film Festival next month with a release scheduled later in the year through TLA's Danger After Dark label.TLA acquired ...

  • IFC Films plants Eran Riklis' Lemon Tree in the US

    26-Mar-2008

    IFC Films has picked up US rights to Eran Riklis' latest film Lemon Tree which premiered in the Panorama section of February's Berlin Film Festival where it won the Audience Award.The Israeli drama features Riklis' Syrian Bride stars Hiam Abbass and Ali Suliman in the true story of a Palestinian widow forced to stand up against her new neighbour, the Israeli defence minister, when Israeli security ...

  • 11 features lined up for VCU French Film Festival

    25-Mar-2008

    The 16th annual VCU French Film Festival will take place in Richmond, Virginia, from March 28-30.The event, an initiative of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), is sponsored by the French Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Unifrance, l'ARP and SACD.11 features will screen at this year's festival. They are Laurent Boutonnat's Jacquou Le Croquant, Sam Karmann's La Verite Ou Presque, Volker ...

  • Borgerding named CEO of Abu Dhabi Media Company

    25-Mar-2008

    Edward Borgerding has been named chief executive officer of The Abu Dhabi Media Company, the media and entertainment conglomerate based in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The announcement was made by company chairman Mohamed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei.Borgerding most recently had his own private equity firm in London and recently concluded the production of a 26-episode TV series with Marvel Entertainment.Prior to that he was executive vice president ...

  • Torresblanco to speak at US-Mexico Border States conference

    25-Mar-2008

    Frida Torresblanco, the New York-based producer of Pan's Labyrinth, will be the keynote speaker at a conference entitled US-Mexico Border States Conference: Film-making, Economic Development and Intellectual Property Rights to be held in Tucson, Arizona, March 27 and 28.The event is being sponsored by the University Of Arizona's Hanson Film Institute with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and The National Law Center For Inter-American ...

  • World premiere of Mamet's Redbelt set for April 25 at Tribeca

    25-Mar-2008

    David Mamet's martial arts drama Redbelt will have its world premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival and also serve as the gala premiere of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival on April 25. Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) is releasing the film in North America.Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in the film as a Ju-jitsu instructor who refuses to compete in professional bouts but who is forced to conspire in a prize fight after becoming involved ...

  • TWC to release two different versions of Fanboys

    25-Mar-2008

    The Weinstein Company (TWC) has announced the home video release of two separat versions of its comedy Fanboys - about a bunch of Star Wars fans who travel cross country in 1998 to raid George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch and watch the then unreleased Episode I. The company also says it is exploring options for a theatrical release.The announcement ...

  • Tribeca All Access announces 2008 programme, expansion

    24-Mar-2008

    The Tribeca Film Institute has announced the 37 projects selected for Tribeca All Access, a programme designed to help foster relationships between film industry executives and filmmakers from traditionally under-represented communities.The programme takes place April 21-26 during the Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 23 to May 4. Participating directors and screenwriters will provided with workshops and one-on-one meetings with more than 100 potential investors, ...

  • Mammoth Movie Man: Interview with Roland Emmerich

    21-Mar-2008

    'I don't know why I'm the only one who does it,' laughs Roland Emmerich about the speculative auction process whereby he sets up his movies at particular studios. 'It's a perfect system actually.'

  • Vail Film Festival set for April 3-6 with (RED) collaboration

    20-Mar-2008

    The fifth annual Vail Film Festival will take place April 3-6 in the popular US ski resort, and is continuing its collaboration with Bono and Bobby Shriver's (RED) initiative which aims to raise awareness and money for AIDS charity The Global Fund.(RED) and the festival will premiere the RED Vision Short Film Showcase at the festival, a screening of the winning films from the RED Vision Short Film Contest. 25% of the sale of each festival Avanti pas will be donated to the Global ...

  • Truly Indie teams with horse racing venue operator on Saturday doc

    20-Mar-2008

    US horse-racing venue operator Churchill Downs is partnering with Wagner Cuban distribution division Truly Indie on the US theatrical release of Brad and John Hennegan's documentary The First Saturday In May which will open on April 18.The film chronicles the journey of a cast of six hard-working trainers as they jockey for a position on the 2006 Kentucky Derby trail.The deal was negotiated by Michael Overn with Truly Indie ...

  • SPC to launch English-language Persepolis on April 11

    20-Mar-2008

    Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) will release the English-language version of Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's Persepolis in 100 screens throughout North America on April 11.The English-language version features the voices of Chiara Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve in the same roles they voiced for the original - Marjane and Marjane's mother - along with Sean Penn as Marjane's father, Gena Rowlands as her grandmother, Iggy Pop as ...

  • Lovett, Stanton join stellar cast of Odd Lot's The Open Road

    19-Mar-2008

    Lyle Lovett and Harry Dean Stanton have joined the cast of Michael Meredith's The Open Road which is currently in production in Louisiana and other parts of the south.The film, produced by Odd Lott Entertainment, stars Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake, Kate Mara and Mary Steenburgen in the story of a young man trying to reconnect with his father as he struggles to get him home to his ailing mother's bedside.Odd Lot principals ...

  • Participant teams with Tapestry on comedy Minimum Wage

    19-Mar-2008

    Participant Media is teaming with Tapestry Films for the comedy Minimum Wage, the story of a crooked corporate executive convicted of fraud and sentenced to spend a year living on minimum wage in the town his company bankrupted.Tegan West and Scott Atkinson will write the screenplay for the project which will be produced by Tapestry partners Peter Abrams, Robert Levy and Andrew Panay.Jodi Zuckerman will oversee the project ...

  • The Film Department greenlights Zeta Jones, Freundlich comedy

    19-Mar-2008

    Mark Gill and Neil Sacker's The Film Department has greenlit an untitled romantic comedy starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and written and directed by Bart Freundlich which is set to start shooting on April 17.The project is a romantic comedy set in New York City about a 25 year-old man who becomes involved with his new neighbour - a sexy, older single mother.Tim Perell, Freundlich, Gill and Robert Katz are producing, with Sacker and Michael Goguen acting as executive ...

  • Toby Emmerich to head newly downsized New Line Cinema

    19-Mar-2008

    As expected, Toby Emmerich has been named president and chief operating officer of New Line Cinema as it segues into its new incarnation as a production label of Warrner Bros Entertainment.The dramatically downsized New Line will continue to maintain its own development, creative and production teams but its marketing distribution, business and legal affairs and physical production operations, while reporting to Emmerich, will closely enmesh with Warner Bros counterparts.

  • The Grand, Young@Heart bookend Palm Beach Film Festival

    19-Mar-2008

    Zak Penn's ensemble comedy The Grand will be the opening night film of the 13th annual Palm Beach International Film Festival in Florida on April 10. Stephen Walker's documentary Young@Heart will be closing night on April 17.A total of 141 films will screen at this year's event, while the Awards Gala will honour Mickey Rooney, Jason Reitman, Cheryl Hines and Josh Hutcherson.World premieres ...

  • 79 shorts selected for Tribeca Film Festival

    18-Mar-2008

    79 shorts have been selected to play at this year's Tribeca Film Festival (April 23 to May 4) out of a total of 2,497 submissions. The shorts will be presented in 11 thematic programmes as well as preceding features in the festival.Among the shorts are narratives featuring stars such as Mamie Gummer, Matthew Modine, Azura Skye, Rider Strong, a short written by Guillermo Arriaga and a special short film series created by returning filmmaker Isabella Rossellini. Directors also ...

  • AFCI launches new programmes for Locations Trade Show 2008

    18-Mar-2008

    The Association Of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) will launch Phase Two of its Global Initiatives programme at the 23rd annual ACFI Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica (April 10-12).Over 300 exhibitors from more than 30 countries will participate in the event this year and an estimated 4,000 professionals will attend to meet with AFCI member film commissions there to showcase global production services, resources and opportunities including the latest incentives available ...

  • Tribeca 2008 announces Spotlight, Showcase and Restored sections

    18-Mar-2008

    The 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place April 23 to May 4, has announced the films in its Spotlight, Showcase and Restored/Rediscovered sections.'Our Spotlight section presents a group of films already acquired for U.S. distribution but not yet released, including hotly-anticipated new titles by Jose Padilha, Julian Schnabel, Harmony Korine, Guy Maddin and Tom Kalin, and world premieres from Peter Tolin and Adam Yauch,' said Peter Scarlet, the festival's artistic ...

  • American Teen to open Sundance Institute at BAM

    18-Mar-2008

    Nanette Burstein's documentary American Teen will have its US premiere as the opening night film for Sundance Institute at BAM, the third annual programme of screenings, theatre and musical performances, panel discussions, screenplay readings, art installations and Q&A sessions held by Sundance at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music (BAM) in New York. The programme runs from May 29 through June 8.'We are excited to return to BAM this year ...

  • Tributes continue to pour in for Anthony Minghella

    18-Mar-2008

    Tributes are flooding in for film-maker Anthony Minghella who died suddenly yesterday at the age of 54.Harvey Weinstein, Minghella's longtime friend, backer and distributor on all his films since The English Patient, issued a statement saying: 'I am shocked and heart broken that we have lost Anthony. He was my mentor, my partner and, most of all, my brother. The grace, joy and tenderness he brought to his films were symbolic of his life and the many people he touched. There are ...

  • Film Movement picks up domestic on Barron's Choking Man

    17-Mar-2008

    US independent distributor Film Movement has picked up domestic rights to Steve Barron's Choking Man, a drama blending fantasy and reality in its depiction of one man's inner demons. The film was recently named Best Film Not Playing at a Theatre Near You at the Gotham Awards.The film stars Octavio Gomez Berrios as a shy Ecuadorian dishwasher working in a diner in Queens, NY; Mandy Patinkin co-stars.'Steve Barron's intimate ...

  • Cool Hand picks up film rights to vampire thriller The Vines

    17-Mar-2008

    Cool Hand International, an LA- and London-based production outfit run by Matthew Wolf, Simon Kelton and Luke G-Jones, has acquired the option to Barbara Ankrum's novel The Vines, a vampire thriller set in the vineyards of northern California.Brian Austin Green, who is currently starring in US TV hit Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, is attached to direct the film. He previously directed ...

  • Maria Bello to receive award at San Francisco Film Festival

    17-Mar-2008

    Actress Maria Bello will receive the Peter J Owens Award during the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival which runs from April 24 to May 8.The Owens Award, named after local cultural benefactor and longtime Film Society board member Peter J Owens honours an actor whose work exemplifies 'brilliance, independence and integrity.' Bello will accept the award on Film Society Awards Night on May 1.One of Bello's latest films, The ...

  • Bob Osher named president of digital production at SPE

    15-Mar-2008

    Bob Osher has been named president of the digital production division at Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), taking over from Yair Landau who announced this week that he would be leaving the studio to pursue a new games and animation venture. Osher has been with SPE since 2004 as chief operating officer of Columbia Pictures Motion Picture Group, overseeing operations, business affairs and production related film financing. In his new job he will continue to have oversight of ...

  • Dark Horse signs three-year deal with Universal Pictures

    15-Mar-2008

    Dark Horse Entertainment has signed a three-year production and distribution deal with Universal Pictures that, for the first time, establishes a studio base for all Dark Horse creative properties going forward. Dark Horse, which is the entertainment arm of Dark Horse Comics, has been working with Universal on Hellboy II: The Golden Army directed by Guillermo Del Toro which is based on Mike Mignola's Dark Horse character. It is a Universal ...

  • Stop-Loss

    14-Mar-2008

    Dir: Kimberly Peirce. US. 2008. 113 mins.

  • Tribeca 2008 announces Discovery, Midnight lineups

    13-Mar-2008

    The Tribeca Film Festival has announced the films in its Discovery and Midnight sections for this year's festival which runs April 23 to May 3 in Manhattan.Discovery features 30 films with 18 world premiers and 11 North American premieres from up-and-coming narrative and documentary directors, while the Midnight section features five world premieres.Among the higher profile titles in Discovery are Tennessee directed by Aaron ...

  • Mary Parent hired as chair of MGM worldwide motion picture group

    13-Mar-2008

    Mary Parent, the former vice chairman of worldwide production at Universal Pictures, has joined MGM as chairperson, worldwide motion picture group. She will be responsible for oversight of worldwide theatrical production, distribution, marketing and business affairs for the company.She reports directly to Harry E Sloan, chairman and CEO of MGM and to the studio's board of directors.The appointment signals MGM's ambitions to rebuild itself as a fully operational ...

  • French blockbuster Land Of Shtis to open COLCOA on April 14

    13-Mar-2008

    The 12th annual City Of Lights, City Of Angels (COLCOA) French film showcase in Los Angeles will kick off on April 14 with the North American premiere of Dany Boun's comedy Welcome To The Land Of Shtis which is breaking box office records in France at present.Two films will close the event on April 20 - the world premiere of Christian Faure's Behind The Walls starring Catherine Jacob and Carole ...

  • Spike Seldin joins LA-based Wind Dancer as svp

    12-Mar-2008

    Spike Seldin has joined LA-based production outfit Wind Dancer Films as senior vice president, joining company principal Matt Williams and president Dete Meserve in building the slate following an influx of funding for development and production through private equity.'We look forward to tapping Spike's great eye for material in our expansion of the development and production of feature projects,' said Williams in a statement.'With our financing in place to make ...

  • Richie Mehta's Amal to open Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles

    12-Mar-2008

    Richie Mehta's Amal will be the opening night gala on April 22 at the sixth annual Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA), while the world premiere of Mumbai Cutting A City Unfolds will close the festival on April 27.The festival, which takes place at the Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood, will also honour Madhuri Dixit with a tribute and screenings of her films The ...

  • 21

    12-Mar-2008

    Dir: Robert Luketic. US. 2008. 122 mins.

  • Fenady named president, physical production, at Universal Pictures

    11-Mar-2008

    Andrew Fenady has been named president, physical production, at Universal Pictures replacing longtime head of physical production James Brubaker who chose not to renew his contract and will move into a senior advisory role with the company.Fenady will report to Jimmy Horowitz, co-president of production and executive vice president for Universal Pictures. He will oversee all aspects of physical production including formulation of production plans, budgeting, scheduling, hiring ...

  • Samuel Goldwyn Films brings Paris to the US

    11-Mar-2008

    Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired US rights to Cedric Klapisch's latest ensemble Paris from StudioCanal.The film, which had its US premiere at Rendezvous With French Cinema in New York recently, features a group of intertwined stories set of course in Paris. The star-studded cast included Juliette Binoche, Klapisch's regular collaborator Romain Duris, Fabrice Luchini, Albert Dupontel, Francois Cluzet and Karin Viard.Bruno ...

  • Hollywood Film Festival launches trailer awards for film previews

    10-Mar-2008

    Carlos de Abreu's Hollywood Film Festival is launching the Hollywood Trailer Festival and Hollywood Trailer Awards to honour feature film previews. The awards and festival will recognize film previews in 12 categories - action, animation, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, independent, romance, thriller, most original, blockbuster and trailer of the decade.A panel of Hollywood judges will select the nominees and winners. Entries are accepted on a monthly basis ...

  • Rupert Evans joins cast of Amenabar's Agora

    10-Mar-2008

    Hot English actor Rupert Evans has joined Rachel Weisz and Homayoun Ershadi in the cast of Alejandro Amenabar's English-language project Agora which goes into production this month in Malta.The film, being produced by Maxmedia, is the story of the efforts by a small group to free the slaves in Egypt. Evans will play a young philosophy student who goes on to become an influential Christian bishop.Evans, currently playing the ...

  • Diminished Capacity to open Gen Art Film Festival in NYC

    10-Mar-2008

    The 13th annual Gen Art Film Festival will open on April 2 in New York City with Terry Kinney's Diminished Capacity starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda and Virginia Madsen. The comedy had its world premiere at Sundance in January.The festival - which has a programme of seven features and seven shorts - traditionally introduces emerging North American film-makers. Prizes are given to best feature and short worth $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

  • Tricks, Santiago among winners at Miami Film Festival

    10-Mar-2008

    The 25th annual Miami International Film Festival closed on Saturday night (March 8) with the presentation of $77,500 in grand jury prizes to five films.The prizegiving, held at the Gusman Center For The Performing Arts, saw the Knight Grand Jury Prize in World Cinema Competition go to Andrzej Jakimowksi's Tricks from Poland about a fatherless boy who tries to tempt fate. Special mentions were made to both

  • Screen analysis- The end of the Line

    7-Mar-2008

    When Time Warner issued a brief statement last Thursday (March 28) announcing New Line Cinema would be absorbed into Warner Bros Entertainment as a genre unit, it was made very clear New Line's international sales activities would be terminated.

  • LA distributors rep Orange launches film finance division

    3-Mar-2008

    Mirjam Wertheim's LA-based distributors' rep Orange Entertainment is branching out into film financing through a new division called Orange Film Finance and a first-look deal with Goldcrest Independent.In addition to its existing business, Orange will also serve as a consultant to independent producers helping them secure finance for films by accessing Wertheim and her team's market knowledge, ability to coordinate foreign presales and capacity to arrange other means of finance.

  • Romania's Gopo Awards set for Monday night

    28-Feb-2008

    The second annual Gopo Awards, celebrating the best of Romanian cinema, will take place in Bucharest on Monday night.The gala, presented with the support of the National Film Centre, is organized by Romanian Film Promotion, the organization behind the Transylvania International Film Festival. Cristian Mungiu's Cannes Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days has eight nominations including best film and best director ...

  • Juno wins three at Independent Spirit Awards

    24-Feb-2008

    Juno was named best feature at the 2008 Spirit Awards presented by non-profit group Film Independent at a ceremony on Santa Monica Beach on Saturday.Jason Reitman's smash hit comedy also won trophies for Ellen Page (best female lead) and Diablo Cody (best first screenplay).Director Reitman, however, was beaten to the directing Spirit Award by Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell And The Butterfly ...

  • After Bruges'Profile of Martin McDonagh

    22-Feb-2008

    In Bruges, which opened the Sundance Film Festival last month and opened in the US earlier this month, marks a longed-for arrival in the world of feature-length cinema for the celebrated London-based Irish playwright Martin McDonagh.

  • In Focus - Cannes film festival - Palme Reading

    22-Feb-2008

    Official selection berths seem set for Ari Folman's animated documentary Waltz With Bashir from Israel; Wong Kar Wai's revision of his 1994 martial arts classic Ashes Of Time - Redux; and Courtney Hunt's Sundance prizewinner Frozen River.

  • Countdown to Oscar: Screen Looks At The Nominees

    19-Feb-2008

    If this year's Oscar nominations are a gauge of contemporary cinema, today's film-makers are apparently preoccupied with the dark side of the human soul - whether it be the unadulterated evil of the assassin in No Country For Old Men or the rotten heart of the oil magnate in There Will Be Blood, the murderous corruption of corporate America in Michael Clayton or war's poisonous murder of love in Atonement.

  • The Other Boleyn Girl

    18-Feb-2008

    Dir: Justin Chadwick. US/UK. 2008. 118 mins.

  • Heart Of Fire (Feuerherz)

    15-Feb-2008

    Dir: Luigi Falorni. Germany/Austria. 2008. 94 mins.Inspired by the memoir of the same name by Senait G Mehari, Luigi Falorni's Heart Of Fire is valuable as a document illustrating the absurdity of using child soldiers in any conflict as well as a glimpse into the specific struggle for liberation in Eritrea.

  • Murphy, Page to star in Mandate Pictures' Peacock

    15-Feb-2008

    Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page are to star in the psychological thriller Peacock for Mandate Pictures. Michael Lander is directing, from a script he co-wrote with Ryan Roy.Barry Mendel will produce the film with Roy; Mandate Pictures' head of production Nicole Brown will executive produce with Nathan Kahane.Murphy will play a split personality fooling the town into believing his two 'alters' are man and wife. Page plays a ...

  • As Berlin winds down, attention turns to potential Cannes selections

    14-Feb-2008

    A clearer picture is emerging of what films will be ready for this year's Cannes Film Festival in May and the lineup looks like it will be filled with its usual blend of veteran auteur films, new discoveries and US studio fare.Official selection berths already seem set for Ari Folman's animated documentary Waltz With Bashir from Israel, Wong Kar-wai's revisioning of his 1994 martial arts classic Ashes ...

  • Magnolia's world sales bloom for Timecrimes, Gonzo

    13-Feb-2008

    Magnolia Pictures' international sales department under Laird Adamson has had a successful EFM with its Spanish time travel thriller Timecrimes as well as the quirky romance Quid Pro Quo and Alex Gibney's documentary Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr Hunter S Thompson. All three films, which will be handled by Magnolia Pictures in the US, played at the Sundance ...

  • The Last Word

    7-Feb-2008

    Dir: Geoffrey Haley. US. 2008. 94 mins.Geoffrey Haley, a DP and editor perhaps best known for shooting the floating plastic bag sequence in American Beauty, makes his feature debut with The Last Word, a dark comedy about a man who makes a living writing other people's suicide notes. In dramatic competition at the Sundance Film ...

  • Downloading Nancy

    7-Feb-2008

    Dir: Johan Renck. 2008. US. 96 mins.A woman’s journey of self-hatred, self-degradation, self-mutilation and ultimately self-destruction courtesy of a murderous kindred spirit makes for grim viewing in Downloading Nancy, the feature debut of Swedish commercials and music video director Johan Renck. Although acted with conviction and directed with not a little style, the film is a misanthropic affair, its characters almost entirely beyond redemption; audiences ...

  • CJ7

    4-Feb-2008

  • Joan Collins joins Christopher Lee in Hardy's Cowboys For Christ

    1-Feb-2008

    Joan Collins has joined Christopher Lee and Paul Wesley in the cast of Cowboys For Christ which is written and will be directed by Robin Hardy, who has only made one film since his classic 1973 horror film The Wicker Man.Although the new film, which is being produced by CFC Film Ltd, is neither a sequel or prequel to The Wicker Man, it will be shot in the ...

  • Sleep Dealer

    1-Feb-2008

    Dir: Alex Rivera. Mexico/US. 2008. 90 mins.Alex Rivera's low budget futuristic thriller Sleep Dealer is set in the near future where the USA has been sealed off from Mexico yet Mexican workers still do all the hard labour through technology. A selection in dramatic competition at Sundance last week and the winner of the screenplay prize, the film is certainly to be admired for its ambition but falls down critically in the plot department and ultimately comes ...

  • Bersch takes over from Schlessel as president of SPWAG

    1-Feb-2008

    Steven Bersch has been named president of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) after the promotion of Peter Schlessel to president of worldwide affairs for SPE.Bersch, who comes to the studio from his position as chief operating officer at Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, will report to Schlessel.He will oversee SPWAG's acquisition and co-financing of films for various SPE distribution platforms and will also take over management of films ...

  • Hartnett to take the lead in Snoot's martial arts action pic Bunraku

    1-Feb-2008

    Snoot Entertainment, the four year-old LA-based production company behind Toronto Film Festival premiere Terra, has cast Josh Hartnett in martial arts action film Bunraku.The live action film is written and will be directed by Guy Moshe (Holly) and is the story of a a young man who has spent his life searching for revenge only to find himself sucked into ...

  • Summit, Walden team on youth music drama Will

    1-Feb-2008

    Walden Media and Summit Entertainment are continuing their long-standing relationship by agreeing to co-finance the fish-out-of-water story Will starring Liam Aiken, Vanessa Hudgens, Lisa Kudrow, Aly Michalka and Scott Porter. David Bowie is also in talks to join the film's cast.The music-oriented film, to be directed by Todd Graff (Camp) will be produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas through her ...

  • Gandolfini joins Jesse Martin in the cast of Sexual Healing

    31-Jan-2008

    Sopranos star James Gandolfini will star with Jesse L Martin in in Sexual Healing, the story of the last years of singer Marvin Gaye which Gandolfini's company Attaboy Films.Gary Hamilton's Arclight Films will executive produce the film and handle international sales on the film which is budgeted in the $15m region.Martin, whose credits include Rent ...

  • Riprendimi

    31-Jan-2008

    Dir: Anna Negri. Italy. 2008. 96 mins.Anna Negri's second film Riprendimi is a bittersweet comedy about the breakup of a relationship and the fallout for those involved. Offering intelligent commentary on the fickleness of young men and women today as well as many amusing insights into humans in romantic crisis, the film marks the emergence of a fresh new voice in ...

  • Momma's Man

    30-Jan-2008

    Dir: Azazel Jacobs. US. 2008. 94 mins.Azazel Jacobs' highly personal Momma's Man was a major discovery at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Artfully tracking the internal breakdown of a thirtysomething man, the film is both lyrical in its near wordless storytelling and humorous in its warm observation of human behaviour. Bound to achieve festival bookings beyond ...

  • The Wackness

    30-Jan-2008

    Dir: Jonathan Levine. US. 2008. 110 mins.Having shown that he is a dab hand at teen horror in Toronto 2006 hit All The Boys Love Mandy Lane, Jonathan Levine proves that he can handle character-driven drama, albeit still of the teen variety, in his second film The Wackness. The audience award winner at Sundance last week, the ...

  • Transsiberian

    28-Jan-2008

    Dir: Brad Anderson. US. 2008. 111 mins.The latest entry in Brad Anderson's increasingly fascinating oeuvre is an ambitious thriller set on the Transsiberian train from China to Moscow which recalls train-set thrillers from the 1970s like Silver Streak, The Cassandra Crossing and Murder On The Orient Express, not to mention the greatest train film of them all The Lady Vanishes from which it borrows liberally.

  • The Great Buck Howard

    28-Jan-2008

    Dir: Sean McGinly. US. 2008. 87 minsThe Great Buck Howard is a well-made character piece which is so slight, good-natured and ever so slightly bland that it is likely to land in a commercial no man's land somewhere between the mainstream and the arthouse. Produced by Gary Goetzman and Tom Hanks, who also stars in a supporting role, the film bears all the hallmarks of their company Playtone. Like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, That Thing You Do!, Starter ...

  • Hamlet 2

    27-Jan-2008

    Dir: Andrew Fleming. US. 2008. 92mins.Britain's Steve Coogan finally finds a US vehicle which effectively showcases his comedic talents in Hamlet 2, a more-hit-than-miss gagfest in which he plays a talentless high school drama teacher called Dana Marszh. Often wildly funny, this puerile romp was a welcome oasis of frivolity in an otherwise lugubrious Sundance film festival where it was sold within hours of its world premiere for $10m to Focus Features.

  • Incendiary (2007)

    23-Jan-2008

    Dir: Sharon Maguire. UK. 2008. 96mins

  • Oscars analysis: Surprises include Tommy Lee Jones, Laura Linney

    22-Jan-2008

    Dark dramas There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men led the pack in the nominations for the 80th annual Academy Awards with eight apiece. Michael Clayton and Atonement followed with seven each.

  • Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired

    21-Jan-2008

    Dir: Marina Zenovich. US. 2008. 99 mins

  • Sunshine Cleaning

    21-Jan-2008

    Dir: Christine Jeffs. US. 2008. 102mins

  • Mad Money

    15-Jan-2008

    Dir: Callie Khouri. US. 2007. 104 mins.A relentlessly upbeat all-women heist comedy along the lines of How To Beat The High Cost Of Living and Fun With Dick And Jane, Mad Money is inoffensive star-driven entertainment which might capture the imagination of female audiences in theatres, before heading for a much richer life as a TV programming item down the line.

  • Marketing executive Grace Cianciotta dies in Toronto at 43

    8-Jan-2008

    Much-loved film marketing expert Grace Cianciotta died in Toronto at the age of 43 on Jan 7 after a battle with breast cancer.Since last August, Cianciotta had worked in marketing for the new Canadian sales company Maximum Films International and local distributor Maximum Films Distribution.She was well-known for her zest for life and warm sense of humour, and no-one who knew her was not touched by her generous spirit and keen intelligence. She had ...

  • Seven films shortlisted for Visual Effects Oscar

    4-Jan-2008

    Seven films have been shortlisted for the Oscar for achievement in visual effects by the effects branch of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences. They are 300, The Bourne Ultimatum, Evan Almighty, The Golden Compass, I Am Legend, Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End and Transformers.Members of the branch will view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted ...

  • Best picture: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

    4-Jan-2008

    DreamWorks-Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros Pictures

  • United Kingdom - A very long disengagement

    4-Jan-2008

    In the 11 years since he was fired from the directing chair of New Line's The Island Of Dr Moreau, Richard Stanley has kept a low profile. The UK film-maker had made a big splash with his first feature, Hardware, in 1990 but his subsequent career proved troubled to say the least. His second film, Dust Devil, was completed but became caught up in the bankruptcy proceedings of the UK's Palace Pictures and Stanley forked out $100,000 of his own money to meet delivery ...

  • Maycock appointed managing director of Technicolor (Thailand)

    3-Jan-2008

    Ian Maycock has been appointed managing director of Technicolor (Thailand), the Bangkok-based facility film lab which provides servicing for films, commercials and documentary projects.Maycock moves into the position from his role as director, business development. He has been with Technicolor since May 2007.The facility was established in Bangkok in 1977 as CineColor Lab and was taken over by Technicolor in 2004. The facility manufactures release prints for Australia, ...

  • David A Grafton to receive Academy's Gordon E Sawyer Award

    2-Jan-2008

    David A Grafton will receive this year's Gorden E Sawyer Award, an Oscar statuette for technological industry contributions, from the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.Grafton is a pioneer in designing lenses for optical effects printers which, at the time of their development, were adopted by virtually every visual effects facility in the business.Grafton will be presented with his Oscar at the Scientific & Technical Awards dinner on Feb 9, 2008, in Los ...

  • Universal says 2007 was studio's 'most profitable year of all time'

    2-Jan-2008

    Universal Pictures has reported that 2007 marked a box office high for the studio with a global take of $2.133bn, consisting of a best ever $1.099bn domestic gross and $1.034bn in international markets.The studio also said it had scored best-ever financial returns from its domestic home entertainment and international television operations, making 2007 the studio's 'most profitable year of all time,' according to a statement.The statement was issued by Marc Shmuger ...

  • Robert Luketic's 21 to open 15th South By Southwest

    2-Jan-2008

    Columbia Pictures thriller 21 directed by Robert Luketic and starring Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey will open the 15th South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival on March 7 in Austin, Texas.The film, based on Ben Mezrich's book Bringing Down The House: The Inside Story Of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas For Millions, opens in North America on March 28.The ...

  • Awards Countdown - Best director - The visionaries

    21-Dec-2007

    1. TIM BURTON

  • Awards Countdown - Screenwriting - Keeping To The Script

    14-Dec-2007

    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

  • The Bucket List

    12-Dec-2007

    Dir: Rob Reiner. US. 2007. 93 mins.It's never less than entertaining to watch Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman spar with each other even if the vehicle they have chosen to do it in is a soft-centred Hollywood life lesson about old fellas battling cancer. As directed by Rob Reiner, whose once stellar career has languished of late (Alex & Emma, The Story Of Us, Rumor Has It), The Bucket List feels incongruously sugar-coated in an era of stripped-down ...

  • There Will Be Blood dominates Los Angeles Film Critics awards

    10-Dec-2007

    There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson's epic saga set against the backdrop of America's burgeoning oil industry, was the big winner at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) end of year voting yesterday, taking four prizes including best picture, best director and best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis.The movie also won an award for Jack Fisk's production design and was runner-up in screenplay (Anderson), cinematography (Robert ...

  • Awards countdown - Women of substance

    7-Dec-2007

    Unlike 2006, when Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Penelope Cruz all gave showstopping performances, 2007 is not a bumper year for actresses.

  • Awards Countdown - best actor prospects

    30-Nov-2007

    1. Daniel Day-Lewis

  • Charlie Wilson's War

    29-Nov-2007

    Dir: Mike Nichols. US. 2007. 97 mins.In a year when big-name Hollywood talent has plunged headlong into films about war, terrorism and politics, Charlie Wilson's War is both refreshing and disappointing. Refreshing, because it tells its story with such brisk narrative skill and wit. Disappointing, because it assiduously avoids taking its subject matter into the more ambiguous territory which might risk alienating a wide moviegoing ...

  • Love In The Time Of Cholera

    12-Nov-2007

    Dir: Mike Newell. US/Colombia. 2007. 138minsMike Newell delivers a respectable movie adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's beloved 1985 novel, which because of its structural and temporal challenges ...

  • MOST NOMINATED COUNTRIES FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE OSCAR

    11-Nov-2007

    THE LAST 30 YEARS: TOP NOMINATED COUNTRIES

  • FOREIGN LANGUAGE OSCAR SUBMISSIONS

    11-Nov-2007

    FULL LIST OF THE OSCAR SUBMISSIONS 2007

  • FOREIGN LANGUAGE OSCAR SUBMISSIONS

    11-Nov-2007

    FULL LIST OF THE OSCAR SUBMISSIONS 2007

  • National treasures - spotlight on foreign-language Oscars

    9-Nov-2007

    Nationality and language are such blurred elements in international film-making today that the Academy's foreign-language film category is always likely to attract controversy. For this year's foreign language submissions - click hereThe most ...

  • Goldcrest Independent seals AFM deals on Schneider's The Chosen One

    5-Nov-2007

    Goldcrest Independent has announced deals on the two titles it has been selling at AFM - The Chosen One, a comedy starring Rob Schneider and Steve Buscemi and Cass, the UK hooligan drama starring Nonso Anozie and Nathalie Press.Sales chief Pierre Weisbein said that Seville Pictures bought The Chosen One for Canada, Euro TV for France, Contender for the UK, ...

  • Awards Countdown - Best Animated Feature - Year of the Rat

    2-Nov-2007

    He made the beloved hand-drawn Iron Giant in 1999, he won the Academy Award for The Incredibles in 2004 and this year he delivered one of the best reviewed animated films in the last two decades with Ratatouille. He is probably the most exciting animation director at work today. But talking to Brad Bird, it is obvious that he is as dedicated to fundamentals of character and story as any live-action film-maker.

  • Awards Countdown - High class of 2007

    2-Nov-2007

    A glut of English-language movies, probably caused by the flood of equity into the production market over the last two years, will make for an unusually competitive awards season this year.

  • Inaugural Brit List highlights most liked unproduced screenplays

    1-Nov-2007

    A list of the most liked and recommended unproduced screenplays in the UK and Ireland has got tongues wagging across the local film community. Compiled from a survey of 40 producers, acquisitions executives, agents, sales agents and public funders, the list has been circulating widely. It is intended to echo the success of the US Black List in drawing attention and perhaps finance to these projects.Dubbed the 'Brit List', the table is topped by Peter Straughan's ...

  • New Line Cinema at 40 - The Ringleaders

    26-Oct-2007

    Some 40 years after Bob Shaye formed New Line Cinema in his Greenwich Village apartment, the company is a bona fide Hollywood studio, sitting alongside Warner Bros in the Time Warner family. And it has some of the biggest franchise properties in the business under its belt - The Lord Of The Rings, Austin Powers and Rush Hour among them.

  • Lions For Lambs

    22-Oct-2007

    Dir: Robert Redford. US. 2007. 88 mins.A talky, stagebound curio of a movie, Lions For Lambs is far from the high-octane Hollywood mega-movie its star pedigree would suggest. On the contrary, its star power - Robert Redford, who also directed, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise - may help to draw attention to this inexpensive 88-minute film, but mainstream audiences will ultimately be baffled by the didactic tone and long, verbose scenes played out in just a handful ...

  • American Gangster

    22-Oct-2007

    Dir: Ridley Scott. US. 2007. 158 minsA classy gangster epic which echoes the best crime sagas of the last 35 years from The Godfather saga to New Jack City, American Gangster marks a welcome return to form for hard-working director Ridley Scott after three disappointing films. Long but never boring, it's an expertly crafted slice of mainstream entertainment telling two concurrent stories, one about the rise of drug kingpin played by Denzel Washington, one ...

  • Hollywood World Award - Meet the world leaders

    19-Oct-2007

    The fourth annual Hollywood World Award, a collaboration between Screen International and the Hollywood Film Festival, will be presented in Los Angeles on October 22 this year and the line-up of 10 finalists is an impressive one.

  • Academy unveils 63 foreign language film submissions

    18-Oct-2007

    63 countries have submitted films for consideration in the foreign language film category of the Academy Awards, it was announced today by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in Los Angeles.The number represents a record for the category and includes first time entrants Azerbaijan and Ireland.FULL LIST OF SUBMISSIONS 2007Argentina XXY Lucia Puenzo, directorAustralia

  • Foreign affairs: Academy leaders on the improved foreign-language rules

    12-Oct-2007

    When it comes to its influential foreign-language film category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Ampas) was aware of shortcomings in the criteria for submission and selection of nominees. It seemed each year threw up a controversial omission - the fact instant classics such as Three Colours: Red (1994), The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) and Hidden (2005) were ineligible since they fell through national cracks, or the fact that celebrated but challenging ...

  • Things We Lost In The Fire

    12-Oct-2007

    Dir: Susanne Bier. US. 2007. 113mins.Denmark's Susanne Bier makes a smooth transition to English-language film-making with a Seattle-set drama bristling with the intensity for which she has become renowned. Coaxing strong performances from her cast, Bier brings her trademark verite style to bear on the painful story ...

  • Crusade In Jeans, Stages lead Golden Calf awards in Utrecht

    7-Oct-2007

    Ben Sombogaart's English-language family film Crusade In Jeans won the Golden Calf for best Dutch feature film at the end of the 27th annual Netherlands Film Festival on Saturday night. The film was produced by Dutch staple Kees Kasander of The Kasander Film Company.The Golden Calves jury, consisting of Andre van Duren, Pieter Fleury, Ronald Giphart, Brigit Hillenius, Jannie Langbroek, Reinier Selen and chairman Paula van der Oest gave ...

  • Boorsma brothers' Milo wins Kodak NPP Development Prize in Utrecht

    30-Sep-2007

    The Kodak NPP Development Prize of 5,000 euros was presented on Saturday night to the project Milo written and to be directed by Berend and Roel Boorsma and produced by San Fu Maltha of Fu Works. The award was announced at a dinner to conclude the Netherlands Production Platform (NPP) which presented 22 projects in development, both Dutch scripts to the international film industry and viable non-Dutch projects to Dutch producers.

  • United states - Exhibition space

    28-Sep-2007

    Arthur Cohen and Richard Witkowski did not waste any time when they came up with the idea of founding Iklipz in early 2006. Ninety days after their original conversation, the site was up and running, allowing film-makers to upload their own works free of charge and participate in an online film community through a member profile (www.iklipz.com).

  • Fujimura's Filosophia forms partnership with Petzel's Fierce

    26-Sep-2007

    Christopher Petzel's Fierce Entertainment, which represents international distributors and financiers in Los Angeles among other things, has signed a new partnership with Japan's Filosophia Entertainment Alliance whereby Fierce will represent Filosophia in tracking Japanese rights of projects around the world and Filosophia will represent Fierce in Japan.Fierce also represents VCL Film + Medien in Germany, Indies Entertainment in Benelux, Front Row and KNCC in the Middle East ...

  • Jim Orr promoted at MGM domestic theatrical distribution

    26-Sep-2007

    Jim Orr has been promoted to executive vice president, general sales manager, domestic theatrical distribution, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM).Orr joined MGM in Feb 2006 as senior vice president, head of domestic theatrical distribution operations.In his new position, Orr takes on responsibility for supervising distribution of all MGM's theatrical films in North America, including the studio's domestic sales planning and execution. He continues to be based ...

  • Warner Bros forms large-scale alliance in Abu Dhabi

    26-Sep-2007

    Warner Bros Entertainment has formed a long-term strategic alliance with two companies in Abu Dhabi - real estate developer ALDAR and the newly established Abu Dhabi Media Company. The arrangement calls for the creation of a theme park and hotel, jointly owned multiplex cinemas, a co-finance agreement covering feature film production and the development and publication of video games and the build-out of the infrastructure of Abu Dhabi's digital transformation.The ...

  • Mullaly, Griesbach promoted in publicity at SPHE

    26-Sep-2007

    Claire Mullaly has been promoted to executive director, worldwide publicity, for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE), and Staci Griesbach has been promoted to director, worldwide publicity. Both are based in Sony's Culver City headquarters and will report to Fritz Friedman, senior vice president of worldwide publicity.Mullaly will manage strategic public relations activities for SPHE DVD releases worldwide, with a focus on SPHE's Blu-ray Disc initiatives and corporate communications ...

  • Secret director to tackle the lost life of Jesus Christ

    25-Sep-2007

    Drew Heriot, the director of the phenomenally successful DVD The Secret, will make his narrative directing debut on spiritual fantasy/adventure The Aquarian Gospel which attempts to tell the story of Jesus Christ's 'missing years' from the ages of 13 to 30.Heriot's documentary-style The Secret has sold over two million copies and spawned a book which is ...

  • Bahamas Film Festival goes into local classrooms

    25-Sep-2007

    The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is expanding its Kid's Film Workshop during the fourth annual event this year (Dec 6-13) and will partner with schools throughout Nassau to bring the workshops directly into the classroom.The programme is being sponsored by The Royal Bank Of Canada (RBC) in Nassau as well as The British Colonial Hilton which is hosting the weekend workshops prior to the school instalments on Dec 9 and 10.'The Bahamas International Film ...

  • Sundance Institute, Skoll Foundation team for three-year pact

    25-Sep-2007

    The Sundance Institute and Jeff Skoll's Skoll Foundation today announced a $3m, three-year partnership dedicated to exploring film's role in advancing knowledge about social entrepreneurship. The grant will support the launch of Stories Of Change: Social Entrepreneurship In Focus Through Documentary, a new initiative spearheaded by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Programme.Stories Of Change builds on earlier work between the two groups exploring the potential ...

  • NBC Universal International reorganises digital operations

    25-Sep-2007

    NBC Universal International has restructured its international digital group, organizing its digital efforts into two parallel strands - New Media Licensing and Digital Assets.The moves come in an efforts to reflect the company's priority on digital strategy and to position it for further digital growth, while also driving growth across its international businesses.New Media Licensing will be headed by Beth Minehart who has been promoted to executive vice president, ...

  • NBC Universal International reorganises digital operations

    25-Sep-2007

    NBC Universal International has restructured its international digital group, organizing its digital efforts into two parallel strands - New Media Licensing and Digital Assets.The moves come in an efforts to reflect the company's priority on digital strategy and to position it for further digital growth, while also driving growth across its international businesses.New Media Licensing will be headed by Beth Minehart who has been promoted to executive vice president, ...

  • Stutz, Ebrahimi and Figerold join The Film Department

    25-Sep-2007

    Mark Gill and Neil Sacker's The Film Department has hired Dan Stutz as executive vice president, business and legal affairs. Stutz previously worked at Yari Film Group, most recently as senior vice president of business and legal affairs.The Film Department has also hired Sara Ebrahimi as vice president of legal affairs and Kristen Figeroid as vice president of international.Stutz has been at Yari for the last five years, handling films like

  • Leonsis assembles businessmen backers for Kicking It doc

    25-Sep-2007

    Ted Leonsis, the producer and vice chairman of AOL who coined the term 'filmanthropy', has come up with a new film financing mechanism for his latest film Kicking It. The feature documentary about the power of sports as an agent for change is being financed by a group of businessmen, venture capitalists and philanthropists.The film, directed by Susan Koch, is the story of how thousands of homeless people from around the globe train and ...

  • Screen/HFF World Award shortlist ten including 4 Months, Control

    25-Sep-2007

    Screen International and the Hollywood Film Festival have announced the 10 films which have been shortlisted for this year's Hollywood World Award to be presented at a gala ceremony on Oct 22.The shortlisted films are:4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (Romania) Cristian MungiuAlexandra (Russia) Alexander SokurovThe ...

  • Tropfest@Tribeca took place on Sunday, names The Picnic winner

    24-Sep-2007

    Tropfest@Tribeca, the short festival created as a collaboration between Tribeca Enterprises and Australia's Tropfest, took place on Sunday night at the World Financial Center Plaza in New York City. 7,500 people attended the event which screened 16 films in the competition, all made specifically for the festival and all under seven minutes long.Of the films which had the signature word 'slice' in them, Belinda King won the Target Filmmaker Award for her film

  • Brightman, Hilton head cast of Repo! The Genetic Opera

    24-Sep-2007

    Twisted Pictures' Repo! The Genetic Opera has begun shooting in Toronto this week with an eclectic cast featuring Sarah Brightman, Anthony Head, Paris Hilton, Bill Moseley, Paul Sorvino and Alexa Vega. Lionsgate holds worldwide rights to the film.The film is being produced by Daniel Heffner, Carl Mazzocone, Mark Burg and Oren Koules; Lionsgate's president of acquisitions and co-productions Peter Block and executive vice president Jason ...

  • Travolta wins supporting actor of the year at Hollywood Awards

    24-Sep-2007

    John Travolta will receive the supporting actor of the year award at the 11th annual Hollywood Awards presentation in Los Angeles on Oct 22.Travolta's selection was determined by his gender-bending performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray; the cast of the film will also be on hand at the ceremony to receive a previously announced Ensemble Acting Of The Year Award.'We are honored that John Travolta will be the recipient of ...

  • MGM Channel launches in Bulgaria with Eurocom

    24-Sep-2007

    MGM Networks has signed a deal with Eurocom, the largest cable operator in Sofia, Bulgaria, to launch a local language version of The MGM Channel starting next month. The deal marks MGM's debut in Bulgaria.'MGM Networks has been on a roll across Central and Eastern Europe,' said MGM Networks executive vice president Bruce Tuchman in a statement. 'Starting from scratch just a few years ago, we have built a vibrant collection of locally versioned MGM branded channels now reaching ...

  • Charles Durning to receive SAG Life Achievement Award

    24-Sep-2007

    Charles Durning will be honoured with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Life Achievement Award for career achievement and huminatarian accomplishment at the 14th annual SAG Awards which will be held on Jan 27 next year.'Charles Durning is the perfect choice for the Life Achievement Award as Screen Actors Guild celebrates its 75th anniversary,' said SAG president Alan Rosenberg in a statement. 'Throughout his career, he has epitomized the art and grace of acting and brought something ...

  • Vaines leaves TWC for LA job at King's GK Films

    22-Sep-2007

    UK film veteran Colin Vaines has joined Graham King's GK Films as co-president of production, effective Oct 1. He arrives from The Weinstein Company (TWC) where he was executive vice president of European production.Reporting directly to King, he will work alongside Gail Lyon, the company's other co-president of production, in heading the company's film development, pre-production and packaging activities.Vaines will move to Los Angeles and oversee film productions, ...

  • Magnolia's genre arm Magnet acquires two starring Latin Dragon

    21-Sep-2007

    Magnet, the newly formed genre arm of US distributor Magnolia Pictuers, has acquired North American distribution rights to Kiltro and Mirageman, two action films starring Marko Zaror aka 'The Latin Dragon.'Magnet will also produce the next film from the Chilean martial arts star.Both of the films were written, directed and edited by Ernesto Diaz Espinoza and produced by Derek Rundell.

  • Troma's Kaufman elected to chairman of IFTA

    21-Sep-2007

    Troma's Lloyd Kaufman was elected chairman of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) at the annual members meeting yesterday. He begins his two-year term immediately.The global independent film organization has also elected new executive committee members to two-year terms: former IFTA chairman Michael Ryan (Handmade Films International) is named vice chairman and Paul Hertzberg (CineTel Films) is vice chairman/secretary.Executive committee members remaining ...

  • Image launches urban division, signs agreement with Spirer

    20-Sep-2007

    North American distributor Image Entertainment has launched a new urban division called One Village Entertainment and signed a multi-picture production and worldwide distribution agreement for documentaries and narrative feature films with Peter Spirer's Rugged Entertainment who directed Image's recent release Notorious BIG: Bigger Than Life.One Village will be headed by Brett Dismuke, who is named vice president of urban programming ...

  • Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Barthes among Sundance Annenberg fellows

    20-Sep-2007

    The Sundance Institute has named the seven film-makers who are 2007 Annenberg Film Fellows. Each of the fellows will receive a $10,000 to $15,000 grant to support the further development of their projects and next steps in planning for production.The fellows are Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Sophie Barthes, Caren Hartsfield, Braden King, Eric Lahey, Richard Montoya and David Riker.The fellowship programme was created in April 2004 when Annenberg Foundation trustee Charles ...

  • Dimension touts Superhero as next potential franchise

    20-Sep-2007

    Dimension Films has begun production on Superhero, a comedy written and directed by Craig Mazin who directed both Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie 4 for the company.An ensemble cast has been assembled for the film including Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Leslie Nielsen, Kevin Hart, Marion Ross, Ryan Hansen, Jeffrey Tambor and Brent Spiner.

  • Summit signs Canada, UK deal with Entertainment One

    20-Sep-2007

    Summit Entertainment has signed a multi-territory, all rights agreement with Canada's brand new Entertainment One (E1) whereby E1 will handle Summit titles in Canada through E1 subsidiary Seville Entertainment and in the UK through subsidiary Contender Films. The deal will run through 2010.The announcement was made yesterday by Summit co-chairmen Rob Friedman (pictured left) and Patrick Wachsberger (centre) and E1 CEO Darren Throop and president of filmed entertainment Patrice ...

  • Arts Alliance America picks up Life After Tomorrow

    20-Sep-2007

    Arts Alliance America, the new US DVD arm of Arts Alliance Media which was formerly Hart Sharp Video, has picked up US DVD rights to the documentary Life After Tomorrow.Directed by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates Jr, the film explores the life-changing repercussions of child performers in the long-running Broadway musical Annie and features appearances by Sarah Jessica Parker, Danielle Brisebois and ...

  • TWC, Exodus to co-produce CG-animated comedy Navy Seals

    20-Sep-2007

    The Weinstein Company and CG-animated production outfit Exodus Film Group have named the first film in their strategic partnership. Navy Seals, a story concept developed in-house at Exodus, is an adventurous family comedy about an elite pod of US Navy dolphins who are captured, their only hope for rescue being a band of misfit seals.The film is the first under the companies' CG-animated co-production agreement whereby the two will jointly ...

  • Terrence Howard stars with Channing Tatum in Montiel's Fighting

    19-Sep-2007

    Terrence Howard will co-star with Channing Tatum in Dito Montiel's action drama Fighting, which begins shooting in New York City this week for Rogue Pictures. Kevin Misher is producing the film through his Misher Films.The film, set in the world of underground street fights, stars Tatum as a young man who is drawn into fighting by veteran coach Howard. Tatum and Howard are joined in the cast by Zulay Henao, Luis Guzman and professional ...

  • IFC Entertainment takes North America on Kalin's Savage Grace

    19-Sep-2007

    IFC Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Tom Kalin's Savage Grace, which had its world premiere in Directors Fortnight at Cannes this year.The film will be released theatrically and at the same time on video on demand cable platforms in the US as part of IFC First Take programme.Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne star in the film which was Kalin's first feature since Swoon ...

  • Affleck, Connelly, Meron and Zadan get Hollywood Awards

    19-Sep-2007

    Ben Affleck will be named Hollywood Breakthrough Director Of The Year, Jennifer Connelly Hollywood Supporting Actress Of The Year and Neil Meron and Craig Zadan Hollywood Producers Of The Year at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony in Los Angeles on Oct 22.The awards show takes place at the close of the Hollywood Film Festival. Both are presented by STARZ.Affleck is being honoured for his directorial debut Gone Baby Gone, ...

  • In Bloom

    18-Sep-2007

    Dir: Vadim Perelman. US. 2007. 90 mins.Four years after his directorial debut The House Of Sand And Fog, Vadim Perelman returns with In Bloom, an adaptation of Laura Kasischke's novel The Life Before Her Eyes which is an even more ambitious challenge than its predecessor. But some books are just too cerebral to transfer to the screen, and, despite Perelman's best efforts, Kasischke's conceit does not make for a coherent film experience.

  • VIP strikes co-investment partnership with Brass Hat Films

    18-Sep-2007

    German film production fund VIP has struck a strategic co-investment partnership with London-based financier Brass Hat Films whereby Brass Hat will now act as the manager of the fund's investments.VIP has completely restructured following German taxation law changes and the criminal proceedings against Andreas Grosch and Andreas Schmid, the former managers of VIP Medienfonds, which administered the film investments for the fund's subscribers. The fund is now run ...

  • Rio Festival to host world premiere of Newell's Cholera

    17-Sep-2007

    Mike Newell's film of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's classic novel Love In The Time Of Cholera will have its world premiere as the closing night film of the ninth annual Rio International Film Festival on Oct 4.The first major international film in years to shoot in the walled city of Cartagena, Colombia, Love In The Time Of Cholera features a large ensemble cast of Latin, US and European talent including Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, ...

  • Nothing is Private

    14-Sep-2007

    Dir: Alan Ball. US. 2007. 124 mins.Perhaps the most polarizing film of the Toronto International Film Festival this week, Nothing Is Private marks the feature directorial debut of American Beauty writer and Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball. As you might expect from Ball's oeuvre to date, it is a provocative piece scratching at the ugliness underneath the placid surface of American suburbia with his customary ...

  • Fortissimo strikes multi-picture library deal with Jaman.com

    11-Sep-2007

    Online film community Jaman.com has signed a multi-picture deal with Fortissimo Films, marking the latter's first internet VOD deal in North America.Under the agreement, Jaman will make available library titles such as Clara Law's Autumn Moon, Sergei Bodrov's Bear Kiss, Alex Van Warmerdam's The Dress, the Pang brothers' Bangkok ...

  • Lumina takes international rights to Heavy Metal In Baghdad

    11-Sep-2007

    London-based Lumina picked up international sales rights yesterday in Toronto to Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi's documentary Heavy Metal In Baghdad, screening in Reel To Reel here. The film, which has had a strong response from audiences and buyers, is the story of two journalists attempting to track down the one and only heavy metal band in Iraq called Acrassicauda.Lumina's Samantha Horley negotiated the deal for the film ...

  • Redacted goes worldwide with HDNet

    8-Sep-2007

    HDNet Films sealed most territorial deals on Brian De Palma's Iraq war drama Redacted ahead of its Venice world premiere.The film, which screens here on Monday and goes on to play the New York Film Festival, sold to TFM in France, New Select in Japan, AE/Eagle Pictures in Italy, On Pictures in Spain, and Sponge Entertainment in Korea.All deals were negotiated by HDNet's Laird Adamson. EEAP bought the film for eastern Europe, Focus Filmes for Brazil, Paradiso for ...

  • Toronto's financing forum recruits 36 international producers

    8-Sep-2007

    36 Canadian and international producers have been lined up to take part in the second annual International Financing Forum (IFF) organised by the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) in partnership with TIFF.The selected producers will have one-one-one brokered meetings and round tables with producers, executives and financiers during the event on Monday. The day begins with a venture capital panel featuring Mark Gill of The Film Department (US), Peter Sussman ...

  • United States - The Film's The Thing

    8-Sep-2007

    I was at pains to try and make this not feel like a playwright's movie," says David Auburn, the award-winning playwright of Proof, whose directorial film debut The Girl In The Park has its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this week. "I wrote it for the screen. I wanted to explore the aftermath of a tragedy, but not the immediate aftermath. I wanted to jump 16 years ahead. That struck me as something cinematic to start with."

  • The Brave One

    6-Sep-2007

    Dir: Neil Jordan. US. 2007. 122 mins.Jodie Foster delivers a performance far superior to her material in Neil Jordan's self-consciously provocative and largely absurd vigilante drama - which has its world premiere as a Special Presentation in Toronto. Attempting to hit the same hot buttons as other audacious studio movies like Falling Down or Foster's 20 year-old The Accused, it starts well but falls down fast as its plot becomes far-fetched and then ...

  • Maximum and Fortissimo strike Canadian-Asian partnership

    6-Sep-2007

    Robert Lantos' new Toronto-based distribution and sales company Maximum Films has created an unusual partnership with Hong Kong-based Fortissimo Films whereby Maximum will distribute Fortissimo's films in Canada and Fortissimo will represent the sale of Maximum's projects in Asia. The deal, for an initial term of two years, was unveiled yesterday by Maximum chairman Lantos and Fortissimo co-chairman Michael J Werner.Maximum will acquire Canadian distribution rights ...

  • Bartkowiak signs to direct Hyde Park's Street Fighter

    6-Sep-2007

    Andrzej Bartkowiak has signed to direct the live action feature film of video game Street Fighter for Ashok Amritraj's Hyde Park Entertainment and games publisher Capcom Co Ltd. The film based on Capcom's Street Fighter game property will begin production pre-strike in early 2008 in Asia and North America, and 20th Century Fox is handling domestic distribution.Bartkowiak, also a celebrated ...

  • Publicist Robert Garlock dies in New York at 41

    4-Sep-2007

    Robert Garlock, the well-known New York-based publicist has died at the age of 41 of complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was most recently head of the talent division at 42West where he represented clients including Penelope Cruz, Hugh Grant, Clive Owen, Uma Thurman, Sigourney Weaver, Hilary Swank and Kate Winslet,Garlock had become a partner in 42West after 16 years at PMK/HBH where he worked on campaigns for over 40 features including Pulp ...

  • Lumina sells German-speaking Europe on Donkey Punch to Universum

    4-Sep-2007

    London-based Lumina Films has sold German-speaking rights to Olly Blackburn's British thriller Donkey Punch to Universum Film.The film, produced by Warp X, is now in post-production and is scheduled for a summer 2008 release in the UK by Optimum Releasing.Produced by Angus Lamont, Mark Herbert and Robin Gutch, the film is about the freak death of a partygoer on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean and the conflict that arises ...

  • Into The Wild

    4-Sep-2007

    Dir: Sean Penn. US. 2007. 148mins.Sean Penn's fourth feature as a director is as exhilarating as it is unwieldy, a sprawling hymn to nature, humanity and personal freedom which firmly establishes the much-feted actor as a film-maker of vision. Shining an affectionate light on the drifters and counter-culturalists living in today's heartland, the film is destined to win a loyal if specialized audience following among smart liberals and the college crowd drawn by the ...

  • Master of Spices

    31-Aug-2007

    Indian director Santosh Sivan based his new film Before The Rains, which has its world premiere as a Special Presentation in Toronto next week, on the Israeli short film Red Roofs, one of Dan Verete's Desert Trilogy (2001). But, Sivan says, it really only served as a stepping off point for his own creations.

  • Bring on the class action

    24-Aug-2007

    After a summer in which most of the films had the number three after them, the Hollywood studios and their specialised divisions are preparing for the deluge of prestige movies that comprise the so-called awards season - high-profile, director-led features which are being carefully groomed for prime positions in the Oscar race.

  • Chasing The Long Tail: Mike Binder

    17-Aug-2007

    For Mike Binder, the 2001 comedy The Search For John Gissing remains something of a bittersweet experience.

  • The Invasion

    16-Aug-2007

    Dir: Oliver Hirschbiegel. US. 2007. 100mins The latest remake of Jack Finney's 1955 novel The Body Snatchers is a success if viewed as a slick thriller from mainstream producer Joel Silver but a disappointment as the US debut of Germany's Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall, The Experiment) starring Nicole Kidman. Completed, reportedly, with considerable input from the Wachowski Brothers and V For Vendetta director James McTiegue, ...

  • HFPA gives grants totalling $1.2m to film schools and non-profits

    10-Aug-2007

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association today (Thursday) today held its annual installation luncheon in Beverly Hills and presented $1.2m in financial grants to 28 film schools and non-profit organizations.

  • Breaking the language barrier

    9-Aug-2007

    Sony Pictures Entertainment's local-language activities have been consolidated under the newly minted International Motion Picture Production Department, with a new president in Deborah Schindler. Mike Goodridge spoke to Schindler and the group's godfather Gareth Wigan about new moves into Russia and India.

  • Stardust

    2-Aug-2007

    Dir: Matthew Vaughn. US-UK. 2007. 125mins.A fairy tale based on Neil Gaiman's four-part DC Comics book from 1997, Stardust is an ambitious high-concept adventure which is one of the few non-sequels, non-toy or non-TV adaptations to arrive in theatres this summer. But although entertaining, ribald and clever, it might fall through the cracks when it comes to capturing a broad blockbuster audience a la Simpsons or Transformers.

  • Screen, Hollywood Film Festival re-team for Hollywood World Award

    31-Jul-2007

    Screen International is teaming up for the fourth consecutive year with the Hollywood Film Festival and the Hollywood Awards to present the Hollywood World Award, a prize for the best in world cinema which will be presented at the Hollywood Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on Oct 22.The award has become a key predictor of foreign films which are set to receive kudos in the year's awards season. Last year's winner was Pedro Almodovar's ...

  • Vietnam - Stepping Into The World

    27-Jul-2007

    In 1981, Fay Kanin, the then president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (Ampas), took Cyd Charisse and other Hollywood luminaries on a trip to China.

  • Sundance Directors Lab: a mountain of work

    1-Jul-2007

    The Sundance Directors Lab, which took place this month at the Sundance resort in the Utah mountains, has opened its doors to a new wave of international film-makers. Mike Goodridge visited the lab and met some of the writer-directors being put through their paces. A fair amount of legend has built up around the Sundance Institute's Directors Lab, which takes place in the Utah mountains over three weeks in the summer. This, after all, is the workshop, or as one ...

  • Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

    30-Jun-2007

    Dir: David Yates. US/UK. 2007. 138 mins.The choice of celebrated UK TV director David Yates to take on the fifth in the Harry Potter series proved a wise one for producer David Heyman and Warner Bros. Yates ramps up the adrenalin and menace while adding new layers of emotional anguish befitting the adolescent years now reached by the teenage protagonists. 20 minutes shorter than the previous film and a good deal ...

  • Katz named head of production at The Film Department

    29-Jun-2007

    Robert Katz has joined Mark Gill and Neil Sacker in their new independent venture The Film Department as president of production.While executive vice president of production for The Yari Film Group, Katz was in charge of production on 18 films including Crash, The Illusionist, Prime, The Matador, Hostage and The Painted Veil. While at Yari, he worked with Sacker who was COO; Gill also worked with ...

  • August Evening, Billy The Kid win $50,000 prizes at LAFF

    29-Jun-2007

    Chris Eska's August Evening won the Target Film-maker Award for best narrative feature at the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival, while Jennifer Venditti's Billy The Kid won the Target Documentary Award for best documentary feature. Each film was awarded an unrestricted cash prize of $50,000 funded by Target.The awards, presented by Terrence Howard and Aidan Quinn, were announced at the Spirit Of ...

  • Cruise, Wagner to make Thursday presentation at Cinema Expo

    26-Jun-2007

    Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, the new heads of the reactivated United Artists (UA), will make a presentation to delegates at Cinema Expo International in Amsterdam on Thursday evening, screening five-and-a-half minutes of footage from UA's first feature Lions For Lambs in which Cruise stars.They will be joined in the presentation by Tomas Jegeus and Paul Hanneman, the co-presidents of 20th Century Fox International, which is handling international ...

  • Ratatouille

    20-Jun-2007

    Dir: Brad Bird. US. 2007. 110mins.

  • Academy ranks swell with 115 new invited members

    18-Jun-2007

    The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has invited 115 artists and executives to swell its membership ranks as voting members in 2007.Membership policies adopted by the Academy in 2003 to limit the number of new members would have allowed 150 new members this year but various branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership has now held steady at just under 6,0000 for the past four years.'Some interesting changes are ...

  • Academy changes rules to allow for more than three producers

    13-Jun-2007

    The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has adjusted the rules for the best picture Oscar in advance of next year's 80th annual ceremony. Following the controversy of Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa being removed from the nomination list of last year's Little Miss Sunshine, the Academy has now ruled that, while 'three or fewer producers who have performed the major portion of the producing functions' are eligible in the category, there could be ...

  • Russian action star Nevsky launches LA production outfit

    11-Jun-2007

    Russian action star and producer Alexander Nevsky is opening his own production outfit Hollywood Storm in Los Angeles. The move is directly inspired by California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to boost film production in the state.Nevsky's previous films Moscow Heat and Treasure Raiders were both produced entirely in Russia in the English language. The former was a sizable hit in Russia ...

  • Charlie Kaufman: worlds within worlds

    1-Jun-2007

    Charlie Kaufman started production last week on his first feature as a director, Synecdoche, New York, with a cast led by Philip Seymour Hoffman. On the eve of the shoot, Kaufman and Spike Jonze, one of his producers, talked exclusively to Mike Goodridge.

  • Kimmel catches sales on Cannes slate

    23-May-2007

    Kimmel International has closed key deals on its new Cannes films, kicking off with Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York which went to Asmik Ace in Japan and Bim in Italy.Meanwhile Kimmel sales chief Mark Lindsay reported that MovieEye in Japan and Senator in Germany bought Tarsem Singh's political thriller Unthinkable, and On Pictures in Spain picked up both Unthinkable and ...

  • Kimmel closes Japan and Italy on Kaufman's Synecdoche

    23-May-2007

    Kimmel International has closed key deals on its new Cannes films, kicking off with Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York which went to Asmik Ace in Japan and Bim in Italy.Meanwhile Kimmel sales chief Mark Lindsay reported that MovieEye in Japan and Senator in Germany bought Tarsem Singh's political thriller Unthinkable, and On Pictures in Spain picked up both Unthinkable and ...

  • Luke G-Jones goes green with Cool Hand

    23-May-2007

    Luke G-Jones, the former head of co-production and finance at New Films International, has launched an innovative 'carbon credit' scheme for film production via his LA-based Cool Hand International.

  • Melbourne festival starts networking event for producers

    23-May-2007

    The Melbourne International Festival (MIFF) has established an international film networking event which will take place at the beginning of this year's festival from July 26 to 28.Called 37 South: Bridging The Gap, the event is designed to bring together Australian film producers with a range of potential partners.Up to ten international sales agents, producers and financiers will be invited to Melbourne to meet established and new film-makers from Australia. The ...

  • Nassiri launches peace film and initiatives in Cannes

    22-May-2007

    Singer/songwriter, philanthropist and world peace activist Nassiri is launching his global peace initiative in Cannes.

  • Graham King extends realm with GK Film

    22-May-2007

    Graham King, Oscar-winning producer of The Departed, Blood Diamond and The Aviator, has launched a new production company GK Films. At the same time, he has signed a three-year extension of his overall production deal with Warner Bros Pictures and extended his production deal with Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil.The new deal gives Warner Bros a first-look option on films produced under ...

  • Socially-conscious cinema to be promoted by Cinema Verite

    21-May-2007

    Cinema Verite, a major new initiative to promote socially-conscious cinema, was launched in Cannes yesterday at a press conference attended by Queen Noor Of Jordan and Bianca Jagger among others.The company, founded and managed by Paris-based documentary film-maker Joel Soler, will encompass a year-round foundation, a film fund and an October event in Paris and Monaco which will encourage, promote and assemble film-makers concerned with highlighting social and humanitarian ...

  • Lupovitz lines up Podeswa, Evans, Palmer projects

    21-May-2007

    LA-based producer Dan Lupovitz, executive producer on Death Defying Acts starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Guy Pearce and one of the producers on the currently-shooting Good with Viggo Mortenson, has lined out a slate of international projects here from film-makers including Jeremy Podeswa, Marc Evans and hot UK commercials directors Chris Palmer and Kevin Thomas.Lupovitz, whose previous credits ...

  • New Line maps Compass rollout on Rings blueprint

    21-May-2007

    New Line Cinema has set the release schedule for its epic $150m adventure movie The Golden Compass, almost exactly duplicating the rollout of The Fellowship Of The Ring in 2001. The film is having a major promotional launch today, just as Fellowship did at Cannes 2001, with a press conference and photo call as well as a screening of 20 minutes of footage. Director Chris Weitz and ...

  • DiGiaimo and Mudge pact for three

    21-May-2007

    Barbara Mudge's Worldwide Film Entertainment has signed a three-picture deal with producer Lou DiGiaimo (Dinner Rush, Donnie Brasco). The titles are Piney Lake, Nebraska Fish & Game and Good Day Dying.

  • Spain's S2 sings for The Turtle Song

    21-May-2007

    Stephane Sorlat's Madrid-based S2 International has rights in Spain and Portugal to Nick Stringer's documentary The Turtle Song from Sola Media.Produced by the UK's Film And Music Entertainment, the film tells the story of the little loggerhead turtle and her journey from a beach in Florida to the frozen north and Africa.Producers are Mike Downey, Sam Taylor and Zorana Piggott. The deal was negotiated by Beatrix Wesle and Solveig Langeland for Sola with Guy Amon ...

  • Halcyon Pictures branches out into UK distribution

    20-May-2007

    Halcyon Pictures, Chris Coen's production and financing company which most recently produced Michael Haneke's Funny Games, is to start its own UK distribution arm Halcyon Distribution. The company will start operations by releasing its own production Wristcutters: A Love Story and teaming with Tartan Films to release Funny Games. Coen has ...

  • Blatant and Intandem partner on $100m comic book film fund

    20-May-2007

    LA producer Barry Levine and his film outfit Blatant Pictures have partnered with Gary Smith's UK company Intandem Films to raise a $100m film fund for big-screen adaptations of comic books from Blatant's sister company Radical Publishing.The first two projects are $35m action adventure Legends, to be directed by Patrick Tatopoulos of Tatopoulos Studios, and the $25m Medieval, from the graphic novel by Ian Edgington, described as an 11th century The Wild Bunch, which Til Schweiger will ...

  • Bold and The Orphanage to produce supernatural thriller Legion

    19-May-2007

    Bold Films, the LA-based production company behind Bobby, is teaming with visual effects outfit The Orphanage to produce Legion, a supernatural action thriller about a group of strangers stranded in a desert truck stop that bands together to stop an army of demonic creatures bent on fulfilling an age-old prophecy that would unleash hell on earth.Bold is also financing the film which Velvet Octopus is selling here. 'We see this as a high-octane franchise like Underworld with ...

  • Cinema Libre joins Participant for Angels

    19-May-2007

    Cinema Libre Studio has partnered with Participant Productions to handle domestic distribution and international sales on Participant's Angels In The Dust which looks at the AIDS crisis in South Africa through the eyes of orphans. It is set to open in select US cities in autumn 2007.Louise Hogarth's film recently premiered at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival where it won the Emerging Pictures/Full Frame Audience Award.

  • Seville steps to Quebec with Maple Pictures

    19-May-2007

    Seville Pictures has signed an agreement with Maple Pictures, the Canadian distributor of Lionsgate product, for the distribution of new releases and catalogue films in Quebec.The agreement, which covers all distribution rights, starts with the theatrical release of Hostel II on June 8.

  • Mexican film-makers land at Universal, Focus International

    18-May-2007

    Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo Del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu have formally announced their production partnership cha cha cha and partnered with Universal Pictures and Focus Features International (FFI) on the financing, sales and distribution on five upcoming films.Under the terms of the deal, the three will maintain creative control over their films, allowing them to develop and produce independently with the benefit of worldwide studio distribution. Each ...

  • Shoreline closes several deals on Man In The Chair

    18-May-2007

    Morris Ruskin's Shoreline Entertainment has closed a slew of deals in the first few days of Cannes.AB Groupe took French rights to three films: Inside Out starring Kate Walsh from TV's Grey's Anatomy, Dan Turner's science fiction horror movie Experiment and Kardia, which won the Alfred P Sloan Foundation's feature ...

  • Bold, The Orphanage to produce supernatural action thriller Legion

    17-May-2007

    Bold Films, the LA-based production company behind Bobby, is teaming with visual effects outfit The Orphanage to produce Legion, a supernatural action thriller about a group of strangers stranded in a desert truck stop that bands together to stop an army of demonic creatures bent on fulfilling an age-old prophecy that would unleash hell on earth.Bold is also financing the film which Velvet Octopus ...

  • Palme d'Or winner: Quentin Tarantino

    17-May-2007

    Quentin Tarantino won the Palme d'or at Cannes in 1994 with Pulp Fiction, his second feature. He also chaired the Jury in 2004 and returns to the festival again this year with the recut version of Death Proof.

  • Universal launches ambitious international production division

    17-May-2007

    Universal Pictures has formally announced its international production plans, confirming the appointment of Christian Grass as president, production for Universal Pictures International (UPI) and signing a local production and distribution deal with Russian director Timur Bekmambetov and his Bazelevs Productions.In addition, the studio has announced the first Brazilian title in UPI's local production deal with Fernando Mereilles and his 02 Filmes.The new venture, ...

  • Foundas and Hoberman join NYFF selection committee

    17-May-2007

    The 45th New York Film Festival, which will take place Sept 28 to Oct 14 this year, has added two new members to its selection committee - US critics Scott Foundas and J Hoberman. They join The Film Society Of Lincoln Center's Richard Pena and Kent Jones and Entertainment Weekly critic Lisa Schwarzbaum in choosing the 2007 festival slate.

  • Killer unveils production slate, first project with THINKFilm

    17-May-2007

    Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler's Killer Films, which produced tomorrow's Quinzaine entry Savage Grace, has unveiled its new project slate including its first title with THINKFilm following the two companies' recent finance and distribution partnership.THINKFilm will handle international sales on The Electric Slide, the story of Eddie Dodson, one of the most prolific bankrobbers of the 70s and ...

  • Vantage sells first movie Marc Pease Experience at Cannes

    17-May-2007

    Paramount Vantage, which is launching its international sales division in Cannes, has introduced its first picture to buyers - The Marc Pease Experience, a comedy starring Ben Stiller and Jason Schwartzman which has just wrapped. Todd Louiso (Love Liza) directs and co-wrote the film which tells the story of a high school production of The Wizard Of Oz. ...

  • Magnolia, Red Envelope acquire Hallam Foe for North America

    16-May-2007

    Magnolia Pictures and Red Envelope Entertainment have teamed up to acquire North American rights to David Mackenzie's Hallam Foe which had its world premiere in competition at Berlin this year. The film, which stars Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles and Ciaran Hinds, is the story of a young man searching the rooftops of Edinburgh for love, while driven to expose the true cause of his mother's death. Magnolia plans a 2008 theatrical release.

  • H2O sign Lajos Koltai to two films

    16-May-2007

    Andras Hamori and Mark Horowitz's H20 Motion Pictures has signed Lajos Koltai to direct two features - Under The Frog and Born Of Fire.Oscar-nominated cinematographer Koltai directed Hungarian Holocaust epic Fateless and next month's US release Evening for Focus Features with a cast including Meryl Streep, ...

  • Polyband takes German rights to The Turtle's Song

    16-May-2007

    Munich-based Polyband Medien, a subsidiary of Splendit Medien, has acquired German rights to Nick Stringer's The Turtle's Song, a documentary following the epic journey of a baby loggerhead turtle.

  • Magnetik in three-film deal with Relativity

    15-May-2007

    Mario Kassar and Erick J Feitshan's recently formed sales and consulting outfit Magnetik Media has signed three projects from Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media which it is selling here. They are:James Mangold's 3:10 To Yuma, starring Russell Crowe and Christian BaleRob Minkoff's Forbidden Kingdom with Jackie Chan and Jet Li And Brian DePalma's

  • Kassar, Feitshan form Magnetik, sign three from Relativity

    15-May-2007

    Mario Kassar and Erick J Feitshan's recently formed sales and consulting outfit Magnetik Media has signed three projects from Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media which it is selling in Cannes - James Mangold's 3:10 To Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, Rob Minkoff's Forbidden Kingdom with Jackie Chan and Jet Li and Brian DePalma's Untouchables prequel

  • H20 Motion Pictures to make film on Politkovskaya

    11-May-2007

    Andras Hamori and Mark Horowitz's recently launched H20 Motion Pictures has acquired the rights to three books by Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist who was shot to death in a suspected contract killing in Moscow in Oct 2006.H20 will develop a film about the woman, who was a bold and steadfast critic of Vladimir Putin's presidency. Alexander Litvinenko, the former KGB officer who died of poisoning four weeks after Politkovskaya, accused Putin of personally ordering ...

  • The new US independent model

    11-May-2007

    New York-based IFC Entertainment is in the second year of its day-and-date programme whereby 24 films a year hit theatres and VoD in 40 million homes on the same day. On the eve of Cannes, Mike Goodridge spoke to president Jonathan Sehring about the future of independent distribution.

  • West 32nd

    10-May-2007

    Dir: Michael Kang. US. 2007. 83mins. Michael Kang's second feature West 32nd is an ambitious thriller set in the Korean underworld of Manhattan. While rich in atmosphere and a set-up which promises to peel the layers off a sinister world of crime, it ultimately promises more intrigue and complexity than it delivers.

  • Rise: Blood Hunter

    10-May-2007

    Dir: Sebastian Gutierrez. US. 2007. 94mins.A genre thriller without much of a bite, Rise: Blood Hunter is nevertheless a well-mounted affair with a sense of humour and a solid starring turn by Lucy Liu as a woman who finds herself among the living dead.

  • You Kill Me

    8-May-2007

    Dir: John Dahl. US. 2007. 90mins. A return to form of sorts for John Dahl after his epic World War Two flop The Great Raid, You Kill Me is a short, sharp, mordant little mob comedy about a Buffalo hitman on hiaitus from killing in San Francisco and trying to overcome a drinking problem.

  • Charlie Bartlett

    8-May-2007

    Dir: Jon Poll. US. 2007. 97mins.Jon Poll, an established editor with credits including the Austin Powers and Meet The Parents films, makes a commendable directorial debut with Charlie Bartlett, a high-school comedy which sits in the same class of wry, deadpan movies as Rushmore, Election and Saved!. Sunnier and more cheerful than all three of those titles, it could also appeal to a younger audience and has a shot at developing a cult ...

  • Where God Left His Shoes

    8-May-2007

    Dir: Salvatore Stabile. US. 2007. 99mins.There's no question that Where God Left His Shoes contains its fair share of cliches; it also skirts dangerously close to sentimentality. But writer/producer/director Salvatore Stabile, who made his debut feature Gravesend when he was just 19, keeps his second film on track and ultimately delivers a work which is authentically heartwarming - an achievement which cannot be under-rated in a culture today which is drenched ...

  • Lovesickness (Maldeamores)

    8-May-2007

    Dir: Carlitos Ruiz Ruiz. Puerto Rico. 2007. 90mins.A bright new talent emerges from Puerto Rico in writer/director Carlitos Ruiz Ruiz, whose debut feature Maldeamores (aka Lovesickness) is a warm-hearted and witty tryptych of stories about the dysfunctions and masochism of love. The film had a strong reception at its Tribeca Film Festival world premiere last week and it should play myriad festivals before its run is over, winning over audiences wherever ...

  • The Workshop

    8-May-2007

    Dir: Jamie Morgan. UK. 2007. 93mins.One of the most talked about films at the recent Tribeca Film Festival, UK documentary The Workshop from first-time film-maker Jamie Morgan is a personal hand-held record of a ten-day workshop Morgan took with 'guru' Paul Lowe in northern California.

  • Amritraj, Hyde Park set Asian ambitions

    8-May-2007

    Ashok Amritraj's Hyde Park Entertainment has created an Asian division Hyde Park Asia with ambitions to produce both international and local films in the region while securing local backing from various institutions and investors.Amritraj says he already has an office opened in India and is planning to open one shortly in Singapore. He also has plans to produce both international and local films in India, the first Hollywood title being The ...

  • Suburban Girl

    4-May-2007

    Dir: Marc Klein. US. 2007. 96mins. The 'chick lit' phenomenon, which has flooded bookstores around the world, is clearly triggering a celluloid trend, especially after the success of The Devil Wears Prada last year and a wide release planned later this year for The Nanny Diaries.

  • Warner Independent hatches two-year deal with producer Bregman

    2-May-2007

    Warner Independent Pictures has signed a two-year, first-look deal with producer Anthony Bregman's New York-based production house Likely Story.Likely Story was formed in 2006 and is currently in post-production on Carriers and The Sleep Dealer in association with This Is That, and in pre-production on Synecdoche, New York. The company is also casting

  • Gardener Of Eden

    29-Apr-2007

    Dir: Kevin Connolly. US. 2007. 88 mins. Actor Kevin Connolly's directorial debut is brimming with intelligence and good ideas, but its downbeat subject matter and grim setting in a suburban New Jersey town will make it a tough sell for distributors. The fact that Gardener Of Eden is the first feature from Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way production company might entice buyers to take the risk, but otherwise there is not enough novelty here to distinguish ...

  • United states - A Lion Of A Job

    27-Apr-2007

    "The challenge," says Clark Woods, president of domestic theatrical distribution at MGM, "is that each of the producers comes with fully financed films and, in most cases, fully financed p&a arrangements, so they have a vested interest in what we're doing. Trying to balance all those things is somewhat difficult."

  • Corbijn's Control to open Cannes Directors Fortnight

    25-Apr-2007

    Anton Corbijn's debut feature Control has been selected as the opening night film of Directors Fortnight in Cannes next month.The film is a biopic of the late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, whom Corbijn knew personally, and follows his rise to fame, his relationships with both wife and girlfriend, his struggle with epilepsy and his suicide in 1980 on the eve of the band's first US tour. Corbijn is best known as a photographer ...

  • New Summit studio launches with over $1bn in funding

    19-Apr-2007

    Rob Friedman, the former vice chairman and COO of Paramount Pictures, and Patrick Wachsberger, the head of Summit Entertainment LP, have unveiled their long-in-the-works production and distribution company which has immediate access to $1bn in funds from a financing deal led by Merrill Lynch and a consortium of investors.The company, which will be called Summit Entertainment LLC, has acquired Wachsberger's Summit Entertainment LP and will now handle its own domestic distribution ...

  • Speed Dating wins best feature at Malibu

    19-Apr-2007

    Tony Herbert's Speed Dating was named best feature film at the 2007 Malibu International Film Festival which finished at the weekend.Gideon Raff's The Killing Floor won the prize for best thriller, Reynier Molenaar's Replay was named best action film, while Mick Rossi and Sean Stanek won the best screenplay prize for Played ...

  • Bender signs two year deal with Overture Films

    17-Apr-2007

    Overture Films has signed Lawrence Bender Productions to a two-year, first look deal, continuing the new company's efforts to source product for its fledgling distribution operation.Bender will work closely on productions with Overture CEO Chris McGurk and COO Danny Rosett as well as head of worldwide marketing, distribution and new media Peter Adee.'Lawrence brings an invaluable pedigree, strong relationships with talent, directors, and writers, and a keen eye ...

  • First LA Greek Film Festival set for June

    16-Apr-2007

    The first ever Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, a new initiative to promote Greek cinema and celebrate Greek film-makers, will take place in Beverly Hills from June 14-17.The event, which plans to screen over 20 films from Greek film-makers, will also present the first Orpheus Awards named after the musician and poet of Greek myth. The awards will be given to films for best dramatic feature, best documentary, best short film, best direction, best cinematography and audience ...

  • Owen takes the lead in Tykwer-directed thriller for Sony

    16-Apr-2007

    Clive Owen has signed on to star in Columbia Pictures' action thriller The International which will be directed by Tom Tykwer.Eric Singer wrote the screenplay for the film which is being produced by Mosaic Media Group's Charles Roven and Richard Suckle alongside Lloyd Phillips.Owen will star as an obsessive Intepol agent who spearheads an investigation into one of the world's most high profile banking institutions in an attempt ...

  • Genius Products takes on digital rights for TWC

    16-Apr-2007

    LA-based US DVD distributor Genius Products has expanded its relationship with The Weinstein Company (TWC), whereby Genius will now handle digital rights distribution for TWC's film library and direct-to-video content.Under the terms of the new multi-year digital rights agreement, Genius will distribute TWC feature films and direct-to-video content, maintaining both physical and digital distribution rights for the term of the agreement. The transaction grows Genius Products ...

  • IFC First Take, Red Envelope buy domestic on This Is England

    16-Apr-2007

    IFC First Take has partnered with Red Envelope Entertainment to take North American rights to Shane Meadows' This Is England from The Works International.The acquisition was negotiated by IFC's Arianna Bocco and Liesl Copland at Red Envelope with Joy Wong, Head of The Works International.The film, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and recently won the best film award at the ...

  • 65th annual Golden Globes set for Jan 13, 2008

    16-Apr-2007

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the timetable for the 65th Golden Globe Awards.The presentation of the awards will take place on Sunday Jan 13, moving back to Sunday after two years in a new Monday slot.The timetable is as follows:Oct 18, 2007 Final screening date for television entriesOct 19, 2007 Final date for press conferences for TV entriesNov 9, 2007 Deadline for submission of Golden Globe entry forms

  • Vacancy

    16-Apr-2007

    Dir: Nimrod Antal. US. 2007. 97mins.

  • Perfect Stranger

    13-Apr-2007

    Dir: James Foley. 2007. US. 109mins

  • United States - India meets Hollywood

    13-Apr-2007

    Los Angeles-based Christina Marouda had always enjoyed Indian cinema. But it was only when she worked at the city's two biggest film festivals, Afi Fest and the Los Angeles Film Festival, that she realised Indian films needed a better platform in the world's movie capital.

  • Dutch FilmWorks co-founder Roelofs takes on freelance role

    3-Apr-2007

    Wiljan Roelofs, one of the founders of Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) has decided to take a step back from his role as commercial director and will take up a freelance role at the Netherlands distributor.Roelofs will now oversee the DVD rental arm of the company, but will continue to work closely with CEO Willem Pruijssers on new film acquisitions. He will not work with any rival companies in the business.Roelofs has also sold his shares in DFW to the other co-founders Pruijssers ...

  • United States - Shooting range

    30-Mar-2007

    "Not everyone should have, or wants to have, a film industry," says Jean Prewitt, the president and chief executive officer of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (Ifta). "Countries and communities have to understand why they are doing it."

  • Anita Monga joins Seattle Film Festival programming team

    25-Mar-2007

    Anita Monga has been hired as senior programmer at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), reporting to festival director Carl Spence. She will work with Spence and his team on the annual 25-day festival in May and June but primarily focus on programming the new SIFF Cinema in Seattle.Monga comes to Seattle from San Francisco where she has been involved in film exhibition for 28 years. She was director of programming at the famous Castro Theatre, a founding member of ...

  • Cannes' Asian selections set to be strongest in years

    21-Mar-2007

    With the Cannes Film Festival pulling out all the stops for a glittering 60th edition, the Asian selection promises to be the strongest in years.New titles from Jiang Wen, Lee Chang-dong, Kim Ki-duk, Im Kwon-taek, Takeshi Kitano and Wang Xiaoshuai could line up next to Hou Hsiao-Hsien's first French-language film Le Ballon Rouge and Wong Kar-wai's first English-language effort My Blueberry Nights.

  • D-Street, Volkswagen team on US release of Summer

    15-Mar-2007

    Fledgeling US distributor D-Street Releasing has partnered with Volkswagen AG to support the marketing of the upcoming domestic release of Andreas Dresen's Summer In Berlin.The deal is part of an ongoing collaboration between D-Street and Volkswagen to promote and celebrate international film in the US market. The German film opens in New York on March 30 and will hit other cities around the US in April and throughout the summer.

  • AFCI launches Global Initiatives to assist producers

    14-Mar-2007

    The Association Of Film Commmissioners International (AFCI), which is staging its annual Locations Trade Show in Los Angeles April 12 to 14, is launching a series of AFCI Global Initiatives.The initiatives include a worldwide educational programme covering the breadth of the film commission profession, easy access to the most current information available on worldwide incentives and an efficient way to make confidential location inquiries to one or multiple AFCI members commissions ...

  • Violin, Banished, Red Road take top honours at Miami

    11-Mar-2007

    Francisco Vargas Quevedo's El Violin from Mexico and Marco Williams' Banished from the USA won the respective Ibero-American drama and documentary competition sections at the 24th annual Miami International Film Festival during the awards evening on Saturday night (March 10).Meanwhile, Andrea Arnold's much acclaimed Red Road won the World Cinema competition ...

  • De Bokay takes reins of Miami Film Festival from Guillemet

    11-Mar-2007

    Patrick De Bokay is to succeed Nicole Guillemet as director of the Miami International Film Festival. Guillemet had announced last year that she would be leaving the festival after this year's event which finished yesterday (Sunday).French-born De Bokay's career has principally been in film marketing and advertising and has held jobs such as director of marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Theatrical in Paris and as vice president of international marketing for Turner Pictures ...

  • Ascot Elite takes Swiss rights to Doerrie's How To Cook

    1-Mar-2007

    Zurich-based Ascot Elite has bought Swiss rights to Doris Doerrie's documentary How To Cook Your Life from Atrix Films.The film, which had its world premiere in the Berlinale Special section at the Berlin Film Festival last month, follows Doerrie as she engages Zen Master Edward Espe Brown to explain the guiding principles of Zen Buddhism as they apply to the preparation of food as well as to life itself.Ascot Elite also ...

  • Sony, SND/M6, Tele Muenchen among buyers of Marvel films

    28-Feb-2007

    Marvel Studios has announced a series of international deals on Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, the first two films which it is self-financing through its recent $525m credit facility from Merrill Lynch.Sony Pictures has acquired distribution rights to both films in Japan and Spain, SND/M6 has taken them for France and Concorde/Tele Muenchen has taken them for Germany. Paramount Pictures has picked ...

  • The showman

    16-Feb-2007

    The omission of Bill Condon from the list of directing Oscar nominees was a shock to the growing legions of Dreamgirls fans across North America. Condon's DreamWorks and Paramount-backed production, which won the best picture (musical or comedy) Golden Globe, also faced a crushing shutout in the best picture Oscar category. Although the film took eight Academy Award nominations, more than any other this year, and has now grossed in excess of $100m at the box office, Condon's ...

  • Criterion commits to Berlin Alexanderplatz

    11-Feb-2007

    In what promises to result in its most lavish compendium to date, high-end US DVD distributor The Criterion Collection has bought US DVD rights Reiner Werner Fassbinder's monumental 939-minute Berlin Alexanderplatz: Remastered. The film is screening in its entirety today at the Volksbuhne, starting at 10am and finishing at 3am tomorrow morning. A gala premiere of the first two episodes took place on Saturday night at the ...

  • Fortissimo scores German hat trick with Kinowelt

    10-Feb-2007

    Fortissimo Films has closed a three-picture deal with Kinowelt Filmverleih consisting of Martin Scorsese's untitled Rolling Stones documentary, Christopher Guest's comedy For Your Consideration ...

  • Under The Same Moon (La Misma Luna)

    2-Feb-2007

    Dir: Patricia Riggen. US. 2007. 109 mins.Patricia Riggen's first feature film La Misma Luna (The Same Moon) is a road movie which starts off as one of those earnest movies which 'wears its heart on its sleeve' and ultimately, irretrievably, descends into cliche and sentimentality. Centred around a Mexican boy who is cuter and more adorable than all the kids in

  • Foreign Language Films - And then there were five

    2-Feb-2007

    In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for the first time unveiled a shortlist of nine films for the foreign-language film category, a week before the nominations were announced. Some 61 films were submitted in October 2006, nine were shortlisted and the final five were announced on January 23. It was a sad day for the four films that made the shortlist but failed to reach the final five - namely Daniele Thompson's Avenue Montaigne (aka Orchestra Seats) ...

  • Summer Rain (El Camino De Los Ingleses)

    1-Feb-2007

    Dir: Antonio Banderas. Spain. 2007. 118 mins.A dreamlike and seductive second feature from Antonio Banderas, Summer Rain follows a group of young men and women in Malaga in the 1970s as they struggle to transition into adulthood. A nostalgic exercise of sorts for Banderas, himself ...

  • Clubland

    31-Jan-2007

    Directed by Cherie Nowlan. Australia. 2007. 108 mins.Clubland, Cherie Nowlan's ...

  • Slipstream

    26-Jan-2007

    Dir: Anthony Hopkins. US. 2007. 110mins.Anthony Hopkins' first film as a director since 1996's August is arambling, sporadically engaging experiment which attempts to illustratea man's descent into madness through stream-of-consciousness visualsand distorted, overlapping ...

  • A Very British Gangster

    26-Jan-2007

    Dir: Donal MacIntyre. UK. 2006. 97mins.Donal MacIntyre's first feature is a documentary portrait of DominicNoonan, a working-class British gangster who is the head of Manchester

  • In Focus - Academy awards and the nominees are..

    26-Jan-2007

    The nominations for the 79th Academy Awards see Dreamgirls leading the race. But the hit musical has been shut out of the best picture and director categories. It also received three nominations for best song, meaning that it can only win five Oscars at most.

  • Son Of Rambow

    24-Jan-2007

    Dir: Garth Jennings. UK-Fr. 2007. 94mins.An immensely satisfying comedy about childhood friendship, Son Of Rambow is one of those rare British films which is at once culturally specific but directed with such confidence and visual panache that it should enjoy worldwide distribution. The work of hot UK director/producer team Jennings and Goldsmith aka Hammer & Tongs, the film was, ironically, not financed with the assistance of the UK Film Council but principally ...

  • Dreamgirls leads Oscar nominees but shut out of Best Picture race

    23-Jan-2007

    Dreamgirls led the Oscar race with eight nominations this morning but the hit musical was shut out of the best picture and director categories. It also took three nominations in the best song category, meaning that it could only win five Oscars at most.

  • An American Crime

    20-Jan-2007

    Dir: Tommy O'Haver. US. 2007. 92mins.A horrifiying real-life crime from 1965 Indiana is recreated with almost scientific verisimilitude in Tommy O'Haver's first serious drama, An American Crime. Although often excruciating to watch, it is so well-crafted and well-acted that its portrait of casual savagery in the burbs resonates long after the end credits roll.

  • An American Crime

    20-Jan-2007

    Dir: Tommy O'Haver. US. 2007. 92mins.A horrifiying real-life crime from 1965 Indiana is recreated with almost scientific verisimilitude in Tommy O'Haver's first serious drama, An American Crime. Although often excruciating to watch, it is so well-crafted and well-acted that its portrait of casual savagery in the burbs resonates long after the end credits roll.First Look, which financed the film, has a hard road ahead releasing An American ...

  • 18 new titles selected for Hungarian Film Week

    9-Jan-2007

    Hungarian Film Week has announced the lineup for its 38th annual showcase of new Hungarian cinema which takes place from Jan 30 to Feb 6 in Budapest.For the first time in the history of the event, a selection committee whittled down the available films to 18 films in competition. Pal Sandor's newest film Noah's Ark opens Film Week on Jan 30, a natural choice bearing in mind that Sandor (Daniel Takes ...

  • Atlantic Overseas, EuroCo set US/Hungarian co-production slate

    19-Dec-2006

    New York-based AtlanticOverseas Pictures and Budapest-based EuroCo Productions are partnering up toco-produce a slate of films kicking off with Holocaust love story The FlowerOf The Fence starring RichardDreyfuss and Maia Morgenstern.

  • Dafoe joins Goldblum in Schrader's Adam Resurrected for Bleiberg

    19-Dec-2006

    WillemDafoe has joined Jeff Goldblum in the cast of Paul Schrader's Holocaust drama AdamResurrected whichis being financed and produced by Bleiberg Entertainment.

  • Hudson of Dreamgirls to get breakthrough performance award at Palm Springs

    19-Dec-2006

    Jennifer Hudson, the star ofDreamgirls, will receive the BreakthroughPerformance Award at the 18th annual Palm Springs International FilmFestival awards gala on Jan 13, 2007.

  • Lionsgate tries Tenderness in multiple territories

    19-Dec-2006

    Lionsgate has acquired rights in North America, UK,Australia and South Africa to GreeneStreet Films' thriller Tenderness which is directed by John Polson and stars RussellCrowe.

  • Warner Premiere staffs up in marketing, business affairs, production

    19-Dec-2006

    Warner Bros Entertainment has hired key executives to staffits recently launched direct-to-DVD and direct-to-platform production armWarner Premiere.

  • Palm Springs to open with Outsourced close with Tiger's Tail

    16-Dec-2006

    The Palm Springs International Film Festival will open its18th annual event on Jan 4 with the US premiere of John Jeffcoat's Outsourced about a salesman who heads to India to train hisreplacement after his entire department is outsourced. It will close on Jan 14with the North American premiere of John Boorman's The Tiger's Tail starring Brendan Gleeson and Kim Cattrall.

  • Seven film shortlisted for visual effects Academy Award

    16-Dec-2006

    Seven film have been shortlisted for consideration for the visual effects Oscar by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS).They are Casino Royale, Night At The Museum, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Poseidon, Superman Returns and X-Men The Last Stand.On Jan 17, the Academy's visual effects award nominating committee will view 15 minute film excerpts from each of the seven ...

  • Ennio Morricone to receive honorary Oscar in 2007

    14-Dec-2006

    Italian composerand conductor Ennio Morricone will receive an honorary Oscar at next year'sAcademy Awards ceremony on Feb 25, 2007, 'for his magnificent and multifacetedcontributions to the art of film music.'Remarkably,Morricone, who has received five nominations before, has never won the Oscar.His nominations were for Days Of Heaven (1978), The Mission (1986), The Untouchables (1987), Bugsy (1991) and Malena ...

  • Best in show: best actor contenders

    12-Dec-2006

    Ifthe winner of the best actor Oscar was hardly a surprise last year whenPhilip Seymour Hoffman won for Capote or 2004 when Jamie Foxx won forRay, 2006 is anything but a one-horse race. No single performance hasleapt out so far, a far cry from the best actress category which is,unusually, bristling with top-notch contenders. Yes, there are greatperformances by male actors this year, just none which has so far wonoverwhelming approval.At time of going to press, three leadperformances ...

  • Iwo Jima voted best picture of 2006 by LA Critics

    11-Dec-2006

    Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima, already named best picture of the year by the National Board Of Review on Wednesday, was names best picture of 2006 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) yesterday (Sunday). The runner-up was The Queen.

  • Iwo Jima voted best picture of 2006 by LA Critics

    11-Dec-2006

    Clint Eastwood's LettersFrom Iwo Jima, already named bestpicture of the year by the National Board Of Review on Wednesday, was namesbest picture of 2006 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA)yesterday (Sunday). The runner-up was The Queen.

  • The Good German

    3-Dec-2006

    Dir: Steven Soderbergh. US. 2006.107mins.Steven Soderbergh's latestcinematic experiment is an homage to atmospheric wartime noir classics like The Third Man and Casablanca, attempting to reconjure themagic by recreating post-war Berlin on the backlot, shootingin black-and-white and encouraging the actors to give heightened theatricalperformances a la Bogart or Dietrich. It's a bold idea but a failure in the realisation, ...

  • Picture players: Best director contenders

    2-Dec-2006

    Asthe final wet prints of year-end releases are frantically unveiled toawards voters in Los Angeles, New York and London, a picture of theplayers who will rise to the top in the kudos countdown is emerging.And that picture is a surprising one. 2006 has featured an unusuallylarge number of so-called prestige films. Some, like All The King's Menand A Good Year, were early exits from the race when they were firstscreened. Others, like Children Of Men and ...

  • Dreamgirls

    1-Dec-2006

    Dir: Bill Condon. US. 2006.130mins.

  • The Holiday

    1-Dec-2006

  • 56 foreign-language films qualify for Golden Globes

    29-Nov-2006

    Fifty-six foreign-language films have qualified for consideration in the 64th Golden Globes race.

  • Magiday joins Element Films as head of production

    28-Nov-2006

    Lee Magiday, former vice president of acquisition andproduction, Europe, at Focus Features, has joined Dublin-based productionoutfit Element Films as head of production. She will remain based in London.Magiday (pictured) left Focus in 2005 to take some timeoff. At Element, she will have responsibility ...

  • Beauty In Trouble takes Denver's Kieslowski Award

    23-Nov-2006

    Jan Hrebejk's Beauty In Trouble was the winner of this year's Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for best feature film at the Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF).

  • Focus on 2006 craft awards

    23-Nov-2006

    Surveying the patterns that Academy voters follow when choosing the craft awards, Screen selects the likely contenders for this year's categories in production design, cinematography, costume design, editing, music and visual effects.

  • The Nativity Story

    22-Nov-2006

  • 2006 Golden Globe winners

    21-Nov-2006

    Best Motion Picture - DramaBrokeback MountainBest Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture - DramaFelicity Huffman - TransamericaBest Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture - DramaPhilip Seymour Hoffman - CapoteBest Motion Picture - Musical Or ComedyWalk The LineBest Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture - Musical Or ComedyReese ...

  • Golden Globes to introduce animated feature in 2007

    21-Nov-2006

  • Foreign-language Oscar submissions in full

    21-Nov-2006

    Argentina Family Law (Daniel Burman)

  • Wonders Of The World

    21-Nov-2006

    You could argue that every year is a banner year for international cinema, but few would deny that 2006 has more than its fair share of crowd-pleasing non-English language movies.

  • Light relief from the Globes

    21-Nov-2006

    The Golden Globes show not only brings together the world of film and TV but it also includes categories in comedy and musical categories, one of the major differentiating features of the Globes from other awards bodies.

  • AMPAS names shortlist of 16 for animated feature Oscar

    20-Nov-2006

    The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) has announced a list of 16 films which are expected to compete for the animated feature Oscar this year. Since the category allows five nominations if there are 16 eligible films or more, 2006 could be the first year since 2002 to have a five-film face-off.

  • Beauty In Trouble takes Denver's Kieslowski Award

    20-Nov-2006

    Jan Hrebejk's Beauty In Trouble was the winner of this year's Krzysztof KieslowskiAward for best feature film at the Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF) whichended on Saturday night with the US premiere of Werner Herzog's RescueDawn.

  • Curse Of The Golden Flower (Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia)

    13-Nov-2006

    Dir: Zhang Yimou. China. 2006.114mins.

  • Venture capitalist Hoff to finance Vertigo chiller Echo

    7-Nov-2006

    Roy Lee and Doug Davison'sprolific LA-based production outfit Vertigo Entertainment has secured thebacking of venture capitalist Robert Hoff and his new company RightOffEntertainment to fully finance The Echo, aremake of 2004 Filipino thriller Sigaw.Hoff, a general partner atCrosspoint ...

  • Amritraj's Hyde Park to co-finance Merchant Ivory's City

    6-Nov-2006

    Ashok Amritraj's Hyde ParkEntertainment is teaming up with Merchant Ivory Productions (MIP) to co-produceJames Ivory's latest film The City Of Your Final Destination which is set to star Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney,Omar Metwally, Hiro Sanada, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Norma Aleandro, AlexandraMaria Lara and Kate Burton.

  • Locarno Film Festival adds international shorts competition section

    6-Nov-2006

    The Locarno InternationalFilm Festival has a delegation in AFM prepping for next year's 60thanniversary edition which runs Aug 1 to 11, 2007.

  • Strand buys two for North America from Fortissimo

    5-Nov-2006

    Strand Releasing has pickedup North American rights to two films from Fortissimo Films - ApichatpongWeerasethakul's Syndromes And A Century and Tsai Ming-liang's I Don't Want To Sleep Alone. Both films, which played in competition at theVenice Film Festival and at Toronto, were commissioned as part of the City OfVienna's New Crowned Hope series.

  • AMPAS names shortlist of 16 for animated feature Oscar

    3-Nov-2006

    The Academy Of MotionPicture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) has announced a list of 16 films which areexpected to compete for the animated feature Oscar this year. Since thecategory allows five nominations if there are 16 eligible films or more, 2006could be the first year since 2002 to have a five-film face-off.

  • Madrid-LA Forum draws Iacono, Pittleman

    2-Nov-2006

    The first ever Madrid-LA Entertainment Media Forum closed on Tuesday, after two days of 250 intensive meetings between 17 Madrid-based film, TV and music companies and 45 of their US counterparts.

  • Telepool picks up Gilles

    2-Nov-2006

    Germany's Telepool has acquired German and Austrian rights to Belgian box office hit Gilles from Sola Media. The story, about a 12-year-old boy and his passion for football, scored 230,000 admissions in Belgium. The deal was negotiated by Beatrix Wesle for Sola Media and Marc Gabizon and Silke Wilfinger for Telepool.

  • Summit brings Pope Joan, Buck Howard to buyers

    30-Oct-2006

    Summit Entertainment hasboarded Constantin Film's latest English-language production Pope Joan which will be directed by Volker Schloendorff withFranka Potente in the title role.

  • Children Of Glory (Szabadsag, Szerelem)

    24-Oct-2006

  • Running With Scissors

    16-Oct-2006

    Dir: Ryan Murphy. US.2006. 122 mins.Ryan Murphy, the Hollywood wunderkind whose Nip/Tuck is one of the most cutting edge series on US TV atthe moment, turns his caustic sensibilities to Running With Scissors, the film version of Augusten Burroughs' popularmemoirs. As one might expect from the creator of Nip/Tuck, Murphy opts for a bleak tone in the story of ayoung boy's nightmare childhood, replacing the cheerful black comedy ofBurroughs' ...

  • Lumina takes on worldwide rights to Espectro

    12-Oct-2006

    London-based Lumina Filmshas picked up worldwide rights to Colombian horror movie Espectro (pictured) and will screen the film for buyers atAFM.

  • Australia's Horniak wins HATCHfest for student short Love Proof

    10-Oct-2006

    The third annual HATCHfestAudiovisual Arts Festival closed in Bozeman, Montana, with the presentation ofthe Moonlight Basin Outstanding Filmmaker Award to Australia's Maia Horniak forher short film Loveproof.Thefilm festival, which brings in student film-makers from around the world with aview to offering mentorship, education and inspiration, gave Horniak a cashprize of $10,000 as well as a Panavision camera package, post-production ...

  • Fur: An Imaginary Portrait Of Diane Arbus

    9-Oct-2006

    Dir: Steven Shainberg. US. 2006. 122mins.

  • Polanski to preside over competition jury at Marrakech

    5-Oct-2006

    The sixthMarrakech International Film Festival, which will take place from Dec 1 to 9, hasannounced that Roman Polanski will be the president of this year's competition jury. Thefestival which takes place under the patronage of Morocco's King Mohammed VIwill also feature a retrospective focus on Italian cinema.

  • The Departed

    2-Oct-2006

    Dir: Martin Scorsese. US.2006. 119 mins.

  • Nominations announced for third Hollywood World Award

    26-Sep-2006

    ScreenInternational and The Hollywood Film Festival have named the ten nominationsfor this year's Hollywood World Award.Apanel ...

  • The Dog Pound (La Perrera)

    26-Sep-2006

  • Mon Meilleur Ami

    22-Sep-2006

  • Breaking And Entering

    14-Sep-2006

    Dir/scr: Anthony Minghella. UK. 2006. 119mins.

  • Strand buys domestic rights to Goldberger's Hawk Is Dying

    14-Sep-2006

    Strand Releasing has acquired North American rights to JulianGoldberger's The Hawk Is Dying which had its world premiere at Sundance this year and alsoplayed in Directors' Fortnight at Cannes.

  • Bruce Weber plots Robert Mitchum documentary

    10-Sep-2006

    Bruce Weber, in Toronto, tosupport a Dialogues screening of his 1988 documentary Let's Get Lost, has announced that his next project will definitelybe his long-cherished Nice Girls Don't Stay For Breakfast: A Portrait OfRobert Mitchum.

  • Stranger Than Fiction

    10-Sep-2006

  • Bavaria on board for restoration of Berlin Alexanderplatz

    9-Sep-2006

    Bavaria Media has teamed upwith The Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation torestore Fassbinder's classic 14-part TV opus Berlin Alexanderplatz,which first aired on ARD in 1980.

  • Bruce Weber to start Robert Mitchum documentary

    9-Sep-2006

  • Feature planned based on life of rocker Carole Pope

    9-Sep-2006

    Jan Nathansonof straight edge films and Andrew Boutilier of SubmissionFilms have teamed to acquire the rights to produce a feature based on the lifeand times of Canadian rock icon Carole Pope.

  • MTV Films Europe on board for Bunny Chow

    8-Sep-2006

    MTVFilms Europe (MTVFE) has boarded John Barker's South African comedy Bunny Chow as a co-producer, will assistsales outfit Deviant Selling in world sales and will provide a global marketingplatform for the film in the territories it is released in.

  • Marcoly promoted to president, sales & distribution, at BVI

    6-Sep-2006

    Followingthe promotion of Mark Zoradi to president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group,Anthony Marcoly has been named president, sales and distribution, at BuenaVista International.

  • MGM revamps TV distribution unit, announces five new sequels

    6-Sep-2006

    MGM is revamping its worldwide television distribution operation,naming Jim Packer as president. Packer, who has been at MGM fo six years, willreport to MGM chief operating officer Rick Sands and will be in charge of TVdistribution including US barter sales and syndication as well as emergingforms ...

  • Venus

    5-Sep-2006

    Dir: Roger Michell. UK. 2006. 95mins.

  • The Last King Of Scotland

    4-Sep-2006

    Dir: Kevin Macdonald. UK. 2006. 121mins.

  • Peter Jackson, Universal to remake Dambusters

    31-Aug-2006

    Peter Jackson and hisWingNut Films have revealed plans to make a new film based on the book TheDam Busters by Paul Brickhill andthe classic 1954 British war film of the same name.

  • Lumina gets sales on Toronto Discovery Glue

    29-Aug-2006

    London-based Lumina Filmshas picked up worldwide sales rights to Alexis Dos Santos' Glue, which plays as a Discovery in the forthcomingToronto International Film Festival.

  • Foldes, Meyerink named heads of educational outreach at Breckenridge

    28-Aug-2006

    The 26th annual Breckenridge Film Festival, whichtakes place Sept 7 to 10 in Breckenridge, Colorado, has appointed film-makersLawrence David Foldes and Victoria Paige Meyerink directors of the festival's new educational outreachprogramme.

  • HATCHfest names ten student film-makers on shortlist for 2006 festival

    28-Aug-2006

    Ten student film-makerfinalists from around the world have been selected for the upcoming HatchAudiovisual Arts Festival, HATCHfest, which will run Oct 3 to 8 in Bozeman,Montana. The festival, whose mission is to provide mentorship, education,inspiration and recognition, honours the young film-makers who are dubbed"Groundbreakers" with various awards for best director, cinematography, editingand score.

  • Romero to start Diary Of The Dead in October

    25-Aug-2006

    Nicolas Chartier's LA-basedsales agency Voltage Pictures has acquired worldwide sales rights to George ARomero's Diary Of The Dead, thelatest film in Romero's Dead series,which is scheduled to begin shooting on Oct 11, 2006.

  • BVI set for eighth straight weekend lead with Pirates

    25-Aug-2006

    Buena Vista Internationalshould rule the international box office seas for the eighth consecutiveweekend with Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. The adventure sequel has only two small openings- Greece and Lebanon, which both opened today (Thursday) - but itshould easily stay top bearing in mind its seventh weekend take was $25.5m.

  • Beautiful Dreamer to open Temecula Valley Film festival

    24-Aug-2006

    Terri Farley's romanticdrama Beautiful Dreamer will openthe 2006 Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival on Sept 13.The festival, which runs Sept 13 to 17, will also screen the short West BankStory on opening night, a musicalcomedy about an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian girl torn between their lovefor each other.

  • Cholera cast beefs up with Leguizamo, Montenegro

    24-Aug-2006

    John Leguizamo, HectorElizondo and Fernanda Montenegro have joined the cast of Mike Newell's film ofGabriel Garcia Marquez's novel Love In The Time Of Cholera which is set to start shooting on Sept 4 inCartegena, Colombia and London.

  • Fox's History Boys to have royal world premiere in London

    24-Aug-2006

    Nicholas Hytner's upcomingfilm of Alan Bennett's stage phenomenon The History Boys will have its world premiere in London in thepresence of the Prince Of Wales and the Duchess Of Cornwall on Oct 2. Thepremiere will be held in aid of The Prince's Trust.

  • PHEI makes series of senior appointments and promotions

    24-Aug-2006

    Paramount Home EntertainmentInternational (PHEI) has made a series of promotions and appointments in itsinternational management team to reflect the integration of DreamWorks into thecompany, among other factors.

  • Regent takes worldwide rights to Aurora Borealis

    24-Aug-2006

    Regent Releasing hasacquired worldwide rights to James Burke's family drama Aurora Borealis and will release it domestically on Sept 15.

  • Sony breaks $1bn international gross mark in record time

    24-Aug-2006

    Sony Pictures ReleasingInternational (SPRI) has announced that it passed $1bn in grosses today(Aug 24)- a record time for the company. The previous record for the studio wasSept 8, 2002, when the company went on to take $1.3bn in international grosses.

  • TWC, IFC Films reteam to import Indigenes

    24-Aug-2006

    The Weinstein Company andIFC Films are reteaming to co-distribute Rachid Bouchareb's Indigenes aka Days Of Glory in North America. The film played in competition atCannes this year and won the best actor award for male ensemble cast. It willhave its North American premiere at Toronto next month.

  • Bauer Martinez settles legal wrangles with McTiernan

    23-Aug-2006

    Bauer Martinez Entertainmentand film-maker John McTiernan have settled the litigation between them thatarose over the project Crash Bandits which McTiernan was to have directed for Bauer Martinez.

  • Cruise/Wagner parts with Paramount in full media spotlight

    23-Aug-2006

    Tom Cruise and PaulaWagner's Cruise/Wagner Productions is leaving Viacom's Paramount Pictures after13 years at the studio.

  • Nolte, Foster, Suvari board Groundswell's Mysteries

    23-Aug-2006

    Nick Nolte, Jon Foster andMena Suvari have joined Peter Sarsgaard and Sienna Miller in the cast of TheMysteries Of Pittsburgh, the firstfilm to go before the cameras for Michael London's new financing and productionoutfit Groundswell Productions.

  • Showbox picks up UK rights to Edinburgh title Cards

    23-Aug-2006

    Shoreline Entertainment hassold UK rights to Dead Man's Cardsto Showbox Media Group. The film had its world premiere this week as a BritishGala at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Showbox plans to release thefilm theatrically later this year.

  • Stone named director of the year at Hollywood Film Awards

    23-Aug-2006

    Oliver Stone is to receivethe Hollywood Film Award for Hollywood Director of the Year at the HollywoodAwards ceremony on Oct 23 in Los Angeles.

  • Wolfe picks up seven gay and lesbian titles for US distribution

    23-Aug-2006

    Gay and lesbian-focused USindependent distributor Wolfe Releasing has picked up seven films on the summerLGBT film festival circuit.

  • Emerging to screen Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film in 20 US cities

    22-Aug-2006

    New York-based digitalcinema network Emerging Pictures is partnering with Thirteen/WNET New York andother local PBS TV stations across the US to screen Andy Warhol: ADocumentary Film in theatricalvenues in 20 cities.

  • jindabyne gets North American deal with SPC

    22-Aug-2006

    Sony Pictures Classics hasacquired North American rights to Ray Lawrence's jindabyne which had its world premiere in Directors' Fortnightat Cannes this year and which will have its North American premiere at Torontoas a Special Presentation.

  • The Secret to open Tahoe-Reno Film Festival

    22-Aug-2006

    The Tahoe-Reno International Film Festival, which stagedits first event last year with a specific mandate to showcase sociallyresponsible films, has set The Secret asits opening night film on Aug 23.The film is a historic account of an age-old secret saidto be 4,000 years in the making and ...

  • Universal hires Baard to run Australia, New Zealand office

    22-Aug-2006

    Universal Pictures has hiredMike Baard (pictured) as managing director, Australia and New Zealand. The movecomes in the wake of the restructuring of UIP and the studio's preparations toopen its own theatrical operations in 15 major territories on Jan 1, 2007.

  • Viacom upgrades MTV Films, Nick Movies to Paramount labels

    22-Aug-2006

    Viacom has elevated thestatus of its subsidiary production companies MTV Films and Nick Movies fromon-the-lot producers to "full labels" under the Paramount Motion Picture Group(PMPG) umbrella alongside Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantageand Paramount Classics.

  • Nelson named to run Warner Bros new direct-to-DVD arm

    21-Aug-2006

    Diane Nelson (pictured) has been namedpresident of Warner Premiere, a newly created direct-to-DVD production divisionof Warner Bros Entertainment. She will report to both Kevin Tsujihara,president of Warner Bros Home Entertainment Group, and Jeff Robinov, presidentpf production at Warner Bros Pictures.

  • Sano, Gamst named SPRI managers in Japan, Spain

    21-Aug-2006

    Sony Pictures Releasing International has named two newterritorial general managers in Japan and Spain.

  • TWC acquires worldwide rights to Dixie Chicks doc

    21-Aug-2006

    The Weinstein Company has picked up worldwide rights toBarbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck's documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up And Sing which will have its world premiere at the TorontoInternational Film Festival next month. It is the first documentary in 14 yearsto be screened in Toronto as a gala presentation.

  • Pirates week seven: BVI blockbuster takes $25.5m

    20-Aug-2006

    In its seventh consecutiveweekend on release, Buena Vista International (BVI)'s Pirates Of TheCaribbean: Dead Man's Chest led theinternational box office with a $25.5m take from 51 territories on 6,222screens.

  • Snakes falls short of hype with $15.25m domestic opening

    20-Aug-2006

    Despite the hype, New Line's Snakes On A Plane had a disappointing opening weekend inNorth America, taking $13.85m on 3,555 screens in three days and $15.25mincluding 10pm shows on Thursday night.

  • Brokeback, Kong among World Soundtrack Award nominees

    19-Aug-2006

    The World Soundtrack Academy has named its nominees for thethree key categories in the annual World Soundtrack Awards, an initiative ofthe Flanders International Film Festival - Ghent, which will this year bepresented in Ghent on Oct 14.

  • Diaz, Cinema Libre complete sexually explicit Now And Later

    19-Aug-2006

    Cinema Libre Studio has completed production on the HDfictional feature Now & Later in LosAngeles. The company best known for its documentary output fully financed thefilm which marks the US debut of Philippe Diaz (The Empire In Africa) who founded Cinema Libre.

  • Hollywoodland

    17-Aug-2006

    Dir: Allen Coulter. US.2006. 126mins.

  • Scoop

    17-Jul-2006

    Dir: Woody Allen. UK/US. 2006. 96 mins.

  • Screen, HFF name jury for Hollywood World Award

    14-Jul-2006

    Screen International and TheHollywood Film Festival have named the panel of international judges assembledto decide on the nominations of this year's Hollywood World Award.

  • Academy invites 120 new voting members to join

    6-Jul-2006

    The Academy OfMotion Picture Arts & Sciences has issued its annual membership invitationstatement, naming the 120 artists and executives who will become new votingmembers in 2006.

  • Screen partners with Denver festival on Kieslowski Award

    5-Jul-2006

    ScreenInternational is partnering with the Starz Denver Film Festival to present thethe Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature Film, a juried award presentedannually at the festival to a feature-length fiction film that reflects theartistic sensibilities of the late Polish director.''

  • Academy revamps foreign language Oscar category

    30-Jun-2006

    The foreign languagecategory of the Academy Awards has finally been revamped after years ofcontroversy.

  • Bloom to join Bosworth in Seasons Of Dust

    26-Jun-2006

    Orlando Bloom will join hisreal-life girlfriend Kate Bosworth in the independent drama Seasons Of Dust which has been written and will be directed byactor/film-maker Tim Blake Nelson (O, The Grey Zone) and is due to shoot this summer.

  • Olguin signs to direct Mayhem Project's Clock Tower

    26-Jun-2006

    One year-old LA-basedproduction and financing outfit The Mayhem Project has signed Chile's JorgeOlguin to direct horror film Clock Tower, based on the bestselling video game franchise from Japan's Capcom.

  • France's OSS 117 wins top audience prize at Seattle

    19-Jun-2006

    The 32nd annual Seattle International FilmFestival (SIFF) closed its epic, 25-day run on Sunday with a gala screening ofMichel Gondry's The Science Of Sleep atwhich Gondry was in attendance.

  • Superman Returns

    19-Jun-2006

    Dir: Bryan Singer. US.2006. 150 mins.

  • Screen teams with HFF for Hollywood World Award

    8-Jun-2006

    Screen International isteaming up for the third consecutive year with the Hollywood Film Festival andthe Hollywood Awards to present the Hollywood World Award, a prize for the bestin world cinema which will be presented at the Hollywood Awards ceremony at theBeverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on Oct 23.

  • Puerto Rico shoot kicks off for Maladies Of Love

    7-Jun-2006

    Donald Ranvaud's Buena Ondahas unveiled Maldeamores (Maladies Of Love), the first film from thefund set up by its parent company IFC and the Puerto Rico Film IndustryDevelopment Corporation.The film, which iscurrently in production, stars Luis Guzman among other Puerto Rican actors in aseries of darkly humorous ...

  • Janus Films to get 50 year celebration during New York Film Festival

    6-Jun-2006

    TheNew York Film Festival will hold a retrospective of the films released by 50year-old US specialized distributor Janus Films during its 44thedition which runs from Sept 29 to Oct 15 this year.

  • 24th Outfest to open with Puccini on July 6

    28-May-2006

    Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian FilmFestival, will kick off its 24th edition on July 6 with MariaMaggenti's comedy Puccini For Beginners and close on July 17 with Spanish musical 20 Centimeters directed by Ramon Salazar.Among the other gala screenings are Q Allan Brocka's BoyCulture which will play on AwardsNight, ...

  • MySpace teams with Bside, Right Angle to launch touring US film and music fest

    28-May-2006

    Hugely successful lifestyleportal MySpace is teaming with specialized independent film distributor BsideEntertainment and festival consultant Right Angle Studios to launch the BsideRoadshow, a touring US film and music festival which will begin on June 4 inAustin, Texas.

  • Picturehouse wins US rights to La Vie En Rose

    28-May-2006

    New Line/HBO joint venturePicturehouse has acquired US rights to the hotly sought after Cannes markettitle La Vie En Rose, the biopicof Edith Piaf which stars Marion Cotillard as Piaf and Gerard Depardieu as LouisLeplee.

  • Sono's Circus scores Cannes US deal with TLA

    28-May-2006

    Philadelphia-based TLAReleasing has acquired North American theatrical and home entertainment rightsto Sion Sono's Japanese shocker Strange Circus. It is the seond Sono film in TLA's library after SuicideClub which is featured in thecompany's upcoming "Danger After Dark" box set.

  • Focus International sells out on Cannes slate

    26-May-2006

    Focus Features International has reported its most successful Cannes ever, preselling "pretty much the entire slate" according to president Alison Thompson here yesterday. Thompson said thatthe company had closed 110 deals on its new titles, demonstrating, she said, thatthe company continues to sell films contrary to market speculation that Focustitles would be fed increasingly through Universal International.

  • Linklater plans Chet Baker project

    24-May-2006

  • Oliver Stone unveils World Trade Center footage in Cannes

    23-May-2006

  • Rocket Pictures plans new UK animation facility for Gnomeo

    22-May-2006

    Elton John and DavidFurnish's Rocket Pictures is teaming with Miramax Films to create a newanimated facility in London for the Rocket/Miramax CG-animated musical comedy GnomeoAnd Juliet.

  • Werner works with Vajna on Hungarian Children Of Glory

    22-May-2006

  • Horror film Damned finds several buyers

    21-May-2006

  • UK's Brass Hat seals new $200m equity mega-fund

    21-May-2006

    UK production and financing group Brass Hat Films is positioning itselfas a major European player, after securing a $200m equity fund from ahigh-net-worth individual in the middle east in addition to its existingin-house equity funds which are now entering their fifth cycle.

  • Bauer Martinez takes new tactic with The Break-Up Guy

    20-May-2006

    Bauer Martinez Studios isretooling its business plan to focus on self-generated material and plans tokick off this October with production of original comedy The Break-Up Guy scripted by David Drew Gallagher.

  • Summit embarks on pan-Latin distribution

    19-May-2006

    Summit Entertainment has set up its own Latin Americandistribution operation in alliance with LA-based Pedro Rodriguez who formerlyran the Latin distribution consortium Nu Vision Network.The outfit, International Distribution Company (IDC), hasset up a fixed structure of distribution partners in each Latin territory whichwill handle 5 or 6 Summit titles a year.

  • Summit sets up Latin American distribution operation

    19-May-2006

    Leading LA production,financing and sales house Summit Entertainment has set up its own LatinAmerican distribution operation in alliance with LA-based Pedro Rodriguez whoformerly ran the Latin distribution consortium Nu Vision Network.

  • Swank takes lead in Alcon production

    19-May-2006

    Double Oscar winner Hilary Swank has signed to star inPS, I Love You, the forthcoming film ofCecelia Ahern's bestseller which is being produced by Alcon Entertainment,released domestically by Warner Bros and sold here by SummitEntertainment.

  • Swank to star in PS, I Love You

    19-May-2006

  • Swank to star in PS, I Love You

    19-May-2006

  • Weisbein's Green Room sells Damned for Fried, Keston

    19-May-2006

    Pierre Weisbein'sGreen Room Pictures has struck a deal with producers Rob Fried and Dan Kestonof Fried Films/The Pantry to handle international sales on Damned.

  • Sola/Atrix pick up international rights to Friel-starrer Bathory

    17-May-2006

    German sales company SolaMedia/Atrix Films has picked up international rights to Juraj Jakabisko's Bathory, which stars Anna Friel as the murderous Countess ofTransylvania alongside Hans Matheson, Karel Roden and Vincent Regan.

  • The Da Vinci Code

    17-May-2006

    Dir: Ron Howard. US.2006. 152 mins.If Dan Brown's soaraway bestseller The Da Vinci Code wasclumsily written but a page-turning guilty pleasure, Ron Howard's film versionis well-made but chronically devoid of the guilty pleasures it needs to make itsucceed as first-rate popcorn entertainment. Howard and screenwriter AkivaGoldsman have remained rigidly faithful to the chronology and events of thebook, but make ponderous work of the delicious conspiracy ...

  • Toronto Film Festival creates new pass structure for delegates

    17-May-2006

  • Kino picks up North American rights to Old Joy

    16-May-2006

    Boutique US distributor Kino International has pickedup North American rights to Kelly Reichardt's critically acclaimed Old Joy whichwas a hit at this year's Sundance, Rotterdam and New Directors/New Filmsfestivals.

  • Starz signs multi-year sponsorship deal with Hollywood Film Festival

    16-May-2006

    Premium US cable movie service Starz EntertainmentGroup (SEG) has signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Carlos deAbreu's Hollywood Film Festival (HFF) kicking off with this year's event Oct 17to 23.

  • van der Werff promoted to executive vp at SPRI

    15-May-2006

    Longtime Sony Picturespublicity strategist Susan van der Werff has been promoted to executive vicepresident of international publicity for Sony Pictures Releasing International.

  • Boy Culture

    9-May-2006

  • Fifty Pills

    9-May-2006

  • Focus unveils powerhouse Cannes lineup

    5-May-2006

    Focus Features Internationalhas laid out its most ambitious sales slate to date for Cannes including aTouchstone Pictures production called Dan In The Real Life which Buena Vista will distribute domestically andkey territories on Sean Penn's Into the Wild which Paramount's specialty arm will distributedomestically.

  • The Night Of The White Pants

    5-May-2006

  • Walker Payne

    5-May-2006

  • Hungarian distributor signs for Freedom's Fury

    3-May-2006

    BestHollywood has acquired distribution rights in Hungary to English-languagedocumentary Freedom's Fury, which had its world premiere last week at theTribeca Film Festival.

  • Mark Gill is out at Warner Independent Pictures

    3-May-2006

    Ina surprise announcement released last night (Tuesday), Warner Bros Picturesannounced that Mark Gill is leaving his post as president of Warner IndependentPictures (WIP).

  • Mission: Impossible III

    3-May-2006

  • The TV Set

    3-May-2006

    Dir: Jake Kasdan. US. 2006. 87mins.

  • Middletown

    27-Apr-2006

  • The Sentinel

    21-Apr-2006

  • Miami Film Festival takes industry delegation to Chile

    19-Apr-2006

  • Kirk's Middletown is late entry to Tribeca

    11-Apr-2006

    Brian Kirk's Middletown has been added to the Discovery Section of theupcoming Tribeca Film Festival.

  • Those Happy Days has world premiere, then wins audience prize at LA French Film Festival

    10-Apr-2006

    ThoseHappy Days (Ces Jours Heureux), the second feature film from Eric Toledano and OlivierNakeche, won the audience choice award at the tenth annual City Of Lights, CityOf Angels (COLCOA) French Film Festival in Los Angeles which closed on Sunday.

  • Fox teams with Denmark's Nordisk for digital exhibition

    9-Apr-2006

    Ice Age 2: The Meltdown has become 20th Century Fox International'sfirst digital release in JPEG2000 on the Nordisk Film circuit in Denmark.The ...

  • American Dreamz

    7-Apr-2006

    Dir: Paul Weitz. US. 2006. 107mins.

  • Come Early Morning

    3-Apr-2006

  • Ice Age 2: The Meltdown

    31-Mar-2006

    Dir: Carlos Saldanha. US.2006. 91 mins.

  • Basic Instinct 2

    30-Mar-2006

    Dir: Michael Caton-Jones.US/UK. 2006. 113 mins.The crime of BasicInstinct 2 ...

  • A dialogue with Marc Shmuger and David Linde

    17-Mar-2006

    Marc Shmuger and DavidLinde (pictured), the new co-chiefs at Universal Studios, spoke to Screen yesterday abouttheir new roles at the company, the future of Focus Features and theinternational distribution arm which begins operating in Jan 2007.

  • Kirk Jones signs to US remake of Everybody's Fine

    16-Mar-2006

    UK director Kirk Jones, whohas just scored a $100m worldwide hit with Nanny McPhee, has signed to writeand direct a contemporary English-language US-set remake of GiuseppeTornatore's 1990 movie Everybody's Fine (Stanno Tutti Bene) forHollywood Gang Productions and Cecchi Gori USA.

  • Shmuger, Linde named to run Universal Studios

    16-Mar-2006

    The appointments of MarcShmuger (pictured) to chairman and David Linde to co-chairman of Universal Studios weremade official with an announcement this morning after days of media speculationin the US.

  • Bernard joins Fox Searchlight as senior vp, media and promotions

    15-Mar-2006

    Fox Searchlight Pictures hasappointed Laurel Bernard as senior vice president of media and promotions,reporting directly to Searchlight's chief operating officers Nancy Itley andSteve Gilula.

  • Heartland Film Festival ups prize money to $200,000

    15-Mar-2006

    The Heartland Film Festival,which takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana, in Oct has announced that it willincrease its prize money for films to $200,000 for its 15th editionthis year.

  • Lionsgate sets next Perry comedy for Feb 2007

    15-Mar-2006

    Following in the footsteps of box office hit Madea'sFamily Reunion, Lionsgate has pickedup worldwide rights to Daddy's Little Girl, the third film starring, written and directed by Tyler Perry.

  • Sarasota unveils lineup, tribute to Werner Herzog

    15-Mar-2006

    The eighth annual Sarasota Film Festival, which takes place March31 to April 9, will open with Leslie Greif's Funny Money, a comedy starring Chevy Chase and ChrisMcDonald and close with a screening of Robert Altman's A Prairie HomeCompanion.

  • Tribeca names films in competition sections for April fest

    15-Mar-2006

    The 2006 Tribeca FilmFestival, which takes place from April 25 to May 7, has announced the lineupfor its four competition sections in international and New York-centric NY, NYsections.

  • Rabbit, Italian among titles in Russian Nights LA festival

    14-Mar-2006

    Tigran Keosayan's Rabbit Over The Void about the mysterious disappearance ofLeonid Brezhnev for three days in 1971, will open the film section of thefourth annual Russian Nights festival in Los Angeles on April 2.

  • Accused, Life In Colour take top prizes at Miami

    12-Mar-2006

    The Miami International Film Festival concluded on Saturday nightwith the announcement of three juried awards offering cash sums of $25,000each. Presentations were made at a closing ceremony introduced by festivaldirector Nicole Guillemet and hosted by actors Alice Braga and Jose Antonio.

  • Focus to back Euro projects from McDonagh and Barra

    10-Mar-2006

    Focus Features has boardedtwo new European productions - Belgium-set hitman drama In Bruges directed by this year's live action short Oscarwinner Martin McDonagh, and an adaptation of the bestselling World War II novelNaples '44: A World War II Diary Of Occupied Italy by Norman Lewis.

  • Odd Lot reteams with Lexi Alexander on A House Divided

    10-Mar-2006

    DeborahDel Prete and Gigi Pritzker's Odd Lot Entertainment has acquired A HouseDivided, a script by Lexi Alexanderfor whom they produced Green Street Hooligans.

  • Panther laughs its way into France, Germany, Australia

    10-Mar-2006

    20th Century Fox International takes MGM's US hit ThePink Panther out in aslew of major territories this weekend including France, where the film is set,Germany, Australia, Norway and South Africa.

  • Walden to co-finance Wonder Emporium with Mandate

    10-Mar-2006

    Chronicles OfNarnia backer WaldenMedia has teamed up with Mandate Pictures to co-finance Mr Magorium's WonderEmporium, thedirectorial debut of screenwriter Zach Helm which will star Natalie Portman,Dustin Hoffman and Jason Bateman.Richard Gladstein of FilmColony and Jim Garavente areproducing the film which is scheduled to start shooting in Toronto at the endof the month.

  • Weinsteins acquire Crane-Iron Pentalogy for films, stage

    10-Mar-2006

    The Weinstein Company (TWC)has acquired worldwide film rights to Wang Du Lu's Crane-Iron Pentalogy, the series of novels upon which Ang Lee's classic CrouchingTiger, Hidden Dragon was based. TWChas also acquired the worldwide rights to develop and produce stage adaptationsof ...

  • Gloomy MPAA data shows US 2005 admissions fell 8.7%

    9-Mar-2006

    The Motion PictureAssociation Of America (MPAA) has announced its annual data on the year 2005.

  • Palm picks up US rights to Babluani's 13 (Tzameti)

    9-Mar-2006

    Palm Pictures has acquiredall US and Caribbean rights to 13 (Tzameti), the critically acclaimed French thriller directedby Georgian first-time film-maker Gela Babluani.

  • Papandrea moves to LA to head London's Groundswell Productions

    9-Mar-2006

    Bruna Papandrea has joinedMichael London's new financing company Groundswell Productions as president.

  • Weisbein's Green Room strikes sales deal on Orchestra Seats

    9-Mar-2006

    Pierre Weisbeinand his LA-based company Green Room has struck a deal with producer ChristineGozlan and financier StudioCanal to handle all English- and Italian-speakingrights of Daniele Thompson's French hit Orchestra Seats (Fauteuils d'Orchestre) which has scored over one millionadmissions in France in its first two weeks of release.

  • Brokeback takes feature, director prizes at Spirit Awards

    5-Mar-2006

    BrokebackMountain continued its virtual sweepof best picture awards at the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards which took placein a tent on the beach at Santa Monica this afternoon (Saturday). The event, which isstaged by Film Independent (formerly IFP/West), acted as a mirror to tomorrow'sAcademy ...

  • Scheffer steps into consultancy role at HBO

    3-Mar-2006

    One of HBO's mostsenior executives Steve Scheffer is seguing into a consultancy role from hiscurrent position as president, Film Programming, Video and Enterprises.

  • LA French Film Festival to open with La Doublure

    2-Mar-2006

    City Of Lights,City Of Angels (COLCOA) French Film Festival in Los Angeles unveiled its lineupyesterday for its tenth annual event which takes place April 3-9.

  • Supernatural thriller Shut In finishes shooting in LA

    2-Mar-2006

  • Women In Film International launches first short film showcase

    2-Mar-2006

    Women In Film AndTelevision International (WIFTI), the global network of 35 Women In Film AndTelevision chapters, is launching its first annual Short Film Showcase next Wed(March 8) on 18 screens in five countries.

  • Princesas

    28-Feb-2006

    Dir/scr: Fernando Leon de Aranoa. Sp. 2005. 113mins.Princesas, FernandoLeon De Aranoa's latest slice of social realism, isalmost a total gender switch from the ultra-masculine unemployed dockyard saga Mondays In The Sun, which vaulted himonto the international stage in 2002.

  • Carlos Saura's Iberia will open Guadalajara Film Festival

    15-Feb-2006

    The 21st annual Guadalajara International Film Festival in Mexicowill open on March 24 with a screening of Carlos Saura's Iberiaand close on March 31 with Edward James Olmos'English-language picture Walkoutfeaturing Spy Kids star Alexa Vega.

  • Fortissimo picks up worldwide rights to Taxidermia

    15-Feb-2006

    Fortissimo Films has picked up worldwide rights to Gyorgy Palfi's Taxidermia, which won the main prize at HungarianFilm Week last week. Palfi's second feature after thecritically acclaimed Hukklein 2002, it was met with wide critical praise in Budapestwhere it shared the foreign critics prize and won a further three awards.

  • Hungary's Eurofilm lines up English-language films

    15-Feb-2006

    Fresh from its success with Hungarian Film Week winner Taxidermia, Eurofilm Studio, the Hungarian production outfit run byPeter Miskolczi and Gabor Varadi, has attached Oscar nominee Paul Giamattiand Clemence Poesy to head the cast of Ildiko Enyedi's next film Tender Interface.

  • QED joins Intermedia for four film deal

    13-Feb-2006

    BillBlock's newly formed QED International (Screendaily, Feb 10) has formed anagreement with Intermedia to co-finance and co-produce four Intermedia-developed films.

  • Lenny Kravitz gets Iced for Daniels

    12-Feb-2006

    LennyKravitz will make his feature film acting debut as a musician who falls intothe abyss of crack addiction in Iced, thesecond film to be directed by Lee Daniels and available at Berlin from his LeeDaniels Entertainment.

  • One Last Dance

    4-Feb-2006

    Dir: Max Makowski.Singapore. 2006. 100mins.

  • No 2

    2-Feb-2006

  • Watson joins Zellweger, McGregor in Miss Potter

    30-Jan-2006

    Emily Watson has joinedRenee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor in the high-powered cast of Chris Noonan's MissPotter, the biopic of UK children'sauthor Beatrix Potter which is scheduled to start shooting in the UK and theIsle Of Man in March.

  • Destricted

    30-Jan-2006

    Dirs: Marina Abramovic, Matthew Barney, Marco Brambilla,Larry Clark, Gaspar Noe,Richard Prince, Sam Taylor-Wood. US/UK. 2006. 116mins.A series of short adult films by someof the most outre artists and film-makers on theworld stage today, Destrictedis an unusual project which brings pornographic imagery somewhere into ...

  • Quinceanera

    30-Jan-2006

  • Sola, Atrix take on worldwide rights to Swedish comedy Winners And Losers

    30-Jan-2006

    German sales companies SolaMedia and Atrix Films have picked up worldwide rights to Swedish family comedy WinnersAnd Losers (pictured) directed byKjell Sundvall.

  • The Science Of Sleep

    25-Jan-2006

  • Bergstein, Tutor buy Capitol as core of ambitious group

    23-Jan-2006

    The three owners ofLondon-based Capitol Films - Sharon Harel, Jane Barclay and Hannah Leader -have announced that their long-in-the-works sale of Capitol to LA-basedentrepreneurs David Bergstein and Ronald N Tutor has been completed.

  • Friends With Money

    23-Jan-2006

  • Little Miss Sunshine

    23-Jan-2006

  • Brokeback Mountain towers over Golden Globes

    17-Jan-2006

    AngLee's western romance Brokeback Mountain and James Mangold's Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line dominated the Golden Globe Awards at last night's 63rdannual ceremony.

  • Hamilton joins Paramount specialised label as vp, production

    13-Jan-2006

    John Lesher's new hires atParamount's reconfigured specialized arm continued yesterday with theannouncement that Chad Hamilton had been named vice president, production.

  • Weinstein Co returns The Promise to producers

    29-Dec-2005

    The WeinsteinCompany has returned distribution rights to Chen Kaige'sThe Promise (akaMaster Of The Crimson Armor) to thefilm's producers Moonstone Entertainment and China Film Group.

  • The Promise (Mo Gik)

    23-Dec-2005

    Dir/scr: Chen Kaige. China. 2005. 102 mins.

  • Munich

    12-Dec-2005

    Dir: Steven Spielberg. US.2005. 165 mins.

  • Munich

    12-Dec-2005

    Dir: Steven Spielberg. US.2005. 165 mins.

  • Brokeback named year's best picture by LA critics

    11-Dec-2005

    Ang Lee's BrokebackMountain continued thewinning streak it started at the Venice Film Festival, taking best picture anddirector citations from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) in itsdeliberations on Saturday.

  • King Kong

    7-Dec-2005

    Dir: Peter Jackson. US.2005. 189mins.

  • Golden Globes Preview

    1-Dec-2005

    Looking at the winners in the musical and comedycategories of the Golden Globe Awards in the last five years, it is not such asurprising selection: most films and actors went on to win Oscar nominations. But look at the nominations and the real surprisesappear. Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality,Robert De Niro in Meet The Parents,Jim Carrey in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Mel Gibson in What ...

  • New $45m Borgia heads to Romania

    24-Nov-2005

    Neil Jordan's $45m epic Borgia will shoot in Italy and Romania, the director saidin Los Angeles last week.

  • Tsotsi, Henderson share Denver audience awards

    22-Nov-2005

    The 28th DenverInternational Film Festival ended on Saturday night with a gala screening of BrokebackMountain and theannouncement of the juried award-winners. The festival is sponsored by StarzEntertainment Group.

  • Memoirs Of A Geisha

    21-Nov-2005

    Dir: Rob Marshall. US. 2005.137mins.

  • Rent

    21-Nov-2005

    Dir: Chris Columbus. US.2005. 130mins.

  • Cave Of The Yellow Dog (Die Hohle Des Gelben Hundes)

    10-Oct-2005

    Dir: Byambasuren Davaa. Mon-Ger. 2005. 93mins.

  • Rio Festival, FIPRESCI launch Latin American film prize

    3-Oct-2005

    Critics organization FIPRESCI is teaming up with the the RioInternational Film Festival aka Festival Do Rio to introduce a new FIPRESCIprize for best Latin American film of the year which will be awarded for thefirst time at the festival next year.

  • Zellweger to play Beatrix Potter for Phoenix, Kirschner

    29-Sep-2005

    Renee Zellweger has signedon to star as Beatrix Potter in the biopic Miss Potter, which Babe director Chris Noonan will direct forDavid Kirschner Productions and Phoenix Pictures.Thefilm, which at one point in its evolution had Cate Blanchett attached to starin the title role, is scheduled to begin shooting on March 6, 2006, on locationin the UK. Grosvenor Park is financing the project, while Summit Entertainmentwill handle ...

  • Marco Muller heads up Brazil jury at Rio Film Festival

    29-Sep-2005

    Venice Film Festivaldirector Marco Muller is heading the Premiere Brazil jury at this year'sFestival do Rio which started last week and ends on Oct 6.

  • Inferno pacts with WiP, Castle Rock for Chaos Theory

    19-Sep-2005

    Jim Seibel and BillJohnson's Inferno Distribution has closed a deal with Castle Rock Entertainmentand Warner Independent Pictures (WiP) to finance Chaos Theory, a comedy starring Ryan Reynolds which will bedirected by Marcos Siega (Pretty Persuasion, Underclassman).

  • Festival do Rio lines up programme of over 300 films

    19-Sep-2005

    The Rio International FilmFestival, which takes place Sept 22 to Oct 6, has unveiled its programme ofover 300 features and documentaries from 60 countries.

  • In Her Shoes

    19-Sep-2005

  • Tsotsi, Look Both Ways win top prizes at Toronto

    18-Sep-2005

    The Toronto InternationalFilm Festival ended on Saturday, with Gavin Hood's UK/South Africaco-production Tsotsi winning thecoveted People's Choice Award voted on by festival audiences. The award has, inthe past, signaled enormous popular successes such as Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon (2000), Amelie (2001), Whale Rider (2002) Zatoichi (2003), and last year Hotel Rwanda.

  • Shoreline acquires worldwide rights to Brooklyn Lobster

    16-Sep-2005

    ShorelineEntertainment has acquired worldwide sales rights to Kevin Jordan's BrooklynLobster which had itsworld premiere in the Toronto Film Festival this week.

  • North Country

    15-Sep-2005

  • Rogue picks up Gondry's Block Party at Toronto

    15-Sep-2005

    Dave Chappelle's Block Party, a standup comedy movie directed by Michel Gondry,was the latest film to sell at Toronto today (Wed) with Rogue Picturesacquiring worldwide rights.The deal marked the first acquisition for Rogue since it was expanded into the genre division of Universal Pictures run by David Linde. When it was formed as the sister company of Focus Features, ...

  • Just Like Heaven

    14-Sep-2005

  • Tristram Shandy: A Cock And Bull Story

    14-Sep-2005

    Dir: Michael Winterbottom. UK. 2005. 91mins.

  • Walk The Line

    14-Sep-2005

  • Oliver Twist

    12-Sep-2005

  • Producer Burton joins Swank and Lowe as partner in accomplice

    8-Sep-2005

    Producer Mark Burton(pictured), whose credits include Santosh Sivan's The Terrorist, Finn Taylor's Cherish, Richard Jobson's 16 Years Of Alcohol and Deepa Mehta's Water, is joining Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe as a partnerin their production company accomplice films.

  • Toronto festival juggernaut starts to roll

    8-Sep-2005

    The Toronto InternationalFilm Festival kicks off today and - once again - is offering an abundance, somewould say over-abundance, of world premieres.

  • Everything Is Illuminated

    5-Sep-2005

    Dir: Liev Schreiber. US.2005. 102mins.

  • Stoned

    10-Aug-2005

  • Secuestro Express

    9-Aug-2005

  • Pathe International gets On The Road with Salles

    5-Aug-2005

    Pathe International ispartnering with Focus Features on the long-gestating movie of Jack Kerouac's OnThe Road which will be directed byWalter Salles, written by Jose Rivera and produced by Rebecca Yeldham.

  • Hitler Cantata gets festival slots in Montreal, Tokyo

    29-Jul-2005

    Jutta Bruckner's Germandrama Hitler Cantata, the storyof composer Broch and how he was commissioned to write a cantata for Hitler's50th birthday, has been selected for the Montreal World FilmFestival in Aug and for an official competition slot at the Tokyo InternationalFilm Festival in Oct.

  • Amritraj and Hyde Park seal five-year overall deal with Fox

    28-Jul-2005

    Ashok Amritraj's Hyde ParkEntertainment has signed a five-year, first-look production and distributiondeal with 20th Century Fox which incorporates co-financing, production anddistribution and includes a number of put pictures.

  • Mosawi forms new genre outfit The Mayhem Project

    26-Jul-2005

    Former Mutual Film Co COOAnthony Mosawi has set up a new production and finance company called TheMayhem Project. Backed by European private equity source, the outfit plans todevelop, finance and produce genre films budgeted between $10m and $25m such asthe first property acquisition, videogame horror hit Clock Tower.

  • Odd Lot to self-release Green Street Hooligans in US

    11-Jul-2005

    Odd Lot Entertainment, theproduction and finance company run by Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete, hasformed a US distribution company to be called Odd Lot Releasing.

  • SPC picks up UA's Capote, sets Sept 30 US release

    11-Jul-2005

    Sony Pictures Classics hasconfirmed that it will assume domestic distribution duties on Capote, one of the remaining films produced by UnitedArtists before its parent company MGM was bought by a consortium led by SonyPictures Entertainment.

  • Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

    11-Jul-2005

    Dir: Tim Burton. US.2005. 115mins.

  • Disney takes domestic on Yari/Stratus drama Hoax

    8-Jul-2005

    Walt Disney Studios has boardedYari Film Group/Stratus Film Company's drama Hoax starring Richard Gere and directed by LasseHallstrom as domestic disributor.

  • Lions Gate seals comic book deal with Niles, Jane

    8-Jul-2005

    Lions Gate Films hasacquired worldwide rights to a host of comic books by author Steve Niles andsealed a first-look deal on all projects by or found by Niles and hiscollaborator - actor Thomas Jane.

  • Dark Water

    7-Jul-2005

  • Revelations, Intel team for new online venture ClickStar

    7-Jul-2005

    Morgan Freemanand Lori McReary's production outfit Revelations Entertainment has formed a newdistribution company aiming to distribute films directly to consumers over theinternet, with backing from Intel, the leading chipmaker and manufacturer ofcomputer and networking products.

  • Fox claims victory as first studio to cross $1bn in international

    6-Jul-2005

    20th Century FoxInternational has become the first studio to cross $1bn in internationalgrosses in the increasingly fierce race for grosses outside the US. As oftoday, the studio's international distribution arm reported $1.09bn in boxoffice returns so far in 2005.

  • Spielberg's Mossad thriller to shoot in Malta, Hungary, US

    6-Jul-2005

    Steven Spielberg's untitledthriller set in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre has begunshooting in Malta, with stints to come in Hungary and New York City beforepost-production and delivery in time for a Dec 23 release date in the US.

  • Statham leads charge in Boll's Dungeon Siege

    1-Jul-2005

    Jason Statham, LeeleeSobieski, Ron Pearlman, John Rhys-Davies, Matthew Lillard, Kristanna Loken andBurt Reynolds have all signed on to star in Uwe Boll's latest video gameadaptation Dungeon Siege.

  • Hong Kong's Pang Brothers begin Ghost House horror pic in Canada

    30-Jun-2005

    Kristen Stewart, the teenageactress who played Jodie Foster's daughter in Panic Room, is heading the cast of Ghost House Pictures'upcoming, untitled horror movie directed by Oxide and Danny Pang. The filmstarted shooting this week in Saskatchewan, Canada.

  • National Lampoon family brand begins first film in LA

    30-Jun-2005

    National Lampoon Clubhouse,a new family brand created by National Lampoon Inc and Lorenzo Doumani'sMajestic Entertainment, has started production in Los Angeles on its firstproduction National Lampoon Clubhouse's Trick Or Treat.

  • Splendid's Klein teams up with Doc Hollywood Studios

    30-Jun-2005

  • Sith breaks all-time preview record in Japan for Fox

    29-Jun-2005

    20thCentury Fox has recorded record-breaking previews of Star Wars: Episode III:Revenge Of The Sith in Japan, wherethe film opens on July 9. The previews grossed $4.59m ('495m), higher than theprevious record held by The Matrix Reloaded at $3.52m ('416m).

  • Roadside Attractions buys US rights to Sarah Silverman concert film

    28-Jun-2005

    US independent distributorRoadside Attractions has acquired US theatrical and TV rights to comic SarahSilverman's feature concert film Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic based on Silverman's politically incorrectoff-Broadway show which takes on topics such as Sept 11, AIDS and theHolocaust.

  • Doelger, Scoffield to form new US/UK production company

    28-Jun-2005

    LA-based independentproducer Frank Doelger and Tracey Scoffield, who is currently head ofdevelopment at BBC Films, are teaming up to create a new US/UK productionoutfit which will make both theatrical feature films and TV programming.

  • Jellysmoke, Grain Of Sand win top prizes at LAFF

    27-Jun-2005

    The Los Angeles FilmFestival (LAFF) closed last night with its annual prize-givingceremonywhere Mark Banning's Jellysmokewon the Target Film-maker Award for best narrative feature and Beth Bird's EveryoneTheir Grain Of Sand won thedocumentary prize.

  • Saperstein joins Weinsteins to head production for Dimension Films

    27-Jun-2005

    Richard Saperstein (pictured),the former president of development and production for Artisan Pictures, hasjoined the Weinstein brothers as executive vice president and head ofproduction for Dimension Films.

  • Industry rejoices at Supreme Court's internet piracy decision

    27-Jun-2005

    The US Supreme Court'sunanimous 9-0 decision yesterday to hold file-sharing software accountable forcopyright infringements committed by users of the services was greeted withjubilation by Hollywood yesterday.

  • Newell named winner of BAFTA/LA's Schlesinger award

    27-Jun-2005

    Mike Newell has been namedthe recipient of this year's John Schlesinger Award for artistic excellence atthe 2005 Britannia Awards ceremony, held by BAFTA/LA in Los Angeles on Nov 10.

  • Cheung to receive award, restrospective at Asian American film festival

    26-Jun-2005

    The 28th annualAsian American International Film Festival will kick off on July 15 in New YorkCity with a screening of Olivier Assayas' Clean starring Maggie Cheung, who will attend thescreening.

  • McInnis takes film festival specialist role at Loyola Marymount in LA

    26-Jun-2005

    Kathleen McInnis, the formerdirector of the Slamdance Film Festival and a veteran of the SeattleInternational Film Festival, has taken up the inaugural role of film festivalspecialist at the Loyola Marymount University School Of Film And Televsion(SFTV) in Los Angeles.

  • Sundance Documentary Film Editing and Story Lab underway in Utah

    26-Jun-2005

    The Sundance Institute hasnamed the seven fellows and four projects which are participating in its annualDocumentary Film Editing and Story Laboratory which started on June 24 and runsto July 1 at Sundance Village in Utah.

  • First Look acquires worldwide rights to Emmanuel's Gift

    23-Jun-2005

    Los Angeles-based First LookMedia has acquired worldwide rights to Emmanuel's Gift, a documentary produced and directed by Lisa Lax andNancy Stern about a young disabled man from Ghana, West Africa, who rode abicycle across Ghana on one leg to eradicate the country's negative perceptionof the disabled.FirstLook Pictures plans a domestic theatrical release in Sept 2005, while FirstLook International will handle international sales.

  • Magnolia, SPHE acquire domestic rights to Nine Lives

    23-Jun-2005

    MagnoliaPictures and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) have teamed up to acquireNorth American rights to Rodrigo Garcia's Nine Lives, which played as a premiere at Sundance this yearand screened this week at the Los Angeles Film Festival.Magnoliaplans to release the film theatrically in Sept with subsequent DVD and videodistribution to be handled by SPHE.

  • Gellar to inhabit Alice for Universal

    21-Jun-2005

    Sarah Michelle Gellar is attached tostar in Alice, a new film based on the video game AmericanMcGee's Alice, for Universal Pictures. Marcus Nispel is set todirect.

  • Darwin's Nightmare wins Silverdocs

    21-Jun-2005

    Silverdocs, AFI/DiscoveryChannel Documentary Festival, ended on Sunday night with its annual awardsceremony which gave Hubert Sauper's Darwin's Nightmare the top prize, the Sterling Award.

  • Picturehouse assembles distribution team

    20-Jun-2005

    Picturehouse, the USdistribution joint venture formed by New Line Cinema and HBO, has unveiled theNew York-based distribution team which will handle the release of the films intodomestic theatres.

  • Herbie: Fully Loaded

    20-Jun-2005

  • In Memory Of My Father wins jury award at CineVegas

    20-Jun-2005

    The CineVegas Film Festival, which closed on Saturday night in LasVegas with the premiere of George A Romero's Land Of The Dead, gave its grand jury award to InMemory Of My Father.

  • Mandate restructures, adds new staff after mbo

    20-Jun-2005

    Joe Drake's Mandate Pictureshas restructured the company in the wake of the management buyout in Jan.

  • Nantucket Film Festival gives top prize to Hustle & Flow

    20-Jun-2005

    The Nantucket Film Festival finished its tenth edition last night(Sunday) with its prize-giving closing ceremony which saw Craig Brewer win thebest writer/director award for Hustle & Flow.

  • Bewitched

    17-Jun-2005

    Dir: Nora Ephron. US.2005. 98 mins.

  • Top Seattle Film Festival prizes go to 4, Swimmers

    13-Jun-2005

    The Seattle InternationalFilm Festival closed its 31st annual edition last night with theNorth American premiere of Gus Van Sant's Last Days, a film of local relevance since it was inspired bythe 1994 suicide of rock star Kurt Cobain.

  • Glen Basner leaves Focus Features

    8-Jun-2005

    Glen Basner has left hisposition as executive vice president of international sales and distribution atFocus Features. He has stepped down immediately from the company, although itis unclear as yet where he will land.

  • Lin to direct Fast And The Furious 3 for Universal

    8-Jun-2005

    Justin Lin, the youngfilm-maker whose debut feature Better Luck Tomorrow was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002, haslanded the job as director of Universal Pictures' The Fast And The Furious 3 (tentative title).

  • M:I 3 finally gets start date in July in Italy

    8-Jun-2005

    Mission: Impossible 3 will finally start principal photography on July 18in Italy, it was announced yesterday by Paramount Pictures chairman and CEOBrad Grey. The film will be shot on locations across Europe, the US and Asiaand will be released in US theatres on May 5, 2006.

  • Art Port, Casablanca buy One Love from Sola Media

    6-Jun-2005

    Art Port hasacquired Japanese rights and Casablanca Films has acquired Brazilian rights to OneLove, a Jamaicanromantic comedy starring Bob Marley's son Ky-mani Marley, from Germany's SolaMedia and Atrix Films which are together handling the film.

  • Toshiba leads Yellow Dog to Japan

    6-Jun-2005

    Toshiba Entertainment hasacquired Japanese rights to The Cave Of The Yellow Dog, the latest film from Story Of The Weeping Camel co-director Byambasuren Davaa. The deal wasconcluded at Cannes with sales agent Telepool.

  • Batman Begins

    6-Jun-2005

    Dir:Christopher Nolan. US. 2005. 140 mins.

  • Hyde Park seals multiple deals on its debut sales slate at Cannes

    23-May-2005

    Hyde Park International(HPI), the new international sales arm of Ashok Amitraj's Hyde ParkEntertainment, has reported a host of deals at its debut Cannes on Monkeyfaceand Premonition, the first two films it is 100% financing withoutinitial contribution from a major studio partner.

  • Nexo swoops for three new films

    19-May-2005

    Italy's Nexo has acquired three new films here - Steven Shainberg'sDiane Arbus biopic Fur from New Line International, Emanuel Carrere'swell-liked drama La Moustache from Pathe International and Jaume Balaguero'sthriller Fragile from Filmax. T

  • Venice shapes up as star magnet

    17-May-2005

    With journalists dailybemoaning the dearth of major American stars in Cannes, The Venice FilmFestival is once again shaping up as a showcase of star-studded prospects fromthe US and Europe.

  • Universal plucks North American rights for Black Dahlia

    15-May-2005

    Universal Pictures has paidan estimated $10m for North American rights to Brian DePalma's film of JamesElroy's The Black Dahlia starringJosh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank fromSignature Pictures.

  • Element strikes Five Finger deals

    14-May-2005

    Element Films International,the brand new sales outfit run by John Fremes has hit the ground running,scoring deals here on its thriller Five Fingers with DNC in Italy, Gussi Films in Mexico, CaliforniaFilms in Brazil, Lusomundo in Portugal and Hollywood Entertainment in Greece.

  • Renaissance Living And Breathing with Huston, Suvari

    12-May-2005

    The UK's Renaissance Filmshas acquired worldwide rights to Living And Breathing, a black comedy tobe directed by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe (Lost In La Mancha, Brothers OfThe Head). Tom Wilkinson, Anjelica Huston, Mena Suvari and Justin Theroux are setto star.

  • Inarritu's Babel towers into view

    11-May-2005

    Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu revealed exclusive details of his latestopus Babel in an interview with Screen from the Morocco set this week.

  • King pledges AFM return for Initial

    11-May-2005

    Graham King assured buyers this week that his InitialEntertainment Group will have a new slate of films on offer for buyers by AFMin Nov, following the news in April that he has signed a first-look deal withWarner Bros. Speaking from the New York City set of Martin Scorsese's TheDeparted, which heis producing, King said he plans to reinvent the sales agency side of thecompany following the ...

  • Weisbein's Green Room takes on two for Mr Mudd

    2-May-2005

    PierreWeisbein's nascent sales and production company Green Room Pictures will cometo Cannes with two films it will represent for Mr Mudd, the LA-based productioncompany run by Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich and Russell Smith.

  • Summit lines up peak slate for Cannes

    28-Apr-2005

    SummitEntertainment has lined up a potent slate of new pictures for Cannes this yearled by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's red-hot Babel, the Adam Sandler-produced comedy Nana's Boy and Beacon's upcoming coastguard actioner TheGuardian which has Kevin Costner andAshton Kutcher ...

  • Platinum Studios, The Shop team for CG horror feature Bonesaw

    28-Apr-2005

    Alan McElroy, thescreenwriter whose credits include Spawn, Halloween 4: The Return Of MichaelMyers, Wrong Turn and Ballistic:Ecks Vs Sever, has been hired towrite Bonesaw, an $18mcomputer-generated horror movie to be produced by LA-based Platinum Studios andVancouver-based computer animation specialists The Shop Productions.

  • Platinum Studios plots second Dylan Dog spinoff

    27-Apr-2005

    LA-basedPlatinum Studios is preparing a second feature film spinoff from Italian comicbook series Dylan Dogcalled Dead Of Night and it has hired Joshua Oppenheimer and Tom Donnelly to write the film.

  • The Game Of Their Lives

    25-Apr-2005

    Dir:David Anspaugh. US. 2005. 101 mins.

  • Snuff

    22-Apr-2005

    Dir: Bernard Rose. 2005.UK/Romania. 93 mins.

  • Men And Women

    16-Apr-2005

    Dir: Claude Lelouch.France. 2005. 135 mins.

  • The Amityville Horror

    14-Apr-2005

    Dir: Andrew Douglas. US.2005. 89 mins.

  • Veteran Hollywood talent agent Dontanville leaves William Morris

    13-Apr-2005

    Steve Dontanville, one ofHollywood's leading talent agents whose clients include Reese Witherspoon andAnne Hathaway, is leaving William Morris Agency (WMA) to take six months offand then change direction after 27 years as an agent.

  • Fox veteran Grace gets key publicity job at Sony's TriStar

    12-Apr-2005

    Florence Grace, a ten yearveteran of 20th Century Fox, where she most recently served assenior vice president of corporate publicity, has been named senior vicepresident of publicity at TriStar Pictures, the recently revived label of SonyPictures.

  • Sahara

    11-Apr-2005

    Dir: Breck Eisner. US. 2005. 124 mins.

  • Mariscos Beach (Crustaces Et Coquillages)

    24-Mar-2005

  • Mariscos Beach (Crustaces Et Coquillages)

    24-Mar-2005

  • Mariscos Beach (Crustaces Et Coquillages)

    24-Mar-2005

  • Atrix, Sola take on Toronto, Sundance hit Forest

    23-Mar-2005

    Beatrix Wesle'sAtrix Films and Solveig Langeland's Sola Media, which has a sales partnershipthat has handled Austria's Antares and German thriller Silentium, has taken onworldwide sales rights excluding Germany and France to Sundance award-winner ForestFor The Trees

  • Live-In Maid (Cama Adentro)

    22-Mar-2005

    Dir/scr:Jorge Gaggero. Arg-Sp. 2004. 87mins.

  • The Ring Two

    22-Mar-2005

  • Robert Lazarus (1961-2005)

    18-Mar-2005

    Robert Lazarus, a veteran ofthe film industry who worked at companies including Turner Pictures and MutualFilm Co, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 43 after a long pulmonaryillness.

  • Nolte, Mechlowicz head Peaceful Warrior cast

    11-Mar-2005

    NickNolte has been cast in the key role of Socrates in Peaceful Warrior, a movie based on Dan Millman's bestsellingself-help novel Way Of The Peaceful Warrior which went into production this week.

  • Avex buys Japan on Screaming Masterpiece from Katapult

    28-Feb-2005

    LA-basedKatapult Film Sales closed a major Japanese deal at Berlin recently for itsmusic documentary Screaming Masterpiece with Avex in Japan.

  • Million Dollar night at the Oscars for Eastwood's Baby

    28-Feb-2005

    Million Dollar Baby delivered a knockout blow to its chiefcompetitor The Aviator attonight's 77th Annual Academy Award ceremony, winning four Oscarsfor best picture, best director (Clint Eastwood), best actress (Hilary Swank)and best supporting actor (Morgan Freeman).

  • Kekexili: Mountain Patrol (Kekexili)

    24-Feb-2005

    Dir: LuChuan. Chi-HK. 2004. 90mins.

  • Berlin screening of Wilder satire reopens 60 year-old controversy

    21-Feb-2005

    BillyWilder's 1947 romantic comedy A Foreign Affair, which screened in Berlinas the closing night attraction in the Selling Democracy series, may seemcharming to many - but it re-appears in Berlin with a legacy of controversythat saw the film banned in Germany for years after the war.

  • Ducastel & Martineau's Beach goes to Strand in US

    21-Feb-2005

    Strand Releasing hasannounced one of the first domestic deals from the Berlin Film Festival lastweek, acquiring US rights to Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau's comedy MariscosBeach (Crustaces Et Coquillages).

  • Potter's Yes a 'Ja' for Germany

    18-Feb-2005

    GreeneStreet Films International has closed a deal with distributor Alamode forGerman rights to Sally Potter's Yes, which screened in Panorama duringthe Berlinale.

  • Celluloid skips ahead with Beat sales

    17-Feb-2005

    Celluloid Dreams has closedmost major territories on Jacques Audiard's Berlinale competition entry TheBeat That My Heart Skipped (De Battre Mon Coeur S'Est Arrive) before itsworld premiere screening in Berlin.

  • IFP/New York names five docs to win development funding

    17-Feb-2005

    IFP/New York, the membership and advocacy organization for independentfilm-makers, has announced the names of the five films which will be share$50,000 in the latest round of development funding through the AnthonyRadziwill Documentary Fund.

  • Kino snaps up Happily for US

    17-Feb-2005

    US independent distributorKino International has picked up US rights to two 2004 pictures - Yvan Attal's HappilyEver After (Ils Se Marierent Et Eurent Beaucoup D'Enfants) andFrench/Israeli co-production Or directed by Keren Yedaya.

  • La Fabrique takes French rights to Slamdance hit On The Outs

    17-Feb-2005

  • MonteCristo scares up a horror slate

    17-Feb-2005

  • Sony Pictures Classics takes 2046 for US

    17-Feb-2005

  • Sutherland promoted to executive vice president at MGM

    17-Feb-2005

    Ian Sutherland has beenpromoted to executive vice president, international theatrical distribution andmarketing, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) just months before the studio is set tomerge into Sony Pictures Entertainment.

  • Hamori pours H2O on Cronenberg's Pain

    16-Feb-2005

    AndrasHamori, the international producer here with the epic Hungarian picture Fatelessin competition, has reactivated his H20 Motion Pictures production outfit andset four pictures to shoot in the next two years including two with his oldAlliance Atlantis partner Robert Lantos.

  • Savage sales for Celluloid

    16-Feb-2005

    CelluloidDreams has closed some key pre-sales on Tom Kalin's Savage Grace inBerlin, having flown the Swoon director in from New York for meetingswith buyers to share his vision of the film.

  • Taiwan Springs for Brothels

    16-Feb-2005

    SpringInternational in Taiwan and Barbarian Turk in Turkey are the latest companiesto buy Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski's award-winning Born Into Brothels,which has an Oscar nomination this year for best documentary feature.

  • Wolf Creek

    16-Feb-2005

    Dir: GregMclean. Australia. 2005. 98mins.

  • Berry, Forster back together for Nefertiti

    15-Feb-2005

    Three years ago, actressHalle Berry and director Marc Forster were both in Berlin to promote Monster'sBall. Since then, she has won an Oscar and become one of Hollywood'sbiggest stars and he directed the seven-times Oscar nominated FindingNeverland.

  • Kimmel, VIP team for Holland's Beethoven pic

    15-Feb-2005

    Sidney Kimmel Entertainment,the prolific new LA-based production and financing outfit backed byphilanthropist and business titan Kimmel, has teamed up with VIP Medienfonds toproduce Copying Beethoven, to be directed by Agnieszka Holland and starEd Harris and Diane Kruger.

  • Berlin abuzz with Harvey and Bob talk

    14-Feb-2005

    With Harvey and Bob Weinstein just weeks away fromfinalising their exit deal from The Walt Disney Co, the rumour mill in Berlinis running on overdrive about their future - and their international plans areat the heart of the speculation.

  • Momentum makes Friends with Inferno

    14-Feb-2005

    Momentum Pictures has acquired UK and Spanish rights to JustFriends from up-and-coming LA-based salesand financing outfit Inferno Distribution.

  • SPC adds Potter, Zhang to bulging slate

    14-Feb-2005

    Sony Pictures Classics has added three new internationaltitles to its 2005 US slate, picking up domestic rights to Erik VanLooy's Belgian smash The Alzheimer Case, Sally Potter's UK drama Yes and Zhang Yimou's next picture Riding Alone ForThousands Of Miles from China.

  • SPC, Renaissance swoop for Junebug rights

    14-Feb-2005

    Sony Pictures Classics has acquired domestic rights andRenaissance Films has acquired international rights to Junebug, Phil Morrison's comedic drama set in the deep southof the US which played in dramatic competition at Sundance this year.

  • German hit Napola scores US sale

    14-Feb-2005

  • Lions Gate picks up international rights to Isolation

    14-Feb-2005

    Lions Gate Films International has picked up worldwide rights excludingthe UK, France and North America to UK-Irish horror movie Isolation which is beingdirected by first-timer Billy O'Brien.

  • Myriad joins Partition

    14-Feb-2005

  • Buyers look to take Nispel's Pathfinder

    11-Feb-2005

    With English-language projects at a premium in Berlin, buyers arescrambling to get their hands on Marcus Nispel's Pathfinder, a $45maction movie being produced by Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messer's PhoenixPictures, and being represented for territorial sales by Endeavor.

  • The Squid And The Whale

    7-Feb-2005

    Dir: Noah Baumbach. US.2005. 81mins.

  • The Upside Of Anger

    2-Feb-2005

  • Forty Shades Of Blue wins top prize for US drama at Sundance

    31-Jan-2005

    IraSachs' intense drama Forty Shades Of Blue was named winner of the America Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and EugeneJarecki's Why We Fight was winnerof the American Documentary Grand Jury Prize as the Sundance Film Festivalwound down to a close on Saturday night.

  • LA memorial service for Jorge Gallegos this Friday

    31-Jan-2005

    A "Celebration Of Life"memorial service will be held for Jorge Gallegos on this Friday Feb 4 at 11amat the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.Mr Gallegos died tragicallywhile on holiday in Thailand on Dec 26 as a result of the tsunami disaster.He was a veteran in theworld of independent film finance and banking. He is survived by his wife Lornaand his two children Christian and James.

  • Hard Candy

    27-Jan-2005

    Dir: David Slade. US.2005. 103mins.

  • Thumbsucker

    26-Jan-2005

  • The Jacket

    24-Jan-2005

    Dir: John Maybury. US/UK.2005. 102 mins.

  • The Matador

    24-Jan-2005

    Dir: Richard Shepard. US.2005. 97 mins.

  • Assault On Precinct 13

    14-Jan-2005

    Dir: Jean-FrancoisRichet. US. 2005. 109mins.

  • Racing Stripes

    10-Jan-2005

  • Film banker Jorge Gallegos confirmed dead in Tsunami

    6-Jan-2005

    It was confirmedyesterday that veteran film banker Jorge Gallegos (pictured) died on Dec 26last year, while on holiday in Khao Lak, Thailand, as a result of the tsunamicatastrophe.

  • In Good Company

    15-Dec-2004

  • Spanglish

    14-Dec-2004

    Dir/scr: James L Brooks.US. 2004. 131mins.

  • Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events

    13-Dec-2004

  • Magiday leaves Focus to pursue production opportunities

    12-Dec-2004

    Lee Magiday isleaving her post as European vice president, acquisitions and production, forFocus Features to pursue opportunities in production.

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera

    10-Dec-2004

    Dir: Joel Schumacher.UK-US. 2004. 140mins.

  • Ocean's Twelve

    8-Dec-2004

    Dir: Steven Soderbergh. US. 2004. 132mins

  • Million Dollar Baby

    7-Dec-2004

    Dir: Clint Eastwood. US.2004. 132mins.

  • Machuca

    29-Nov-2004

    Dir: Andres Wood.Chile-Spain. 2004. 120mins.

  • Alexander

    22-Nov-2004

    Dir: OliverStone. UK-Fr-Neth. 2004. 165mins.

  • National Treasure

    19-Nov-2004

  • Working Title buys Alex Garland script Time Keepers

    17-Nov-2004

    Working Title Films hasacquired a spec script by Alex Garland (pictured) called Time Keepers. The script is an original story about two youngboys who discover that magic is not a myth but a reality and that they have astrange position within a secret and alternative history of the world.

  • Eight documentaries so far make Oscar shortlist

    17-Nov-2004

    At least eight film-makers were notified yesterday that theirdocumentary features had been shortlisted for the 2004 Best Documentary FeatureOscar. Although there is no fixed number of films which make the semi-finalshortlist, last year's tally of 12 is thought to be standard.

  • Brodlie lands at TriStar Pictures

    7-Nov-2004

    Longtime Miramax acquisitions executive Matt Brodlie hasjoined the exodus from the company and landed at Sony as senior vice president,production and acquisitions for TriStar Pictures.Relocating from New York to Los Angeles, Brodlie will beresponsible for all TriStar acquisitions and productions, reporting directly toTriStar president Valerie Van Gelder.In addition, Brodlie will be involved in acquiring foreignlanguage films for theatrical distribution in local territories.

  • Renaissance gets Creeeepy! with Araki

    7-Nov-2004

    London-based Renaissance Films has picked up internationalrights to Gregg Araki's next film - a scary movie with teen sexcomedy elements called Creeeeps! whichis currently casting and will start shooting early next year. Araki wrote thescript and Mary Jane Skalski, who produced his last film MysteriousSkin, will produce.

  • Grudge star Gellar signs to Kapadia's Revolver

    5-Nov-2004

    Sarah Michelle Gellar, whosestar is on a high after the success of The Grudge, has signed to star in another supernatural thrillercalled Revolver (not to beconfused with Guy Ritchie's film of the same name for EuropaCorp) which isbeing produced by Aaron Ryder's Raygun Pictures for Focus Features' RoguePictures label.

  • Universal, Paramount among Domino buyers for Summit

    5-Nov-2004

    Summit Entertainment isclose to completing its international sales patchwork on Tony Scott's KeiraKnightley-starrer Domino, thetrue life story of actor Laurence Harvey's daughter Domino who abandoned hercareer as a model to turn bounty hunter.

  • Arclight gets Duff sisters in Material Girls

    4-Nov-2004

    Arclight Films closed a dealon Tuesday to handle international sales on Maverick Films' teen comedy MaterialGirls which will team US teen starHilary Duff with her sister Haylie Duff for the first time in a movie.

  • Capitol seals two-picture deal with Constantin for Slevin, Dust

    3-Nov-2004

    Capitol Filmsclosed some high profile territorial deals on the eve of AFM on its ganglandthriller Lucky Number Slevin after the news that Bruce Willis and Morgan Freeman had joinedthe cast.

  • Summit teams with Constantin on Goldie Hawn, Impact Pictures pics

    3-Nov-2004

    PatrickWachsberger's Summit Entertainment arrives at AFM with Goldie Hawn'sdirectorial debut, a new Impact Pictures video game adaptation and Tom Tykwer'sPerfume cast andready to go.

  • Every Word Is True joins Arclight AFM slate

    29-Oct-2004

    Arclight Films has picked upinternational rights to the all-star drama Every Word Is True which Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) is financingand distributing in North America.

  • Menemsha picks up US rights to Machuca

    28-Oct-2004

    Neil Friedman's MenemshaFilms has picked up US distribution rights to Chile's Oscar entry Machuca which played in Directors Fortnight at Cannes thisyear as well as at Edinburgh, Pusan, Vancouver and Montreal.

  • Arclight launches AFM sales on Word, Girl

    27-Oct-2004

    Arclight Filmshas picked up international rights to Every Word Is True starring Sandra Bullock and GwynethPaltrow among others and Hilary Duff comedy Material Girl which 20th Century Fox isdistributing domestically. Both will be offered to buyers at AFM.

  • The Grudge

    26-Oct-2004

  • The Polar Express

    26-Oct-2004

  • Warner gets its Superman in Brandon Routh

    22-Oct-2004

    Brandon Routh (pictured) hasbeen confirmed as Superman in Warner Bros Pictures' new as yet untitled theatricalversion of the comic strip superhero to be directed by Bryan Singer.

  • Alfie

    20-Oct-2004

  • Fandango buys Italian rights to Weeping Camel

    19-Oct-2004

  • Gong Li stars with Kidman in Wong Kar-wai's next film

    18-Oct-2004

    NicoleKidman confirmed this weekend that she is teaming with Hong Kong auteurdirector Wong Kar-wai on his next project The Lady From Shanghai and that she will be joined in the film by Chinesestar Gong Li.Indeed,said Kidman, Gong has already shot her part in the film, and Wong took justfive weeks - in contrast to the five years it took to shoot his last film 2046 which also starred Gong ...

  • Warner Bros makes history with first ever foreign production co in China

    14-Oct-2004

    Warner Bros Pictures hasannounced the first ever Sino-foreign joint venture film company Warner ChinaFilm HG Corporation in partnership with China Film Group and Hengdian Group.The company will produce Chinese-language films, TV films and animated product.

  • Shall We Dance

    11-Oct-2004

  • Five Children And It

    7-Oct-2004

    Dir: John Stephenson. UK. 2004. 89mins.

  • A Dirty Shame

    6-Oct-2004

  • Motorcycle Diaries falls through foreign-language Oscar cracks

    5-Oct-2004

    Walter Salles'pan-Latin American co-production The Motorcycle Diaries - one of the year's most popularforeign-language films - has been ruled ineligible for the foreign-languagefilm Oscar category this year. It joins A Very Long Engagement, 2046 and Bad Education in the list of acclaimed internationalfilms which have been excluded from that race.

  • Cinema Libre buys David O Russell Iraq war doc

    23-Sep-2004

    DavidO Russell's 35-minute war documentary Soldier's Pay, which was to have been packaged with his 1999 GulfWar drama Three Kings on DVD untilWarner Bros dropped it, has landed at Cinema Libre Studio, the LA company whichis also releasing Robert Greenwald's documentary Uncovered: The War On Iraq.CinemaLibre plans to release the films in US theatres in a double bill as of nextweek. ...

  • Kinsey, Nixon bookend Hamptons festival

    23-Sep-2004

    The 12th annualHamptons International Film Festival, which takes place in East Hampton, New York,Oct 20-24 will open with a screening of Bill Condon's Kinsey and close with Niels Muller's The AssassinationOf Richard Nixon.

  • Skoll outfit to co-finance two Warner Bros pictures

    23-Sep-2004

    Participant Productions, aproduction company formed in Jan by former eBay president Jeff Skoll to make sociallyrelevant films and documentaries, has formed a partnership with Warner BrosPictures to co-finance two Warner 2005 movies Syriana and Class Action.Participant'smandate is to back projects which centre on "important social issues thatawaken, inspire and empower their audiences to make a difference." Syriana, ...

  • Star Wars box set, videogame take $115m in first day

    23-Sep-2004

    20thCentury Fox Home Entertainment has announced that first day sales for the StarWars box set in NorthAmerica and many international territories and the Star Wars Battlefront videogame in North America have exceeded$115m.The game will be available internationally later thisweek, as will the box set in unreleased territories such as Japan, Australia,Benelux and Mexico.

  • Bana teams with Hanson for Warner Bros

    22-Sep-2004

    Eric Bana, Australian starof Hulk and Troy, has landed the lead role in Curtis Hanson's nextmovie for Warner Bros Lucky You.Bana, who is also scheduled to star in Steven Spielberg's Vengeance next year, will play Huck Cheever, the leadcharacter in the character-based drama set in the world of high-stakesprofessional poker.

  • Gibson to get producer trophy at Hollywood Film Awards

    22-Sep-2004

    Mel Gibson will receive theHollywood Producer Of The Year Award at the Hollywood Awards gala ceremony inLos Angeles on Oct 18.

  • Palm buys music doc Be Here To Love Me

    22-Sep-2004

    Chris Blackwell's PalmPictures has closed a deal to buy North American and Caribbean rights toMargaret Brown's documentary Be Here To Love Me, a profile of musician Townes Van Zandt which hadits world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last week.

  • Bahamas launches film festival in Dec

    21-Sep-2004

    The Bahamas InternationalFilm Festival will take place for the first time Dec 9-12 in Nassau, Bahamas.

  • Bourne takes $6.7m in 23 territories for Universal/UIP

    21-Sep-2004

  • Chaplin, Kier, Pare join the cast of BloodRayne

    21-Sep-2004

    GeraldineChaplin, Udo Kier and Michael Pare have joined Ben Kingsley, Kristanna Loken,Michelle Rodriguez, Matt Davis and Michael Madsen in the cast of BloodRayne, the new film adaptation of the popularvideo game.

  • Denver Film Festival to present focus on German cinema

    21-Sep-2004

    The Starz DenverInternational Film Festival, which holds its 27th annual event Oct14-24, will stage a focus on German cinema

  • Film Movement buys North American rights to Antares

    20-Sep-2004

    Larry Meistrich's theatricaldistribution and subscription DVD service Film Movement has acquired NorthAmerican rights to Austrian drama Antares at the Toronto International Film Festival.

  • THINKFilm woos Three Of Hearts at Toronto

    20-Sep-2004

    Another domestic deal wasclinched in the closing days of the Toronto International Film Festival, withTHINKFilm taking domestic theatrical and DVD rights to Susan Kaplan's documentary ThreeOf Hearts: A Postmodern Family.

  • Vitagraph acquires US theatrical to Los Angeles doc

    20-Sep-2004

    Vitagraph Films has acquiredUS theatrical rights to Thom Anderson's documentary Los Angeles Plays Itself at the Toronto International Film Festival.

  • Sky is high but maybe not the limit with $16.2m opening

    19-Sep-2004

    Maybeit was the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in the southeastern US, maybe the lackof interest in the new product but box office was slow this weekend in NorthAmerica, down some 27% from the same period last year.

  • Fine Line acquires Yao Ming doc in Toronto

    17-Sep-2004

    Fine Line Features kept the buying momentum going in the finaldays of Toronto yesterday, picking up worldwide rights to The Year Of Yao, the documentary about basketball starYao Ming which had its world premiere here.

  • Sideways

    17-Sep-2004

  • Tao, Emery promoted at Hurd's Valhalla Motion Pictures

    16-Sep-2004

    Stephen Tao has beenpromoted to senior vice president, development, and Stephen Emery has beenpromoted to vice president of production/development at Gale Anne Hurd'sLA-based Valhalla Motion Pictures.

  • Travolta, Berney, Braff, Mann among HFA honourees

    16-Sep-2004

    More honorees have beennamed at this year's Hollywood Film Awards on Oct 18. John Travolta willreceive the Hollywood Lifetime Achievement Award, distributor Bob Berney hasbeen named winner of the Hollywood Leadership Award and Zach Braff will receivethe award for Hollywood Breakthrough Director of the Year award.

  • Williamson gets senior vp stripes at Warner International

    16-Sep-2004

    David Williamson has beennamed senior vice president, finance, at Warner Bros Pictures International.

  • Being Julia

    15-Sep-2004

    Dir: Istvan Szabo. Canada/UK/Hungary. 2004. 105mins.Older adults will find many pleasures in IstvanSzabo's cheerful period comedy Being Julia which plays like DangerousLiasions-light in the world of 1930s London theatre. Dominated by astupendously entertaining performance from Annette Bening, ...

  • Moore's Sicko gathers buyer heat

    15-Sep-2004

    An outline of Michael Moore's next documentary has been sentout to international distributors by Moore's agency Endeavor - and isgenerating heat amongst major buyers at the Toronto Film Festival.

  • Deal-making gets going at Toronto for Focus, Newmarket

    14-Sep-2004

    The deals kept on closing yesterday as Focus Features picked upmultiple territory rights to Pawel Pawlikowski's My Summer Of Love and Newmarket Films bought NorthAmerican rights to Lukas Moodysson's highly controversial A Hole In My Heart.

  • Jackson, Borde, Doban team up for US distribution venture

    14-Sep-2004

    Susan Jackson, Mark Borde and Mike Doban have teamed up to form anew LA-based theatrical distribution and marketing company Freestyle Releasing.The company will first release Stephen King's Riding The Bullet on Oct 8 followed by James Redford's Spin on Oct 15.

  • Celluloid Dreams scares up sales on Marebito

    13-Sep-2004

    Celluloid Dreams has pickedup worldwide sales rights to Marebito, the latest horror picture fromTakashi Shimizu, and immediately closed a deal for the US and UK with HamishMcAlpine's Tartan Films.Shimizuis the director of cult Japanese horror film The Grudge and its sequelas well as the US remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar which is set forrelease through Columbia Pictures in the US on Oct 22.

  • New Friend for Mrs Palfrey

    13-Sep-2004

  • TLA Releasing honours Honore's Ma Mere

    13-Sep-2004

  • Ryder, Lehmann reteam on stoner comedy Weed

    13-Sep-2004

    Winona Ryder is reuniting with her Heathers director MichaelLehmann on a new comedy called Weed which Sideways producer Michael Londonwill produce. International sales agent Arclight Films is talking the film upto buyers at Sundance; Cinetic Media is handling domestic rights.

  • Toronto buying spree kicks off with Crash to Lions Gate

    13-Sep-2004

    In a deal closed late Saturday night, Lions Gate Films ponied upclose to $4m for North American rights to Paul Haggis' red-hot Toronto ensembledrama Crash. Easilythe biggest deal of both Venice and Toronto so far, the Crash negotiations took place after the Fridayafternoon public ...

  • Zhang Yimou teams with Japan's Ken Takakura on next film

    13-Sep-2004

    Chinese movie legend ZhangYimou, in Toronto to promote his latest martial arts spectacle House OfFlying Daggers, is returning to morepersonal drama for his next film which will be a starring vehicle for Japanesefilm veteran Ken Takakura.

  • A Hole In My Heart (Ett Hal I Mitt Hjarta)

    10-Sep-2004

    Dir: LukasMoodysson. 2004. Sweden/Norway. 98mins.Sweden's LukasMoodysson takes an astonishing journey to the dark heart of humanity in hisfourth feature A Hole In My Heart. Audaciously expressionistic andcinematically experimental, it will be one of Toronto's talking points andprompted plenty of walkouts ...

  • Enduring Love

    10-Sep-2004

    Dir: Roger Michell. 2004. UK. 100 mins.

  • IFTA takes space at Le Merigot for first Nov AFM

    7-Sep-2004

    The American Film Market(AFM) has expanded its exhibitor space to include offices in the Le MerigotHotel adjacent to the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel for its first Nov eventwhich runs Nov 3 to 10.

  • Vera Drake

    7-Sep-2004

  • Finding Neverland

    6-Sep-2004

  • Avelleneda's Moon tops one million admissions in Argentina

    6-Aug-2004

    La Luna De Avelleneda(Avelleneda's Moon), Juan JoseCampanella's latest drama starring Ricardo Darin, passed the 1m admissionsbarrier in Argentina this week, becoming his second smash hit after SonOf The Bride.The box office score is even more impressive bearing inmind the current economic crisis in the country, not to mention the fact thatits population is around 19m people meaning that some 5% have seen the film.

  • Summit, Serendipity Point reteam on Egoyan's Truth

    6-Aug-2004

    Los Angeles-based sales, financingand production outfit Summit Entertainment has signed on as international salesagent for Atom Egoyan's latest picture Where The Truth Lies.

  • Tailor-Made teams with Plan B to co-produce The Apologist

    30-Jul-2004

    London-based Tailor-MadeFilms has teamed with Brad Pitt, Brad Grey and Jennifer Aniston's Plan B toco-produce the film of Jay Rayner's novel The Apologist.

  • Hyde Park sets flag in UK with Brass Hat partnership

    29-Jul-2004

    Ashok Amritraj's Hyde ParkEntertainment has cemented a five-year partnership with London-based investmentfirm The Brass Hat Group whereby Brass Hat will be Hyde Park's financing andproduction partner in the UK.

  • She Hate Me

    22-Jul-2004

    Dir: Spike Lee. US. 2004. 138 mins.

  • The Manchurian Candidate

    20-Jul-2004

    Dir:Jonathan Demme. US. 2004. 130 mins.While not all of the choices made in it are successful, Jonathan Demme'scontemporary revamp of John Frankenheimer's marvelous The ManchurianCandidate is unquestionably one of the smarter, more persuasive films toemerge out of a Hollywood studio this year. Loaded with the intensity you'dexpect a cast led by Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep to deliver, Paramount'shigh-powered ...

  • Day After Tomorrow sweeps past $500m for Fox

    8-Jul-2004

    The Day After Tomorrow, 20th Century Fox's eco-disaster epicdirected by Roland Emmerich, has passed the $500m mark at the worldwide boxoffice after six weeks on release.

  • Nair launches Sundance Institute of the East

    8-Jul-2004

    Film-maker Mira Nair haslaunched a film-maker laboratory dedicated to developing and supportingvisionary screenwriters and directors from East Africa and South Asia. CalledMAISHA, the initiative is based on the Sundance Institute model.

  • New NYC film festival launched for young women film-makers

    8-Jul-2004

    A new film festival wasunveiled in New York City yesterday for young, emerging female film-makersbetween the ages of 16 and 25. Entitled Reel Girls Filmmakers On The Verge,the festival will run Nov 4 to 6.

  • Hollywood Film Festival teams with IDA for documentary showcase

    7-Jul-2004

    The HollywoodFilm Festival has teamed up with the International Documentary Association(IDA) for a special focus on documentaries at this year's festival which runsOct 12 to 18 in Los Angeles.

  • NORTH AMERICA 7 July

    7-Jul-2004

  • Bale, Thewlis & Taylor join cast of The New World

    2-Jul-2004

    Christian Bale, DavidThewlis, Noah Taylor and Q'orianka Kilcher (pictured) have joined the cast of TerrenceMalick's The New World which NewLine Cinema plans to release in Nov 2005.

  • Dan Glickman succeeds Jack Valenti as head of MPAA

    2-Jul-2004

    JackValenti formally resigned yesterday from his position as president and CEO ofthe Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) after 38 years in the job, ashis successor Dan Glickman (pictured) was named.

  • A Home At The End Of The World

    2-Jul-2004

    Dir: Michael Mayer. US.2004. 93mins.Can a movie be too short' Broadway theatre directorMichael Mayer and novelist Michael Cunningham have opted for an ultra-concisemovie treatment of Cunningham's celebrated first novel (1990), which traces thefriendship between two boys over 30 years in just 93 minutes. The effect is afilm which feels like it's been cut down from a miniseries - fleeting episodesin the lives of the characters which don't add up to much ...

  • 16 year-old arrested camcording Spider-man 2

    1-Jul-2004

    A 16 year-old boy wasarrested in the early hours of yesterday morning at a theatre in Chatsworth,California, for attempting to camcord the first public showing of Spider-Man2. The Motion Picture Association OfAmerica (MPAA) proudly announced the arrest yesterday, even naming theprojectionist (Scott Bergin) who spotted the teen pirate.

  • Beautiful Boxer falls to here!

    1-Jul-2004

    here! Films has acquiredNorth American distribution rights to Thai drama Beautiful Boxer from Arclight Films. The company plans to releasethe film theatrically in the US and Canada in the third quarter 2004.

  • Spider-man 2 leaps into 28 territories this weekend

    1-Jul-2004

    Columbia TriStar puts out the year's most hotlyanticipated film Spider-man 2 in 28territories this weekend day-and-date with the North American opening thisweek, but the studio is waiting until next weekend and the weekend after torelease the blockbuster sequel in Europe to avoid any interference from theEuropean football championships.Major territories which will be spun into a box officefrenzy by the superhero epic this weekend are ...

  • Summit, Endgame kick off The Alibi with stellar cast

    1-Jul-2004

    Summit Entertainment's The Alibi which the international production,sales and financing outfit is co-financing with Jim Stern's Endgame startedprincipal photography yesterday in Los Angeles with a stellar cast in place.

  • Bonham Carter, Taylor, Fox and Lee join Charlie cast

    1-Jul-2004

    Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, James Fox, Missi Pyle andChristopher Lee have joined the cast of Tim Burton's Charlie And TheChocolate Factory whichhas started shooting in London for Warner Bros and Village Roadshow Pictures.

  • The Door In The Floor

    30-Jun-2004

    Dir: Tod Williams. US.2004. 111mins.

  • Criminal

    25-Jun-2004

    Dir: Gregory Jacobs. US.2004. 87mins.

  • The Notebook

    25-Jun-2004

  • Around The World In 80 Days

    18-Jun-2004

    Dir: Frank Coraci. US.2004. 119mins.Walden Media's costly self-financed family adventurefinally hits the screens with the Walt Disney Pictures stamp on it and provesworthy of the honour. Jules Verne purists and lovers of the three-hour 1956classic will do best to stay away, but family audiences will be guaranteed agood-natured summer entertainment which will please both kids and their parentsduring the holidays.

  • Facing Windows, Born Into Brothels are Seattle favourites

    15-Jun-2004

    The 30th Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)closed on Sunday with its annual Golden Space Needle Awards for audiencefavourites at the event.Ferzan ...

  • The Terminal

    14-Jun-2004

    Dir: Steven Spielberg.US. 2004. 128minsWhen Steven Spielberg sets out to make a feelgood heartwarmer, as he openlystates was his intention in The Terminal, cynics better watch out. Thefilm-maker whose command of the craft is so fluent that he can eke tears fromthe hardest of hearts goes all out for sentiment in his latest picturestarring, well who else, Tom Hanks. The results are not for the faint-hearted.Like the opening sequence in Saving Private Ryan, ...

  • De-Lovely

    4-Jun-2004

    Dir: Irwin Winkler. US.2004. 125mins.De-Lovely is one of those movies which begs the question why. Why in2004 make an old-fashioned biopic of homosexual composer Cole Porter as aheterosexual romance' Why re-record Cole Porter numbers with contemporary popacts when it was done so effectively for charity 15 years ago by the Red, Hot + Blue project' Why, in an agewhen musicals are coming back into vogue courtesy of Chicago ...

  • Dolgen resigns from Viacom

    3-Jun-2004

    Following the announcementon Tuesday that Viacom president and COO Mel Karmazin will be succeeded by TomFreston and Les Moonves, Viacom Entertainment Group chairman Jonathan Dolgenhas resigned. He will leave the company on July 15.

  • Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban

    28-May-2004

    Dir: Alfonso Cuaron. US.2004.

  • GreeneStreet reports hot sales on five Cannes features

    24-May-2004

    GreeneStreetInternational sealed a slew of deals at Cannes this year on its slate of fivepictures led by brand new thriller Fade Out written by Michael Cristofer who willalso direct, and starring Billy Bob Thornton and Kate Beckinsale.The film, which is set to start shooting on July 5, waspresold to Village Roadshow in Greece, Castello-Lopes in Portugal, Skifan inIceland and West Film in CIS by GreeneStreet's Cedric Jeanson and ArielVeneziano.

  • The Day After Tomorrow

    24-May-2004

  • Coalition to dial 911'

    20-May-2004

    The Weinstein brothers areclose to buying back Fahrenheit 9/11from The Walt Disney Co, but they are no nearer to deciding on a third-partydistributor. Which is curious because the brothers require that the MichaelMoore movie hits US theatres in six weeks time on July 2.

  • Focus Features enjoys sales bonanza

    19-May-2004

    Focus Features has completed over 200 territorial deals at Canneson its current slate of pictures led by Directors Fortnight title Mean Creek as well as The Constant Gardener, Brokeback Mountain,Prime, Assault On Precinct 13 and TheIce Harvest.

  • Hart Sharp gets Super Size

    19-May-2004

  • Focus boards Onimusha

    18-May-2004

    Samuel Hadida's Davis Filmshas enlisted Focus Features to handle sales outside of France and Japan to Onimusha, the ambitious live actionmovie of Capcom's best-selling video game. Hadida will produce the film basedon the game created by Keiji Inafune.

  • Merchant Ivory goes Latino

    18-May-2004

    Merchant Ivory Productions(MIP) has acquired rights to Peter Cameron's novel City Of Your Final Destination and it will be James Ivory's nextfilm as a director after The WhiteCountess which is shooting later this year. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala iscurrently writing the screenplay.

  • Seville, Capri team for Canadian releases

    18-May-2004

  • SPC flies with Zhang's Daggers

    18-May-2004

    Sony Pictures Classics hasacquired North American rights to Zhang Yimou's House Of Flying Daggers which is screening in Cannes on Wednesdayout of competition.

  • Tartan names Schreiber as US video president

    18-May-2004

    Tartan USA has named AndrewSchreiber president of Tartan Video USA, a division of the new US distributorset up by Hamish McAlpine of Tartan Films in the UK.

  • THINKFilm buys N American rights to Nimrod Antal's Kontroll

    18-May-2004

    THINKFilm has bought NorthAmerican rights to Kontroll, NimrodAntal's Hungarian hit which screened this week in Un Certain Regard. Antal is aUS-born director but the film is set in the world of the Budapest undergroundrail system where a hooded killer is on the loose. It stars Sandor Csanyi andZoltan Mucsi.The deal was closed by JeffSackman, president and CEO of THINKFilm, and Mark Urman, head of US theatrical,wth Andrew Herwitz of The Film Sales Co.

  • Bad Santa

    18-May-2004

    Dir: Terry Zwigoff. US.2003. 91mins.

  • Dreamworks realising Shrek 3 & 4

    17-May-2004

    DreamWorks FeatureAnimation, which has arrived in Cannes with a 300 strong entourage fortonight's competition screening of Shrek2, has begun production on Shrek 3- and is already working on Shrek 4.

  • Fahrenheit to rise in July

    17-May-2004

    Michael Moore made his firstpublic appearance in Cannes yesterday, revealing that he and Miramax Filmsbosses Harvey and Bob Weinstein are negotiating with third-party distributorsto have Fahrenheit 9/11 in US theatres by July.

  • Hopkins runs with World's Fastest Indian

    17-May-2004

    LA producers Freddy Braidyand Francesco Juilland have teamed up to form Cameo FJ Entertainment and thecompany's first film, The World's FastestIndian, which has Anthony Hopkins attached to star, Roger Donaldsonattached to direct and is being sold here by Elie Samaha's Mobius.

  • Lee outlines Media 8 ambitions

    17-May-2004

  • Tremain tunes up Music & Silence with Lupovitz

    17-May-2004

  • Lions Gate wraps up Japanese horror package

    17-May-2004

  • Miramax makes Grimm German deal

    17-May-2004

  • Assassination Of Nixon proves popular

    14-May-2004

  • Harvey Weinstein to publish memoirs

    14-May-2004

    Miramax co-chairman HarveyWeinstein has closed a deal with HarperCollins Publishers for North Americanand UK publication rights to his memoirs. And Weinstein plans to donate allprofits from the book to three charities: The Robin Hood Foundation, Paul Newman'sThe Hole In The Wall Gang Camp and amfAR.

  • Lions Gate finds Garcia's Lost City

    14-May-2004

    Lions Gate FilmsInternational has confirmed that it will handle international sales on AndyGarcia's directorial debut The Lost City, a dramatic Cuban love storywhich is set to begin shooting in June in the Dominican Republic, Miami and NewYork.

  • Millennium Kidnapped with Go Fish

    14-May-2004

  • Salvatores' Love set as English-language debut

    14-May-2004

    Gabriele Salvatores, theOscar-winning Italian director of Mediterraneo and I'm Not Scared,will make his English-language feature debut The Rules Of Love in Canadaas an Italy/Canada co-production with Toronto-based Capri Films and Rome-basedColorado Film Production.

  • Classic rolls with Cottontail

    13-May-2004

  • Classic rolls with Cottontail

    13-May-2004

  • Echo Bridge digs in with Mortuary

    13-May-2004

  • Echo Bridge digs in with Mortuary

    13-May-2004

  • Echo Bridge digs in with Mortuary

    13-May-2004

  • Fireside looks to sparkle on Cannes debut

    13-May-2004

  • Foley has Pacino for 88 Minutes

    13-May-2004

  • Horizon takes Eternal rights

    13-May-2004

    HorizonEntertainment has acquired international rights to the thriller Eternalwhich will be released theatrically in Canada by TVA. Written and directed byWilhelm Libenberg and Federico Sanchez, the film was shot in Venice andMontreal and stars Conrad Pla and Caroline Neron in the story of a detectivetracking a female killer who has a connection to a legendary 16th century massmurderer.

  • Lions Gate sews up Saw deals

    13-May-2004

  • Lord Of War comes together with Cage, Hawke, Leto

    13-May-2004

    Ethan Hawke, BridgetMoynahan, Jared Leto, Jeffrey Wright and Donald Sutherland have joined NicolasCage in the cast of Lord Of War,Andrew Niccol's action-adventure which is being produced by EMC, AscendantPictures, VIP3 Medienfonds, Saturn Films and IMG, with financing being providedby the producers and Rand Merchant Bank in South Africa through IMG.

  • Lord Of War comes together with Cage, Hawke, Leto

    13-May-2004

    Ethan Hawke, BridgetMoynahan, Jared Leto, Jeffrey Wright and Donald Sutherland have joined NicolasCage in the cast of Lord Of War,Andrew Niccol's action-adventure which is being produced by EMC, AscendantPictures, VIP3 Medienfonds, Saturn Films and IMG, with financing being providedby the producers and Rand Merchant Bank in South Africa through IMG.

  • Morgan Creek tackles Tenth Victim

    13-May-2004

    Morgan Creek has bought filmrights to The Tenth Victim, the long-gestating remake of Elio Petri'scult 60s futuristic thriller, and will fully finance the film with JohnMcTiernan attached to direct. Universal Pictures is handling domesticdistribution with Morgan Creek International handling sales in internationalterritories in Cannes.

  • Movision, Invicta team for all-star Pushers

    13-May-2004

  • Senator sells Long Weekend

    13-May-2004

  • Media 8 bankrolls Binder's Town

    13-May-2004

    Media 8 Entertainment is to fully finance Man AboutTown, the next picture from its Upside Of Anger director MikeBinder, which will star Ben Affleck as a Hollywood talent agent,

  • Media 8 bankrolls Binder's Town

    13-May-2004

    Media 8 Entertainment is to fully finance Man AboutTown, the next picture from its Upside Of Anger director MikeBinder, which will star Ben Affleck as a Hollywood talent agent,

  • Architect builds on sales

    12-May-2004

  • Intermedia bags Baghdad Blog

    12-May-2004

    Intermedia has bought film rights to Baghdad Blog, the bookof a weblog written by a 29 year-old Iraqi calling himself Salam Pax aboutdaily life in Baghdad before and after the invasion.

  • Momentum, Aurum love The Dark

    12-May-2004

    UK distributor MomentumPictures and its new sister company Aurum Producciones in Spain have made theirfirst joint acquisition, taking rights in the UK and Spain to Impact Pictures'horror movie The Dark starring Sean Bean and Maria Bello from SummitEntertainment.

  • Reda strikes out with Purple Pictures

    12-May-2004

    Hadeel Reda, the formerpresident of Winchester Films, has struck out on her own with a new LA-basedfilm production and financing outfit called Purple Pictures.

  • Summit takes over Myriad's Being Julia

    12-May-2004

    Summit Entertainment is taking over sales duties fromMyriad Pictures on Istvan Szabo's Being Julia starring Annette Bening.The deal is being done between Summit and the film's production companySerendipity Point run by Robert Lantos. Summit previously handled SerendipityPoint's The Statement.

  • Waiting for Lions Gate

    12-May-2004

  • Emmerich goes from global disaster to Shakespeare drama

    10-May-2004

    Roland Emmerich, the Germanfilm-maker behind popcorn blockbusters such as Independence Day, Godzilla and the upcoming The Day After Tomorrow, will take a major change in direction with his nextpicture The Soul Of The Age, anintense 16th century drama about the question of the authorship ofShakespeare.

  • Herwitz takes on Un Certain Regard thriller Kontroll, four others

    10-May-2004

    Andrew Herwitz of New York-basedThe Film Sales Company has picked up worldwide rights to five films forrepresentation during Cannes led by Hungarian thriller Kontroll from US-born director Nimrod Antal which has been abig local hit and is screening in Un Certain Regard.

  • Summit steps into The Dark, offers The Alibi

    10-May-2004

    Independent sales, financingand production powerhouse Summit Entertainment has added two new pictures toits Cannes lineup - The Dark, thelatest horror movie to emerge from Paul Anderson and Jeremy Bolt's ImpactPictures via its financing deal with Constantin Film and The Alibi, a contemporary thriller, which Summit isco-financing and co-producing with Jim Stern's Endgame Entertainment.

  • Mean Girls

    10-May-2004

    Dir: Mark Waters. US.2004. 97 mins.A cut above the low-cost teenage movies churned out of Hollywood studiosthese days, Mean Girls is a smart comedy with an acerbic edge which hasalready found a wide audience in North America, taking more than $42m after twoweeks on release, and should carve out a lesser, but still ample, slice ofbusiness in international markets.

  • Noyce sets Bielski Brothers at Warner Independent

    6-May-2004

    Film-maker Phillip Noycehas found a new home for his film of Peter Duffy's novel The BielskiBrothers at Warner IndependentPictures (WIP), and has teamed up with Mace Neufeld and Jonas Goodman to produce it. WIP will develop and finance the project with Cherry Road Films.

  • Troy

    5-May-2004

    Dir: Wolfgang Petersen.US. 2004. 155mins.If, in the end, Troy fails to stir the heart as much as it dazzles theeye, it is nevertheless one of the most intelligent and ambitious tentpoleblockbusters to come out of Hollywood in some time. After all, it took someguts and not a little hubris to take one of the cornerstones of literature,Homer's Iliad, and turn it into an audience-friendly summer movie. Butpowerhouse film-maker Wolfgang Petersen has never been ...

  • Renaissance picks up two for Cannes: Baxter, Human

    3-May-2004

    London-based Renaissance Films has picked up two new films forCannes - international rights to IFC Productions' romantic comedy The Baxter and worldwide rights outside Spain,Portugal and Argentina to Tornasol Films and Greenpoint Films' Spanish-langugecomedy Only Human.

  • Tarnation

    30-Apr-2004

    Dir:Jonathan Caouette. US. 2004. 88mins.

  • Man On Fire

    23-Apr-2004

  • Noeltner unveils new sales outfit CMG, first film Hoodwinked

    22-Apr-2004

    Edward Noeltnerhas officially launched his new company Cinema Management Group (CMG), anLos Angeles-based sales outfit which kicks off with one of the firstindependently-financed 3-D animated movies Hoodwinked: The True Story Of RedRiding Hood.

  • Noeltner unveils new sales outfit CMG, first film Hoodwinked

    22-Apr-2004

    Edward Noeltnerhas officially launched his new company Cinema Management Group (CMG), anLA-based sales outfit which kicks off with one of the firstindependently-financed 3-D animated movies Hoodwinked: The True Story Of RedRiding Hood.

  • New Line takes Vera Drake off the table

    20-Apr-2004

    New Line Cinema has acquired North American rights to MikeLeigh's latest film Vera Drake for apurported price tag of well over $2m. The deal was personally initiated by NewLine co-chairman and co-CEO Michael Lynne himself with the Leigh camp.It is not yet clear whether the film will be released byNew Line or its specialised division Fine Line which has notacquired a film since Cherish atSundance 2002. Fine Line had previously ...

  • The Punisher

    16-Apr-2004

  • Warner Bros Japan wins distribution prize

    16-Apr-2004

  • Mira Nair serves as guest director for LAFF

    8-Apr-2004

    Film-maker Mira Nair is toserve as guest director for the 2004 Los Angeles Film Festival. In this role,she will host a two-day film-maker retreat, programme a sidebar of films thathave inspired her work and attend opening night festivities.

  • Passion poised for more gold over Easter weekend

    8-Apr-2004

    Easter weekend sees somewide studio offerings hit the markets, while other pictures already in themarket, most notably The Passion Of The Christ will be looking for holiday audiences to bump theirgrosses.

  • Slamdance turns to US distribution, talent managing

    8-Apr-2004

    The founder ofthe Slamdance Film Festival Peter Baxter has teamed up with film and TVproducer and manager Robert Schwartz and Cleveland-based businessman GeorgeKetvertis to launch Slamdance Media Group, a new US distribution and talentmanagement outfit based in Los Angeles.

  • Ella Enchanted

    7-Apr-2004

  • Asian territories embrace The Christ

    6-Apr-2004

    IconEntertainment's The Passion Of The Christ showed that it could play beyond traditional US and European strongholds over the weekend, placing number one in the market in five Asianterritories for Fox International. In South Korea, where 49% of the population is Christian, it amassed a huge $2.3m opening on 157 screens.The film opened with $0.9m in The Philippines on 132screens, it took $0.58m in Singapore on 32 screens and $0.57m in Hong Kong on39 ...

  • CTFDI's Gothika surges to $6.1m weekend

    6-Apr-2004

    Columbia TriStar FilmDistributors International (CTFDI) saw its horror thriller Gothika surge to $6.1m on 1,737 screens over the weekend oninternational release, including a strong $2.6m opening in the UK on 306screens for third position in the market.

  • Japan's Klockworx makes entry into US distribution

    6-Apr-2004

    Japanese distributor TheKlockworx Company is boldly stepping into the US distribution market, teamingup with US independent Pathfinder Pictures to buy and release films in the US.

  • Knots to close Gen Art Film Festival on Apr 20

    6-Apr-2004

  • Knots to close Gen Art Film Festival on Apr 20

    6-Apr-2004

    Greg Lombardo's comedy Knots has been named the closing night film of this year'sGen Art Film Festival on April 20 in New York City.

  • Sundance Channel, Wellspring team up for Cho's third concert film

    6-Apr-2004

    US pay-cable network TheSundance Channel and independent theatrical and video distributor Wellspringhave teamed up to acquire distribution rights to Margaret Cho's latest comedyfilm Revolution (pictured).

  • Tribeca snags Cholodenko, Burns world premieres

    6-Apr-2004

    LisaCholodenko's latest Cavedweller,Ed Burns' Looking For Kitty andDavid Duchovny's directorial debut House Of D starring Robin Williams will have their worldpremieres at this year's Tribeca Film Festival which takes place May 1 to 9.

  • Tarantino plots anime prequel to Kill Bill

    5-Apr-2004

    Quentin Tarantino isconsidering a continuation of his Kill Bill epic by writing and producing an anime prequel whichtells the early life story of Bill before the fatal events in his two-volumepicture.

  • Goldmann named president of Atmosphere Entertainment MM

    5-Apr-2004

    Bernie Goldmann has beennamed president of Mark Canton's LA-based Atmosphere MM Entertainment. He willoversee Atmosphere MM's film and TV development and production activities, willtake an equity stake in the company as well as a seat on its board ofdirectors.

  • Miramax takes Stratus' Hostage for North America

    5-Apr-2004

    MiramaxFilms has acquired North American rights to Hostage, the Bruce Willis action thriller financed byStratus Film Company and scripted from his own novel by Robert Crais.FlorentSiri (The Nest) is directing thefilm, which is currently shooting in Los Angeles, and Stratus, Equity Picturesand Cheyenne Enterprises are the production entities. The film's producers areCheyenne partners Arnold ...

  • Polly takes another $5m for Universal, Dead opens well in Mexico

    5-Apr-2004

    UniversalPictures/UIP opened hit comedy Along Came Polly in eight more territories this weekendincluding Korea, Russia and Sweden for an estimated total of $5m at 2,000 sitesin 32 countries.

  • Scorsese to present The Leopard at Lake Placid

    5-Apr-2004

    Martin Scorsese will presenta special screening of Luchino Visconti's The Leopard at this year's Lake Placid Film Festival which takesplace June 2 to 6.

  • Warner wins international weekend with Scooby off the leash

    5-Apr-2004

    WarnerBros opened Scooby Doo 2 in 27markets over the weekend for an estimated total of $15.5m from 3,800 screens.After two weekends on release, the film has now taken $17.7m.

  • Wolfe steps up US theatrical, buying Thoughts, City

    5-Apr-2004

    California-based USindependent Wolfe is continuing its expansion into theatrical distribution withthe acquisition of Achim Von Borries' German drama Love In Thoughts which made its world premiere at the Sundance FilmFestival and Spanish director Cesc Gay's latest picture In The City.

  • Hellboy scores heavenly bow for Revolution and Sony

    5-Apr-2004

    Itwas another strong weekend at the North American box office, with overallticket sales for the top 12 films up 39% from the same weekend last yearcontinuing an upward trend on 2003 for the sixth consecutive weekend.

  • Kill Bill Vol 2

    5-Apr-2004

    Dir: Quentin Tarantino.US. 2004. 136 mins.

  • Kill Bill Vol 2 review

    5-Apr-2004

    Dir: Quentin Tarantino.US. 2004. 136 mins.

  • The Prince And Me

    5-Apr-2004

  • IFC backs documentary about Z Channel from Cassavetes

    1-Apr-2004

    The Independent Film Channelhas unveiled its latest original documentary Z Channel: A MagnificentObsession which is the feature directorialdebut of Xan Cassavetes. The film looks at the ground-breaking LA film channelof the 1970s and 1980s and its brilliant but troubled programmer Jerry Harvey,who committed suicide after murdering his wife in 1988.

  • Focus brands new genre label Rogue Pictures

    25-Mar-2004

    Focus Features has unveileda new film label Rogue Pictures which will produce and distribute suspense,action, thriller and urban films to be released on a wider scale in thedomestic market than the traditional Focus specialized fare.

  • Spider-Man 3 to hit theatres on May 4, 2007

    25-Mar-2004

    Spider-Man 3 is a go. Sony Pictures vice chairman Jeff Blakeshowed a new trailer to Spider-Man 2 last night and announced that Spider-Man 3 would open in US theatres on May 4, 2007 with TobeyMaguire and Kirsten Dunst in the roles of Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson and SamRaimi once again behind the camera.

  • Straight Jacket to open Miami Gay & Lesbian festival

    25-Mar-2004

    Straight Jacket, Richard Day's follow-up feature to Girls Will BeGirls, will open the 2004 Miami Gay& Lesbian Film Festival which takes place for the sixth time from April 23to May 2.

  • Valenti on the screener ban: 'I would have done it differently'

    24-Mar-2004

    MPAA chairman and CEO JackValenti expressed regret at how he handled the awards screener ban at his pressbriefing yesterday morning for the opening of ShoWest in Las Vegas.

  • Crossroads acquires Acts Of Charity script for Winter to direct

    23-Mar-2004

    New York-based commercials,music video and movie producer Crossroads Films has optioned rights to thescreenplay Acts Of Charity by UKscreenwriter Chips Hardy and Alex Winter, the London-based film-maker who isalso attached to direct the film.

  • Myriad promotes Rappaport, Chiu, Chordia

    23-Mar-2004

    Los Angeles- and London-based MyriadPictures has made three promotions, according to a statement from presidentKirk D'Amico.

  • Williams-Jones re-surfaces at Miramax International

    23-Mar-2004

    Michael Williams-Jones, theveteran distribution executive who left United International Pictures (UIP) totake a self-imposed sabbatical, is back in the picture and has taken thepresident job at Miramax International.

  • CTFDI rake in $5.5m from Gothika including top slot in Netherlands

    22-Mar-2004

    The thriller Gothika added $5.5m from 1,700 screens in 30 markets through ColumbiaTriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) at the weekend to raise itsinternational running total to $44.5m.

  • Media 8 boards Wayne Kramer's Running Scared

    22-Mar-2004

    Media 8Entertainment, the sales and co-financing outfit behind Oscar-winner Monster, has agreed to co-finance, along with VIP Medienfonds, RunningScared, the new filmfrom The Coolerdirector Wayne Kramer.

  • Paramount steps in for DreamWorks on Ask The Dust

    22-Mar-2004

    ParamountPictures is stepping in to replace DreamWorks as the domestic distributor onRobert Towne's Ask The Dust which is being financed with German media fund VIP andLondon's Capitol Films. Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek are scheduled to star.

  • Taking Lives

    19-Mar-2004

  • The Ladykillers

    19-Mar-2004

  • Coens back in Cannes competition with The Ladykillers

    15-Mar-2004

    Joel & Ethan Coen's latest black comedy The Ladykillers is heading to the Cannes Film Festivalin May, with a May 18 slot reserved for the film in main competition.

  • Screeners war is over: MPAA will let individual distributors decide

    15-Mar-2004

    It'sopen season for awards screener tapes in 2004. It emerged late last week thatthe MPAA has decided to leave screener policy up to individual distributorsfrom now on and will not enforce its members to limit mailouts of tapes orDVDs.

  • Art Port, Summit strike first deal on Down In The Valley

    4-Mar-2004

    Art Port Inc. has acquired Japanese distribution rights toDown In The Valley, the dark thrillerstarring Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood, from Summit Entertainment. Thedeal, concluded at AFM, marks the first deal between the two companies.The deal was closed between Art Port president & CEOJunichi Matsushita and Summit president and CEO Patrick Wachsberger.Summit also closed deals for the film at the market ...

  • Ben Ammar's Quinta takes French rights to The Passion...

    2-Mar-2004

    Quinta Communications, theParis-based holding company of international investor Tarak Ben Ammar, hasrevealed itself as the company which has bought rights in French-speakingterritories to Mel Gibson's blockbusting The Passion Of The Christ.

  • Touch Of Pink

    2-Mar-2004

  • DEJ acquires domestic rights to Employee Of The Month

    1-Mar-2004

    DEJ Prods, the acquisitionand distribution arm of Blockbuster Entertainment, has bought domestic rightsto Employee Of The Month, Bull's Eye Entertainment's heist comedy starring MattDillon, Christina Applegate and Steve Zahn.

  • Hanway enters Land Of Plenty

    1-Mar-2004

    Hanway Films has picked uprights outside North America and the UK to Wim Wenders' Land Of Plenty, the low-budget film he made for digital filmmakingcollective InDigEnt.The movie, which is currently inpost-production, stars Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek, The ...

  • Tartan, Arclight full of Grace with Killer

    1-Mar-2004

    Tartan Films and ArclightFilms have teamed up with New York-based Killer Films to co-produce andco-finance the $12m Savage Grace,the first film from director Tom Kalin since his 1992 indie classic Swoon, which will star Julianne Moore.

  • Top international buyers hold Grudge

    1-Mar-2004

    Senator International has soldout Ghost House Pictures' The Grudge,a remake of the hit Japanese horror thriller Ju-On, in all major territories following deals with UIPfor the UK, Constantin for Germany, Metropolitan for France and VillageRoadshow for Australia.

  • King of the world: 11 out of 11 Oscar sweep for Rings

    1-Mar-2004

    In an extraordinary cleansweep, New Line Cinema's The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King won 11 Academy Awards last night out of its 11nominations - matching the all-time record set by Ben-Hur in 1959 and Titanic in 1997.

  • AFM: Pickering spearheads EBG sales

    29-Feb-2004

  • Lost In Translation in healthy Spirits

    29-Feb-2004

    FocusFeatures' Lost In Translation emerged as the key winner at the IFP Independent Spirit Awardson Saturday, winning awards for best feature, best director, best male lead forBill Murray and best original screenplay.

  • Bay's Platinum Dunes signs international agreement with Focus

    27-Feb-2004

    Platinum Dunes, MichaelBay's production outfit designed to make modestly budgeted films fromfirst-time directors, has signed an exclusive sales arrangement with FocusFeatures. Focus had previously handled Platinum Dunes' debut project TheTexas Chainsaw Massacre, whichgrossed more than $100m worldwide.

  • New Line makes Mexican pact with brand new distributor

    27-Feb-2004

    New Line International hasallied with Districine in Mexico for the distribution of all New Line's filmsin Mexico. New Line's films were previously handled by sister company WarnerBros Pictures International in all Latin America, but the studio is currentlyreassessing its distribution plans in the subcontinent.

  • AFM: Renaissance sells Asmik Ace, Dendy, Bim and others on Curran drama

    27-Feb-2004

    Renaissance Films has sealeda handful of deals on its acclaimed ensemble drama We Don't Live HereAnymore following the sale of thefilm for North America and the UK to Warner Independent Pictures at Sundance inJan.

  • Miramax's Weinstein wins humanitarian award from amfAR

    27-Feb-2004

    Miramax co-chairman HarveyWeinstein will be recognized with the Arthur B Krim Award by amfAR, theAmerican Foundation for AIDS Research, at a special tribute event later thisyear.

  • New Line sees upside from Anger

    26-Feb-2004

    New Line Cinema has acquired North American distribution rights tothe ensemble comedy The Upside Of Anger, which was co-financed and sold by Media 8 Entertainment.

  • Paramount Classics tools up with Filmax's Machinist

    26-Feb-2004

    Paramount Classics has acquired multiple territory rightsto Brad Anderson's The Machinist starringChristian Bale from Filmax International.The studio specialized arm bought the psychologicalthriller for North America, UK, South Africa, Latin America, Australia and NewZealand. Paramount Classics, which previously handled Anderson's HappyAccidents, is planning an end of yearrelease for the film which world premiered at this year's ...

  • Heavens Above - It's Cash Wednesday!

    26-Feb-2004

    Newmarket Films and Icon Entertainment announced their astonishingfinal numbers yesterday for the first day Wednesday gross of The Passion OfThe Christ - a divine$26,556,573.

  • AFM: Focus clinches key sales on Synergy, Seed Of Chucky.

    25-Feb-2004

    Focus Features has closed a score of deals on two key titles inthe run-up to the American Film Market, which starts today in Santa Monica.

  • Focus closes key sales on Synergy, Seed Of Chucky

    25-Feb-2004

    Focus Features has closed a score of deals on two key titles inthe run-up to the American Film Market, which starts today in Santa Monica.

  • Focus closes key sales on Synergy, Seed Of Chucky.

    25-Feb-2004

    Focus Features has closed a score of deals on two key titles inthe run-up to the American Film Market, which starts today in Santa Monica.

  • Fortissimo handles third Eye

    25-Feb-2004

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide sales rights to The Eye- Infinity, the thirdinstalment in the wildly popular Asian horror series.

  • New Films Int'l acquires Holedigger duo

    25-Feb-2004

    New Films International, the recently launched worldwideproduction and sales arm of the eight year-old distribution outfit, has signeda two-picture deal with Holedigger Films to handle international sales on Marie& Bruce and OffThe Map.

  • AFM: Myriad strikes sales Deal with Front Street

    25-Feb-2004

    Myriad Pictures has pacted with Front Street Films, the producer of Sundance hit We Don't Live Here Anymore, to handle international sales on The Deal, a Wall Street thriller which is set to star Christian Slater and Selma Blair.

  • The Passion Of The Christ

    23-Feb-2004

  • Depp is surprise SAG winner for Pirates

    23-Feb-2004

    In a surprise turn attonight's Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, Johnny Depp won the prizefor best film actor for his comic performance in Pirates Of The Caribbean:The Curse Of The Black Pearl,defeating frontrunners Bill Murray and Sean Penn.

  • Tykwer's Perfume noses its way to Summit

    23-Feb-2004

    Patrick Wachsberger's salespowerhouse Summit Entertainment has lined up a slate of five high profile newpictures for buyers at AFM headed by Tom Tykwer's film adapatation of PatrickSuskind's bestselling 1985 German novel Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer.

  • Renaissance takes the world on Cattaneo's third film

    20-Feb-2004

    London-based financing andsales outfit Renaissance Films has acquired worldwide sales rights from theUK's Academy Features to Poppy And Dingan, the third film by British director Peter Cattaneo after The FullMonty and Lucky Break.

  • We Don't Live Here Anymore

    18-Feb-2004

  • Miramax takes EFM favourite Les Choristes

    17-Feb-2004

    Miramax Films has acquiredmultiple territory rights to Les Choristes, the hottest film at the European Film Market in Berlin this year.Miramax bought rights to the feelgood drama in North America, Latin America,Australia and New Zealand from Pathe International.

  • Leconte Berlin favourite goes to Paramount Classics

    12-Feb-2004

    Paramount Classics hasclosed a deal for multiple territory rights on Berlin Film Festival favourite ConfidencesTrop Intimes (aka IntimateStrangers). The studio specializedarm has bought rights in North America, Latin America, Australia/New Zealandand Japan from sales outfit StudioCanal.

  • Saw

    11-Feb-2004

  • Mean Creek

    30-Jan-2004

  • Maria Full Of Grace

    26-Jan-2004

  • The Machinist

    26-Jan-2004

  • Sony Classics takes on North American rights to Zelary

    23-Jan-2004

    Sony Pictures Classics (SPC)has acquired North American rights to Ondrej Trojan's Zelary, the Czech World War II epic which is this year'sCzech Republic entry for the best foreign language film Academy Award.

  • Woodsman, September Tapes score Sundance sales

    23-Jan-2004

    One of the Sundance FilmFestival's most acclaimed competition entries this year - Nicole Kassell's TheWoodsman - was sold yesterday toNewmarket Films for North America for a figure in the $1.2m range.

  • Warner Independent makes first acquisition at Sundance

    22-Jan-2004

    Two more deals were closedat the Sundance Film Festival yesterday and more are set to close before thefestival finishes this weekend, as the domestic buying frenzy continued.

  • Employee Of The Month

    22-Jan-2004

  • The Butterfly Effect

    21-Jan-2004

  • Sundance sees dynamite deal-making spree

    19-Jan-2004

    Theannual Sundance Film Festival buying spree got off to an unexpectedly briskstart this year with five films finding at least North American distributionfor a collective price tag upwards of $18m. And that was after just three full andfrenetic screening days in Park City.Thekey acquisitions so far are:

  • My Architect

    12-Jan-2004

  • Along Came Polly

    9-Jan-2004

  • Klockworx to take Weeping Camel into Japan

    6-Jan-2004

    Klockworx has acquired allrights in Japan to the Toronto Film Festival hit The Story Of The Weeping Camelfrom sales agent MenemshaEntertainment. In addition, New World Pictures bought rights to the film inThailand.

  • Hungary passes new film law, offers new tax rebates

    5-Jan-2004

    The HungarianParliament has passed a new film law which should position the country as oneof the most attractive in the world for incentive-hungry internationalproductions.

  • Hungary passes new film law, offers new tax rebates of up to 20%

    5-Jan-2004

  • Hungary passes new film law, offers new tax rebates of up to 20%

    5-Jan-2004

  • MONSTER

    22-Dec-2003

  • Monster

    22-Dec-2003

  • Zelary

    19-Dec-2003

  • Miramax reaches accord with Spain's Lauren

    15-Dec-2003

    Miramax Filmshas reached an agreement with Spain's beleaguered Lauren Films whereby Laurenwill continue to handle the 18 as yet unreleased Miramax titles it had acquiredfor Spain and also exploit the library of Miramax titles it has amassed overthe last decade in business with the US company.

  • Warriors Of Heaven And Earth

    15-Dec-2003

  • The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

    8-Dec-2003

    Dir: Peter Jackson. US / New Zealand. 2003. 201 mins.

  • Cold Mountain

    8-Dec-2003

  • A world of premieres at Sundance 2004

    2-Dec-2003

    The Sundance Film Festivalunveiled the remaining sections for its 2004 event (Jan 15 to 25) thisafternoon (see full list below) including the high profile world premieres ofnew films by Walter Salles, Brad Anderson, Marc Evans, Katja Von Garnier, ErnestDickerson and Vondie Curtis-Hall.

  • A world of premieres at Sundance

    2-Dec-2003

    The Sundance Film Festivalunveiled the remaining sections for its 2004 event (Jan 15 to 25) thisafternoon (see full list below) including the high profile world premieres ofnew films by Walter Salles, Brad Anderson, Marc Evans, Katja Von Garnier, ErnestDickerson and Vondie Curtis-Hall.

  • A world of premieres at Sundance 2004

    2-Dec-2003

    The Sundance Film Festivalunveiled the remaining sections for its 2004 event (Jan 15 to 25) thisafternoon (see full list below) including the high profile world premieres ofnew films by Walter Salles, Brad Anderson, Marc Evans, Katja Von Garnier, ErnestDickerson and Vondie Curtis-Hall.

  • Morgan Creek wins in lawsuit against Franchise

    2-Dec-2003

    Morgan Creek Productions haswon its lawsuit against Franchise Pictures and has been awarded close to $2m.Morgan Creek had loaned Franchise $2m and in return Franchise had guaranteedthat it would replay that amount out of revenue corridors of other films.

  • Specialty division chiefs subpoenaed to appear in Indies V MPAA case

    2-Dec-2003

    Studiospecialty division chiefs Harvey Weinstein of Miramax Films, Michael Barker andTom Bernard of Sony Pictures Classics, David Linde and James Schamus of FocusFeatures and Bingham Ray of United Artists may get their say after all in thebattle over the screener ban, since all have been subpoenaed ...

  • Big Fish

    1-Dec-2003

  • Sundance reflects a new cinema of discomfort

    1-Dec-2003

    The Sundance Film Festival,the film calendar's official discovery venue for US independent films, todayunveiled the dramatic and documentary competition lineups for its 2004 event(Jan 15 to 25) today, as well as the titles in the American Spectrum section.

  • Indie consolidation continues: ContentFilm merges with Winchester

    30-Nov-2003

    Ed Pressman and JohnSchimidt's three year-old ContentFilm has completed a reverse merger with theAIM-listed UK film outfit Winchester Entertainment which gives the US companymajority ownership and operational control of the UK production and distributionand international sales operation.

  • NORTH AMERICA

    27-Nov-2003

    The biggest specialised opener in North America last weekend was Focus Features' 21 Grams taking $274,454 from just eight screens in New York and Los Angeles, marking a site average of $34,307.

  • McKenzie promoted to vice president at WBITD

    26-Nov-2003

  • Independent coalition sues MPAA over screener ban

    25-Nov-2003

    A group of independent film-makers including Robert Altman, Christine Vachon, John Sloss, Ted Hope and John Penotti has teamed up with IFP/Los Angeles and IFP/New York to file a lawsuit against the MPAA in an effort to have the screener ban lifted immediately.

  • Jones appointed senior programmer at IFP LA Film Festival

    25-Nov-2003

    Doug Jones has been appointed senior programmer at the IFP Los Angeles Film Festival which this year runs from June 17 to June 26. He will work year-round with the festival's programming director Rachel Rosen.

  • Revolutions takes fast declining $21.5m over third weekend for Warner

    25-Nov-2003

    The Matrix Revolutions slowed down in its international run over its third weekend in theatres, taking an estimated $21.5m in 94 territories for a cumulative total to date of $230.2m.

  • Cat In The Hat jumps to the top with $40.1m

    24-Nov-2003

    Universal Pictures' Dr Seuss adaptation The Cat In The Hat opened at the top of the box office over the weekend with an estimated $40.1m gross, some $15m less than its 2000 predecessor How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

  • Barenholtz et al buy movie rights to comic strip AstroCity

    21-Nov-2003

    Ben Barenholtz,Kurt Busiek and Jonathan Alpers have teamed up to form the partnership PanamaLeo LLC and acquired all film rights to the comic book series AstroCity.

  • David Attenborough gets career award from IDA

    21-Nov-2003

    DavidAttenborough will receive the International Documentary Association (IDA)'s2003 Career Achievement Award during the 19th annual IDAdistinguished documentary achievement awards gala in Los Angeles on Dec 12.

  • Manulis-produced LA riots satire starts shooting

    21-Nov-2003

    John Manulis'Visionbox Pictures has started production in Los Angeles on The LA RiotSpectacular, a satire onthe 1992 Los Angeles riots written and being directed by Marc Klasfield.The movie stars Charles Dutton, TK Carter, Emilio Estevez,Charles Durning, William Forsythe, Christopher McDonald, Jonathan Lipnicki, TedLevine and cameos from Snoop Dogg, George Hamilton and others.

  • Paramount Classics falls for Michell's Love

    21-Nov-2003

    Paramount Classics, thespecialty arm of Paramount Pictures, is in final negotiations to buy NorthAmerican and select other territorial rights to Roger Michell's next film EnduringLove from Pathe International.

  • PeaceJam to open Global Peace Fest in Florida

    21-Nov-2003

    The inauguralGlobal Peace Film Festival, which will take place in Orlando, Florida, from Dec10 to 14 has unveiled its lineup.

  • San Francisco Film Fest takes delegation to Cuba

    21-Nov-2003

    A selection offilms from this year's San Francisco International Film Festival will screen atthe 25th International Film Festival of New Latin American Cinema inHavana, Cuba which takes place Dec 2-12.

  • 11 animated films make the shortlist for Oscar

    20-Nov-2003

    Eleven films have been namedeligible for the 2003 Best Animated Feature Film Academy Award by the AcademyOf Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Per the rules of the category, thatmeans that a maximum of three films can be nominated.

  • Dennis Rice returns to Disney, Trotta promoted to senior vp

    20-Nov-2003

    Marketing veteran DennisRice has re-joined Buena Vista Pictures Marketing (BVPM) as senior vicepresident, publicity, while Heidi Trotta has been promoted to senior vicepresident, communications, for Walt Disney Studios.

  • Williams named vp, media, at Warner International

    19-Nov-2003

    Vanessa Williamshas been named vice president, media, Warner Bros Pictures International. Inher new position, Williams will report to Fiona Watts, senior vice president,marketing.

  • NORTH AMERICA

    19-Nov-2003

    It was a so-so weekend at the box office in North America, down 23% from last year despite the opening of 20th Century Fox's tentpole picture Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World and a powerhouse second weekend performance from New Line Cinema's Elf.

  • Focus Features appoints Karpen its new COO

    18-Nov-2003

    Andrew Karpen has joinedFocus Features as chief operating officer. Reporting to co-presidents DavidLinde and James Schamus, Karpen will be responsible for the company's worldwidefinance, daily operations and strategic planning.

  • Franchise, RPC settle over Scheherazade; Franchise gets rights

    18-Nov-2003

    The dispute between RecordedPicture Company and Franchise Pictures which erupted at MIFED over MichaelApted's Scheherazade project hasbeen settled, and the film is now in Franchise's domain.

  • In America audience favourite at AFI FEST in LA

    18-Nov-2003

    Los Angeles AFI FEST endedon Sunday night with Jim Sheridan's In America the winner of the audience award for best featurefilm.

  • Michael Douglas to receive HFPA's Cecil B DeMille award during Globes show

    18-Nov-2003

    Michael Douglas has beennamed recipient of the 2003 Cecil B DeMille Award from The Hollywood ForeignPress Association, to be presented at the 2004 Golden Globe Awards ceremony onJan 25 next year.

  • Spirit Horse plans new studio facility south of LA

    18-Nov-2003

    LA-based Spirit HorseEntertainment, run by Michelle Hartly and Shari Hamrick, has announced plans tobuild a new film, TV and commercial production studio facility south of LosAngeles in San Marcos.

  • Years joins marketing & publicity team at WBITV

    18-Nov-2003

    Chandra Years has been nameddirector, publicity and marketing services, at Warner Bros InternationalTelevision Distribution (WBITV).

  • Danish comedy wins top jury prize at LA's AFI FEST

    17-Nov-2003

    Natasha Arthy's Danishcomedy Old, New, Borrowed And Bluewon the grand jury prize in the international feature competition section atthis year's AFI FEST in Los Angeles.

  • Nippon Herald, Shochiku team up for Alexander

    17-Nov-2003

    Shochiku and Nippon Heraldhave once again teamed up to buy Japanese rights to a US epic, this timebuying Oliver Stone's Untitled Alexander The Great Project from Intermedia and Summit Entertainment.

  • Revolutions dips to $42m in second weekend for Warner

    17-Nov-2003

    Warner Bros PicturesInternational's The Matrix Revolutions took an estimated $42m in its second weekend of release to bring itstotal to $195m. The international gross was not such a steep decline from thedomestic, where the $16.3m take represented a 66% drop.

  • Medusa adopts Polanski's Oliver

    12-Nov-2003

    Italy's Medusa is the first major territorial buyer to parent Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist from Summit Entertainment.

  • Medusa adopts Polanski's Oliver

    12-Nov-2003

    Italy's Medusa is the first major territorial buyer to parent Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist from Summit Entertainment.

  • Warner marches abroad with Alexander

    12-Nov-2003

    Warner Bros Pictures has acquired the key English-language territories of UK, Australia and New Zealand to Oliver Stone's untitled Alexander The Great project from Intermedia and Summit Entertainment. Warner already has rights in North America and plans to release it on Nov 5, 2004.

  • Warner marches abroad with Alexander

    12-Nov-2003

    Warner Bros Pictures has acquired the key English-language territories of UK, Australia and New Zealand to Oliver Stone's untitled Alexander The Great project from Intermedia and Summit Entertainment. Warner already has rights in North America and plans to release it on Nov 5, 2004.

  • Outlook rosy with $350m investment equity fund

    12-Nov-2003

    Outlook Films, the newindependent LA film outfit formed earlier this year by CAA agent Adam Krentzmanand Francois Lesterlin, has closed financing deals worth $350m with equityinvestors Pacificap Entertainment and Renaissance Millenium Pictures.

  • Camel trots into France with ARP

    11-Nov-2003

    ARP has bought French rights to The Story Of The Weeping Camel, one of the surprise hits of the Toronto Film Festival and the official Mongolian entry for this year's best foreign language film Academy Award.

  • Camel trots into France with ARP

    11-Nov-2003

    ARP has bought French rights to The Story Of The Weeping Camel, one of the surprise hits of the Toronto Film Festival and the official Mongolian entry for this year's best foreign language film Academy Award.

  • Camel trots into France with ARP

    11-Nov-2003

    ARP has bought French rights to The Story Of The Weeping Camel, one of the surprise hits of the Toronto Film Festival and the official Mongolian entry for this year's best foreign language film Academy Award.

  • Japan's Movie-Eye kicks off with Arclight's Crash

    11-Nov-2003

    Movie-Eye Entertainment, the new Japanese production, distribution and management company, has acquired its first international film here, Crash starring Heath Ledger and Brendan Fraser, from Arclight Films.

  • Kundalini, Entera make Candy together

    11-Nov-2003

    LA-based production outfit Kudalini Pictures has teamed with pan-European film financing, production and distribution outfit Entera Entertainment to produce Caribbean Candy directed by Fina Torres (Woman On Top, Oriana).

  • Menemsha's Moon set for Israel release

    11-Nov-2003

    Menemsha Entertainment has closed a pre-sale of Juan Jose Campanella's Avellanada's Moon to Israel's United King just days before completion of principal photography.

  • Recorded to Franchise: Hands off Scheherezade

    11-Nov-2003

    London's Recorded Picture Co (RPC) and its sales arm Hanway Films have become engaged in a bizarre tussle with LA-based Franchise Pictures over hot MIFED title Scheherezade directed by Michael Apted - which both companies appear to be selling.

  • Recorded to Franchise: Hands off Scheherezade

    11-Nov-2003

    London's Recorded Picture Co (RPC) and its sales arm Hanway Films have become engaged in a bizarre tussle with LA-based Franchise Pictures over hot MIFED title Scheherezade directed by Michael Apted - which both companies appear to be selling.

  • Trademark trio gets into Syndicate

    11-Nov-2003

    Andrew Stevens' Trademark Entertainment has struck up a representation relationship with David Glasser and Lisa Wilson's new sales outfit Syndicate Films kicking off with three titles at MIFED - horror picture Samantha's Child starring Heather Graham, serial killer chiller Method starring Elizabeth Hurley and thriller Pursued with Christian Slater and Estella Warren.

  • UGC steers Camel, Return to UK

    11-Nov-2003

    UGC Films UK has picked up UK rights to two recent festival hits and foreign Oscar submissions - surprise Toronto hit The Story Of The Weeping Camel from Menemsha Films.and Venice Golden Lion-winner The Return from Intercinema Art Agency.

  • Arclight chief relocates to London

    10-Nov-2003

    Australia's top sales agent Gary Hamilton is to leave Sydney and relocate to London where he will set up a UK arm of his successful sales and production outfit Arclight Films. Hamilton said that he will be installed in London before Christmas this year.

  • Arclight chief relocates to London

    10-Nov-2003

    Australia's top sales agent Gary Hamilton is to leave Sydney and relocate to London where he will set up a UK arm of his successful sales and production outfit Arclight Films. Hamilton said that he will be installed in London before Christmas this year.

  • Arclight chief relocates to London

    10-Nov-2003

    Australia's top sales agent Gary Hamilton is to leave Sydney and relocate to London where he will set up a UK arm of his successful sales and production outfit Arclight Films. Hamilton said that he will be installed in London before Christmas this year.

  • Arclight chief relocates to London

    10-Nov-2003

    Australia's top sales agent Gary Hamilton is to leave Sydney and relocate to London where he will set up a UK arm of his successful sales and production outfit Arclight Films. Hamilton said that he will be installed in London before Christmas this year.

  • De Palma signs on for Signature's Dahlia

    10-Nov-2003

    Brian De Palma has signed on to direct The Black Dahlia, the film of the James Ellroy classic noir novel which is being sold here by new sales company Signature Pictures International.

  • De Palma signs on for Signature's Dahlia

    10-Nov-2003

    Brian De Palma has signed on to direct The Black Dahlia, the film of the James Ellroy classic noir novel which is being sold here by new sales company Signature Pictures International.

  • Toho-Towa, Strike get Dawn together

    10-Nov-2003

    Marc Abraham and Tom Bliss' new production outfit Strike Entertainment has struck a multi-year distribution deal with Toho-Towa in Japan kicking off with Strike's first production Dawn Of The Dead.

  • Toho-Towa, Strike get Dawn together

    10-Nov-2003

    Marc Abraham and Tom Bliss' new production outfit Strike Entertainment has struck a multi-year distribution deal with Toho-Towa in Japan kicking off with Strike's first production Dawn Of The Dead.

  • Weitz brothers comedy comes into Focus

    10-Nov-2003

    Focus Features has picked up international rights to the new, as yet untitled, comedy from Chris and Paul Weitz, the film-making duo behind About A Boy and American Pie.

  • Weitz brothers comedy comes into Focus

    10-Nov-2003

    Focus Features has picked up international rights to the new, as yet untitled, comedy from Chris and Paul Weitz, the film-making duo behind About A Boy and American Pie.

  • Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World

    5-Nov-2003

  • Summit boards Polanski's Oliver Twist

    4-Nov-2003

    Summit Entertainment has picked up international rights to RomanPolanski's next film, Oliver Twist, a faithful adaptation of the Dickens classic which has a budgetin the $60m range.

  • Summit reteams with Polanski on Oliver Twist

    4-Nov-2003

    Summit Entertainment has picked up international rights to RomanPolanski's next film, Oliver Twist, a faithful adaptation of the Dickens classic which has a budgetin the $60m range.

  • Arclight takes on hot ensemble pic for MIFED

    3-Nov-2003

    Sydney- andLA-based Arclight Films has acquired international rights to ensemble crimedrama Crash featuringHeath Ledger, Brendan Fraser, Eva Mendes, DonCheadle, Forest Whitaker and Thandie Newton.

  • Arclight takes on hot ensemble pic from Bull's Eye

    3-Nov-2003

    Sydney- andLA-based Arclight Films has acquired international rights to ensemble crimedrama Crash featuringHeath Ledger, Brendan Fraser, Eva Mendes, DonCheadle, Forest Whitaker and Thandie Newton.

  • The Matrix Revolutions

    3-Nov-2003

  • Gary Smith resigns from Winchester

    23-Oct-2003

    Gary Smith, who foundedWinchester Entertainment in 1996, has resigned from the company to pursue otherinterests following the purchase earlier this year of Cobalt Media Capital fromAlton Irby and John Muse.

  • Beyond Borders

    23-Oct-2003

  • Sylvia

    21-Oct-2003

  • LA critics cancel annual awards following screener ban

    20-Oct-2003

    Bringing pressure to bear onthe screener ban issue to boiling point, The Los Angeles Film CriticsAssociation has announced that it will cancel its annual awards this year"unless there is a timely rescinding of the ban on screeners."

  • Record number of foreign Oscar submissions

    20-Oct-2003

    The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences hasunveiled the final list of submissions for the foreign language film awardcategory, claiming a record-breaking country count of 55, one more than lastyear.Notable absentee is India which made no submission this year, but for the first time Palestine has met submission criteria and Elia Suleiman's critically acclaimed Divine Intervention, which was turned away last year, has now been accepted ...

  • Hamptons festival boasts five foreign Oscar submissions

    14-Oct-2003

    Five films submitted for thebest foreign language film Academy Award will screen at the 2003 HamptonsInternational Film Festival which takes place Oct 22 to 26.

  • O'Neil joins Warner Independent in marketing department

    14-Oct-2003

    Erin O'Neil has joinedWarner Independent Pictures as vice president of creative advertising and willstart at the company on Oct 20.

  • Wellspring to sell Name Of Allah doc

    13-Oct-2003

    US distributor Wellspringhas signed on as worldwide sales agent for the non-English-speaking world for Inthe Name Of Allah, a documentaryabout Islam and homosexuality by first-time film-maker Parvez Sharma.

  • Crimson Gold, Distant take top prizes at Chicago

    13-Oct-2003

    Jafar Panahi's CrimsonGold from Iran won the Gold Hugo atthe Chicago International Film Festival on Saturday, while Nuri Bilge Ceylan'sTurkish film Distant took theSilver Hugo and Special Jury Prize.CrimsonGold was cited for "its compellingportrait of a man inexorably destroyed by social pressures" while Distant was cited for "its intense and elegant depiction ofoverwhelming loneliness."

  • Fox Searchlight launches In America strategy after screener ban

    6-Oct-2003

    In the first practical response to the MPAA ban on screener tapes,Fox Searchlight is trying to get exposure for its Nov 26 opener In America directed by Jim Sheridan by hostingweekly paid screenings in the LA area starting Oct 9.

  • Jackson to present Rings trilogy at Lincoln Center in Jan

    3-Oct-2003

    Peter Jackson will attend anall-weekend screening of the completed The Lord Of The Rings trilogy on Jan 10-11 2004 at the Lincoln Center inNew York City.

  • Morgan Creek switches allegiance to Universal

    3-Oct-2003

    Morgan Creek Productions,James G Robinson's production and financing company which has been basedat Warner Bros for the last 13 years, has entered into an exclusive, three-yeardomestic distribution agreement with Universal Pictures.

  • Palm takes domestic rights to Fortissimo's Last Life

    3-Oct-2003

    Chris Blackwell's PalmPictures has acquired all North American and Caribbean rights to Pen-ekRatanaruang's Venice and Toronto hit Last Life In The Universe from Thailand.

  • Patel upped at Paramount International TV

    3-Oct-2003

  • Stringer gets Britannia Award honour from BAFTA/LA

    3-Oct-2003

  • Turn Left, Turn Right opens top in Taiwan for Warner

    3-Oct-2003

    Warner Bros Pictures iscelebrating the success of its first ever Chinese-language film Turn Left,Turn Right which opened at the topof the Taiwanese box office over the weekend bringing its total to date of$3.2m.

  • The Story Of The Weeping Camel

    30-Sep-2003

  • Kill Bill Vol 1

    29-Sep-2003

  • Oscar-winning director Elia Kazan dead at 94

    29-Sep-2003

    Oscar-winningfilm director Elia Kazan, whose credits include Hollywood classics On TheWaterfront (1954) and AStreetcar Named Desire(1951), has died aged 94 in New York City.

  • French directors embark on US educational programme

    24-Sep-2003

    Seven illustrious Frenchdirectors are embarking upon a new US initiative entitled On Set With FrenchCinema in which they will give aspiring US film-makers a series of lectures ontheir professional experience.The series kicks off inLos Angeles on Oct 6 with Regis Wargnier, while the New York events will startwith Claude Miller on Oct 20.Other film-makers takingpart are Patric Leconte, Agnes Varda, Patrice Chereau, Cedric ...

  • Pathe closes deals on Void, Girl

    17-Sep-2003

    Pathe International UK chief Alison Thompson closed a slew ofdeals at the Toronto International Film Festival following the screenings ofPeter Webber's Girl With A Pearl Earring and Kevin Macdonald's Touching The Void. Both films had their world premierescreenings at Telluride in ...

  • Pathe closes Toronto deals on Void, Girl

    17-Sep-2003

    Pathe International UK chief Alison Thompson closed a slew ofdeals at the Toronto International Film Festival following the screenings ofPeter Webber's Girl With A Pearl Earring and Kevin Macdonald's Touching The Void. Both films had their world premierescreenings at Telluride in ...

  • Halcyon's Deepwater kicks off in Canada

    16-Sep-2003

    Chris Coen's LA-basedHalcyon Entertainment has commenced production on its first film in Canada. Theproject Deepwater is apsychological thriller about a drifter who happens upon the town of Deepwaterwhere he is seduced into a twisted game of deceit and murder.

  • Mongrel gets Canadian rights to My Architect

    10-Sep-2003

    Mongrel Media has acquiredall Canadian rights to Nathaniel Kahn's feature length documentary MyArchitect which is the story of theillegitimate son of famed architect Louis I Kahn as he searches the world foranswers to his father's mysterious life.

  • SPC, UA, Newmarket take hot festival titles

    10-Sep-2003

    Day six of the TorontoInternational Film Festival saw three films close domestic deals. Sony PicturesClassics bought North American rights to Kim Ki-Duk's Korean drama SpringSummer Fall Winter...And Spring,United Artists bought North American rights to Jim Jarmusch's Coffee AndCigarettes and Newmarket Films madeits second buy of the festival, sealing US rights to Anders Thomas Jensen'sDanish comedy The Green Butchers.

  • Toronto: SPC, UA, Newmarket take hot festival titles

    10-Sep-2003

    Day six of the TorontoInternational Film Festival saw three films close domestic deals. Sony PicturesClassics bought North American rights to Kim Ki-Duk's Korean drama SpringSummer Fall Winter...And Spring,United Artists bought North American rights to Jim Jarmusch's Coffee AndCigarettes and Newmarket Films madeits second buy of the festival, sealing US rights to Anders Thomas Jensen'sDanish comedy The Green Butchers.

  • In The Cut

    9-Sep-2003

  • In The Cut

    9-Sep-2003

  • In The Cut review

    9-Sep-2003

  • Festival means business: Miramax, Newmarket start the buying

    8-Sep-2003

    MiramaxFilms beat out all-comers to Takeshi Kitano's Venice prize winner Zatoichi yesterday, buying rights in the US, Latin America andAustralia in Toronto over the weekend from Celluloid Dreams.

  • Kordon takes top prize at Montreal, Gaz Bar Blues second

    8-Sep-2003

    Goran Markovic's intense drama Kordon from Serbia/Montenegro won the top prize- the Grand prix des Ameriques - at the Montreal World Film Festival on Sundaynight. Set in Belgrade in 1997, the film follows a police patrol on its roundsaround the city which is swept up in a sea of unrest and ...

  • Out Of Time

    8-Sep-2003

    Dir: Carl Franklin. US. 2003. 114 mins. This lightweight sub-noir thriller from director Carl Franklin is not merely implausible, it is preposterous. A star vehicle for Denzel Washington, who was reportedly paid $20m for his efforts, the film just about gets by on his megastar screen presence but stretches the limits of belief to the maximum. Box office results will be soft; although the Florida Keys setting is attractive, there is little fresh to mark it out in the marketplace ...

  • Toronto means business: Miramax, Newmarket start the buying

    8-Sep-2003

    MiramaxFilms beat out all-comers to Takeshi Kitano's Venice prize winner Zatoichi yesterday, buying rights in the US, Latin America andAustralia in Toronto over the weekend from Celluloid Dreams.

  • Miramax plots new Spanish distribution strategy

    3-Sep-2003

    Miramax Films has terminatedits relationship with Spain's Lauren Films and is moving ahead with a newstrategy for releasing its films in the territory, the company's COO Rick Sandstold ScreenDaily yesterday.

  • Casa De Los Babys

    1-Sep-2003

  • Lost In Translation

    1-Sep-2003

  • Berney teams up with P&F in New York to form new outfit

    29-Aug-2003

    Publicity veteran JeanneBerney, most recently executive vice president at Rogers & Cowan, isteaming up with P&F Communications to form P&F Communications/TheBerney Group, a PR, promotions and marketing agency headquartered in New YorkCity.

  • Le Divorce

    6-Aug-2003

  • Le Divorce

    1-Aug-2003

  • Spy Kids 3D: Game Over

    29-Jul-2003

  • Sundance, Strand share Son Frere US rights

    24-Jul-2003

    Strand Releasing hasacquired US theatrical and home entertainment rights and The Sundance Channelhas acquired US TV rights to Patrice Chereau's Berlin prize winner SonFrere.

  • No Borders market selects projects from Quays, Buscemi, Holland

    16-Jul-2003

    Narrative projects from Steve Buscemi, Sexy Beast screenwriters Louis Mellis and David Scinto, and animation gurus the Brothers Quay are among 21 works in progress that will be presented at the 25th annual IFP market's No Borders International Co-Production Market this autumn.

  • Cohen, Hernandez promoted in delivery dept at IS

    15-Jul-2003

    Danielle Cohen has beenpromoted to senior vice president of delivery and George Hernandez to directorof delivery at IS Film Distribution, the sales and distribution joint venturebetween Summit Entertainment and Intermedia Films.

  • Lyons replaces Williamson as production chief at Focus

    14-Jul-2003

    Following the announcementon Friday that Glenn Williamson is leaving his post as president of production,producer John Lyons is joining Focus Features as its next president ofproduction.

  • Pirates conquer the box office

    13-Jul-2003

    Buena Vista plundered thebox office and scored one of the few well-reviewed movies of the summer with PiratesOf The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl which took $46.4m over the weekend and $70.4m intotal since its Wednesday opening.

  • One week wonders spoil US summer box office

    11-Jul-2003

    Ang Lee sat in Universal Studios before the release of his $150m comic book opus The Hulk and declared that it wasn't the first weekend of the film's release which really mattered. "I hope it hits every mark of a summer blockbuster," he said. "I hope as much as the studio does that it has playability. They will sell the hell out of it in its first weekend but after that it remains to be tested."

  • Antwone, Our America win Humanitas awards

    11-Jul-2003

    Antwone Fisher won a $25,000cash prize yesterday for his feature screenplay Antwone Fisher at the Humanitas Prize awards luncheon in LosAngeles. The prizes are awarded to film and TV writers whose work'entertains and enriches the viewing public' and $105,000 isbestowed by the Humanitas organization.

  • IDA selects 11 features for InFACT Documentary Showcase

    11-Jul-2003

  • Koch Lorber to launch new US DVD label for Bollywood films

    11-Jul-2003

  • Warner gets China greenlight for multiplex opening in Shanghai

    11-Jul-2003

    The Chinese government hasgranted final approval to Warner Bros International Cinemas for its newmultiplex theatre in Shanghai. Called Paraside WarnerCinema City, the complexis a joint venture with Shanghai Paradise Co Ltd and Broadband Investment Ltd ofHong Kong.

  • Williamson steps down as Focus production chief

    11-Jul-2003

    Focus Features president ofproduction Glenn Williamson is stepping down to become a producer with a dealat Focus. He will make the transition over the next few months after completionon Focus' end of year releases is secured.

  • Wolfe goes theatrical with Poco Piu Di Un Anno Fa

    10-Jul-2003

    Wolfe Video, the US videodistributor specializing in gay and lesbian product, is to enter the theatricalmarket in early 2004 with Italian drama A Little More Than A Year Ago (Poco Piu Di Un Anno Fa) directed by Marco Filiberti. Film consultant OrlyRavid will head up Wolfe's initial theatrical distribution efforts.

  • The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen

    10-Jul-2003

  • Luther gets US outing through RS Entertainment

    9-Jul-2003

  • Wellspring buy worldwide rights to Revolution #9

    9-Jul-2003

  • Universal takes in another $16.4m from The Hulk

    8-Jul-2003

  • Full Throttle scores at international box office in 43 markets

    7-Jul-2003

    Columbia TriStar FilmDistributors International (CTFDI) scored the biggest international hit of theweek with Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, which added another 32 territories to its existing 11 and scored$22.3m on 3,982 prints.

  • Reloaded leaps to $410m and number ten of all time

    7-Jul-2003

    Warner Bros Pictures/VillageRoadshow's The Matrix Reloaded passedthe $400m mark at the international box office over the weekend; with its $410mtotal, it has now surpassed Spider-Man ($403m) as the tenth highest grossing international hit of all time.

  • Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl

    7-Jul-2003

  • Terminator 3 pays off with $72.5m opening

    6-Jul-2003

    Terminator 3:Rise Of The Machines,the most expensive independently financed movie of all time, paid off for itsbackers Intermedia and parent company IM Internationalmedia AG with anestimated $44.1m opening in the Friday to Sunday period and a total of $72.5msince its first previews last Tuesday night.

  • Academy gets tough on Oscar campaigning

    3-Jul-2003

  • Academy gets tough on Oscar campaigning

    3-Jul-2003

    The Academy OfMotion Picture Arts & Sciences yesterday issued strict new guidelines overmarketing practices for Oscar contenders. They aren't guidelines anymore,the Academy statement said, they are "regulations."

  • Rywin teams with Atlantic Alliance for Holocaust drama

    3-Jul-2003

    AtlanticAlliance Pictures, a recently formed joint venture between two US producers anda third in the UK, has teamed up with Lew Rywin and his Heritage Films inPoland to produce its first feature Love Is A Survivor.

  • Angels go Full Throttle with $12.5m in 11 territories for CTFDI

    2-Jul-2003

    Charlie'sAngels: Full Throttleopened with a kick in 11 territories over the weekend, taking $12.5m on 1,386screens for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI).The actioner opened day-and-date with the US in thecountries and topped the charts in nine of the 11. In the remaining twoterritories, it was the highest grossing Hollywood film.

  • Lombardo promoted to president of Cinesite Hollywood

    2-Jul-2003

  • CTFDI takes most international on Artisan/Marvel's The Punisher

    1-Jul-2003

    Columbia TriStar FilmDistributors International (CTFDI), which will soon see if its investment inacquiring international rights to blockbuster Terminator 3: Rise Of TheMachines paid off, has invested inanother potential hit acquisition, taking rights in most internationalterritories to Artisan Pictures and Marvel Studios' The Punisher.

  • Hulk moves into 12 new territories, takes $11.3m

    1-Jul-2003

  • MGM sells 20% stake in channels back to Cablevision

    1-Jul-2003

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) isselling its 20% stake in three US cable channels AMC, IFC and WE: Women'sEntertainment back to Cablevision for $500m. Once the deal is done, probably inthe third quarter 2003, the three channels will once again be 100%-owned byCablevision.

  • Reloaded flies close to $400m mark for Warner

    1-Jul-2003

  • Yes Nurse, No Nurse is San Fran Lesbian & Gay fest audience favourite

    1-Jul-2003

  • Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas

    1-Jul-2003

  • Little steps back from First Look, Lischak is new president

    30-Jun-2003

    Robbie Little, who foundedOverseas Filmgroup 23 years ago, is stepping back from day-to-day operations ofthe company now known as First Look Media to focus on production through hisown outfit The Little Film Company.

  • Had To Be Made Festival teams with VSDA for independent market

    30-Jun-2003

    The VideoSoftware Dealers Of America (VSDA) and the Had To Be Made Film Festival(HTBMFF) have teamed up to launch a new video/DVD mini-market at this year's2003 VSDA Home Entertainment convention in Las Vegas (July 29 to 31).

  • LA's Panettiere, India's Biswas team to co-produce films

    30-Jun-2003

    VincentPanettiere's new LA-based production company Thistle Productions is teaming upwith Indian producer Anamika Biswas and her AB Exports to co-produce at leastthree films.

  • This Girl's Life

    30-Jun-2003

  • Angels sequel disappoints, Hulk plummets

    29-Jun-2003

    After six weekends of movies opening on grosses of over $50m,Columbia's Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle proved somewhat of a disappointment at this weekend's boxoffice in North America with just $38m in three days. A marketing blitzfeaturing the three lead actresses in the film Cameron ...

  • Danish Cannes hit Reconstruction gets US visa from Palm

    27-Jun-2003

    ChrisBlackwell's Palm Pictures has acquired rights in the US and the Caribbeanto Christoffer Boe's Reconstruction, the Danish drama which won both the Camera d'Or andLabel Regards Jeunes at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

  • Mark Gill negotiates to leave Stratus for Warner Bros

    26-Jun-2003

    Mark Gill, the formerpresident of Miramax LA and currently a partner in Stratus Film Company, is infinal negotiations to leave Stratus and take the helm at Warner Bros'long-in-the-works specialized division.

  • Dallas 362

    23-Jun-2003

  • Sarandon, Tucci join cast of Miramax's Shall We Dance

    20-Jun-2003

    SusanSarandon and Stanley Tucci will join Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere in thecast of Peter Chelsom's remake of Shall We Dance for Miramax Films and Spyglass Entertainment. Miramaxis handling domestic rights on the film, Spyglass has international exceptJapan where Gaga Communications has rights.Thecast also includes Bobby Cannavale, Lisa Ann Walter, ...

  • Octane

    18-Jun-2003

  • Overnight

    18-Jun-2003

  • AFM on collision course with MIFED in 2004

    17-Jun-2003

    The American Film Market (AFM) is officially moving to November in an effort to force a two-market calendar and knock out MIFED from the annual market timetable.

  • Bachmann moves back to Europe to head CTDFI Germany

    17-Jun-2003

    Martin Bachmann has been named managing director of the German office of Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI).

  • It's official: AFM to clash with MIFED in 2004

    17-Jun-2003

    The American Film Market (AFM) is officially moving to November in an effort to force a two-market calendar and knock out MIFED from the annual market timetable.

  • Seattle audiences give Whale Rider its top awards

    16-Jun-2003

    The 25-day Seattle International Film Festival ended its run yesterday with audience awards - aka the Golden Space Needle awards - going to Niki Caro's Whale Rider as best film and Caro as best director. Whale Rider, which is now on release in the US through Newmarket Films, was also the audience prize winner at Toronto last year and Sundance in January.

  • The Hulk

    12-Jun-2003

  • Octane, Shade premiere at CineVegas

    10-Jun-2003

    Marcus Hunter's Octane starring Madeline Stowe and Damian Nieman's Shade starring Sylvester Stallone and Thandie Newton willhave their world premieres at the fifth annual CineVegas International FilmFestival which kicks off on Friday (June 13) and continues to the followingSaturday (June 21).

  • Natasha Little is back in Vanity Fair

    5-Jun-2003

    Natasha Little,the English actress who made her name playing Becky Sharp in the BBC's 1998 hitminiseries of Thackeray's Vanity Fair, has joined the cast of Mira Nair's new feature film of VanityFair in which ReeseWitherspoon is playing Becky. The film started shooting last month in the UK.

  • Blanchett, Beckinsale ready to board The Aviator

    4-Jun-2003

    Cate Blanchett is innegotiations to play Katharine Hepburn and Kate Beckinsale is in talks to playAva Gardner in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator which is set to start shooting next month. Theywould join Leonardo DiCaprio who will play Howard Hughes in the film which is budgeted at a reported$100m.

  • Finding Nemo

    30-May-2003

  • ADV Films to make live-action feature of Japanese animated TV series

    28-May-2003

    ADV Films has acquired the rights to produce a live action feature of Japanese animated TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion and has teamed with Lord Of The Rings effects producer Weta Workshop in New Zealand to create the visual effects. The film is a collaboration between ADV, Weta and Gainax.

  • ADV Films to make live-action feature of Japanese animated TV series

    28-May-2003

    ADV Films has acquired the rights to produce a live action feature of Japanese animated TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion and has teamed with Lord Of The Rings effects producer Weta Workshop in New Zealand to create the visual effects. The film is a collaboration between ADV, Weta and Gainax.

  • Autumn Springs in Germany

    28-May-2003

    Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment has closed a deal in Germany on Czech festival favourite Autumn Spring with MFA. The film, directed by Vladimir Michalek, will open in New York City in the US through First Look Pictures at the end of July.

  • Autumn Springs in Germany

    28-May-2003

    Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment has closed a deal in Germany on Czech festival favourite Autumn Spring with MFA. The film, directed by Vladimir Michalek, will open in New York City in the US through First Look Pictures at the end of July.

  • Buyers go to White Castle

    22-May-2003

    Senator International has completed multiple sales on its slate of new pictures.

  • Buyers go to White Castle

    22-May-2003

    Senator International has completed multiple sales on its slate of new pictures.

  • Lion's Gate enjoys Freshman year

    22-May-2003

    Lions Gate Films International has sold all key territories to its new titles The Final Cut starring Robin Williams and The Prince And The Freshman with Julia Stiles, the latter of which will be handled by Paramount Pictures.

  • Lion's Gate enjoys Freshman year

    22-May-2003

    Lions Gate Films International has sold all key territories to its new titles The Final Cut starring Robin Williams and The Prince And The Freshman with Julia Stiles, the latter of which will be handled by Paramount Pictures.

  • Overseas plunges into Dungeons again

    22-May-2003

    Overseas Filmgroup has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Dungeons And Dragons: The Sequel to be produced by Zinc Entertainment, a division of Joel Silver's Silver Pictures, and Marching Band Productions in association with Sweetpea Entertainment.

  • Ange does saintly business for Focus

    21-May-2003

    Focus Features has closed its first deals on Saint Ange, the supernatural thriller starring Virginie Ledoyen which is being shot in English-language and French-language versions.

  • Ange does saintly business for Focus

    21-May-2003

    Focus Features has closed its first deals on Saint Ange, the supernatural thriller starring Virginie Ledoyen which is being shot in English-language and French-language versions.

  • Miramax does the business

    21-May-2003

    Miramax Films swiftly completed its international sales goals this market, closing a big deal with Gaga Communications in Japan for Shall We Dance, Duplex and Tadpole and with Asmik Ace for Spy Kids 3D and Blue Car, and re-teaming with Svensk Filmindustri in Sandinavia for the first time in a decade for a package of six titles including JM Barrie's Neverland, Scary Movie 3 and Cursed.

  • Miramax does the business

    21-May-2003

    Miramax Films swiftly completed its international sales goals this market, closing a big deal with Gaga Communications in Japan for Shall We Dance, Duplex and Tadpole and with Asmik Ace for Spy Kids 3D and Blue Car, and re-teaming with Svensk Filmindustri in Sandinavia for the first time in a decade for a package of six titles including JM Barrie's Neverland, Scary Movie 3 and Cursed.

  • Summit dons Maybury's Jacket

    20-May-2003

    Summit Entertainment has added The Jacket, a new film from Mandalay Pictures to its sales slate. Mark Wahlberg is attached to star in the lead role of the drama which is the first US film from the UK's John Maybury (Love Is The Devil).

  • Summit dons Maybury's Jacket

    20-May-2003

    Summit Entertainment has added The Jacket, a new film from Mandalay Pictures to its sales slate. Mark Wahlberg is attached to star in the lead role of the drama which is the first US film from the UK's John Maybury (Love Is The Devil).

  • Walden Media journeys to Verne, Shakespeare

    20-May-2003

    Cary Granat's Walden Media, the backer of James Cameron's out-of-competition Cannes screener Ghosts Of The Abyss, is to produce a big-budget 3-D movie of Jules Verne's Journey To The Centre Of The Earth as well as a new family film of Shakespeare's As You Like It.

  • Walden Media journeys to Verne, Shakespeare

    20-May-2003

    Cary Granat's Walden Media, the backer of James Cameron's out-of-competition Cannes screener Ghosts Of The Abyss, is to produce a big-budget 3-D movie of Jules Verne's Journey To The Centre Of The Earth as well as a new family film of Shakespeare's As You Like It.

  • Modigliani finds his muses

    20-May-2003

    Bauer Martinez Studios has assembled an international cast to join Andy Garcia in Modigliani, a $12m picture about the last days in the life of the famous artist that is scheduled to start shooting in Bucharest on May 25.

  • Oz caper picked up by Myriad's radar

    20-May-2003

    Myriad Pictures has acquired worldwide rights excluding Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea to Australian comedy caper Under The Radar directed by Evan Clarry and produced by Chris Brown and Chris Fitchett of Picture In Paradise Productions.

  • Focus extends Mira Nair ties

    19-May-2003

    Focus Features is in final talks to close a one-year, first-look deal with Mira Nair's production outfit Mirabai Films encompassing films she will both direct and produce.

  • Focus extends Mira Nair ties

    19-May-2003

    Focus Features is in final talks to close a one-year, first-look deal with Mira Nair's production outfit Mirabai Films encompassing films she will both direct and produce.

  • Franchise Pictures targets the UK

    19-May-2003

    Franchise Pictures is going to London. Elie Samaha's LA-based production and financing outfit is launching a UK distribution outfit, hiring London-based production executives and teaming with tax and finance specialist Invicta Capital for co-production and tax finance structuring on the new venture.

  • Franchise Pictures targets the UK

    19-May-2003

    Franchise Pictures is going to London. Elie Samaha's LA-based production and financing outfit is launching a UK distribution outfit, hiring London-based production executives and teaming with tax and finance specialist Invicta Capital for co-production and tax finance structuring on the new venture.

  • HBO Films picks up El Deseo title

    19-May-2003

    HBO Films London has made its first pick-up, acquiring international rights to Lucrecia Martel's The Holy Girl from Pedro and Agustin Almodovar's El Deseo.

  • HBO Films picks up El Deseo title

    19-May-2003

    HBO Films London has made its first pick-up, acquiring international rights to Lucrecia Martel's The Holy Girl from Pedro and Agustin Almodovar's El Deseo.

  • Solo grabs MDP pair for Germany

    19-May-2003

    Solo Film has bought German rights to two films from MDP Worldwide - 11:14 starring Hilary Swank and The United States Of Leland produced by and starring Kevin Spacey. The deals were negotiated by Mark Damon of MDP with Peter Heinzemann and Marcus Shofer of Solo Film.

  • Yari funds William Morris indie financing arm

    19-May-2003

    Real estate tycoon Bob Yari has teamed with WMA Independent, the independent finance and packaging arm of The William Morris Agency, to form El Camino Pictures, a dedicated film financing fund for WMA packages which will be run by WMA Independent co-chiefs Cassian Elwes and Rena Ronson.

  • Hunter S Thompson doc gets world premiere at CineVegas

    19-May-2003

    The CineVegas International Film Festival in Las Vegas (June 13 to 21) will host the world premiere of Breakfast With Hunter, a feature length documentary starring the outlaw journalist Dr Hunter S Thompson.

  • Myriad sells out on Jeepers Creepers 2

    19-May-2003

    Myriad Pictures has sold out major territories on Jeepers Creepers 2, the sequel to the United Artists (UA)/American Zoetrope box office hit which was financed by Myriad and UA, which is planning to release the film in August and has also acquired four further territories - Japan, Italy, France and Australia.

  • Cowan's grant scheme names recipients

    19-May-2003

    US charitable foundation The Global Film Initiative has named the line-up of award recipients for its inaugural granting programme. Six grant recipients were selected from 37 submissions representing 12 countries and will receive completion funds of between $20,000 and $40,000 for their features from the Initiative.

  • Curb stalks Sundance chiller

    19-May-2003

    Curb Entertainment has acquired international sales rights to Smooth Pictures' Nightstalker, the serial killer chiller which world premiered as a midnight movie at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

  • Italiano mambos to Icon for UK/Oz

    19-May-2003

    Montreal-based Equinoxe Films has closed some key deals on its hot comedy Mambo Italiano starring Paul Sorvino, Ginette Reno and Mary Walsh.

  • Lucas Foster leaves Myriad

    19-May-2003

    Lucas Foster, president of production at Myriad Pictures, is leaving the company 'to pursue his personal projects.'

  • Myriad nets Little Fish

    19-May-2003

    Myriad Pictures has acquired worldwide rights outside Australia and New Zealand to Little Fish, the second film from Rowan Woods whose debut The Boys was one of the biggest Australian hits of 1998.

  • Quantum secures completion funding

    19-May-2003

    Quantum Entertainment has signed an exclusive joint venture agreement with private investment Moviebank to raise $10m to $12m to provide completion financing for the films that the company will produce over the next three years.

  • Sales life for After Death

    19-May-2003

    Bauer Martinez Studios has finalised international sales deals in nearly 30 territories for After Death, the new Jean Claude Van Damme actioner, which starts production in July.

  • Sandstone kickboxes with Anglo-German partners

    19-May-2003

    LA-based production company Sandstorm Films is to partner with equity investors Media Cooperation One GmbH (MCOne) in Germany and Matador Pictures in the UK to produce a slate of films led by the kickboxing action film The Square Circle directed by France's Olivier Megaton (La Sirene Roge). Lightning Entertainment is handling international sales here.

  • Summit/Regency trio big in Japan

    19-May-2003

    Summit Entertainment has concluded the biggest deal of Cannes so far, selling Japanese distribution rights to Toho Towa to three high-profile films - Mr And Mrs Smith with Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman, The Runaway Jury with John Cusack and Gene Hackman and horror movie Wrong Turn.

  • Zenpix initiates Affair in US

    19-May-2003

    Zenpix, the domestic and international distribution company founded by Susan Jackson and Jon Kramer, has acquired all US distributIon rights to A Foreign Affair starring David Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson and Emily Mortimer. Myriad Pictures is handling foreign.

  • Beacon duo ascend Summit

    16-May-2003

    Summit Entertainment is in final negotiations to seal yet another international distribution deal - with Armyan Bernstein's Beacon Pictures.

  • Beacon duo ascend Summit

    16-May-2003

    Summit Entertainment is in final negotiations to seal yet another international distribution deal - with Armyan Bernstein's Beacon Pictures.

  • Alliance Atlantis picks up international to Milwaukee

    16-May-2003

    Alliance Atlantis has acquired international rights to Cannes Critics Week entry Milwaukee, Minnesota which was the closing night film of the Slamdance Film Festival.

  • Curb involved in Merchant Ivory threesome

    16-May-2003

    Curb Entertainment has taken on international sales excluding France, Italy and the UK to Merci Docteur Rey, a completed production from Merchant Ivory Productions in association with Eat Your Soup Productions.

  • Miner tapped by Davis for $15m horror

    16-May-2003

    Steve Miner has been set as the director for Black Sky, the $15m horror movie available here from Chris Davis International.

  • UA pulled in by Green's Undertow

    16-May-2003

    United Artists has acquired rights in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and South Africa to David Gordon Green's next film The Undertow which is being sold here by Content International.

  • UA pulled in by Green's Undertow

    16-May-2003

    United Artists has acquired rights in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and South Africa to David Gordon Green's next film The Undertow which is being sold here by Content International.

  • Idle spoofs Merchant Ivory with Remains Of The Piano

    15-May-2003

    The prolific Stratus Film Co is to fully finance Remains Of The Piano, a spoof of Merchant Ivory costume dramas which has been written and will be directed by Eric Idle, his first film as director since The Ruttles in 1978.

  • Idle spoofs Merchant Ivory with Remains Of The Piano

    15-May-2003

    The prolific Stratus Film Co is to fully finance Remains Of The Piano, a spoof of Merchant Ivory costume dramas which has been written and will be directed by Eric Idle, his first film as director since The Ruttles in 1978.

  • Intermedia benefits from cost-cutting, eyes T4

    15-May-2003

    IM Internationalmedia AG, the corporate parent of Intermedia, has announced its second consecutive positive quarterly result - scoring EBITA of Euros 4.3m for the first quarter 2003 as compared to a negative Euros 5.4m in the first quarter of 2002. The results come just as Intermedia prepares to launch its biggest ever picture Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines here this weekend.

  • Intermedia benefits from cost-cutting, eyes T4

    15-May-2003

    IM Internationalmedia AG, the corporate parent of Intermedia, has announced its second consecutive positive quarterly result - scoring EBITA of Euros 4.3m for the first quarter 2003 as compared to a negative Euros 5.4m in the first quarter of 2002. The results come just as Intermedia prepares to launch its biggest ever picture Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines here this weekend.

  • Cold War drama defects to Lions Gate

    15-May-2003

    Lions Gate Films has bought US rights to Marek Kanievska's A Different Loyalty starring Sharon Stone and Rupert Everett which began shooting last month in Montreal. The film which is sold here by Arclight Films will move to locations in London, Malta and Moscow during its shoot.

  • First Look Thais up Tesseract

    15-May-2003

    First Look Media has acquired worldwide rights excluding Japan and Thailand to Oxide Pang's The Tesseract, an English-language thriller based on Alex (The Beach) Garland's bestselling novel starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Saskia Reeves and Thai child actor Alexander Rendel.

  • IEG wed to Thurman comedy

    15-May-2003

    Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) has agreed to fully finance The Accidental Husband which IEG's Graham King will produce with the film's star Uma Thurman and Jason Blum.

  • Menemsha flies to Argentinian Moon

    15-May-2003

    Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment has boarded Avellaneda's Moon, the next film from Son Of The Bride team of Juan Jose Campanella and star Ricardo Darin. Menemsha is pre-selling the Argentinian film in Cannes, the first time that it has done so, based on the film-maker's pedigree.

  • Menemsha flies to Argentinian Moon

    15-May-2003

    Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment has boarded Avellaneda's Moon, the next film from Son Of The Bride team of Juan Jose Campanella and star Ricardo Darin. Menemsha is pre-selling the Argentinian film in Cannes, the first time that it has done so, based on the film-maker's pedigree.

  • Poirier, Rashid boost Alliance Atlantis slate

    15-May-2003

    Alliance Atlantis has acquired international rights to two new films - That Touch Of Pink, which is the feature directorial debut of Ian Iqbal Rashid, and Chemins de Traverse which is the latest from acclaimed French director Manuel Poirier (Western).

  • Poirier, Rashid boost Alliance Atlantis slate

    15-May-2003

    Alliance Atlantis has acquired international rights to two new films - That Touch Of Pink, which is the feature directorial debut of Ian Iqbal Rashid, and Chemins de Traverse which is the latest from acclaimed French director Manuel Poirier (Western).

  • Summit severs Artisan ties

    15-May-2003

    Summit Entertainment has reclaimed the 5% stake it sold to Artisan Entertainment in 1998 as part of the two companies' initial international distribution agreement.

  • Travolta joins The Punisher

    15-May-2003

    John Travolta has joined Thomas Jane in the cast of The Punisher, the latest actioner from a Marvel Comics character which is being produced by Artisan Pictures and Marvel Studios and sold here by Summit Entertainment.

  • Travolta joins The Punisher

    15-May-2003

    John Travolta has joined Thomas Jane in the cast of The Punisher, the latest actioner from a Marvel Comics character which is being produced by Artisan Pictures and Marvel Studios and sold here by Summit Entertainment.

  • Senator closes Grudge sales

    14-May-2003

    Senator International has closed a slew of deals leading into Cannes on The Grudge, the English-language remake of the hit Japanese film Ju-on.

  • Senator closes Grudge sales

    14-May-2003

    Senator International has closed a slew of deals leading into Cannes on The Grudge, the English-language remake of the hit Japanese film Ju-on.

  • Shochiku flies with Scorsese's Aviator

    14-May-2003

    Japan's Shockiku has stepped in as the first distributor to buy Martin Scorsese's The Aviator from Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG).

  • Shochiku flies with Scorsese's Aviator

    14-May-2003

    Japan's Shochiku has stepped in as the first distributor to buy Martin Scorsese's The Aviator from Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG).

  • Shochiku flies with Scorsese's Aviator

    14-May-2003

    Japan's Shochiku has stepped in as the first distributor to buy Martin Scorsese's The Aviator from Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG).

  • Shoreline launches Riptide horror division

    14-May-2003

    Shoreline Entertainment CEO Morris Ruskin has teamed up with former advertising executive Steve Chicorel to form Riptide Entertainment, a new division of horror and action films for worldwide sales.

  • Sundance in Bed with Lions Gate comedy

    14-May-2003

    Lions Gate Films International has sold US rights to Spanish comedy The Other Side Of The Bed to The Sundance Channel for theatrical release as part of its Sundance Film Series.

  • Vapor rises with Bullock, Feinnes

    14-May-2003

    Buyers are abuzz at the casting attachments of Sandra Bullock and Ralph Fiennes to Renaissance Films' romantic fable Vapor which has been written and will be directed by Neil LaBute.

  • Vapor rises with Bullock, Fiennes

    14-May-2003

    Buyers are abuzz at the casting attachments of Sandra Bullock and Ralph Fiennes to Renaissance Films' romantic fable Vapor which has been written and will be directed by Neil LaBute.

  • Young Hannibal Lecter joins Dino-sized slate

    14-May-2003

    The grandfather of international sales Dino De Laurentiis arrives in Cannes next Tuesday (May 19) with seven major territories to sell on his $150m Alexander The Great epic as well as a brand new Hannibal Lecter project currently being plotted by Lecter's creator Thomas Harris.

  • Young Hannibal Lecter joins Dino-sized slate

    14-May-2003

    The grandfather of international sales Dino De Laurentiis arrives in Cannes next Tuesday (May 19) with seven major territories to sell on his $150m Alexander The Great epic as well as a brand new Hannibal Lecter project currently being plotted by Lecter's creator Thomas Harris.

  • The Matrix Reloaded

    9-May-2003

  • New Line takes domestic on romantic comedy Laws

    5-May-2003

    New Line Cinemahas acquired North American distribution rights to the romantic comedy LawsOf Attraction starringPierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore which is scheduled to go into production inDublin and New York on June 16, 2003.

  • Malaysian censors change their minds on Iraq

    2-May-2003

    The MalaysianCensor Board, Censorship Film Malaysia, has overturned its previous ruling toban Bahman Ghobadi's Marooned In Iraq. The board originally informeddistributor Sureya Film at the end of March that the film promoted the image ofSaddam Hussein as "inhumane" and would be damaging to relationsbetween Malaysia and Iraq and Iran.The ruling was overturned this week in the wake ofSaddam's removal from power by a US-led coalition army.

  • Lot 47's Williams partners up with Vanco at Cowboy

    2-May-2003

    Greg Williams, CEO of Lot 47Films, is to join John Vanco as a partner in Cowboy Pictures. He brings VickiLoughery and Rick Thiedig with him from Lot 47.

  • Renaissance takes on We Don't Live Here Anymore

    1-May-2003

    London-based RenaissanceFilms is to handle international sales on We Don't Live Here Anymore, an intense drama currently shooting in Vancouverstarring Naomi Watts, Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern and Peter Krause.

  • Chris Davis International takes on ACG library

    29-Apr-2003

  • Pathe steps up for Oliver Stone's Alexander

    29-Apr-2003

    France's Pathe hasboarded Oliver Stone's historical epic Alexander as a co-production partner and will handledistribution rights in France and Benelux.

  • X2: X-Men United

    29-Apr-2003

    X2: X-MEN UNITEDMike Goodridge in Los AngelesDir: Bryan Singer. US. 2003. 135mins.

  • Warner, Pandora team to distribute A Home At The End Of The World

    25-Apr-2003

    Warner Bros Pictures willhandle domestic rights and Pandora will handle international sales on A HomeAt The End Of The World, the secondfilm to be made from a novel by Michael Cunningham (The Hours) which is currently in production in Toronto, NewYork and Arizona.

  • Menemsha takes world rights to Czech hit Pupendo

    24-Apr-2003

    Neil Friedman'sLA-based sales agency Menemsha Films has picked up Pupendo, the latest film from Jan Hrebejk who directedMenemsha's previous Oscar-nominated hit Divided We Fall. Pupendois a huge hit in the Czech Republic and is on course to surpass previouschampions Kolya and Dark BlueWorld from Jan Sverak.

  • Pandora takes international Sayles rights from IFC

    22-Apr-2003

    Pandora, the internationalsales arm of Gaylord Films, has acquired international sales rights to JohnSayles' latest film Casa De Los Babys from IFC Productions.

  • Holes

    22-Apr-2003

  • Vajna and Kassar prepare fantasy trilogy for Sony Pictures

    21-Apr-2003

    Andy Vajna andMario Kassar's C-2 Pictures, which produced one of the summer's mostanticipated pictures in Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines, is preparing an epic fantasy trilogycalled Evermere whichhas landed at Sony Pictures. Describing the project as "Lord of The Rings meets Harry Potter," Vajna told Screen that he thought thefirst installment in the film would be the company's next film before thecameras.

  • What A Girl Wants

    16-Apr-2003

  • Cannes Market adds shorts programme, video library, digital facilities

    14-Apr-2003

    The CannesMarket has introduced three new initiatives for this year's event being heldconcurrent with the film festival May 14 to 24.

  • Lorie, Vasquez get promotions in international publicity at New Line

    14-Apr-2003

    New Line Cinemahas promoted Tracy Lorie to senior vice president, international publicity, andTrish Vasquez to director, international publicity, at the company. Inaddition, Kristi Foreman has joined the international publicity team asmanager, international publicity.

  • Miami Lesbian & Gay Fest showcases best of queer international cinema

    14-Apr-2003

    Mark Rucker'sSundance competition entry Die Mommie Die has been named the opening night film of the fifth annualMiami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival which takes place from April 25 to May 4.

  • Neal Block leaves IDP for theatrical distribution at Palm

    14-Apr-2003

    Neal Block hasjoined Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures as manager of theatrical distribution toserve the company's newly busy domestic theatrical department.

  • Anger Management

    8-Apr-2003

  • ICM to open new UK literary division in London

    7-Apr-2003

    International CreativeManagement (ICM), the LA talent agency is opening a new London office calledICM Books to be based in Soho Square. Not to be confused with the UK agency runby Duncan Heath, the new division of the Hollywood agency is designed to buildon its reach in the New York book world as well as accelerate the sale offoreign translation rights for its US authors.

  • The Core

    4-Apr-2003

  • Film-maker partners with HBO, Magnolia on US release of Friedmans

    3-Apr-2003

    Capturing TheFriedmans, AndrewJarecki's galvanizing documentary which was the talk of this year'sSundance Film Festival and winner of its documentary grand jury prize, will bereleased in US theatres in a three-way partnership between Jarecki himself,Eamonn Bowles' Magnolia Pictures and HBO Documentary Films.

  • Franchise, Warner land Monkeyface

    3-Apr-2003

    ElieSamaha's Franchise Pictures has signed on to finance the $52m heistthriller Monkeyfaceto star Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones and to be directed by StephenFrears. Laura Bickford and Mark Shorrock are producing the film which will be distributedin North America by Warner Bros per its distribution agreement with Franchise.

  • Momentum, Bac lead charge for The Statement

    2-Apr-2003

    Summit Entertainment hasconcluded a host of sales deals on Norman Jewison's The Statement which started principal photography on Monday inParis and Marseilles.

  • View From The Top

    2-Apr-2003

  • Former Catch 23 president Barber joins UTA

    1-Apr-2003

    Jeremy Barber,the former president of Catch 23 Entertainment, has joined United Talent Agencyas an agent in the motion picture department.

  • Malaysia bans Ghobadi's Marooned In Iraq

    1-Apr-2003

    The Malaysian censorshipboard, Censorship Film Malaysia, has banned the local release of Marooned InIraq, Bahman Ghobadi'sacclaimed drama which details the impact of Saddam Hussein's devastatingchemical attacks on the Iraqi Kurds.

  • French film festival in Los Angeles opens with 24 Hours

    31-Mar-2003

    The annual CityOf Lights, City Of Angels Film Festival in Los Angeles has unveiled its lineupof 11 new French films which will screen from April 8 to 12. The festival,which is supported by L'ARP, Directors Guild Of America, Film & TVDepartment of the French Embassy, SACEM, Unifrance and Writers Guild OfAmerica, west, kicks off with a gala screening of Laurent Bouhnik's 24Hours In The Life Of A Woman on April 8.

  • Wolf and Bosch join HBO as co-heads of London film sales outfit

    27-Mar-2003

    US cable giantHBO and its film production arm HBO Films have formed a new London-basedinternational sales and distribution outfit HBO Films London under theatricalsales veterans Penny Wolf and Rosa Bosch. Wolf and Bosch will be co-managingdirectors of the new division which will continue a theatrical sales push intoall territories for HBO Films-produced features.

  • Dans Ma Peau gets into the US via Wellspring

    25-Mar-2003

    New York-based independentWellspring has acquired US rights to Dans Ma Peau, the controversial directorial debut of Marina deVan which world premiered at last year's San Sebastian Film Festival.

  • Chicago's best picture, but The Pianist wins director, actor

    24-Mar-2003

    Chicago was named best picture at the Academy Awards ceremony last night in Hollywood but Roman Polanski's The Pianist almost pipped it to the post, winning in best director, actor and adapted screenplay categories.

  • Far From Heaven sweeps Spirits, but war is top topic

    24-Mar-2003

    Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven swept the board at the IFP Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday in Santa Monica, winning all five of its five nominated categories including best feature, best director for Haynes and best actress for Julianne Moore. It was the first ever Spirit win for the film's producer Christine Vachon, considered an architect of new independent cinema since her early 90s credits such as Haynes' Poison and Tom Kalin's Swoon.

  • Tobis, Blue Star sign on for Duigan's Head In The Clouds

    20-Mar-2003

    Tobis in Germany and Blue Star in Italy are the newest territorialbuyers of John Duigan's Head In The Clouds, which began principal photography yesterday in Montreal.The film, which is being sold internationally by Arclight Films, was previouslysold to Gaga Communications ...

  • The United States Of Leland

    17-Mar-2003

  • Alliance Atlantis acquires The Station Agent

    13-Mar-2003

    Alliance Atlantis hasacquired international rights (excluding the English-speaking world and Italy)to The Station Agent, one of thehits of this year's Sundance Film Festival. Written and directed by TomMcCarthy, the film won the 2003 Audience Award and the Waldo Salt screenwritingprize at the festival where Miramax Films bought rights in the English-speakingworld and Italy.

  • J Lo to teach dance moves to Gere in Miramax remake

    13-Mar-2003

    Jennifer Lopezis in negotiations to star with Richard Gere in Miramax Films' remake of1996 Japanese megahit Shall We Dance' which Peter Chelsom will direct. The film would markLopez's third film with Miramax after Jersey Girl which is scheduled to open in Nov in theUS and An Unfinished Life which starts shooting in April.

  • Iron Ladies 2 enjoys huge opening in Thailand

    12-Mar-2003

  • Chicago dominates SAG Awards; Moore, Hare win WGA prizes

    10-Mar-2003

    In the final stretch of the Academy Awards race over the weekend, Chicago dominated the Screen Actors Guild (SAG)Awards in Los Angeles taking the award for ensemble cast as well as bestactress for Renee Zellweger and best supporting actress for CatherineZeta-Jones.

  • Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen wins top jury prize at Santa Barbara

    10-Mar-2003

  • Arclight sells Moonlight

    7-Mar-2003

    Gary Hamilton's Arclight Films has acquired worldwide sales rights to Moonlight, the next film by Paula van der Oest whose last film Zus & Zo is one of the five best foreign language film nominees this year.

  • Dentists, Dopamine bookend San Francisco fest

    7-Mar-2003

    Alan Rudolph's The Secret Lives Of Dentists has been selected as the opening night film for the 46th San Francisco International Film Festival on April 17. The film, which stars Campbell Scott and Hope Davis, has been well-received at its previous screenings at the Toronto and Sundance Film Festivals, and is distributed in North America by Manhattan Pictures International. Arclight Films has international rights.

  • Celestial Pictures launches travelling Chinese film festival in US

    3-Mar-2003

  • Echo Lake, Esparza/Katz team to remake 50s classic

    3-Mar-2003

    Film-maker David Riker (LaCiudad) is to direct a remake of the1953 film Salt Of The Earth, theoriginal release of which was blocked during the McCarthy era, for Echo LakeProductions and Esparza/Katz Productions.

  • Fireworks scores AFM deals on Coronado

    3-Mar-2003

    Fireworks Pictures closed a host of international sales on its effects-driven action film Coronado at AFM including deals with Manga in Spain, Scanbox in Scandinavia, Europa in Brazil and RCV in Benelux.

  • Splendid's Without Apparent Motive is apparently off

    3-Mar-2003

    Splendid Pictures' $38m thriller Without Apparent Motive is not going ahead, certainly in its latest incarnation with director Bille August and stars Richard Gere and Julianne Moore. All three have left the project.

  • Party Monster

    27-Feb-2003

  • Cinema Park wins Foodfight! for Russia, buys three more

    26-Feb-2003

  • ContentFilm acquires The King with Garcia Bernal

    26-Feb-2003

  • Ordesky moves to senior production post at New Line

    26-Feb-2003

    Mark Ordesky, the presidentof Fine Line Features and the production executive who oversaw New Line'sLord Of The Rings trilogy, hastaken a major step up in the New Line hierarchy being named executive vicepresident and chief operating officer of New Line Productions. He will reportdirectly to Toby Emmerich who is president and CEO of the division.

  • Senator International closes multiple deals on XX/XY

    26-Feb-2003

  • Arclight skateboards with Deck Dogz

    25-Feb-2003

    Arclight Films has added Australian skateboarding movie Deck Dogz to its sales slate. The film is directed by Steve Pasvolsky, who was nominated for a short live action Oscar for his film Inja, and is being produced by Bill and Jennifer Bennett and their b:j films.

  • Lightning gets rights on The Job

    25-Feb-2003

    Lightning Entertainment has picked up international sales rights on The Job, a recently wrapped crime thriller produced by Dan Levin and Marc Levin's Platform Entertainment.

  • Lions Gate hip hops with urban sales push

    25-Feb-2003

    Lions Gate International has launched a sales initiative of the urban movies that its parent company produces in an effort to capitalise on the worldwide popularity of hip-hop and US black culture.

  • Franchise to finance Zeta-Jones-produced comedy

    25-Feb-2003

    Elie Samaha's FranchisePictures has gone into business with Oscar-nominated superstar CatherineZeta-Jones, agreeing to fully finance her first film as a producer, the rugbycomedy Coming Out in which shewill play a Welsh hairdresser.

  • Kelley Nichols takes new Latin America distribution job at Warner Bros

    25-Feb-2003

    KelleyNichols has been named vice president, distribution & marketing, LatinAmerica, at Warner Bros Pictures. The postion is newly created by the studio"due to the increasing complexities and importance of the Latin Americantheatrical marketplace."

  • Off The Map

    25-Feb-2003

  • Artisan enters Ellroy's Dark Places

    21-Feb-2003

    ArtisanEntertainment has closed on its acquisition of North American distributionrights to My Dark Places, the film of James Ellroy's autobiographical novel, in a deal struck with Myriad Pictures.

  • Franchise sells eight to Japan's Artport

    21-Feb-2003

    ElieSamaha's Franchise Pictures is in aggressive form at the American Film Marketthis year, having already closed an eight-picture deal with Artport in Japan thatSamaha says is worth in excess of $9m.

  • Theron, Townsend put heads in Duigan's Clouds

    21-Feb-2003

    Reallife couple Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend have joined Penelope Cruz andThomas Kretschmann in the cast of John Duigan's next film Head In The Clouds which Gary Hamilton'sArclight Films is representing for worldwide sales.

  • Alcon, Summit team on talking zebra picture

    20-Feb-2003

    Summit Entertainment has pacted with Alcon Entertainment, its partner on Insomnia and Affair Of The Necklace, to handle international rights on a major new family movie called Racing Stripes which Warner Bros plans to release domestically in the second half of 2004. Summit will pre-sell the film through IS Film Distribution, its new sales partnership with Intermedia.

  • Gonzalo Marquez joins TM Systems as CFO

    20-Feb-2003

    TM Systems, the Miami and Hollywood-based designer of a fully integrated dubbing and subtitling service, has named finance veteran Gonzalo Marquez as CFO. Marquez arrives with more than nine years of experience in private equity investing and investment banking and was a principal of Banc of America Equity Partners, a $250m private equity fund with interests across Latin America. In his new role, he will be responsible for managing the company's financial priorities including financial ...

  • Hyde Park attaches Jackie Chan to high-octane slate

    20-Feb-2003

    Ashok Amritraj's production and financing outfit Hyde Park Entertainment has added two high-level pictures to its development slate - action adventure The Hidden Kingdom which is being developed as a project for Jackie Chan with MGM and an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure novel The Outlaw Of Torn. Richard Outten is scripting the former, and Alan Adler the latter. Hyde Park has also attached Blue Crush director John Stockwell to his long-gestating Extractors ...

  • Imageworks sells UK, New Zealand on Heaven

    20-Feb-2003

    Just prior to the AFM, Imageworks International closed a UK P&A and distribution deal with Film Financial Services and a New Zealand theatrical deal with Roadshow Film Distributors on The Other Side Of Heaven, the family film which Walt Disney Home Entertainment will release in North America on April 1.

  • Kamchatka sells to Italy, Denmark, Switzerland

    20-Feb-2003

  • Krentzman leaves CAA, forms new movie financier

    20-Feb-2003

    Adam Krentzman, one of the most well-known Hollywood agents in international packaging and financing, is leaving CAA after 17 years to set up a new film financing entity which already has five producing deals in the bag. Although Krentzman wouldn't be drawn on the name or financial structure of the new company, he said that he and his partners had already secured equity financing, studio involvement and international output deals and were already looking at projects to finance. "Now ...

  • MDP to fully finance Spacey's Bobby Darin biopic

    20-Feb-2003

    Kevin Spacey is going back behind the camera to direct the story of Bobby Darin, the legendary crooner who died tragically of a rheumatic heart in 1973. Spacey will also star as Darin in the film which is being fully financed by MDP Worldwide, Mark Damon's sales and financing outfit which also backed The United States Of Leland, produced by Spacey's Trigger Street Productions in which he also had a supporting role.

  • Senator boards Bridge Of San Luis Rey with De Niro

    20-Feb-2003

    Senator International has acquired worldwide sales rights excluding France and Spain for The Bridge Of San Luis Rey, an epic new adaptation of Thornton Wilder's 1927 novel which will star an impressive ensemble led by Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates, Gabriel Byrne and Harvey Keitel. Mary McGuckian, the Irish director of This Is The Sea and Best, has written the screenplay and will direct.

  • Wright to direct, Dorff to star in CDI's Mule

    20-Feb-2003

    Geoffrey Wright has signed on to direct and Stephen Dorff to star in Mule, the $17m actioner about the drug trade in Los Angeles, which is being produced by Tony Ludwig and Alan Riche (The Family Man, Deep Blue Sea) represented here by Chris Davis International. Dorff will also act as co-producer on the film.

  • Revolution teams with Universal, BVI in Japan

    19-Feb-2003

    Joe Roth's Revolution Studios has sealed two separate studio deals for distribution of its 2003 slate in Japan. Universal Pictures has taken theatrical and TV rights to six films kicking off with Jennifer Lopez hit Maid In Manhattan, while Buena Vista International (BVI) has taken three films kicking off with Tears Of The Sun starring Bruce Willis. Revolution's worldwide partner Sony Pictures Entertainment will handle home video and DVD rights in Japan.

  • Steven Paul launches genre division Renegade

    19-Feb-2003

    Steven Paul's Crystal Sky has established a new genre division Renegade Worldwide which kicks off at AFM with Jon Voight-starrer Deadly Course and 3:44, a movie set against the underground music scene with Carrie Ann Moss in the lead role.

  • Gordon Green teams with ContentFilm for Undertow

    18-Feb-2003

    Hot on the heels of hiscritically acclaimed Sundance Film Festival prize-winner All The Real Girls, hot US director David Gordon Green has set his nextfilm Undertow at Edward Pressman and John Schmidt's ContentFilm with DermotMulroney, Josh Lucas and Jamie Bell in the lead roles.

  • Two Weeks Notice an international smash for Warner

    18-Feb-2003

    Warner Bros enjoyed hugesuccess over the weekend with Castle Rock comedy Two Weeks Notice, grossing $15m in 23 territories. The film whichstars Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant remained at number one in the UK in itssecond weekend with $3.6m (£2.19m) at 417 sites beating Fox's opener Daredevil and bringing its total to $9.9m (£6m).

  • Uncertain climate weighs on AFM

    17-Feb-2003

    Retrenchment is still the name of the game at the upcoming American Film Market (Feb 19-26), as both buyers and sellers cautiously weigh up the pros and cons of spending money in such a dour economic climate. Yes, they both need new films, but they are both being selective, with Cannes looking more likely as this year's market of new pictures and industry renewal.

  • AFI, AFMA team for internships at AFM

    17-Feb-2003

  • Bahman Naraghi joins Intermedia as COO

    17-Feb-2003

    Bahman Naraghihas been named chief operating officer (COO) of Intermedia Film Equities USAand in his new role will oversee all Intermedia's business operations andfinance activities. He will report directly to Moritz Borman, chairman and CEOof the company.

  • Nancy Silverstone promoted to acquisitions vp at Starz Encore

    17-Feb-2003

  • Zenpix launches international arm with Promark at AFM

    17-Feb-2003

  • Daredevil

    14-Feb-2003

  • Summit/IS takes on Jewison's The Statement

    11-Feb-2003

    Summit Entertainment hasacquired international distribution rights to Norman Jewison's nextpicture The Statement starringMichael Caine, Jeremy Northam and Tilda Swinton. Sony Pictures Classics (SPC)has domestic rights to the film.

  • Chicago, Harvey and Pedro score big in Oscar nominations

    11-Feb-2003

    It was a bonanza for"independent" film as the 75th annual Academy Awardnominations were unveiled this morning at the Academy headquarters in BeverlyHills, California. Paramount Pictures was the only old-style Hollywood studiowith a Best Picture Oscar nomination this year, and that - for The Hours- was shared with Miramax Films. Indeed, Miramax - the WeinsteinBrothers' Disney-owned specialized outfit - had a field day, scoringan incredible 40 nominations.

  • Altman gets lifetime achievement award in San Francisco

    10-Feb-2003

  • Gold Circle to establish UK presence, pre-buy US rights to UK films

    10-Feb-2003

    Gold CircleFilms - the LA-based production/financing outfit run by Paul Brooks whichscored the runaway hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding last year, is to establish a presence inthe UK with the imminent hiring of an acquisitions executive. The new executivewill likely be joined by one or two further Gold Circle hires in the nearfuture and they will be based in the London offices of The Mob, VadimJean's commercials outfit; the facilities housed at The Mob will also bemade available to them.

  • Verhoeven, Mamet enter Franchise fold for AFM

    10-Feb-2003

    ElieSamaha's Franchise Pictures may be busying itself for its Aug 5 trialdate in its ongoing legal battle with Germany's Intertainment AG, but itcontinues to board new projects and has three new ones available for pre-saleat AFM -Paul Verhoeven's next picture Void Moon, the next from David Mamet entitled Spartan with Val Kilmer in the lead role and aRidley Scott-produced epic Tristan & Isolde to be directed by Kevin Reynolds andstar James Franco.

  • Camp

    7-Feb-2003

  • Paramount Classics concludes Singing Detective deal

    7-Feb-2003

    ParamountClassics has finalized its deal with Icon Entertainment to buy rights in NorthAmerica, Latin America and Japan to The Singing Detective, Keith Gordon's film version of DennisPotter's landmark 1986 TV series which world premiered at the Sundance FilmFestival last month,Negotiations for the film which stars Robert Downey Jr,Mel Gibson and Robin Wright Penn began at the festival, with Paramount Classicsplanning a release in the second half of 2003.

  • Fine Line wins battle to release HBO Films' Splendor

    5-Feb-2003

    For the second time in six months, HBO Films has sealed adeal to release one of its productions theatrically in North America before itsHBO TV premiere, this time teaming with AOL Time Warner sister company FineLine Features to release American Splendorwhich last month won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.The film was one of the best-received at Sundance andseveral distributors were after theatrical including Newmarket ...

  • The Recruit

    5-Feb-2003

  • Warner Bros puts classics division on the fast track

    4-Feb-2003

    Warner Bros hasconfirmed that it has put its plans for a specialized film unit back on thefast track and is now actively searching for an executive to run it. Warner hasbeen the only major studio without a classics division for some time and hasbeen toying with the idea for about two years now.

  • StudioCanal sales chief Weisbein flies to Senator International

    3-Feb-2003

    Pierre Weisbein, the formerhead of sales at StudioCanal, has quit the diminishing French film operationand joined LA-based Senator International as executive vice president,international sales and distribution. Weisbein starts with Senator today.

  • Maxine Leonard gets evp marketing job at Myriad

    3-Feb-2003

    Publicityveteran Maxine Leonard has joined Myriad Pictures to head up its marketing andPR operations in Los Angeles. As executive vice president, marketing andpublicity, Leonard will oversee the company's communication strategy in allareas as well as handle the international marketing and publicity campaigns forthe company's production and acquisitions. She reports to company presidentKirk D'Amico.

  • American Splendor

    29-Jan-2003

  • Pieces Of April

    28-Jan-2003

  • Assisted Living wins top prize at Slamdance

    27-Jan-2003

    Elliot Greenebaum's dark comedy Assisted Living about a janitor in a nursing home for the elderly who spends his time getting high with the residents won the Grand Jury Award at the Slamdance Film Festival on Friday night in Park City. Slamdance runs concurrent with the Sundance Film Festival and focuses exclusively on discovering new film-makers.

  • Confidence to open Philadelphia Film Fest, Laurel Canyon to close

    27-Jan-2003

    The Philadelphia Film Festival will open on April 3 with James Foley's Confidence and close on April 17 with Lisa Cholodenko's Laurel Canyon. The festival this year changes its name from Philadelphia Festival Of World Cinema to Philadelphia Film Festival.

  • Noah Cowan launches Global Film Initiative

    27-Jan-2003

    Former distribution executive and festival programmer Noah Cowan has formed a new US-based non-profit foundation called The Global Film Initiative to promote cross-cultural understanding through film. Cowan, a well-known face on the festival circuit, is executive director of the foundation which he unveiled at the Rotterdam Film Festival over the weekend.

  • Slamdunk honours Zero Day, Seven Songs

    27-Jan-2003

    The Slamdunk Film Festival which ran from Jan 19 to 22 awarded Ben Coccio's Zero Day the best film and best actor prizes. Zero Day is a digital film which follows the video diary of two high school students who are planning a Columbine-style shooting of their classmates. Andre Keuck and Cal Gabriel shared the best actor trophy.

  • Summit, Intermedia team for international sales super-company

    27-Jan-2003

    The international businesswas transformed on Friday as two of its market leaders Intermedia and SummitEntertainment formed a sales, marketing and distribution joint venture calledIS Film Distribution which instantly becomes the biggest seller in the marketplace.

  • Spice Factory options Ondaatje's Forgotten Games

    24-Jan-2003

    UK production outfit Spice Factory has optioned the rights to The Forgotten Games, an original screenplay by David Ondaatje based on the true story of the British Olympic ice hockey team's controversial participation in the 1936 Winter Olympics in Nazi Germany.

  • United Artists clinches Pieces Of April for $3.5m

    24-Jan-2003

    United Artists (UA) closed the biggest deal of the Sundance Film Festival yesterday, beating competitors including Fox Searchlight and Focus Features to worldwide rights to fest favourite Pieces Of April. The price paid was $3.5m.

  • Arclight takes international on Dentists

    23-Jan-2003

    Gary Hamilton's Arclight Films has picked up international rights to Alan Rudolph's The Secret Lives Of Dentists which screens this week in the premiere section of the Sundance Film Festival after its world premiere at Toronto last September.

  • Buffalo Soldiers provokes fury at Sundance

    22-Jan-2003

    The Sundance Film Festival reached a half way mark yesterday (Tuesday) with a startling incident at the screening of Buffalo Soldiers. The controversial film bought for North American distribution by Miramax Films in Sept 2001 - but only set to be released this spring - had just finished screening at the Eccles Theatre in Park City when an angry female audience member started screaming complaints at director Gregor Jordan who was on stage to take questions from the audience.

  • The Singing Detective

    21-Jan-2003

  • Sony Pictures signs up Garnett to production deal

    20-Jan-2003

    Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has entered into a first-look production deal in the UK with Tony Garnett and John Heyman's London-based World Productions, a further move in its expansion into non-US film production.

  • Chicago, The Hours strike Gold at the Globes

    20-Jan-2003

    Miramax Films' Chicago was the big winner at the 60th annual Golden Globe, picking up three statuettes at last night's ceremony that was held amid tight security and wildly divergent Oscar predictions at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

  • Levity

    20-Jan-2003

  • Sundance: Women Make Movies acquires domestic rights to Love & Diane

    20-Jan-2003

    30 year-old film non-profitorganization Women Make Movies (WMM) has acquired North American distributionrights to the documentary Love & Diane which world premiered at the Locarno Film Festival last year, winningthe Golden Leopard, and played at the New York Film Festival before itsAmerican Spectrum screenings at this week's Sundance Film Festival.

  • Sundance: a foreign affair'

    16-Jan-2003

    For foreign buyers, the Sundance Film Festival has never been easy to navigate, let's face it. Intrepid acquisitions executives not only have an epic trip trekking to its home in the ski resort of Park City. Once there they are also faced with a raft of unknown films, struggle to get the attention of US-centric producers' reps, and are often cut out of the equation altogether when a multi-territory studio deal is done.

  • First Run takes US rights to Garrone's The Embalmer

    16-Jan-2003

  • Hart Sharp launches US video distribution arm

    16-Jan-2003

    John Hart andJeff Sharp's New York-based Hart Sharp Entertainment, the productioncompany behind Boys Don't Cry and You Can Count On Me, has launched a stand-alone US home entertainment companyHart Sharp Video (HSV) to be run by the key staff of former USA Films divisionUSA Home Entertainment (USA HE).

  • Cooper quits Artisan, relaunches Landscape

    13-Jan-2003

    Robert Cooper isleaving his post as CEO of Artisan Pictures and vice chairman of parent companyArtisan Entertainment after just 15 months at the company. Cooper, who mergedhis Landscape Entertainment with Artisan in Sept 2001, is to relaunch LandscapePictures as an independent vehicle to produce films and TV programming.

  • Palm buys North America and UK rights to entire Cremaster Cycle

    13-Jan-2003

    Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures has acquired NorthAmerican and UK rights to Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle, five films, the last of which Cremaster 3 screens in the Frontier section of the Sundance FilmFestival next week.The films will be the first to be distributed by Palm'snew Arthouse Films label in North America and the UK. The deal was negotiatedby David Koh, Palm's head of acquisitions and production, ...

  • Gold Circle to establish UK presence, pre-buy US rights

    10-Jan-2003

  • Verhoeven, Mamet enter Franchise fold for AFM

    10-Jan-2003

  • Harry Potter sweeps past $500m

    6-Jan-2003

    Warner Bros Pictures, celebrating its biggest international gross of all time in 2002, scored its first triumph of the new year as Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets whipped past the $500m mark at the box office over the weekend. Already the fifth biggest international grosser of all time, the film grossed an estimated $25.9m over the weekend, bringing its total to date to $512m.

  • The Pianist sweeps National Society Of Film Critics awards

    6-Jan-2003

    Roman Polanski's The Pianist swept the board at the National Society Of Film Critics awards voted on by 55 US film critics at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City on Saturday night. The film won best picture, best director, best screenplay and best actor categories, continuing the divided awards season which has seen no one film taking the lead.

  • Daldry, Nolan get honours at Palm Springs Film Fest

    6-Jan-2003

    Hotshot UK director Stephen Daldry will be honoured as international film-maker of the year at this year's Palm Springs International Film Festival during the festival's gala ceremony on Saturday (Jan 11).

  • Hero

    6-Jan-2003

  • Hungary passes new film law offering tax rebates of up to 20%

    5-Jan-2003

  • Hungary passes new film law offering tax rebates of up to 20%

    5-Jan-2003

  • Hungary passes new film law, offers new tax rebates of up to 20%

    5-Jan-2003

  • Hungary passes new film law, offers new tax rebates of up to 20%

    5-Jan-2003

  • Jay Sands promoted to senior vice president at CTFDI

    17-Dec-2002

    Jay Sands has been promoted to senior vice president,international operations, for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International(CTFDI).

  • Catch Me If You Can

    13-Dec-2002

  • The Hours

    13-Dec-2002

  • UK power-directors Daldry, Winterbottom team with Rudin

    11-Dec-2002

    Top UK directors Stephen Daldry and Michael Winterbottom have boarded pictures for Scott Rudin, the New York-based producer who is one of Paramount Pictures' chief suppliers as well as a force in US theatre.

  • Menemsha takes Marooned, Taraneh

    11-Dec-2002

    Neil Friedman's LA-based sales and distribution outfit Menemsha Entertainment, which enjoyed success in 2000 with Majid Majidi's Iranian hit The Color Of Paradise, has acquired two new Iranian films for worldwide representation - Bahman Ghobadi's Marooned In Iraq and Rasoul Sadrameli's I'm Taraneh, 15 which is Iran's submission for this year's Academy Awards.

  • The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

    6-Dec-2002

    Dir: Peter Jackson. New Zealand-US. 2002. 179mins.

  • Gangs Of New York

    6-Dec-2002

  • Treasure Planet

    27-Nov-2002

  • Menemsha picks up international on Kamchatka

    26-Nov-2002

    Neil Friedman'sLA-based sales and distribution outfit Menemsha Entertainment has acquiredinternational rights to Kamchatka,Marcelo Pineyro's latest film which is representing Argentina in theforeign language film category of the Academy Awards.

  • Anonymous Content, Strong/Morrone merge

    25-Nov-2002

    LA management and production company Anonymous Content is to merge with talent management outfit Strong/Morrone Entertainment effective Jan 1, 2003, the two companies announced on Friday. Beverly Strong and Jeff Morrone along with managers Maani Golesorkhi, Nils Larsen and staff will transfer their base of operations into Anonymous Content's headquarters in Culver City. Anonymous Content is run by founder and CEO Steve Golin.

  • Devdas dominates the first annual RACE awards in India

    25-Nov-2002

    India's Oscar submission Devdas has won eight awards in the first annual RACE (Rajkamal Academy Of Cinematic Excellence) National Awards, which will be presented at a ceremony in Mumbai, India, on Dec 21, 2002.

  • Miami Film Festival under Guillemet opens with Other Side Of The Bed

    25-Nov-2002

    Hit Spanish comedy musical The Other Side Of The Bed (El Otro Lado De La Cama) will open the 20th annual Miami International Film Festival on Feb 21 to Mar 2 next year. The festival, which is the first to be programmed by former Sundance Film Festival co-director Nicole Guillemet.

  • Adaptation

    22-Nov-2002

  • Shoujyo, City Of God win top prizes at AFI FEST

    19-Nov-2002

    FernandoMereilles' Brazilian crime epic City Of God continued its run of festival success bywinning the audience award for best international feature film at AFI FEST inLos Angeles which ended on Sunday night with a screening of PedroAlmodovar's Talk To Her.

  • Fine Line signs on for The Recipe

    18-Nov-2002

    Fine Line Features has acquired the script The Recipe by Ruth Graham which will be produced by Janette Day and Ruth Graham. The story of an aspiring chef who is bequeathed her grandmother's infmaous aphrodisiac recipe and then travels to Italy to seek out its origins.

  • Gene Hackman gets Cecil B DeMille trophy at the Globes

    15-Nov-2002

    Gene Hackman has been named as the recipient of this year's Cecil B DeMille Award at the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards show on Jan 19 next year. The honour was announced yesterday by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) which gives out the Globes and Hackman was cited for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field."

  • Spice Factory, Bigel Mailer team for The Great Turrell

    11-Nov-2002

    UK production company The Spice Factory has optioned the rights to The Great Turrell, a script by Michael Mailer which it will co-produce with New York-based Bigel Mailer Films.

  • Myriad weaves again with Tapestry

    6-Nov-2002

    Myriad Pictures has optioned Nina Coleman's script I'll Be You for Jennifer Gibgot of Tapestry Films who will produce the film. I'll Be You is a romantic comedy about a top-ranking female executive who trades places with her wildly social assistant and embarks on a quest to find love.

  • Pac Man eats up big screen via Crystal Sky and Gaga

    6-Nov-2002

    Pac Man is coming to the big screen courtesy of Steven Paul's Crystal Sky which is teaming with Gaga Communications and the game's developer Namco to make live-action fantasy Pac Man: The Movie.

  • Bum's Rush adds cast

    5-Nov-2002

    Jamie Sives, who is Wilbur in Lone Scherfig's Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself, and Kevin McKidd are joining Dougray Scott in the cast of Myriad Pictures' The Bum's Rush, a black comedy set in Scotland.

  • Constantin grabs big three from Focus

    5-Nov-2002

    Flying in the face of a depressed market in general and a sluggish German market in particular, Focus Features has concluded a bumper three-picture deal with Constantin Film for its three new titles 21 Grams, Lost In Translation and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind.

  • Herwitz reps Romania's Oscar entry

    5-Nov-2002

    Andrew Herwitz, the former Miramax executive who has set up his own New York-based producer's rep The Film Sales Company, has signed on to represent North and Latin America on Philanthropy, the Romanian submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award this year.

  • 8 Mile

    5-Nov-2002

  • Eagle and Elysee first buyers for Summit's Blackout

    4-Nov-2002

    Eagle Pictures in Italy and Les Films de L'Elysee in Benelux are the first major independents to buy territories on Summit Entertainment's thriller Blackout starring Ashley Judd, Samuel L Jackson and Andy Garcia.Directed by Phil Kaufman (The Right Stuff, Rising Sun), the film is produced by Kopelson Entertainment and Intertainment AG and stars Judd as a hotshot police detective on the trail of a serial killer whose victims all have some connection to her.

  • Eagle and Elysee first buyers for Summit's Blackout

    4-Nov-2002

    Eagle Pictures in Italy and Les Films de L'Elysee in Benelux are the first major independents to buy territories on Summit Entertainment's thriller Blackout starring Ashley Judd, Samuel L Jackson and Andy Garcia.Directed by Phil Kaufman (The Right Stuff, Rising Sun), the film is produced by Kopelson Entertainment and Intertainment AG and stars Judd as a hotshot police detective on the trail of a serial killer whose victims all have some connection to her.

  • Ex-Helkon trio goes Solo

    4-Nov-2002

    The management of Helkon International Pictures (HIP) - Christian Halsey Solomon, Lee Solomon and Clifford Werber - has formally bought itself out from Helkon Media and relaunched as Solo Entertainment Group (SEG).

  • Ex-Helkon trio goes Solo

    4-Nov-2002

    The management of Helkon International Pictures (HIP) - Christian Halsey Solomon, Lee Solomon and Clifford Werber - has formally bought itself out from Helkon Media and relaunched as Solo Entertainment Group (SEG).

  • Miramax goes BVI route in Germany

    4-Nov-2002

    Miramax Films' newly-promoted chief operating officer Rick Sands (pictured) has confirmed that Miramax Films will no longer be selling its films to independents in Germany, but will instead set up its own marketing operation and partner with sister company Buena Vista International (BVI) to handle physical distribution.

  • Miramax goes BVI route in Germany

    4-Nov-2002

    Miramax Films' newly-promoted chief operating officer Rick Sands (pictured) has confirmed that Miramax Films will no longer be selling its films to independents in Germany, but will instead set up its own marketing operation and partner with sister company Buena Vista International (BVI) to handle physical distribution.

  • Splendid lifts Veil on Stratus debut film

    4-Nov-2002

    Splendid Pictures has signed on to represent international sales on The Painted Veil, the first film from Stratus Film Co, the independent production outfit unveiled recently by Hollywood super-producer Mark Gordon, former Miramax LA president Mark Gill and financier Bob Yari.

  • Splendid lifts Veil on Stratus debut film

    4-Nov-2002

    Splendid Pictures has signed on to represent international sales on The Painted Veil, the first film from Stratus Film Co, the independent production outfit unveiled recently by Hollywood super-producer Mark Gordon, former Miramax LA president Mark Gill and financier Bob Yari.

  • Pandora picks up international rights to Polish Brothers' latest

    1-Nov-2002

    LA-based sales and financing outfit Pandora has acquired international rights, excluding English-speaking territories, to Northfork, the latest film from the eccentric film-making duo of Mark and Michael Polish (Twin Falls Idaho, Jackpot).

  • Rick Sands gets COO stripes at Miramax

    1-Nov-2002

    Rick Sands, the chairman of worldwide distribution at Miramax Films, has been promoted again, this time to chief operating officer. Sands, a familiar face on the international festival and market circuit who oversees all international deals for the company, will continue to oversee domestic and international sales and distribution and will be responsible for overseeing the company's activities relating to production finance, marketing finance and overhead finance.

  • Universal, Gaga form Japanese joint venture

    1-Nov-2002

    Universal Pictures Japan and Gaga Communications have teamed up to form a two-picture joint venture which will see Gaga handle theatrical distribution rights on Universal's Blue Crush and Universal handle video rights on Gaga's Kill Bill.

  • Age of Realism kicks in for MIFED

    1-Nov-2002

    There's a joke among US sellers that "even the buyers that don't pay aren't buying" at the moment. These sellers certainly lean towards gloom and doom in their conversations; indeed it's unlikely that a movie the size of Gangs Of New York could generate the eye-popping sales numbers today which it did at MIFED three years ago.

  • Age of Realism kicks in for MIFED

    1-Nov-2002

    There's a joke among US sellers that "even the buyers that don't pay aren't buying" at the moment. These sellers certainly lean towards gloom and doom in their conversations; indeed it's unlikely that a movie the size of Gangs Of New York could generate the eye-popping sales numbers today which it did at MIFED three years ago.

  • Evelyn

    30-Oct-2002

  • New Line signs Metropolitan to its first output deal

    29-Oct-2002

    New Line International (NLI) has completed extensions to 2005 on two major output deals - with Village Roadshow in Australia and Svensk Filmindustri in Scandinavia - and closed a third, also to 2005, with Metropolitan Filmexport in France. It is the first time NLI has struck an output deal with longtime partner Metropolitan, which has in the past paid minimum guarantees for slates of New Line movies.

  • New Line signs Metropolitan to its first output deal

    29-Oct-2002

    New Line International (NLI) has completed extensions to 2005 on two major output deals - with Village Roadshow in Australia and Svensk Filmindustri in Scandinavia - and closed a third, also to 2005, with Metropolitan Filmexport in France. It is the first time NLI has struck an output deal with longtime partner Metropolitan, which has in the past paid minimum guarantees for slates of New Line movies.

  • Dick Sano promoted to senior vp at BVI-Japan

    28-Oct-2002

  • Dubin named Los Angeles rep for ARD, Degeto, Telepool

    28-Oct-2002

    Kristina Dubin of DubinMediahas been enlisted by three German networks as head of their US operations. Shewill represent ARD, Germany's largest broadcaster, Degeto, which is theARD-network contact for films, series and miniseries and Telepool, theall-rights distributor for German-speaking territories.

  • Lions Gate International brings Cabin Fever to market

    28-Oct-2002

    Lions Gate Films International, the international theatrical sales arm of Lions Gate Entertainment run by Nick Meyer and Sergei Yershov, has acquired international rights to Cabin Fever, the surprise horror hit of the Toronto International Film Festival which its domestic arm Lions Gate Films bought after its first midnight screening at Toronto.

  • The Guys

    28-Oct-2002

  • The Truth About Charlie

    28-Oct-2002

  • MGM quits Cold Mountain, Miramax talks to new partners

    25-Oct-2002

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)has withdrawn from the currently shooting Civil War epic Cold Mountain, leaving Miramax Films with the whole burden of the$80m-plus budget. Miramax is already in negotiations with other potentialpartners to co-finance the production which has now returned to Romania againafter a stint in North Carolina. Miramax confirmed that it was sole financier"for the moment" yesterday, while MGM did not return calls atpresstime.

  • THINKFilm buys North America on The Heart Of Me

    21-Oct-2002

    THINKFilm has acquired all North American rights to UK drama The Heart Of Me which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and which is the closing night presentation at the London Film Festival next month (Nov 21). Directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, the film stars Helena Bonham Carter, Paul Bettany and Olivia Williams.

  • Chicago audiences vote for Columbine, Real Women

    18-Oct-2002

    Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine won the audience choice award at the 38th Chicago International Film Festival, with the silver plaque going to Patricia Cardoso's Real Women Have Curves.

  • IDA names best documentary nominees for 2002

    18-Oct-2002

    The International Documentary Association (IDA) has announced the films which will vie for the prizes at the annual Distinguished Documentary Achievement Awards to be announced at the benefit gala on Dec 13 in Hollywood.

  • New Los Angeles producer Ovation moves on three new projects

    18-Oct-2002

    Ovation Entertainment, the new LA company which teams former Trilogy Entertainment Group co-head Richard B Lewis with former eBay president Jeff Skoll as the lead investor, has hired Gregory Widen, the writer of Highlander and Backdraft, to rewrite action adventure movie The Rising originally written by Jeffrey Miller as well as write period actioner The Quest based on true historical events.

  • First Look picks up North American rights to Angela

    17-Oct-2002

  • Los Angeles' AFI FEST announces full lineup of 134 films

    17-Oct-2002

    AFI FEST, the internationalfilm festival held by the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles Nov7-17, has announced its lineup, which is composed of 134 films from 37countries.

  • Gill leaves Miramax, joins Gordon, Yari in new venture

    16-Oct-2002

    Mark Gill,president of Miramax LA and one of the lynchpins at the studio since 1994, isleaving the company to join veteran producer Mark Gordon and financier Bob Yariin Stratus Film Company, a new production vehicle with a mission to make amininum of three to four "high quality" productions a year in the$10m to $40m range. The films emerging from Stratus will be separate fromGordon's production deal at Fox where he has become the lot'spremier event film producer.

  • Albert Page hired as development director at Hoberman's Mandeville

    15-Oct-2002

    Albert Page has been hired as director of development for Mandeville Films, David Hoberman's Disney-based production outfit which has been rekindled after Hoberman exited Hyde Park Entertainment earlier this year.

  • Made In Germany lineup unveiled for AFI FEST

    15-Oct-2002

    AFI FEST, the Los Angeles International Film Festival which is organised by the American Film Institute (AFI), has announced the line-up of Made In Germany, a featured section of contemporary German film which has been put together for the first time in partnership with the Export-Union Of German Cinema.

  • Madame Sata wins Gold Hugo at Chicago

    14-Oct-2002

    Karim Ainouzi's Madame Sata, a Brazilian/French co-production about real-life street fighter and transvestite Joao Francisco dos Santos in 1930s Rio, won the Gold Hugo at the 38th Chicago International Film Festival on Saturday night. Cited for its "multi-faceted image of an extraordinary era, an extraordinary milieu and an extraordinary character, dazzlingly embodied by actor Lazaro Ramos," the film continues a victory march for Brazilian films around the world this year.

  • Mexico's Diego Luna takes lead role in Dirty Dancing sequel

    14-Oct-2002

    Diego Luna, who grabbed worldwide attention opposite Gael Garcia Bernal in Y Tu Mama Tambien, has landed the lead role in Havana Nights, the second instalment in a planned Dirty Dancing franchise which is being co-produced by Miramax Films and Artisan Pictures.

  • The Ring

    14-Oct-2002

  • Agnes Varda named as IDA Pioneer Award winner

    10-Oct-2002

    French directing legend Agnes Varda will receive the International Documentary Association (IDA) Pioneer Award for distinguished lifetime achievement at the annual IDA Awards gala benefit in Hollywood on Dec 13.

  • Bollywood / Hollywood

    10-Oct-2002

  • Focus sells Moonlight Mile rights for Hyde Park

    10-Oct-2002

    Focus Features has confirmed that it will handle sales of continental European rights to Brad Silberling's Moonlight Mile starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon on behalf of Hyde Park Entertainment. Focus' international sales team under David Linde will screen the film at MIFED.

  • AWP picks up Chopin, Anarchist Cookbook

    9-Oct-2002

    Mark L Lester's American World Pictures (AWP) has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Polish biopic Chopin: Desire For Love and international rights to US ensemble The Anarchist Cookbook. The films will be screened for buyers at MIFED for the first time.

  • Cinecitta backs Ferretti exhibition, screening series in Los Angeles

    9-Oct-2002

    Italy's Cinecitta Holding, the parent company of the famed Rome-based Cinecitta Studios, announced yesterday that it will be involved in an exhibition of the work of renowned production designer Dante Ferretti at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences in Los Angeles as well as a film series featuring his work at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art (LACMA). Both begin on Oct 25.

  • Corporate development vp Isaac Palmer promoted at Viacom

    8-Oct-2002

  • Menemsha gets rights to Same Love, Same Rain

    8-Oct-2002

    Neil Friedman'sLA-based sales and distribution outfit Menemsha Entertainment has picked upworldwide rights outside of Argentina and Spain to Same Love, Same Rain (El Mismo Amor, La Misma Illuvia), an Argentinian drama from the sameteam behind the enormously successful Son Of The Bride which won an Oscar nomination last yearfor Best Foreign Language Film.

  • Wellspring buys US rights to Claire Denis' Friday Night

    8-Oct-2002

  • American World picks up Chopin, Anarchist Cookbook

    7-Oct-2002

  • Chicago opens with Evelyn, closes with Frida

    7-Oct-2002

    Bruce Beresford's Evelyn will open the 38th Chicago InternationalFilm Festival which will screen 95 films from 35 countries in its 15 days fromOct 4-18..Star and producer of Evelyn Pierce Brosnan will attend the screening and receive the Gold Hugo onstage beforehand. Julie Taymor's Frida will close the festival on Oct 17.

  • Marlo Thomas options BBC thriller for US remake

    7-Oct-2002

    Famed US actress/producerMarlo Thomas and her New York-based production outfit Open Road Productions haveoptioned the US remake rights from the BBC to two-part TV thriller Deceit. Thomas will star and produce the remake which willbe broadcast in the US on popular women's network Lifetime Television.

  • US DVD rental revenues top $2bn in 2002

    7-Oct-2002

    DVD rental revenues havealready surpassed $2bn in 2002, according to figures announced by the VideoSoftward Dealers Association (VSDA), eating into the home video rental marketwhich has so far amassed $4.12bn this year. 'DVDscontinue to contribute significantly to the video rental market and showunprecedented growth in an otherwise sluggish economy,' said VSDApresident Bo Andersen in a statement.

  • Studio threeway Peter Pan starts shooting in Australia

    4-Oct-2002

  • Tom Quinn gets vp stripes at Samuel Goldwyn Films

    4-Oct-2002

  • Indie veterans Manne, Tait create Duopoly

    3-Oct-2002

    Two veterans of the New Yorkindependent scene - Liz Manne andCatherine Tait - have teamed up to form Duopoly, a production andstrategy company which will executive produce "entertainment properties"as well as providing strategic services to production companies.

  • Caine gets AFI FEST tribute, Quiet American gets US premiere

    2-Oct-2002

    AFI FEST 2002, the AmericanFilm Institute's Los Angeles film festival, will honour Michael Cainewith a special tribute at this year's event which takes place Nov 7 to 17this year. The tribute includes an on-stage interview with the double Oscar-winningactor (Nov 16) as well as a short retrospective of his films including Alfie (1966), The Ipcress File (1965), Get Carter (1971), The Italian Job (1969), Educating Rita (1983) and The Cider House Rules ...

  • London's Imperial War Museum wins IDA preservation award

    2-Oct-2002

  • Paramount shifts The Core from Nov to March

    2-Oct-2002

  • THINKFilm is Spellbound by spelling bee doc

    2-Oct-2002

    One year-old domesticdistributor THINKFilm has acquired North American rights to the documentary Spellbound which recently played in the Toronto InternationalFilm Festival. The film, directed by Jeff Blitz and produced by Sean Welch,follows the real-life experience of the National Spelling Bee as seen throughthe eyes of eight, driven young spellers competing for the top prize.The film world premiered at South By SouthWest in Marchthis year, winning the ...

  • Two from Takashi Miike get US exposure through Vitagraph

    2-Oct-2002

  • Seattle absorbs Women In Cinema fest, expands focus on women

    2-Oct-2002

  • Walden strikes two-year alliance with Disney

    1-Oct-2002

    Walden Media, the NewYork-based production outfit run by Cary Granat and backed by PhilipAnschutz's The Anschutz Company, has signed a two-year first-look NorthAmerican distribution deal with The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS). The dealfollows from two separate project deals between the two companies: Disney hadpreviously acquired North American and UK distribution rights to JamesCameron's Ghosts Of The Abyssand has just taken North America and most of the rest of the world on Holes ...

  • Sweet Home Alabama

    1-Oct-2002

  • Kormakur's The Sea lands at Palm for North America and UK

    30-Sep-2002

    ChrisBlackwell's Palm Pictures has closed its second film acquisition of theToronto Film Festival, acquiring North American and UK rights to BaltasarKormakur's The Sea (Hafid)which broke box office records in its home country of Iceland last month. Palmplans to release the film theatrically in the US followed by a DVD rollout onthe Palm label.

  • Jo Hyland joins Denmead Marketing as account manager

    30-Sep-2002

    Jo Hyland has been appointed account manager at Los Angeles- andLondon-based publicity company Denmead Marketing. Reporting to Denmeadpresident Nikki Parker and senior vice president Maxine Leonard, Hyland willmanage worldwide client accounts for the film and television divisions whichservice both ...

  • Reese Is The Word: Sweet Home Alabama at the top

    30-Sep-2002

    Reese Witherspoon proved that she was one of the brightest stars in the movie world, scoring the biggest September opening in US box office history this weekend with an estimated $37.5m bow for her romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama. Playing at 3,293 sites, the Buena Vista film scored a powerful screen average of $11,378 and guarantees Disney another $100m smash this year after its summer winners Lilo & Stitch and Signs.

  • Alain Chabat launches US company, signs with Endeavor

    27-Sep-2002

    French actor, writer,producer and director Alain Chabat has signed with Los Angeles talent agencyEndeavor for all areas of representation in the US. Chabat, along with partnersAlex Berger of Content Participations and Amandine Billot who works with Chabatin his French company Chez Wam, has recently launched a US company Wamericaheaded by producer Stephanie Danan. Endeavor will also represent Wamericaalongside attorney John Laviolette of Bloom, Hergott, Diemer & Cook.

  • First Look takes North America to Czech favourite Autumn Spring

    27-Sep-2002

    First Look Pictures hasacquired North American rights to Vladimir Michalek's Czech drama AutumnSpring, which recently screened atthe 2002 Toronto and Montreal film festivals. The deal was negotiated betweenMJ Peckos, president of First Look, with Neil Friedman of MenemshaEntertainment with a price tag in the mid-six figure range.

  • Brett Ratner moves from Hannibal Lecter to Superman

    26-Sep-2002

    Brett Ratner has signed on to direct the new live action feature film version of Superman for Warner Bros Pictures, the studio announced yesterday. The new version, long in gestation with McG, Tim Burton attached to direct at various times, comes 25 years after Richard Donner's blockbuster version Superman - The Movie which spawned three sequels, also at Warner.

  • Full listing of AFMA's newly elected board of directors

    25-Sep-2002

  • Greenwald commits to film while mentoring its writer

    25-Sep-2002

  • Jet Lag (Decalage Horaire)

    25-Sep-2002

  • Open Hearts (Elsker Dig For Evigt)

    25-Sep-2002

  • Bill Butler wins ASC Lifetime Achievement Award

    20-Sep-2002

  • PGA announce Celebration Of Diversity

    20-Sep-2002

    The Producers Guild OfAmerica (PGA) is to hold a brand new annual Celebration Of Diversity in LosAngeles to honour the contributions of African Americans, Asians, Latinos, gaysand lesbians and women to the industry. The event will take place on Oct 28 andwill honour Ang Lee, Danny Glover, Moctezuma Esparza, Marian Rees and theproducers of Six Feet Under AlanBall, Alan Poul and Greenblatt-Janollari.

  • Moonstone sells Chen Kaige's Together to five territories

    19-Sep-2002

    Etchie Stroh's Moonstone Entertainment has closed a slew of deals on Chen Kaige's latest film Together which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last week and was swiftly sold to United Artists for North America.

  • Newmarket makes it four with Whale Rider

    19-Sep-2002

    Marking its fourth film acquisition in the last two weeks, upstart US distribution outfit Newmarket Films has acquired all North American rights to Whale Rider, Niki Caro's magical fable from New Zealand, which won the AGF People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival last weekend.

  • Together (Han Ni Zai Yiki)

    19-Sep-2002

    TOGETHER (HA NI ZAI YI QI)

  • Wellspring acquires two for US from Celluloid Dreams

    19-Sep-2002

    Wellspring Media has picked up US rights to two European films - Alexander Sokurov's acclaimed Cannes title Russian Ark and Bille Eltringham's UK DV thriller This Is Not A Love Song. Both films were sold by Paris-based sales outfit Celluloid Dreams. Russian Ark is slated for a release before the end of this year, while This Is Not A Love Song will open in 2003.

  • Palm scores new funding from Colombian media giant

    18-Sep-2002

    Chris Blackwell's PalmPictures has secured a new round of funding anchored by a"significant" investment from Latin America's Grupo SantoDomingo and also including additional funding from long-time Palm Picturesinvestor Avalon Capital Group.

  • Rudolph's Dentists go to Manhattan

    18-Sep-2002

    Manhattan PicturesInternational, the New York-based US independent which bought domestic rightsto Michael Apted's Enigmaand Jean-Luc Godard's In Praise Of Love, has resurfaced, taking all North American rights toAlan Rudolph's Toronto festival hit The Secret Lives Of Dentists.

  • Sundance opens its doors to international docs

    17-Sep-2002

    The SundanceFilm Festival is opening its doors to international documentaries, launching asection of approximately eight films from around the world beginning at nextyear's event which will take place Jan 16-26, 2003 in Park City, Utah.The international documentary section will co-exist with the World Cinemaprogramme which features some 32 international dramatic features.

  • Alcon buys Pemberton script

    17-Sep-2002

    Alcon Entertainment, theWarner-based production outfit behind Insomnia and The Affair Of The Necklace, has purchased the comedy spec script The WholePemberton Thing written byfirst-time screenwriter Mike Samonek. The story deals with the volatile relationshipbetween a young executive and his Machiavellian, oddball office mate.

  • Cinesite (Europe) wins Tomb Raider 2 effects deal

    17-Sep-2002

    London-based Cinesite(Europe) Ltd has won a contract for a portion of the visual effects for TombRaider 2 with Paramount Pictures.The company, which worked on Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, will produce some 3-D animation sequences whichconstitute a large portion of the total visual effects shots in the film whichwill again star Angelina Jolie and is being directed by Jan De Bont.

  • Fradis & Cohen team for new film investment fund

    17-Sep-2002

    Anatoly Fradis of Alfa FilmEnterprises Inc and Joseph N Cohen of American Entertainment Investors Inc haveformed a new film investment outfit called Marching Band Productions. Fradisand Cohen have already closed their first deal for the company - forthree pictures with Nigel Sinclair and Guy East of Spitfire Productions kickingoff with "significant" equity funding to Spitfire's firstfeature Masked & Anonymousstarring Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Penelope Cruz and Jessica Lange and ...

  • Newmarket, Lions Gate seal two more Toronto acquisitions

    16-Sep-2002

    Two more films screening at the Toronto International Film Festival secured domestic distribution deals over the weekend. Newmarket Films took US rights to Lukas Moodysson's Lilja 4-ever from Trust Film Sales, while Lions Gate Films beat out competitors including Miramax and New Line to buy North American rights to horror picture Cabin Fever ...

  • Newmarket, Lions Gate seal two more Toronto acquisitions

    16-Sep-2002

    Two more films screening at the Toronto International Film Festival secured domestic distribution deals over the weekend. Newmarket Films took US rights to Lukas Moodysson's Lilya 4-ever from Trust Film Sales, while Lions Gate Films beat out competitors including Miramax and New Line to buy North American rights to horror picture Cabin Fever from production companies DownHome Entertainment, Tonic Films, Black Sky Entertainment and Deer Path Films.

  • Lions Gate International gets into Bed with Spanish comedy

    14-Sep-2002

    Lions Gate FilmsInternational has acquired international rights to Spanish romantic comedymusical The Other Side Of The Bed(El Otro Lado Del La Cama)directed by Emilio Martinez Lazaro. The film, which screened at the TorontoInternational Film Festival as a gala premiere, marks the second collaborationbetween Lions Gate Films International and production outfit EstudiosPicasso/Telecinco ...

  • UA wins rights to Chen Kaige's Together

    13-Sep-2002

    United Artists (UA), the specialised film division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), has made its first acquisition at the Toronto International Film Festival, taking North American rights to Chen Kaige's heartwarmer Together. Ironically it was MGM which was scheduled to distribute Kaige's last film Killing Me Softly, his first English language effort which has been roundly panned by critics outside the US, and which still awaits a domestic release date almost a year after ...

  • UA wins rights to Chen Kaige's Together

    13-Sep-2002

    United Artists (UA), the specialised film division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), has made its first acquisition at the Toronto International Film Festival, taking North American rights to Chen Kaige's heartwarmer Together. Ironically it was MGM which was scheduled to distribute Kaige's last film Killing Me Softly, his first English language effort which has been roundly panned by critics outside the US, and which still awaits a domestic release date almost a year after ...

  • Independent peppermint gets in with The Guys

    12-Sep-2002

    peppermint, the worldwide distribution company that has recently undergone a management buy-out from Helkon Media AG, has acquired international distribution rights to The Guys, the film of Anne Nelson's hit play which deals with the aftermath of 9/11. The film, which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival yesterday, stars Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia and is one of the hot titles at the festival without domestic distribution yet attached.

  • Two more domestic deals at Toronto

    12-Sep-2002

    Two more films sealed domestic distribution deals at the Toronto International Film Festival yesterday. IFC Films made its first acquisition since the departure of former chief Bob Berney, taking US rights to Jean-Pierre Limousin's Novo, while Lions Gate Films Releasing followed up its purchase of Gaspar Noe's Irreversible by buying all North American rights to Steve James' documentary Stevie.

  • Two more domestic deals at Toronto

    12-Sep-2002

    Two more films sealed domestic distribution deals at the Toronto International Film Festival yesterday. IFC Films made its first acquisition since the departure of former chief Bob Berney, taking US rights to Jean-Pierre Limousin's Novo, while Lions Gate Films Releasing followed up its purchase of Gaspar Noe's Irreversible by buying all North American rights to Steve James' documentary Stevie.

  • Toronto Comment - Collective Experience Is Everything

    11-Sep-2002

    There's nothing like watching a film in a theatre with an audience. It's an experience that stubbornly outstrips all competition - whether it be theme parks, DVD or VHS, computers or even TV. After Sept 11 last year, the theatrical box office boomed and continues to grow throughout the world. People want to go to the movies: that collectiveexperience is everything.

  • Toronto Comment - Oscar's Foreign-Language Race

    11-Sep-2002

    While we revel in the scope of international movies selected to screen at the Festival, a different kind of selection process is going on in over 50 countries around the world. The question: which film will represent that country in the race for the best foreign language film Academy Award'

  • Alliance Atlantis gets international rights to Sundance victor

    10-Sep-2002

    Alliance Atlantis has picked up international rights (excluding the English-speaking world, Latin America and Italy) to Personal Velocity, the highly acclaimed triptych directed by Rebecca Miller which won the grand jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival. United Artists bought North American and the remaining territorial rights during Sundance.

  • Alliance Atlantis gets international rights to Sundance victor

    10-Sep-2002

    Alliance Atlantis has picked up international rights (excluding the English-speaking world, Latin America and Italy) to Personal Velocity, the highly acclaimed triptych directed by Rebecca Miller which won the grand jury prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival. United Artists bought North American and the remaining territorial rights during Sundance.

  • Miramax buys domestic rights to Mullan's Venice winner

    10-Sep-2002

    In its second acquisition of the Toronto International Film Festival, Miramax Films has clinched domestic rights to Venice Golden Lion winner The Magdalene Sisters directed by Peter Mullan. Miramax beat out other buyers including Fine Line Features and Sony Pictures Classics.

  • Miramax buys domestic rights to Mullan's Venice winner

    10-Sep-2002

    In its second acquisition of the Toronto International Film Festival, Miramax Films has clinched domestic rights to Venice Golden Lion winner The Magdalene Sisters directed by Peter Mullan. Miramax beat out other buyers including Fine Line Features and Sony Pictures Classics.

  • Noe shocker gets US distribution through Lions Gate

    10-Sep-2002

    Lions Gate Films closed a deal yesterday in Toronto to buy US rights to Gaspar Noe's super-controversial Irreversible, the scandale of this year's Cannes Film Festival which is also screening at this week's Toronto International Film Festival.

  • Noe shocker gets US distribution through Lions Gate

    10-Sep-2002

    Lions Gate Films closed a deal yesterday in Toronto to buy US rights to Gaspar Noe's super-controversial Irreversible, the scandale of this year's Cannes Film Festival which is also screening at this week's Toronto International Film Festival.

  • Alliance Atlantis takes international rights on Toronto twosome

    9-Sep-2002

    Alliance Atlantis is to handle international sales rights on Benoit Jacquot's Benjamin Constant's Adolphe starring Isabelle Adjani and to Dylan Kidd's Roger Dodger starring Campbell Scott and Isabella Rossellini. Charlotte Mickie, managing director, international motion picture sales at Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group is handling the two films which are both playing at the Toronto Film Festival.

  • Carmichael to head London-based Content International

    9-Sep-2002

    ContentFilm, the aggressive one year-old production company launched by Edward R Pressman and John Schmidt, has launched an international sales arm Content International to be based in London and headed by sales veteran Jamie Carmichael.

  • Cowboy Pictures takes Morvern Callar to the US

    9-Sep-2002

    New York-based Cowboy Pictures has acquired US rights to Samantha Morton's critically acclaimed Morvern Callar which premiered in Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Cowboy president John Vanco negotiated the deal with Charlotte Mickie, managing director of international motion picture sales for Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group which financed the film and is handling worldwide distribution.

  • Cowboy Pictures takes Morvern Callar to the US

    9-Sep-2002

    New York-based Cowboy Pictures has acquired US rights to Samantha Morton's critically acclaimed Morvern Callar which premiered in Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Cowboy president John Vanco negotiated the deal with Charlotte Mickie, managing director of international motion picture sales for Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group which financed the film and is handling worldwide distribution.

  • HFF buys French rights to The Good Girl from Myriad

    9-Sep-2002

    Hachette Filipacchi Films (HFF), the company formerly known as Film Office, has acquired French rights to Miguel Arteta's US hit The Good Girl from Myriad Pictures. The deal was sealed at the Deauville Festival Of American Film where the film received its international premiere.

  • IN-motion exits Myriad as D'Amico reclaims company

    9-Sep-2002

    Myriad Pictures president Kirk D'Amico was on bullish form at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, confirming that former majority shareholder IN-motion AG now holds no further interest in the company. "I am sole president," he said and "I have a majority interest in the company. They haven't funded us for over a year and a half and we are now operating as a stand-alone company."

  • Long Way Home wins top jury prize at Deauville

    9-Sep-2002

    Peter Sollet's Long Way Home, which has been renamed Raising Victor Vargas for its North American release via Samuel Goldwyn Films and Fireworks Pictures' joint distribution venture IDP, has won the grand jury prize in the competition section of the Deauville Festival Of American Film which finished yesterday (Sunday).

  • Miramax gets Jet Lag as French comedy kicks off Toronto deals

    9-Sep-2002

    Miramax Films has paid $1m for rights in the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to Daniele Thompson's French romantic comedy Jet Lag which teams Juliette Binoche and Jean Reno and which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend. As of yesterday (Sunday), it was the only major acquisition deal of the festival so far. StudioCanal chief Pierre Weisbein on Saturday night clinched the deal with Miramax on Saturday night; Fine Line Features ...

  • Echo Lake ties up three international directors

    6-Sep-2002

    Echo Lake Productions, the Los Angeles-based production and finance company behind Things Behind The Sun and 13 Conversations About One Thing, has closed writing and directing deals with Singaporean film-maker CheeK (Chicken Rice War) and India's Santosh Sivan (Asoka, The Terrorist) to direct two films in English in the $2m to $3m range. A third deal is being finalised with Germany's Faith Akin (Im Juli, Kurz Und Scmerzlos).

  • Echo Lake ties up three international directors

    6-Sep-2002

    Echo Lake Productions, the Los Angeles-based production and finance company behind Things Behind The Sun and 13 Conversations About One Thing, has closed writing and directing deals with Singaporean film-maker CheeK (Chicken Rice War) and India's Santosh Sivan (Asoka, The Terrorist) to direct two films in English in the $2m to $3m range. A third deal is being finalised with Germany's Faith Akin (Im Juli, Kurz Und Scmerzlos).

  • Fox Searchlight reteams with Broken Lizard on Club Dread

    5-Sep-2002

    Fox Searchlight Pictures isreteaming with director Jay Chandrasekhar and his Broken Lizard comedy group,the team behind its Sundance acquisition hit Super Troopers, on Broken Lizard's Club Dread. The film, which has already started principalphotography in Mexico, also stars Bill Paxton.

  • Killer strikes first-look deal with Warner Bros

    5-Sep-2002

    Killer Films,the prolific New York-based production company which is synonymous with theindependent film movement of the 1990s, has signed a one year, first-look dealwith Warner Bros Pictures. The deal is primarily for films in the $10m to $25mrange such as Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven or Mark Romanek's One HourPhoto which cost $15mand $12m respectively to produce.

  • Picture This! picks up US video rights to DAYS and Abandoned

    5-Sep-2002

    Doug Witkins' PictureThis! Entertainment, which specialises in the distribution and internationalsales of gay, lesbian and bisexual cinema, has picked up LauraMuscardin's DAYS from Italyand Arpad Sopsits' Abandonedfrom Hungary for US video release and festival bookings.

  • THINKFilm, Columbia TriStar strike three-picture US home video deal

    5-Sep-2002

    THINKFilm, the NorthAmerican distibution outfit which was launched at the Toronto InternationalFilm Festival last year, has entered into a three-picture home entertainmentdistribution deal with Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (CTHE).

  • Far From Heaven

    4-Sep-2002

  • Lorenzo di Bonaventura steps down at Warner Bros

    4-Sep-2002

    Lorenzo diBonaventura has stepped down from his corporate position as executive vicepresident, worldwide motion pictures, at Warner Bros to become an independentproducer for Warner Bros Pictures. He has been co-president or president ofproduction at the studio since 1996 and is one of the best-known productionexecutives in Hollywood.

  • Telluride world premieres Schrader, Clark, Reggio movies

    31-Aug-2002

    The TellurideFilm Festival, one of the worlds most secretive festivals whichdoesnt announce its lineup until the event itself begins, kicked off its29th festival today (Friday) in the Colorado mountain-top resort andwill screen four world premieres in its four-day schedule including new filmsfrom Paul Schrader and Larry Clark.

  • Lions Gate takes North America on Loach's Sweet Sixteen

    28-Aug-2002

    Lions Gate Films has boughtall North American rights to Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen from London-based The Works. The film will bereleased theatrically in spring 2003 and continues a relationship between LionsGate and Loach which began with Bread And Roses in 2001.

  • Herwitz sells Last Party 2000 to ID in France

    27-Aug-2002

    Andrew Herwitz's NewYork-based producers rep outfit The Film Sales Company has closed a sale ofdocumentary Last Party 2000 to IDDistribution in France, just a week before the film screens in the Panoramasidebar of the Deauville Festival Of American Film.

  • TLA Releasing takes three for US including Food Of Love, KM 0 from Spain

    27-Aug-2002

    TLA Releasing, the oneyear-old Philadelphia-based US distributor specialising in independent, foreignand gay/lesbian-themed films, has picked up rights to three new pictures- Ventura Pons' Spanish drama Food Of Love, Steve Guttenberg's directorial debut PSYour Cat Is Dead! and Yolanda GarciaSerrano and Juan Luis Iborra's Spanish comedy KM. 0.

  • Simone

    20-Aug-2002

    Dir: Andrew Niccol. US. 2002. 124mins

  • Clifford joins staff of AFI Conservatory

    19-Aug-2002

    Australiandirector and editor Graeme Clifford has been appointed senior lecturer in thedirecting discipline at the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory.Clifford, whose editing credits include The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Postman Always Rings Twice and whose directing credits includeFrances, will train the 50 first and second year directing fellows for the year2002-2003.

  • Palm Springs Short Film Fest announces winners

    19-Aug-2002

  • O'Neal stars in New York indie The Technical Writer

    16-Aug-2002

    Tatum O'Neal, WilliamForsythe and Michael Harris are the stars and Scott Saunders the director of TheTechnical Writer, an independentfeature which went into production in New York City this week. The film marksthe first feature from production outfit Damage Control which was formed in NewYork by David Leitner and Michael Yanko to produce low-budget films withcutting edge technology.Co-writtenby Harris and Saunders, the film is the ...

  • Chuo joins Artisan as vice president, acquisitions in Los Angeles

    15-Aug-2002

    Artisan Pictures has hired Monica Chuo as its vice president of acquisitions based in Los Angeles. She will report directly to the company's executive vice president Patrick Gunn, and fills the space left by senior vice president, acquisitions, Leilani Forby who left Artisan recently to join former Artisan colleague John Hegeman at Revolution Studios.

  • Cinecitta launches Masterclass, USC summer workshop

    12-Aug-2002

    Famed Romestudio facility Cinecitta Studios has launched two new educational initiatives- a lecture series featuring more than 20 film-makers and technicians whohave worked at the studio and a six-week summer workshop at the studio forstudents at the University Of Southern California (USC) School OfCinema-Television.

  • Transmission Films launches first phase in online distribution system

    12-Aug-2002

    New York-basedTransmission Films has launched a high-speed download system on its online filmdistribution site today (Aug 12), marking the first phase in thecompany's launch strategy. Transmission offers an online forum forindependent and foreign feature films for access by the online film-viewingcommunity while planning to create a revenue stream for film-makers who licensetheir features to the company.

  • XXX

    8-Aug-2002

  • HBO's Real Women goes theatrical after all via Newmarket start-up

    31-Jul-2002

    Only two months after HBO Films president Colin Callender publicly reconfirmed that all its movies would premiere on the HBO channel in North America, the company has announced that it will release crowd-pleasing festival favourite Real Women Have Curves in theatres this October. The film will be a joint distribution effort between HBO Films and Newmarket Capital Group's new theatrical distribution division which was officially launched last week with Bob Berney at the helm.

  • Austin Powers In Goldmember

    25-Jul-2002

  • MGM to launch branded channel in Greece with NOVA

    24-Jul-2002

    MGM Networks, the TV channel arm of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), has entered into an agreement with NOVA, the first digital-satellite platform in Greece, to launch a round-the-clock branded channel in the country.

  • Naficy, Algazi join staff of studios' IP VOD co Movielink

    24-Jul-2002

    Movielink, the IP-based video-on-demand distribution service formed as a joint venture by five major studios, has hired Mariam Naficy as vice president of marketing and Jessica Algazi as vice president of content.

  • Newmarket sets up US distribution co, Berney leaves IFC to run it

    24-Jul-2002

    Bob Berney is to leave his post as senior vice president, marketing and distribution, at IFC Films and join Newmarket Capital Group as a partner in and president of its formal start-up theatrical distribution company which will be based in New York. Newmarket has dipped its toe into US distribution before, self-releasing its own production Memento to great success last year under Berney's aegis and then teaming with Berney and IFC to distribute Donnie Darko.

  • K-19: The Widowmaker

    19-Jul-2002

  • Kismet announces Dog Soldiers sequel, boards two with Seven Arts

    19-Jul-2002

    Kismet Entertainment Group, the LA-based production outfit behind British horror hit Dog Soldiers, has announced that it will produce Dog Soldiers 2 as well as two new pictures in alliance with Peter Hoffman's Seven Arts Pictures.

  • Halloween: Resurrection

    17-Jul-2002

    Dir: Rick Rosenthal. US. 2002. 89mins

  • MGM Home Entertainment goes solo in France, Germany

    17-Jul-2002

    MGM Home Entertainment Group, the DVD and home video arm of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is to set up its own sales and marketing operations in France and Germany. The deal sees MGM exercise an option in its international distribution services agreement with Fox Filmed Entertainment to reclaim those territories. Fox, which previously managed the territories on MGM's behalf, will continue to provide physical distribution services for MGM product in those territories.

  • Reign Of Fire

    16-Jul-2002

  • Wellspring buys US rights to Cannes player Carnage

    16-Jul-2002

    Wellspring Media has acquired US rights to the dark French comedy Carnage which played in Directors Fortnight at Cannes this year. The film is the feature directorial debut of Delphine Gleize and stars Chiara Mastroianni and Angela Maline in the story of the aftermath of a tragic bullfight.

  • Eileen Atkins, Lucas Black join Cold Mountain

    12-Jul-2002

    Two new cast members, Eileen Atkins and Lucas Black, have been added to the mammoth ensemble of Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain which stars shooting on Monday on location in Romania. Minghella has adapted the novel by Charles Frazier for the screen himself.

  • Mandalay lands at Universal, launches new international sales offensive

    12-Jul-2002

    Days after announcing that it was leaving Paramount Pictures on the expiration of its current deal, Peter Guber's independent film production company Mandalay Pictures has entered into a new multi-year financing and distribution agreement with Universal Pictures.

  • New Line taps UK's Stevenson for Double Au Pair duties

    11-Jul-2002

    British writer/actress Jessica Stevenson, who co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in hit TV series Spaced, has landed a deal with New Line Cinema to write and star in Double Au Pair, a family adventure comedy about a nanny spy.

  • di Bonaventura promoted at Warner, production restructured

    11-Jul-2002

    Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the head of worldwide production at Warner Bros Pictures, has got a promotion to a new corporate position within Warner Bros itself, prompting a restructure of the film production arm at Burbank.

  • Intermedia's London operation moves inside Box

    11-Jul-2002

    Leading independent Intermedia, which faces a tough test when its biggest film to date K19: The Widowmaker opens in North America on July 19, is strengthening its ties in the UK with Box TV in which it has a 24.9% ownership stake. Intermedia will relocate its key creative team to offices it will share with Box and will give a first-look exclusive deal to Box Film, the newly created film production operation of Box TV.

  • Brandon Fowler sets up Transdermal Entertainment

    10-Jul-2002

    Independent Los Angeles producer Brandon Fowler has set up Transdermal Entertainment, a financing and production company focused on films with "mid-range" budgets.

  • Halcyon hooks Weisz, Denneen for thriller projects

    10-Jul-2002

    Los Angeles-based independent production outfit Halcyon Entertainment has attached two hot music video and commercials directors to two films in active development. Halcyon was created in Los Angeles by British producer Chris Coen in 1999.

  • Road To Perdition

    2-Jul-2002

  • East & Sinclair name company Spitfire, start Masked & Anonymous

    1-Jul-2002

    Former Intermediaco-chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East have named their new production outfitSpitfire Pictures and started production in Los Angeles on their first filmunder the banner Masked & Anonymous. The all-star film which is directed by TV veteran Larry Charles, is aco-production with Destiny Productions and BBC Films. Spitfire is co-financingthe film with the BBC and Intermedia, which is handling international sales.

  • Global Film School strikes scholarship deal with Fox Searchlab

    1-Jul-2002

  • Paradox Lake wins top $50,000 prize at Los Angeles Film Festival

    1-Jul-2002

  • Sandler charms $37.6m opening for Mr Deeds

    1-Jul-2002

  • SKYY Short Film Awards give French short its top prize

    1-Jul-2002

  • Myriad backs Bombay Ice, ropes in Burton, Willing

    28-Jun-2002

    Myriad Pictures has optioned Leslie Forbes' novel Bombay Ice and has closed a deal with Mark Burton, the producer of Cherish who himself has close ties to India, to produce it. Nick Willing (Dr Sleep, Photographing Fairies) is in negotiations to write and direct the film.

  • Larry Meyers turns consultancy gig at Trilogy into evp job

    26-Jun-2002

    Veteran executive Lawrence Steven Meyers aka Larry Meyers has joined LA-based independent production outfit Trilogy Entertainment Group as executive vice president. Meyers has been consulting for Trilogy since Sept 2000.

  • Columbia sets up studio three-way for Peter Pan

    25-Jun-2002

    In an extremely rarethree-way partnership, Universal Pictures and Joe Roth's RevolutionStudios have joined up with Columbia Pictures to co-produce the live actionfilm of Peter Pan which is set toshoot in Queensland, Australia, in the autumn. The film, which will be directedby Australia's PJ Hogan, is being scheduled for release at Christmas2003.

  • Lucasfilm spins off THX as independent company

    25-Jun-2002

  • MDP gets $17.5m cash infusion from Cheng Family

    25-Jun-2002

    MDP Worldwide Entertainment,the LA-based financier/distributor run by Mark Damon and publicly traded on theMontreal Stock Exchange, has closed a deal in principle with Music BoxEntertainment Ltd whereby Music Box will make a $17.5m equity investment in MDP.Music Box is a new company to be owned by Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs DrHenry Cheng Kar-Shun and Sammy S Lee

  • US Producers Guild sets up new media division

    25-Jun-2002

    TheProducers Guild Of America (PGA) has formed The New Media Council (NMC) with aview to explore the state of the digital arena and recognize the producers whoproduce and distribute digital entertainment.Theseprojects expand beyond film and TV and are defined in five categories:movie/video production (companies such as BMW Films and Duality), animatedproduction (Gary The Rat and ...

  • Minority Report

    24-Jun-2002

  • Photo finish for Minority Report and Lilo & Stitch

    24-Jun-2002

    In a photo finish race at the North American box office, 20th Century Fox's epic futuristic thriller Minority Report directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise topped the chart with an estimated $36.9m, just $1m ahead of Buena Vista's animated comedy Lilo & Stitch which took $35.8m. Whether those positions hold will be seen when the official figures are released later today. Throughout the weekend, Lilo & Stitch was tracking ahead of Minority Report ...

  • Empire, First Run team for US rights to Chabrol's Chocolat

    21-Jun-2002

    Empire Pictures and First Run Features have pacted to buy US rights to Claude Chabrol's popular thriller Merci Pour Le Chocolat which premiered at the Venice Film Festival two years ago and won the Prix Louis Delluc in 2001.

  • Hamill, Struthers star in Pied Piper's thriller Constricted

    21-Jun-2002

    Mark Hammill and Sally Struthers have taken the lead roles in independently financed psychological thriller Constricted which started shooting yesterday in the US.

  • Myriad options Cannell bestseller Riding The Snake

    21-Jun-2002

    Myriad Pictures has optioned the film rights to Stephen J Cannell's best-selling novel Riding The Snake, a conspiracy thriller set in the world of Chinese organized crime. The film will be produced by Kirk D'Amico, president of Myriad Pictures, alongside Doug Rosen, vice president of production at Cannell Studios, Lucas Foster, president of production at Myriad, and Cannell, who will also write the screenplay.

  • Scooby-Doo

    21-Jun-2002

  • Witherspoon hires Simpson at Type A

    20-Jun-2002

    Jennifer Simpson has been appointed president of Reese Witherspoon's production company Type A Films which is based at Intermedia in Los Angeles. Simpson will oversee acquisition, development and production of all projects for the company and will report to Witherspoon, the actress with credits including Legally Blonde and The Importance Of Being Earnest.

  • Austin, Gladstone promoted in business & legal affairs at Artisan

    19-Jun-2002

    Erin Austin has been promoted to executive vice president, business and legal affairs, and Jim Gladstone has been promoted to senior vice president, business and legal affairs, at Artisan Entertainment.

  • Dobson gets senior vp stripes at Warner Theatres

    18-Jun-2002

    London-based Peter Dobson has been promoted to senior vice president, international film relations, at Warner Bros International Theatres (WBIT) from his previous position as vice president. Reporting to WBIT president Millard Ochs, Dobson will have full responsibility for overseeing the company's film buying, booking and strategic planning throughout Europe and Asia.

  • Sutherland, Hunnam, Winstone join Cold Mountain cast

    18-Jun-2002

    Anthony Minghella has rounded out the star-studded cast for his epic new film Cold Mountain and production is scheduled to begin in Romania on July 15. Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Kathy Baker, Ray Winstone, Ethan Suplee, James Gammon and Charlie Hunnam are the new additions to the cast which already includes Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellwegger, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi and Brendan Gleeson.

  • Phantom Four, StudioCanal team on Goyer's Mucho Mojo

    17-Jun-2002

    StudioCanal is to co-finance and handle international sales on Mucho Mojo, a comic thriller to be directed by David S Goyer, who made his directorial debut with ZigZag and has script credits including Blade, Blade 2, Crow: City Of Angels, Ghost Rider and Dark City.

  • Samuel Goldwyn confirms US acquisition of I Capture The Castle

    17-Jun-2002

    Samuel Goldwyn Films has confirmed its acquisition of Distant Horizon's I Capture The Castle, Tim Fywell's film of Dodie Smith's classic novel which premiered in the market at Cannes recently. There Samuel Goldwyn beat out other interested buyers such as Paramount Classics and THINKFilm to take North American rights.

  • Satin Rouge, Mon-rak Transistor win top prizes at Seattle Film Festival

    17-Jun-2002

    Raja Amari's Satin Rouge (Tunisia/France) won the New Director's Showcase Award, Penek Ratanaruang's Mon-rak Transistor (Thailand) won the Asian Tradewinds Award and John Feldman's Who The Hell Is Bobby Roos' won the New American Cinema Award at the 28th Seattle International Film Festival which ended its 25 day-run yesterday.

  • Showtime gets US premiere of Miramax production Daddy And Them

    17-Jun-2002

    Miramax Films' long-awaited comedy Daddy And Them will not have a theatrical release in the US following a deal with Showtime to premiere the film on pay-TV. The movie is the third to be directed by Billy Bob Thornton after Sling Blade and All The Pretty Horses and features a stellar cast including Thornton himself, Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Kelly Preston, Andy Griffith, Jim Varney Brenda Blethyn, Ben Affleck and Jamie Lee Curtis.

  • Signpost teams with Matthew Lillard for romantic comedy

    17-Jun-2002

    Stewart Till's Signpost Films has teamed with Scooby-Doo star Matthew Lillard and Mosaic Media Group to develop a romantic comedy with writer Shana Leslie Stern, the former assistant to director Gary Fleder who makes her first screenwriting sale with the project.

  • Artisan buys South African music doc Amandla!

    14-Jun-2002

    Artisan Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to the award-winning documentary Amandla! A Revolution In Four Part Harmony which was produced in association with HBO/Cinemax Documentary Films. The theatrical sale marks a departure for HBO which traditionally premieres its documentaries on its own channel.

  • Windtalkers

    14-Jun-2002

  • Blue Magic Pictures unveils five including new films from Rebecca Miller, Alejandro Springall,

    11-Jun-2002

    New New York-based production outfit Blue Magic Pictures, which was formed at the beginning of the year by Lemore Syvan, has unveiled five new films including the next project from director Rebecca Miller and a co-production with Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson's Cosmic Entertainment.

  • Polley, Rea, Perabo join cast of The I Inside

    10-Jun-2002

    Stephen Rea, Sarah Polley, Stephen Lang and Piper Perabo have joined Ryan Phillippe in the cast of Roland Suso Richter's UK-set thriller The I Inside which is being financed by Los Angeles-based sales and financing company MDP Worldwide. The film started shooting on Friday in the UK.

  • Barbara Hannegan tops restructured publicity team at Universal International

    7-Jun-2002

    Barbara Hannegan has been promoted to vice president, international publicity, at Universal Pictures, completing a restructure of the studio's international publicity team which sees the arrival of three new staff publicists - Larry Angrisani, Mark Markline and Elena O'Gorman.

  • DTS renews credit line from Comerica

    7-Jun-2002

    Comerica Entertainment Group, the entertainment lending subsidiary of Comerica Bank-California, has struck a new two year revolving line of credit facility with digital audio technology outfit DTS (Digital Theater Systems Inc), a client since 1997. Comerica has also increased the company's borrowing power from $7.5m to $10m.

  • Graham Bradstreet's Montage merges with Viastar

    6-Jun-2002

    In a deal concluded at Cannes last month, Graham Bradstreet's Montage Media & Capital has merged with publicly traded Viastar Holdings VISH and Bradstreet has been appointed chairman of the new group.

  • Intertainer launches European broadband VOD co

    6-Jun-2002

    Jonathan Taplin's US broadband video-on-demand (VOD) venture Intertainer has teamed up with Italian new media giant Freedomland to launch an Internet Protocol (IP) VOD service for broadband customers throughout Europe. As part of the deal, Freedomland has made an equity investment of E10 million in Intertainer in return for a minority stake in the company.

  • Kino takes North American rights to restored Metropolis

    6-Jun-2002

    New York-based arthouse distributor Kino International has licensed North American distribution rights to the digitally restored 35mm presentation of Fritz Lang's 1927 silent masterpiece Metropolis from Munich-based Transit Films. The film will premiere in New York on July 12, followed by a national expansion.

  • Nicole Guillemet gets top job at Miami Film Festival

    6-Jun-2002

    Nicole Guillemet, the former co-director of the Sundance Film Festival who left Sundance early this year, has landed in Florida as the new director of the Miami Film Festival.

  • Portman, Hoffman, Ribisi, Gleeson to climb Cold Mountain

    6-Jun-2002

    The glittering cast of Anthony Minghella's upcoming epic Cold Mountain is taking shape, with the addition of Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi and Brendan Gleeson this week. Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger play the three lead roles in the film, which is a co-production between Miramax Films and MGM Pictures. Shooting is scheduled to begin this summer.

  • Cowboy picks up North American rights to Sinclair's Toy Love

    5-Jun-2002

    New York-based Cowboy Pictures has acquired North American rights to Toy Love, the comedy from hot New Zealand director Harry Sinclair, which had its market premiere at Cannes. John Vanco of Cowboy negotiated the deal with Kathleen Drumm of the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) at Cannes and plans to open it domestically in spring 2003.

  • Lew Wasserman 1913-2002

    5-Jun-2002

    Hollywood was paying tribute yesterday to the last great movie mogul Lew Wasserman, who died at the age of 89 on Sunday in Los Angeles. The patriarch of Universal Studios - or MCA/Universal as it was in his day - who ate lunch at his usual table on the lot years after he had quit the day-to-day running of the studio, Wasserman was a beloved figure in the entertainment community whose long reign saw the embrace of television, the emergence of the blockbuster and the arrival of foreign ...

  • Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron

    30-May-2002

  • Germany remains weak as Miramax strikes multi-territory deals

    24-May-2002

    Miramax International may have completed a string of deals here but one territory it wasn't closing on was Germany. "We've seen everyone, but the offers are just too low," said worldwide distribution chief Rick Sands.

  • Miramax Australia makes debut acquisition with debut film

    24-May-2002

    Miramax Films has acquired the Australian and New Zealand distribution rights to Anthony Mir's directorial debut You Can't Stop The Murders, marking the first acquisition for Miramax's newly formed Australian office under Victoria Treole.

  • Warner expands European production push

    24-May-2002

    Warner Bros Pictures has hired Crisilde Dominici as director, local production, Italy as part of its expansion drive into European production and acquisitions, and has declared its intentions to embark on a Spanish local production plan later this year.

  • Franchise, Comerica hit in Intertainment court battle

    23-May-2002

    In the ongoing legal battles between Elie Samaha's Franchise Pictures and Germany's Intertainment AG, Intertainment has won its first court decision.

  • Menemsha ties knot on Bride deals

    23-May-2002

    Neil Friedman's LA-based sales agency Menemsha Entertainment has sold Argentinian Oscar nominee The Son Of The Bride to Movienet in Germany and Tandora in Singapore. The film, directed by Juan Jose Campanella, is a family drama with Ricardo Marin, Norma Aleandro and Natalia Verbeke.

  • Palm takes Fulltime Killer to North America

    23-May-2002

    Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures has bought North American distribution rights to Hong Kong hit Fulltime Killer from TeamWork Motion Pictures. The action thriller was directed by Johnny To and collaborator Wai Ka Fai and stars Andy Lau as a master assassin pursued by two relentless predators. It was selected as the Hong Kong submission for the best foreign language film Academy Award last year.

  • Cinemavault closes Fast Runner deals

    22-May-2002

    Cinemavault Releasing has closed 14 territorial deals in Cannes on the award-winning Inuit film The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat) including with Alcine Terran in Japan, Mediafilm in Italy and SF Norge in Norway.

  • First Look gets No News for North America

    22-May-2002

    First Look Pictures has acquired North American rights to Agustin Diaz Yunes' No News From God, the Spanish comedy starring Penelope Cruz, Victoria Abril, Gael Garcia Bernal and Fanny Ardant. It will open theatrically in autumn, and on video and DVD in the winter.

  • Franchise partners with ApolloMedia for big budget sales

    22-May-2002

    Elie Samaha's Franchise Pictures has partnered with Frank Huebner's German private film fund ApolloMedia to represent sales of five completed films including Alan Rudolph's Investigating Sex, Bruce Beresford's Bride Of The Wind and Christine Lahti's My First Mister.

  • Zonka takes Le Petit Voleur remake to Crossroads

    22-May-2002

    Crossroads Films, the New York-based film, commercials and video production outfit which has a first-look deal with United Artists (UA), has signed a deal with French film-maker Erick Zonka to direct an English-language remake of his 65-minute 1999 movie Le Petit Voleur.

  • Babelsberg to co-fund and house Myriad's Borgia

    21-May-2002

    Studio Babelsberg Motion Pictures, the holding company for Vivendi Deutschland's media activities, has cut a deal with Myriad Pictures to house, co-finance and co-produce Neil Jordan's Borgia and the Ed Pressman production The Tenth Victim.

  • First Look gets $8m from Seven Hills

    21-May-2002

    First Look Media has accessed new capital to the tune of $8m from a new deal with Reverge Anselmo's Seven Hills Pictures to further build its domestic distribution operation.

  • Focus outlines its global strategy

    21-May-2002

    Focus - the new Universal-owned company merging Good Machine International and USA Films - is starting to outline its modus operandi, pledging a commitment to original-language films and representing a new source of studio movies to independent buyers.

  • Golan teams up for Blood Games, Return From India

    21-May-2002

    Avi Lerner and Danny Dimbort of Nu Image are re-teaming with their old friend and Dimbort's old boss Menahem Golan, acquiring worldwide rights to Golan's romantic picture The Return From India featuring Israeli stars Aki Avni, Riki Gal and Assi Dayan.

  • HBO announces international theatrical sales push

    21-May-2002

    UK distributor Momentum Pictures has picked up UK theatrical, TV and home video rights to HBO Films' My House In Umbria, a drama based on the William Trevor novel starring Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall and Ronnie Barker and directed by Richard Loncraine. The sale, closed by Momentum with HBO's worldwide distribution arm HBO Enterprises, coincides with a new offensive into international theatrical markets by the US pay-TV giant for its movies which premiere exclusively on TV in the US.

  • Heather Graham to star in Stardust

    20-May-2002

    Nick Hurran, whose Plots With A View was sold to Miramax Films for domestic, has signed to direct romantic comedy Stardust for Luxembourg-based The Carousel Picture Company with Heather Graham attached to star and James Purefoy and Brenda Blethyn in leading roles. Mark Damon's MDP Worldwide is handling sales on behalf of Carousel.

  • UK's Entertainment extends New Line output deal

    20-May-2002

    Leading UK independent Entertainment Film Distributors has extended its output deal with New Line Cinema for two years, whereby Entertainment will handle all New Line product in the UK until Dec 2003.

  • Fox looks to steal Jordan's Good Thief

    19-May-2002

    Fox Searchlight Pictures is in final negotiations to acquire US rights to The Good Thief, Neil Jordan's completed contemporary remake of Jean-Pierre Mellville's Bob Le Flambeur which stars Nick Nolte, Tcheky Karyo, Emir Kusturica and Ralph Fiennes.

  • Fox looks to steal Jordan's Good Thief

    19-May-2002

    Fox Searchlight Pictures is in final negotiations to acquire US rights to The Good Thief, Neil Jordan's completed contemporary remake of Jean-Pierre Mellville's Bob Le Flambeur which stars Nick Nolte, Tcheky Karyo, Emir Kusturica and Ralph Fiennes.

  • Intermedia, Metropolitan team on Tristan & Iseult

    19-May-2002

    Intermedia is teaming up with Samuel and Victor Hadida of French independent Metropolitan Filmexport to finance and sell their new production Tristan & Iseult, a retelling of the classic story to which Rupert Wainwright (Stigmata) is attached to direct.

  • Intermedia, Metropolitan team on Tristan & Iseult

    19-May-2002

    Intermedia is teaming up with Samuel and Victor Hadida of French independent Metropolitan Filmexport to finance and sell their new production Tristan & Iseult, a retelling of the classic story to which Rupert Wainwright (Stigmata) is attached to direct.

  • Kilmer horror helps scare up Helkon slate

    19-May-2002

    Helkon Media's sales, production and distribution arm Helkon International Pictures (HIP) has revealed the first fruits of its new LA operation under former Warner Bros executive Clifford Werber.

  • Michael Jackson to produce and star in werewolf movie

    19-May-2002

    In the first movie being made under his Neverland Pictures banner, Michael Jackson will play a werewolf in a project he will also produce called Wolfed. Rick Baker, Oscar-winning makeup expert who created the werewolf effects for An American Werewolf In London and Thriller, is already on board

  • Michael Jackson to produce and star in werewolf movie

    19-May-2002

    In the first movie being made under his Neverland Pictures banner, Michael Jackson will play a werewolf in a project he will also produce called Wolfed. Rick Baker, Oscar-winning makeup expert who created the werewolf effects for An American Werewolf In London and Thriller, is already on board

  • Hartnett moves into L'Appartement remake

    19-May-2002

    Josh Hartnett will star in and Paul McGuigan will direct Lakeshore Entertainment's Wicker Park, the remake of Gilles Mimouni's French drama L'Appartement which starred Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci and Romane Bohringer.

  • Payne moves Sideways

    19-May-2002

    Alexander Payne's next project will see the acclaimed director move from Nebraska, where his first three films were set, to California.

  • First Look takes Luther International

    18-May-2002

    First Look Media has acquired international rights excluding Germany to Luther, a biopic of Martin Luther currently shooting in central Germany, Bavaria, Italy and the Czech Republic with Joseph Fiennes playing the title character.

  • Miramax, TF1 play up European film push

    18-May-2002

    "We're not coming here to make Spider-Man," said an ebullient Harvey Weinstein, as he unveiled a ground breaking alliance with France's TF1. "This is about fostering European film and European talent."

  • Miramax, TF1 play up European film push

    18-May-2002

    "We're not coming here to make Spider-Man," said an ebullient Harvey Weinstein, as he unveiled a ground breaking alliance with France's TF1. "This is about fostering European film and European talent."

  • UA bowled over by Bowling For Columbine

    18-May-2002

    United Artists (UA) has acquired US rights to Michael Moore's gun control documentary Bowling For Columbine, marking the first domestic deal of this year's festival. The studio division of MGM beat out a clutch of distributors bidding for the film including Miramax and Fine Line, paying a reported $1.5m.

  • Buyers plunge into Cameron's Abyss

    17-May-2002

    Summit Entertainment has concluded a wave of sales on Walden Media's Ghosts Of The Abyss, James Cameron's ground-breaking 3-D large screen documentary exploring the wreckage of the Titanic.

  • Hollywood majors wade into indie buying territory

    17-May-2002

    The Hollywood majors are wading into the marketplace to pick up the slack left by the TV crisis in Europe, with a slew of deals closed in recent days that leaves sales companies sighing with relief but independents out in the cold.

  • Hollywood majors wade into indie buying territory

    17-May-2002

    The Hollywood majors are wading into the marketplace to pick up the slack left by the TV crisis in Europe, with a slew of deals closed in recent days that leaves sales companies sighing with relief but independents out in the cold.

  • Kidman's Pleasure project tops MDP/Neverland deal

    17-May-2002

    Mark Damon's MDP Worldwide and its investor/partner Neverland Pictures have entered into a first look production deal with hot LA management and production outift Handprint Entertainment which numbers Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez among its clients.

  • Kidman's Pleasure project tops MDP/Neverland deal

    17-May-2002

    Mark Damon's MDP Worldwide and its investor/partner Neverland Pictures have entered into a first look production deal with hot LA management and production outift Handprint Entertainment which numbers Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez among its clients.

  • Menemsha takes on controversial Turkish film Hejar

    17-May-2002

    LA-based Menemsha Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights excluding Turkey to the controversial Turkish film Hejar directed by Handan Ipekci. The film, which was the Turkish submission for last year's Academy Awards, was a breakthrough hit and scored 100,000 admissions before being banned for its "chauvinistic portrayal of the Turkish-Kurdish relationship."

  • Sony Pictures Classics takes US on Owning Mahowny

    17-May-2002

    Sony Pictures Classics has acquired US rights to Owning Mahowny, the new film from Richard Kwietniowski from Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group.

  • Hartnett signs onto FilmEngine pair

    16-May-2002

    Superstar-in-waiting Josh Hartnett has signed to two new films from FilmEngine, the production and finance outfit set up by AJ Dix, Anthony Rhulen and Bill Shively, which made previous Hartnett-starrer O.

  • Korenberg quits Fox to set up Traction Media

    16-May-2002

    Rosanne Korenberg, the well-known acquisitions executive from 20th Century Fox, has left the studio to form repping, production and consulting company Traction Media with LA-based entertainment boutique law firm Stone, Meyer & Genow.

  • Raimi teams with Senator for low-budget genre label

    16-May-2002

    Sam Raimi, whose Spider-Man is set to become one of the biggest grossing films in history, has teamed with Joe Drake's Senator International to launch a genre label producing "intelligently budgeted" horror, sci-fi and fantasy movies - returning Raimi to his low-budget horror roots of The Evil Dead.

  • Raimi teams with Senator for low-budget genre label

    16-May-2002

    Sam Raimi, whose Spider-Man is set to become one of the biggest grossing films in history, has teamed with Joe Drake's Senator International to launch a genre label producing "intelligently budgeted" horror, sci-fi and fantasy movies - returning Raimi to his low-budget horror roots of The Evil Dead.

  • Scorsese gangs up again with IEG, Di Caprio

    16-May-2002

    Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) is backing the next film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio - whatever it turns out to be.

  • Scorsese gangs up again with IEG, Di Caprio

    16-May-2002

    Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) is backing the next film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio - whatever it turns out to be.

  • Taewon six-picture deal kicks off busy market for Miramax

    16-May-2002

    Miramax International closed a six-picture deal with Taewon Entertainment in Korea at the end of last week, kicking off a Cannes market which worldwide distribution chairman Rick Sands is anticipating as a busy one.

  • Taewon six-picture deal kicks off busy market for Miramax

    16-May-2002

    Miramax International closed a six-picture deal with Taewon Entertainment in Korea at the end of last week, kicking off a Cannes market which worldwide distribution chairman Rick Sands is anticipating as a busy one.

  • Vortex takes international rights to Scala's Leopold

    16-May-2002

    Vortex Pictures, the international sales and finance outfit, set up by Nicolas Chartier and Dean Shapiro, has acquired international rights to Leopold, the latest picture from Nik Powell's Scala Productions directed by Mehdi Norowzian and starring Joseph Fiennes, Elisabeth Shue, Sam Shepard, Dennis Hopper, Deborah Kara Unger, Mary Stuart Masterson and Justin Chambers.

  • Lightning brings two new titles to market

    16-May-2002

    Lightning Entertainment, the new LA-based sales outfit run by Richard Guardian and Mainline Releasing partners Rich Goldberg and Marc Greenberg, has acquired two new pictures for Cannes - taking worldwide rights to medieval thriller Anazapta with Lena Headey, Jason Flemyng and David La Haye and international rights to On_Line, an ensemble love story set in New York's cyber sex industry. Both films are screening in the market.

  • New Line rings up fresh quartet of hot titles

    15-May-2002

    New Line Cinema is introducing four new pictures to buyers at Cannes: Secondhand Lions; the long-awaited Dumb And Dumber prequel; action thriller Highwaymen; and clash of the horror titans movie Freddy Vs Jason to be directed by Ronny Yu.

  • New Line rings up fresh quartet of hot titles

    15-May-2002

    New Line Cinema is introducing four new pictures to buyers at Cannes: Secondhand Lions; the long-awaited Dumb And Dumber prequel; action thriller Highwaymen; and clash of the horror titans movie Freddy Vs Jason to be directed by Ronny Yu.

  • Van Sant takes Last Days with MDP

    15-May-2002

    Gus Van Sant is following up his experimental film Gerry with another low budget picture, Last Days, to be financed by Mark Damon's revitalised MDP Worldwide.

  • Warner Bros wakes up to Insomnia in France and Spain

    15-May-2002

    Warner Bros has picked up rights in France and Spain to Insomnia, the critically acclaimed thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and sold internationally by Summit Entertainment. The film, starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank, world premiered at last week's Tribeca Film Festival and opens through Warner in North America on May 24.

  • Alliance Atlantis makes pre-Cannes sale to Diaphana of Columbine

    14-May-2002

    Diaphana Distribution has made a pre-Cannes acquisition for France of Michael Moore's documentary Bowling For Columbine which plays in competition on Friday. Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group is handling worldwide sales on the film under managing director, international motion picture sales, Charlotte Mickie.

  • Alliance Atlantis makes pre-Cannes sale to Diaphana of Columbine

    14-May-2002

    Diaphana Distribution has made a pre-Cannes acquisition for France of Michael Moore's documentary Bowling For Columbine which plays in competition on Friday. Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group is handling worldwide sales on the film under managing director, international motion picture sales, Charlotte Mickie.

  • Insomnia

    14-May-2002

    Dir: Christopher Nolan. US. 2002. 117 mins.

  • Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones

    13-May-2002

  • Cinemavault acquires worldwide rights to hit Quebecois thriller Savage Messiah

    12-May-2002

    Toronto-based Cinemavault Releasing has acquired worldwide rights outside Canada to Quebecois psychological thriller Savage Messiah which opened in Quebec on April 26 through Christal Films and looks set to gross over $1m in its first month.

  • Igby Goes Down to open Seattle Film Festival

    12-May-2002

    After world premiering one film from United Artists last year (Ghost World), the Seattle International Film Festival will this year open with another, the world premiere of UA's tragicomedy Igby Goes Down directed by Burr Steers and starring Kieran Culkin, Bill Pullman, Susan Sarandon, Ryan Phillipe, Jeff Goldblum, Amanda Peet and Claire Danes.

  • Intermedia acquires Southpaw Media's Nailed Right In

    12-May-2002

    Intermedia has is in the process of acquiring international distribution rights to Nailed Right In, a coming of age drama to be directed by Griffin Dunne (Addicted To Love, Practical Magic) and to star Hayden Christensen and Leelee Sobieski.

  • Jon Fitzgerald named executive director at Santa Barbara Film Festival

    12-May-2002

    Jon Fitzgerald has been named executive director of The Santa Barbara International Film Festival after stints as director of both the Slamdance and AFI Los Angeles International film festivals.

  • Lions Gate buys North American rights to Alibi's The Hard Word

    12-May-2002

    Lions Gate Films has bought all North American rights to The Hard Word, the Australian crime drama produced by Al Clark and executive produced and sold by UK-based Alibi Films. Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths star in the film which will be released in Australia by Roadshow Film Distributors on May 30.

  • Paramount takes territories on Crusader's Sahara

    12-May-2002

    Paramount Pictures has acquired rights in UK, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand to Crusader Entertainment's action-adventure Sahara which is set to start shooting on Oct 28. Paramount already had North American rights to the film through a previous arrangement with Crusader. Patrick Wachsberger's Summit Entertainment is selling remaining territories on the film at Cannes.

  • Salesman David Winters is back in business at Cannes

    12-May-2002

    International sales veteran David Winters is back in Cannes with a new sales outfit Alpha Beta Films International and three films to sell. Winters, one of the sales world's more colourful characters, was a child actor and played Arab, one of the Jets, in the Broadway and film musical West Side Story before becoming a producer and then head of AIP Studios which he founded with Peter Yuval and David Prior in 1987 before it went bankrupt.

  • Shoreline acquires three for Cannes led by Moving August

    12-May-2002

    LA-based producer/distributor Shoreline Entertainment has acquired three new films for this year's Cannes Film Market led by worldwide rights to Christopher Fink's Moving August and international rights to the thriller Deceived starring Judd Nelson and Louis Gossett Jr.

  • Shoreline acquires three for Cannes led by Moving August

    12-May-2002

    LA-based producer/distributor Shoreline Entertainment has acquired three new films for this year's Cannes Film Market led by worldwide rights to Christopher Fink's Moving August and international rights to the thriller Deceived starring Judd Nelson and Louis Gossett Jr.

  • Abraham returns with Strike, strikes Universal deal

    9-May-2002

    Following his departure from Beacon Communications recently, producer Marc Abraham has started a new production outfit called Strike Entertainment alongside his former Beacon COO Thomas Bliss and former Beacon senior vice president of development Eric Newman. The three are partners in the new company which has struck a four-year, first-look deal with Universal Pictures.

  • Graham Chapman life story to be filmed by HippoFilms

    9-May-2002

    LA-based independent production outfit Hippofilms has optioned rights to the life story of late British writer/actor Graham Chapman, a founder member of Monty Python. David Eric Brenner of Hippofilms is to direct and co-script the film.

  • Magnolia acquires Interview With The Assassin

    8-May-2002

    Eamonn Bowles' Magnolia Pictures has acquired all North American rights to Interview With The Assassin, the directorial debut of Neil Burger about a man who alleges that he is the second gunman in the shooting of JFK.

  • Marcus Nispel hired to direct Texas Chainsaw Massacre

    8-May-2002

    Famed German music video and commercials director Marcus Nispel has signed to direct the reconceptualisation of Tobe Hooper's cult classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre which is set to begin shooting in Austin, Texas, this July.

  • Indian megastar Khan signs with Endeavor in the US

    7-May-2002

    Indian movie megastar Aamir Khan, who starred in and produced Oscar nominated Bollywood epic Lagaan, has signed with LA talent agency Endeavor for all areas of representation in the US.

  • Sundance Institute names 12 projects for 2002 labs

    7-May-2002

    The Sundance Institute has announced the 12 projects which have been selected for this year's annual Filmmakers and Screenwriters Labs which take place May 29 to June 25 at the Sundance Village in Utah. The labs offer emerging directors and screenwriters an opportunity to develop new work under the guidance of experienced filmmakers, with this year's creative advisors including Robert Redford, Kathryn Bigelow, Alfonso Cuaron, Sally Field, Miguel Arteta, Akiva Goldsman, Allen Daviau, ...

  • Lakeshore acquires international on Just A Kiss

    7-May-2002

    Lakeshore International, the sales arm of Tom Rosenberg's Lakeshore Entertainment, has picked up international rights to Fisher Stevens' romantic comedy Just A Kiss which will be released in North America by Paramount Classics in September 2002.

  • Menemsha, SPC commit to Hitler's Secretary

    7-May-2002

    Neil Friedman's LA-based Menemsha Entertainment has acquired international rights to the critically acclaimed documentary Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary and will introduce the film to buyers at Cannes. Sony Pictures Classics had earlier acquired rights in the English-speaking world and Mexico to the film, which debuted in Panorama at the Berlin Film Festival.

  • Revamped Los Angeles Film Festival unveils programme

    7-May-2002

    The Los Angeles Film Festival, which this year has moved its event to June (June 20-29), introduced competition sections, an international section, a guest director and a film-maker prize worth $50,000, has unveiled its lineup consisting of 57 features from 22 countries.

  • Seattle Fest sets Audiard, Medem, Takashi, Park as emerging masters

    7-May-2002

    The Seattle International Film Festival, which takes place this year from May 23 to June 16, has named this year's four emerging masters - directors from around the world who have established themselves as potential cinematic masters - whose work will be spotlighted during the festival. They are Jacques Audiard from France, Julio Medem from Spain, Miike Takashi from Japan and Park Chan-wook from Korea.

  • Deuces Wild

    3-May-2002

  • Curb acquires international rights to Bug

    2-May-2002

    LA-based sales outfit Curb Entertainment has acquired international rights to Hayland/Margolis Productions' ensemble drama Bug which stars Jamie Kennedy, Brian Cox, Ed Begley Jr, Sarah Paulson, John Carroll Lynch and Michael Hitchcock.

  • First Look gets worldwide rights to golfing drama

    2-May-2002

    First Look Media has acquired worldwide rights to A Gentleman's Game, a drama set in the world of golf and featuring Gary Sinise, Philip Baker Hall, Dylan Baker and Mason Gamble. The film is directed by J Mills Goodloe, who co-wrote the screenplay with Tom Coyne, on whose novel it is based. Producer is Kimberly Braswell.

  • Levine & Sella named co-chiefs of Fox domestic marketing

    2-May-2002

    Pamela Levine and Tony Sella have been named co-presidents of domestic theatrical marketing at 20th Century Fox, in light of the abrupt departure of Alan Cohen last week. They report to Fox vice chairman Robert Harper.

  • Wellspring buyer Marie Therese Guirgis gets promotion

    2-May-2002

    Marie Therese Guirgis has been named senior director of acquisitions at US distributor Wellspring Media, reporting to Krysanne Katsoolis, senior vice president of acquisitions, at the company which recently became independent of its former owner Winstar.

  • Blue Butterfly wings its way to Alliance Atlantis

    1-May-2002

    Alliance Atlantis has made its first feature film acquisition since the reorganization of the company, taking all international rights including the US, but excluding Canada, to The Blue Butterfly starring William Hurt and directed by Lea Pool.

  • Blue Butterfly wings its way to Alliance Atlantis

    1-May-2002

    Alliance Atlantis has made its first feature film acquisition since the reorganization of the company, taking all international rights including the US, but excluding Canada, to The Blue Butterfly starring William Hurt and directed by Lea Pool.

  • Richard Eyre to direct Compleat Female Stage Beauty for Artisan & Tribeca

    1-May-2002

    Artisan Pictures and Tribeca Productions have hired British director Richard Eyre to direct the film of Jeffrey Hatcher's stage play Compleat Female Stage Beauty which the two companies are teaming to co-produce. Eyre, who last directed Iris for BBC Films and Intermedia, is currently directing the Broadway revival of The Crucible.

  • American World gets foreign to Night At The Golden Eagle

    30-Apr-2002

    Mark L Lester's American World Pictures has acquired international distribution rights to Night At The Golden Eagle, a US independent feature which opened on a limited release in New York and Los Angeles last weekend.

  • Industry vets start new US indie distributor MAC

    30-Apr-2002

    A new independent US distributor has been founded by industry veterans Mike Marcus, Andy Gruenberg and Craig Baumgarten. Named MAC Releasing, the company intends to capitalize on untapped commercial opportunities in the distribution of independent films and kicks off with the release of A Shot At Glory starring and produced by Robert Duvall and directed by Michael Corrente on May 3.

  • Lightning gets international rights to Motown documentary

    30-Apr-2002

    Richard Guardian's new international sales outfit Lightning Entertainment has acquired international distribution rights in all media for the new music documentary Standing In The Shadows Of Motown to which Artisan Entertainment recently bought domestic distribution rights.

  • Simon Sutton promoted to evp at MGM Worldwide TV

    30-Apr-2002

    Simon Sutton has been promoted to executive vice president, international television, at MGM Worldwide Television Distribution, reporting to president of the MGM division Jim Griffiths.

  • Sundance Film Festival changes HQ to Prospector Square

    30-Apr-2002

    The Sundance Film Festival has moved its official Park City headquarters for next year from the Shadow Ridge Hotel to the Park City Marriott in the Prospector Square area of the town.

  • Fox departs online distribution joint venture with Disney

    29-Apr-2002

    Fox Entertainment Group is exiting Movies.com, its joint venture with The Walt Disney Company intended to provide movies and other entertainment content on demand to US consumers through digital cable systems or broadband internet. The partners have now chosen to pursue other strategies to distribute their films to the broadband audience.

  • Spider-Man (Spider-Man)

    29-Apr-2002

  • Alfonso Cuaron is guest director for LA Film Fest

    24-Apr-2002

    Alfonso Cuaron, currently enjoying a major US specialized hit with Y Tu Mama Tambien, will serve as guest director for the 2002 IFP Los Angeles Film Festival which this year has moved to June (dates are June 20-29), started an international section and scored a host of new sponsorship deals.

  • Lightning strikes with first acquisition: American Gun

    24-Apr-2002

    Lightning Entertainment, the new LA boutique sales outfit run by Richard Guardian, has made its first acquisition, buying worldwide rights to the completed feature American Gun starring James Coburn, Virginia Madsen and Barbara Bain.

  • New York Lesbian & Gay Fest opens with CHO, closes with Lan Yu

    24-Apr-2002

    The 14th annual New York Lesbian & Gay Film Festival will open with Margaret Cho's latest performance film The Notorious C.H.O. from Wellspring Media and close with Stanley Kwan's Lan Yu from Strand Releasing.

  • Palm/Manga sign domestic video deal with WEA

    24-Apr-2002

    The home entertainment division of Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures, which releases films from both Palm and Palm-owned Japanese animation label Manga Entertainment, has struck a domestic distribution deal with WEA Home Video to replace a previous arrangement with RYKO Distribution.

  • Peter Hoffman launches new sales arm under David Lamping

    24-Apr-2002

    Peter Hoffman, chairman of Seven Arts Pictures, has launched an international sales division Seven Arts International and hired veteran David Lamping as president.

  • Senator International takes international rights to Sundance film XX/XY

    24-Apr-2002

    Senator International, the LA sales arm of Germany's Senator Entertainment, has acquired international rights to XX/XY, the romantic drama written and directed by Austin Chick which played in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. IFC Films has domestic distribution rights on the film which stars Mark Ruffalo, Maya Stange and Kathleen Robertson.

  • Myriad's D'Amico resigns from IN-motion board

    23-Apr-2002

    Kirk D'Amico has resigned from the executive board of directors of IN-motion AG, the German media outfit which bought out his Myriad Pictures in July 2000. D'Amico, who took up his post on the board in 2001, will continue to be president of Myriad which is an international sales company with a library of over 200 titles and a production/financing slate including new films from Neil Jordan and Christopher Hampton and a host of titles from Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope.

  • Tony Manne to leave Columbia TriStar, set up NY consultancy

    23-Apr-2002

    Tony Manne, the international distribution veteran who has worked at Columbia Pictures for 30 years, is leaving his post as executive vice president of international marketing and distribution for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) and setting up his own distribution and marketing consultancy.

  • Wellspring gets worldwide rights to Margaret Cho concert film

    23-Apr-2002

    Wellspring Media, the specialized US distribution outfit which is now independent of former owner Winstar Communications, has acquired worldwide rights to Margaret Cho's stand-up movie Notorious C.H.O. (pictured). The film is a 90-minute film of Cho's July 4, 2001, Seattle concert, part of her 37-city North American tour which went from 2001 into Jan 2002.

  • Woody Allen names new film Anything Else, Capitol Films to sell

    23-Apr-2002

  • Murder By Numbers

    22-Apr-2002

  • Hollywood Ending gets its international fest premiere before Cannes at San Francisco

    18-Apr-2002

    Woody Allen's latest comedy Hollywood Ending will close the San Francisco International Film Festival on May 2, two weeks before it opens the Cannes Film Festival. It's unusual for Cannes organizers to allow a film to play at another international film festival before it is unveiled on the Croisette but since the San Francisco festival is a domestic event and the film itself opens in the US on May 3, an exception appears to have been made.

  • Joseph Hobel named COO at Infinity

    18-Apr-2002

    Jospeh Hobel has been named chief operating officer of Infinity International Entertainment, Michael Ovohen's LA-based production and financing outfit which has a non-exclusive deal with German production fund Cinerenta to supervise its funds for US production.

  • Joseph Woolf joins entertainment group at GKM

    18-Apr-2002

    Joseph S Woolf has joined New York-based investment banking firm Gerard Klauer Mattison (GKM) as a prinicipal in its entertainment media advisory group in Los Angeles. Woolf joins GKM from Trowbridge Capital, a financial consulting firm he founded in 2001. Prior to Trowbridge, Woolf helped create the entertainment lending division of Union Bank Of California.

  • Universal completes three-territory deal on Gosford Park

    18-Apr-2002

    Universal Pictures has completed its acquisition of rights in Germany, Japan and South Africa to Robert Altman's Academy Award-winning Gosford Park from Capitol Films.

  • MGM deals Bond with RTL in Germany, Viacom in US

    17-Apr-2002

    MGM Worldwide Television Distribution has concluded two major deals on its James Bond franchise. Germany's RTL Television has signed an exclusive licensing agreement for German free-TV rights to the next Bond movie Die Another Day which teams Pierce Brosnan with Halle Berry, as well as broadcast rights to four classic 007 films Dr No, From Russia With Love, Thunderball and Goldfinger.

  • Tribeca Fest unveils 24 international titles, adds Insomnia, Ya-Ya

    16-Apr-2002

    The inaugural Tribeca Film Festival has announced the 24 films to screen in its International Film Showcase and added two high profile Warner Bros films to its world premiere list - Callie Khouri's Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Christopher Nolan's Insomnia.

  • Changing Lanes races to the top with $17.6m

    14-Apr-2002

    Critically acclaimed drama ChangingLanes topped the domestic box officefor Paramount Pictures over the weekend with a powerful estimated gross of$17.6m. Directed by British film-maker Roger Michell, the film stars BenAffleck and Samuel L Jackson as two men who wage war on each other after aminor car accident.

  • Austin Powers allowed to display his Goldmember

    14-Apr-2002

    Austin Powers will get his Goldmember-ship after allcourtesy of an agreement reached yesterday between New Line Cinema and James Bondstudio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

  • Former Canton executive joins Senator in LA

    11-Apr-2002

  • Seattle gives first Alpha Cine Award to Ching Ip

    10-Apr-2002

    The Seattle InternationalFilm Festival (SIFF) has named Ching Ip as the recipient of the first annualAlpha Cine Filmmaker Award for her feature film See You Off The The Edge OfTown. Ip's film will receive afree transfer to 35mm and a gala world premiere screening of the new printduring the final week of this year's festival (May 23-June 16).

  • Blockbuster gives its first Indie Filmmaker Award

    10-Apr-2002

    Blockbuster Video hasawarded its first ever $100,000 Independent Filmmaker Award to writer/directorDean Pollack on the basis of his debut feature Show And Tell, which has screened at various film festivalsincluding the Austin Film Festival where it won the second place award.

  • Jeff Coleman promoted to evp, production, at MGM

    10-Apr-2002

    Jeff Coleman has beenpromoted to executive vice president - worldwide feature physicalproduction - for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's film units MGM Pictures andUnited Artists. He will report jointly to Michael Nathson, president and COO ofMGM Pictures, and Bingham Ray, president of United Artists.

  • Buyers back Gangs move to Dec 2002

    9-Apr-2002

    International buyers ofMartin Scorsese's Gangs Of New York are all supporting the shift of the film to a Christmas US release dateand many are expected to go day-and-date with the US, according to InitialEntertainment Group (IEG) president Graham King who majority financed the filmto the tune of $67m."Itnever really warranted a summer release," said King yesterday, "andthey just want what's best for it. None is financially dependent ...

  • Duchovny stars in Myriad/Zoetrope's My Dark Places

    9-Apr-2002

    David Duchovny has taken thelead role in Robert Greenwald's upcoming film of James Elroy'sautobiographical novel My Dark Places which is being produced by Francis Ford Coppola's AmericanZoetrope and financed by Myriad Pictures.

  • Ford, Spielberg to present Lucas BAFTA/LA honour

    9-Apr-2002

    Harrison Ford and StevenSpielberg will both serve as presenters at this Friday's 11thannual Britannia Awards held by the British Academy Of Film & TelevisionArts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) in Los Angeles.

  • Indian Int'l awards rain down on Lagaan

    8-Apr-2002

    Epic historical drama Lagaan was the big winner at the third annual InternationalIndian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards at a glitzy ceremony held in Malaysia onSaturday night. Ashutosh Kovariker's film, which was nominated for a foreignlanguage film Oscar recently, won ten trophies including best film, bestdirector and best actor (Aamir Khan) as well as a special honor from theAcademy for its achievement in gaining international recognition. Khan, who wasalso the producer of Lagaan, ...

  • High Crimes shut out by Panic Room

    8-Apr-2002

    Thriller queen Ashley Juddcouldn't beat out Jodie Foster to the top spot at the North American boxoffice over the weekend, as Panic Room reigned for the second weekend in a row with an estimated $18.5m take.Judd's latest High Crimesin which she is reteamed with Kiss The Girls co-star Morgan Freeman took an estimated $15m for 20thCentury Fox in the second position.

  • Major studios team to standardise digital cinema

    2-Apr-2002

    The seven Hollywood studioshave clubbed together to develop technical standards for digital cinematechnology. The companies - Disney, MGM, Paramount, Sony, 20thCentury Fox, Universal and Warner Bros - are creating an entity to ensurethat competing digital exhibition formats are "open, compatible andinter-operable" and weigh up strategies for deploying digital exhibitionsystems in movie theatres across the US - and eventually the world.

  • Pichirallo quits Searchlight for evp role at USA

    2-Apr-2002

  • Ice Age speeds to $56m international gross

    2-Apr-2002

  • Billy Wilder 1906-2002

    1-Apr-2002

    With the death last week of Billy Wilder at the age of 95,the world lost one its greatest ever film-makers, a brilliant screenwriter andendlessly innovative director who created some of Hollywood's finestfilms.

  • Panic Room locks up Easter record with $30.2m

    1-Apr-2002

    Sony Pictures Entertainment(SPE) kicked off its high-powered 2002 slate of event movies with a bang overEaster Weekend, as Jodie Foster-starrer Panic Room debuted with the biggest Easter opening of all timeof $30.2m in three days. Directed by David Fincher, the taut R-rated thrillerreceived mainly favourable reviews and gives SPE a good start to its costlylineup which also includes The Sweetest Thing which opens in a fortnight and Spiderman which opens on May 3 ...

  • THINKFilm makes first worldwide rights acquisition

    29-Mar-2002

    Recently formed NorthAmerican distributor THINKFilm has made its first acquisition of worldwiderights to a film - Thom Fitzgerald's ensemble drama The Event.

  • Richard Saperstein leaves New Line for Artisan

    28-Mar-2002

  • Schamus wins screenwriting honour at Nantucket

    28-Mar-2002

  • Nick Nolte, Josh Lucas, Sam Elliott join The Hulk

    28-Mar-2002

  • Regent teams with NZ company Daybreak on two films

    27-Mar-2002

    LA-based Regent Entertainmenthas struck a co-production deal with New Zealand's Daybreak Pacific Ltdto produce two features Cupid's Prey and Heaven's Pond inNew Zealand. The deals were brokered by Jeffrey Schenck, COO of Regent, GeneGeorge, president of Regent Worldwide, and Grant Bradley, a partner inDaybreak.

  • MGM launches channels in Portugal, Russia, S Korea

    27-Mar-2002

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'sMGM Networks is launching MGM-branded channels in Russia, Portugal, Malta andSouth Korea. The move follows the launch in the middle east earlier this yearand doubles the number of countries in which MGM has established a channel presenceto date.

  • Ice Age hits hot $28.8m int'l gross in ten days

    26-Mar-2002

    20th CenturyFox's Ice Age has racked upan international gross of $28.3m after just ten days in the marketplace. TheCGI-animated US smash opened day-and-date with the domestic release on March 15in Mexico, Singapore and Indonesia, but this weekend it went out throughoutEurope, Latin America and Asia bringing its regional totals to $14.4m inEurope, $11.7m in Latin America and $2.6m in Asia-Pacific.

  • AFMA throws open doors to foreign language sellers

    26-Mar-2002

    AFMA - which is thenew moniker for the American Film Marketing Association - has thrown itsmembership open to non-English-language film distributors after years of beingrestricted to licensors and distributors with at least some English-languagefilm or TV product.

  • Warner Bros boards first Italian film with Verdone

    26-Mar-2002

    Warner Bros Pictures hasboarded its first ever Italian-language film production Ma Che Colpa AbbiamoNoi (It Can't Be All OurFault) directed by Carlo Verdone.The studio is partnering on the comic drama with Virginia Films, the productionoutfit run by Verdone and Marco Scaffardi.

  • Black actors Berry, Washington triumph at Oscars

    25-Mar-2002

  • Memento, Bedroom dominate Indie Spirit Awards

    25-Mar-2002

    Christopher Nolan's independent smash Memento dominated the IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards, which were presented in a tent on a beach in Santa Monica on Saturday.

  • Lord Of The Rings passes $500m international mark

    25-Mar-2002

    New Line International's The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring crossed the $500m gross barrier in international territories over the weekend, bringing its worldwide total to nearly $800m and making it the fifth biggest international hit of all time.

  • Producer, executive Rene Silvera dies at 76

    25-Mar-2002

    Producer and executive Rene Silvera has died in Paris after several months of illness at the age of 76. He died on March 19.

  • New Line's Blade II axes down the competition

    25-Mar-2002

    New Line Cinema continued its extraordinary run of success with another number one hit. Blade II sliced to the top of the North American box office over the weekend with a gross of $33.1m which almost doubles the opening gross of the original film in 1998.

  • Pre-Oscar marketing fever goes global

    21-Mar-2002

    March is the richest month for Oscar-nominated films in the North American market, as cinema-goers scramble to see the contenders before March 24. The international picture, however, is different.

  • Le Divorce cast finalised for Merchant Ivory

    20-Mar-2002

    Director James Ivory andproducer Ismail Merchant have begun production on Le Divorce, a contemporary social comedy about two Americansisters in Paris, which is being fully financed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

  • Sony premieres Spider-man trailer on the web

    20-Mar-2002

    Columbia TriStar MarketingGroup is to premiere the new theatrical trailer for Spider-Man on the film's dedicated website www.sony.com/Spider-Man starting nextWednesday before it hits theatres across the world.

  • Laissez-Passer opens 6th LA French film festival

    20-Mar-2002

    Bertrand Tavernier's Laissez-Passer (Safe Passage), which played in competition at the Berlin International FilmFestival, will have its US premiere kicking off the sixth annual City OfLights, City Of Angels Film Festival in Los Angeles on April 8.

  • Magnolia takes domestic rights to Sur Mes Levres

    20-Mar-2002

    Eamonn Bowles' new USdistributor Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights (excludingFrench-speaking Canada) to Jacques Audiard's award-winning French film SurMes Levres (Read My Lips) starring Vincent Cassel and Emmanuelle Devos.

  • Artisan hires Will Rokos to write new Billy Liar

    20-Mar-2002

    Will Rokos, theOscar-nominated co-writer of Monster's Ball, has signed on with Artisan Pictures to write thescreenplay for Artisan's update of Keith Waterhouse's novel BillyLiar, which was turned into a hitplay by Waterhouse and Willis Hall and the classic 1963 film directed by JohnSchlesinger.

  • K3G dominates Indian Academy technical categories

    20-Mar-2002

    Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, the Indian epic which has already been a globalsuccess, came out on top in the tehnical categories for the InternationalIndian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards which were announced yesterday byPricewaterhouseCoopers.

  • 75 lose jobs as Miramax cuts staff by 16%

    18-Mar-2002

    Miramax Films, a division ofThe Walt Disney Co, laid off about 16% of its staff on Friday in a massiverationalization effort which stunned the industries in New York City, where thecompany is based, and Los Angeles, where it maintains a busy office. The cullcame just eight days before this year's Academy Award ceremony whereMiramax is the studio with most nominations with 15.

  • Ice Age rocks box office record book

    17-Mar-2002

    One week before the AcademyAwards, 20th Century Fox, which has one of the lead contenders in MoulinRouge, celebrated a victory at theNorth American box office with Ice Age. The CGI animated comedy about a family of prehistoric beasts trying toreunite a human baby with its mother took a massive estimated $47.9m in threedays, the highest March opening ever and the third biggest animated openingever.

  • Strand, Sundance, Tomorrow join Cockettes party

    16-Mar-2002

    Strand Releasing and TheSundance Channel are jointly acquiring domestic rights and Yoram Pelman'sTomorrow Films has acquired international sales rights to to hit documentary TheCockettes directed by Bill Weber andDavid Weissman.

  • Madonna confirms she will sing Die Another Day

    16-Mar-2002

    Madonna has confirmed thatshe will compose and perform the main title song for the 20th JamesBond film Die Another Day whichis scheduled to open around the world on Nov 22 this year.

  • THINKFilm launches genre video label Velocity

    16-Mar-2002

    Newly formed North Americandistributor THINKFilm has launched a stand-alone, domestic direct-to-videolabel Velocity Home Entertainment with plans to distribute 15 to 18 genretitles a year. The label is the initiative of THINKFilm president and CEO Jeff Sackmanwho initiated three US video labels while he was president of Lions Gate Filmsincluding genre brand Avalanche Releasing.

  • New Line's Rush Hour 2 hits $100m internationally

    16-Mar-2002

    Rush Hour 2 has crossed the $100m barrier at the internationalbox office eight months after its first territories opened in August last year.The movie, released by New Line International buyers and partner distributorsinternationally, now stands at $100.3m and could catch up with Rush Hour which took $103.1m in international territories in1999.

  • Lagaan, K3G battle it out for Indian Int'l Awards

    15-Mar-2002

    Lagaan, the epic Indian film which has beennominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, goes head to headwith Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sorrow), the most expensive film in Indian filmhistory also known as K3G, in the nominations for the third annual Electrolux KelvinatorInternational Indian Film Academy Awards which will be held in Malaysia onApril 6.

  • Sony 2002 lineup paves way for global domination

    14-Mar-2002

    No attendee left the recent global exhibitors' convention ShoWest without one over-riding impression - that Sony Pictures has one of the most promising lineups of any studio in years.

  • Sales veteran Arthur Kananack dies in Los Angeles

    13-Mar-2002

    Arthur Kananack, thewell-known and well-liked film and TV sales veteran, died in Los Angeles lastweek. He most recently was head of his own company Arthur Kananack &Associates (AKA) which he ran with his two sons Michael and Claude in LosAngeles and New York. They will continue to run the company.

  • Spacey to receive San Francico Fest Owens Award

    13-Mar-2002

    Kevin Spacey will receivethe Peter J Owens Award at the 45th San Francisco International FilmFestival which takes place this year April 18 to May 2. The award, named afterlocal benefactor and longtime festival board member Owens honours an actorwhose work "exemplifies brilliance, independence and integrity."

  • Kidman & Lee named honorary co-chairs of Spirits

    13-Mar-2002

    Nicole Kidman and Ang Leehave signed up as honorary co-chairpersons and presenters at the 2002 IFP/WestIndependent Spirit Awards which will be presented on Santa Monica beach onMarch 23. The show is being emceed by John Waters.

  • Overseas buys worldwide on Hillenbrands' Pinata

    12-Mar-2002

  • Men With Brooms: Canadian comedy opens with C$1m

    12-Mar-2002

    Men With Brooms, an English-language Canadian comedy set in theheady world of curling, has enjoyed spectacular success on its debut weekend inCanada through Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution. Taking C$1.04m,it scored the highest opening weekend of all time for an English language localproduction - and, playing at 207 theatres, it is also the widest openingfor a Canadian film in history.

  • Emmett/Furla signs to five more with Millenium

    12-Mar-2002

    Randall Emmett and GeorgeFurla's Emmett/Furla Films has extended its ten picture non-exclusivefinancing and distribution agreement with Avi Lerner's Millenium Filmsfor an additional five pictures. Under the current agreement, the two have alsopacted to make Lizzie Borden's next film Rialto which will star Susan Sarandon and is set to startshooting in June.

  • Sundance's Groth heads programming at CineVegas

    12-Mar-2002

    Trevor Groth, the well-knownprogrammer for the Sundance Film Festival, has been hired as director ofprogramming for the annual CineVegas International Film Festival which thisyear holds its fourth annual event in Las Vegas from June 8-15. Groth will tacklehis CineVegas role in addition to his work at Sundance.

  • Crowe, Berry, Howard win SAG, DGA honours

    11-Mar-2002

    Universal Pictures' ABeautiful Mind emerged as the bigwinner at the weekend's final awards shows before the Academy Awards onMarch 24. Russell Crowe looks like a shoo-in for the best actor Oscar having added theScreen Actors Guild (SAG) award for best actor to the British Academy Award andGolden Globe, while director Ron Howard won the Directors Guild Of America(DGA) trophy over competition from Peter Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Christopher Nolan andRidley Scott.

  • The Time Machine lands at number one

    10-Mar-2002

    Box office was up about 35%from the same weekend last year in North America as DreamWorks' lavishadaptation of HG Wells' The Time Machine opened well at number one with an estimated $22.5mat 2,944 sites. Directed by Wells' grandson Simon Wells (Balto), the film stars Guy Pearce as Alexander Hartdegen,the young scientist hero who travels forward in time from 1895 New York City toa post-apocalyptic era where humans are enslaved. Warner Bros co-financed thefilm, which also ...

  • Lakeshore co-chairman Tom Tannabaum dies

    10-Mar-2002

    Ted Tannabaum, theco-chairman of Lakeshore Entertainment Group, died last Thursday at his home inChicago, leaving Lakeshore in the hands of his co-chairman, partner and friendTom Rosenberg.

  • ChickFlicks & Bacon & Eggs option Dud Avocado

    10-Mar-2002

    ChickFlicks, the production company formed last year byformer New Line Cinema production president Sara Risher, has optioned the filmrights to Elaine Dundy's cult 1958 bestseller The Dud Avocado. Risher will produce the film alongside her Englishpartner Leslie Tobin Bacon of Bacon & Eggs Productions.

  • Simon Kenny leaves Disney for WBITD

    7-Mar-2002

    Simon D Kenny has been named senior vice president, Europe, for Warner Bros International Television Distribution (WBITD), assuming the responsibilities of Joshua A Berger who was recently promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president and managing director, Warner Bros UK.

  • Two movies share Sundance/Maryland prize

    7-Mar-2002

    The Sundance Institute and the Producers Club Of Maryland have named two films as the recipient of the 2002 Producers Club Of Maryland Fellowship: Jacob & Josh Kornbluth's The Best Thief In The World and Tatia Rosenthal & Etgar Kerets' $9.99.

  • Carrie Fisher to host BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards

    7-Mar-2002

    Carrie Fisher, the writer and actress who famously played Princess Leia in the Star Wars trilogy, will host the British Academy Of Film & Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA)'s 11th annual Britannia Awards show on April 12. Star Wars creator George Lucas is being honoured at the awards show with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence In Film, while HBO Original Programming is receiving the Britannia Award for Excellence In Television.

  • 2001: the greatest year in history, says Valenti

    6-Mar-2002

    The state of the industry is robust, declared Motion Picture Association Of America president and CEO Jack Valenti at exhibition conference ShoWest yesterday. Despite the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, the economic recession and the traumatised exhibition sector, "2001 was the greatest box office year in film history," he said.

  • Sal Ladestro gets senior vp stripes at CTFDI

    5-Mar-2002

    Sal Ladestro has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing and distribution, acquisitions and local productions, for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International.

  • Ocean's Eleven breaks $200m int'l barrier

    5-Mar-2002

    Warner Bros International cruised past the $200m mark over the weekend with Oceans Eleven, bringing the film's worldwide total to over $390m. The estimated weekend take for Steven Soderbergh's star-studded caper was $16.7m, bringing the film's total to $210m.

  • PGA votes for Moulin Rouge, WGA Park, Mind

    4-Mar-2002

    Two more talent guilds dished out their annual awards over the weekend, adding fuel to speculation about which films will take home Academy Awards later this month. Last night (Sunday), the Producers Guild Of America (PGA) shook things up by naming Moulin Rouge its best picture of 2001 beating favourites The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring and A Beautiful Mind.

  • We Were Soldiers tops chart for Paramount and Icon

    4-Mar-2002

    Mel Gibson's star shone bright at the North American box office over the weekend as We Were Soldiers, his latest war epic financed by his own company Icon Entertainment with Paramount Pictures, opened at the number one spot with $20.2m. Gibson stars as Lt Col Hal Moore, on whose book We Were Soldiers Once'And Young the film is based, who led the first US battle against the North Vietnamese in 1965.

  • Franchise wins 1st court battle with Intertainment

    1-Mar-2002

    Franchise Pictures has won acourt victory against Germany's Intertainment Licensing GmbH, asubsidiary of the publicly traded Intertainment AG. The two companies have beenembroiled in legal battle for over a year now regarding the terms of an outputdeal Franchise had sealed with Intertainment in 2000.

  • Massis does multi-picture deals in Italy, Israel

    1-Mar-2002

    Alex Massis' NewYork-based marketing and sales outfit The Film Source has closed multi-picturedeals with Dall'Angelo Pictures in Italy, Israel Cable Programming (ICP)in Israel and Pengloss in Switzerland.

  • ContentFilm teams with Furst, WMA on digital pics

    1-Mar-2002

    Ed Pressman and JohnSchmidt's New York-based production outfit ContentFilm has formed atwo-year strategic alliance with LA-based producer Sean Furst and his FurstFilms. And in an unusual angle to the deal, Rena Ronson and Cassian Elwes ofWilliam Morris Agency division WMA Independent will provide "strategicsupport" by sharing its resources with the alliance.

  • ShoWesters to view footage of digital Star Wars II

    1-Mar-2002

    Exhibitors at nextweek's ShoWest convention will get a world-first glimpse of footage fromGeorge Lucas' Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones as part of a presentation by its producer RickMcCallum on shooting digitally with the Sony 24P camera.

  • Doug Wick named ShoWest producer of the year

    28-Feb-2002

    Douglas Wick, the producerof Columbia Pictures' summer release Stuart Little 2, has been named 2002 producer of the year byexhibitors' convention ShoWest. Wick will receive the award at theconvention's gala awards banquet in Las Vegas on March 7.

  • AFM buyer numbers down but screenings, sellers up

    28-Feb-2002

    The American Film Market(AFM) closed yesterday and organizing body AFMA announced the closingattendance figures as down 6% from 7,127 in 2001 to 6,714 in 2002. Registeredbuyers were down at 1,327 from 1,447 in the previous year, although the numberof non-US registered buyers was down only 2% from 2001.

  • Miramax to go Full Frontal this August

    28-Feb-2002

    Miramax Films has moved theUS release date of Steven Soderbergh's low budget ensemble piece FullFrontal from its scheduled March 8to August 2 which not only coincides exactly with the 1989 release date ofSoderbergh's first film sex, lies, & videotape but also opens the film up to a possible worldpremiere in the Cannes Film Festival - where sex, lies won the Palme d'Or 13 years ago.

  • Premiere Group unveils first titles starting June

    27-Feb-2002

    Mitchell Goldman's USdistribution outfit The Premiere Marketing & Distribution Group -which he announced at AFM last year - has finally unveiled its debutslate which will kick off with Slap Her, She's French, a comedy originally housed at Fox Searchlight, onJune 7. Action drama Madisonstarring Jim Caviezel will follow on Aug 23. Premierewas launched by Goldman, former head of distribution at New Line Cinema, torelease studio-level ...

  • Stuart Ford named acquisitions co-head at Miramax

    26-Feb-2002

    Stuart Ford who is currentlysenior vice president of acquisitions and international operations at MiramaxFilms has been promoted to co-head of acquisitions alongside Agnes Mentre,executive vice president and co-head of acquisitions and co-productions.Together with Mentre, Ford will oversee Miramax's busy acquisitionsdepartment.

  • Eclipse announces new worldwide sales arm

    25-Feb-2002

    Eclipse Entertainment has launched Eclipse Releasing, a new worldwide sales company to handle product from the publicly-traded Eclipse Entertainment Group, with Sridhar Sreekakula supervising sales.

  • Michael Jackson to make movies with Mark Damon

    25-Feb-2002

    Michael Jackson is gettinginto film production through an unlikely alliance with international salesveteran Mark Damon. The pop superstar's Neverland Entertainment willinvest between $15m and $20m in Damon's production, financing and salesoutfit MDP Worldwide Entertainment Inc which is publicly traded on the TorontoStock Exchange.

  • Boorman's wizardry casts Overseas spell

    24-Feb-2002

    Director John Boorman is going back to Camelot with Knight's Castle, a $35m family fantasy movie about a boy's quest for Excalibur, being financed by

  • Columbia TriStar buys international on Mindhunters

    24-Feb-2002

    Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group has acquired the majority of international rights to Renny Harlin's action thriller Mindhunters from Intermedia.

  • Madonna's Maverick Pictures teams with Splendid

    24-Feb-2002

    Splendid Pictures, the new production and sales outfit formed on the merger of Germany's Splendid Medien and LA-based Cutting Edge Entertainment, has announced its first-look deal with Maverick Films, the film production arm of Madonna's company Maverick.

  • The Works scores with Bend It Like Beckham

    24-Feb-2002

    UK-based sales outfit The Works has closed a slew of deals on its eagerly awaited comedy Bend It Like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha, including a sale to Metropolitan Filmexport in France.

  • Myriad on the road with Coppola's Zoetrope

    24-Feb-2002

    Myriad Pictures and Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope unveiled three new films yesterday to be financed and sold in international territories by Myriad, which has taken over the ten-picture Zoetrope slate from financially troubled VCL. United Artists handles domestic rights on the film.

  • Queen Of The Damned reigns over North America

    24-Feb-2002

  • Artist House buys Morvern Callar for Japan

    22-Feb-2002

    Artist House, the Japanese publishing group, is set to make an imprint both as both new buyer and seller. It has already acquired Japanese rights to LynneRamsay's Cannes-bound Morvern Callar and is now embarking on its own production of TheTesseract, starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Saskia Reeves.

  • First Look to steer Loach's Navigators in US

    22-Feb-2002

    First Look Pictures (FLP) has struck a deal with UK-basedsales outfit The Works to buy North American distribution rights to Ken Loach'sThe Navigators, which played at theVenice Film Festival last year. FLP is planning a summer theatrical release for the film whichwill then go to video and DVD through First Look Home Entertainment in the autumn. First Look's president MJ Peckos negotiated the deal with Joy Wong, head of international sales for The Works.

  • StudioCanal stalks international rights to Cherish

    22-Feb-2002

    StudioCanal isclose to acquiring international rights to Cherish, the $4m comic stalker thriller that premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival this year and was promptly sold toFine Line Features for North America distribution.

  • Sony gets Basic instinct for Travolta thriller

    22-Feb-2002

    John McTiernan'sBasic starring John Travolta has finally found a domestic home in Sony PicturesEntertainment. The costly military thriller was fully financed by Intermedia andproduced with Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messer's Phoenix Pictures and OrbitEntertainment Group.

  • Miramax sells to two new German distributors

    22-Feb-2002

    Miramax International has closed two new distribution deals in Germany with buyers it has never sold movies to before: Andreas Klein's Splendid Medien and AndreasFallscheer's brand new outfit Falcon Entertainment.

  • Culkin kills for Party Monster role

    21-Feb-2002

    Macauley Culkin is in final negotiations to star as Michael Alig in Party Monster, the movie about the notorious murdering New York party promoter that is being produced by Killer Films and sold internationally by Fortissimo Film Sales. Ed Pressman and JohnSchmidt's ContentFilm has also come on board as co-financier and will handle North American rights.

  • The Cockettes

    21-Feb-2002

  • Summit solidifies Anschutz ties with Crusader

    21-Feb-2002

    Hoton the heels of yesterday's alignment with Cary Granat's Walden, SummitEntertainment has closed a long-term agreement with Howard Baldwin's CrusaderEntertainment to represent its product in international territories. BothWalden and Crusader are backed by Denver-based billionaire Phillip Anschutz andhis Anschutz Group which also controls one sixth of the US exhibition market.

  • Pathe signs writer for Newell's Seven Fires

    21-Feb-2002

    The UK's PathePictures has signed Randi Mayem Singer, the writer of last year's blockbusterMrs Doubtfire, to write the screenplay for The Seven Fires Of Mademoiselle, the film of Esther Vilar's novel whichMike Newell is to direct.

  • Miramax gets in family way with Keystone

    21-Feb-2002

    Miramax Filmsand its genre releasing company Dimension Films have signed a multi-year,multi-picture co-financing agreement for family entertainment projects producedby Keystone Entertainment. Miramax is the distributor of Keystone's family filmfranchise Air Bud.

  • GMI cleans out Bedroom, as buyers hail Hero

    21-Feb-2002

    Even before he arrived at this week's American Film Market, David Linde and his Good Machine International (GMI) had closed a large range of sales already on new titles Hero, Ash Wednesday and Zhou Yu's Train, as well as completing worldwide sales on Oscar-nominated drama In The Bedroom.

  • THINKFilm puckers up for Last Kiss

    21-Feb-2002

    THINKFilm, the new North American distributor founded by Jeff Sackman, has acquired all North American rights to The Last Kiss (L'Ultimo Baccio), Gabriele Muccino's award-winning romantic comedy which shared the world cinema audience award at the Sundance Film Festival last month.

  • Winchester crosses Divide, unveils UK releases

    21-Feb-2002

    WinchesterFilms is introducing a new action picture from Wind Dancer Films to buyers, hasidentified another film from its relationship with The Donners Co and hasunveiled the first slate for its UK distribution company headed by MickSouthworth.

  • Renaissance teams with Catch 23 on Vapor

    20-Feb-2002

    RenaissanceFilms, the UK production and sales outfit run by Stephen Evans and AngusFinney, is teaming up with LA-based Catch 23 Entertainment to finance NeilLabute's next film Vapor which he will begin after he has completed the currently-shootingThe Shape Of Things.

  • GMI picks up Lisa Cholodenko's Laurel Canyon

    20-Feb-2002

    Good MachineInternational has acquired all international rights to Laurel Canyon, the new film from Lisa Cholodenko (HighArt) which stars FrancesMcDormand, Kate Beckinsale, Christian Bale, Natascha McElhone and AlessandroNivola.

  • Polone partners up with Senator Int'l, Screen Gems

    20-Feb-2002

    Gavin Polone,whose latest picture Panic Room opens in March, is the latest producer to source financing fromthe international marketplace, teaming up with Senator International todevelop, acquire, produce and distribute a slate of pictures.

  • Summit forges ties with Anschutz-backed Walden

    20-Feb-2002

    SummitEntertainment has secured a new product line through an agreement reached withCary Granat's Walden Media, one of two film production companies backed byPhillip Anschutz, the Denver-based billionaire who now also controls a sixth ofAmerica's movie theatres.

  • Myriad romps with Neil Jordan's Borgia

    20-Feb-2002

    Myriad Pictureswill finance Borgia,the next film from Neil Jordan, which is being produced by Jordan's producingpartner Stephen Woolley and Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey ofImage Movers.

  • Bullish MDP Worldwide posts records results

    19-Feb-2002

    MDP WorldwideEntertainment, Mark Damon's production and sales outfit which is listedon the Toronto Stock Exchange, has reported its highest ever financial resultsfor the year ending Sept 30,2001. MDP reports a net profit of $3.6m onoperating revenues of $53.6m, a rise of 427% from the previous fiscal year.

  • Harry Potter is the number two movie of all time

    19-Feb-2002

    Harry Potter & TheSorcerer's Stone officiallybypassed Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace over the weekend to become the number two movie ofall time after Titanic. TheWarner Bros movie, known in many territories as Harry Potter & ThePhilosopher's Stone, has nowgrossed a worldwide total of $926.1, eclipsing the $922.8m scored by theLucasfilm prequel in 1999.

  • Mimi Steinbauer is new sales head at Franchise

    19-Feb-2002

    Following the departureof Lisa Wilson to join Splendid Pictures, Franchise Pictures has hireddistribution veteran Mimi Steinbauer as its new president of internationaldistribution. She will be responsible for selling territorial rights for all ofFranchise's films as well as films produced by the company'sarthouse label Franchise Classics.

  • Deakins wins ASC award for Man Who Wasn't There

    19-Feb-2002

    Roger Deakins won theAmerican Society Of Cinematographers (ASC) Outstanding Achievement Award in thefeature film category for his work on The Man Who Wasn't There, the sixth film by the Coen brothers which Deakinshas shot. It was also his sixth ASC nomination and his second award after TheShawshank Redemption in 1994.

  • Vortex acquires Emmett's Mark with Roth, Byrne

    19-Feb-2002

    Vortex Pictures, the newinternational sales outfit run by Nicolas Chartier and Dean Shapiro, has pickedup international rights to Emmett's Mark, a psychological thriller starring Scott Wolf, TimRoth and Gabriel Byrne. WMA Independent is representing North American rightson behalf of the film-makers, writer/director Keith Snyder and producers BradFuller and Graham Taylor.

  • Conrad Hall wins ASC honours for Road To Perdition

    18-Feb-2002

  • Dick Cook named chairman of Walt Disney Studios

    18-Feb-2002

  • Avrio acquires Red Green comedy Duct Tape Forever

    17-Feb-2002

    Vancouver-based independentproducer/distributor Avrio Filmworks which was founded by producer MichaelDerbas has acquired worldwide sales rights to Duct Tape Forever, a $4m comedy produced by Toronto's S&SProductions, and starring TV comic Red Green.

  • Splendid backs new Bille August noir thriller

    17-Feb-2002

    Splendid Pictures, the newproduction and sales outfit formed from the merger of Germany's SplendidMedien and LA-based Cutting Edge Entertainment, is to produce BilleAugust's next English language feature the noir thriller WithoutApparent Motive.

  • Denzel's John Q triumphs with $20.6m

    17-Feb-2002

    Denzel Washington confirmedhimself as a major box office star over the weekend as his latest drama JohnQ opened at the top of the boxoffice over Presidents Day weekend with a powerful estimated $20.6m gross at2,466 sites. The film, released by New Line Cinema, received lukewarm reviews(at best) but its emotional storyline about a man who holds an emergency roomhostage in order to secure a heart transplant for his son pushed all the rightbuttons as did Washington whose latest ...

  • Nigel Clark promoted again at Sony to senior evp

    17-Feb-2002

    Nigel Clark hasbeen promoted to senior executive vice president of international marketing atColumbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI), continuing a careerat Sony Pictures Entertainment that has lasted 11 years. Clark, who is thesenior executive in the international division, reports to Jeff Blake,president of worldwide marketing and distribution at the studio.

  • Simon Hewlett named head of Fox theatrical UK

    15-Feb-2002

    Simon Hewlett will replace Peter Dignan as managingdirector of 20th Century Fox's UK theatrical operation, comingfrom his previous role as vice president of marketing, Europe, at Fox HomeEntertainment. From 1998 to 2000, Hewlett worked as marketing director forFox's UK theatrical division.Having spent ten years at Fox, Dignan is relocating toSouth Africa to pursue his own personal and professional interests. Dignan willwork closely with Hewlett in the transitional ...

  • Catch 23 buys comic book Blackjack for urban label

    15-Feb-2002

    Catch 23 Entertainment hasacquired film rights to Alex Simmon's graphic novel series Blackjack from LA-based Platinum Studios and has entered intoa co-production agreement with Platinum for the development of a feature filmbased on the material.

  • BAFTA/LA elects seven new board members

    15-Feb-2002

    The British Academy of Filmand Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) has elected seven new officers toits board of directors, bringing its total of members to 18.

  • Jennifer Lopez named ShoWest female star of 2002

    15-Feb-2002

    Jennifer Lopez has beennamed 2002 female star of the year by exhibition convention ShoWest and shewill be on stage to accept the award at the Gala Awards banquet on March 7 inLas Vegas.

  • PGA names nominees for PGA Awards

    14-Feb-2002

    The Producers Guild OfAmerica (PGA) has announced the eligible producers for its Producer Of The Yearawards, putting into practice a new accreditation process whereby only the"real" producers of a movie are nominated. On a specific project, if a particular credited producerthought he/she was excluded after the accreditation process, the producer wasable to file a formal appeal for inclusion, which was decided upon by a PGAAccreditation Committee.The ...

  • Winchester, Columbia team on Little Homies

    14-Feb-2002

    Winchester Films has signed a deal with Columbia Picturesto co-develop and co-finance Little Homies,a family adventure movie about a group of five Brooklyn kids who find atreasure map and set about searching for the treasure underneath New York City.Described by Winchester president Hadeel Reda as in thevein of Spy Kids, the film is beingproduced by Warren Zide of Zide/Perry Entertainment (American Pie,Final Destination). It is being written ...

  • Lisa Wilson leaves Franchise for Splendid

    14-Feb-2002

    Veteran sales executive LisaWilson has joined newly formed Splendid Pictures as its president ofdistribution, heading up sales at the company which was created on the mergerof Splendid Medien and Cutting Edge Entertainment. Wilson comes from FranchisePictures where she was president of international distribution.

  • Rings lords over the Oscars with 13 nominations

    12-Feb-2002

    The Academy Awardnominations, announced this morning in Los Angeles, produced a few surprisesbut as expected were dominated by The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship OfThe Ring which scored 13 nominationsand A Beautiful Mind which scoredeight. Other big winners were Robert Altman's Gosford Park which was nominated in seven categories includingbest picture and director, and Todd Field's In The Bedroom which was nominated in five major categories,including best ...

  • Lions Gate acquires North America on Secretary

    12-Feb-2002

    Lions Gate Films hasacquired North American rights to Sundance Film Festival favourite Secretary, about the S&M relationship between a lawyer andhis secretary. The film was in dramatic competition at Sundance and won aspecial jury prize for originality. Directed by Steven Shainberg, the filmstars James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhall.

  • Senator Int'l picks up worldwide on Vaya Con Dios

    11-Feb-2002

    Senator International hasacquired worldwide rights (excluding German-speaking territories) to the Germanromantic comedy Vaya Con Dioswritten and directed by Zoltan Spirandelli.

  • Ocean's Eleven steals past $100m overseas

    11-Feb-2002

    Warner Bros celebrated itsfirst international smash of the new year as Ocean's Eleven stole past the $100m mark outside North America overthe weekend with a healthy $21m gross in 32 territories. Its total is now$111m.

  • Harry strides past $600m in international b.o.

    11-Feb-2002

    Warner Bros' HarryPotter & The Sorcerer's Stone aka Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone crossed the $600m mark at the international boxoffice over the weekend, becoming only the second film in history to do so afterTitanic. The film is now poisedto become the third highest worldwide grosser in history, with its total of$916m just $3m away from overtaking Jurassic Park's $919m, and should also pass second-placed Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace ...

  • CDP's Winterstern named chairman of Signpost Films

    11-Feb-2002

    HenryWinterstern, the co-founder and managing partner of Canada's CDP CapitalEntertainment, has been appointed chairman of the board at Stewart Till'snew company Signpost Films. He will play an integral role in identifyingstrategic partners and providing deal expertise for Signpost.

  • Arnie does some damage at lowkey box office

    10-Feb-2002

    Three critically lambastednew entries topped the North American box office over the weekend and it wasnot a spectacular one, down some 22% on the same weekend last year when Hannibal made its record-breaking debut.

  • Full list of AFM seminars & finance conference

    10-Feb-2002

    The American Film Market(AFM) will host six seminars and a finance conference at this year'sevent (Feb 20-27), sponsored bylegal advisory firm Coudert Brothers.

  • Jean Prewitt promoted to CEO of AFMA

    10-Feb-2002

    Jean Prewitt, the presidentof AFMA, has been promoted to chief executive officer of the independet filmand TV trade organization. Prewitt, who joined the organization in April 2000,will retain the title of president as well.

  • Guardian teams with Mainline for new sales outfit

    8-Feb-2002

    Richard S Guardian, theveteran sales executive who has held stints with Overseas Filmgroup, HBOEnterprises and most recently Beyond Films, has teamed up with video and TVdistributor Mainline Releasing to launch Lightning Entertainment, a newLA-based boutique focusing on worldwide distribution of mid-budget independenttheatrical films.

  • WGA nominates Rings, Park, Mind, Rouge

    8-Feb-2002

    The Writers Guild Of America(WGA) unveiled its nominations for the 2001 WGA awards this week just daysafter it was revealed that two of the year's most acclaimed screenplays-from the independent breakthrough hits Memento and In The Bedroom - had been deemed ineligible.

  • Nicole Kidman gets

    8-Feb-2002

    Nicole Kidman will receive adistinguished decade of achievement in film award at worldwide exhibitorsconvention ShoWest in March in Las Vegas. The actress will accept her award,which recognizes "Kidman's extraordinary body of work over the lastten years," on stage on March 7 at the Showest gala awards banquet.

  • Paradox Lake

    8-Feb-2002

  • Miramax takes on Zhang Yimou's Hero

    7-Feb-2002

    The ever-voracious Miramax has pounced on Hero, the big-budget historical adventure whose post-production kept director Zhang Yimou away from Berlin this week.

  • Beatty gets lifetime nod at San Francisco Fest

    7-Feb-2002

    Warren Beatty will receivethe Akira Kurosawa Award for lifetime achievement in film directing at the 45thSan Francisco International Film Festival (Apr 18-May 2). The award will bepresented to Beatty on Thursday April 25 at Film Society Awards Night at SanFrancisco's Argent Hotel.

  • FilmFour, Karlsen team Together on two projects

    7-Feb-2002

    FilmFour is teaming withElizabeth Karlsen's production outfit Number 9 on two new projects- an English language remake of Lukas Moodysson's Swedish hit Together and a film of the cult novel The Deadly Percheron by John Franklin Bardin, to which they have optionedthe rights.

  • Fox International ups key execs McLaren, Hanneman

    6-Feb-2002

    20th Century FoxInternational, the recently created division of the studio which combinesinternational theatrical and international home entertainment divisions underStephen Moore, has promoted three of its key executives.

  • LAFF and sponsor Target offer top prize of $50,000

    6-Feb-2002

    The 2002 Los Angeles FilmFestival is to introduce a new prize awarded to the director of the bestdramatic feature in competition worth $50,000. IFP/West executive director DawnHudson unveiled the award yesterday which will be furnished by thefestival's key sponsor Target, one of the biggest retail store circuitsin the US.

  • Lagaan gets second US release, now through SPC

    6-Feb-2002

    Sony Pictures Classics willgive Ashutosh Gowariker's Indian epic Lagaan a new theatrical outing in the US in the late springamid buzz that the 223 minute-film received a rapturous reception at itsAcademy Award foreign language film committee screening. The Academy Awardnominations are announced next Tuesday (Feb 12).

  • Mickie switches back to sales at Alliance Atlantis

    6-Feb-2002

    Charlotte Mickie, to manythe international face of Canada's Alliance Atlantis Communications, hasbeen promoted to managing director, international motion picture sales, at itsEntertainment Group, returning to a sales role at the company which last monthaxed over 80 staff and dramatically reduced its feature film department.

  • Winchester issues profit warning for year to March

    5-Feb-2002

    Winchester Entertainment hasissued a profit warning for the financial year to March 31, 2002, in which itsays it will make a one off write-down of approximately£2 million to itschildren's TV programming assets.

  • Mark Reinhart heads sales at Regent gay arm HERE!

    5-Feb-2002

    Mark Reinhart, the veteransales executive who has worked at companies including The Samuel Goldwyn Co,Artisan/LIVE Entertainment and GRB Entertainment, has been hired by RegentEntertainment to oversee sales for HERE! Films, the specialty marketing anddistribution arm of Regent focusing exclusively on gay-themed films. His titleis vice president, international, and he reports to Regent partner PaulColichman.At HERE!, Reinhart will beresponsible for acquiring, marketing ...

  • Splendid Pictures lures de Bont to The Courier

    5-Feb-2002

    Jan de Bont is in finalnegotiations to make his next film as a director for newly formed SplendidPictures, the joint venture between Splendid Medien and Cutting EdgeEntertainment. The film, The Courier, is being produced by Newman/Tooley Films and is set to go intoproduction in late spring.

  • Brian Benson wins Sundance producers fellowship

    5-Feb-2002

    Brian Benson has beenselected as the recipient of the 2002 Mark Silverman Fellowship, a programmefor producers run by the Sundance Institute.

  • Mechanic's Pandemonium sets two with Southpaw

    4-Feb-2002

    Southpaw Media Group, the LAproduction outfit set up by former Trilogy Entertainment Group partner Richard BLewis, is partnering with Bill Mechanic's Pandemonium on two pictures- The Whole Wide World, anaction love story set against the backdrop of NASA's early lunarmissions, and Across The Universe,an inter-galactic adventure set in the far reaches of outer space.

  • Phoenix buys legal thriller Misconception

    4-Feb-2002

    Mike Medavoy and ArnieMesser's Phoenix Pictures has acquired film rights to the novel Misconception, a legal thriller by Robert Shapiro and Walt Becker.

  • Festival in Cannes opens festival in Santa Barbara

    4-Feb-2002

    The 17th annualSanta Barbara International Film Festival, which takes place Feb 27 to March 3,will open with Henry Jaglom's Festival In Cannes and close with George Hickenlooper's The ManFrom Elysian Fields.

  • Aldo Lemme heads marketing at Col TriStar Italia

    4-Feb-2002

    Aldo Lemme has been namedsenior marketing director at Columbia TriStar Films Italia, the Italian officeof Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI).

  • Ron Howard named ShoWest director of year

    4-Feb-2002

    Ron Howard will receive thedirector of the year award at the global exhibitors convention ShoWest beingheld in Las Vegas in March. He will be presented with the award by his partnerin Imagine Entertainment Brian Grazer, who produced Howard's current hit ABeautiful Mind, on March 7 at theShoWest 2002 Gala Awards banquet.

  • MGM hits back at New Line over Goldmember

    3-Feb-2002

    A battle betweenMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and New Line Cinema continued on Friday over the useof the word Goldmember in the title of the next Austin Powers movie which isscheduled to open on July 26.

  • Black Hawk Down leads slow Superbowl weekend

    3-Feb-2002

    Superbowl weekend is never ahealthy one for the theatrical box office, and this weekend was no different,with two new openers faring poorly and the box office the lowest in about threemonths.

  • Two films tie for prize at Seattle Women's Fest

    2-Feb-2002

    Lone Scherfig's Danishhit Italian For Beginners andRakhshan Bani-Etemad's Under The Skin Of The City tied for the top prize at the 2002 Women In CinemaFilm Festival in Seattle on Thursday night.

  • Wellspring, Criterion team for US DVD releases

    2-Feb-2002

    Wellspring Media, the newlyreconfigured US specialized distributor formerly called Winstar TV & Video,has partnered with US arthouse video label Criterion to release titles on DVD from itslibrary by the likes of Fassbinder, Truffaut and Rohmer as part of theCriterion Collection.

  • Paramount shifts international video back to LA

    2-Feb-2002

    Paramount Home EntertainmentInternational (PHEI) is to move its headquarters from London to Los Angeles,where the company's president Phil Jackson will relocate. Jackson willcontinue to head up the division, reporting to Eric Doctorow, president ofParamount Home Entertainment Worldwide.

  • Microsoft technology to be used in film release

    2-Feb-2002

    Horror thriller Wendigo which was shot on digital video will be the firstfilm to be released using Microsoft Windows Media. Distributed by ContentFilmand Magnolia Pictures, the film will be released using a preview of theupcoming version of Microsoft Media Audio and Video technology codenamed"Corona".

  • RJ Millard joins IDP as vp, publicity & marketing

    2-Feb-2002

    RJ Millard, previously thepress officer and digital media development consultant for the Sundance FilmFestival, has joined IDP Distribution as vice president, publicity andmarketing.

  • BAFTA/LA axes Oscar tea party, launches brunch

    2-Feb-2002

    TheBritish Academy Of Film And Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) is to axe its annualOscar tea party usually held the day before the Oscar ceremony and replace itwith a brunch and live satellite viewing of the Orange British Academy FilmAwards on Feb 24.

  • Paramount Classics takes Human Voices

    1-Feb-2002

    Paramount Classics hasconcluded a multiple territory deal on Michael Petroni's supernaturalromance Till Human Voices Wake Usstarring Guy Pearce and Helena Bonham Carter. The company acquired rights inNorth and Latin America, the UK, South Africa and the Middle East to the filmfrom Key Entertainment and Tomorrow Film Corp.

  • I Am Sam producers win Stanley Kramer PGA prize

    1-Feb-2002

    The Producers Guild OfAmerica (PGA) is to give its inaugural Stanley Kramer Award to the producers ofNew Line Cinema's I Am Sam -Jessie Nelson, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz and Richard Solomon - atthe annual PGA Awards on March 2 in Los Angeles.

  • Bader to run business affairs at MGM Pictures

    1-Feb-2002

    Jonathan Bader has beenpromoted to executive vice president, business affairs, at MGM Pictures. In hisnew position, he will oversee theatrical business affairs and legal affairs forthe film unit and supervise all aspects of negotiations including talent,production and rights issues.

  • Bay, Radar, GMI set for Chainsaw Massacre redo

    31-Jan-2002

    Michael Bay's lowerbudget label Platinum Dunes is to "reconceptualise" cult horrorclassic The Texas Chainsaw Massacreas its first production to be financed by Ted Field and Scott Kroopf'sRadar Pictures and sold internationally by Good Machine International (GMI).

  • Denkert to run new business division at MGM

    31-Jan-2002

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studioshas created a new division MGM Entertainment Business Group and promotedlongtime senior executive Darcie Denkert to run it. Denkert, who most recentlyheld responsibility for the company's worldwide entertainment businessand legal affairs, will now focus exclusively on developing initiatives acrossdivisional lines to further leverage the film and TV library.

  • Disney snags remake rights to Spanish hit Intacto

    30-Jan-2002

  • Watts named female star of tomorrow by ShoWest

    29-Jan-2002

  • Jim Ramo named CEO at studios' VOD co Movielink

    29-Jan-2002

  • Harmony Gold buys int'l rights on comedy Dirt

    29-Jan-2002

  • Hoyts' Johnson named ShoWest int'l exhib of year

    29-Jan-2002

  • Uncut Monster's Ball to screen at Berlin

    29-Jan-2002

  • MDP Worldwide acquires Stephen Gaghan script Havoc

    29-Jan-2002

  • Smith named male star of the year at ShoWest

    28-Jan-2002

  • Five newcomers can't down Black Hawk

    28-Jan-2002

  • Robert Redford to receive honorary Oscar

    25-Jan-2002

  • Mike Ovitz signs Mark Canton to run APG

    25-Jan-2002

    Artists Production Group(APG), the production arm of Mike Ovitz's Artists Management Group (AMG),has found an unlikely new partner, chairman and CEO in the person of MarkCanton, the producer and former studio head of both Warner Bros and SonyPictures.

  • Splendid creates new LA venture with Cutting Edge

    25-Jan-2002

    Cologne-based publiclytraded entertainment group Splendid Medien AG, which recently sold its 49%stake in Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), has concluded its next foray intoHollywood, forming Splendid Pictures Inc, a new production/distribution outfitwith David Glasser's Cutting Edge Entertainment (CEE).

  • SPC picks up Argentine smash Son Of The Bride

    24-Jan-2002

  • Reisenbach joins Village Roadshow Pictures board

    23-Jan-2002

  • Mike Leigh Untitled gets title: All Or Nothing

    23-Jan-2002

  • Sidney Poitier to receive honorary Oscar

    23-Jan-2002

  • Real Women Have Curves

    23-Jan-2002

  • Altman snubbed by DGA; Nolan gets surprise nod

    23-Jan-2002

  • Julian Levin moves to digital cinema at Fox

    22-Jan-2002

  • Seattle Women's Fest kicks off tomorrow

    22-Jan-2002

  • SPC buys North American rights to Juana La Loca

    22-Jan-2002

  • PGA gives Vanguard honour to Pixar Animation

    22-Jan-2002

  • Black Hawk Down seizes weekend with $29m gross

    21-Jan-2002

    Columbia Pictures and Joe Roth's Revolution Studios celebrated a huge triumph at the box office over the weekend as their expensive and epic actioner Black Hawk Down went wide onto over 3,000 screens and grossed a massive estimated $29m for the three days preceding Martin Luther King Jr holiday Monday.The two-and-a-half hour movie relentlessly recreated real-life events from 1993 when 123 US troops entered Mogadishu in Somalia but became trapped in the hostile city when ...

  • Regent launches gay division HERE

    18-Jan-2002

    Regent Entertainment is to launch a gay label called HERE Films which will provide gay films with domestic theatrical distribution capabilities (HERE Releasing) as well as international sales (HERE International) and a pay-per-view and video-on-demand service (HERE Network).

  • Slamdance TV to debut on Canada's Movieola

    18-Jan-2002

    Canadian short film TV channel Movieola has entered into a production agreement with Slamdance Entertainment to form Slamdance TV, a 26-part series giving an inside look at independent film-making. Slamdance Entertainment is a joint venture between Marco Weber's Atlantic Streamline and the Slamdance Film Festival.

  • Sundance: Love to THINKFilm, Sex to Palm

    18-Jan-2002

    Two more acquisitions were closed in Park City yesterday in arguably the busiest Sundance on record for deals. New distributor THINKFilm, which yesterday completed its acquisition of Gus Van Sant's Gerry, has now taken North American rights on out-of-competition selection Love In The Time Of Money, while Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures picked up North American rights to Julio Medem's hit Spanish film Sex And Lucia (Sex Y Lucia) which is in the world cinema section.

  • Erlina Suharjono promoted at Warner Bros Asia

    16-Jan-2002

    Erlina Suharjono has been promoted to the position of vice president, Asia, at Warner Bros Pictures.

  • Artisan buys John Herzfeld script Jealousy

    16-Jan-2002

    Artisan Pictures, which is ramping up production under new CEO Bob Cooper, has acquired Jealousy, a comedy script by John Herzfeld as a project for him to direct. Herzfeld's last film was 15 Minutes for New Line Cinema starring Robert De Niro and Ed Burns and he made a splashy debut in 1996 with Two Days In The Valley.

  • Boeing Digital Cinema retains CAA

    16-Jan-2002

    The Boeing Company has retained Hollywood talent and literary agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for consulting services for the launch of Boeing Digital Cinema, its ambitious network which will be used to transmit first-run movies and alternative programming via satellite and fiber-optic network.

  • Spielberg gets ShoWest Lifetime Achievement nod

    16-Jan-2002

    Steven Spielberg will be awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award at exhibition convention ShoWest this March. He will receive his award at the annual Gala Awards Banquet which will be held on March 7.

  • Miramax unveils Neverland, The Forger

    15-Jan-2002

    Miramax Films has announced two new pictures - it has signed Marc Forster (Monster's Ball) to direct Neverland, the film of Allan Knee's play The Man Who Was Peter Pan and it has acquired the rights to Paul Watkins' novel The Forger and hired Proof playwright David Auburn to adapt it for the screen.

  • Perrier teams with Palm for film-maker contest

    15-Jan-2002

    Bottled water group Perrier is teaming up with Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures and RES to launch "Perrier Across America", a new initiative for 2002 which will select five film-makers from thousands of submissions and then supply them with vehicles, digital cameras, professional producers and other resources to drive across the country and shoot a short film.

  • Bruce Berman to stay at Village Roadshow till 2007

    15-Jan-2002

    Bruce Berman, the chairman and CEO of Village Roadshow Pictures (VRP), has extended his deal for another four years keeping him in his current position till 2007. The deal was agreed to with 18 months still remaining on his current pact by Berman and Graham Burke, managing director of Village Roadshow Ltd who oversees VRP with Berman.

  • Sony to unveil Mr Deeds at ShoWest in March

    15-Jan-2002

    Sony Pictures is to participate in this year's ShoWest exhibitors convention in Las Vegas with a premiere screening of its romantic comedy Mr Deeds and the final day luncheon. The events will take place on March 7.

  • Sundance: Lions Gate buys worldwide rights to May

    15-Jan-2002

    The third deal of the Sundance Film Festival was closed yesterday as Lions Gate Films acquired worldwide rights to horror picture May written and directed by Lucky McKee. A loose retelling of Roman Polanski's Repulsion, May stars Angela Bettis as a girl who wants to make friends but lacks the confidence to do so because of a perceived imperfection that has kept her in a shell since childhood. But when she learns to hide her physical flaw, her attempts to connect with other ...

  • Tragic death of indie film-maker Ted Demme

    14-Jan-2002

    Ted Demme, the film director who most recently made Blow starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, died tragically of a heart attack yesterday aged 37.

  • Broadcast Critics shower kudos on A Beautiful Mind

    14-Jan-2002

  • Samuel Goldwyn Films gets US on Das Experiment

    14-Jan-2002

    Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired US rights to Oliver Hirschbiegel's Das Experiment, the German box office hit which is also the Germany entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award.

  • Spyglass, Intermedia merge into indie giant

    14-Jan-2002

    As anticipated, independent powerhouse Intermedia has signed an agreement to merge with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum's Spyglass Entertainment. This creates an entity with an annual output of major movies as big as any studio and bringing The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS) into the company as a shareholder and potential distribution partner.

  • Orange County is strong but Rings, Mind still top

    13-Jan-2002

    Paramount Pictures enjoyed a strong estimated $15.1m opening with teen comedy Orange County over the weekend in North America but it was not big enough to topple New Line's The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring and Universal's A Beautiful Mind from the top two slots.

  • ContentFilm buys into Blow Up

    11-Jan-2002

    ContentFilm, the new production/distribution venture recently set up by Edward R Pressman and John Schmidt, and its international investors are acquiring a minority share in Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente's digital production outfit Blow Up Pictures.

  • Goldwyn, Fireworks team for Elysian Fields

    11-Jan-2002

    Samuel Goldwyn Films and Fireworks Pictures are teaming up again to acquire domestic rights to George Hickenlooper's The Man From Elysian Fields, the star-studded drama which world premiered at last year's Toronto Film Festival and is in the premiere section at the Sundance Film Festival this week.

  • Winchester takes Scotland, PA international

    11-Jan-2002

    Winchester Films has acquired international sales rights to Billy Morrissette's Scotland, PA, a comedic retelling of Macbeth set in a fast-food restaurant in rural 1970s Pennsylvania. The deal was concluded between Winchester and New York-based production outfit Abandon Pictures.

  • FULL LIST OF INDIE SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

    10-Jan-2002

    The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, with winners to be unveiled at the Spirit Awards on March 23. Films nominated were selected based on criteria such as original, provocative subject matter, uniqueness of vision, economy of means and percentage of independent financing. Among this year's nominating committee were New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell, directors Vondie Curtis Hall and Miguel Arteta and actress ...

  • Julian Levin's role expanded at Fox

    10-Jan-2002

  • Enrique Posner joins Warner Sogefilms in Spain

    9-Jan-2002

  • US PR agency MPRM hires Libby, promotes four

    9-Jan-2002

  • First Look buys US rights on A Song For Martin

    9-Jan-2002

  • Stephens, Yorn, Pike join cast of Bond 20

    9-Jan-2002

  • Eight films shortlisted for Visual Effects Oscar

    9-Jan-2002

  • Sherwin, Tuckman bolster the ranks at THINKFilm

    9-Jan-2002

  • Paul Speaker joins Madstone as president and COO

    9-Jan-2002

  • Harry Potter is number three int'l hit of all time

    8-Jan-2002

  • $40m international weekend for Lord Of The Rings

    8-Jan-2002

  • Robert Wise to receive PGA Milestone Award

    8-Jan-2002

  • Freccero, Iwanowski promoted at Sundance Channel

    8-Jan-2002

  • Vortex to sell Cage-directed Sonny, two more

    8-Jan-2002

  • Apted wins filmmaker prize at Palm Springs

    7-Jan-2002

    Michael Apted will receive the International Filmmaker Award at the Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan 12. The award, which is given to an actor or director who has "broken through the barrier of language and crossed over the borders of culture to become a film-maker of the world will be presented by Michael York. Past winners have included Liv Ullman, Ang Lee, Lasse Hallstrom, Pedro Almodovar, Catherine Deneuve and Zhang Yimou.Apted will attend ...

  • Lord Of The Rings strides past $200m

    6-Jan-2002

    The Lord Of The Rings continued to dominate the North American box office crossing the $200m barrier with a $23m take in its third weekend, while Warner Bros' Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone crossed the $300m mark after eight weeks on release.Playing at 3,381 theatres, the epic three hour fantasy should easily break the $300m barrier especially with the awards momentum gathering in its favour. On Saturday, it was named best picture of the year at the AFI Awards ...

  • Navarre gets DVD/VHS rights to three from Halicki

    6-Jan-2002

    Navarre Corporation, a US distributor of PC software, music and home video, has acquired domestic rights to distribute three more action films made by the late HB Halicki on DVD and VHS following its successful re-release of Gone In 60 Seconds last year. The films are The Junkman, Deadline Auto Theft and Gone In 60 Seconds 2 kicking off with The Junkman on Feb 19.DVD producers Denice Halicki and Michael Leone have restored and digitally remastered ...

  • Mulholland Drive is National Critics' choice

    6-Jan-2002

    Mulholland Drive was named best picture of 2001 by the influential National Society Of Film Critics on Saturday, completing a remarkable run of success for David Lynch's film which began with a best director prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival.The National Society which comprises 52 of the country's leading critics has been voting its annual awards since 1966 and dedicated this year's awards to the memory of Pauline Kael, the longtime New Yorker fim critic and a ...

  • AFI Awards go for Lord Of The Rings, Sopranos

    6-Jan-2002

    The inaugural American Film Institute (AFI ) Awards took place on Saturday night in Los Angeles, awarding its top prizes to The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring for film and The Sopranos for television. Few winners (eight out of 20) actually attended the ceremony - yet another addition to the crowded awards calendar. Honorees are named by 100 film "experts" - scholars, film-makers and professionals selected by the AFI.Full list of winners:Best ...

  • New deals increase US focus for Intermedia

    4-Jan-2002

    It was a muddy picture at Intermedia parent International Media in the New Year as news, some authorised, some not, trickled out of the independent giant - in one of its most tumultuous periods of growth since floating on Frankfurt's Neuer Markt in May 1999.

  • 2001's $8bn US BO total is a mixed blessing

    4-Jan-2002

    The $8bn mark may have been broken at the North American box office in 2001, but it was a mixed celebration among the Hollywood majors.

  • C-2, Intermedia seal T3 int'l deal with CTFDI

    3-Jan-2002

    Intermedia and C-2 Pictureshave concluded a deal for the majority of international distribution rights onTerminator3: Rise Of The Machines withColumbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI). Warner Bros hasdomestic rights to the film, and per an agreement made between C-2 prior toIntermedia's involvement, Toho-Towa has the option on Japanese rights.

  • Wise Girls, new Pennebaker/Hegedus join Sundance

    3-Jan-2002

    The Sundance Film Festivalhas announced several special screenings at this year's event which takesplace from Jan 10-20 in Park City, Utah.

  • Rings sparkle for New Line: $350m in 14 days

    2-Jan-2002

    Shaping up as the fastestgrossing film in history, New Line Cinema'sThe Fellowship Of The Ring, the first in its Lord Of The Rings trilogy, has crossed the $350m barrier at the globalbox office in just two weeks on over 8,000 prints.

  • New Line's Fellowship is New Year box office champ

    2-Jan-2002

    New Line Cinema championed the box office for the second weekend in a row as The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring brought in an estimated $37.4m in the Friday to Sunday period Dec 28 to 30. The 178 minute epic played at 3,359 theatres for a strong $11,119 site average. Its domestic total to date is a staggering $154.5m - grossed in just 12 days.Box office was up a massive 21% from the same weekend last year led by Fellowship but with ongoing ...

  • $133.3m in five days for Lord Of The Rings

    24-Dec-2001

    It was one of the biggest financial risks in the history of the movies, but The Lord Of The Rings has so far paid off handsomely for New Line Cinema. Since Wednesday, The Fellowship Of The Ring, the first in the trilogy of films, grossed $133.3m in 23 territories including North America.The domestic gross from Wednesday (Dec 19) to Sunday (Dec 23) was $73.1m. Over the three day weekend, it took $45.25m - a record for a December opening, although only half that ...

  • Lord Of The Rings a triumph: $73.1m in five days

    24-Dec-2001

    It was a spectacular launch, as expected, for New Line Cinema's The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring in the domestic market, taking $73.1m in the five day period from Wednesday to Sunday. In the three day weekend (Fri to Sun), it took $45.25m - a record for a December opening beating the $38.1m taken a fortnight ago by Ocean's Eleven.In contrast, Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone took $90.3m in its first weekend, exactly twice that of Lord ...

  • Sundance launches second online film festival

    21-Dec-2001

    The second Sundance Online Film Festival started online yesterday at www.sundanceonlinefestival.org, showcasing a selection of new work designed specifically for the web.21 projects are being presented featuring animation, live-action, documentary, interactive, new form and selected shorts from the Sundance Film Festival shorts programme. The festival will run online, sponsored by AtomFilms, will run through Jan 20, 2002. During the 2002 Sundance Film Festival (Jan 10-20, 2002), ...

  • Odeon buys Canadian rights to Atanarjuat

    21-Dec-2001

    Odeon Films, the Canadian specialised distribution arm of Alliance Atlantis, has picked up Canadian rights to Zacharias Kunuk's acclaimed Inuit film Atanarjuat - The Fast Runner, Canada's submission to the foreign language film Oscar category.The film, an action thriller set in ancient Igloolik, won the Camera d'Or for best first feature at Cannes last year as well as best Canadian feature film at Toronto last year and further prizes at Edinburgh, Flanders and Montreal. ...

  • Veteran Warner executive Richard Ma dies at 81

    21-Dec-2001

    Long-time Warner Bros film executive Richard Ma has died in Canada at the age of 81.Ma joined Warner Bros Pictures in 1945 as assistant manager in the company's Hong Kong office. He held several positions with the company in Hong Kong, New York and Burbank, working his way up through the ranks to executive vice president of international operations.Ma, who retired in 1985 after a 40 year-old career with Warner Bros, is credited with introducing martial arts movies to ...

  • Beautiful Mind, Moulin Rouge lead Globe nods

    21-Dec-2001

  • Miramax nears $1bn in worldwide grosses for 2001

    20-Dec-2001

    Miramax Films has broken a company record for annual worldwide gross in 2001, taking some $950m so far this year and expecting to pass the $1bn mark by year end. Domestic takes from the Miramax and Dimension labels totalled over $600m while international totals through Miramax International partners came to $350m.Leading the way domestically were Spy Kids with $113m, The Others with $96.5m, Bridget Jones's Diary with $71.5m, Chocolat with $71.5m and ...

  • Curb acquires Dummy with Brody, Jovovich

    19-Dec-2001

    LA-based sales outfit Curb Entertainment has acquired international distribution rights to Greg Pritikin's romantic comedy Dummy starring Adrien Brody, Illeana Douglas and Milla Jovovich.Brody stars as a shy, unemployed ventriloquist who falls in love with his employment counselor. The film was produced by Richard Temtchine and Bob Fagan through Quadrant Entertainment.Carole Curb, the president of Curb Entertainment, and Glen Reynolds negotiated the deal for Curb ...

  • Ross Landsbaum joins Miramax as evp, CFO

    19-Dec-2001

    Miramax Films has hired Ross Landsbaum as executive vice president of finance and operations and chief financial officer. He will oversee the company's finance, accounting, reporting, information systems, facilities and human resources as well as working on new financial arrangements for film projects.He will report directly to co-chairman Bob and Harvey Weinstein. Landsbaum was previously a finance and operations consultant to a diversified group of media and technology companies.Prior ...

  • Beautiful Mind, Ring top Broadcast Critics noms

    19-Dec-2001

    The US Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) has announced its nominees for the seventh annual Critics Choice Awards which will be announced on Jan 11 in Los Angeles. Leading the way with five nominations was A Beautiful Mind followed by The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring with four.The BFCA nominates ten films for Best Picture with three nominees in each of the 16 other categories. The nominations are as follows:Best PictureAli; ...

  • Dimension, Storyopolis plan Opus animated film

    19-Dec-2001

    Dimension Films has acquired the rights to develop and produce an animated feature based on the cartoon character Opus, a penguin who first appeared in the first year of Bloom County in 1980. The project is the first film to come from the newly established first-look deal between Dimension and Storyopolis Productions.Berkely Breathed, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the cartoon is attached to write and direct the feature.Opus eventually appeared in a series of ...

  • Artisan Pictures revs up with Garbo Deception

    19-Dec-2001

    Artisan Pictures has announced its first script project since Artisan Entertainment merged with Bob Cooper's Landscape Entertainment in Sept and Cooper took over as CEO of Artisan Pictures.The company has hired screenwriter Bill Wheeler to draft the feature film script The Garbo Deception based on actual source material recounting the activities of Juan Pujol, a creative mastermind, who, during World War II, fabricated a network of non-existent "spies" which succeeded ...

  • Kate & Leopold

    18-Dec-2001

  • BVI tops $1bn for seventh consecutive year

    18-Dec-2001

    Buena Vista International (BVI) has become the third distributor this year to cross the $1bn barrier at the international box office, making it seven years in a row for the company. The battle charge was led by Pearl Harbor which took $251.5m in overseas territories, over $50m more than in the domestic market, and is the third biggest BVI live action title of all time after Armageddon and Pretty Woman.Mark Zoradi, president of BVI and Buena Vista Home Entertainment, ...

  • Harry has $45m weekend in international market

    18-Dec-2001

    Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone showed no signs of crumbling fast over the weekend, taking a massive $45.3m or 8.8m admissions from 8,378 prints in 39 countries. Its international total now stands at $313.16m, its worldwide cumulative total at $570m.Over the weekend, the film opened in Korea with an all-time industry record of $3.27m from 186 prints. Other major territories continued to play strongly: in France, it took $6.9m on 864 prints in its second weekend to ...

  • AFI announces first annual award nominations

    18-Dec-2001

    The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced its nominations for the first annual AFI Awards 2001.which will be presented on Jan 5, 2002, in Los Angeles. Two 13-member committees - one representing films and one representing TV - made the nominations; a 100-person AFI jury will select the award-winners.The film nominations are as follows:AFI Movie of the YearA Beautiful Mind, Black Hawk Down, In The Bedroom, The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship ...

  • Universal sets The Hulk for June 2003

    18-Dec-2001

    Joining a trend for dating movies over 18 months in advance, Universal Pictures has announced that it will open Ang Lee's comic book adventure The Hulk on June 20, 2003. Earlier this month, 20th Century Fox announced that it would open X2, the sequel to X-Men, on May 2, 2003, while Warner Bros has also set Matrix Reloaded and Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines for the season."The Hulk will be our tentpole movie for summer 2003, which will be ...

  • Charlotte Gray

    17-Dec-2001

  • Cruise hits the top spot again with Vanilla Sky

    16-Dec-2001

    Tom Cruise proved once again why he is one of the world's biggest box office stars as his R-rated love story-cum-sci-fi fantasy Vanilla Sky opened over the weekend with $25m from 2,742 sites. The Paramount Pictures release, one of the rare pictures for which Paramount has worldwide distribution, had been tracking poorly and had mixed reviews. Members of the public, apparently, were baffled by the film and didn't know what it was about - a problem since much of the film's ...

  • Summit, Mandalay extend relationship till 2004

    16-Dec-2001

    International sales, production and financing outfit Summit Entertainment has renewed its relationship with Peter Guber's Mandalay Pictures for another three year term starting Jan 2002. Summit has provided international sales and distribution for Mandalay since Guber founded the company in 1995, servicing its movies with international partners through its domestic deal with Sony Pictures and now Paramount Pictures.The new deal, expected to yield an average of three films a ...

  • Winstar bought out, renamed Wellspring Media

    16-Dec-2001

    Winstar TV & Video, the entertainment arm of Winstar Communications, has been bought out by a group of private investors and re-named Wellspring Media. The buyout includes the theatrical division, Winstar Cinema, as well as the TV, home video, production and direct distribution units.Winstar TV & Video president Al Cattabiani will now serve as president and CEO of Wellspring and all of the existing key personnel will remain in place. Winstar Cinema's inaugural release under ...

  • Paramount Classics buys Jaglom's Cannes comedy

    16-Dec-2001

    Paramount Classics has acquired rights in North America, Australia & New Zealand, Latin America and Japan to Henry Jaglom's Festival In Cannes - a romantic comedy set among the highrollers of the international film business and shot during the Cannes International Film Festival itself.The movie, which had its world premiere recently at the AFI Los Angeles Film Festival, stars Anouk Aimee, Maximilian Schell, Greta Scacchi, Ron Silver, Peter Bogdanvovich and Zack Norman ...

  • Palm Springs Fest to open with Monsoon Wedding

    16-Dec-2001

    Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, which won the Golden Lion at last year's Venice Film Festival, has been named as the opening night film at the 13th annual Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival which will be held Jan 10-21, 2002.A total of 150 films will screen from 45 countries including ten world premieres and 43 of the 51 films submitted for consideration in the best foreign language film Oscar category. The FIPRESCI jury, made up of journalists from ...

  • LA critics choose In The Bedroom as best picture

    16-Dec-2001

    Todd Field's In The Bedroom continued its winning streak with the end-of-year critics associations, winning the Best Picture of The Year award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) on Saturday night. David Lynch's Mulholland Drive - another frequent citation in the awards to date - was runner-up.Lynch was named best director by the group, with Robert Altman runner-up for Gosford Park. Altman had won the New York critics prize last week; Mulholland ...

  • Harry to get speedy release in China in Jan, 2002

    14-Dec-2001

    Warner Bros has set a release date for its worldwide blockbuster Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone in China. The film will open in advance of the Chinese New Year on Jan 31 and continue to play through the Chinese New Year holiday period (Feb 12-18), a period which has traditionally been reserved for the release of Chinese films. Warner hopes to open the film on approximately 1,200 screens in China.Since the revenue-sharing importation of Hollywood movies to China began ...

  • Mulholland Drive is top choice of New York critics

    13-Dec-2001

    David Lynch's Mulholland Drive (pictured here), a film that was rescued by France's StudioCanal after being rejected as a pilot for US network TV, has been named this year's Best Picture by the New York Film Critics Circle - although the film didn't win a single other award during deliberations at Manhattan's Sardi's restaurant on Thursday.

  • Artisan teams with National Lampoon on Wilder

    13-Dec-2001

    Artisan Pictures is teaming up with National Lampoon to release college comedy Van Wilder: Party Liaison in North America on March 29, 2002. Set to launch in over 2,000 theatres, the film will be redubbed National Lampoon's Van Wilder as a throwback to the 1978 college hit National Lampoon's Animal House.The film, which was fully financed by Myriad Pictures, stars Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid, Tim Matheson and Curtis Armstrong. Artisan will work with National ...

  • Sundance sets 11 for Screenwriters Lab

    13-Dec-2001

    The Sundance Institute has named the 11 projects which have been selected for the annual Screenwriters Lab which takes place Jan 4 to 9 at the Sundance Village in Utah just prior to the Suncance Film Festival.At the Lab, writers are given the opportunity to develop their work-in-progress screenplays in a community of screenwriters who have included in the past such luminaries as Naomi Foner, David Veloz, Alice Arlen and Stephen Gyllenhaal.The selected participants and ...

  • Fox sets X2 release for May 2, 2003

    13-Dec-2001

    Laying claim to a choice release date 18 months ahead of time, 20th Century Fox has announced that it will release X2, the second film in its X-Men franchise, on May 2, 2003.The dating comes in the week that Warner Bros secured domestic rights to Terminator 3: The Rise Of The Machines which it will open in summer 2003. That's in addition to the two Matrix films which it has scheduled for May and December respectively, the third Harry Potter ...

  • Animated Oscar to go ahead; nine films eligible

    13-Dec-2001

    The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) will go ahead with its inaugural Best Animated Feature category this year after the board of governers voted in its favour at a meeting on Monday night.Nine films were declared eligible to compete by the executive committee of the short films and feature animation branch of the Academy which then recommended to the board that the award should go ahead. A minimum requirement of eight eligible films was decreed when the category ...

  • Country stars Collie & McCabe team for rom com

    12-Dec-2001

    Country music stars Mark Collie and Coley McCabe have teamed to star in independently financed romantic comedy Roper & Goodie which has started principal photography in Alabama, US.Directed by commercial and documentary director Terry Moloney, the film is the story of a rodeo cowboy (Collie) who kidnaps a wealthy socialite (McCabe) and falls in love with her.William S Gilmore and Shari Rhodes are producing the film; Gilmore's credits as executive producer include ...

  • AI wins Golden award from Japanese exhibitors

    12-Dec-2001

    The Motion Picture Exhibitor Association Of Japan (MPEAJ) has given its Golden Box Office Gross Award to AI Artificial Intelligence, Steven Spielberg's film which was distributed by Warner Bros Pictures. The award recognises the highest grossing foreign film to be released in the territory.AI has grossed over $78m in Japan. The award was presented to William Ireton, managing director, Japan, of Warner Bros Pictures on Nov 30 as part of Japan's Movie Day festivities ...

  • Warner Bros gets T3 for summer 2003

    11-Dec-2001

    Warner Bros Pictures has acquired domestic distribution rights to Terminator 3: The Rise Of The Machines after a bidding war over the last week that saw every Hollywood studio chasing the film which stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.The deal was concluded between Warner and producers C-2 Pictures and Intermedia, which is financing the film and handles international distribution. Producers on the film are Mario Kassar, Andrew Vajna and Joel Michaels of C-2 Pictures with Hal ...

  • Mechanic returns to Disney with five-year deal

    11-Dec-2001

    After months of speculation about where he would land, Bill Mechanic's independent production company Pandemonium has signed an exclusive five-year co-financing, production and distribution deal with The Walt Disney Studios. Under the terms of the deal, Disney has domestic distribution rights (excluding free TV) to Pandemonium films as well as all international rights except Spain, Japan and Italian television.Mechanic told Screen yesterday that he has the financing in place ...

  • Alan Bates to get lifetime award at Palm Springs

    11-Dec-2001

    Alan Bates will receive a career achievement award and a nine-film retrospective at the Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival next January (Jan 10-20, 2002).Entitled King Of Parts: The Film Characters of Alan Bates, the retrospective will be kicked off by a Technicolor Dye Transfer restored print of Women In Love (1969) followed by King Of Hearts (1966), Quartet (1981), An Englishman Abroad (1983), Far From The Madding Crowd ...

  • Effects expert Pilgrim joins LA-based CFX

    11-Dec-2001

    Jamie Pilgrim, who recently served as creature technical director on The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, has been named research and development technical director at LA-based visual effects facility CFX.Pilgrim's work as creature technical director on The Lord Of The Rings included writing proprietary software for muscle systems, tree and branch generation and articulated body dynamics as well as developed the look for several key particle effects for the film. He ...

  • Sylvia Rothblum joins WBITD from EM-TV

    11-Dec-2001

    Sylvia Rothblum has been named managing director, German-speaking territories, for Warner Bros International Television Distribution (WBITD). Based in Munich. she will be responsible for the licensing of WBITD TV and film product to broadcast, pay, video-on-demand, satellite and cable TV clients in German-speaking territories.She will report to Joshua A Berger, senior vice president, international sales and business development & managing director for Europe, WBITD. She replaces ...

  • Ocean's Eleven pays off, steals $39.3m opening

    10-Dec-2001

    As expected, Warner Bros dominated the box office over the weekend with the release of star-packed Ocean's Eleven and the continued run of Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone. Ocean's Eleven opened in the top spot with a massive estimated $39.26m on 3,075 screens, while Harry Potter took $14.8m to bring its total to $239.7m. The studio had a weekend market share of abourt 65%.Well-reviewed by critics, Ocean's Eleven looks likely to be director ...

  • MGM production & distribution depts reorganised

    7-Dec-2001

    In a week of reorganisation at the studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has hired two new senior production executives, Elizabeth Cantillon and Eric Paquette, and announced the exit of Robert E Relyea from his position as president, production, for MGM Pictures and United Artists Pictures.In addition, MGM Distribution Co has seen two senior executives depart - Randi Braun and Amanda Lundberg - the arrival of Jamie Geller Hawtof as senior vice president, publicity, and the promotion of ...

  • PGA gives Gordon lifetime achievement award

    7-Dec-2001

    Veteran Hollywood producer Lawrence Gordon has been named recipient of the David O Selznick Lifetime Achievement Awrad in theatrical motion pictures at the Producers Guild Of America (PGA) Awards on Sunday March 3 in Los Angeles.Gordon, who now runs the Gordon Company, formerly spearheaded Largo Entertainment and before that was president and COO of Twentieth Century Fox. His producing credits include Tomb Raider, K-Pax, Die Hard, Point Break, Waterworld, ...

  • Amelie DP Bruno Delbonnel wins Palm Springs prize

    7-Dec-2001

    Bruno Delbonnel, the cinematographer of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie, will receive the Da Vinci Award for exceptional cinematography at the 2002 Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival. The presentation will take place during the Cinematographer's Day programme Jan 12-13, 2002.Delbonnel, who was selected for the prize by eight other cinematographers, also won the European Film Award last weekend.His other credits include Peter Bogdanovich's upcoming ...

  • Douglas Slocombe gets ASC international honour

    7-Dec-2001

    Veteran British cinematographer Douglas Slocombe will receive the International Achievement Award from the American Society Of Cinematographers (ASC) at the 16th annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards on Feb 17, 2002, in Los Angeles.Slocombe has 75 feature credits including a slew of the great Ealing comedies (The Lavendar Hill Mob (1951), The Man In The White Suit (1951), Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949) and The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953), other ...

  • Walden to make CS Lewis children's classic

    7-Dec-2001

    Just two weeks before the world is assaulted with the first in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, New York-based Walden Media has announced its acquisition of the best-selling fantasy classic The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by CS Lewis. Walden has optioned the seven-part Narnia Chronicles of which The Lion... is the second instalment and will partner with The CS Lewis Company to produce it with a view to future films as a potential franchise.The ...

  • Sundance Film Festival sets 79 short films

    5-Dec-2001

    The Sundance Institute has unveiled the 79 short films that will play in the Sundance Film Festival next year (Jan 10-20, 2002). American short film under 30 minutes compete for the jury prize which is sponsored by American Express.International short films include:About A Girl (UK) Brian PercivalAfro Deutsch (Germany) AyassiBintou (Burkinabe) Fanta Regina NarcoBurn (Ireland) Reynold Reynolds & Patrick JolleyThe Charnel House ...

  • Tim Palen joins Lions Gate as marketing chief

    4-Dec-2001

    Tim Palen has joined Lions Gate Films as vice president, theatrical marketing, spearheading the marketing of all Lions Gate feature film marketing operations. He will report to Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate Film Releasing.

  • Columbia TriStar snags Chan-starrer Highbinders

    4-Dec-2001

    Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (CTMPG) has acquired worldwide distribution rights excluding Asia and France to Highbinders, the latest Asian-financed action adventure to star Jackie Chan. The film, which is backed by Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG), recently wrapped a portion of its shooting schedule in Ireland and is now moving to Hong Kong and then Thailand for additional principal photography.

  • Overseas records fall as Harry conjures up $60.9m

    3-Dec-2001

    It was another magical weekend for Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone in the international market, as the Warner Bros film grossed $60.9m in 31 territories on 6,574 prints to bring its total take to $152.75m after just three weekends. Over the weekend, the film opened in 14 more countries and scored estimated admissions of 12.4m people.

  • ContentFilm buys Wendigo, Magnolia to release it

    3-Dec-2001

    ContentFilm, the New York independent recently formed by Edward R Pressman and John Schmidt, has acquired worldwide rights to Wendigo, a supernatural thriller starring Patricia Clarkson, and has enlisted Eamonn Bowles' brand new distribution outfit Magnolia Pictures to distribute it in the US.

  • Benicio Del Toro to receive Sundance Indie tribute

    3-Dec-2001

    Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro will receive the Piper-Heidsieck Tribute to Independent Vision at next year's Sundance Film Festival. The tribute, which will be presented to Del Toro on Jan 13, 2002, during the festival, was created to honour a film artist "who has made a significant and unique contribution to independent film."

  • Harry flies past $200m, still at the top

    2-Dec-2001

    Despite a strong assault by 20th Century Fox of patriotic war actioner Behind Enemy Lines (pictured), Warner Bros held on to the top spot for the third consecutive weekend with its blockbuster Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone which took an estimated $24.1m over the three days.

  • Loeb & Loeb lawyer Greg Schenz joins Intermedia

    30-Nov-2001

    Greg Schenz, formerly of LA entertainment law firm Loeb & Loeb LLP, has joined Intermedia's Los Angeles office as vice president, business/legal affairs. Schenz reports to vice chairman Jon Gumpert and focuses on film finance and talent transactions.As an associate at Loeb & Loeb, Schenz's practice focused on development, production, finance and distribution in film and TV."Greg is an experienced attorney and a savvy dealmaker. We expect Greg to be a valuable addition ...

  • US PGA renames awards, adds two to Hall of Fame

    28-Nov-2001

    The US Producers Guild Of America has renamed its annual awards from the Golden Laurel Awards to the Producers Guild Awards, and announced that The Manchurian Candidate (1962) and Network (1976) will be inducted into its hall of fame.

  • Children Underground, Startup.com share IDA prize

    28-Nov-2001

    The International Documentary Association (IDA) has named its 2001 distinguished achievement awards to be presented on Dec 7 in Los Angeles. Edet Belzberg's Children Underground and Startup.com co-directed by Chris Hegedus and Jehane Noujam share the top honours in the feature length competition.

  • ThinkFilm buys Sundance premiere Altar Boys

    28-Nov-2001

    Canadian-financed North American distributor ThinkFilm has picked up all North American rights to Peter Care's The Dangerous Lives Of Altar Boys which will receive its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next year.

  • Universal targets Latino market with Arenas Group

    27-Nov-2001

    Universal Pictures has teamed up with The Arenas Group, an advertising, PR and talent management firm focused on the US Latino market, to form Arenas Entertainment, a new film label to acquire, produce, finance, market and distribute films for Hispanic audiences worldwide.The deal was struck to form the company by Marc Shmuger, vice chairman of Universal Pictures, and Santiago Pozo, founder and president of The Arenas Group. Pozo will be chief executive officer of the new venture.Universal ...

  • Spy Game opens well, but trails Harry and Monsters

    26-Nov-2001

    It was another phenomenal weekend for Warner Bros' Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone across North America. Over Thanksgiving Weekend, the film took a mighty estimated $58.5m from Friday to Sunday and a whopping $83.5m for the five-day period Thursday to Sunday (the official holiday was last Thursday). Those were the best three- and five-day totals for a film over the Thanksgiving period, better than previous record-holder Toy Story 2 in 1999.In ten days, the ...

  • Artisan gets Kushner-Locke rights in North America

    22-Nov-2001

    Artisan Entertainment has secured the North American rights to service the library assets of The Kushner-Locke Company. Subject to bankruptcy court approval, Artisan will become the sales agent controlling North American TV and home entertainment rights to over 300 Kushner-Locke titles.The titles produced or licensed by Kushner-Locke include feature films, made-for-TV movies and TV series. These titles will be added to Artisan's existing library of over 6,700 properties and ...

  • The New Hollywood style: Part II

    21-Nov-2001

  • Universal crosses $1bn in international grosses

    21-Nov-2001

    Universal Pictures became the first Hollywood studio this year to cross the $1bn mark in international grosses over the weekend. It is only the second time in the studio's history - 1999 was the first - that the milestone was crossed and continues a blisteringly successful year for the company which releases its films internationally through its jointly-owned distribution outfit United International Pictures (UIP).Leading the pack for the studio was The Mummy Returns ...

  • USA Films picks up star-laden Eight Women

    20-Nov-2001

    USA Films has acquired domestic distribution rights to Francois Ozon's Eight Women - the all-star French musical murder mystery produced by Marc Missonier and Olivier Delbosc of Fidelite Productions. The deal was made with French sales agent Celluloid Dreams.Eight Women features eight French screen actresses - including the legendary Catherine Deneuve, Fanny Ardant, Danielle Darrieux and Isabelle Huppert, new goddesses Emanuelle Beart, Virginie Ledoyen and Firmine ...

  • Clooney, Soderbergh together again on Solaris

    19-Nov-2001

    Actor George Clooney and director Steven Soderbergh are reteaming for the third time on Solaris, an erotically charged film version of Stanislaw Lem's 1961 science fiction novel which will start production in April 2002 for James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Century Fox. Clooney will star in the film which Soderbergh has written and will direct.Solaris, famously filmed by Russian master Andrei Tarkovsky in 1972, is the story of Kris Kelvin, an astronaut ...

  • US is wild about Harry

    19-Nov-2001

    Warner Bros scored the biggest opening in North American box office history over the weekend as Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone, the film of the best-selling novel by JK Rowling, grossed a phenomenal estimated $93.5m in the three day period from Friday to Sunday.The film also broke the record for the biggest single-day take (Saturday with $32.9m), as well as the biggest Friday ($31.6m), Saturday and Sunday ($29m) daily grosses on record. It also played in a record ...

  • Nadia Bronson & Associates buys stake in DDA

    15-Nov-2001

    Nadia Bronson & Associates (NB&A), the entertainment consultancy launched by industry veteran Bronson at Cannes this year, has formalised its relationship with Dennis Davidson & Associates (DDA) taking a minority equity stake in the longstanding PR consultancy. Bronson and associate Thomas Castaneda immediately join Davidson and partner, president and CEO Melanie Hodal on the DDA board of directors.Bronson had worked extensively with DDA while international marketing and distribution ...

  • Soderbergh's next gets new title - Full Frontal

    15-Nov-2001

    Steven Soderbergh's next film, formerly known as How To Survive A Hotel Room Fire has been retitled Full Frontal, and has begun production (Nov 6) in Los Angeles.Financed and distributed worldwide by Miramax Films, the contemporary comedy - a sequel "of sorts" to sex, lies and videotape - has an 18-day shooting schedule and will open in the US on March 8, 2002.The film, written by Scott Kramer and Gregory Jacobs from a screenplay by Coleman Hough, ...

  • Pathe acquires UK rights to Dog Soldiers

    15-Nov-2001

    Pathe Distribution has acquired UK rights to horror thriller Dog Soldiers from Victor Films following a bidding war for the film at London Screenings and MIFED.The film, produced by LA-based Kismet Entertainment, had its premiere screening at London. "The picture screened so well in London that we were confident it would emerge as a favourite of the buyers," said Kismet president Harrison Kaslow. "In a matter of hours, we had offers covering most of the world."Other ...

  • The new Hollywood style: co-dependents

    13-Nov-2001

  • Palm Springs Film Fest 2002 set for Jan 10-21

    13-Nov-2001

    The 13th annual Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival will take place in Palm Springs, California, from Jan 10 to 21, 2002, with the deadline for submissions set as Nov 15, 2001. The festival was co-founded by Sonny Bono and festival director Denis Pregnolato in 1989 and last year screened 150 films from 40 countries.

  • Radar Pictures signs three international partners

    13-Nov-2001

    Ted Field's Radar Pictures has sealed three longterm strategic partnerships with foreign distributors - TMG/Concorde in Germany, Lauren Film in Spain and Sandrew Metronome International in Scandinavia - as part of its efforts to become a co-financier of its own productions.The deals were struck by Radar's exclusive sales agent Good Machine International (GMI) which will cooordinate sales of Radar product in remaining overseas territories.GMI has just concluded an impressive ...

  • New Country, No Man's Land win top AFI Fest prizes

    12-Nov-2001

    Swedish road movie The New Country and Bosnian favourite No Man's Land won the top awards at this year's AFI International Film Festival in Los Angeles, which finished last night with the world premiere of Marc Forster's Monster's Ball.The New Country, directed by Geir Hansteen Jorgensen, won the jury's feature prize with a special mention going to Danis Tanovic's No Man's Land which also won the Los Angeles Times Audience Award for best feature.The ...

  • Miramax prepares ingenue for Oscar run

    4-Nov-2001

  • Fireworks, Samuel Goldwyn pick up Me Without You

    1-Nov-2001

    Fireworks Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films have acquired all North American rights to Sandra Goldbacher's female relationship drama Me Without You.

  • Columbia, Winchester take over New Best Friend

    1-Nov-2001

    Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group and UK and US-based Winchester Films have taken over New Best Friend, the college-age drama which was originally on MGM's slate for the US.

  • Lions Gate seals deals on three key titles

    30-Oct-2001

    Lions Gate International has closed key territory sales on its three hottest titles - Bret Easton Ellis adaptation Rules Of Attraction, Argentinian thriller Nine Queens and drama Monster's Ball.

  • Mosaic's Roven assesses Till synergy

    30-Oct-2001

    A day after unveiling a production deal with Stewart Till's new distribution network, Mosaic Media Group producer Charles Roven says he is now studying how the deal can work in synergy with his existing MGM, Helkon Media and Toho-Towa partnership.

  • Franchise boards Ryan and Douglas & Crystal pics

    30-Oct-2001

    Elie Samaha's Franchise Pictures, which has a five year co-financing and domestic distribution deal with Warner Bros, has boarded Meg Ryan starrer Against The Ropes with Paramount and taken international rights on Warner's remake of The In-Laws to star Michael Douglas and Billy Crystal.

  • Myriad Pictures to finance Imagining Argentina

    29-Oct-2001

    Myriad Pictures is to fully finance and handle worldwide rights on Imagining Argentina, a film based on the Lawrence Thornton novel which is set to star Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson.

  • Sony Pictures Classics in multi-territory deals

    29-Oct-2001

    Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has revisited two former domestic acquisitions - Renaissance Films' The Luzhin Defence and Winchester Films' Last Orders to pick up additional territories. On the former, it has bought Germany and Australia/New Zealand and on the latter it has bought Germany.

  • Universal's K-PAX takes the crown at box office

    28-Oct-2001

  • Greg Sims launches Iron Entertainment

    28-Oct-2001

    Devin International president Greg H Sims has launched a new company called Iron Entertainment with US theatrical and home video distribution capacity as well as financing, production and sales.

  • Good Machine ties up Almodovar, Parker deals

    28-Oct-2001

    Good Machine International (GMI) has tied up key territory sales on Pedro Almodovar's latest picture Hable Con Ella (Talk To Her) and Oliver Parker's The Importance Of Being Earnest.

  • Miramax strikes a host of long distance sales

    28-Oct-2001

    Miramax International may have opted not to attend London and MIFED but it is closing deals by phone in New York and has sold a four-picture package to Gaga Communications for Japan.

  • London: Intermedia in discussions to buy IEG

    26-Oct-2001

    Intermedia, the independent giant which floated on Frankfurt's Neuer Markt 18 months ago, is in discussions to buy Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), the independent maverick which has backed mega-projects such as Steven Soderbergh's Traffic, Martin Scorsese's Gangs Of New York and Michael Mann's Ali.

  • Warner Germany strikes deal with Target Media

    26-Oct-2001

    Warner Bros Pictures Germany has entered into a long-term, multi-picture deal with Target Media Entertainment covering the production and distribution of German- and English-language films to be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Target Media is a recently established, Berlin-based joint venture betweeen Cartoon Film, Comet Film, Cometstone International and others; Thilo Graf Rotkirch's Cartoon Film recently co-produced The Little Polar Bear with Warner Bros Pictures ...

  • Paramount Classics goes for Mostly Martha

    26-Oct-2001

    Paramount Classics has acquired North American, other English-speaking and Lation American distribution rights to Mostly Martha, the German-language romantic comedy written and directed by Sandara Nettelback, from Bavaria Film International.

  • Amelie joins cast of foreign-language Oscar race

    25-Oct-2001

    The foreign-language Oscar race hotted up yesterday as Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amelie Poulain aka Amelie was named the French submission for the Academy Award, ending speculation that other French films might deprive the phenomenal hit of its chance in the Hollywood spotlight.

  • IEG signs on to Douglas' Racing With Monsoons

    23-Oct-2001

    Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) is deepening its in-house production programme, striking a deal with Michael Douglas' Furthur Films to develop and finance Racing With Monsoons.

  • Renaissance finds domestic safety in double deal

    23-Oct-2001

    The UK's Renaissance Films has seen two of its productions secure North American distribution homes, with Paramount Classics taking domestic and a slew of international rights to Paul McGuigan's The Reckoning and now also IFC Films grabbing domestic rights to Rose Troche's The Safety Of Objects. Both deals were confirmed yesterday.

  • Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn gets Myriad money

    22-Oct-2001

    Myriad Pictures has committed to fully finance romantic comedy Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn, which is set to star Jennifer Love Hewitt.

  • Global starts pre-sales on Six Bullets From Now

    22-Oct-2001

    Peter Elson's Global Cinema Group is launching pre-sales on Ridley Scott-produced action film Six Bullets From Now, one of three titles the US sales outfit is handling for Los Angeles production operation Miracle Entertainment.

  • King, DiCaprio and Scorsese re-team for Alexander

    22-Oct-2001

    Two years exactly since triggering a buying frenzy in London with Gangs Of New York, Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) is to team with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese again on the ultimate indie epic - the story of Alexander The Great.

  • Sacker and Savay-Ross form CUE

    21-Oct-2001

    Neil Sacker and Julie Savay-Ross have teamed up to form Creative Union Entertainment (CUE), a new LA-based international sales and financing outfit which kicks off with Wesley Snipes-starrer When The Ride Is Ruff.

  • Beatrix Wesle joins Menemsha Entertainment

    21-Oct-2001

    Beatrix Wesle, well-known on the European market circuit from stints at Advanced Medien and Tobis Filmkunst, has joined Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment as senior vice president of international sales.

  • Lions Gate takes int'l rights on Nine Queens

    21-Oct-2001

    Lions Gate Films International has picked up international distribution rights to the Argentinian hit Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas) which was acquired for North American distribution earlier this year by Sony Pictures Classics. The pick-up echoes Lions Gate's acquisition of another Latin American movie, Amores Perros, which became a breakout hit for the company.

  • Overseas takes Julie Walking Home worldwide

    21-Oct-2001

    Overseas Filmgroup has acquired worldwide distribution on Agnieszka Holland's new film Julie Walking Home and has partnered with Pierce Brosnan's Irish Dreamtime to take on international sales on Bruce Beresford's Evelyn.

  • From Hell wins box office race

    21-Oct-2001

    20th Century Fox scored another number one hit over the weekend as its R-rated Jack The Ripper thriller From Hell directed by Allen & Albert Hughes opened with an estimated $11.3m in North America.

  • Fiona Watts returns to Warner Bros marketing in LA

    17-Oct-2001

    Fiona Watts, a veteran international marketing executive who spent ten years at Warner Bros Pictures from 1988 to 1998, is returning to the studio in Los Angeles after two years as a consultant in the UK.She is being appointed senior vice president, international marketing, reporting directly to Sue Kroll, president, international marketing, at the studio. She is responsible for managing the division's day-to-day cross-departmental marketing operations, working closely with ...

  • Foreign films enjoy bumper year in North America

    17-Oct-2001

    Sony Pictures Classics widened Jacques Rivette's Va Savoir from three to seven prints last weekend, scoring $67,268 for a fine $9,610 screen average. The success of that film, added to First Look's hit Italian release Bread And Tulips and Menemsha's long-running Philippine American hit The Debut ($64,670 on just six screens over the weekend), continue the bumper year for foreign language films.

  • Himel & Jack join Drake at Senator International

    17-Oct-2001

    Senator International, the LA sales arm of Germany's Senator Entertainment, has made a further two appointments, hiring Paula Himel as vice president, sales, and Brent Jack as vice president, international marketing.The announcement follows the appointment earlier this month of Brian Goldsmith as CFO and executive vice president of operations and Paula Call as senior vice president of business and legal affairs.Himel joins Senator after six years at International Film ...

  • Sandy Reisenbach to step down from Warner Bros

    17-Oct-2001

    Hollywood marketing veteran Sandy Reisenbach, who is currently executive vice president, marketing and planning, at Warner Bros will step down from his day to day responsibilities at the end of the year and become an active consultant.He will continue to serve as a senior analyst to studio chairman and CEO Barry Meyer and president and COO Alan Horn on general marketing issues as well as with AOL Time Warner integrated marketing and advertising initiatives."Sandy and ...

  • Klein & Messick take up senior roles at Mutual

    16-Oct-2001

    Producers Jennifer Klein and Kevin Messick are to join Mutual Film Co as senior production executives. Reporting to Mutual chief executives Gary Levinsohn and Don Granger, the two will be responsible for identifying and securing projects for the company to produce and finance as well as overseeing their development and production.Klein joins Mutual from Bay Films where she was vice president since 1996. She was associate producer on Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, a production ...

  • Warner Bros takes over Kinowelt's New Line deals

    16-Oct-2001

    New Line International's output arrangement with the financially troubled German distributor Kinowelt has finally unravelled. In a deal hammered out last week, Warner Bros has assumed the distribution of New Line Cinema features in all German-speaking territories, eastern Europe and Russia effective immediately and through 2003.The announcement was made in Los Angeles yesterday by Richard Fox, executive vice president, international, at Warner Bros and Rolf Mittweg, president ...

  • Graham King steps down from Splendid board

    15-Oct-2001

    Graham King, the chief executive of Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), has stepped down from the board of Splendid Medien, the public German distributor which owns a 49% stake in IEG.The move comes as no surprise since the two operations have been somewhat estranged in the last few months, especially since the slumping prices of many companies on the Neuer Markt which fuelled Splendid and so many other entertainment companies. IEG did not sell German rights on Michael Mann's ...

  • Bandits underwhelms with $13.4m

    15-Oct-2001

    Warner Bros' Training Day remained at the top of the box office over the weekend with an estimated $13.55m gross, some $90,000 more than MGM's Bandits which opened in second position with $13.46m. It was a disappointing performance for the action comedy starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett which had been expected to open in the $20m range and MGM attributed its so-so showing to anthrax scares and warnings of terrorist attacks which kept target adult ...

  • The Sales Co changes its name to The Works

    12-Oct-2001

    London-based The Sales Company, one of the oldest sales operations in the business, has changed its name to The Works, a new brand which will be launched during the run up to London and MIFED.The new name coincides with a new modus operandi at the company under chief executive Aline Perry, the former president of PolyGram Film International, who joined in June with a remit to expand the company's sales and film financing operations."We intend to expand our business at ...

  • Senator International to back Nothing from Natali

    12-Oct-2001

    Vincenzo Natali, the Canadian film-maker behind Cube and Pandora's upcoming Company Man, has signed to direct the movie Nothing for Senator International.Senator is executive producing, providing principal financing for and will handle worldwide distribution on the film; The Klockworx Co holds all rights in Japan. It is the first Natali film to be handled by Klockworx; Gaga has rights to Company Man, and also handled Cube.Based on a ...

  • Yoshimitsu Kaji joins SPE Japan as mktg manager

    12-Oct-2001

    Yoshimitsu Kaji has joined Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan (SPEJ) as theatrical marketing manager, having been marketing director at Warner Bros International Distribution for the last two years.Reporting jointly to Nigel Clark, executive vice president of international marketing for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) and to Keiko Aoki, general manager for SPEJ, Kaji will be responsible for creating and overseeing marketing campaigns for all Columbia ...

  • AFI Fest unveils lineup including new Jaglom pic

    12-Oct-2001

    AFI Fest 2001, the Los Angeles International Film Festival, announced its full lineup at a reception on Wednesday night. Joining the already announced opening night film (Dark Blue World), centrepiece gala (Lantana) and closing night film (Monster's Ball) are 57 feature films including eight world premieres. 49% of the entire festival programme is composed of foreign and foreign-language films.In addition, AFI Fest will pay tribute on Nov 9 to director Ang ...

  • Alliance Atlantis buys int'l rights on Baran

    11-Oct-2001

    Alliance Atlantis Pictures International has acquired international rights excluding Italy to Majid Majidi's Iranian drama Baran which played in the New York Film Festival this week.Miramax Films has rights in North America and Italy, and Alliance Atlantis will release the film through its ongoing distribution agreement in Canada.Baran, which won the Grand Prize at the 2001 Montreal Film Festival (Majidi's third film to do so), is the story of a cocky Iranian ...

  • LA German Festival starts with The Tunnel on Nov 9

    11-Oct-2001

    The second annual Festival Of German Cinema Los Angeles has been set for Nov 9-15, kicking off with Roland Suso Richter's The Tunnel and closing on Nov 15 with Oliver Hirschbiegel's The Experiment.Organised by the Export-Union Of German Cinema, the festival has confirmed the attendance of Richter and Hirschbiegl along with Hardy Martins, Xavier Koller, Otto Alexander Jahrreiis, actress Nicolette Krebitz (The Tunnel) and producer Michael Schwarz. Festival ...

  • Ford, Delaney, Martinez promoted at Fireworks

    11-Oct-2001

    LA-based Fireworks Pictures, a subsidiary of Jay Firestone's Canwest Entertainment, has promoted three key staff in its business affairs and sales departments.Maura Ford (nee Hoy) has been promoted to vice president of operations from her previous position as director of international sales. She joined Fireworks in 1999 in a primary sales position and now, in addition, oversees all aspects of worldwide operations including the supervision of collections, producer reports and ...

  • All About Lily Chou Chou

    10-Oct-2001

  • Senator International hires Goldsmith & Call

    10-Oct-2001

    LA-based Senator International, the US production and distribution arm of Germany's Senator Entertainment, has made two key appointments, hiring Brian Goldsmith as chief financial officer and executive vice president of operations and Paula Call as senior vice president of business and legal affairs.Goldsmith first consulted for Senator International on Luis Mandoki's 24 Hours; he will now be responsible for the overall operational and financial aspects of the company ...

  • GMI acquires sales rights to Zhou Yu's Train

    10-Oct-2001

    Good Machine International (GMI) has acquired worldwide sales rights outside Chinese-language Asia, Latin America and the English-language territories to Zhou Yu's Train starring Gong Li and Tony Leung.Directed by Sun Zhou and written by Sun, Bai Chun and Zhang Mei, Zhou Yu's Train is currently in production in the province of Sichuan in Southwest China.The deal was negotiated by GMI president David Linde and senior vice president of acquisitions and co-productions ...

  • Warner Germany scores smash with Polar Bear

    9-Oct-2001

    Warner Bros Germany has scored a record-breaking opening with its locally produced family entertainment picture The Little Polar Bear (Der Kleine Eisbar), taking DM4,320,651 ($2.04m) on 477 prints over the weekend.The animated German-language film co-produced by Warner Bros Germany with Cartoon Film is the best opening of the year for Warner in terms of admissions and the second best in terms of box office.The movie opened higher than other family films ...

  • Moulin Rouge opens with tuneful $1.9m in France

    9-Oct-2001

    20th Century Fox scored a powerful opening for Moulin Rouge in France where six months ago the film world premiered as the opening night film of the Cannes International Film Festival. The film's five day total was $1.893m on 343 screens, making it the number one film in France over the weekend.Baz Luhrmann's musical extravaganza also opened at the top spot in French-speaking Switzerland ($134,601 on 20 screens) and had strong bows in Portugal ($133,045 on 44 screens), ...

  • Premiere Grp takes US on Electric/Storm's Preacher

    9-Oct-2001

    Mitch Goldman's new US distribution operation The Premiere Group has signed to handle domestic rights on Preacher, a $22m feature of the comic book series by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon which is being produced by Rupert Harvey's Electric Entertainment and H Michael Heuser's Storm Entertainment.Rachel Talalay (Tank Girl) is directing the film which is scheduled to start shooting in November from a screenplay by Ennis. The picture is currently out ...

  • Bickel sets up new sales outfit at Lexington Ent

    9-Oct-2001

    Steve Bickel, the international sales veteran who most recently headed sales for The Shooting Gallery, has joined Jeffrey Kramer's Lexington Entertainment Group to head a new sales and marketing venture called Aura Entertainment. He will represent in-house productions, acquire independent and foreign features and selectively develop and produce his own projects.Lexington Entertainment Group is a group of companies which encompasses interests in film, TV, theatre, post-production, ...

  • Speaking Of Sex to close Chicago Film Festival

    8-Oct-2001

    John McNaughton's comedy Speaking Of Sex will have its world premiere as the closing night film of the Chicago International Film Festival on Oct 18.The film stars James Spader as an over-sexed therapist who becomes involved with a new client (Melora Walters) while a rival doctor (Lara Flynn Boyle) is determined to catch him in the act. Catherin O'Hara, Jay Mohr and Bill Murray co-star.A native of Chicago, McNaughton has directed films including Henry: Portrait ...

  • Dark Blue World opens AFI Fest, Ball to close it

    8-Oct-2001

    Jan Sverak's Dark Blue World - distributed in the US by Sony Pictures Classics - will open the AFI Fest 2001 on Nov 1 in Los Angeles, while Marc Forster's Monster's Ball - fully financed by Lions Gate Films - will have its world premiere as the closing night film on Nov 11.Dark Blue World, which is being primed as for Oscar consideration, will be screened at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Starring Ondrej Vetchy, Krystof H-dek and Tara Fitzgerald, the ...

  • Cobalt to finance Chin's Cambodia-set actioner

    8-Oct-2001

    Cobalt Media Group has teamed up with writer/producer Stephen Chin on Last Place On Earth, an action drama set in Cambodia on the eve of the UN-supervised elections which Chin wrote.Chin will also produce Last Place On Earth, with Cobalt arranging production finance and handling international sales through its London distribution arm Cobalt Pictures headed by Peter Rogers. It is scheduled to shoot in spring 2002.Cobalt's Jackie Levine brought the project ...

  • Training Day opens to $24.2m

    8-Oct-2001

    Warner Bros' police drama Training Day conquered the box office with ease over the weekend, ending studio fears that audiences wouldn't respond to a story about a crooked cop and validating the move of the film from its original Sept 21 release date. The film grossed a powerful estimated $24.2m over the three day period making it the second highest October opening ever after last year's Meet The Parents.Denzel Washington plays the corrupt LA cop in the critically ...

  • Catch 23 secures credit facility with Comerica

    4-Oct-2001

    Catch 23 Entertainment, the LA-based production company founded by financier Robert B Sturm, has completed a multi-million dollar credit facility with Comerica Entertainment Group, a division of Comerica Bank Of California.The proceeds from the facility will provide Catch 23 with additional film financing and development capital and will be used to accelerate the growth of the company's management division. The collateral base for the facility included existing C23 assets as ...

  • Pliny Porter named production head at Fireworks

    3-Oct-2001

    Pliny Porter has joined CanWest-owned FireWorks Pictures as head of production and development. He will work with CanWest Entertainment chairman and CEO Jay Firestone and Fireworks president Daniel Diamond in growing the company's production and development activities. He joins the company, which is enjoying current success with Rat Race and Hardball, from Joe Roth's Revolution Studios where he had a first-look deal. He will spearhead the development and production ...

  • Moulin Rouge worldwide gross passes $100m mark

    3-Oct-2001

    20th Century Fox's Moulin Rouge passed the $100m mark at the worldwide box office over the weekend, its total gross reaching $102.257m. Its domestic total after 19 weeks on release is $56.58m The movie opened in Italy, Belgium and Norway over the weekend, taking $0.707m on 150 screens in Italy, $0.299m on 50 screens in Belgium and $0.166m on 26 screens in Norway. It also opened in Lebanon ($46,336 on nine screens) and Croatia ($34,515 on seven screens).Those new ...

  • Laszlo Kovacs wins ASC Lifetime Achievement Award

    3-Oct-2001

    Laszlo Kovacs will receive this year's Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society Of Cinematographers (ASC) at the 16th annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards on Feb 17, 2002, in Los Angeles.Kovacs, who was raised in communist Hungary, came to the US in 1957 as a political refugee. He made his breakthrough as the cinematographer on Easy Rider (1969), going on to work on classic films such as Five Easy Pieces (1970), What's Up Doc' (1972), The ...

  • Showcase Entertainment acquires Frost, Judgment

    3-Oct-2001

    LA-based Showcase Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to action/horror movie Frost: Portrait Of A Vampire written and directed by Kevin VanHook, and international rights to Christian thriller Judgment.Frost is based on the comic book series Jack Frost also created by VanHook. It stars Gary Busey as a former mercenary who learns that his best friend has become a vampire. Production recently wrapped in Los Angeles.Judgment is the third ...

  • Edges Of The Lord opens Hamptons Film Fest

    3-Oct-2001

    The ninth annual Hamptons International Film Festival, which takes place Oct 17-21 in East Hampton, Sag Harbor and Westhampton Beach in New York, will feature 11 world premieres including opening night film Edges Of The Lord starring Haley Joel Osment and Willem Dafoe and directed by Yurek Bogayevicz. Miramax Films has US rights to the film.Closing night is Michael Apted's Enigma which is being released domestically by Manhattan Pictures International.Also ...

  • Soon En Wong named Asian m'ktg director at CTFDI

    3-Oct-2001

    Soon En Wong has been named marketing director, Asia, for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International. In his new position, Wong will supervise marketing and promotions activities in the region for all titles produced locally by the studio's Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia division.Based in Hong Kong, Wong will work with LA-based executive vice president, international marketing, Nigel Clark to evaluate local marketing plans and with Sal Ladestro, vice president ...

  • Warner Bros promotes Gornell, Nolan, Schneider

    2-Oct-2001

    Warner Bros Pictures has made three senior promotions in its London-based international marketing division. Con Gornell has been named senior vice president, European theatrical marketing, Conor Nolan has been promoted to vice president European promotions and special events, and Armin Schneider has been named vice president, European publicity. The promotions were made by Sue Kroll, president of international marketing at Warner Bros Pictures.Gornell will oversee and manage ...

  • Imperial renamed Comerica Entertainment Group

    2-Oct-2001

    Entertainment lending group Imperial Entertainment Group has been renamed Comerica Entertainment Group, following the acquisition of Imperial Bank by Comerica in Jan this year.The completed merger gives the entertainment group, headed by president Morgan Rector, access to increased capital for financing entertainment projects and entities.Comerica Entertainment Group has financed large-scale independent features including Angel Eyes and Driven for Franchise ...

  • Erin O'Neil joins Myriad as vp, m'ktg & publicity

    2-Oct-2001

    Erin O'Neil has been named vice president of marketing and publicity at Myriad Pictures in Los Angeles. She will be responsible for international marketing and publicity campaigns for the company's production and acquisitions slate which includes Chen Kaige's Killing Me Softly, Miguel Arteta's The Good Girl and Dan Algrant's People I Know.O'Neil reports to Eric Christenson, executive vice president of sales and distribution, and to co-president Kirk D'Amico. ...

  • Menemsha gets international rights to L.I.E.

    2-Oct-2001

    Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment has acquired rights outside North America to Michael Cuesta's L.I.E. which is currently on release in the US through Lot 47 Films. The film world premiered in competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival and was one of the most critically acclaimed titles at the festival. Cuesta also shared the New Directors Prize at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August.A disturbing tale of a troubled 15 year-old boy in Long Island ...

  • Nadia Bronson hires Castaneda, O'Dell, Alves

    2-Oct-2001

    Nadia Bronson, the former international marketing and distribution chief at Universal Pictures, has named three key staff hires at her new company - Nadia Bronson Associates, a one-stop consultancy for international distribution, marketing, promotions and creative services. All three had worked with Bronson at Universal. They are: - Thomas Castaneda, a long time colleague of Bronson who left his post as vice president of international publicity at Universal earlier this ...

  • Word, Zoolander, Hearts revitalise US box office

    1-Oct-2001

    Americans went back to the movies over the weekend as three new films opened well and box office was up 52% on last weekend and 26% up on the same weekend last year.20th Century Fox's psychological thriller Don't Say A Word, produced by New Regency Productions, was the box office champion over the weekend, taking $18m. Directed by Gary Fleder and starring Michael Douglas as a psychiatrist whose daughter is abducted by ex-cons who need him to extract a six digit number ...

  • MGM moves Windtalkers from Nov to summer 2002

    1-Oct-2001

    Just weeks before its scheduled release, MGM Distribution Company has moved its epic war movie Windtalkers from Nov 9 to June 14, 2002, to avoid any uncertainties that might affect the box office in the wake of the Sept 11 tragedy.Windtalkers is one of the biggest films to emerge from Chris McGurk's regime at MGM, and sources say that the studio did not want to risk a compromised audience reaction. Directed by John Woo and starring Nicolas Cage, the film is the ...

  • Universal/UIP cook up $8m German opening for Pie 2

    1-Oct-2001

    Universal Pictures and its international distribution operation UIP have scored the biggest opening of the year in Germany with American Pie 2. The comedy sequel took an estimated $8m in its first three days this weekend on 900 screens.The movie opened 4% ahead of Pearl Harbor, 17% ahead of Hannibal, 23% ahead of The Mummy Returns, 31% ahead of Jurassic Park III and 58% ahead of Planet Of The Apes, according to Universal. It accounted ...

  • Artisan valued at $160m after Landscape merger

    30-Sep-2001

    After many months of pursuing strategic alliances, acquisitions and mergers, Artisan Entertainment has closed a deal, merging with Landscape Entertainment, the production company founded by former DreamWorks executive Bob Cooper and backed by Canadian conglomerate Bell Globemedia.

  • Pathe, Lions Gate board John Cusack-starrer Max

    30-Sep-2001

    Pathe Pictures and Lions Gate Films have boarded Menno Meyjes' directorial debut Max, formerly known as Hoffman, which will start principal photography in Hungary on Nov 5 with a cast headed by John Cusack, Noah Taylor, Leelee Sobieski and Molly Parker.Pathe International will handle international sales and Lions Gate domestic rights on Max which is an Alliance Atlantis/Andras Hamori production in association with JAP Films and Natural Nylon Entertainment. ...

  • Academy Awards race starts to take shape

    28-Sep-2001

  • Winchester's Last Orders goes to Sony Classics

    27-Sep-2001

    Winchester Films has closed a multi-territory deal with Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) on Fred Schepisi's Last Orders which had its world premiere at the recent Toronto International Film Festival. SPC bought the film for North America, Scandinavia, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.The film, which was well-received by critics and audiences at the festival, is based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by Graham Swift. It stars Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, ...

  • US theatres raise $5m for Sept 11 charities

    27-Sep-2001

    Tuesday's Victims' Benefit Day at the Movies - on which theatre owners and distributors donated all ticket and concessions sales to Sept 11 charities - raised over $5m for disaster relief.50 percent of the proceeds collected will be donated to the American Red Cross and 50 percent will be donated to the United Way. 100% of Sept 25 ticket and concessions sales are to be donated.Over 450 exhibitors across the US representing over 30,000 screens participated in the benefit. ...

  • Kathy Morgan reelected to chair of AFMA

    26-Sep-2001

    Kathy Morgan, the veteran sales agent and head of Kathy Morgan International, was re-elected chairman of AFMA (aka the American Film Marketing Association) yesterday during the group's annual membership meeting. She will serve another two-year term alongside other newly elected vice chairman Robert Meyers of Meyers Film Entertainment and newly elected vice chairman & secretary Steve Bickel of Orpheum Communications.Meanwhile newly elected to the board of directors for a one-year ...

  • Prozac Nation

    25-Sep-2001

  • Deanna Sanchez joins Myriad in business affairs

    25-Sep-2001

    Deanna Sanchez has joined Myriad Pictures in Los Angeles as director of business affairs. She will be responsible for managing in-house business, operational and legal matters covering all aspects of theatrical features from development through distribution.She reports directly to David Miercourt, Myriad's senior vice president of business affairs.Prior to joining Myriad, Miercourt was a senior manager in the data technologies and alliances contracting group at SBC Communications ...

  • Absolument Fabuleux

    25-Sep-2001

  • Iris, Charlotte dated for pre-Oscar US releases

    24-Sep-2001

    Two high-powered British prestige pictures - Iris and Charlotte Gray - have been set for release in the US and Canada in December, meaning that they qualify for and indeed will be pushed for Oscar consideration.Neither had been certain to open this year. Warner Bros, which has US rights to Charlotte Gray, has an intensely busy release schedule in November and December including Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone, Ocean's 11 and The Majestic ...

  • Hardball leads the pack again over dismal weekend

    24-Sep-2001

    It was one of the most dismal weekends of the year at the North American box office, down 7% from the same weekend last year and some 15% from last weekend. The reasons: two films due to open this weekend (Training Day and Big Trouble) were postponed, the one left - Glitter, pictured here - was a flop, and audiences preferred to stay at home due to nerves over terrorist attacks, especially on Friday night to watch the Sept 11 telethon.The two hour telethon, ...

  • Spence, Blackaby join San Francisco Film Festival

    24-Sep-2001

    The San Francisco International Film Festival has recruited a new programming team for its upcoming 45th annual festival under newly appointed executive director Roxanne Messina Captor, an Emmy-nominated producer and director who joined the festival in Jan this year. Carl Spence joins San Francisco from the Seattle International Film Festival where he was associate director for eight years, while Linda Blackaby joins from the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival ...

  • The Safety Of Objects

    21-Sep-2001

  • Ridley & Tony Scott sign three year deal with Fox

    21-Sep-2001

    Ridley Scott and Tony Scott and their production outfit Scott Free have closed a three year-producing and directing deal with 20th Century Fox to develop and make movies with all producing divisions of Fox. In addition to producing films for Fox, the brothers have committed to direct at least one film each for the studio."It's something we've been pursuing for a while," explained Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chairman Jim Gianopulos. "When it became apparent they were looking ...

  • Melissa Mazgedian upped at Paramount int'l group

    21-Sep-2001

    Melissa Mazgedian has been promoted to vice president, international motion pictures, for Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group.Mazgedian will work closely with Paramount's international distribution unit United International Pictures (UIP) to coordinate sales and marketing for the international release of feature films. She will continue to report to Joanna Johnson, executive vice president of international motion pictures for the Motion Picture Group.Mazgedian was ...

  • Apes passes $150m, AI $100m in international takes

    20-Sep-2001

    Two more movies have hit powerful international box office milestones in the past week. 20th Century Fox's Planet Of The Apes topped the $150m mark over last weekend, while Warner Bros' AI Artificial Intelligence soared past $100m.Planet Of The Apes has now taken $156.4m after seven weeks on release. Over last weekend, it debuted at number one in Italy with $1.87m on 366 screens which outperformed Jurassic Park III's opening earlier in the summer. ...

  • Michael Nathanson renews contract at MGM Pictures

    20-Sep-2001

    Michael Nathanson, the president and COO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Pictures, has entered into a longterm agreement with MGM to remain in charge of the production division. He has been in the job since 1997 and is one of the few senior managers to have survived the transition of management at MGM in 1999. He continues to report to MGM vice chairman and COO Chris McGurk.Nathanson will continue to oversee all facets of development, acquisition, business and production of films ...

  • US theatres plan Sept 11 charity day next Tuesday

    20-Sep-2001

    Theatre circuits across the US are banding together to create a "Victims Benefit Day at the Movies" next Tuesday (Sept 25) on which 100% of ticket and concession sales will be donated to the September 11th Fund of the United Way and the American Red Cross.50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross and 50% to the United Way.Among participating circuits are AMC, Carmike Cinemas, Cinemark USA, Hoyts Cinemas Corp, National Amusements, Regal Cinemas and United Artists ...

  • Lions Gate buys domestic on Lovely & Amazing

    12-Sep-2001

    Lions Gate Films has bought North American theatrical distribution rights to Nicole Holofcener's Lovely & Amazing which screened yesterday at the Toronto International Film Festival - although its scheduled premiere screening on Tuesday was cancelled due to the terrorist attacks in the US. The film was first seen at the Telluride Film Festival last month.

  • Toronto deals: Miramax close to Sun, Soldiers

    11-Sep-2001

    Before coming to an abrupt halt, buying was hotting up at the Toronto International Film Festival with Miramax Films close to buying worldwide rights on Walter Salles' Behind The Sun and closing in domestic rights to Gregor Jordan's Buffalo Soldiers. Meanwhile Sony Pictures Classics is circling Jill Sprecher's ensemble piece 13 Conversations About One Thing.

  • Lot 47 acquires US rights to Inuit film Atanarjuat

    11-Sep-2001

    Lot 47 Films has acquired US rights to the highly acclaimed Inuit film Atanarjuat - The Fast Runner directed by Zacharias Kunuk. The first film ever written in the Inuit language, Atanarjuat won the Camera d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and has played in the Edinburgh, Telluride and this week's Toronto film festivals.

  • Sony Classics takes North America on Secret Ballot

    10-Sep-2001

    Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has bought North American rights to Secret Ballot (Raye Makhfi), the Iranian film written and directed by Babak Payami which won the Best Director award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

  • Willi Geike gets expanded role at Warner Germany

    9-Sep-2001

    Willi Geike, the well-respected head of Warner Bros' theatrical operations in Germany has been promoted and will now also oversee the home video unit for Germany and Austria. His newly created position is vice president & managing director, Warner Bros Pictures Germany and Warner Home Video, Germany & Austria.

  • LA Film Fest moves to June, goes international

    9-Sep-2001

    Independent Feature Project (IFP)/West is moving the Los Angeles Film Festival away from its April timeslot to June and has earmarked June 21-29 for next year's event. In addition, Rachel Rosen, most recently associate director of the San Francisco International Film Festival, has been named director of programming for the festival as well as the organisation's year-round screening programme.

  • Strand buys two for US - Hush! & Lan Yu

    9-Sep-2001

    Marcus Hu and Jon Gerrans' Strand Releasing has acquired US rights to two Asian films - Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan's latest picture Lan Yu and Japanese director Hashiguchi Ryosuke's romantic comedy Hush!

  • Pressman & Schmidt team to form ContentFilm

    9-Sep-2001

    Veteran producer Edward R Pressman and John Schmidt, a former partner in October Films, have teamed up to form a new company called ContentFilm which plans to finance, produce and arrange distribution on an initial slate of 12 to 15 features to be shot mainly on digital video with budgets of $2m and under.

  • Palm picks up worldwide rights to Sweetie Pie

    9-Sep-2001

    Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Sweetie Pie, a digital feature film which marks the directorial debut of Asher Levin and Cisco Adler who have dubbed themselves The Lost Angels. Levin and Adler also wrote the film, and Adler produced it.

  • The Musketeer leaps to top of US Box Office

    9-Sep-2001

  • Chartier, Shapiro form sales & financing co

    6-Sep-2001

    International sales executives Nicolas Chartier and Dean Shapiro have teamed up to found Vortex Pictures, a new financing and foreign sales outfit based in Santa Monica which already has three films on its books from Los Angeles production outfit Gold Circle Films.Chartier, who was formerly vice president of sales and acquisitions at Myriad Pictures, and Shapiro, formerly a senior vice president of international sales at Motion Picture Corp Of America who also had a stint at ...

  • Karlin & Green buy, remold Bjorck consultancy

    6-Sep-2001

    International sales veterans Penny Karlin and Kelly Green have acquired Bjorck Film Corporation, the distribution consultancy founded by Lennart Bjorck in 1977 and renamed it Karlin-Green Media. Bjorck will remain with the company as a consultant.Karlin, who joined Bjorck in 1996 as president, and Green, who has been with the company since 1989, will be equal partners in the new company and share co-president titles. They will continue to be based in Los Angeles.Karlin-Green ...

  • Erik Lomis named president of MGM Distribution Co

    6-Sep-2001

    Erik Lomis has been named president of MGM Distribution Co, the distribution arm of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios. He will report to Bob Levin, president of worldwide theatrical marketing and distribution.Lomis, who was previously executive vice president, will continue to be responsible for the sales and distribution of the company's theatrical releases. He joined MGM in 1993 from United Artists Theatre Corporation where he spent five years in key positions culminating ...

  • Chicago has cream of world cinema at Oct fest

    6-Sep-2001

    The Chicago International Film Festival has unveiled 18 films which will screen in its next event (Oct 4-18) including some of the most acclaimed international titles from this year's festival circuit.Already lined up for Chicago are Nanni Moretti's Cannes Palme d'Or winner The Son's Room, Danis Tanovic's award-winning Bosnian drama No Man's Land, Lone Sherfig's Danish Dogme comedy Italian For Beginners and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's smash French hit Amelie.Also ...

  • MDP reports 45% increase in net income

    6-Sep-2001

    LA independent sales and financing outfit MDP Worldwide Entertainment has reported its financial results for the third quarter ended June 30, 2001, and the first three quarters of the fiscal year. The company trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange.Those results show a 45% increase in net income of C$837,000 ($553,000) for the third quarter, compared to C$575,000 ($380,000) for the same period in the previous year. For the nine month period ended June 30, 2001, MDP announced a ...

  • Fox, Disney team for rival internet movie service

    6-Sep-2001

    Just two weeks after five major Hollywood studios announced a joint venture on-demand movie service for internet users, the remaining two - Walt Disney Studios and 20th Century Fox have launched their own service. Entitled Movies.com, it will provide movies and other entertainment content on demand to consumers in the US starting in early 2002. Content will come not only from Disney and Fox but also from Disney-owned Miramax Films and others.The service will be available to ...

  • Fireworks to release The Believer after Showtime

    22-Aug-2001

    Henry Bean's multiple award-winning The Believer will be released theatrically in the US in Jan 2002 by Fireworks Pictures through Independent Distribution Partnership (IDP) - despite and subsequent to its domestic premiere on Showtime in September.The controversial film, which stars Ryan Gosling as a former Yeshiva student turned neo-Nazi skinhead, won the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival and the Golden St George at the Moscow Film Festival and ...

  • Edward Noeltner joins Miramax Int'l as senior vp

    22-Aug-2001

    Edward Noeltner has joined Miramax International as senior vice president of sales and distribution, reporting directly to Miramax Films chairman of worldwide distribution Rick Sands.Noeltner, a well-known face on the international festival and market circuit, comes to Miramax from AB Svensk Filmindustri where he was senior vice president, international distribution, for the past two years. He also opened Svensk's office in Paris, where he was previously based. He will now relocate ...

  • Warner Spain executive Ed Weinberg dies at 53

    20-Aug-2001

    Veteran distribution executive Ed Weinberg died last week in Spain after suffering a brain stroke. The respected Weinberg who was deputy general manager of Warner Bros' joint venture with Sogefilms in Spain was 53 years old.He died on Aug 4 and is survived by his wife Dianna and sons Scott and Danny.The Paris-born Weinberg had worked for Warner Bros. in a number of capacities for nearly 28 years. He joined the company in 1974 as a trainee and rose through the executive ...

  • Pie 2 stays on top; Rat Race opens with $11.8m

    20-Aug-2001

    Universal's American Pie 2 became the first film since June to stay at number one at the North American box office for a second weekend, taking an estimated $21.4m over the three day Friday to Sunday period for a ten-day total of $87.6m.The R-rated teen sequel, however, fell 53% from its opening and looks only moderately successful compared to New Line's Rush Hour 2 which took an estimated $19.2m in its third weekend to bring its 17-day total to $164.8m. Rush ...

  • Lot 47 hires distribution veteran Thompson

    17-Aug-2001

    Distribution veteran Bill Thompson has joined New York-based distributor Lot 47 Films in the newly created position of vice president, general sales manager.

  • Hollywood logs on with on-line studio coalition

    17-Aug-2001

    In an unusual show of cooperation, five Hollywood studios - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, ParamountPictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Bros - are banding together to create an on-demand movie service that will offer theatrical films via digital delivery for broadband Internet users in the US.

  • US box office bonanza: new rules, new targets

    16-Aug-2001

    Total box office receipts in North America for the year 2001 passed $5bn this week - setting a record pace not only for the summer season - which closes in a fortnight on Labor Day weekend - but for the year.

  • 121% rise in 2nd quarter revenues for First Look

    16-Aug-2001

    First Look Media has announced a rise of 121% in its second quarter 2001 revenues to $9.8m from $4.4m in the second quarter 2000. Operating results for the three-month period ended June 30 showed an operating loss down to $0.5m from $0.8m in the same quarter last year.The revenue rise was primarily attributable to higher film revenues from foreign territories and an increase in the sale of US TV rights, as well as strong performances from video releases and a rise in airline ...

  • Filmstar recruits Lantern Lane to sell two

    16-Aug-2001

    LA-based production company Filmstar Productions has enlisted Lantern Lane Entertainment to handle sales on its latest two films, The Courier, which is in post-production, and Third Eagle, which is in pre-production.David L Garber, the president and CEO of Lantern Lane, will negotiate all domestic and international distribution deals for the film. Garber previously represented Filmstar on Poor White Trash starring Sean Young, William Devane and Jason London.The ...

  • US plexes adopt technology for blind, deaf patrons

    16-Aug-2001

    A second multiplex theatre in California has installed Motion Picture Access - a new technology which enables blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing patrons to further enjoy the film. The technology - comprised of the DVS Theatrical and Rear Window Captioning systems - was developed by Boston-based Media Access Group at WGBH, a division of public broadcaster WGBH.Loews Cineplex Entertainment has installed the technology in its Universal City Cinemas; previously General ...

  • Bill Block resigns from Artisan Entertainment

    15-Aug-2001

    Artisan Entertainment president Bill Block is resigning from the company to seek "other investment and restructuring opportunities". Block, who will remain a shareholder in the company, says he plans to consult with other companies on their merger and financing strategies.Block's departure leaves Artisan CEO Amir Malin in sole charge of the company which has a library of over 6,700 titles and remains one of the only independents left in the business. Block, Malin and Mark Curcio ...

  • Australia wins big at Palm Springs Short Film Fest

    15-Aug-2001

    The seventh annual Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films closed on Sunday night having screened 284 films from around the world. And in the closing night award ceremony, winners of the 21 festival prizes, which shared a total of $43,000 in prize money, came from across the globe. Australian film-makers in particular were showered with awards - winning the best of festival award, best live action (over 15 mins), best student live action (under 15 mins) and a runner-up prize ...

  • USA Films names Glenn Williamson production head

    15-Aug-2001

    As expected, Glenn Williamson - a former senior production executive at DreamWorks SKG - has joined USA Films as president of production, succeeding Donna Gigliotti who is leaving after two years to return to producing.Gigliotti will continue to work with USA through the release of the last two productions she oversaw for the company - Robert Altman's Gosford Park which is scheduled to open on Dec 21, and Neil LaBute's Possession starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron ...

  • Apes, AI grosses stack up in weekend int'l release

    14-Aug-2001

    20th Century Fox's Planet Of The Apes continued to open around the world over the weekend, bringing its total gross to $47.17m after three weeks of release, while Warner Bros bowed AI Artificial Intelligence in Korea and Mexico, bringing its overseas total to $68.1m from just three territories.Planet Of The Apes took $2.13m on 346 screens in Australia, making it the second biggest August opening of all-time after Fox's Independence Day and the seventh ...

  • American Pie 2

    12-Aug-2001

  • Sequel weekend: Pie 2 takes $45m, Rush Hour 2 $31m

    12-Aug-2001

    The domestic box office continued to roar over the weekend. Not only did Universal's third sequel of the summer American Pie 2 open to a massive $45.1m but New Line Cinema's Rush Hour 2 took $31.5m in its second weekend bringing its ten day total to a spectacular $131.9m.

  • James Cameron is going back to Titanic

    10-Aug-2001

    James Cameron is going back to Titanic. Teaming up with Cary Granat's recently launched Walden Media, his EarthShip Productions is producing Ghosts Of The Abyss, an underwater exploration project which will examine the respective sinkings of the Titanic and Bismarck. The six-week expedition to look at the wreckages which will form the subject of the film will set sail on Aug 13 with Cameron and his two brothers on board.

  • Bingham Ray, new UA head

    9-Aug-2001

    In 1999, when Bingham Ray sold his stake in October Films - the company he co-founded with Jeff Lipsky - he came to several conclusions. One was that he was keen to produce. Another that he would think twice about getting into any more partnerships. The other was that maybe it wasn't such a smart idea to "throw the rulebook out," as he considers he did then.

  • FilmFour teams with Elmore Leonard

    8-Aug-2001

    The UK's FilmFour Ltd has bought film rights to Tishomingo Blues, the 37th novel by Elmore Leonard which will be published by Harper Collins in Feb 2002. Leonard will serve as a producer on the film and a full creative partner on the project with FilmFour.

  • London sales exec Horley leaves Summit for Myriad

    8-Aug-2001

    Samantha Horley, former vice president of international sales at Summit Entertainment, has joined Myriad Pictures as London-based senior vice president of international distribution.

  • Sixth Sense producers reteam with Shyamalan

    8-Aug-2001

    Producers Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Sam Mercer have re-teamed with writer-director M Night Shyamalan for his next project Signs which is being backed by Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. Marshall, Mercer and Shyamalan will be producers, with Kennedy executive producer.

  • First Run & TLA buy US rights to The Fluffer

    7-Aug-2001

    First Run Features and TLA Releasing have acquired North American rights to Richard Glatzer and Wash West's controversial film The Fluffer which will have its nationwide premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September before opening in US theatres in Nov 2001. The film had its world premiere in the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival this year.Set against the backdrop of the sex industry, The Fluffer follows three characters in Los Angeles ...

  • Apes break four opening records in Latin America

    7-Aug-2001

    20th Century Fox International has scored all-time industry opening records in Brasil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela as Planet Of The Apes opened throughout Latin America over the weekend.

  • Lot 47 buys North American rights to Some Body

    7-Aug-2001

    Lot 47 Films has acquired all North American rights to Henry Barrial's Some Body which premiered in dramatic competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The independent distributor will release the film in spring 2002.Produced by IFC-backed Next Wave Films with Rhythm Films and Cubano Films Production, it features a breakthrough performance by Stephanie Bennett as a sexually-charged elementary schoolteacher struggling to balance her personal and professional life ...

  • Slamdance unveils films for Cologne Showcase

    7-Aug-2001

    Slamdance Entertainment has unveiled its lineup of two German features and ten shorts for its first ever Cologne Showcase to take place on Aug 18 during music industry trade show Popkomm (Aug 16-18).The feature films are:Anam Dir: Buket AlakusMein Langsames Leben (Passing Summer) Dir: Angela SchanelecThe short films are:BundesAlltag (Lower Parliament) Dir: Susanne BoeingHandstand Dir: Ruth OlshanHessi ...

  • Another mega-opening at US box office: Rush Hour 2

    5-Aug-2001

    With a whopping estimated $66.8m three-day opening New Line Cinema's Rush Hour 2 leapt into the record books over the weekend, becoming the biggest comedy opening of all time, the biggest New Line opening of all time, the biggest August opening ever and the third best non-holiday opening on record. The comedy follow-up to Brett Ratner's 1998 smash teaming Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker comes in just behind last weekend's Planet Of The Apes ($68.5m) and May opener ...

  • MGM confirms: UA will move to New York under Ray

    3-Aug-2001

    Bingham Ray and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) have dotted the i's and crossed the t's on the contract which sees Ray named president of MGM's speciality film unit United Artists (UA). He will begin his job on Sept 1, 2001.As per Ray's location, UA's main offices will relocate to New York where Ray will oversee all aspects of its operations. Ray will report to Chris McGurk, vice chairman and chief operating officer of MGM, the executive who acquired a majority interest in Ray's October ...

  • James Birch promoted to senior vp at WBIT

    3-Aug-2001

    James Birch has been promoted to the position of senior vice president, business affairs & general counsel, for Warner Bros International Theatres (WBIT). Based in Warner's London office, he will report to Millard Ochs, president of WBIT.Birch will continue to be responsible for all legal and development issues affecting the day-to-day operation and growth of the division.He was previously vice president, business affairs & general counsel, a post he was promoted to ...

  • Michael Donaldson elected president of IDA

    3-Aug-2001

    Michael C Donaldson has been elected president of the International Documentary Association (IDA). Donaldson, a founding partner of entertainment and copyright law firm Donaldson & Hart, has been IDA general counsel for 12 years and a member of its board of directors since 1998. He is the first president who isn't a documentary film-maker."When I was elected president of IDA, it took a little while for me to get used to the idea," Donaldson said in a statement. "But I have a ...

  • Dimension re-releases Spy Kids with new scene

    2-Aug-2001

    Dimensions Films' family hit Spy Kids will be re-released in North America next Wednesday (Aug 8) with an additional three-minute underwater special effects scene cut from the original which opened on March 30 and went on to gross over $100m."It was one of my favourite scenes, but it was never completed because of the enormous amount of effects shots to be done in the time we had," explained writer/director Robert Rodriguez. "I initially thought of saving the scene for ...

  • Cacavas named Columbia vp, world dist'n analysis

    2-Aug-2001

    John Cacavas has been promoted to vice president, worldwide distribution analysis, for Columbia Pictures. He reports to Paul Smith, executive vice president, worldwide marketing and distribution, for Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group.He will focus on analysing the worldwide motion picture industry, in particular how the company's different film genres perform during key holiday and vacation time frames. He will also develop systems to monitor the global film distribution ...

  • TF1 USA hires Brimm to fulfil co-production drive

    1-Aug-2001

    Tracy Brimm, who was an agent in the international department at ICM, has joined European broadcaster TF1 as president of co-productions and acquisitions at TF1 USA, a division of TF1 International.

  • Bingham Ray lined up to head United Artists

    1-Aug-2001

    After weeks of speculation, it seems certain that indie veteran Bingham Ray is to head United Artists (UA), the specialised arm of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

  • Aizea is first Euro film to use DTS/16mm system

    31-Jul-2001

    A 29-minute German/Spanish short Aizea: City Of The Wind becomes the first European film to use the DTS/16mm sound technology when it premieres this week at the Hollywood Film Festival in Los Angeles.The system, pioneered by Digital Theatre Systems (DTS), combines DTS 5.1 six channel digital surround sound with 16mm film stock, which has traditionally been limited to mono sound. Aizea was mixed in Munich, Germany, by Giesing Team, one of the country's foremost sound studios.The ...

  • Spain's Albaladejo wins LA Latino Film Festival

    31-Jul-2001

    Miguel Albaladejo's El Cielo Abierto (Ten Days Without Love) won the top prize at the fifth Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on Sunday. The Spanish film was named best picture by a jury composed of Pedro Armendariz Jr, Quinn Coleman, Manuel Perez Estremera and Gabriel Figueroa Jr. Albaladejo also shared the best screenplay prize with Franciso Lombardi for Tinto Roja (Red Ink) from Peru.The awards presentations in nine different categories ...

  • No Borders Co-Prod Market unveils 2001 lineup

    29-Jul-2001

    The Independent Feature Project (IFP) has announced the projects which will make up this year's No Borders Co-Production Market taking place between Sept 30 and Oct 4. In addition, No Borders has struck up an arrangement with UK public funding body The Film Council which will act as a presenting partner through its New Cinema Fund, bringing affiliated UK producers to New York for the event.The event, which takes place during the IFP Market in New York City but has its own independent ...

  • Apes rules US box office; Fox epic opens on $69.6m

    29-Jul-2001

    20th Century Fox breathed a sigh of relief as its great summer hope Planet Of The Apes opened to out-of-this-world box office results, taking an estimated $69.56m over the Friday to Sunday weekend which is the second highest opening, the highest non-sequel opening and the highest non-holiday weekend opening of all time. On Friday alone, the film took $25.1m, a record for a Friday, although second to the Wednesday opening day total of Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace ...

  • Reelplay buys FilmBazaar as B2B websites dwindle

    27-Jul-2001

    Reelpay has completed its acquisition of FilmBazaar, further consolidating the business-to-business e-marketplace for the film and television distribution industries.Under the terms of the merger agreement, Reelplay acquired FilmBazaar in a stock-for-stock deal. Headed by co-presidents Stephen Liu and Dennis Young, Reelplay is also suggesting that it will look for further acquisition of declining B2B web businesses, of which there are several including ShowBizData and InternetStudios. ...

  • Kirk Wong signs to direct Artisan's Iron Fist

    27-Jul-2001

    Hong Kong action director Kirk Wong has committed to develop and direct Iron Fist, the film of Marvel Enterprises' comic book which is the first to be generated by a joint venture between Artisan Entertainment and Marvel formed to create character-based programming across all media.Ray Park will star in the title role of Iron Fist which has been scripted by John Turman. Principal photography on the film is expected to begin in late 2001 or early 2002. Artisan will handle ...

  • Robert Luketic

    27-Jul-2001

    The Robert Luketic story is already well-known around Hollywood. It is now set to be repeated many times by the talented young Australian director as he conducts worldwide publicity for his debut feature Legally Blonde, which opened at the top of the US box office, winning a popular vote of $20.4m despite surprisingly lacklustre reviews.

  • Rachel Wood gets development job at Catch 23 UK

    26-Jul-2001

    Rachel Wood, formerly head of development at Nik Powell's Scala Productions, has joined Catch 23 (C23) Entertainment's newly launched UK film production and finance venture to head its development activities.She will spearhead C23's efforts to develop projects featuring British acting, writing and directing talent and liaise with International Creative Management (ICM) UK and its heads Duncan Heath and Lyndsey Posner who are serving as advisors to the C23 venture. Wood previously ...

  • Bishop adds VOD, PPV roles at MGM Home Ent

    26-Jul-2001

    David Bishop, the president and chief operating officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Home Entertainment Group, has been given added responsibility for the company's video-on-demand and pay-per-view initiatives as well as other emerging technologies.Bishop currently oversees all aspects of MGM Home Entertainment Group's worldwide video and DVD operations, its consumer products and interactive businesses and its internet unit MGM.com."David has played a key role in charting ...

  • Palm Springs Short Fest adds $15,000 prize

    26-Jul-2001

    The 2001 Palm Springs International Festival Of Short Films, which takes place Aug 7-13, has created a $15,000 prize for future filmmakers. All filmmakers whose films are entered in competition are eligible for the prize, dubbed the Palm Springs International Future Filmmaker Award.The festival has also announced that it will double the prize money offered in each of its nine first place award categories, increasing the total award monies presented at this year's festival to ...

  • David Miercort heads business affairs at Myriad

    26-Jul-2001

    LA-based entertainment lawyer David Miercort has been named senior vice president of business affairs for Myriad Pictures. He will head the business affairs department in Myriad's LA office and will be responsible for all in-house business, operational and legal matters covering all aspects of theatrical films.He will report directly to Myriad president Kirk D'Amico; he will also negotiate all development and production deals, distribution agreements and financing agreements ...

  • Billy Liar gets remake treatment from Landscape

    25-Jul-2001

    Landscape Entertainment, the production company founded by former DreamWorks executive Bob Cooper and backed by Canadian conglomerate Bell Globe Media, is to remake the 1963 classic Billy Liar - the British kitchen sink drama which sealed the careers of director John Schlesinger and stars Tom Courtenay and Julie Christie.Paul A Kaufman, whose Kaufman Company banner is based at Landscape, brought the project in to Landscape and he will produce with Cooper. Marc Rosen, ...

  • Winona Ryder takes lead role in UK rom com

    25-Jul-2001

    Hollywood star Winona Ryder has taken the lead role in British romantic comedy Lily And The Secret Planting which goes into production in London next month. The film is the long-awaited second feature of Hettie Macdonald, who made her debut with Beautiful Thing in 1996.Lily is a $5m co-production between the UK's Sarah Radclyffe Productions and Strawberry Vale Film and TV Productions and New York-based production company Hart Sharp Entertainment. Hart Sharp ...

  • Soderbergh, Miramax reteam on Hotel Room Fire

    24-Jul-2001

    Miramax Films is reteaming with Steven Soderbergh for the first time since 1991's Kafka on the director's next film How To Survive A Hotel Room Fire - a sequel of sorts to Soderbergh's film debut sex, lies, and videotape which was also a breakthrough film for Miramax in 1989.Miramax has worldwide rights to the film which was written by Coleman Hough and will be produced by Scott Kramer (The Limey). No cast has yet been set for the film which Soderbergh ...

  • Ang Lee to be consultant for Columbia's Asia unit

    24-Jul-2001

    Ang Lee has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) to act as a consultant for its Hong Kong-based production unit Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia (CPFPA) - the company which backed his 2000 Chinese-language smash Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.In his consultant capacity, Lee will work closely with CPFPA to discover new talent and further the ongoing development of Chinese-language projects."Working with Ang on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ...

  • Tuchman joins, Haimowitz leaves MGM Networks

    24-Jul-2001

    Bruce Tuchman has been named executive vice president of MGM Networks Inc, with a remit to establish cable, satellite and other channels to distribute MGM's 4,100-title film library and manage the company's existing channel interests worldwide.Tuchman takes the role previously held by Jules Haimowitz, president of MGM Networks, who will now serve as special consultant to MGM. Tuchman reports to Jim Griffiths, president of MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.Tuchman ...

  • Sundance names six composers for Composers Lab

    24-Jul-2001

    The Sundance Institute has announced the six composers who have been selected for the Sundance Composers Lab which will be held in Utah from July 24 to Aug 6.The Sundance Composers Lab, which first took place annually from 1986 to 1989 and then reintroduced in 1998, aims to provide a group of composers with first-hand experience composing for film and enhancing the musical understanding of independent film-makers participating in the Institute's Feature Film Programme.The ...

  • Charlotte Arnold leaves Intermedia for Summit

    23-Jul-2001

    Charlotte Arnold has left Intermedia to join Summit Entertainment as vice president of international sales. She will be based in Summit's London office and report to David Garrett, executive vice president and head of Summit London, and Patrick Wachsberger, LA-based president and CEO.While at Intermedia, Arnold oversaw the theatrical sales activities for several European territories, the Middle East, South East Asia and Latin America. She will cover roughly the same territories ...

  • Jurassic III takes giant $19m on US opening day

    20-Jul-2001

    Universal's sequel Jurassic Park III opened with a roar on Wednesday, grossing a phenomenal $19m in its first day - and indicating that the dinosaur thrill-ride could have the biggest opening of the year and one of the biggest of all time. To indicate its total domination of the market, MGM's Legally Blonde came in at number two for the day with $2.77m.In comparison, Fox's Independence Day opened on a Tuesday evening and grossed $11.1m that night, followed ...

  • Myriad buys 20% of LA broadcast, services facility

    19-Jul-2001

    Myriad Pictures has purchased a 20% stake in Broadcast Standard Inc (BSI), the LA-based broadcast and video servicing, standards conversion and digital editing facility.BSI was founded in 1987 and acquired late last year with funds from Independent International Television, an LA-based TV distribution company controlled by Argentina's Ledafilms, Ledafilms' main investor Pedro Felix Leda and Rene Leda, who was subsequently appointed president and CEOUnder the deal, Myriad ...

  • Marc Butan joins Lions Gate as production evp

    19-Jul-2001

    Lions Gate Productions, a division of Lions Gate Entertainment, has hired Marc Butan, the former president of Ignite Entertainment, as executive vice president of production. Reporting to Michael Paseornek, president of production at Lions Gate, Butan will oversee production of the company's film projects and run its development activities.Butan will help Lions Gate step up its own development activities; it says that it plans to aggressively pursue scripts, pitches and other ...

  • HFPA donates $484,000 to film groups and charities

    19-Jul-2001

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) presented $485,000 in donations to various US charities and institutions at its annual installation luncheon yesterday, bringing the total amount of donations granted by the HFPA in the last seven years to $2.485m.The HFPA, the group of foreign journalists which presents the Golden Globe Awards each year, gave $200,000 to film restoration organisation The Film Foundation, a gift which was accepted by Clint Eastwood on its behalf.Other ...

  • BAFTA LA will honour HBO Original Programming

    18-Jul-2001

    BAFTA-LA, the British Academy Of Film And Television Arts' Los Angeles branch, has elected to honour HBO Original Programming with the Britannia Award for excellence in television at the 11th annual Britannia Awards on Nov 10.Chris Albrecht, president of HBO Original Programming, will accept the award at the ceremony which will be held in Los Angeles. Among HBO projects involving UK talent are miniseries Band Of Brothers which was shot in the UK, The Last Of The Blonde ...

  • Shaun Redick leaves WMA to join Kamins at ICM

    17-Jul-2001

    Shaun Redick, formerly director of the independent film division at The William Morris Agency (WMA), aka WMA Independent, has joined LA talent agency International Creative Management (ICM) as an agent in its international division.Redick has been at WMA Independent for four years working with Cassian Elwes and Rena Ronson; among the projects he will bring with him to ICM is American Crime to be directed by Dan Mintz (Cookers). During the Cannes Film Festival this ...

  • New Line launch Rush Hour 2 Hong Kong promotion

    16-Jul-2001

    New Line Cinema has struck a promotional deal with United Airlines and the Hong Kong Tourism Board for its August 3 release Rush Hour 2.During July and August, travellers on domestic United Airlines flights will see an in-flight film focused on travel to Hong Kong, where much of Rush Hour 2 starring Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker and Zhang Ziyi is set. A United 747 is featured in the film.As part of the promotion, United will screen the world premiere of Rush ...

  • The Mummy Returns crosses $200m internationally

    16-Jul-2001

    A day before its domestic gross passed $200m, Universal Pictures' The Mummy Returns sailed past $200m at the international box office bringing its worldwide total to a spectacular $400m.The film topped the $200m international mark on Friday, becoming the first of the year to do so. It has been on release for ten weeks around the world and opened at number one in every country. It was the top opening of all time in Korea, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Russia, Taiwan and Venezuela, ...

  • Scotia injunction request against Miramax rejected

    16-Jul-2001

    A California State Court has rejected a request by German independent distributor Scotia Film for an injunction to stop the AFMA arbitration proceedings Miramax Films filed against Scotia in April. The ruling was made last Thursday.Scotia, run by Sam Waynberg, sued Miramax in June claiming that it breached its license agreement by overpricing films and failing to deliver promised titles such as Shakespeare In Love (Universal had all international territories on that ...

  • Alex Massis to represent

    13-Jul-2001

    CineSales Inc, the worldwide sales representative for the "Something Weird" library of films, has retained Alex Massis and his New York-based Film Source Co as consultants on the sales of the films. The collection includes 13 pictures from cult director Herschell Gordon Lewis including Blood Feast (1963), Two Thousand Maniacs (1964) and Color Me Blood Red (1965).The other Lewis films in the catalogue include The Scum Of The Earth (1963), Blast-Off ...

  • Anschutz-backed Crusader hires Immerman, Morton

    13-Jul-2001

    Crusader Entertainment, the recently formed LA-based production outfit backed by Philip Anschutz's Anschutz Corporation and run by Howard Baldwin, has made two key appointments. Entertainment attorney William J Immerman has been named executive vice president, while former Phoenix Pictures executive Nick Morton has been named vice president of development.Immerman joins two other executive vice presidents at Crusader - Karen Baldwin, who is evp of creative affairs, and Nick ...

  • Sony buys Alliance Atlantis' State for Screen Gems

    13-Jul-2001

    Sony Pictures' mid-level releasing division Screen Gems has acquired US rights to Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Production's action comedy The 51st State starring Samuel L Jackson and Robert Carlyle. Screen Gems plans to release the film in 2002.Directed by Ronny Yu, The 51st State was financed by Alliance Atlantis with the UK's Film Consortium. Other distributors which have already bought the film include Gaga in Japan, New World in Spain, Metropolitan in France ...

  • Final Fantasy

    10-Jul-2001

  • Miramax buys int'l territories on Apocalypse Redux

    10-Jul-2001

    Miramax Films has acquired rights in the UK, Latin America and Italy to Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now Redux, the 197-minute director's reworking of the 1979 classic.

  • Slamdance Film Festival to launch in Germany

    10-Jul-2001

    Slamdance Entertainment, a joint venture between the Slamdance Film Festival and Marco Weber's production company Atlantic Streamline, is to launch a Slamdance Film Festival event in Cologne, Germany, on Aug 18.Taking place in association with music convention Popkomm, the new event is aimed to create and develop a European counterpart to the annual US festival which takes place in Park City, Utah, at the same time as Sundance.Slamdance was launched in 1995 by a group ...

  • Joerg Agin retires from Kodak after 34 years

    10-Jul-2001

    Joerg D Agin will retire as senior vice president of Kodak and president of the company's entertainment imaging division on Sept 1. He will be replaced by Eric G Rodli, who will be promoted from his current position as chief operating officer and vice president of entertainment imaging.Agin joined Kodak in 1967 and pioneered the entertainment imaging side of the business. He left in 1992 to join MCA/Universal as senior vice president, new technology and business development, ...

  • Violette joins Myriad as head of music

    8-Jul-2001

    Independent music specialist Christopher Violette has joined Myriad Pictures as head of music. Reporting to Myriad president Kirk D'Amico and president of production Lucas Foster, he will music supervise a number of Myriad films as well as being responsible for overseeing all the company's music-related interests including the hiring of other music supervisors and composers, music licensing and soliciting soundtracks. He will also work closely with Myriad's parent company IN-motion ...

  • Anders gets retrospective tribute at Karlovy Vary

    8-Jul-2001

    US independent film-maker Allison Anders will receive a retrospective tribute at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival next week as part of the Forum Of Independents series. Anders' latest film Things Behind The Sun, which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, will also be screened.Things Behind The Sun, which is handled internationally by Menemsha Entertainment, had its international premiere last week as part of the American Independents section at the Munich ...

  • Cats And Dogs, Scary Movie 2 top holiday weekend

    8-Jul-2001

    Cats And Dogs beat Scary Movie 2 - just - to the top spot at the North American box office over the weekend, but business was not on the mega-levels generated by last year's battle between The Perfect Storm and The Patriot.Opening on Wednesday - the July the 4th holiday itself - Cats And Dogs grossed $35.7m in five days and $21.67m over the Friday to Saturday weekend itself. Scary Movie 2 took $34.5m over the five days and $21m over ...

  • Cats And Dogs takes $9m, Scary 2 $8.75m on July 4

    6-Jul-2001

    Warner Bros has a hit on its hands in North America with Cats And Dogs which grossed a meaty $9m on its opening day Wednesday. The family adventure, featuring digitally animated cats and dogs and the voices of Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon among others, led the field on the Fourth of July holiday and could be the top movie of the weekend. However, Dimension Films' R-rated comedy sequel Scary Movie 2 also opened with a massive $8.75m on Wednesday and could still ...

  • John Cooke quits SAG before he's even started

    6-Jul-2001

    John F Cooke, who last week was named the new chief executive officer and national excutive director of the US actors union Screen Actors Guild (SAG), has walked away from the job.Cooke made his decision after receipt of a letter from nine members of the SAG board stating that the naming of Cooke as CEO was not in accordance with the SAG constitution and that the title and authority issues needed to be addressed by the full board and debated. The letter came after the unanimous ...

  • Vivendi, News Corp confirm Italian pay-TV merger

    6-Jul-2001

    Vivendi Universal and News Corp yesterday confirmed that they have reached a deal for the merger of their their respective Italian pay-TV businesses TELE+ and Stream which will create a single operator called TELE+. Italian regulatory authorities have yet to okay the venture, details of which first surfaced in April.As part of the agreement, News Corp will sell to Vivendi Universal 50% of the stake in Stream previously owned by Telecom Italia. As a result of this transaction, ...

  • Strike's off: new US actors contract agreed

    4-Jul-2001

    A new three-year theatrical motion picture and TV production agreement has been tentatively agreed by US actors unions Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists (AFTRA) on behalf of actors and the Alliance Of Motion Picture And Television Producers (AMPTP).The agreement, announced last night at 9.30pm LA time, is subject to the approval of the joint SAG/AFTRA Board of Directors and the memberships of both unions, voting in a secret ...

  • US actors, producers inch closer to a new contract

    4-Jul-2001

    US actors unions and the alliance of movie studios and TV networks resumed talks in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon after negotiators took the morning off to rest from a 17-hour negotiating session which finished on Monday at 2.30am.The two sides returned to the table at 2.30 and while they had hoped to have a resolution and a new actors contract in place before the Fourth Of July holiday today, it was looking unlikely at time of going to press that any announcements would be ...

  • AI has biggest admissions opening ever in Japan

    3-Jul-2001

    Opening day and date with the North American release, Warner Bros AI Artificial Intelligence has scored the biggest two day opening in admissions terms in Japanese box office history. Scoring admissions of 1,037,879 over Saturday and Sunday, it outpaced previous record-holder Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace which drew 916,540 admissions in 1999.Box office totalled Y1.394bn ($11.6m), which was less than the Y1.495bn from Star Wars: Episode 1 because ...

  • Actor negotiations continue past Saturday deadline

    2-Jul-2001

    The deadline came at midnight on Saturday (June 30) but negotiators for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation Of Radio And Television Artists (AFTRA) returned to the table on Sunday morning (July 1) to continue discussions with the Alliance Of Motion Picture And Television Producers (AMTP) - signalling that a crippling actors strike so long anticipated will almost certainly be avoided."The parties agreed that the remaining issues would be better addressed ...

  • Jason Isaacs stars in US indie romcom Passionada

    2-Jul-2001

    Jason Isaacs, the English actor whose credits include key roles in The Patriot, The End Of The Affair and Armageddon, has taken the lead role in independent drama Passionada, currently shooting in Massachussetts.Directed by Dan Ireland (The Whole Wide World), Passionada is a romantic comedy about a Portugese widow whose teenage daughter convinces her to date a new Englishman in town. The widow falls for the newcomer who pretends to be in the ...

  • York Entertainment starts international sales arm

    29-Jun-2001

    US video distributor York Entertainment has created an international sales arm to license its library of urban features to international territories. To that end, the company has hired Corie VanDeutekom, formerly director of international sales for Carlton America, as vice president of international sales.VanDeutekom will launch the international sales company at MIPCOM and MIFED armed with 14 new features including romantic comedy Keepin It Real directed by Brian Cox ...

  • Rival Palm Springs Festival set for October

    29-Jun-2001

    Craig Prater, former executive director of the Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival, has launched a rival - and competitive - festival in the Palm Springs region called Festival Of Festivals.Set to take place this year between Oct 25 and Nov 4, the new event will screen films in venues across the Palm Springs valley, California, including Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Palm Springs.Features and shorts are eligible for entry and prizes ...

  • Kuhn realises Euro studio dream with Fox, Citibank

    28-Jun-2001

    Former PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (PFE) chief Michael Kuhn is back at the helm of a European-based film powerhouse after unveiling backing from US studio 20th Century Fox and financing house Citibank in London.

  • Tortilla Soup

    28-Jun-2001

    Dir: Maria Ripoll. US. 2001. 103mins.

  • Final

    28-Jun-2001

    Dir: Campbell Scott. US. 2001. 111mins.

  • TLA sets up US distribution label with First Run

    26-Jun-2001

    Philadelphia-based US home video distributor TLA Entertainment Group has launched a new label for alternative films called TLA Releasing and teamed with theatrical distributor First Run Features to release the films theatrically in North America.

  • Artisan in talks to buy Lions Gate Entertainment

    26-Jun-2001

    After a stormy year in which senior executives have left its ranks, a much-ballyhooed public offering failed to take off and it put itself up for sale, Artisan Entertainment has shifted strategy, taken itself off the block and begun negotiations to buy publicly traded Vancouver-based entertainment indie Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.

  • Strictly Sinatra

    25-Jun-2001

    Dir: Peter Capaldi. UK. 2001. 97 mins.

  • The Fast And The Furious takes massive $41m

    25-Jun-2001

    Universal Pictures continued a spectacular summer at the box office over the weekend with a massive $41m take for its high-speed racing car actioner The Fast And The Furious (pictured left). Playing at 2,628 sites, the film, which is directed by Rob Cohen (Daylight, Dragonheart), cost only $38m to produce and looks set to be one of the year's most profitable pictures. Its site average was an impressive $15,830.

  • Shooting Gallery postpones Fall Film Series

    25-Jun-2001

    Financially troubled US independent producer/distributor The Shooting Gallery will not release any films through its pioneering film series until 2002. The company has confirmed that the fall series which would release six new titles into 17 major US markets through its partnership with exhibitor Loews Cineplex Entertainment and sponsorship partners has been cancelled. The company hopes to resurrect the series in spring 2002.

  • Amy Koster promoted at Paramount

    25-Jun-2001

    Amy Koster has been promoted to executive director of creative advertising for the motion picture group of Paramount Pictures, continuing to report to Lucia Ludovico, executive vice president of creative advertising and print.

  • MGM warns lower revenues for year 2001

    25-Jun-2001

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) has warned that its second quarter results for the year as well as its full fiscal year 2001 results will be lower than anticipated "as a result of two theatrical releases which did not meet the company's expectations."

  • Christine Vachon gets Outfest 2001 Award

    25-Jun-2001

    New York-based independent producer Christine Vachon will receive the 2001 Outfest Achievement Award at this year's Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, next month.

  • Columbia buys new territories on Senator thriller

    25-Jun-2001

    Joe Drake's Senator International has concluded a second multiple-territory deal with Columbia Pictures on Luis Mandoki's action thriller 24 Hours starring Charlize Theron, Kevin Bacon, Courtney Love and Stuart Townsend.

  • Woody Allen eyes Cannes for Hollywood Endings

    25-Jun-2001

    Woody Allen has completed post-production on his 34th film Hollywood Endings -- co-financed by DreamWorks SKG and Germany's VCL -- and told international press this weekend that he thinks it is his funniest film in years. He added that he is hoping that it will be presented at the Cannes Film Festival next year.

  • Creative Light buys international rights to Summer

    22-Jun-2001

    LA-based sales company Creative Light Worldwide has picked up international rights to Wet Hot American Summer, the summer camp comedy which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. USA Films has domestic rights and will release the film in New York on July 27.The film stars Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd and Molly Shannon as a group of counselors in a teen camp dealing with pent-up sexual frustrations while trying to save the camp from a renegade ...

  • Bob Levin named MGM distribution & marketing chief

    21-Jun-2001

    Bob Levin, the former head of marketing at both Sony Pictures and The Walt Disney Co, has been named president, worldwide theatrical marketing and distribution, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Distribution Co, uniting into a single job the posts currently held by Larry Gleason, head of worldwide distribution, and Gerry Rich, head of worldwide marketing.Gleason and Rich, whose contracts are up for renewal this year, have not yet left the studio despite reports to the contrary and ...

  • Thomas Garry joins Lew Horwitz Organization

    21-Jun-2001

    Thomas Garry has been named vice president and entertainment banker at LA-based independent film lending outfit The Lewis Horwitz Organization. Garry, formerly with Union Bank Of California and Sumitomo Bank, joins after arranging financing at Union Bank for films including Three Kings, End Of Days, The Hurricane, Nurse Betty, Thirteen Days, The Wedding Planner and The Family Man.LHO, now a division of Southern Pacific Bank, has ...

  • Terry Sanders buys film rights to Tokyo Rose story

    19-Jun-2001

    Acclaimed documentary film-maker Terry Sanders has acquired film rights to the screenplay Tokyo Rose by Pat Fielder and Richard Bluel based on the book They Call Her Tokyo Rose by Rex Gunn. He will produce and direct through his company The American Film Foundation; It will mark his first fictional feature.Tokyo Rose focuses on the arrest, trial, conviction and ultimate pardon by President Gerald Ford of Japanese UCLA graduate Iva Toguri who, during World ...

  • Laura Rooney leaves ShoWest, joins AFM

    19-Jun-2001

    Laura Rooney has been appointed director, AFM operations, by the American Film Marketing Association.Rooney comes to the AFMA from exhibitors association NATO of California, most recently as director of annual film trade event ShoWest. She will oversee all operational aspects of AFM and, as the primary contact with the Loews Hotel and Santa Monica business community, she will bring together the hotels, city agencies and suppliers which service the eight-day film market.AFM ...

  • Y Tu Mama Tambien goes to IFC Films

    19-Jun-2001

    IFC Films, the theatrical distribution arm of Independent Film Channel, has acquired North American distribution rights to Y Tu Mama Tambien, the erotic Spanish-language Mexican film from director Alfonso Cuaron which last week opened in Mexico to the biggest three day opening of a Mexican film in history.Y Tu Mama is the first Mexican film to be directed by Cuaron since his film debut Love In The Time Of Hysteria in 1991. His subsequent Hollywood films ...

  • Tiger scores second biggest US DVD launch

    18-Jun-2001

    Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has become the fastest selling DVD title in Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment's history since its release in North America on June 5. The title has sold an estimated 1.5 million units with a 60% sell-off in its first week. On its first day of release alone, 23% of shipped units were sold.The film was top seller and renter on DVD and home video for the week ending June 10 and trails only Gladiator as the biggest DVD launch ...

  • German companies team to produce Ramones pic

    18-Jun-2001

    German production outfits Red Beat Pictures and Indigo Filmproduktion have teamed up to acquire the rights to produce Too Tough To Die, a biopic of punk band The Ramones and its late lead singer Joey Ramone, with LA-based Capture Film Inc.Co-written and to be co-directed by German film-makers Peter Thorwarth (Bang Boom Bang) and Ali Eckert, Too Tough To Die will be produced by Eckert, Michael Helfrich from Berlin-based Red Beat and Christian Becker from Munich-based ...

  • Finder's Fee wins top audience prize at Seattle

    18-Jun-2001

    The Seattle Film Festival concluded its 27th event yesterday with a ceremony at which awards determined by local audiences were handed out. Prizes - dubbed the Golden Space Needle Awards - were determined from the 200 feature films screened over the epic 25-day running time of the festival.Jeff Probst's US independent Finder's Fee was named Best Film with Joint Security Area from South Korea, Mortal Transfer from France, Ghost World from the US and ...

  • Tomb Raider's a smash: $48m opening for Paramount

    17-Jun-2001

    Paramount Pictures' movie-of-the-video-game Lara Croft: Tomb Raider made a big impression at the North American box office at the weekend, taking a massive $48.2m despite across-the-board bad reviews. The movie is the third consecutive hit for director Simon West after Con Air and The General's Daughter and confirms its Oscar-winning star Angelina Jolie as one of the biggest female stars in the world.The film was co-financed by Mutual Film Co which has sold ...

  • Fox Searchlight boards Boyle's 28 Days Later

    15-Jun-2001

    Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to 28 Days Later, the next film from director Danny Boyle and producer Andrew Macdonald, continuing 20th Century Fox's relationship with the British film-making duo after A Life Less Ordinary (1997) and The Beach (2000).The $15m film is to be co-financed by Searchlight and The Film Council via DNA Films, the UK lottery franchise holder which Macdonald heads with Duncan Kenworthy.Universal Pictures, ...

  • Miramax sues Abraham over remake rights

    12-Jun-2001

    Miramax Films has filed a complaint in the New York District Court against English producer Eric Abraham, claiming that Abraham fraudulently inflated the prices for remake and/or sequel rights to 1995 foreign-language film Kolya and yet to be released Birthday Girl, starring Nicole Kidman.

  • Swordfish tops US box office, Shrek still hot

    11-Jun-2001

    Warner Bros' R-rated action thriller Swordfish was number one at the North American box office over a static weekend, taking an OK $18.4m over its first three days on release although the generally poor reviews for the film and heavyweight action competition next week from Tomb Raider don't bode well for a long play in theatres.

  • Universal downsizes LA international division

    8-Jun-2001

    Universal Pictures, which distributes its films in international territories through the London-based United International Pictures (UIP), has downsized its Los Angeles international marketing and distribution department laying off six staff members. In addition, Thomas Castaneda, the much-liked veteran vice president of international publicity, has resigned.The move continues the studio's integration of domestic and international marketing departments under studio vice chairman ...

  • Showcase closes deals on thriller Pendulum

    7-Jun-2001

    LA-based producer/distributor Showcase Entertainment has completed a raft of deals on its thriller Pendulum during and after this year's Cannes Film Market. The film stars Rachel Hunter and James Russo and was produced by Blue Thunder Films and On Deck Productions; it was directed by James D Deck.Buyers included Videoville Showtime Inc for French-speaking Canada, TOT Media for Spain, Gussi for Mexico, Mediafilm Network for Italian-speaking Europe, Shoval Films for Israel, ...

  • Scorsese, Philips team up for widescreen promotion

    7-Jun-2001

    Martin Scorsese has teamed up with Philips Consumer Electronics to launch a global education campaign designed to provide consumers with a clear understanding of widescreen-formatted television (16:9) and to promote the viewing of movies on widescreen versus standard television size.The campaign, dubbed "See What You've Been Missing", shows how widescreen televisions provide the best movie-viewing experience without compromising the original content of the film as with the more ...

  • Actress Fiorentino countersues Germany's Art Oko

    7-Jun-2001

    US actress Linda Fiorentino filed a response and cross-complaint yesterday in the Los Angeles Superior Court action brought against her by Art Oko Film, the German production company of abandoned film Till The End Of Time. Art Oko sued Fiorentino earlier this year claiming that she "held production of the picture hostage to her whims", refusing to report for rehearsals, makeup and camera tests and claiming illness even though an insurance doctor found that she was in good health.The ...

  • George Lucas to get 11th BAFTA/LA Britannia Award

    6-Jun-2001

    The British Academy Of Film And Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) will give its annual Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence In Film to George Lucas. The award will be presented during a gala event in LA on Nov 10.Since the mid-1970s, Lucas has directed and/or produced nine films on location in the UK including the Indiana Jones trilogy, the first Star Wars trilogy and The Phantom Menace, Labyrinth and Willow.Lucas is currently ...

  • Chuck Speed leaves Regent, sets up consultancy

    6-Jun-2001

    Chuck Speed, senior vice president of business affairs and finance at Regent Entertainment, is leaving the company to form his own consulting practice in entertainment finance and related matters. Stephen P Jarchow, Regent's chairman and CEO, has entered into a consulting and first look agreement with Speed, who will number Jarchow Investment Group and its affiliates his first client.Since Sept 1998, Speed has been managing business and legal affairs and working with outside ...

  • Steve Mertz promoted to senior vp at Warner Europe

    6-Jun-2001

    Steve Mertz has been promoted to senior vice president, legal and business affairs, and general counsel - Europe for Warner Bros, from his previous position as vice president and general counsel - Europe.In his new post, Mertz will head Warner's European legal and business affairs department, managing the team of lawyers responsible for representing the company's corporate interests as well as overseeing those Warner Bros lawyers who directly support key operating divisions.He ...

  • De Luca named production chief at DreamWorks

    5-Jun-2001

    Michael De Luca has been confirmed as the new head of production at DreamWorks Pictures, ending weeks of speculation as to whether the former New Line production chief would join the DreamWorks fold. De Luca reports directly to DreamWorks Pictures co-head Walter Parkes and studio principal Jeffrey Katzenberg.De Luca takes over the post which had been temporarily filled by Katzenberg after Bob Cooper departed the studio in July 1999. He will be responsible for overseeing development ...

  • Shrek gives Pearl Harbor a run for its money in US

    4-Jun-2001

    Buena Vista's Pearl Harbor clung on to the top spot at the North American box office in its second weekend with a three-day take of $30m, but was closely followed by the dazzlingly successful Shrek from DreamWorks, which in its third weekend, took $28.4m. The Michael Bay-directed blockbuster fell over 50% from its $75m four-day opening over Memorial Day weekend, although its $119.3m ten-day gross is still a mightily impressive achievement for a three hour film. ...

  • DreamWorks announces theatrical Shrek sequel

    1-Jun-2001

    DreamWorks SKG has announced a theatrical sequel to Shrek, its blockbusting animated movie which has already grossed in excess of $110m after just two weeks on release in North America.Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who penned the film, have been hired to write the sequel, it was announced in a statement by DreamWorks principal Jeffrey Katzenberg.In addition to Shrek, Elliott and Rossio also co-wrote Disney's Aladdin, DreamWorks' The Road To El ...

  • AMC says it will close 249 more US screens in 2001

    1-Jun-2001

    Publicly traded US exhibitor AMC Entertainment is to close 249 screens this year in addition to the 66 it has already said it will close. The closures come the day after AMC reported a $63.6m net loss for the fourth quarter ending March 29 on revenue of some $290m.Losses in the year ending March 29 totalled $105.9m, reflecting an industry-wide depression which results from dramatic overbuilding and a series of bankruptcies.AMC controls 2,766 screens in about 180 sites ...

  • Hedwig to open Outfest, All Over The Guy to close

    1-Jun-2001

    Hedwig And The Angry Inch, the New Line Cinema-backed rock opera musical which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, will open this year's Los Angeles Gay And Lesbian Film Festival aka Outfest on July 12.The film, which also screened at the Berlin Film Festival, will be released in the US by New Line's specialised division Fine Line Features on July 20. The film is directed and written by John Cameron Mitchell, who also stars as Hedwig.Celebrating its 19th ...

  • New Line ties up Burger King for Lord Of The Rings

    1-Jun-2001

    New Line Cinema has signed a massive promotional agreement with Burger King to support the Dec 19 worldwide openings of The Fellowship Of The Ring, the first in its keenly awaited Lord Of The Rings trilogy.The deal is the single largest promotional arrangement New Line has ever reached with a strategic partner and will span more than 10,000 Burger King locations worldwide. Burger King has already placed a link to the new trailer for The Fellowship Of The Ring ...

  • Alliance sells Egoyan's Ararat to Miramax in US

    31-May-2001

    Miramax Films has acquired US distribution rights to Ararat, the latest film from Canada's Atom Egoyan, from Alliance Atlantis and Serendipity Point Films. The film is the first Egoyan picture to be released by Miramax in the US since Exotica in 1994; The Sweet Hereafter in 1997 was handled by Fine Line while Felicia's Journey in 1999 was distributed by Artisan.Written and directed by Egoyan and produced by Robert Lantos, Ararat is set against ...

  • Benjamin, Dubrow promoted to head Pacifica

    31-May-2001

    IMF-backed Pacifica Film Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of Internationalmedia and sister company to Intermedia, has promoted Linda Benjamin and Chris Dubrow to the positions of co-presidents. Dubrow will continue to oversee production and development, while Benjamin oversees business affairs and operations.Both will report to Internationalmedia co-chairmen Moritz Borman, Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.Both Benjamin and Dubrow have been associated with Pacifica, ...

  • First Look buys world on Griffin Dunne comedy

    31-May-2001

    First Look Media has acquired worldwide rights to Griffin Dunne's digital video film Lisa Picard Is Famous which first screened in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival 2000 with the title Famous. First Look's international sales division Overseas Filmgroup will handle international sales while domestic distributor First Look Pictures will release it theatrically in Aug this year.Strand Releasing had originally struck a deal to buy the film for the US at ...

  • Miramax buys Korean martial arts film Bi Chun Moo

    17-May-2001

    Miramax Films has acquired rights in North America, Mexico, Argentina and South Africa to Korean ancient martial arts movie Bi Chun Moo from Taewon Entertainment. The sixth highest grossing film ever in Korea, Bi Chun Moo was directed by Young Jun Kim, and as part of the deal, Miramax has acquired a first look on Young Jun Kim's next directorial effort which will also be produced by Taewon.

  • ICM UK partners with Catch 23

    16-May-2001

    Catch 23 Entertainment, the LA production company funded by Denver-based financier Bob Sturm and run by president Jeremy Barber, is to launch a UK production arm with a £1.5m development fund and an advisory committee composed of ICM (UK) chairman Duncan Heath and European head of international operations Lyndsey Posner.

  • Cecchi Gori back in buying ring with Ali

    16-May-2001

    Cecchi Gori film has acquired Italian rights to Michael Mann's Ali from Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), marking a return to major rights buying for the company after a couple of years of retrenchment.

  • FilmFour boards Van Sant film starring Matt Damon

    15-May-2001

    UK film powerhouse FilmFour has boarded Gus Van Sant's latest project Jerry in which Matt Damon - Oscar-winning co-writer and star of Van Sant's Good Will Hunting - and Casey Affleck, who also played in Good Will Hunting, are attached to star, according to sources on the Croisette.

  • Jour De Fete buys Big Eden for US

    14-May-2001

    LA-based microdistributor Jour de Fete Films has acquired US theatrical distribution rights to Chaiken Films' Big Eden, a gay romantic comedy which is the directorial debut of Thomas Bezucha. Arye Gross, Louise Fletcher, Eric Schweig and Nan Martin star in the film which will open in Los Angeles and San Francisco on June 1, 2001.

  • USA greenlights Who Goes There'

    14-May-2001

    USA Films has greenlit Who Goes There', the first production it is bankrolling from its three-year deal with Charles Finch and Luc Roeg's London-based company Artists Independent Network (AIN).

  • US buyers go to war at Cannes

    14-May-2001

    North American buyers continued an aggressive streak yesterday as new deals were unveiled on at least four films and a bidding war erupted over well-liked Bosnian competition contender No Man's Land.

  • Myriad, Tapestry team for co-production alliance

    14-May-2001

    LA/London financing, production and sales outfit Myriad Pictures has teamed with LA production outfit Tapestry Films for a multi-year co-production alliance under which Myriad will provide Tapestry with a development fund and the two will co-produce two films a year. Myriad will retain international distribution rights to all the titles. Tapestry's credits include The Wedding Planner, She's All That and Pay It Forward.

  • The Mummy 2 smashes competition; Knight opens OK

    14-May-2001

  • Weinstein teases Bac's Labadie, then regrets it

    13-May-2001

    Miramax Films co-chairman Harvey Weinstein became the unwitting talking point of this year's Cannes Film Festival after poking fun at Jean Labadie, the head of French distribution house Bac Films and also Miramax's regular theatrical partner in the territory.

  • Camela Galano named president of New Line Int'l

    13-May-2001

    Camela Galano, who has been living in London as executive vice president and European supervisor of New Line International (NLI), has been named president of New Line International.

  • Vine teams with Samaha brother on Spheeris comedy

    13-May-2001

    Samaha Productions, the LA production outfit run by Elie's brother Demetri Samaha, has teamed with Marie Vine's London-based Vine International Pictures to co-finance Penelope Spheeris' Spam On Rye which will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Vine will handle international sales.

  • Good Machine closes string of deals on They

    10-May-2001

    Good Machine International is close to completing its international sales patchwork on suspenser They, which is the first film from its exclusive foreign sales arrangement with Ted Field's Radar Pictures. Bac Films has taken France, Entertainment the UK, Concorde Germany, Nu Vision Mexico and Sandrew Metronome Scandinavia.

  • New Line's German rights fall back in the Ring

    10-May-2001

    New Line Cinema, whose massive media event for The Lord Of The Rings kicks off today, is looking for a new partner in Germany. When the three year output deal it struck with Kinowelt Medien in Oct 1998 comes to an end in December, New Line's worldwide marketing and distribution chief Rolf Mittweg is not looking to renew it, according to sources. He will now negotiate with another German buyer kicking off with next year's slate and including the second and third films in The ...

  • Miramax promotes Gatineau to VP acquisitions

    10-May-2001

    Maeva Gatineau has been promoted to vice president of acquisitions at Miramax Films. Gatineau, who has been working in Miramax's UK office for four years, will continue to oversee European acquisitions alongside Elizabeth Dreyer, vice president of acquisitions. They will both report to Agnes Mentre, executive vice president of acquisitions and co-productions, and Andrew Herwitz, senior vice preisident of acquisitions.

  • Cobalt storms Boorman's Castle

    10-May-2001

    Cobalt Media Group has boarded John Boorman's next film Knight's Castle, based on the novel by Edward Eager.

  • Cobalt storms Boorman's Castle

    10-May-2001

    Cobalt Media Group has boarded John Boorman's next film Knight's Castle, based on the novel by Edward Eager.

  • Miramax promotes Gatineau to VP acquisitions

    10-May-2001

    Maeva Gatineau has been promoted to vice president of acquisitions at Miramax Films.

  • Storm, ChickFlicks team for Coyote horror movie

    9-May-2001

    H Michael Heuser's Storm Entertainment has teamed with Sara Risher's LA-based ChickFlicks to finance and co-produce Coyote - a comic special effects-driven horror movie about a pack of coyotes taking revenge against some schlocky Hollywood film-makers in Los Angeles.

  • Nu Vision, Paradiso leap at Pandora films

    9-May-2001

    Pandora has concluded some major deals on the first four films in its new incarnation as the LA-based specialised production and sales arm of Gaylord Films.

  • Bronson launches marketing and distrib consultancy

    9-May-2001

    Nadia Bronson, the international marketing veteran who exited Universal Pictures after 24 years earlier this year, has formed Nadia Bronson Associates (NBA), her own international marketing and distribution consultancy. She has also entered into an affiliation with PR firm Dennis Davidson Associates (DDA) to work jointly on a number of films each year.

  • Summit wakes up to new Alcon picture trio

    9-May-2001

    Summit Entertainment has struck a three-picture deal with Alcon Entertainment, producers of Christopher Nolan's Insomnia which is on Summit's Cannes sales slate. None of the three pictures has yet been specified but a deal has been struck for Summit to raise additional equity from a few select key territory sales. Alcon's studio partner Warner Bros will handle distribution in North America and the balance of the rest of the world.

  • Miramax seals five picture pact with Japan's Gaga

    9-May-2001

    Miramax International has sealed a five-picture output deal with Gaga Communications in Japan for a reported $15m, marking the biggest deal the company has ever scored in the territory and signalling a new aggression among Japanese buyers.

  • Crystal Sky unleashes Voight films with Apollo

    9-May-2001

    Steven Paul's Crystal Sky Worldwide Sales has teamed with German film fund Apollo Media on two new films: kung fu fighting talking dog saga Unleashed co-starring Jon Voight, Simon Rex and Jaime Pressly and Façade, a $25m heist thriller which teams Voight with Julia Ormond under director Danny Cannon.

  • Ben Ammar to bankroll Samaha's Dante outfit

    8-May-2001

    The irrepressible Elie Samaha has formed a new financing, production and distribution venture Dante Entertainment with Paris-based Tarak Ben Ammar and his Quinta Communications. The deal will see Quinta bankrolling Dante - which plans to produce four films a year - to the tune of between $200m and $300m.

  • Granat, Anschutz become classroom mates

    7-May-2001

    Former Dimension Films president Cary Granat has teamed up with billionaire (and now exhibition mogul) Philip Anschutz to create a new production outfit Walden Media with plans to make films, TV programming, new media and publishing initiatives "that educate, foster curiosity and an ongoing interest in learning."

  • American Rhapsody to open 6th Nantucket Film Fest

    7-May-2001

  • Searchlight's Lisa Fragner joins Rudolph & Beer

    7-May-2001

    New York entertainment law firm Rudolph & Beer (R&B) has formed a new division R&B FM (Film & Music) to be headed by Lisa Fragner, formerly head of east coast production and development for Fox Searchlight Pictures. Fragner has been at Searchlight for four years in production and development, having started as an assistant to the company's former president Lindsay Law.

  • The Mummy Returns is a monster; opens on $70.1m

    6-May-2001

    Universal Pictures celebrated the second biggest opening in cinema history at the North American box office this weekend, as its adventure sequel The Mummy Returns grossed a spectacular estimated $70.1m. Only one film - Universal's own The Lost World: Jurassic Park - had a bigger three-day take of $72m in 1997; Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace took $64.8m in 1999 for third place.

  • The Mummy Returns is a monster; opens on $70.1m

    6-May-2001

    Universal Pictures celebrated the second biggest opening in cinema history at the North American box office this weekend, as its adventure sequel The Mummy Returns grossed a spectacular estimated $70.1m. Only one film - Universal's own The Lost World: Jurassic Park - had a bigger three-day take of $72m in 1997; Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace took $64.8m in 1999 for third place.

  • Full rundown of Writers Guild contract agreement

    6-May-2001

    The first potentially catastrophic labour strike which has hung over the Hollywood film industry for over a year now has been averted. In a press conference called for Friday afternoon, the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) said that it had reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance Of Motion Picture And Television Producers (AMPTP) and the three TV networks for a new three-year contract covering 11,000 theatrical and TV writers.

  • Hart Sharp pacts with UK's FilmFour

    3-May-2001

    UK film giant FilmFour and New York-based production outfit Hart Sharp Entertainment have formed a co-production alliance to produce a slate of specialised US features, expanding FilmFour's US production ambitions and cementing the international reputation of Hart Sharp whose credits includeBoys Don't Cry and You Can Count On Me.

  • Paltrow to produce her first film for Miramax

    2-May-2001

    Gwyneth Paltrow will take a producing credit for the first time on Me Times Three, a film of the novel by New York Times style reporter Alex Witchal, which was acquired this week by Miramax Films. Bobby Cohen, who produced Bounce and View From the Top both starring Paltrow, will produce the film with Paltrow attached as co-producer and star.Me Times Three, which will be published by Alfred A Knopf in Jan 2002, is the story of a young, suburban New ...

  • Meyer & Yershov share top job at Lions Gate Int'l

    2-May-2001

    Following the departure of Joe Drake in March, Nick Meyer and Sergei Yershov have been named co-presidents of Lions Gate Films International as part of a restructuring. They will share responsibility for the international sales, distribution, marketing, finance and co-productions of Lions Gate strategy.The joint appointment scotches speculation about which of the two would assume Drake's position. Meyer had worked as a vice president, sales & distribution, at Lions Gate since ...

  • Millenium teams with Van Damme on The Monk

    1-May-2001

    Jean-Claude Van Damme is to star in The Monk, an actioner to be shot in China, Bulgaria and New York and directed by Ringo Lam (City On Fire). The film marks Van Damme's third venture with Avi Lerner's Millenium Films after The Order and Replicant; Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Danny Lerner are producing.The Monk will start shooting on Nov 1 this year with a budget of $25m. Van Damme plays a Shaolin monk who embarks on a journey to America in search ...

  • Bob Levin joins Creative Domain with global plans

    1-May-2001

    Bob Levin, former president of worldwide marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment, has joined LA-based marketing and advertising agency Creative Domain as president of newly formed Creative Domain Enterprises.He will focus on expanding the company's theatrical marketing activities beyond audiovisual, print and interactive marketing services into marketing consultations and planning, promotion, publicity, media services, product placement, merchandising and licensing consultation ...

  • Kaaterskill, Jessica Stein win at LA Film Fest

    30-Apr-2001

    Kaaterskill Falls and Kissing Jessica Stein were the two key prizewinners at yesterdays awards ceremony closing this year's revamped Independent Feature Project/West Los Angeles Film Festival. The event, which kicked off with the world premiere of Ed Burns' Sidewalks Of New York on Friday April 20, screened 51 feature films and 48 short films.The Critics prize, voted on by Jami Bernard of New York Daily News, Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com and Screen International's ...

  • Seattle Film Fest to world premiere

    30-Apr-2001

    21 feature films will receive their world premieres at this year's Seattle International Film Festival including the controversial O recently sold by Miramax Films to Lions Gate Films because of its scenes of shooting in schools. Also unspooling in Seattle will be new films from Alan Rudolph (Investigating Sex), Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World), Campbell Scott (Final), Michael Polish (Jackpot) and Scotland's Peter Capaldi (Strictly Sinatra).The ...

  • CTS creates global home entertainment mktg group

    30-Apr-2001

    Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (CTHE) has created a worldwide marketing group under president Benjamin S Feingold reinforcing the global nature of the business and reflecting Sony Pictures' unified domestic and international theatrical organisation under Jeff Blake.Three senior executives have been promoted within CTHE. Robin Russell, formerly executive vice president, has been promoted to senior executive vice president and general manager. She will continue to oversee ...

  • Neighbor's Dog, Made In France win Avignon/NY Fest

    30-Apr-2001

    How To Kill Your Neighbour's Dog starring Kenneth Branagh and Robin Wright Penn was named Best American Feature and Zakia and Ahmed Boucheala's Made In France was Best French Feature at the seventh annual Avignon/New York Film Festival last week.11 new French and seven new US features were screened at the event held in New York and Avignon. How To Kill Your Neighbour's Dog, which world premiered at Toronto last year, was directed by Michael Kalesniko. Made ...

  • Driven drives lacklustre US box office with $13.1m

    29-Apr-2001

    Franchise Pictures' bang-em-up car-racing actioner Driven opened at the number one spot in the North American box office last weekend with an okay $13.1m from 2,905 sites. Directed by Renny Harlin and starring and written by Sylvester Stallone, the movie was poorly received by critics and its opening hardly looks like it will hold up well when the studio summer mega-movies start hitting screens next weekend kicked off by The Mummy Returns.Featuring Kip Pardue as a rookie ...

  • Senator Int'l makes first pick-up: Das Experiment

    26-Apr-2001

    Senator International, the new Los Angeles-based sales company run by Joe Drake, has acquired worldwide rights excluding German-speaking Europe and Japan to Oliver Hirschbiegel's surprise hit Das Experiment. Marking the first film picked up by the new outfit since its formation earlier this year, Das Experiment has grossed $7.6m since it was released on March 8 in German-speaking territories by Senator International's sister company distributor Senator Film.The ...

  • MM Media Capital renamed Cobalt Media Group

    26-Apr-2001

    Two year-old financing company MM Media Capital Partners (MCP) has changed identity, renaming itself Cobalt Media Group in light of its reorganisation as a finance, sales and distribution company. The new name is effective May 1.Founded in 1999 by NatWest/Coutts Bank's Rodney Payne, Hal Sadoff and Myles Nestel with financial advisors Alton Irby and Richard Milne, MCP last year appointed sales veteran Peter Rogers as head of its international sales and distribution operation ...

  • Wind Dancer & Winchester buy Forever pitch

    25-Apr-2001

    LA-based production outfit Wind Dancer Films has purchased the romantic comedy pitch Forever And A Day by Robert Zappia through its development fund with Winchester Films. Zappia, who wrote the story and screenplay for Halloween H:20 will also write the screenplay. He first worked with Wind Dancer principals Matt Williams, David McFadzean and Carmen Finestra when they hired him on staff of their longrunning TV hit Home Improvement.Wind Dancer will produce ...

  • IFC Films buys domestic rights to The Chateau

    25-Apr-2001

    IFC Films has acquired domestic distribution rights to Jesse Peretz's digital semi-improvisational comedy The Chateau which had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival this week. Fortissimo Film Sales has international rights.Starring Paul Rudd and Romany Malco as two American brothers who inherit a small castle in the south of France, the film was produced by GreeneStreet Films, from whom IFC bought it, in association with Forensic Films and Crossroads ...

  • Brando drops out of Scary Movie 2 due to illness

    25-Apr-2001

    Marlon Brando, who made headlines earlier this month when he agreed to play a cameo role as an exorcist in Dimension Films' Scary Movie 2 for an estimated $2m, has been forced to drop out of the project due to illness."Unfortunately, due to his health issues and unavailability, we must now recast his role," said Dimension's senior vice president of publicity Elizabeth Clark. "We wish Mr Brando a speedy recovery."Scary Movie 2, a sequel to the low budget ...

  • DreamWorks and TBS strike $350m-$450m deal

    25-Apr-2001

    In a landmark output arrangement estimated to be worth between $350m and $450m, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) has entered into a deal with DreamWorks SKG giving TBS entertainment networks US broadcast TV rights to 60 of the studio's films. Touted as the biggest film licensing agreement in the history of basic cable television, the deal will see Turner Network Television (TNT) and TBS Superstation broadcast such DreamWorks hits as Gladiator, American Beauty, ...

  • Ricardo Avila to leave Columbia TriStar Italy

    24-Apr-2001

    Ricardo Avila is to leave his position as general manager of Columbia TriStar, Italy, after 16 years at the company. "It was a hard and difficult decision to make," he said in a statement. "After 16 years with this company in four different countries around the world it really felt like home, but I believe it is the right time for me to approach other endeavours. I am very grateful to Columbia for all these wonderful years and very excited about what the future my bring."Avila ...

  • Intermedia buys crime novel for Mark Johnson Prods

    24-Apr-2001

    Intermedia has acquired movie rights to The Booster, a crime novel by Eugene Izzi, for Mark Johnson Productions to produce. The book was bought to Johnson by producer Louis DiGiaimo who collaborated with Johnson on Donnie Brasco.The Booster is the story of a big time thief who comes out of retirement to take part in the biggest and most dangerous heist of his life. It will be adapted for the screen by Sheldon Turner who has a two picture deal with Casey ...

  • Zentropa signs worldwide deal with Universal Music

    24-Apr-2001

    Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement with Denmark's Zentropa Enterprises to administer its music publishing interests.The deal was struck with Zen Music, the publishing arm of Zentropa. As a result of the deal, UMPG will adminstrate Lars Von Trier's share of the songs from Dancer In The Dark as well as the music to films like Mifune and Von Trier's The Idiots.The Zentropa deal also allows UMPG ...

  • Leah Weil named general counsel at Sony Pictures

    24-Apr-2001

    Leah Weil has been promoted to corporate senior vice president and general counsel for Sony Pictures Entertainment with responsibility for all company legal matters. She was previously executive vice president, legal affairs and deputy general counsel.Reporting to Beth Berke, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Weil is now the most senior legal officer at SPE. She will oversee all legal and labor relations matters and will serve as SPE's liaison to Sony ...

  • Court dismisses RICO claims against Franchise

    23-Apr-2001

    Franchise Pictures has won a second dismissal in its acrimonious court battle with Germany's Intertainment Licensing GmbH. On Friday, Judge Carlos Moreno of the US District Court issued an order granting Franchise motion to dismiss Intertainment's claims against it under the Federal Racketeering Influenced And Corrupt Organizations Act (known as RICO). The court found that Intertainment did not satisfy legal requirements for alleging RICO claims against Franchise or its officers Elie ...

  • Miramax buys UK, Manhattan close to US on Enigma

    23-Apr-2001

    Miramax Films has acquired UK rights to Enigma, the World War II thriller directed by Michael Apted which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Intermedia co-financed the film with Germany's Senator Film and handled the UK sales to Miramax.Meanwhile Manhattan Pictures International, the recently formed New York-based producer/distributor run by Paul Cohen and Julius Nasso, is in the final stages of negotiating domestic rights to the film; it will be one of ...

  • Universal Focus gets US rights to French smash

    23-Apr-2001

    Universal Pictures has acquired US distribution rights to Christophe Gans' French blockbuster The Brotherhood Of The Wolf (Le Pacte Des Loups) and will release it under its specialised Universal Focus label in late 2001. The $25m film was acquired from StudiCanal, Universal's sister company in Vivendi, and marks the first picture deal concluded between the two companies since Vivendi bought Universal last year.The film was released in France on Jan 31 this year ...

  • Pacifica acquires Dances With Wolves sequel

    23-Apr-2001

    LA-based development and production outfit Pacifica Film Development, which is backed by German film fund IMF, has acquired the film rights to the soon-to-be-published novel The Holy Road, the sequel to Dances With Wolves written by original author Michael Blake who will also write the screenplay adaptation.To be published on Sept 15 in the US by Villard, a division of Random House, The Holy Road takes up the story of Dances With Wolves aka Lt John Dunbar ten years ...

  • Bridget conquers America; Dundee, Freddy only OK

    22-Apr-2001

    Bridget Jones's Diary vaulted to the top of the North American box office in its second weekend with an appetising estimated $10.53m at 2,211 sites for an average of $4,739 per site. Distributed domestically by Miramax Films, the comedy from Helen Fielding's best-selling novel had opened behind Spy Kids and Along Came A Spider last weekend but this week increased its screen count and bettered both of them.The film - also number one in the UK for the second ...

  • Joe Dirt

    20-Apr-2001

  • Cannes US Pavilion brings over three top chefs

    20-Apr-2001

    Bon Appetit Magazine has signed on as the official food and entertaining magazine of The American Pavilion at Cannes this year as well as taking the title of exclusive sponsor of the Pavilion's Culinary programme.Bon Appetit will showcase the talents of three attending chefs at the Pavilion - Mari Batali, Bobby Flay and Rocco Dispirito. Batali is famous in the US for his TV shows Molto Mario and Mario Eats Italy and his three New York restaurants Babbo, Lupa and Esca. Flay, ...

  • Cannes technology mart fills available floor space

    20-Apr-2001

    MITIC - the showcase for new entertainment technologies which takes place in Cannes at the same time as the festival and market - has declared that all exhibition floor space at the event has been booked.Located in the Palais des Festivals, MITIC (the Marche International desTechniques et de l'Innovation du Cinema) has been running since 1998 as an official part of the film festival under the direction of the Cannes Marche.Among the exhibiting companies are Sony ...

  • Cutting Edge takes over int'l sales of Pollock

    20-Apr-2001

    David Glasser's Cutting Edge Entertainment has taken up international sales rights on Ed Harris' Oscar-winner Pollock after the original sales agent Alliance Atlantis Pictures International returned the film to its producers."The producers and I had a disagreement on the post-Oscar direction the international sales effort should take," explained Alliance Atlantis Pictures International president Mark Horowitz. "Since my admiration for the picture would not allow me to ...

  • Post-Crouching Columbia backs four new Asian films

    18-Apr-2001

    Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia - the Asian local production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment - has announced four new films which it will finance in 2001.

  • Natural Nylon boards Mahowny as UK co-producer

    18-Apr-2001

    UK production outfit Natural Nylon has boarded Richard Kwietniowski's Owning Mahowny, currently shooting in Canada, as UK co-production partner. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver and John Hurt, the drama is now a UK/Canada co production between H20 Motion Pictures (Canada), Alliance Atlantis (Canada) and Natural Nylon (UK). Producers are Andras Hamori of H20 and Seaton McLean, president of Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Production.Although Natural Nylon's ...

  • Showtime buys 20-film ITC package from Carlton

    18-Apr-2001

    US pay TV network Showtime Networks has bought the domestic premium TV broadcast rights to a package of more than 20 pictures from Carlton International's ITC library. Under the terms of the multi-year arrangement, Showtime will have premium TV rights to films such as On Golden Pond, Sophie's Choice, Farewell My Lovely (the 1975 version with Robert Mitchum), Escape To Athena and The Cassandra Crossing.The deal was negotiated by Carlton America's ...

  • New York opens Los Angeles festival

    17-Apr-2001

    Ed Burns' fourth feature, Sidewalks Of New York, will have its world premiere as the opening night film of the Los Angeles Film Festival (April 20-28).

  • IEG picks Pickering to head sales thrust

    17-Apr-2001

    Veteran sales executive Pamela Pickering has, as expected, announced that she is leaving her job as president of Mutual Film International to join Graham King at Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) where she will head up international sales and distribution operations.

  • Miramax tops Easter weekend

    17-Apr-2001

  • Dreamworks signs to Universal for five more years

    17-Apr-2001

    After intense speculation that it was about to clinch a deal with AOL Time Warner's Warner Bros Pictures, DreamWorks SKG has extended for five years its distribution agreement with Universal Studios, now owned by Vivendi Universal.

  • Alliance Atlantis signs Bedford Falls Co

    12-Apr-2001

    Canada's Alliance Atlantis has made what is arguably its first foray into the heart of Hollywood, signing an exclusive four year development deal with Bedford Falls Co, the LA-based production company run by Ed Zwick and Marhsall Herskovitz.

  • Lord Of The Rings site registers 350m hits

    11-Apr-2001

    New Line Cinema's award-winning website for The Lord Of The Rings has generated more than 350 million hits worldwide since re-launching on January 12, 2001.

  • Pflug promoted at Artisan Entertainment

    10-Apr-2001

    Paul Pflug has been promoted to executive vice president, national publicity and corporate communications, for Artisan Entertainment.

  • Carson promoted at Warner Bros. Pictures

    10-Apr-2001

    Nancy Carson has been promoted to senior vice president, international distribution, at Warner Bros Pictures, reporting to Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, president of international distribution.

  • Multithematiques Italia clinches Universal deal

    3-Apr-2001

    Multithematiques Italia SpA, the Italian arm of pan-European theme channel group Multithematiques SA, has clinched exclusive pay-TV rights to a collection of features and TV series from Universal Studios International.The agreement which will furnish the group's channels including CineCinemas 1, CineCinemas 2, CineClassics and Canal Jimmy includes Universal library titles such as Cleopatra (1934), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Morocco, The Killers and ...

  • Le Placard opens LA six title French film showcase

    3-Apr-2001

    Francis Veber's The Closet (Le Placard) kicks off the fifth annual City Of Lights, City Of Angels Film Festival in Los Angeles next Tuesday (April 10), an annual showcase of six new French feature films funded by the Franco-American Cultural Fund - a collaborative effort among the Directors Guild Of America, the Motion Picture Association, Writers Guild Of America, west, and France's Society Of Authors, Composers and Editors of Music (SACEM).Co-sponsored by the ...

  • First Run gets US home video rights to DEFA films

    3-Apr-2001

    New York-based independent First Run Features has signed a partnership agreement with Icestorm International to act as exclusive North American home video distributor of the films of DEFA, the state-run studios of the former German Democratic Republic.DEFA (Deutsche Filmaktiengesellschaft) was headquartered in the famous UFA Studios in Babelsberg near Berlin and kickstarted the careers of actors and directors like Fritz Lang, Marlene Dietrich, Billy Wilder and Armin Mueller-Stahl.Spanning ...

  • MJ Peckos named president of First Look Pictures

    3-Apr-2001

    MJ Peckos has been named president of First Look Pictures, the US theatrical distribution division of First Look Media (formerly Overseas Filmgroup). Peckos, who joined First Look in 1995 as senior vice president of theatrical marketing and distribution, will oversee all aspects of the company's operations including acquisitions, marketing, publicity and distribution. She will also act as advisor for two other divisions in First Look Media - worldwide film licensing arm Overseas Filmgroup ...

  • Fox TV signs output deal with Antenna TV in Greece

    3-Apr-2001

    20th Century Fox Television Distribution has signed a film and TV programming output deal with Antenna TV SA in Greece, giving free TV rights to the media group to all new Fox films and TV series as well as product from the studio's library.The deal was concluded between Steve Cornish, senior vice president and managing director, Fox Television Distribution Europe, and Theodore M Kyriakou, managing director of Antenna.Antenna TV owns and operates broadcast network and ...

  • Spy Kids stuns US box office with $27m opening

    2-Apr-2001

    It was a triumphant weekend for Miramax Films at the box office as its $35m Spy Kids, one of its first production forays into family entertainment, took a massive $27m through genre label Dimension Films.

  • Gladiator, Traffic, Tiger share Oscar honours

    26-Mar-2001

  • Full List Of Oscar Winners 2000

    26-Mar-2001

  • MGM hits with Heartbreakers; comedy takes $12.3m

    26-Mar-2001

    MGM had its second hit of the year with Heartbreakers, a mother-daughter con team comedy which grossed $12.3m over Oscar weekend to take the top spot at the North American box office.

  • Palm buys North American rights to Scratch

    23-Mar-2001

    Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures has acquired US and Canadian rights to Scratch, the hip-hop documentary directed by Doug Pray which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival.Intermedia bought international rights to the film, which documents the history of today's turntablist movement, after Sundance. Featured in the documentary are iconic DJs including Q-Bert, DJ Shadow, MixMaster Mike and Cut Chemist.The Palm deal was clinched by producer Brad Blondheim, ...

  • Exit Wounds tops US box office, Enemy opens big

    18-Mar-2001

    Two new entries performed well at the North American box office but for the second consecutive weekend, the market was down on the same period last year, this time by about 8%.

  • Ticket sales down; The Mexican still number one

    11-Mar-2001

    It was a disappointing weekend at the North American box office, falling some 17% from the same weekend last year. This first drop of the year comes just days after a keynote speech by MPAA president Jack Valenti at ShoWest in which he made much of the dramatic rise in admissions during the first eight weeks of 2001 compared with January and February the year before.

  • Entertainment, Toho-Towa buy Beacon's Palace Thief

    7-Mar-2001

    Beacon Pictures and Universal Pictures International (UPI) has completed key territory sales on Beacon's latest project The Palace Thief at AFM.

  • Metropolitan, Nexo sign New Line mega-deals

    6-Mar-2001

    New Line International has made a host of international sales on its latest slate totalling over $40m worth of business, according to NLI president Rolf Mittweg who is also the co-chairman of worldwide marketing for New Line Cinema.

  • Future Film Group teams with Renaissance, MBP

    6-Mar-2001

    UK finance, post-production and distribution outfit Future Film Group has clinched a multi-picture sale-and-leaseback arrangement with Renaisance Films kicking off with Paul McGuigan's Morality Play. It has also teamed up with German film fund MBP and UK production company Y2K Productions to finance Puckoon, a comedy currently in post-production with Elliott Gould, Richard Attenborough, Sean Hughes, John Lynch and David Kelly.

  • Regent buys It Had To Be You with Henstridge

    6-Mar-2001

    Regent Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to romantic comedy It Had To Be You starring Natasha Henstridge and Michael Vartan as two strangers who meet in New York while planning their respective weddings.

  • The Mexican goes good, not great, guns with $20.3m

    5-Mar-2001

    As expected, DreamWorks SKG's superstar vehicle The Mexican which teams Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts topped the North American box office over the weekend, scoring a mighty $20.3m which is the biggest opening ever for the first weekend in March. The R-rated crime caper opened in 2,951 theatres, averaging $6,879 per theatre, which is a strong if not excellent performance. R-rated hit Hannibal, for example, opened with a theatre-average of nearly $18,000.

  • United Artists & Helkon to finance Igby Goes Down

    2-Mar-2001

    MGM specialised label United Artists and Helkon International Pictures (HIP) have teamed up to co-finance and distribute Igby Goes Down, a comedy being produced by Atlantic Streamline and Apollo Media which started principal photography on Wednesday. It stars Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes, Ryan Philippe, Amanda Peet, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pulllman, Jared Harris and Kieran Culkin.

  • Princesa

    28-Feb-2001

  • Jet Li's five year-old Dragon flies to Summit

    27-Feb-2001

    Summit Entertainment has acquired international rights to five year-old Jet Li-starrer Red Dragon which features the spectacular flying techniques used in current smash Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

  • Good Machine on Field's Radar

    27-Feb-2001

    Ted Field and Scott Kroopf, the producers behind blockbuster hits Runaway Bride, Jumanji, Three Men And A Baby and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, are turning to the international marketplace to fund their new production outfit Radar Pictures - sealing a longterm alliance with David Linde's Good Machine International (GMI) to sell its movies.

  • Tracking service Film Finders is independent again

    27-Feb-2001

    Film Finders, the 13 year-old production tracking service run by Sydney Levine and Peter Belsito, has reclaimed its independence after striking an exclusive partnership last year with IFILM, the online movie site specialising in data and short film exhibition.The two have restructured their relationship so that, while they will continue to promote and co-market their services, each business will now operate independently. IFILM will continue to market Film Finders to its audience ...

  • Hungry Miramax buys Tangled from Myriad

    27-Feb-2001

    Miramax Films has acquired rights in the US, Australia and New Zealand to thriller Tangled from Myriad Pictures. Produced by Tapestry Films which produced She's All That for Miramax as well as Pay It Forward and The Wedding Planner, Tangled stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Shawn Hatosy, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Lorraine Bracco and Estella Warren.The film is the story of a fight between two college students who go to great lengths to win over a girl - eventually ...

  • Warner Bros hires Benzakein in new Euro initiative

    27-Feb-2001

    Warner Bros Pictures has cemented its local language production and acquisition plans in Europe with the appointment this week of well-known French industry figure Simona Benzakein to the position of vice president, European production.She will report to Richard Fox, executive vice president, international, at Warner Bros and Lorenzo di Bonaventura, president of worldwide production at Warner Bros Pictures.Benzakein, who will work out of the Warner Bros Pictures Paris ...

  • Lot 47 Films buys North American rights to LIE

    27-Feb-2001

    US independent Lot 47 Films has acquired North American rights to Michael Cuesta's L.I.E. which received acclaim on its recent world premiere in dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival.An Alter Ego/Belladonna production, L.I.E. is a drama about a 15 year-old boy who loses just about everything and everyone he has in the space of a week, and the middle-aged marine who helps him find himself. Produced by Rene Bastian, Linda Moran and Cuesta, it stars newcomers ...

  • Hannibal still heads US box office; Graceland weak

    25-Feb-2001

    Franchise Pictures' violent actioner 3000 Miles To Graceland and Fox's costly animated/live action mix Monkeybone failed to make much of an impression at the box office which was led for the third week by MGM's smash chiller Hannibal. However the status quo is in for a shock next Friday as DreamWorks SKG unleashes its first big picture of the year - Julia Roberts/Brad Pitt-starrer The Mexican, which should comfortably land in the top spot.

  • IEG directs Traffic to Japan, Australia

    25-Feb-2001

    Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) has closed its last two remaining territories on Steven Soderbergh's Oscar contender Traffic, selling Japanese rights to Nippon Herald and Australian and New Zealand rights to Village Roadshow.

  • Summit spears diva Britney's first film project

    24-Feb-2001

    Pop diva Britney Spears is the latest American megastar on offer to international buyers courtesy of Summit Entertainment which has boarded her first feature film. The as yet untitled film is being financed by her record label Jive Records and is set to start shooting next month.

  • Miramax circles cult Japanese sci-fi fantasy

    23-Feb-2001

    Continuing its buying spree of international films, Miramax Films is in the final stages of picking up domestic rights to Japanese sci-fi fantasy Avalon directed by Mamoru Oshii whose credits include cult movies Ghost In The Shell and Patlabor.

  • AFM buyers adapt quickly to Spike Jonze

    23-Feb-2001

    Intermedia and Good Machine International (GMI) have closed a raft of sales on Adaptation, the new movie from director Spike Jonze which stars Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper.

  • Del Toro, Rush join Intermedia's Assumption

    22-Feb-2001

    Two of this year's Oscar nominees Benicio Del Toro and Geoffrey Rush, together with acting legend Vanessa Redgrave, are all lining up to star opposite Juliette Binoche in Intermedia's period drama Assumption Of The Virgin.

  • Franchise labels latest accusations

    21-Feb-2001

    Franchise Pictures' chairman Elie Samaha and president/COO Andrew Stevens yesterday responded to the latest charges in the lawsuit against them by Intertainment Licensing, labelling the accusations as "preposterous."

  • Sullivan launches feature film division

    21-Feb-2001

    Canadian TV production and distribution outfit Sullivan Entertainment has launched a feature film division to develop, produce and finance its own productions to be distributed through Sullivan Entertainment International. The division kicks off with The Piano Man's Daughter starring Stockard Channing and Christian Campbell. Whoopi Goldberg is executive producer.

  • Winchester breaks more Hearts with deals

    21-Feb-2001

    Winchester Films has closed two more major territories on Heartbreakers, the all-star comedy which MGM will release domestically on March 23. Dall'Angelo Pictures has bought Italian rights on the film and Buena Vista International has taken Australian rights.

  • Romero thriller shakes Ricky's Bon Bon

    21-Feb-2001

    Latin singing superstar Ricky Martin is close to signing to star in his feature film debut in The Assassination - a political action thriller being directed by George A Romero and co-starring Oscar nominee Ed Harris, James Coburn and Anthony Quinn..

  • Erik Christenson promoted to run Myriad/J&M sales

    20-Feb-2001

    Eric Christenson has been promoted to executive vice president, sales and distribution, at Myriad Pictures, from his previous position as senior vice president of acquisitions and distribution.Christenson will oversee all aspects of the sales and distribution team at Myriad and London-based J&M Entertainment; both Myriad and J&M are owned by Germany's IN-Motion AG.In his new role, he will supervise sales and all aspects of marketing, servicing and collections worldwide. ...

  • Lions Gate acquires Tom Hanks-produced comedy

    20-Feb-2001

    Lions Gate Films has acquired worldwide rights to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a comedy produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman's Playtone Productions.Based on the autobiographical stage show by Nia Vardalos, the film is directed by Joel Zwick, produced by Hanks, Goetzman and Hanks' wife Rita Wilson and stars Vardalos and an ensemble cast including John Corbett, Gia Caredes and N Sync member Joey Fatone.Currently in post-production, My Big Fat Greek Wedding ...

  • Destination Films closes after 2 1/2 years

    20-Feb-2001

    Destination Films, the mid-budget domestic distribution company founded in 1998 by Steve Stabler and Brent Baum, closed down at the end of last week after an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful run of releases.The company was funded by an insurance-backed $100m funding arrangement through a wholly owned subsidiary brokered by Willis Corroon, but never secured the $100m line of credit it also planned as a P&A fund. The revolutionary Destination deal, constructed by Baum, saw ...

  • Mark Litwak resigns as chairman of Reelplay.com

    16-Feb-2001

    Entertainment attorney and producers rep Mark Litwak has resigned as chairman of Reelplay.com, an internet virtual marketplace for buying and selling film rights.

  • Original cast returns for Stuart Little 2 in March

    16-Feb-2001

    Columbia Pictures has set the cast for Stuart Little 2, the sequel to its monster smash from 1999 which grossed $140m in North America and $160m in international territories.The film will start production in March under director Rob Minkoff with original cast members Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie and Jonathan Lipnicki as the Little family and Michael J Fox, Nathan Lane and Steve Zahn in the voices of the animals.Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing for their ...

  • Mark Litwak resigns as chairman of Reelplay.com

    16-Feb-2001

    Entertainment attorney and producers rep Mark Litwak has resigned as chairman of Reelplay.com, an internet virtual marketplace for buying and selling film rights.The resignation comes after a series of lay-offs last week at Reelplay which was launched in Oct 1999 as a showcase of film trailers, promotion reels, synopses, stills, credits and key art."I have enjoyed my time with Reelplay and wish the company the best of luck in all its endeavours," said Litwak in a statement. ...

  • Miramax signs development deal with The Onion

    16-Feb-2001

    Miramax Films has signed a first look agreement to develop scripts and features with The Onion, an online-offline publisher of satirical news which was formed in 1988 in Madison, Wisconsion, and has quickly become a cult source of satire amongst college audiences with a weekly readership of 1 million viewers. Projects which result from the agreement will be produced by The Onion and 3 Arts Entertainment.The deal comes as The Onion has just relocated its editorial staff from ...

  • Warner Bros launches Harry Potter website today

    16-Feb-2001

    Warner Bros will launch the official Harry Potter website www.harrypotter.com (www.harrypotter.co.uk in the UK) today (Feb 16) in anticipation of the release of the film Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone in December.The site is planned as a community forum for Harry Potter fans across the world and is inviting other fan-managed Potter sites to link themselves to it. It will feature an animated short of the Hogwarts Express train as well as message boards, games and ...

  • 13 French films screen at March Rendezvous in NYC

    16-Feb-2001

    The annual New York festival of new French films Rendez-vous with French Cinema will take place March 9-18 with 13 new films in the lineup. Screening at the Walter Reade Theatre, the festival will be attended by among others Daniel Auteuil, Isabelle Huppert, Chantal Akerman, Xavier Beauvois, Jean Becker and Benoit Jacquot.Films screening are:' Les Blessures Assassines (Murderous Maids) Dir: Jean-Pierre Denis.' Selon Matthieu (According To ...

  • Summit lines up Insomnia, Servicing Sara for AFM

    16-Feb-2001

    Summit Entertainment has picked up two major studio projects for international distribution at AFM - Insomnia, a remake of the Norwegian thriller which Al Pacino is circling for director Christopher Nolan, is to be distributed domestically by Warner Bros, while Servicing Sara, a comedy starring Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley, is a Mandalay Pictures production to be distributed domestically by Paramount Pictures.Insomnia came to Summit through Alcon Entertainment, ...

  • Ang Lee wins third best foreign-language Oscar nod

    13-Feb-2001

    It was an extraordinary morning for Ang Lee, the Taiwanese director overlooked by the Academy for Sense And Sensibility in 1995 and The Ice Storm in 1997. Not only did he win picture and director nominations for his box office sensation Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but he won his third Best Foreign Language Film nod after The Wedding Banquet in 1993 and Eat Drink Man Woman in 1994.

  • Gladiator, Crouching Tiger lead Oscars race

    13-Feb-2001

  • Threshold to produce customised CG animated movie

    13-Feb-2001

    Larry Kassanoff's Threshold Entertainment has started production on a $50m CGI animated movie set in a supermarket called Foodfight! through its subsidiary Threshold Digital Research Labs (TDRL). The difference with this film, however, is that it will be produced by animators - and feature consumer brands - from around the world.Threshold has raised equity financing for the picture from investment capital from Korean animation company Natural Image. TDRL will head up ...

  • UK's Nicola Usburne wins Silverman Fellowship

    13-Feb-2001

    Nicola Usborne, the UK producer of FilmFour's Sundance hit Jump Tomorrow, has been selected as the recipient of the 2001 Mark Silverman Fellowship which supports "visionary independent producers who have committed to a film project and still face the challenge of moving forward into production."The award is bestowed by The Sundance Institute in partnership with The Mark Silverman Fellowship For New Producers.Usborne's project is $9.99, co-written by Tatia Rosenthal ...

  • FULL LIST OF AFM SEMINARS & CONFERENCE AGENDA

    13-Feb-2001

    The American Film Market has announced the lineup for its AFM Seminars at the Le Merigot Hotel as well as the participants in the AFM Finance Conference which will take place on Feb 23 from 9.00 to 12.30 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel.

  • Judi Dench rejoins Hallstrom, Miramax in News

    13-Feb-2001

    Judi Dench has joined the cast of The Shipping News, Lasse Hallstrom's movie version of the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by E Annie Proulx, which is currently in pre-production and is set to start shooting in March. Produced and financed by Miramax Films, it marks the fourth Miramax picture in which Dench has starred after Mrs Brown (a BBC Films production acquired by Miramax in 1997), Shakespeare In Love for which she won an Oscar and Chocolat, ...

  • Beacon, UPI reteam to sell The Palace Thief

    13-Feb-2001

    Beacon Pictures is reteaming with Universal Pictures International (UPI) to sell one of its newest projects in international territories - The Palace Thief, a drama to star Kevin Kline and be directed by Michael Hoffman (One Fine Day, Soapdish). Per its long term domestic distribution deal, Universal Pictures will handle the film domestically.Beacon and UPI had first worked together selling Tony Scott's epic thriller The Spy Game to international ...

  • Lenormand confirmed as new StudioCanal chief

    12-Feb-2001

    As expected, Richard Lenormand has been appointed chairman and CEO of StudioCanal to replace Vincent Grimond who has resigned following his appointment as senior executive vice president, operations and finance, at Universal Studios Group. The board of directors at StudioCanal unanimously appointed Lenormand. The 38 year-old was most recently senior vice president, finance, at Canal Plus Group. He joined Canal in 1990 in the finance department and was named vice president, finance ...

  • Lions Gate buys US theatrical rights to Liam

    11-Feb-2001

    Lions Gate Releasing has acquired US theatrical distribution rights to Stephen Frears' drama Liam, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year. Starring Ian Hart, Claire Hackett, Anne Reid and introducing Anthony Burrows, the film is set in the Irish Catholic quarter of Liverpool in the 1930s and examines the fall into poverty of a family through the eyes of the seven year-old son Liam.The deal was struck between Lions Gate Releasing co-president Tom Ortenberg ...

  • Manager John Carrabino joins Catch 23

    11-Feb-2001

    Catch 23 Entertainment, the newly formed LA production outfit formed by financier and philanthropist Robert B Sturm, has hired talent manager John Carrabino as executive vice president of Catch 23's as yet unnamed talent management division.In his new position, he will help build and oversee the division which plans to hire additional literary and talent managers as well as to acquire or to ally itself with established management companies in the US and UK. The announcement ...

  • Showtime, Zone Vision launch Showtime Turkey

    11-Feb-2001

    US cable giant Showtime Networks has entered into a joint venture with Zone Vision, a UK-based broadcaster and distributor of thematic channels throughout Europe, to launch Showtime Turkey. Launched on Jan 15, 2001, the channel is available on the new direct-to-home platform DigiTurk, which is currently available in Turkey.The announcement was made by Glenn Oakley, senior vice president of corporate strategy and international for Showtime Networks Inc and Chris Wronski, president ...

  • Hannibal cannibalises US box office with $58m

    11-Feb-2001

    It was a sensational weekend for Hannibal Lecter at the North American box office. The long-awaited sequel to 1991 classic The Silence Of The Lambs mesmerised the country with an estimated $58m opening weekend gross, giving director Ridley Scott another megahit after last year's Gladiator and MGM, which has domestic rights, its biggest opening ever and its first blockbuster since The World Is Not Enough in Nov 1999.It's the third biggest opening in film ...

  • GMI to sell Ed Burns' next film Ash Wednesday

    9-Feb-2001

    Good Machine International (GMI) has acquired international rights to Ash Wednesday, the fifth film to be directed by Edward Burns. Burns has written, will direct and star in and co-produce the film with Margot Bridger, producer on his last film Sidewalks Of New York.Set in 1983 New York, Ash Wednesday is a thriller about two brothers trying to escape from their past. Burns plays Francis Sullivan, who after faking the death of his younger brother to save ...

  • US strike rules pave way for international bonanza

    9-Feb-2001

    International acting talent and non-US movie companies are set for a boom time later this year as The Screen Actors Guild guidelines to shooting outside the US should an actors strike take place in June became clear yesterday.The Screen Actors Guild Board of Directors issued the following position on work that may be performed by SAG members in the event of a SAG strike:Members must provide that:1) He or she is a foreign national2) The film production ...

  • Moonstone backs new Mike Figgis four-frame pic

    8-Feb-2001

    Mike Figgis has started shooting The Hotel, his second digital video production which will feature four frames of simultaneous onscreen action, with financing from Etchie Stroh's Moonstone Entertainment.Shooting started on Monday in Venice of the movie, a dark comedy which looks at the goings-on in a Venetian hotel and follows interweaving stories of political intrigue, assassination, prostitution, the maid service and a visiting film production.The Hotel follows ...

  • Miramax boards Le Gout Des Autres at last minute

    8-Feb-2001

    With insiders saying that is a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination, Miramax Films has partnered on the domestic release of Agnes Jaoui's critically acclaimed Le Gout Des Autres (The Taste Of Others) with Offline Releasing. The announcement comes on the eve of the movie's release this Friday (Feb 9); the Oscar nominations are announced next Tuesday (Feb 13).As well as being France's foreign language film Academy submission, the film is winner of nine Cesar nominations, ...

  • Some Body

    7-Feb-2001

  • Jane Startz signs first-look deal with Miramax

    7-Feb-2001

    Producer Jane Startz has signed a first-look production deal with Miramax Films which will allow her to bring projects to the company to produce as well as serving as a consultant on various family entertainment projects.Startz, who previously produced The Mighty for Miramax, is currently producing Ella Enchanted, a film of Gail Carson Levine's novel for the studio. She has also optioned Carson Levine's novel The Two Princesses Of Bamarre and Scott Russell ...

  • Spielberg, Schwartzman join BAFTA LA board

    7-Feb-2001

    The British Academy Of Film & Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA LA) has elected Steven Spielberg and retiring chairman Arnold Schwartzman to the Board of Governors. They joing current governors Peter Beale, Barbara Broccoli, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Su Lesser, Ronald Neame, Michael Oliver, Marion Rosenberg, Martin Scorsese and Peter Ustinov. In addition, BAFTA LA elected as officers to its board of directors Gary Dartnall (chairman), Katy Haber (managing director), Hilary ...

  • Kevin Bacon joins Canton/Senator's 24 Hours

    6-Feb-2001

    Kevin Bacon has signed star alongside Charlize Theron and Courtney Love in Luis Mandoki's latest picture 24 Hours which is being produced by The Canton Company, Mandolin Entertainment and Propaganda Films.A thriller about a family in jeopardy, the film is produced by Mimi Polk Gitlin and Mandoki and executive produced by Mark Canton, Hanno Huth, Glen Ballard and Rick Hess. Ballard will also produce and create the film's soundtrack.Nathan Kahane will oversee the ...

  • Sundance-Toscano script lab projects named

    6-Feb-2001

    The Sundance Institute International Program has selected ten projects for its annual Sundance-Toscano Screenwriters Lab which is set to take place Feb 14-18 in Oaxaca, Mexico. The lab will allow the participating screenwriters to collaborate in story meetings with a group of creative advisors to develop their works. Those advisors include Zachary Sklar (screenwriter, JFK), Ulu Grosbard (director/screenwriter, True Confessions, Georgia), Kit Carson (director/screenwriter, Paris Texas), ...

  • John Burnham moves to ICM from William Morris

    6-Feb-2001

    John Burnham, one of the most senior talent agents in Hollywood, has left the William Morris Agency (WMA) to become head of the motion picture department at International Creative Management (ICM).He is known to have clashed with WMA's new chairman Jim Wiatt, who himself defected from ICM last year. Burnham began his industry career at ICM in 1981, so his new position marks a return to the agency. The announcement was made by Ed Limato and Nancy Josephson, co-presidents of ICM.It ...

  • Sundance Channel buys US TV on The Woman Chaser

    6-Feb-2001

    The Sundance Channel has acquired US TV rights to The Woman Chaser, Robinson Devor's debut feature which screened at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival in the American Spectrum section. It was released theatrically in 14 US markets last summer by Bob Berney's Inwood Films.The deal was negotiated by Larry Greenberg, manager of acquisitions for the Sundance Channel and Showtime Networks and David Garber of Lantern Lane Entertainment on behalf of the production company Tarmac ...

  • Valentine can't edge out Wedding Planner from No 1

    4-Feb-2001

    Columbia Pictures' The Wedding Planner - sold internationally by Intermedia - held on to the number one slot at the North American box office over the weekend, taking in an estimated $11m to bring its ten day total to $28.2m. The romantic comedy beat out competition from Warner Bros' teen horror movie Valentine which had been expected to conquer the box office this weekend. Valentine came in at second with $10.1m.The Wedding Planner stars Jennifer Lopez, ...

  • Corman, Schwarzenegger, Zellweger get AFMA Honours

    2-Feb-2001

    The American Film Marketing Association (AFMA) is to launch its own awards ceremony at this month's American Film Market (AFM), giving out a series of "AFMA Honors" to celebrate the talent integral to independent film-making.The first awards event will take place on the beach near the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, where the AFM is held, on the evening of Feb 22.Those to be bestowed with the inaugural AFMA Honors include Arnold Schwarzenegger who will be named Worldwide ...

  • Alliance Atlantis confirms domestic Maelstrom sale

    1-Feb-2001

    Alliance Atlantis Communications has confirmed that Arrow Features has acquired US rights to Denis Villeneuve's Maelstrom, which world premiered at the Montreal Film Festival last year and screened last week at the Sundance Film Festival.The deal was announced by Patrice Theroux, president of Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution, and Dennis Friedland, president of Arrow Features.Produced by Roger Frappier and Luc Vandal, Maelstrom is the story ...

  • The Wedding Planner

    31-Jan-2001

  • Billy Elliot, Gladiator, Chocolat lead SAG noms

    31-Jan-2001

    The nominations were announced yesterday for the 7th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, set to take place on March 11 in Los Angeles. The nominees were chosen by 4,200 randomly selected SAG members and are dubbed the only acting awards voted on entirely by the actors' peers.In the five film categories, key nominees were Almost Famous, Billy Elliot, Chocolat, The Contender and Gladiator which all received three nominations.The ...

  • DeLaurentiis, Lehman, Cardiff get Oscar honours

    30-Jan-2001

    Octagenarian Dino De Laurentiis will be presented with the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award while Ernest Lehman and Jack Cardiff will receive honorary Oscars at this year's Academy Awards ceremony on March 25.De Laurentiis, whose films range from La Strada and Nights Of Cabiria in Italy to Serpico, Death Wish, Blue Velvet and the upcoming Hannibal, gets the Thalberg, an award given to "creative producers whose bodies of work reflect ...

  • Sundance/NHK Filmmakers Awards announced

    30-Jan-2001

    The winners of the 2001 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award were announced at the weekend at the close of the Sundance Film Festival. The award was created to honour and support emerging film-makers with their next screenplays - one each from the US, Europe, Latin America and Japan.The winning filmmakers and their projects are The Mudge Boy by Michael Burke from the US, Every Stewardess Goes To Heaven by Daniel Burman from Latin America, Halima's Paradise ...

  • Sundance: ARP gets European rights to Haiku Tunnel

    29-Jan-2001

    French independent ARP concluded its buying streak at the Sundance Film Festival, taking continental European rights to American Spectrum entry Haiku Tunnel. ARP had already bought French-speaking rights to David Siegel and Scott McGehee's The Deep End and Joel Hopkins' Jump Tomorrow, in both instances before the US domestic buyers Fox Searchlight and IFC Films came on board.Haiku Tunnel is a social comedy directed by first time film-makers ...

  • Showcase buys Dumped and Code Conspiracy

    29-Jan-2001

    LA-based independent producer/distributor Showcase Entertainment has picked up international sales rights to two new pictures - romantic comedy Dumped and high-tech thriller The Code Conspiracy.Dumped, which is written and directed by former child actor Oliver Robbins (one of the children in Poltergeist), stars Dana Barron as a young woman who embarks on a mission to snare her long-time boyfriend (Seth Peterson). Hollywood Video has already acquired ...

  • Sundance: Artisan buys US on Sundance rape docu

    29-Jan-2001

    Artisan Entertainment, which has picked up a film every year at Sundance for the last three years, made it four on Friday, closing a deal to acquire North American rights to the documentary Raw Deal: A Question Of Consent, which is playing in the festival's American Spectrum section.The film examines the events surrounding a rape charge filed against college student Michael Yahraus in Feb 1999 by exotic dancer Lisa Gier King hired by a fraternity on the University of ...

  • Wedding Planner tops Superbowl Weekend

    28-Jan-2001

    The North American box office continued to look healthy, improving some 55% on the same weekend last year this Superbowl weekend, when the competition from sports on television is traditionally intense.Heading the pack was Columbia Pictures' romantic comedy The Wedding Planner - a co-production with IMF and Intermedia (which has international rights) - which stars Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. The romantic comedy directed by first-timer Adam Shankman grossed ...

  • Lions Gate buys US rights to Double Whammy

    24-Jan-2001

    In the second deal of the Sundance Film Festival, Lions Gate Films has bought North American distribution rights to Tom DiCillo's latest film Double Whammy, which screened in the Premiere section, for an estimated $1m. The deal was negotiated between Lions Gate Films co-presidents Tom Ortenberg and Mark Urman with David Kronemyer of the film's production company Gold Circle Films and agents Cassian Elwes of WMA Independent and Howard Cohen of UTA who were co-representing the film.

  • Sundance Channel buys three sports films for US TV

    24-Jan-2001

    The Sundance Channel has picked up US TV rights to three independent films - P David Ebersole's feature Straight Right which premiered at last year's Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, Katya Bankowski's documentary Shadow Boxers which was in the Toronto Film Festival 1999 and Greg Stiever's documentary Poles Apart.

  • Noreen Ward named senior vp at Good Machine

    24-Jan-2001

    Noreen Ward has been promoted to the position of senior vice president of operations at Good Machine Inc, overseeing all business administration for both Good Machine and its sister company Good Machine International.

  • Lot 47 signs three year US deal with Blow-Up

    24-Jan-2001

    Blow-Up Pictures, the digital film-making production outfit behind Series 7 - Contenders and Chuck And Buck, has signed a three year, multi-picture distribution agreement with US independent distributor Lot 47 Films whereby Lot 47 will provide domestic distribution for at least 50% of Blow-Up's film productions to Jan 2004.

  • Sony Classics buys Polish Brothers' Jackpot

    23-Jan-2001

    Sony Pictures Classics has acquired rights in North America, Australia and New Zealand to Jackpot, the second movie from Mark and Michael Polish whose first film Twin Falls Idaho was also picked up by SPC at Sundance 1999.

  • Fox Searchlight buys the world on Super Troopers

    23-Jan-2001

    In the first deal of the Sundance Film Festival, Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Supertroopers, a crazy comedy directed by Jay Chandrasekhar which screened as a midnight movie on Friday.

  • Crouching Tiger the real winner at Globes

    23-Jan-2001

    In a year when no one film has taken the lead in the race for the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night offered no pointers. While Ridley Scott's Gladiator was named Best Picture (drama), its victory was overshadowed by the success of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Crouching Tiger was only eligible, under the rules of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, to compete in the Best Foreign Film category which it won. But Lee himself beat ...

  • Save The Last Dance leads, Snatch opens strongly

    21-Jan-2001

    Paramount and MTV Films' teen drama Save The Last Dance continued to lead the North American box office over the weekend, taking an estimated $16m for a ten day total of $46.9m. It is the first hit of the year and looks set to head for the $80m mark.Meanwhile 20th Century Fox's Cast Away inched closer to the $200m barrier, taking $11.3m in its fifth week for a total of $182.1m. The multi-award winning Traffic, meanwhile, held on at number three with a strong ...

  • Strand to re-release Kiss Of The Spiderwoman in US

    19-Jan-2001

    US independent distributor Strand Releasing is to re-release Hector Babenco's classic 1985 independent film Kiss Of The Spiderwoman in the domestic market together with Independent Cinema Restoration Archive.

  • Adam Schlesinger leaves Doumanian to join ErgoArts

    19-Jan-2001

    Adam Schlesinger, formerly director of development at Jean Doumanian Productions, has joined ErgoArts Inc as vice president of business affairs and production, a newly created post at the New York-based production outfit.

  • Matt Brodlie promoted to senior vp at Miramax

    19-Jan-2001

    Matt Brodlie has been promoted to senior vice president of acquisitions at Miramax Films, with continuing responsibility for covering the US independent scene as well as Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

  • Anthony Bregman upped to senior vp at Good Machine

    18-Jan-2001

    Anthony Bregman has been promoted to the position of senior vice president of production at Good Machine Inc, the ten year-old production and distribution outfit which is enjoying a banner year led by the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.In the past year, Bregman has produced Michel Gondry's Human Nature starring Tim Robbins and Patricia Arquette which Fine Line will release domestically and StudioCanal is selling internationally, and Nicole Holofcener's ...

  • Mike De Luca out, Toby Emmerich in at New Line

    18-Jan-2001

    It was a turbulent day at New Line Cinema yesterday as president of production Michael De Luca left the company and president of music Toby Emmerich was named to replace him.

  • Deluxe, Film Finances back E-Studio website

    17-Jan-2001

    Film processor Deluxe Laboratories, completion bond company Film Finance Inc and individuals including Cecil B Demented producers Joe Carraciolo Jr, John Fiedler and Mark Tarlov and former studio production chief Fred Bernstein are among the backers of a new entertainment website called E-Studio Network. The site is a free-of-charge service designed to bring preferred pricing, support systems and communications platforms to independent producers and production companies.The ...

  • ALWAYSi launches pay subscription service

    17-Jan-2001

    The moment that this year's Academy Award nominees arerevealed to the entire world at a pre-dawn ceremony broadcast live from LosAngeles tomorrow morning, there will be the usual gasps at some of the omissionsand more questions raised about why some of the year's best-knowndocumentary features have failed yet again to make the cut.

  • Regent International sells Chippendale's movie

    17-Jan-2001

    Regent Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Just Can't Get Enough: The Chippendales Story and will offer it to international buyers at the upcoming AFM through sales arm Regent International.The film, written and directed by Dave Payne and produced by Sam Irvin, is a look at the famed 80s nightclub through the eyes of a young man who becomes a club host. It stars Jonathan Aube, Shelley Malil, Kevin Dailey and JP Pitoc.The soundtrack features 80s hits ...

  • Eagle signs three year, nine-pic deal with Mutual

    17-Jan-2001

    Mutual Film Co has closed a three year, nine-picture output deal with Italy's dynamic distribution outfit Eagle Pictures kicking off with Tomb Raider, the Paramount Pictures action adventure which Mutual is co-financing.Eagle's deal also includes any Tomb Raider sequels and indicates aggressive renewed activity by Mutual's Gary Levinsohn, who is reportedly close to signing a new producing partner after Mark Gordon left the company last year.The deal was ...

  • Last Dance, Crouching Tiger drive holiday record

    15-Jan-2001

    The North American box office continued the record pace set in December with a massive four-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend, up 38% from the same weekend last year and the biggest Martin Luther King Day weekend ever.Driving the box office was Paramount Pictures' Save The Last Dance, the latest teen hit from sister company MTV Films. Featuring Julia Stiles as a gifted ballerina who moves to a Chicago ghetto and has to integrate herself into the local school and ...

  • Shooting Gallery buys six more for 3rd film series

    15-Jan-2001

    The Shooting Gallery has announced the films it has acquired for its third film series at Loews Cineplex Entertainment theatres across North America.

  • Two Soderbergh movies could split the vote

    11-Jan-2001

  • RAI Cinema picks up four from Intermedia, New Line

    11-Jan-2001

    Italy's RAI Cinema has bought a three-picture package from Intermedia including Harrison Ford-starrer K19: The Widowmaker as well as Irwin Winkler's family drama Life As A House from New Line International. The films were acquired on RAI's behalf by Lakeshore International which has signed an exclusive multi-year acquisition agency agreement with RAI to buy US films for distribution in Italy.The three films acquired from Intermedia were K:19, K-Pax ...

  • IFC Films picks up Modern Cannibal Tale docu

    11-Jan-2001

    IFC Films, the domestic theatrical releasing division of the Independent Film Channel's IFC Entertainment, has acquired North American distribution rights to its fourth film - David and Laurie Gwen Shapiro's documentary Keep The River On Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale - from New York-based Next Wave Films, itself a division of IFC Entertainment.The film is the story of Tobias Schneebaum, a 78 year-old artist and author who in 1955 went into the Peruvian jungle and ...

  • Overseas Filmgroup renamed First Look Media

    10-Jan-2001

    21 year-old Overseas Filmgroup has been renamed First Look Media, incorporating five divisions - Overseas Filmgroup, First Look Pictures, First Look Home Entertainment, First Look Artists and First Look Internet.Co-chairmen Robbie Little and Chris Cooney announced the reorganisation yesterday to reflect the expansion of the company following a $17m equity infusion early last year and a new $40m revolving line of credit at Chase Manhattan Bank.The divisions are:- ...

  • Nadia Bronson quits Universal after 24 years

    10-Jan-2001

    The only senior executive with a French background has resigned from Universal Pictures which recently came under the French ownership of Vivendi. International marketing veteran Nadia Bronson has left Universal after 24 years at the studio following the promotion last year of domestic marketing chief Marc Shmuger to vice chairman of the studio with new responsibility for among other areas the international department.Bronson is currently negotiating to settle the remaining ...

  • Forman & Zaentz together again for Goya biopic

    9-Jan-2001

    Director Milos Forman and producer Saul Zaentz are to reteam for the third time on a new film about the life and times of Spanish painter Francisco Goya. The previous collaborations between the two, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Amadeus (1984), both won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director."Although we see each other eight to 12 times a year, our minds seem to meet every ten to 15 years," said Forman. "The genesis of Goya exists in the ...

  • Hollywood stars face off European upstarts

    8-Jan-2001

    New European stars face off against Hollywood screen legends in the best actor race for the Academy Awards this year.

  • Cast Away No 1 but Traffic flies high $14.9m

    7-Jan-2001

    USA Films' critical favourite Traffic opened on a high in its first weekend of wide release.

  • Winchester, Wind Dancer seal three-year deal

    7-Jan-2001

    Wind Dancer Films, the US-based production company behind What Women Want and hit sitcom Home Improvement, has cemented its relationship with UK/US production and sales outfit Winchester Films.

  • Fireworks, Goldwyn buy US on UK's Greenfingers

    5-Jan-2001

    Fireworks Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films have reteamed to jointly acquire US rights to Greenfingers, the British comedy starring Helen Mirren and Clive Owen.

  • Miramax adds two new Italian directors to the fold

    5-Jan-2001

    Miramax Films has closed two separate multi-picture deals with Italian directors Gabriele Muccino and Davide Ferrario to develop and direct both English and Italian language productions.

  • Sundance adds Campers, Stranger to fest lineup

    4-Jan-2001

    The Sundance Film Festival has announced two surprise screenings which will be added to the 2001 lineup - Daniel Waters' Happy Campers and Cheryl Dunye's Stranger Inside.Happy Campers, financed and distributed worldwide by New Line Cinema, is the directorial debut of Waters. It stars Brad Renfro, Dominique Swain, James King, Jordan Bridges, Emily Bergl, Justin Long and Keram Malicki-Sanchez as a diverse team of counsellors who take over Camp Bleeding Dove ...

  • Robino joins MGM as s'r vp, worldwide promotions

    4-Jan-2001

    Mary Goss Robino has been named senior vice president, worldwide promotions, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) after ten years at New Line Cinema. Reporting to Gerry Rich, president of worldwide theatrical marketing for MGM, she will be responsible for developing creative marketing and promotional partnerships and tie-ins related to all the company's new theatrical releases.Most recently at New Line she was senior vice president, national promotions, with credits including Austin ...

  • BVI tops 2000 international league with $1.307bn

    4-Jan-2001

    Buena Vista International (BVI) grossed $1.307bn in 2000, marking it out as the top performing international distribution company of the year. Buena Vista was also the number one performing distributor in North America with a total of $1.1bn for the year.It is the sixth consecutive year that BVI has crossed the $1bn barrier and the fifth time in the last seven years that BVI has won the market share crown, according to a statement by BVI president Mark Zoradi. The total comes ...

  • Artisan, Marvel cast Ray Park as Iron Fist

    3-Jan-2001

    Artisan Entertainment has signed Ray Park, who played Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace and Toad in X-Men, to play Iron Fist in its screen version of the Marvel Comics character. John Turman, whose credits include Buck Rogers In The 25th Century and The Incredible Hulk, will write the screenplay for the film which will be the first to emerge from Artisan's 2000 deal with Marvel Enterprises to jointly develop, produce and distribute ...

  • Cast Away tops $109m after only 11 days

    3-Jan-2001

    Tom Hanks and Mel Gibson demonstrated their huge star power over the Christmas and New Year holiday weekends, notching up megahits in the form of Cast Away and What Women Want respectively. Accompanied by excellent reviews from most North American critics, Cast Away opened with a powerhouse $39.9m opening over the four day weekend Dec 22-25 and followed that up with an even better New Year weekend total of $40m. Its eleven day total is now $109.7m, representing ...

  • 2000 domestic box office breaks all-time record

    3-Jan-2001

    The North American box office reached a record $7.45bn in 2000, up 2% from last year's $7.31bn, according to early estimates from box office data organisation ACNielsen EDI which is scheduled to reveal its final figures tomorrow.The record had looked unlikely earlier in the year after a disappointing summer (down 5% from 1999) and a grim September. However, once Meet The Parents and Remember The Titans hit in early October, audiences started returning to theatres ...

  • Allegations fly between Franchise & Intertainment

    24-Dec-2000

    Franchise Pictures has fought back against German distributor Intertainment Licensing, filing its own suit in the Superior Court of the State of California and issuing a second statement on Friday (Dec 22) saying that it was shocked at Intertainment's public revelations.Meanwhile Intertainment issued its own statement on Friday, explaining the sequence of events over the last two weeks. "Intertainment has discovered, through thorough research and various sources overcharges ...

  • Franchise fires back at Intertainment allegations

    22-Dec-2000

    United International Pictures (UIP) chairman Paul Oneile and president Andrew Cripps have both renewed their contracts with the company, taking them through to 2006.

  • Franchise to file suit against Intertainment today

    21-Dec-2000

    Franchise Pictures has announced that it will file suit against Intertainment Licensing GmbH, Intertainment AG and Barrie Baeres in Los Angeles County Superior Court this morning. Details of the suit will be revealed during the morning.According to Franchise, the LA-based independent production company headed by Elie Samaha, Franchise had previously filed an action against the publicly traded German distributor but it was dismissed at Intertainment's request, "so that the parties ...

  • ShowBIZ Data restages Sundance Interactive Lounge

    20-Dec-2000

    Business-to-business entertainment website ShowBIZ Data Inc is to stage its Interactive Lounge concept at the Sundance Film Festival in January for a second year running. The lounge, based at Harry-O's on Main Street, will host online and offline services for the independent film-making community including distribution, production, marketing and educationActivities at the lounge in 2001 will include access to submission of short films for The Sci-Fi Channel's short film series ...

  • Constantin bonds with IFG for multiple films

    20-Dec-2000

    Germany's production outfit Constantin Film has closed a multi-picture agreement with LA-based completion bond company International Film Guarantors (IFG) under which IFG will be Constantin's principal completion guarantor. The first film to be overseen by IFG's Los Angeles office is the comedy Slap Her, She's French which began shooting in November in Dallas, Texas, and stars Piper Perabo. Director is Melanie Mayron and producers are Beau Flynn, Jonathan King and Matthais ...

  • Broadcast Critics name Crowe, Roberts best of 2000

    20-Dec-2000

    The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), the largest film critics group in North America, has announced its winners for the sixth annual Critics' Choice Awards to be presented on Jan 22 in Los Angeles.Only one award remains undecided - Best picture for which the BFCA has put forward 11 nominations; the winner will also be announced on Jan 22.Those 11 are (in alphabetical order) Almost Famous, Billy Elliot, Cast Away, Crouching Tiger, Hidden ...

  • All The Pretty Horses

    19-Dec-2000

  • What Women Want

    18-Dec-2000

  • What Women Want breaks all-time December record

    17-Dec-2000

    Mel Gibson's first stab at romantic comedy What Women Want was exactly that, with a massive estimated $34.4m opening over the weekend and over 60% of the audience consisting of women. Distributed by Paramount but sold internationally to independent distributors by Icon Entertainment International, the film could stand to become one of the most successful independently financed films of all time and certainly one of Gibson's biggest hits.Playing at 3,012 theatres, it scored ...

  • LA Critics declare Crouching Tiger Best Picture

    17-Dec-2000

    Ang Lee's Chinese-language epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon increased its chances for consideration in major Oscar categories when it was named Best Picture of 2000 last night (Saturday) by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Curtis Hanson's Wonder Boys was runner-up for best picture.However, not even Ang Lee could beat Steven Soderbergh who was named best director for both Traffic and Erin Brockovich. The win completes a clean sweep for ...

  • The Claim

    15-Dec-2000

  • Artisan renews Canada deal with Alliance Atlantis

    15-Dec-2000

    Artisan Entertainment and Alliance Atlantis Communications have renewed their 1998 output deal giving Alliance Atlantis the Canadian theatrical, home entertainment and TV rights to upcoming Artisan films for an additional three years.The agreement also gives Alliance Atlantis Canadian rights for another five years to Artisan's 6,700-title film and TV library. Alliance Atlantis' recent launch of a special edition DVD of Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the company's largest ...

  • Walton signed to script The Pornographer's Poem

    15-Dec-2000

    Canadian screenwriter Karen Walton has been signed by Alliance Atlantis to adapt Michael Turner's novel The Pornographer's Poem for the screen. Walton wrote the acclaimed horror film Ginger Snaps which premiered at this year's Toronto International Film Festival and received an honourable mention "for its wicked, insightful and intelligent script."A bestseller in Canada, The Pornographer's Poem is the story of a teenager in 1970s Vancouver who sets out on ...

  • Fox ups Yankowitz to top int'l marketing position

    15-Dec-2000

    Mitch Yankowitz has been promoted to the position of executive vice president of marketing at 20th Century Fox International, filling the position held until recently by Scott Neeson, who was promoted to president of international theatrical in October.Yankowitz will develop and supervise the strategic marketing plans of all Fox releases internationally and supervise the Los Angeles, regional and field marketing operations.

  • Traffic

    14-Dec-2000

  • CTFDI glides past the $1 billion mark for 2000

    14-Dec-2000

    Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) has passed $1 billion in international box office grosses, the company announced on Wednesday, marking the second time in its history after 1997 when Men In Black, My Best Friend's Wedding and Jerry Maguire pushed the studio past the billion mark.

  • Alliance Atlantis, H20 to produce Kwietniowski pic

    14-Dec-2000

    Alliance Atlantis Communications is backing Richard Kwietniowski's second film Owning Maloney which is being produced by Alliance Atlantis-based H20 Motion Pictures. H20's Andras Hamori and Seaton McLean, president of Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Production, will produce the film which is set to start shooting in mid-March on location in Toronto and Atlantic City.

  • Dailey, Epstein promoted in marketing at Artisan

    14-Dec-2000

    Brian Dailey been promoted to vice president of media and research at Artisan Entertainment from his position as director of theatrical administration. He will report to Amorette Jones, executive vice president, worldwide marketing, Artisan Pictures. In this new capacity, he will oversee the newspaper and broadcast media buys for Artisan's theatrical releases as well as marketing research for these films.Prior to joining Artisan, Dailey worked in marketing finance at DreamWorks ...

  • What Lies Beneath crosses $100m internationally

    14-Dec-2000

    What Lies Beneath, the DreamWorks/20th Century Fox co-production starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer, has crossed the $100m barrier internationally, making it the 18th film to do so this year. Fox has international rights to the film which is directed by Robert Zemeckis; DreamWorks has taken $155m on it domestically.Last weekend, What Lies Beneath opened with $1.4m on 260 screens in Japan, pushing its total to $100.1m in 25 markets (1,349 screens).In ...

  • New York critics get high on Soderbergh's Traffic

    13-Dec-2000

    Steven Soderbergh's Traffic, the $50m theatrical re-working of the Channel 4 mini-series on the international drug trade, was named best picture on Wednesday by the New York Film Critics Circle after nearly five hours of deliberation at Manhattan's Sardi's Restaurant.Soderbergh himself was named the year's best director for both Traffic and Erin Brockovich, while Benicio Del Toro won the best supporting actor award for Traffic, which ...

  • Palm Springs to honour Nicolas Cage, Ridley Scott

    13-Dec-2000

    Nicolas Cage, Ridley Scott and Randy Newman are among the honorees at next year's Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival. Cage will be presented with the Charles A Crain Desert Palm Award, Scott with the Director's Achievement Award and Newman with the Frederick Loewe Award at an awards gala on Jan 13, 2001, at the Palm Springs Convention Centre.Cage joins other recent recipients including Annette Bening, John Travolta, Sylvester Stallone, Susan Sarandon, James ...

  • Shmuger, Finkelstein promoted at Universal

    13-Dec-2000

    Universal Pictures has promoted two senior executives - Marc Shmuger and Rick Finkelstein. Shmuger, formerly president of marketing, has been named vice chairman and Finkelstein, formerly president, has been given the additional title of chief operating officer (COO). They will both report to Stacey Snider, chairman of the studio.The promotions, due largely to the banner year which Universal has enjoyed due to the success of Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Gladiator, ...

  • Cast Away

    12-Dec-2000

  • Julianne Moore named Sundance honoree

    11-Dec-2000

    Julianne Moore will receive the 10th Anniversary Piper-Heidsick Tribute to Independent Vision at the Sundance Film Festival next month in Park City, Utah. The tribute was created "to honour a film artist who has made a significant and unique contribution to independent film." The award will be presented on Saturday Jan 20, with an onstage interview with Moore and clips from her films. Guests already confirmed include Lyle Lovett and Wallace Shawn.

  • Pacifica buys Potsdamer Platz for Tony Scott

    11-Dec-2000

    Pacifica, the IMF-backed, Hollywood-based subsidiary of Intermedia, has bought screen rights to writer/director Buddy Giovinazzo's manuscript Potsdamer Platz for Tony and Ridley Scott's production outfit Scott Free.Tony Scott will direct and co-produce with Catalaine Knell who brought the project to Scott Free. The story follows the exploits of two foot-soldiers of a New Jersey crime syndicate hell-bent on expanding its horizons internationally. Travelling to Germany, ...

  • The Grinch fends off newcomers in fourth weekend

    11-Dec-2000

  • Worldwide marketing chief Bob Levin quits Sony

    7-Dec-2000

    Robert Levin, the president of worldwide marketing for Sony Pictures Entertainment, has resigned his post and will leave the company immediately. He joined the studio in 1996 and was responsible for all worldwide marketing activities for the company's theatrical releases and its consumer products organisation."I am quite proud of what I accomplished during my four years at Sony Pictures," said Levin in a statement. "It is now time, however, to move on to the next chapter of ...

  • Julian Senior to leave Warner Bros after 30 years

    7-Dec-2000

    Julian Senior, the well-known head of European Regional Advertising and Publicity at Warner Bros Pictures, is to leave the company at the end of the year after 30 years at the company."We will certainly miss him and his contribution to our company and our films," said Richard Fox, executive vice president, international, at Warner Bros, "but after so many successful years at the heart of the studio's European marketing and publicity operations, we understand and support his ...

  • Quills named best film by National Board of Review

    7-Dec-2000

    Philip Kaufman's Quills was named Best Film of 2000 by the National Board Of Review Of Motion Pictures, kicking off an unpredictable awards season with its first surprise.

  • AFMA promotes Gagnon, expands collections unit

    6-Dec-2000

    Janet M Gagnon has been promoted to the position of vice president, collections & European policy for AFMA Collections, a division of the American Film Marketing Association that has now been expanded to non-AFMA members.

  • Web deals for Mary Pickford, early Russian cinema

    6-Dec-2000

    article27, a worldwide online entertainment syndicator, has acquired global streaming rights to five silent feature films starring Mary Pickford and North American streaming rights to a group of early Russian films from New York-based Milestone Film & Video.

  • Sundance Premieres, World Cinema complete line-up

    6-Dec-2000

    The Sundance Film Festival followed the announcement yesterday of its dramatic and documentary competition and American Spectrum sections with the high-profile Premiere and World Cinema sections today, as well as Frontier and Midnight Screenings.

  • Vertical Limit

    5-Dec-2000

  • Angelina Speare named executive vp at Warner

    5-Dec-2000

    Angelina Speare has been promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president, international operations & finance, at Warner Bros Pictures. She will oversee the day-to-day operations, business development and financial planning and reporting for the international arm of Warner Bros as well as the company's international regional offices and affiliates.Speare will report directly to Richard Fox, executive vice president, international at Warner Bros and work closely ...

  • Overseas Filmgroup acquires rights to Swimming

    1-Dec-2000

    Overseas Filmgroup has acquired international sales rights to Swimming, a drama about friendship and love set in a small Carolina town. Starring Lauren Ambrose, Jennifer Dundas Lowe and Joelle Carter, the film is directed by Robert J Siegel and has played at a host of film festivals including Rotterdam, Seattle, Chicago, Karlovy Vary, Flanders, Fort Lauderdale, St Louis, San Francisco Gay & Lesbian and Santa Barbara.Ambrose won the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Actress ...

  • Holland, Croatia get film seasons in New York, LA

    30-Nov-2000

    Film seasons from The Netherlands and Croatia have been scheduled in the US next month. Dutch Treats 2000: New Films From Holland presents ten recent films at the Quad Cinema in New York (Dec 1-7), while Wednesdays In Croatia (Nov 29-Dec 20) screens classic and new Croatian films kicking off with Oscar submission Marshal Tito's Spirit at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.Dutch Treats, presented by Holland Film in collaboration with American Premieres, a New York-based ...

  • Lions Gate posts profitable quarter for Jul-Sept

    29-Nov-2000

    Lions Gate Entertainment has posted net income of $0.5m for the second quarter of 2001 ending Sept 30, 2000. Revenues were $66.5m, net earnings were $2.6m minus a non-cash operating loss of $2.1m in Mandalay Pictures and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) was $5.3m. The results mark Lions Gate's fifth straight quarter of profitability excluding its equity interest in the losses of Mandalay.Lions Gate's 45% equity investment in Mandalay - ...

  • Kroll and Kwan-Rubinek head Warner International

    29-Nov-2000

    Warner Bros Pictures has named two executives to replace Ed Frumkes as heads of its international distribution and marketing division. Sue Kroll has been named president, international marketing, and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek president, international distribution, reporting to Alan Horn, president & COO of the studio through Richard Fox, executive vice president, international.

  • Unbreakable

    28-Nov-2000

  • Geoff Ammer leaves Disney, joins Revolution

    28-Nov-2000

    Geoffrey Ammer has left his position as co-president of marketing for Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group to join Joe Roth's Revolution Studios. He is replaced at Buena Vista by Oren Aviv, formerly his co-president at Disney, who now assumes sole responsibility for creative materials, publicity, promotions, research, media and internet development and marketing at the studio.Ammer will collaborate on all aspects of marketing and distribution worldwide for Revolution Studios film ...

  • 102 Dalmations

    27-Nov-2000

  • The Grinch leads record-breaking Thanksgiving

    27-Nov-2000

    Thanksgiving records collapsed over the five-day holiday weekend led by the phenomenal holdover success of Universal Pictures' Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The family adventure took an estimated $73.8m from Wednesday to Sunday - about $52.4m over the Friday to Sunday period - bringing its ten day total to a quite astonishing $137.4m. That means that The Grinch is headed to $200m in super-fast time and is likely to end up as the biggest grossing film of 2000.With ...

  • Columbia TriStar buys Temptation from Showcase

    22-Nov-2000

    Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group has acquired rights in North America and multiple international territories to Showcase Entertainment's The Right Temptation, a thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland, Rebecca DeMornay and Dana Delaney.The film tells the story of a female private investigator hired by a jealous wife to uncover her husband's suspected infidelity.Showcase has recently acquired two new films - Gentleman Bandit starring an ex-bank robber Charlie ...

  • Winstar to tour 13-film Rohmer retrospective in US

    22-Nov-2000

    US specialised distributor Winstar Cinema will tour a retrospective of 11 features and two shorts directed by Eric Rohmer in brand new prints across the country starting next year. "Tales Of Rohmer" will also form the centrepiece of a more extensive retrospective being planned at New York City's Film Forum from Feb 9 to Mar 15, 2001.The package will travel to over 30 North American cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC and San Francisco.Among the ...

  • Kinowelt USA buy Cap'n Ricky script by Mark Perez

    22-Nov-2000

    Kinowelt USA has acquired the rights to Cap'n Ricky, a new screenplay by hot comedy writer Mark Perez whose credits include The Country Bears which is in pre-production at Disney, The Party Professional which was bought by Universal for Casey Silver's Gone Fishin Productions and Untitled Dave Sheridan Project which was bought by Disney for Robert Simonds to produce.The story follows the zany adventures of Ricardo Brubaker aka Cap'n Ricky, who pilots ...

  • The 6th Day

    21-Nov-2000

  • 46 films set to vie for Foreign-language Oscar

    21-Nov-2000

    A record 46 countries have submitted films to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for consideration for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar to be presented during the Academy Award ceremony on March 25.The Academy unveiled the full list which exceeds the previous record of 45 set in 1994 and repeated last year. Among some of the films not yet announced are Hey! Ram from India and 6ixty Nin9 from Thailand.Of the 46 films, only nine have US distribution ...

  • IFC gets North American rights to McKay's Our Song

    21-Nov-2000

    IFC Films, the US distributor recently formed by the New York-based Independent Film Channel (IFC), has acquired all North American distribution rights to Jim McKay's Our Song - a film produced by IFC's production arm IFC Productions.IFC Films, run by senior vice president of marketing and distribution Bob Berney, is planning to release Our Song in May 2001. The film, McKay's second after Girls Town, is a coming-of-age drama set in the inner city and stars ...

  • North America loves The Grinch

    20-Nov-2000

    Universal Pictures and exhibitors across North America breathed a sigh of relief over the weekend as Imagine Entertainment's Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas broke records with a $55.1m gross at a staggering 3,127 theatres (and on over 4,200 screens).The movie, a lavish live action retelling of the children's classic directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey as The Grinch, was Universal's great hope for the holiday season and its success is the perfect seal ...

  • DIC Animation enlists Bain for management buyout

    18-Nov-2000

    DIC Entertainment chairman and CEO Andy Heyward has partnered with Bain Capital Inc in a management buyout of DIC from The Walt Disney Co. Heyward will continue as chairman and CEO of the animation studio which has more than 2,500 half-hours of programming in its library.DIC became a unit of the Disney Filmed Entertainment division followingDisney's buyout of Capital Cities/ABC in 1995 since DIC had previously formed alimited partnership with ABC. But Heyward has long ...

  • Al Pacino named HFPA Cecil B DeMille Award winner

    17-Nov-2000

    Al Pacino will receive the 2001 Cecil B DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field". The award, voted on by the board of directors of the HFPA will be presented to Pacino at the 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony to be held in Los Angeles on Jan 21, 2001.

  • Alcon buys Untitled First Daughter project

    17-Nov-2000

    Alcon Entertainment, the LA-based independent production outfit with a five-year, 10-picture distribution agreement with Warner Bros Pictures, has purchased the romantic comedy Untitled First Daughter Project and signed Andy Cadiff to direct. Cadiff's credits include TV series The Geena Davis Show, Spin City and Home Improvement as well as 1997 movie Leave It To Beaver.

  • Jarmus, Schuman named heads of Universal Int'l TV

    16-Nov-2000

    Steven Jarmus and Philip Schuman have been named co-presidents of Universal International Television, overseeing the distribution of all Universal feature films globally in all forms of television (pay-TV, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, non-theatrical, broadcast, satellite-to-home, basic cable) as well as Universal's TV programming internationally.They are also responsible for the international distribution of original programming from USA Networks, Studios USA, USA Cable Entertainment ...

  • Kushner-Locke strikes longterm deal with ALWAYSi

    16-Nov-2000

    The Kushner-Locke Co has established a longterm partnership with San Francisco-based internet entertainment outfit ALWAYSi whereby it will distribute films represented by ALWAYSi in traditional offline channels.Kushner-Locke will license the brand ALWAYSi True American Independent Cinema in international markets, creating a path from online film exhibition at ALWAYSi's website (alwaysi.com) to traditional distribution channels such as cable, satellite, broadband cable, DVD and ...

  • Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

    15-Nov-2000

  • Kodak, Shanghai Film & TV build Shanghai multiplex

    15-Nov-2000

    The Shanghai Film & TV Group and Kodak (China) Ltd are teaming up to open a multiplex - named Kodak CinemaWorld - in Shanghai, China, early next year. The four-screen complex will be located in the Xujiahui Metro Entertainment Centre in the city's commercial district.

  • Deckter named vp, int'l sales at Morgan Creek

    15-Nov-2000

    Jonathan Deckter has been named vice president of international sales at Morgan Creek International, reporting directly to Howard Kaplan, president of Morgan Creek International.Deckter was formerly an account manager in the advertising department of LA-based trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter and prior to that served as a consultant to companies including PSO, Avenue Entertainment and Screen Media Ventures. He was also director of international sales and business ...

  • Intermedia expands deal with Outlaw Productions

    14-Nov-2000

    Indie giant Intermedia has reteamed with Bobby Newmyer and Jeff Silver's Outlaw Productions in a new multi-year output agreement calling for Outlaw to produce two to three major studio films a year. Intermedia will provide production financing and distribute the films internationally while brokering domestic deals on a picture-by-picture basis.The deal is an extension of the first agreement struck in March 1998 in which Intermedia and the film division of the Fuji TV Network ...

  • Fox, Sony Classics snap up Zhang Yimou's new film

    14-Nov-2000

    20th Century Fox has acquired international distribution rights outside China, France and North America to Zhang Yimou's latest film, Happy Times which is the first production from Edward R Pressman and Terrence Malick's Sunflower Productions. Sony Pictures Classics, which handled the last two films from Yimou (Not One Less, The Road Home) has rights in North America.Fox had worldwide rights on Malick's last film as director The Thin Red Line but ...

  • Fox teams with Svensk for distribution in Denmark

    14-Nov-2000

    20th Century Fox International is teaming up with Svensk Filmindustri to form a joint venture for theatrical distribution in Denmark. Under the name Filmcompagniet, the new partnership takes effect from Jan 1, 2001 and will release films from both Fox and Svensk in the territory as well as exploring new opportunities in the Danish market.Fox previously sub-distributed its product in Denmark through Constantin, a subsidiary of Egmont-owned Nordisk.The deal with Svensk ...

  • Rick Senat to leave Warner Bros after 24 years

    13-Nov-2000

    Rick Senat, head of European business affairs for Warner Bros and a 24 year-old veteran of the studio, is to retire from the company at the end of the year to pursue independent entrepreneurial opportunities in the entertainment business. He will remain with Warner in an advisory capacity.Senat's departure was announced by John Schulman, executive vice president and general counsel for Warner, in Los Angeles on Friday.Senat joined Warner in 1977 and eventually ran the ...

  • Charlie's Angels beat out Little Nicky

    13-Nov-2000

    Columbia's Charlie's Angels remained atop the North American box office over the weekend with a huge $25m haul, bringing its total to $75.4m after ten days. The camp adventure spinoff from the TV series of the same name roundly defeated its competition which included Adam Sandler's latest film Little Nicky from New Line, Fox's acclaimed biopic Men Of Honor and Warner Bros' sci-fi epic Red Planet.

  • Dimension unveils Kevin Smith's new Jay & Bob pic

    10-Nov-2000

    Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith will reprise their roles as Silent Bob and Jay for the fifth time in Smith's next feature Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back which will start production in January for Dimension Films. Dimension has already set Aug 10, 2001, as the US release date and say it will be the largest release yet for a Smith-directed film.Mewes and Smith have played the same characters in all four of Smith's films to date - Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy ...

  • Frank Beddor sells Full Catastrophe to Bel-Air

    10-Nov-2000

    Frank Beddor, one of the producers of There's Something About Mary, has sold the comic novel The Full Catastrophe by David Carkeet to Steve Reuther's Bel-Air Entertainment.Bel-Air, which is co-financed by Warner Bros and StudioCanal, will co-produce with Beddor's Automatic Pictures. Bel-Air senior vice president Keri Selig who brought the project to the company will oversee its development alongside Heather Courtney.The book, which will be adapted by Harris ...

  • Crouching Tiger gets the Oscar nod from Taiwan

    10-Nov-2000

    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the Chinese-language audience and critics' favourite which has been wowing the festival circuit since an out of competition world premiere at Cannes this year has been named the official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award by Taiwan.The nod from Taiwan gives Crouching Tiger a firm start on the road to Oscar glory and, like Life Is Beautiful in 1998, speculation is already being voiced that it could be nominated ...

  • Advanced, Petersen unveil Red Cliff slate

    9-Nov-2000

    Red Cliff Productions, the joint venture production company between public German outfit Advanced Medien AG and Hollywood-based director Wolfgang Petersen, has named Gail Katz president and CEO and unveiled its first production psychological thriller Fear Itself, which is set to go into production in March 2001.

  • Winstar Cinema buys four French films for US

    8-Nov-2000

    Independent US distributor Winstar Cinema has closed a raft of European film acquisitions since Toronto including a three picture deal with Paris-based Celluloid Dreams and Olivier Assayas' Cannes competition entry Les Destinees Sentimentales.From Celluloid Dreams, Winstar acquired Jafar Panahi's Venice Golden Lion award winner The Circle in addition to Francois Ozon's latest film Under The Sand (Sous Le Sable) featuring Charlotte Rampling which will ...

  • IFC Films buys The King Is Alive for North America

    8-Nov-2000

    IFC Films, the fast-growing theatrical distribution arm of US cable channel The Independent Film Channel (IFC), has acquired all North American rights to Kristian Levring's The King Is Alive from Newmarket Capital Group and Good Machine International.Premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes this year, the film is the fourth official film from Denmark's Dogme movement after The Idiots, The Celebration and Mifune. Levring founded the movement with the ...

  • Lions Gate buys US rights to The Whole Shebang

    8-Nov-2000

    Easily the most acquisitive of domestic distribuors at present, Lions Gate Releasing has bought US rights to romantic comedy The Whole Shebang from David Kirkpatrick's Original Voices Inc. The film, directed by George Zaloom and starring Stanley Tucci and Bridget Fonda, is the first from Kirkpatrick's new venture which is part-financed by Germany's Intertainment AG. International sales are handled by 2K Media.Tucci plays an Italian summoned to work in his family's fireworks ...

  • Basil Iwanyk set as Intermedia production chief

    8-Nov-2000

    After months of speculation, Warner Bros executive Basil Iwanyk has joined Intermedia as president of production. He will oversee the company's producer alliances and focus on developing and producing big budget studio films.Iwanyk started his career as a trainee agent at UTA, moving to Warner Bros as a creative executive in 1993 before being named vice president of production in 1998."With Basil we have been able to secure one of the rare talents in Los Angeles which ...

  • Viacom acquires BET for $2.43bn

    6-Nov-2000

    Viacom has agreed to purchase BET Holdings, the parent group of successful US cable channel Black Entertainment Television (BET), for $2.43bn in stock and $570m worth of debt.

  • Intermedia acquires remake rights to Sleepwalker

    5-Nov-2000

    Intermedia has acquired the remake rights to Swedish/Norwegian thriller Sleepwaker from John M Jacobsen and AB Svensk Filmindustri. The English language version will be produced by Mark Johnson Productions which has a first look deal at Intermedia.

  • Charlie's Angels a box office knockout with $40.5m

    5-Nov-2000

    A disappointing year for Columbia Pictures was turned around overnight with the sensational $40.5m opening this weekend for Charlie's Angels, the big screen version of the campy 70s TV series famous for launching the career of Farrah Fawcett Majors. The long-awaited action adventure directed by first-timer McG and starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Bill Murray lifted overall box office by 37% from the same weekend last year and marked the biggest non-summer opener ...

  • Crystal Sky, VCL, Cinetel coil around Viper

    3-Nov-2000

    CineTel Films has teamed up with Steven Paul's Crystal Sky and Germany's VCL to produce the $5.2m action picture Viper starring Theresa Russell and Patrick Muldoon. CineTel's Paul Hertzberg and Lisa Hansen are producing the film, with Paul and VCL's Datty Ruth as executive producers. Jay Andrews, whose credits include Militia and Stealth Fighter, is the director.

  • Alpine Pictures, Strick deal in Love

    3-Nov-2000

    Alpine Pictures has teamed with Cape Fear screenwriter Wesley Strick to produce teen thriller Love Is The Drug starring Leelee Sobieski, the fast-rising young actress who appeared in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut.

  • Bacon & Eggs, Chickflicks fry up Coyote

    2-Nov-2000

    UK production outfit Bacon & Eggs Productions is co-producing its first feature - a comic horror film called Coyote - with Chickflicks, the US production company founded by Sara Risher and being bankrolled by New Line Cinema, where Bacon & Eggs enjoys a first-look deal.

  • Miracle to work for Italian

    1-Nov-2000

    Miracle Entertainment - the public LA-based company run by Tony Cataldo and Richard Abramson - is to fully finance and handle worldwide sales on The Italian, a drama to be directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and produced by Mike Marcus and Carroll Kemp.

  • Tomorrow picks up Shadow Magic

    1-Nov-2000

    Tomorrow Film Corp has taken international rights to Shadow Magic, Ann Hu's China-set period drama which had its world premiere in the World Cinema section at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.

  • Franchise adds Plan B, Stallone duo to slate

    1-Nov-2000

    Franchise Pictures is debuting a range of new pictures at London including two new actioners starring Sylvester Stallone and the mob comedy Plan B starring Diane Keaton. And for the first time in several markets, all major territories are available on the titles since Franchise's German partner, Intertainment, has not taken up its option to buy pan-European rights.

  • Unified Film Organization creates theatrical arm

    1-Nov-2000

    Unified Film Organization (UFO), the LA-based production and sales operation in which publicly traded German distributor Advanced Medien took a 51% stake earlier this year, has launched a theatrical level division called Consolidated Motion Pictures.

  • Fireworks buys Innocence for the US

    1-Nov-2000

    Fireworks Pictures - the domestic distribution subsidiary of Jay Firestone's Toronto-based CanWest Entertainment - has closed its latest acquisition at MIFED, taking US rights to Paul Cox's award-winning crowd-pleaser Innocence from sales agent Cinemavault Releasing.

  • New German buyer turns up the heat at MIFED

    31-Oct-2000

    A new all-rights buyer from Germany, E-M-S New Media, has emerged at MIFED and is set to get more aggressive once it goes public on the Neuer Markt later this month.

  • Permut signs Swank, sets DreamWorks remake

    31-Oct-2000

    Hollywood producer David Permut has signed Oscar winner Hilary Swank to star opposite Richard Gere in Julia Pastrana, a romantic epic to which director Taylor Hackford has finally committed as his next film after Proof Of Life.

  • Summit's Femme Fatale seduces buyers

    31-Oct-2000

    Summit Entertainment has sealed a score of high-profile sales deals on its new titles including Brian DePalma-directed thriller Femme Fatale which will shoot in Paris no later than Feb 15.

  • The Legend Of Bagger Vance

    31-Oct-2000

  • Libra balances Esposito with Glasser

    31-Oct-2000

    Anthony Esposito, president of Leading Pictures Inc, and independent producer Richard Glasser have formed a production/distribution outfit called Libra Entertainment which has a first-look production deal with David Glasser's Cutting Edge Entertainment. Richard Glasser is also director of acquisitions at Cutting Edge.

  • Hilltop seals $50m Korean financing pact

    31-Oct-2000

    LA-based Hilltop Entertainment and Korea's Media Film International (MFI) have sealed a $50m production, financing and distribution deal to deliver five action films with an average budget of $10m per picture.

  • Malick, Mandoki turn to Constantin

    30-Oct-2000

    New projects from Terence Malick and Luis Mandoki are being developed by Constantin Film, the production arm of Bernd Eichinger's Neue Constantin, through its joint venture with Propaganda Films. In addition the German outfit has purchased two books in the UK through its joint venture with Impact Pictures.

  • Rex Media rides high with Larson

    30-Oct-2000

    Rex Media, which enjoys a multipicture relationship with Ray Stark's Rastar, is close to sealing a similar co-financing and sales arrangement with veteran TV producer Glen A Larson.

  • Amuse, CMC join Miramax client roster

    30-Oct-2000

    After a frantic week in London, Miramax International had closed most of its territorial package deals by the first day of play at MIFED. Two new clients - Japanese heavyweight Amuse Pictures and Taiwan's CMC - were among the regular buyers snatching the latest six-pack from worldwide distribution chief Rick Sands which was toplined by Scary Movie 2 and $55m adventure picture The Four Feathers (a Paramount release in North America).

  • Nippon Herald takes Intermedia trio for Japan

    29-Oct-2000

    Nippon Herald Films has clinched a three picture deal with Intermedia that covers the Harrison Ford-starrer K:19 The Widowmaker, K:Pax starring Kevin Spacey and The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey.

  • Gordon's $30m Tree takes root at MGM, Winchester

    29-Oct-2000

    Chuck Gordon's Daybreak Productions has finally set up the first picture to fall under his independent financing structure now that MGM has committed to taking domestic rights to The Tree, a $30m comedy featuring hot rising star Johnny Knoxville.

  • Eddie Izzard plays Charlie Chaplin for Bogdanovich

    29-Oct-2000

    Ramping up its production activities, Lions Gate Films is to back The Cat's Meow, a drama set against the golden age of Hollywood that intriguingly casts Kirsten Dunst as Marion Davies and Eddie Izzard as Charlie Chaplin under the direction of maverick cinephile director Peter Bogdanovich.

  • Warner Bros takes North America on The Dish

    25-Oct-2000

    Warner Bros Pictures has acquired North American rights to The Dish, the Australian comic drama which opened last weekend in its home territory with the highest opening for a local film in history.

  • India's PentaMedia acquires Film Roman

    24-Oct-2000

    Indian multimedia production outfit PentaMedia Graphics is to acquire a 51% stake in LA-based animation house Film Roman for $15m, establishing a US beachhead for the public company which already has satellite offices in the UK and Luxembourg.

  • Fox, Lloyd reteam on Fireworks' Interstate 60

    23-Oct-2000

    Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd, the two stars of the Back To The Future trilogy, are reteaming in supporting roles in Fireworks Pictures' coming-of-age fantasy Interstate 60 which marks the directorial debut of Back To The Future writer-producer Bob Gale.

  • New World, Nordisk among buyers for 51st State

    23-Oct-2000

    New World Films in Spain, Nordisk in Scandinavia and Les Films De L'Elysee in Benelux are among the buyers which have committed to Alliance Atlantis Pictures International's $25m action comedy The 51st State starring Samuel L Jackson.

  • Mothman flies at Screen Gems

    23-Oct-2000

    Screen Gems, the mid-budget releasing division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, has acquired all North American rights to Lakeshore Entertainment's psychological thriller The Mothman Prophecies which is set to start shooting in Jan 2001. Richard Gere will star and Mark Pellington (Arlington Road) will direct.

  • MDP, Crystal Sky spread Fear.com

    23-Oct-2000

    Mark Damon's MDP Worldwide and Steven Paul's Crystal Sky have teamed up to handle the worldwide distribution of two new films - Fear.com to be directed by William Malone (House On Haunted Hill) and sports action thriller The Extremists to be directed by Christian Duguay (The Art Of War).

  • Neeson replaces Gianopulos as Fox Int'l chief

    23-Oct-2000

    Scott Neeson, former executive vice president of international marketing at 20th Century Fox, has been appointed president of 20th Century Fox International Theatrical, taking over from his former boss Jim Gianopulos who was upped to chairman of the studio last month.

  • DreamWorks walks from Walk The Talk

    23-Oct-2000

    DreamWorks SKG, which financed and co-produced Australian comedy Walk The Talk on the back of director Shirley Barrett's debut feature Love Serenade, has had a change of heart about releasing the film and is shopping domestic rights.

  • Parents holds off Bedazzled, Pay It Forward

    23-Oct-2000

    Neither 20th Century Fox's comedy Bedazzled nor Warner Bros' Pay It Forward could unseat Universal's Meet The Parents from the top slot at the domestic box office. The popular Ben Stiller/Robert De Niro fell just 23% in its third weekend to take $16.3m and bring its total to $81m - assuring its place in the $100m club and possibly as the biggest comedy of the year.

  • IFC Films gets Together for first acquisition

    22-Oct-2000

  • Brian De Palma's Femme Fatale seduces Summit

    22-Oct-2000

    Summit Entertainment has taken international rights to Brian De Palma's next picture, the independently-financed noir thriller Femme Fatale, a $30m-$35m by Tarak Ben Ammar's Paris-based production company Quinta and Kirch/Mediaset European buying alliance Epsilon.

  • Winchester reteams with Wind Dancer on actioner

    17-Oct-2000

    Winchester Entertainment has extended its relationship with US production outfit Wind Dancer Films to co-produce The Untitled Blake Masters Project, a "character-driven action film" to be produced and directed by Wind Dancer's Matt Williams. Williams made his directorial debut on Where The Heart Is, released domestically earlier this year by 20th Century Fox and starring Nathalie Portman and Ashley Judd.

  • X-Men crosses the $100m international barrier

    12-Oct-2000

    20th Century Fox's summer blockbuster X-Men has broken the $100m barrier in international territories, bringing its worldwide cumulative gross to over $250m. Bryan Singer's film based on the Marvel Comics characters opened last weekend in Spain and Japan, bringing its international total to $106.1m. It has been on release for 12 weeks since its international debut in Australia on July 13.The film took $2.035m from 302 screens in Spain and $3.6m from 267 screens in Japan ...

  • Myriad backs Greenwald in Ellroy's Dark Places

    12-Oct-2000

    Fast-growing Myriad Pictures, Kirk D'Amico's LA-based production and sales outfit owned by publicly-traded German media outfit IN-motion, is to co-produce and fully finance My Dark Places: An LA Crime Memoir, the film of James Ellroy's autobiographical crime novel. The film will be directed by Robert Greenwald and Myriad is co-producing with his Robert Greenwald Productions.Casting is currently underway on the film to which Myriad will retain worldwide distribution rights. ...

  • Winchester takes on Soul Assassin

    11-Oct-2000

    Winchester Films has boarded $8m action thriller Soul Assassin starring Skeet Ulrich and Kristy Swanson as international sales agent. Winchester will launch the film, which started shooting on Monday, at London Screenings and MIFED.

  • Harrison Ford confirms lead in Intermedia's K-19

    11-Oct-2000

    Harrison Ford has confirmed that he will star in his first independently distributed movie - cold war submarine thriller K-19: The Widowmaker to be financed and distributed by Intermedia. The film, which immediately jumps to the top of buyers' hit lists for London Screenings and MIFED, is to be directed by Kathryn Bigelow who recently completed The Weight Of Water for StudioCanal. Production entities are National Geographic Features, Bigelow's First Light Productions and ...

  • Wenders & Shepard reteam for untitled 2001 project

    10-Oct-2000

    Wim Wenders and Sam Shepard who last collaborated on Wenders' 80s classic Paris Texas are to reteam on the screenplay for Wenders' next feature, an as yet untitled road movie set across the US. The new film which will be produced by Wenders' Berlin-based Road Movies Filmproduktion GmbH is set to start shooting on location in the US in early 2001. Road Movies managing director Ulrich Felsberg will be at MIFED discussing potential partnerships on the film. Road Movies is ...

  • Meet The Parents scores a whopping $29m

    8-Oct-2000

    Topping the Columbus Day weekend box office in North America with the highest October opening ever was Universal's comedy Meet The Parents which grossed a stunning $29.1m at 2,614 theatres. The comedy, directed by Jay Roach - the man behind the two Austin Powers films, was another hit for Universal and yet another for DreamWorks SKG which co-financed the film and is handling it internationally.Meet The Parents stars Ben Stiller as a male nurse spending a ...

  • Lions Gate buys US on Korea's Nowhere To Hide

    6-Oct-2000

    Lions Gate Releasing will release Lee Myung-Se's acclaimed Korean action thriller Nowhere To Hide in the US, starting with a limited run in New York and Los Angeles in December. The film was sold internationally by sister outfit Lions Gate Films International but this is a separate deal negotiated by Lions Gate Releasing co-presidents Tom Ortenberg and Mark Urman with Tae-Won Chung on behalf of Taewon Entertainment.The film, which screened at the Vancouver, Pusan and ...

  • 1st German Cinema Festival set for LA next month

    6-Oct-2000

    The Export-Union of German Cinema is to stage the 1st annual Festival of German Cinema in Los Angeles from Nov 3-9 presenting 16 new feature films, 15 shorts and a selection of shorts from German film students.Films screening will include: Sebastian Schipper's Gigantic, Achim Von Borries' England, Peter Keglevic's Falling Rocks, Vanessa Joop's Forget America, Peep Danquart's Home Game, Martin Eigler's Friends, Anno Saul's Green Desert, ...

  • Das Werk takes majority stake in LA's Promark

    6-Oct-2000

    Publicly traded German post-production facility Das Werk has acquired a 73% stake in 13 year-old LA-based production and sales outfit Promark Entertainment Group.The move gives Promark access to Das Werk's network of post-production facilities while giving Das Werk a foothold in the US and access to Promark's international sales network. The deal was struck between Das Werk and Conny Lernhag, chairman of Promark Entertainment Group, and Jon Kramer, president of Promark Entertainment ...

  • Zanucks strike first-look deal with DreamWorks

    5-Oct-2000

    Veteran Hollywood producers Richard D. Zanuck and Lili Fini Zanuck have signed a two-year, first-look deal with DreamWorks Pictures. Richard Zanuck has already produced Deep Impact for the studio in 1998 with his longterm producing partner David Brown and he is teaming with Dean Zanuck to produce Road To Perdition, an upcoming DreamWorks production to be directed by Sam Mendes and star Tom Hanks.The Zanucks are also developing The Ninth Man at DreamWorks; ...

  • Kinowelt USA buys Let It Ride pitch for Hurd

    5-Oct-2000

    Kinowelt USA, the US production arm of German film giant Kinowelt, and producer Gale Anne Hurd have acquired the rights to the pitch Let It Ride by Melanie Mayron and Cynthia Mort for a sum in the mid-six figures.The film will be produced by Hurd's Valhalla Motion Pictures, which has a first-look, multi-year development, production and distribution arrangement with Kinowelt USA. The deal was announced by Kinowelt USA co-chairs Chris Sievernich and Rainer Koelmel.Mort ...

  • Artisan acquires comedy script Trifecta

    3-Oct-2000

    Artisan Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to the comedy script Trifecta - the first feature script from the creators of cult US cable TV series Strangers With Candy.

  • Meet The Parents

    3-Oct-2000

  • LA-based Halcyon unveils four new projects

    3-Oct-2000

    One year-old Los Angeles-based production outfit Halcyon Entertainment, headed by producer Chris Coen, has unveiled four new projects joining two previously announced ones on its development slate.They are:- Deepwater based on the novel by Matthew Jones and scripted by Tim Metcalfe (Kalifornia, Bones, Killer) is a psychological thriller about a young drifter who lands a job in a rundown motel where he becomes involved in a murder plot.- ...

  • Pathe takes on Automatic's Season

    2-Oct-2000

    UK National Lottery studio franchise Pathe Pictures has acquired the comedy pitch The Season from Automatic Pictures, the LA-based production outfit run by There's Something About Mary producer Frank Beddor.

  • Best In Show

    29-Sep-2000

  • Imax pacts with E-Citi to build theatres in India

    29-Sep-2000

    Imax Corporation has signed an agreement with India's E-Citi Entertainment, a subsidiary of the ESSEL Group of Industries, to open a minimum of six IMAX theatres in India over the next four years. The deal includes an option to build up to 20 theatres in family entertainment centres which E-Citi is in the process of setting up in 23 cities across the sub-continent.ESSEL Group's interests include Zee Telefilms, the largest satellite TV broadcaster in India, cable network Siti ...

  • Sue Blackmore leaves Trimark for Myriad

    29-Sep-2000

    Sue Blackmore, formerly executive director of marketing and publicity for Trimark Pictures, has joined Myriad Pictures as vice president, marketing and publicity. She will be responsible for conceiving and implementing marketing and publicity campaigns for Myriad's slate including Chen Kaige's Killing Me Softly which stars Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes which Myriad is selling internationally on behalf of producers Montecito Production Co.Blackmore began her career ...

  • Lisa Mundt joins int'l operations at Warner Bros

    29-Sep-2000

    Lisa Mundt has been named vice president, international operations, at Warner Bros Pictures, a newly created position in which she will have full operational responsibility for a number of territories as well as supervising Warner Bros Pictures' international non-theatrical business.She will take an active role in systems development related to Warner's international theatrical reporting systems, and directly assist Angelina Speare, senior vice president, international operations ...

  • Storaro to get ASC Lifetime Achievement Award

    28-Sep-2000

    Vittorio Storaro, the multi-award winning cinematographer, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) at the 15th annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards dinner on Feb 18, 2001.Italian Storaro is one of the most famous cinematographers in the world with Oscars to his name for Apocalypse Now (1979), Reds (1981) and The Last Emperor (1987) and relationships with their directors Francis Ford Coppola (One ...

  • Jon Voight to play Jolie's dad in Tomb Raider

    28-Sep-2000

    Jon Voight has joined the cast of Paramount Pictures' action adventure Tomb Raider currently shooting in the UK and will play Lord Croft, father to Lara Croft played by his real-life daughter Angelina Jolie. It is the first time that Voight and Jolie have appeared together on screen.The casting was announced by director Simon West and producers Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Colin Wilson. Voight joined the cast on Monday this week and will shoot for one week finishing ...

  • Carol Rossi joins Julie Savay-Ross at Miracle

    28-Sep-2000

    Carol M Rossi has joined LA-based production/sales outfit Miracle Entertainment as vice president, marketing. She will be responsible for implementing marketing strategies for Miracle's production slate as well as the company's international distribution operations run by president of international distribution Julie Savay-Ross. She will report to Savay-Ross.Rossi's appointment follows earlier appointments in the last few weeks of Gregg Hoffman as co-president of Miracle Pictures, ...

  • Film Roman's Jon Vein named COO at AMG and APG

    28-Sep-2000

    Jon Vein, former chief operating officer at Film Roman, has joined Michael Ovitz's Artists Management Group (AMG) and Artists Production Group (APG) as chief operating officer.Vein has been at Film Roman as COO since 1995 where he was responsible for overseeing all business activities of the company as well as the feature film department alongside CEO John Hyde. Prior to joining Film Roman, he was the co-founder of Dern & Vein, an entertainment law firm in Los Angeles.AMG ...

  • IEG's credit line with Chase raised to $135m

    27-Sep-2000

    Chase Manhattan Bank has increased its revolving credit line to Graham King's LA-based independent Initial Entertainment Group to $135m according to a statement released yesterday by John Miller, managing director of Chase Manhattan, and Colin Cotter, IEG's COO.The relationship between the bank and IEG began in 1997 when the two year-old IEG secured a credit line of $21m.The credit line increase comes in the same month that IEG's biggest project to date - Martin Scorsese's ...

  • Prinze Jr to star in Miramax martial arts movie

    27-Sep-2000

    Freddie Prinze Jr will star in an untitled martial arts movie to be produced by Miramax Films which acquired the untitled pitch from Robert Mark Kamen, writer of the Karate Kid series and A Walk In The Clouds.The project tells the story of an American boy raised by Chinese monks after his parents are murdered in the Golden Triangle who travels to New York City to seek out his only living relative and avenge his parents' death.Kamen personally pitched the ...

  • AFMA elects new board members for 2001

    27-Sep-2000

    The 2001 board of directors for the American Film Marketing Association (AFMA) was elected yesterday at the organisation's annual membership meeting.

  • Altavista builds slate of exportable Mexican films

    26-Sep-2000

    Altavista Films - the two year-old production arm of Mexican entertainment giant Corporacion Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE) - has lined up a production slate headed by Tear This Heart Out aka Arrancame La Vida, a $4.2m period epic to which Salma Hayek is attached to star.

  • Bialek, Jonas form US-German 310 Entertainment

    26-Sep-2000

    Sales and marketing veteran Chris Bialek has teamed up with Stefan Jonas, co-founder of Germany's post-production facility Das Werk, to form 310 Entertainment, a new independent production and financing outfit with bases in Los Angeles and Munich and plans to make both live action and animated films and TV series.

  • Legends 2, new Exorcist storm US box office

    24-Sep-2000

    Although the North American box office was some 21.6% down on the same week last year, at least it picked up on last weekend by about 15% as a result of two new horror movies on the market. Or rather, one new horror movie and one very old horror movie re-released in a new format.Phoenix Pictures' Urban Legends: Final Cut, a sequel to its moderate 1998 hit Urban Legend, took the number one spot with an estimated $8.8m at 2,539 sites - an average of $3,466 per theatre. ...

  • The Weight Of Water

    21-Sep-2000

  • Goldberg to emcee BAFTA LA Spielberg tribute

    21-Sep-2000

    Whoopi Goldberg will emcee the BAFTA LA 10th Annual Britannia Award presentation to Steven Spielberg to be held in Los Angeles on Nov 4. Spielberg will be honoured with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence In Film.A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Shoah Foundation of which Spielberg is the founder; the event is being sponsored by New Economy business Sapient.Goldberg was directed by Spielberg in 1985 in The Color Purple for which she ...

  • Chinese Film Festival kicks off in LA on Monday

    21-Sep-2000

    The Chinese Film Festival, an annual showcase of new Chinese cinema presented by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) with the goal of fostering dialogue and cultural exchange between China and the US, kicks off in Los Angeles on Monday (Sept 25) with the US premiere of Zhang Jianya's Crash Landing.Seven films will be screened, then toured to San Francisco (Oct 1) and New York (Oct 4-7). A delegation of Chinese representatives including film-makers and government officials ...

  • Erin Austin promoted to senior vp at Artisan

    21-Sep-2000

    Artisan Entertainment has promoted Erin Austin to the post of senior vice president, business and legal affairs. In addition to her current responsibilities for supervising business and legal affairs with respect to the company's theatrical productions, Austin will expand her role to include responsibility for Artisan's TV productions and Artisan's new internet investment vehicle.She was previously Artisan's vice president, business and legal affairs. She has overseen a number ...

  • Lions Gate takes over US on The Golden Bowl

    21-Sep-2000

    Lions Gate Films has picked up North American rights from Merchant Ivory Productions to James Ivory's The Golden Bowl which was orginally bought at Cannes 1999 by Miramax Films. Miramax announced that the rights had reverted back to Merchant Ivory this week as the two had disagreed over the final cut. Ivory had final cut in his contract, while Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein was asking for further cuts to the 134 minute running time. The film was financed by TF1 International.In ...

  • Buena Vista Film Sales is closed down

    20-Sep-2000

    As anticipated, Buena Vista International (BVI) has closed down its international sales division Buena Vista Film Sales (BVFS) in the wake of the departure of executive vice president of acquisitions and business affairs Jere Hausfater. Very much a Hausfater initiative, BVFS handled such films as The 13th Warrior, He Got Game and Summer Of Sam on behalf of Disney as well as pick-ups such as Beacon Pictures' Family Man and Bruce Paltrow's Duets.In ...

  • Dennis O'Connor joins Universal Focus as vp

    20-Sep-2000

    Dennis O'Connor, who was previously senior vice president, specialised theatrical, at Trimark Pictures, has joined Universal Focus, the studio's fledgeling specialised division, as vice president, distribution.Reporting to Nikki Rocco, president of distribution at Universal Pictures, and Paul Hardart, senior vice president at Universal Focus, he will handle the distribution of Universal Focus' release slate.At Trimark, which is in the process of being acquired by Lions ...

  • Jason Cassidy leaves USA Films for Miramax

    20-Sep-2000

    Jason Cassidy has been named vice president of marketing at Miramax Films, responsible for marketing films in addition to helping develop the company's internet businesses. He will also serve as the liaison between his department andt he company's internet group.Based in New York, Cassidy will report to David Brooks, executive vice president of marketing and new ventures.Cassidy joins Miramax after five years at October Films and USA Films, most recently as director ...

  • Catch 23 acquires two Melissa Banks short stories

    20-Sep-2000

    Catch 23 Entertainment has announced that it has acquired the film rights to two stories from Melissa Banks' short fiction collection The Girl's Guide To Hunting And Fishing. The stories are The Worst Thing A Suburban Girl Could Imagine and My Old Man, personal favourites of Catch 23 chairman Bob Sturm who brought them into the company for a sum in the low-to-mid six figures.The Girl's Guide To Hunting And Fishing is a set of stories about a contemporary ...

  • Almost Famous

    19-Sep-2000

  • waydowntown, Crouching Tiger top Toronto prizes

    18-Sep-2000

    Gary Burns' waydowntown, a comedy about a group of young people who make a bet about who can last the longest without going outside, won the Toronto-City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film at this year's Toronto International Film Festival which finished on Saturday. A domestic distribution deal for the film is also understood to be in the works.Denis Villeneuve's Maelstrom got a special mention in the category as did the screenplay by Karen Walton of horror ...

  • Lions Gate buys worldwide rights on comedy Vulgar

    18-Sep-2000

    Reflecting its ambitious expansion plan among North American independents, Lions Gate Films announced its second acquisition at the Toronto Film Festival on Friday, taking worldwide rights on Vulgar, the comedy starring and executive produced by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier, the talents behind Dogma, Chasing Amy and Clerks, and directed by Smith protege Bryan Johnson. The film reunites Lions Gate and Smith's company View Askew since Lions Gate released ...

  • Almost Famous shines at Olympics-struck box office

    18-Sep-2000

    The North American box office reached a stunning low over the weekend as the Olympic Games TV coverage began. The weekend grosses were down 33% from the same period last year and represent the lowest since Sept 11-13, 1998.Only DreamWorks SKG's Almost Famous - which is co-financed by Columbia TriStar in return for international rights - posted impressive numbers, grossing $2.3m at 131 theatres for a mighty average of $17,550. The movie, written and directed by Cameron ...

  • Gaylord Films, Warner Bros sign co-financing pact

    15-Sep-2000

    Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment Company, which last year bought Paris-based Pandora Cinema, has created a new company Gaylord Films and entered into a co-financing and production deal with Warner Bros Pictures which could result in as many as ten films over the next four years.

  • Odeon Films buys Andersson's Songs for Canada

    14-Sep-2000

    International sales company The Coproduction Office has sold Canadian rights to Roy Andersson's Cannes competition entry Songs From The Second Floor to Odeon Films, a subsidiary of Alliance Atlantis Communications.

  • Mexican hit Amores Perros goes to Lions Gate in US

    14-Sep-2000

    Lions Gate Films has completed its deal to acquire all US and Canadian rights to Amores Perros, the critically lauded Mexican film directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Lions Gate Films International took the film on for foreign sales prior to Cannes where it screened in Critics Week, winning the Grand Prize and the Prix de la Jeunesse. Lions Gate bought the film off Mexico's Alta Vista Films.

  • UK trio generates midway buzz at Toronto festival

    13-Sep-2000

    A trio of UK films - Stephen Frears' Liam, Kieron J Walsh's When Brendan Met Trudy and David Kane's Born Romantic - are amongst the titles triggering most interest halfway through the Toronto International Film Festival.

  • Menemsha gets five new titles for worldwide sales

    12-Sep-2000

    Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to five new international pictures, furthering the company's ambitions to become a prolific seller of foreign-language and independent film from around the world. To date, Friedman has handled hit festival titles including Train De Vie, Color Of Paradise and The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg.

  • Franchise to sell foreign rights to Magellan trio

    12-Sep-2000

    Franchise Pictures has signed a deal with LA-based production outfit Magellan Filmed Entertainment to handle international sales on three pictures kicking off with Rennie's Landing, a drama about four college friends starring Peter Facinelli, Ethan Embry, Scott Foley and Charlotte Ayana.

  • Good Machine buys international rights to Series 7

    12-Sep-2000

    Good Machine International (GMI) has acquired international sales rights to Daniel Minahan's Series 7, a dark comic satire to which USA Films recently acquired domestic rights.

  • Urbania

    8-Sep-2000

  • Skouras, Blackwatch buy the world on Tully

    8-Sep-2000

    Skouras Films and Blackwatch Releasing have jointly acquired worldwide rights to Hilary Birmingam's directorial debut The Truth About Tully, the major prize winner at this year's Los Angeles Independent Film Festival (LAIFF) when it was known as Whatever Happened To Tully.

  • Bring It On

    7-Sep-2000

  • Our Lady Of The Assassins

    7-Sep-2000

  • Fine Line reorganises publicity, appoints Hovee

    7-Sep-2000

    Fine Line Features has promoted Nina Baron to vice president, East Coast publicity and promotions, and Jennifer Stott to vice president, publicity and promotions, while Melinda Hovee has joined the company as executive director, west coast publicity and promotions. Both Baron and Stott will remain based in New York and will report directly to Marian Koltai-Levine, Fine Line's executive vice president of marketing. Hovee will be based in Los Angeles and will report to Baron and Stott.Baron ...

  • Reiko Bradley returns to MDP as sales chief

    7-Sep-2000

    Reiko Bradley has left her post as head of Filmtown International Sales and returned to work for old boss Mark Damon as executive vice president of distribution at Damon's MDP Worldwide. She previously worked for him at Vision International and later at MDP Worldwide before leaving to head up the LA operations of Japanese media giant JVC where she was vice president of acquistions.At MDP, she will be responsible for licensing new and library MDP titles including the upcoming ...

  • Chinese Coffee

    6-Sep-2000

  • Fine Line, Overseas buy Before Night Falls

    4-Sep-2000

    Fine Line Features has bought North American rights and Overseas FilmGroup has taken international rights to Julian Schnabel's Before Night Falls, which screened to great acclaim at the Venice Film Festival this weekend. The company, which competed with Sony Pictures Classics for the film, paid just north of $1m for the acquisition.

  • Quills

    4-Sep-2000

  • Bring It On continues at the top of US box office

    4-Sep-2000

    The Labor Day weekend was another disapppointing one at the North American box office. Estimated figures for the whole four days (Fri-Mon) saw a drop of some 13.5% on the same weekend last year when The Sixth Sense was still atop the charts. It is indicative of the miserable August this year which doesn't look set to get better in September with its non-eventful release slate and competition from the Olympic Games on TV.

  • Regent International names Gene George president

    4-Sep-2000

    Gene George has been named president of Regent International, the international division of LA-based independent producer/distributor/exhibitor Regent Entertainment. George, a veteran on the international scene who was most recently president of NewStar Worldwide and before that executive vice president of Arista Films, will oversee all international sales and distribution operations working alongside Regent partner Mark R Harris and Meggan Kimberley who is senior vice president of ...

  • Sony Classics buys domestic rights to Pollock

    4-Sep-2000

    Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) is understood to have bought US rights to Pollock, the directoral debut of Ed Harris which played in Cinema of the Present this week at the Venice Film Festival and will also play at next week's Toronto Film Festival.

  • Telluride world premieres Pacino, Kaufman pictures

    1-Sep-2000

    Al Pacino's second film as director Chinese Coffee and Phil Kaufman's eagerly awaited Marquis de Sade drama Quills are receiving their world premieres this weekend at the 27th annual Telluride Film Festival which unveiled its programme to attendees today. The prestigious festival, which has received personal sponsorship support this year from the likes of Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman and Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall, never reveals its programme in advance of the event ...

  • Lions Gate takes on Urbania as Unapix cancels deal

    31-Aug-2000

    Lions Gate Films has taken over US distribution duties on Sundance Film Festival competition entry Urbania from Unapix Films Theatrical, signalling increasing concern over the future of the ambitious New York-based Unapix Entertainment, which also yesterday said it has terminated its sale of a 25% stake to German entertainment company H5B5 Media for $4m.

  • Hart Sharp to co-produce UK comedy Lily

    29-Aug-2000

    Hart Sharp Entertainment - the New York-based production outfit behind Boys Don't Cry and Sundance co-winner You Can Count On Me - has boarded its second UK picture within a year - Lily And The Secret Planting which it will co-produce with the UK's Sarah Radclyffe Productions and Strawberry Vale Film and TV Productions.

  • IFP/West absorbs LA Indie Film Fest into programme

    29-Aug-2000

    Independent Feature Project/West, the non-profit organisation for independent film-makers, is to take over production of the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival (LAIFF), the April event which to date has been staged by the LA Film Collaborative (LAFC). It will now be incorporated as an ongoing program of IFP/West.

  • Myriad acquires foreign rights to Double Whammy

    28-Aug-2000

    Kirk D'Amico's international sales outfit Myriad Pictures has acquired international distribution rights to Tom DiCillo's latest picture Double Whammy starring Denis Leary, Steve Buscemi and Elizabeth Hurley. The deal was completed between Myriad and the film's producers David Kronemyer and Marcus Viscidi. Kronemyer's Gold Circle Films retains domestic rights.

  • Baldwin, Gallagher land Protection roles

    25-Aug-2000

    Stephen Baldwin and Peter Gallagher are to star in Protection, a mob thriller being produced by Alliance Atlantis' genre division Le Monde Entertainment.

  • Foreign cash finds its way to Mosaic

    24-Aug-2000

    More foreign money came flooding into Hollywood this week as Canada's Capital Communications CDPQ, a subsidiary of Montreal-based fund management giant Caisse de depot et placement de Quebec, announced that it will make a "major strategic investment" in Mosaic Media Group. Mosaic is the new name for the merged entities of Atlas Entertainment, Gold-Miller Management, Atlas-Third Rail Management and Third Rail Records.

  • Norstar seals six-picture deal with New Legend

    24-Aug-2000

    Toronto-based Norstar Filmed Entertainment has pacted with New Legend Media AG to co-produce six-pictures kicking off with The Fourth Angel starring Jeremy Irons, Forest Whitaker, Jason Priestly and Charlotte Rampling.The Fourth Angel is now configured as a co-production between Norstar, headed by Peter Simpson, Allan Scott's Rafford Films and UK-based Sky Pictures, with New Legend's Al Munteanu acting as executive producer. Artisan Entertainment has domestic rights ...

  • Sundance launches Online Film Festival for 2001

    24-Aug-2000

    The Sundance Institute yesterday unveiled The Sundance Online Film Festival, a showcase of new work specifically developed for the web, which will coincide with next year's film festival, Jan 18-28, 2001. The cyber-festival will launch on Jan 18 on www.sundance.org.The online film festival is open to mixed-media pieces that have been made for exhibition across the internet. All types of work will be considered including animation, live-action, documentary, interactive and experimental. ...

  • Sapient to sponsor BAFTA LA's Britannia Award

    24-Aug-2000

    Sapient - a leading creator of new economy businesses - has partnered with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA LA) to sponsor the 10th Annual Britannia Award - now called the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence In Film - which is this year being presented to Steven Spielberg.The award will be presented to Spielberg at a black tie gala dinner to be held on Sat Nov 4, 2000, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. During the event, Sapient ...

  • Rainbow/IFC buys 5% stake in website IFILM

    24-Aug-2000

    Rainbow Media Holdings Inc, the Cablevision-owned outfit which manages US cable channel The Independent Film Channel (IFC), has acquired a 5% equity stake in entertainment website IFILM. Rainbow will provide IFILM with on-air promotional time on IFC and the two will exchange content and cross-promote through their web, television and print properties.As part of the agreement, IFC will pay IFILM to develop and produce 26 half-hour episodes annually of a hosted magazine-style ...

  • Total Film Group buys Nebenzal's Lion Cult

    24-Aug-2000

    Gerald Green's LA-based production outfit Total Film Group has acquired film rights to Harold Nebenzal's third novel The Lion Cult, a thriller set in Zurich about a group of foreign companies who all share a lake-front mansion who are thrust into danger by the greed of competing cartels, Swiss banks and diamond merchants.Kendrew Lascelles, who wrote the screenplay for the film version of Arthur Miller's Focus, is writing the screenplay for The Lion Cult ...

  • MGM Worldwide TV forms Latin American sales arm

    23-Aug-2000

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)'s TV distribution and co-production unit MGM Worldwide Television Distribution has established its first direct sales operation for the Latin American region and appointed Mary Ann Pasante to serve as vice president of Latin America Television Sales. Pasante will be based in Atlanta, Georgia, where the new branch office will be based.Pasante, who will report to Simon Sutton, senior vice president, international pay and free television, will oversee ...

  • Fiennes joins Graham in Kaige's Killing Me Softly

    23-Aug-2000

    Joseph Fiennes has been cast opposite Heather Graham in Chen Kaige's first English language film Killing Me Softly which is set to go into production in London on Oct 30. The film is being produced and financed by Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock's Montecito Pictures; MGM has domestic rights with Myriad Pictures handling international sales.Based on the novel Killing Me Softly: A Tale Of Obssession by Nicci French, the film stars Graham as a young woman who risks everything ...

  • MPAA slams NC-17 rating on Artisan's Requiem

    22-Aug-2000

    Darren Aronofsky's Requiem For A Dream, a bold portrait of drug addiction which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year, has run into censorship trouble in the US where it is being released by Artisan Entertainment.The Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) yesterday gave the film a prohibitive NC-17 - a rating which many US cinema chains won't screen and for which many newspapers won't accept advertising. The MPAA cited sexual elements within ...

  • Dimension greenlights Scary Movie II for 2001

    21-Aug-2000

    The tagline was "No Mercy. No Shame. No Sequel." but Dimension Films, the genre production and releasing arm of Miramax Films, will break that promise and start production on Scary Movie II later this year. The first film has grossed close to $150m at the domestic box office and will probably be the most profitable film of the year.The same team behind the first film, a spoof of teen horror movies - director Keenen Ivory Wayans and writer/stars Shawn and Marlon Wayans ...

  • Hollywood wins case against DVD hacking website

    21-Aug-2000

    Hollywood's eight movie studios won a significant court battle at the end of last week in its effort to protect DVDs from being copied onto computers.The studios via their advocate organisation The Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) successfully sued website publisher Eric Corley who had made available online software which descrambled the code which prevents DVDs from being copied. That software, developed by hackers, enables computer users to copy feature films from ...

  • The Cell tops chart, Spike Lee docu dazzles at 2

    21-Aug-2000

    New Line Cinema's only release of the summer - serial killer thriller The Cell - took the top spot at the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $17.2m on 2,411 screens for a strong screen average of $7,134. The very adult movie, in which a psychologist enters the mind of a comatose serial killer in order to find the location of his final victim, was directed by first timer Tarsem Singh, most famous for his commercial and music video work (he directed Losing ...

  • Harvey buys first film for theatrical distribution

    17-Aug-2000

    The Harvey Entertainment Company has acquired US distribution rights to UK/French animated family film A Monkey's Tale from Pearson Television International and plans to release it through a distribution partner on a limited 150-screen release at the end of January 2001. Universal Home Video will then release it on video in April.The theatrical release would be a first for Harvey, an LA-based entertainment group which owns a library of over 150 films and 165 television ...

  • The Cell

    16-Aug-2000

  • Autumn In New York

    15-Aug-2000

  • Milk & Honey opens studio facility in Prague

    15-Aug-2000

    LA-based production and production services outfit Milk & Honey Films has opened a studio facility in Prague to service the international film and commercial production industries as well as its own productions. The facility, called Milk & Honey Studios Letnany, consists of two large stages with a third close to being acquired."We plan to develop Milk & Honey Letnany into a world class facility that rivals the best studios in London and Los Angeles," said partner/executive producer ...

  • HBO to launch South Asia movie service on Sept 1

    14-Aug-2000

    HBO is to launch an English language movie channel HBO South Asia service in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives on Sept 1, 2000. Programming will consist exclusively of films sourced through exclusive licensing agreements with Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Studios and Warner Bros.HBO will manage the new markets through a joint venture known as HBO South Asia, comprised of Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Time Warner Entertainment ...

  • Space Cowboys, Hollow Man tie at the top

    14-Aug-2000

    Buoyed by good reviews and strong word-of-mouth, Warner Bros' Space Cowboys tied for the top spot at the North American box office over the weekend with Columbia Pictures' sci-fi thriller Hollow Man, each film taking an estimated $13.1m. Hollow Man fell 50% from its blockbusting opening last weekend, while Space Cowboys, which opened at number three last week, fell just 28%.But it was the number three movie which was the weekend's biggest surprise. ...

  • Under Hellgate Bridge wins at Narrowsburg Fest

    14-Aug-2000

    Michael Sergio's Under Hellgate Bridge was named Best Feature Film at the second annual The Narrowsburg Independent Film Festival in Narrowsburg, upstate New York, last week. The film also won the Best Director prize for Sergio, the Best Actor prize for Michael Rodrick and the Rising Star Award for Brian Vincent.The festival, which took place Aug 2-6, paid tribute to actors William Forsythe, Madhur Jaffrey and Leo Rossi. Other award winners included Rita Moreno for Best ...

  • Mendes confirmed to direct Hanks in gangster pic

    10-Aug-2000

    British wunderkind director Sam Mendes will return to DreamWorks SKG for his second film after his Oscar winning debut American Beauty. He will direct megastar Tom Hanks in The Road To Perdition, a film adaptation of a 1930s gangster comic strip novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayners. Mendes and Hanks' US agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) confirmed that the film will be the next project for both.The film, which has been scripted by David Self, ...

  • Revolution Films seals first look deal with UA

    10-Aug-2000

    United Artists Films (UAF), the specialised film division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), has entered into a two year, first-look deal with Revolution Films, the UK-based independent production company headed by director Michael Winterbottom and his producing partner Andrew Eaton.The deal, which had been anticipated at Cannes this year (Screendaily, May 14, 2000), comes as UAF prepares to release Revolution's The Claim (formerly known as Kingdom Come) towards the ...

  • Sutherland joins MGM in senior international role

    8-Aug-2000

    Ian Sutherland, who was previously senior vice president, international marketing, at United International Pictures (UIP) in London, has joined MGM Distribution Co as senior vice president - international theatrical distribution and marketing to be based in Los Angeles.Sutherland, who worked with MGM when it was a partner in UIP, will report jointly to Larry Gleason, president, worldwide distribution, and Gerry Rich, president - worldwide theatrical marketing. He will oversee ...

  • Senator, Mark Canton seal five-year joint venture

    7-Aug-2000

    Yet another German company is putting its public money behind a Hollywood producer. Hanno Huth's Senator Entertainment has entered into a five-year joint venture agreement with Mark Canton's The Canton Company to develop and fully fund an average of four to six major movies a year.Canton will continue to be based at Warner Bros Pictures where he and The Canton Company have been based for the past three years; under terms of a new agreement Warner will co-finance and distribute ...

  • Fox Searchlight buys Al Pacino's Chinese Coffee

    6-Aug-2000

    Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Al Pacino's second directorial effort Chinese Coffee which stars Pacino, Jerry Orbach, Susan Floyd and Ellen McElduff. The company also had worldwide rights to Pacino's Looking For Richard - a semi-documentary study of Shakespeare's Richard III - which grossed $1.4m in 1996/7.The film, written by Ira Lewis, follows a winter's night conversation between a struggling Greenwich Village writer and his mentor ...

  • Hollow Man - a clear smash at US box office

    6-Aug-2000

    As expected, Columbia Pictures' adult sci-fi thriller Hollow Man topped the box office chart in North America over the weekend - probably one of the most competitive of the summer so far. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, the R-rated film took an estimated $26.8m, which if the figure holds, would mark the biggest August opening ever - higher than last summer's The Sixth Sense which took $26.7m. It also represents the highest opening for a Verhoeven film ever, beating 1990's ...

  • Jerome Le Grand gets vp stripes at BVI and BVHEI

    6-Aug-2000

    Jerome Le Grand has been promoted from executive director of finance and planning for Buena Vista International (BVI) to the newly created position of vice president, finance and planning, for BVI and Buena Vista Home Entertainment International (BVHEI).

  • Artisan buys Hegedus/Pennebaker doc Startup.com

    6-Aug-2000

    Artisan Entertainment has acquired Startup.com, the new documentary from veteran film-makers Chris Hegedus (The War Room, Moon Over Broadway) and DA Pennebaker (The War Room, Don't Look Back, Monterey Pop) in collaboration with first-timer Jehane Nouhaim. The film follows the development, growth and triumphs of an internet startup - govWorks.com, a private company which collaborates with government to provide a wide variety of internet-based ...

  • Space Cowboys

    4-Aug-2000

  • Clark, Van der Werff, Bachmann upped at CTFDI

    4-Aug-2000

    In the wake of Duncan Clark's departure from Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI), parent company Sony Pictures has promoted three senior executives in CTFDI's marketing department.Nigel Clark, formerly senior vice president of international marketing, has been promoted to executive vice president, international marketing. Susan van der Werff, formerly vice president, publicity and promotions, has been upped to senior vice president, publicity and promotions; ...

  • Hollow Man

    2-Aug-2000

  • Gianopulos, Rothman take reins at Fox

    1-Aug-2000

    Following a recent tradition of promoting from within, Fox Filmed Entertainment has named two joint successors to studio chairman Bill Mechanic - former president of 20th Century Fox Film Group Tom Rothman and former president of 20th Century Fox International Jim Gianopulos. The appointments were made by Peter Chernin, president and COO of Fox's parent group News Corp and Fox Entertainment Group. The two executives will run the company with equal responsibilities. Rothman will ...

  • Nutty Professor II is huge with $42.7m opening

    31-Jul-2000

    Universal enjoyed a much-needed box office boost - the first since news of its takeover by Vivendi - over the weekend with the opening of Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, one of the summer's more predictable hits. With an estimated $42.7m grossed from Friday to Sunday on 3,243 screens, the film beat the $25.4m achieved by the first Nutty Professor, itself a remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis classic, in 1996.The figure represents the biggest opening ever for its star ...

  • InternetStudios hires three for film sales subsid

    28-Jul-2000

    LA-based industry website InternetStudios has made three more appointments to its subsidiary OnlineFilmSales, an online digital marketplace for sales of film and television rights.Michael Bremer has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing responsible for attracting sales companies to present their projects on the site and enlisting buyers to use OnlineFilmSales for acquisitions. Bremer most recently acted as a consultant on buying and selling strategies for ...

  • LA ent'ment lawyers Rosen & Anderson merge firms

    28-Jul-2000

    Two LA-based entertainment lawyers have merged their practices to create what they call "an entertainment convergence media incubator law firm". Entertainment attorney Phillip L Rosen and Joseph B Anderson, a specialist attorney in Internet and entertainment, have created one entity - Rosen & Anderson - which aims to service both Silicon Valley and Hollywood."Hollywood has realised that it doesn't need to license its content and creativity to Silicon Valley dot-coms; it can ...

  • Hausfater quits Disney for Intermedia

    27-Jul-2000

    Jere Hausfater, one of the most well-known studio buyers on the international film circuit, has ended his near 13 year run at The Walt Disney Co and found a new home at independent giant Intermedia.

  • Firestone forms Fireworks as worldwide dist'n co

    25-Jul-2000

    Jay Firestone has consolidated his two LA-based film outfits, international sales company Seven Arts International and domestic distributor CanWest Films into one entity now known as Fireworks Pictures. Fireworks is a subsidiary of Firestone's CanWest Entertainment, itself a division of Toronto-based media giant CanWest Global Communications Corp.The new company now encompasses US acquisition and production with international sales and, as Firestone told Screendaily.com yesterday, ...

  • Artisan to make film about 60s group The Shaggs

    24-Jul-2000

    Artisan Entertainment has acquired life rights to the true story of 60s pop group The Shaggs with a view to making a film based on their brief rise to fame to be written and directed by Katherine Dieckmann.A three-sister outfit, The Shaggs only produced one album Philosophy Of The World, but the film will focus on their father Austin Wiggin Jr and his crazed determination that they would become the next Beatles. The story was brought to Artisan's attention by vice president ...

  • What Lies Beneath Above The Rest with $30.1m

    24-Jul-2000

    DreamWorks SKG had another hit opening in North America over the weekend with its supernatural thriller What Lies Beneath raking in $30.1m to take the number one slot at the box office. 20th Century Fox has international rights to the film which it co-produced with DreamWorks as part of a four picture deal which also includes Tom Hanks-starrer Cast Away and Steven Spielberg's Minority Report which will star Tom Cruise. What Lies Beneath is directed by Robert Zemeckis, ...

  • Film Roman hires Bastianelli for int'l expansion

    14-Jul-2000

    Film Roman, the children's animation outfit which recently expanded to produce live action TV series, specials and feature films, has retained the services of Eileen Bastianelli to create a worldwide presence for the company. Bastianelli, based in Paris, has been engaged as a consultant to form co-productions and establish other strategic international relationships as well as accessing financing and identifying overseas properties which will be viable for the US market.Bastianelli ...

  • Reid Sullivan named CFO at Village Roadshow Pics

    14-Jul-2000

    Reid Sullivan - who for the last five years was responsible for all strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting at Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) - has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer at LA-based Village Roadshow Pictures.He will be responsible for all the classic accounting and financial functions, as well as working closely with chairman and CEO Bruce Berman and COO Steve Krone on strategic issues as well ...

  • Warner to release Exorcist with missing reel

    14-Jul-2000

    Warner Bros Pictures will release a new version of The Exorcist in North America on Sept 22. Entitled The Exorcist - The Version You've Never Seen, it will include more than one reel of long-rumoured footage which was omitted from the film's original release in 1973.The film's director William Friedkin has restored the reel and the new version also incorporates a digitally remastered and remixed soundtrack with new sound effects, atmospheric sounds and music. The ...

  • Lions Gate seals US deal on Cannes closer Stardom

    13-Jul-2000

    Lions Gate Films has acquired US rights to Denys Arcand's Stardom, the closing night film at this year's Cannes Film Festival, from Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Group and production company Serendipity Point Films. Stardom has also been selected to open the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept 7 this year.The film - Arcand's first since the little seen Joyeux Calvaire in 1996 - is a comic look at the world of celebrity and features newcomer Jessica ...

  • Matt LeBlanc cast in Atlantic Streamline war pic

    11-Jul-2000

    Friends star Matt LeBlanc is to head the cast of All The Queen's Men, a $15m German-set comedic drama set in World War II which is being produced by Atlantic Streamline.Bernd Eichinger's Constantin Film has taken rights in German-speaking Europe to the film which is being directed by Stephan Ruzowitsky and produced by Marco Weber, Gabrielle Kelly and Zachary Feuer. Shooting will begin on Aug 3 in Budapest and Vienna. Co-producers are Dor Film in Austria, Arri in Germany ...

  • Miramax, Affleck, Damon launch writing contest

    11-Jul-2000

    Miramax Films, Miramax Television, HBO and Good Will Hunting writers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are teaming up to launch a US contest in which a totally unknown writer will have his or her screenplay greenlit.Starting in the summer, anyone in the US can submit a screenplay electronically to www.projectgreenlight.com. The winner will be paid by Miramax to direct the feature film; Damon, Affleck and Chris Moore (co-producer of Good Will Hunting) will executive produce ...

  • Scary Movie

    10-Jul-2000

  • Brokaw's Avenue to merge with e-commerce firm

    7-Jul-2000

    Cary Brokaw's Avenue Entertainment Group, the production outfit behind The Player, Short Cuts and Drugstore Cowboy, has signed a letter of intent to merge with SolutionsAmerica Inc, an e-commerce company which specialises in facilitating digital business processes for the entertainment industry.In a statement Brokaw said that the merger was intended to expand Avenue's revenue base to offset the cyclical nature of revenues in the film business. "[SolutionsAmerica] ...

  • Gladiator passes $350m in worldwide grosses

    7-Jul-2000

    Ridley Scott's Gladiator which was co-financed by DreamWorks SKG and Universal Pictures has crossed the $350m mark at the worldwide box office. Its international gross through Universal/UIP is now at $180m and rising, surpassing the $171m it has generated domestically on its DreamWorks release.The movie is to date the year's biggest grossing picture, although Mission: Impossible 2 from Paramount Pictures should beat Gladiator once it starts opening internationally. ...

  • Perry-Melish, Piano join website Reelplay.com

    7-Jul-2000

    International film sales business-to-business website Reelplay.com has made some key appointments from the film world to join its team.- Chris Perry-Melish, formerly president of international sales at Kushner-Locke Co, has been named senior vice president of sales. Perry-Melish previously held sales and distribution posts at Conquistador Entertainment, Prism Entertainment and Trimark Pictures.- John Piano, formerly counsel with the acquisitions, distribution and finance ...

  • Storm Conquers US Box Office

    6-Jul-2000

    Channel 4 today confirmed the appointment of Mark Thompson, currently BBC director of television, as its chief executive.

  • Warner Bros whips up US Box Office Storm

    3-Jul-2000

    Warner Bros' epic disaster movie The Perfect Storm was the champion at the North American box office over the Fourth Of July weekend, grossing $41.7m in the Friday to Sunday period, some $20m more than its nearest competition, Columbia Pictures' opener The Patriot.

  • The Perfect Storm

    30-Jun-2000

  • Things You Can Tell goes straight to Showtime

    30-Jun-2000

    Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her, the all-female tableau film which world premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival and which opened Un Certain Regard at Cannes, will go straight to Showtime in North America, bypassing a theatrical release by rights-holder United Artists (UA).UA, the specialised arm of MGM, bought domestic rights to the movie prior to Sundance from production company Franchise Pictures and the film was set to open during the summer. However, ...

  • Amir Malin assumes sole leadership of Artisan

    30-Jun-2000

    Amir Malin has assumed sole leadership of Artisan Entertainment following the resignation yesterday of co-chief executive officer Mark Curcio. Malin will from now on be responsible for overseeing all areas of the company and its future growth. Bill Block will remain president of Artisan and will take on additional responsibilities in helping to lead the company's internet initiatives. Ken Schapiro, the company's chief operating officer, will also have increased responsibilities in running ...

  • Dana Reid segues into production deal at Artisan

    29-Jun-2000

    Artisan Pictures has signed a first look production deal with Dana Reid, a former vice president of production at Artisan, and his new company Flash Entertainment. The arrangement covers theatrical and direct-to-video productions.Reid joined Artisan in 1997 from ICM where he worked alongside agent Ken Kamins. While at Artisan he worked on seven pictures including Black Mask, Belly and Foolish, while also developing and producing a number of direct-to-video ...

  • Universal dubs specialised arm Universal Focus

    29-Jun-2000

    Universal Pictures has named its domestic specialised film division Universal Focus. Created in 1999 as the studio's marketing and distribution unit for "niche-oriented productions and acquisitions", Universal Focus is run by executive vice president Claudia Gray and senior vice president Paul Hardart and will handle films from sources including WT2 Films, DNA Films, Alan Parker's Dirty Hands Productions, Jersey Shore Films, The Shooting Gallery, Catch 23 Productions, Steinhardt/Baer ...

  • Regent & Media Asia strike co-production pact

    28-Jun-2000

    LA-based Regent Entertainment has sealed a co-production deal with Hong Kong's Media Asia kicking off with Gen-Y Cops, the sequel to Media Asia's hit Gen-X Cops, which will star Paul Rudd and a largely Asian supporting cast.Rudd, whose credits include Clueless, The Object Of My Affection, The Cider House Rules and 200 Cigarettes, plays an American FBI agent in the movie assigned to protect a lethal attack robot from a team of high-tech ...

  • Overseas completes $47m in new financing

    27-Jun-2000

    Overseas FilmGroup has closed on the $17m equity investment by Rosemary Street Productions, the investment vehicle of New York-based commercial production and studio facilities company EUE Screen Gems Ltd. Overseas has also finalised a new five year, secured revolving credit facility with Chase Securities which has been increased from $30m to $40m.Rosemary Street now holds 59.5% of the outstanding voting shares of Overseas; Rosemary Street president Christopher Cooney is now ...

  • Fine Line options script from O'Connor brothers

    27-Jun-2000

    Fine Line Features has optioned Pride And Glory, a new script from Gregory and Gavin O'Connor, the same team behind Fine Line's Tumbleweeds. The script, which the brothers co-wrote with Robert A Hopes, is currently being reworked by Joe Carnahan, who wrote and directed Blood, Guts, Bullets And Octane.Gavin O'Connor will direct the project which is set to start shooting later this year. The drama is set in the New York City Police Department and looks into ...

  • Sundance Channel buys five Latin American pictures

    27-Jun-2000

    US cable station Sundance Channel has acquired US television rights to five Latin American titles which will be broadcast in August as part of Arte Latino, a tribute to Latin American film-making.The films are Martin Rejtman's Silvia Prieto from Argentina, Mercedes Garcia Guevera's Hidden River from Argentina, Carlos Bolado's Bajo California from Mexico, Michael Skolnik and William O'Neill's documentary The Hot Corner from Cuba and Patricia Cardoso's ...

  • Ledwith gets promoted to vp at Universal Int'l

    27-Jun-2000

    Jack Ledwith has been promoted to vice president, international distribution, at Universal Pictures reporting to Nadia Bronson, the studio's president of international marketing, distribution and operations.Ledwith joined Universal in 1996 as director of planning and analysis, international distribution; previously he had worked at Carolco Pictures as director of international sales and before that had held a number of positions in domestic and international distribution at ...

  • STAR gets DreamWorks films for India & Pakistan

    27-Jun-2000

    News Corp-owned STAR TV has concluded a deal with DreamWorks SKG to broadcast nine films on its STAR Movies channel in India and Pakistan. The titles include The Peacemaker, Deep Impact, Forces Of Nature, Antz and The Prince Of Egypt.The DreamWorks deal joins product from 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Co and MGM on STAR's lineup in India and Pakistan. "We are very pleased to have secured this agreement and look forward to working with the ...

  • Carrey tops US box office, Chickens in at two

    26-Jun-2000

    20th Century Fox claimed the top spot at the North American box office in the week that studio chief Bill Mechanic resigned his post. But the $24.2m opening for grossout comedy Me, Myself & Irene could be considered a disappointment for the studio which had been heralding the picture as a surefire summer winner. Reuniting Jim Carrey and writer/directors Peter & Bobby Farrelly who last worked together in 1994's Dumb And Dumber, the film pales in comparison to other Carrey openers ...

  • Alliance strikes output deal with Telecinco

    21-Jun-2000

    Alliance Atlantis Pictures International has signed an output deal with Spanish TV network Telecinco for genre titles from its Le Monde Entertainment division. The agreement will begin with Second Skin, a thriller starring Natasha Henstridge, Angus MacFadyen and Peter Fonda, which was shot on location in South Africa.

  • Me, Myself And Irene

    21-Jun-2000

  • Universal takes territories on FilmFour's Gray

    21-Jun-2000

    Universal Pictures has clinched a major multi-territory deal with FilmFour on Gillian Armstrong's Charlotte Gray starring Cate Blanchett which will start shooting early next year. Universal has taken rights to the film in France, Benelux, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.The deal was negotiated by Carl Clifton, acting director of worldwide sales for FilmFour, with Graeme Mason and Sally Caplan for Universal.Warner Bros has North American ...

  • Aardman to make Wallace And Gromit movie

    20-Jun-2000

    Aardman, the celebrated UK animation company which this weekend sees the US release of its first film Chicken Run, is planning a feature based around its popular characters Wallace and Gromit for release in 2004.The Wallace and Gromit film will be produced after the next Aardman film The Tortoise And The Hare which is already in production under director Richard Goleszowski at the Aardman studios in Bristol.Under a deal struck with DreamWorks SKG last October, ...

  • Lusomundo, Forum sign on for Joe Roth films

    20-Jun-2000

    Joe Roth's Revolution Studios has closed the final international deals on its debut slate of 36 films to be made over the next six years. Lusomundo in Portugal and Forum Film in Israel have taken the films for their territories joining Senator Films (Germany), Toho-Towa and Pony Canyon (Japan) and Svensk Filmindustri (Scandinavia) as the only foreign independents with access to the pictures.Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has rights to the films in the rest of the world. SPE ...

  • Good Machine Int'l unveils Cannes sales deals

    20-Jun-2000

    Three year-old Good Machine International has unveiled a string of sales closed during and after the Cannes Film Festival, extending its relationships with key foreign independents such as Entertainment Film Distributors in the UK, Bac Film in France and Constantin Film in Germany, while striking first-time deals with Medusa Film in Italy, Sogepaq in Spain and Asmik Ace in Japan.'Entertainment took three titles - USA Films' The Barber Movie from film-makers Joel & Ethan ...

  • Shaft - Top guy at the US Box Office with $21.1m

    18-Jun-2000

    Paramount Pictures, hot on the heels of Mission: Impossible 2, has scored another summer smash with its updated remake of 1971 blaxploitation classic Shaft. Featuring Samuel L Jackson as New York cop Shaft with original star Richard Roundtree as his uncle John, the movie grossed $21.1m over the three-day weekend beating off mixed reviews to lead the North American box office. Its screen average of $9,029 was by far the highest in the top ten.

  • Alliance sews up world sales on Stardom

    15-Jun-2000

    Alliance Atlantis Pictures International has sold Denys Arcand's Stardom, which closed this year's Cannes Film Festival, to a slew of territories including Germany, where the picture went to Arthaus, and Rentrack in Japan.

  • Paramount worldwide acquisitions chief to quit

    14-Jun-2000

    John Ferraro, senior vice president, worldwide acquisitions and co-productions at Paramount Motion Picture Group, is to leave the studio after 20 years to pursue other interests.

  • Fine Line gets domestic rights to Human Nature

    14-Jun-2000

    Fine Line Features has acquired North American rights to Human Nature, the much anticipated movie scripted by Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) and directed by Michel Gandry.

  • Shaft

    13-Jun-2000

  • The Prompter

    12-Jun-2000

  • Tom Quinn promoted at Samuel Goldwyn Films

    9-Jun-2000

    Tom Quinn has been named director of acquisitions for Samuel Goldwyn Films and will relocate to the company's New York office immediately.

  • Ex-Searchlight publicist Robertson opens PR shop

    7-Jun-2000

    Michele Robertson, former executive director of national publicity at Fox Searchlight Pictures, has launched her own boutique PR agency in Los Angeles called MRC.

  • Roth lines up $3bn for Revolution Studios launch

    7-Jun-2000

    Joe Roth's eagerly-awaited film and internet production outfit, to be henceforth known as Revolution Studios, has finally hit the ground with an initial $3bn in financing and distribution commitments from three key investment partners who will collectively control own around a quarter of the company.

  • Bhaman Naraghi joins Miramax as executive vp

    6-Jun-2000

    Bahman Naraghi has joined Miramax Films as executive vice president of finance and operations. Naraghi will oversee all aspects of the company's finance, accounting, reporting and human resources as well as supervising certain business development efforts and arranging new financial arrangements for film projects. He will report directly to co-chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein.

  • Martin Lawrence nearly dethrones M: I 2

    5-Jun-2000

    20th Century Fox's Martin Lawrence-starrer Big Momma's House opened with a surprisingly strong $25.6m (estimated) over the weekend at the North American box office, giving Paramount's Mission: Impossible 2 a run for its money. However, the Tom Cruise action adventure clung to the top spot with $27m in its second weekend on release. M: I 2, as it has come to be known, has now taken $130.7m after 12 days in the marketplace and looks set to outgross its predecessor ...

  • Cuaron, Vergara launch Anhelo production outfit

    22-May-2000

    Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron and the producer of his latest film Y Tu Mama Tambien, Jorge Vergara, have formalised their relationship in a new production company Anhelo to make Spanish and English-language films, some of which Cuaron will direct.

  • Miramax plans return to Colditz

    18-May-2000

    Miramax Films is planning a major film franchise set in notorious German prisoner-of-war fortress Colditz, originally seen on film in Guy Hamilton's gung-ho 1954 classic. The studio has acquired remake rights to that film as well as exclusive movie rights to the book on which it was based by John Patrick Reid and two follow-up books Colditz: The Latter Days and Colditz: The Full Story.

  • Nu Image, Artisan tape up Ticker

    18-May-2000

    Avi Lerner and Danny Dimbort's Nu Image is teaming up with Artisan Entertainment to finance and distribute Steven Seagal-starrer Ticker to be directed by Albert Pyun. Dennis Hopper and Tom Sizemore will join Seagal. Artisan will distribute the film in North America and Nu Image will handle international rights. Paul Rosenblum is producing the picture. Gary Rubin, senior vice president, television, at Artisan did the deal with Lerner and Dimbort.

  • Helkon extends ties with Zide, Perry

    17-May-2000

    Germany's Helkon Media is believed to have struck yet another US production deal, agreeing to fully finance films in the $10m range from producers Warren Zide and Craig Perry (American Pie, Final Destination) and their production company Zide/Perry under a two-year arrangement. They will be joined in those films by producer Ash Shah.

  • New Line closes Rings distribution circle

    17-May-2000

    New Line International has slotted the final key pieces into the worldwide distribution structure on its ambitious $300m Lord Of the Rings trilogy currently shooting in New Zealand. The Time Warner-owned studio is now rallying its partners for a massive coordinated promotional and merchandising blitz for the worldwide simultaneous release of the first film The Fellowship Of The Ring on Dec 14, 2001.

  • Miramax in sales Heaven

    17-May-2000

    Miramax International has already sold Heaven, set to star Cate Blanchett, to Asmik Ace for Japan, Lauren Films for Spain and Village Roadshow for Greece, despite only unveiling the project two weeks ago.

  • Fridriksson directs Jarman pic

    17-May-2000

    Veronique Cayla and Thierry Fremaux are the two new names for every producer and director to watch, having today been appointed to top roles at the Cannes film festival.

  • Buyers bag The Mexican

    16-May-2000

    Will Tyrer and Chris Ball's Newmarket Group has sold rights in three major territories to The Mexican, starring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.

  • IFG, Working Title strike two-year pact

    16-May-2000

    International Film Guarantors (IFG) has sealed a multi-picture agreement with Working Title Films whereby IFG will the principal completion guarantor on films from the company for the next two years.

  • Advanced spots UFO

    15-May-2000

    Publicly traded German distributor Advanced Medien is making a push into high concept video and TV movies through the purchase of a 51% stake in Unified Film Organization (UFO), the five year-old LA-based production and sales operation run by Phillip Roth, Jeff Beach and Ken Olandt

  • Trio joins Helkon in European power play

    15-May-2000

    Helkon International Pictures (HIP) has unveiled its own network of distributor partners who will jointly release movies from Hollywood producers as well as originate its own big budget films that can be shot in Europe.

  • Constantin, Propaganda redo German comedy hits

    15-May-2000

    Germany's Constantin Film and LA-based production and management outfit Propaganda Films have announced that the first two pictures to be produced by their 50/50 production-distribution joint venture will be English-language remakes of hit German comedies - Der Bewegte Mann and Harte Jungs.

  • McCormack to reign in My Kingdom

    15-May-2000

    Catherine McCormack has signed to star as the daughter of Richard Harris and Lynn Redgrave in UK gangster movie My Kingdom which is being directed by Don Boyd and produced by Neal Weisman of Close Grip Films, Gabriela Bacher of Primary Pictures and BSkyB's film production arm Sky Pictures. Overseas Filmgroup is handling international sales on the project at Cannes.

  • MGM buys Nine Yards for Japan

    14-May-2000

    MGM has acquired Japanese rights to Franchise Pictures' hit comedy The Whole Nine Yards in an unusual single territory acquisition for the studio which from November will distribute all its pictures internationally through 20th Century Fox.

  • Chen Kaige plots Killing with Graham

    14-May-2000

    Chen Kaige, the legendary "Fifth Generation" Chinese film-maker, will finally make his English-language film debut directing US starlet Heather Graham in a London-set erotic thriller called Killing Me Softly. The movie is being produced by Tom Pollock and Ivan Reitman's Montecito Film Co.

  • Spyglass dunks bastketball doc on Canal

    12-May-2000

    Spyglass Entertainment has sold rights in continental Europe to Leon Gast's untitled basketball documentary to StudioCanal, marking another deal in the ongoing relationship between Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum's Hollywood production and the French major.

  • Good Machine sells on Flora Plum

    12-May-2000

    David Linde's Good Machine International has closed a slew of deals on Jodie Foster's next directorial picture Flora Plum starring Russell Crowe and Clare Danes. Entertainment Film Distributors will take the picture in the UK, Bac Films in France, LaurenFilm in Spain and Paradiso in Benelux. The film was set up by and will be distributed domestically by USA Films.

  • Alliance's Hamori to go it alone

    12-May-2000

    Andras Hamori is leaving his position as president of Alliance Pictures to form his own production outfit with a non-exclusive first-look deal at Alliance Atlantis.

  • Hilltop takes world on TF1 comedy

    12-May-2000

    LA-based sales and production outfit Hilltop Entertainment has cut a deal with French broadcaster and film backer TF1 to represent worldwide rights on French language comedy Jet Set starring Lambert Wilson, Ornella Muti, Ariadna Gil and Samuel Le Bihan.

  • Trimark to re-roll Cube

    12-May-2000

  • Artisan, Miramax do some Dirty Dancing

    12-May-2000

    Two of the unlikeliest dance partners - US rivals Artisan Entertainment and Miramax Films - are teaming up to co-produce and co-finance Dirty Dancing 2, the sequel to one of the most successful independent films of all time.

  • Eagle swoops on Seven Arts

    11-May-2000

    Recapitalised Italian distributor Eagle Pictures has sealed another package of pictures - with Seven Arts International - to go with the two picture deal with Summit and a three picture deal with Intermedia which it concluded at AFM.

  • Ormond adopts Bluevision Child

    11-May-2000

    Julia Ormond is the latest actor planning to get behind the cameras - she has announced that she will direct a movie of Harold Pinter's script The Dreaming Child to be backed by new US independent Bluevision Media.

  • Caton-Jones, De Niro reteam for Franchise

    10-May-2000

    Robert De Niro and director Michael Caton-Jones are reteaming for true life crime epic City By The Sea - one of two new big budget pictures on offer from powerhouse indie supplier Franchise Pictures. Franchise is also backing the next picture written and to be directed by David Mamet - crime thriller Heist set to star Gene Hackman. Both films will be released domestically by Warner Bros.

  • Seven Arts International joins Rat Race

    9-May-2000

    Seven Arts International will partner with Paramount Pictures on Rat Race, a big budget action comedy from producers Jerry Zucker (Ghost, Airplane) and Sean Daniel and Jim Jacks, whose production outfit Alphaville was behind The Mummy and The Jackal.

  • Warner international chief Frumkes calls it quits

    9-May-2000

    Ed Frumkes, the president of international distribution and marketing for Warner Bros Pictures, is to leave the studio when his contract expires in December.

  • Weinsteins commit to seven more years at Disney

    5-May-2000

    Harvey and Bob Weinstein, the inimitable co-chairmen of Miramax Films, have extended their contracts with The Walt Disney Co for another seven years, scotching any speculation that they might be lured away from the company they co-founded in 1979."It is our pleasure to continue our association with Disney," said the brothers in a statement. "Since we began this relationship in 1993, we've grown from an independent film company into a fully fledged media company. We couldn't ...

  • George Litto Pictures sues insurance giant AXA Re

    4-May-2000

    Producer George Litto has initiated arbitration proceedings against French insurance AXA Re for revoking two insurance contracts to provide the funding for five films. According to Litto's complaint, George Litto Pictures (GLP) obtained two lines of credit from Chase Manhattan Bank worth more than $100m. The issuance of each loan was contingent on the existence of supporting insurance which AXA assumed to protect Chase in the event of any shortfall.When GLP sought the ...

  • Cami Winikoff named COO at Trimark Pictures

    4-May-2000

    Cami Winikoff has been promoted to chief operating officer at the LA-based independent producer/distributor Trimark Pictures. Previously executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Trimark, she will now oversee all operational facets of the company, reporting to chairman and CEO Mark Amin.Winikoff has been at Trimark for ten years overseeing all aspects of business, legal affairs, production, post-production, servicing and administration for the company. Most ...

  • Jerry Giaquinta upped to executive vp at SPE

    4-May-2000

    Jerry Giaquinta has been promoted to executive vice president, corporate communications, for Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). He will continue to report to SPE co-president Yuki Nozoe.Giaquinta joined SPE in 1998 as senior vice president, corporate communications, after a four year stint in Silicon Valley as vice president of corporate marketing for Silicon Graphics and vice president of corporate communications for Tandem Computers.As executive vice president, he ...

  • Dot-coms tie up with MIF, MITIC, American Pavilion

    4-May-2000

    Dot coms will invade the Croisette this Cannes Film Festival with several online companies firmly aligned with staple institutions such as The Cannes Market, The American Pavilion and MITIC.Communications giant Intel is equipping the American Pavilion with a high-speed internet capability to support new sponsors POP.com, InternetStudios.com, ReporterTV.com, E! Online and On2.com. Meanwhile the Cannes market and ShowBIZData.com have formed an alliance wih Florida-based ...

  • I Dreamed Of Africa

    3-May-2000

  • Universal takes domestic on start-up Catch 23

    3-May-2000

    Robert B. Sturm, a Denver-based financier and philanthropist, has formed a new LA production company Catch 23 Entertainment and entered into a deal with Universal Pictures' unnamed specialty film division to handle domestic distribution on the films it produces.

  • Tykwer to direct Kieslowski's Heaven for Miramax

    3-May-2000

    White-hot German director Tom Tykwer will make his English-language debut directing Heaven, a Miramax co-production that will form the first in a planned trilogy of films based on screenplays by late great Polish film-maker Krzysztof Kieslowski and his writing partner Krzysztof Piesiewicz. Cate Blanchett is in talks to star in the $11m film which is scheduled to start shooting in July on locations in Italy and Germany.

  • Summit tickled by Haxan's Heart Of Love comedy

    3-May-2000

    Summit Entertainment has boarded Heart Of Love, a broad comedy from the film-making team behind The Blair Witch Project. Summit will act as international sales agent on the film and will introduce it to buyers this month at Cannes.

  • Flintstones, Frequency can't sink U-571

    1-May-2000

    Universal's family comedy The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas grossed $10.8m in its first three days at the box office over the weekend but was unable to beat U-571, also from Universal, in its second weekend. The submarine thriller grossed $12.3m, bringing its total to $38.2m after two weekends.

  • Liliana Cavani to direct Fine Line's Ripley's Game

    27-Apr-2000

    Liliana Cavani, the Italian director behind The Night Porter who hasn't made a film since 1993, has boarded Fine Line Features' Ripley's Game - an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's classic novel which follows Tom Ripley 25 years after the events portrayed in The Talented Mr Ripley.Cavani is supervising a script rewrite and has agreed to direct the movie which is being overseen by Fine Line's London-based senior vice president of European production Ileen ...

  • Golan's Back! FilmWorld launches at Cannes

    27-Apr-2000

    Menahem Golan is back - again - with a new company FilmWorld and his years-in-the-making version of Crime And Punishment almost ready for unveiling. Teaming with Eugeny Afineevsky, his executive vice president and head of business affairs, and Eddie Avalos, vice president and head of international sales, Golan has two projects planned with Sean Young as well as a reworking of classic thriller M, this time set in Los Angeles and starring Eric Roberts and Rutger Hauer.Golan, who ...

  • Pop group 'N Sync to promote first film at Cannes

    27-Apr-2000

    'N SYNC - the US boyband phenomenon - will make its first feature film for LA-based independent production outfits Total Film Group and Phat Free Productions, it was announced yesterday.And the group, which performed with Gloria Estefan at this year's Academy Awards ceremony, will be attending this year's Cannes Film Festival for a party and further announcements about the film on May 16.'N SYNC are currently at the top of the US album charts with No Strings Attached ...

  • BT signs up with Hollywood.com, atomfilms

    27-Apr-2000

    British Telecommunications (BT) has entered into an agreement in principle with US entertainment-based internet site Hollywood.com to distribute Hollywood.com content across its multiple internet platforms including narrowband ISP, broadband DSL access and wireless WAP technologies in the UK.And BT has also struck a deal with AtomFilms, the online short film distributor/exhibitor, to supply eight films a month for the next 18 months over its broadband consumer service (BT Internet ...

  • New Legend Media capitalised as Euro buying power

    26-Apr-2000

    A new multi-territory German-backed buyer has emerged in New Legend Media AG, a privately held production and distribution outfit founded from the merger of Munich-based ACC Entertainment and LA-based Legend Entertainment.Two German venture capital companies - Hamburg-based GBK Beteiligungen and Munich-based CEA - have joined the consortium of private investors backing New Legend. Other shareholders include Tom Berry of Legend, Al Munteanu and Peter Popp of ACC and Canadian ...

  • Talos The Mummy

    25-Apr-2000

  • Committed

    25-Apr-2000

  • MGM extends Showtime domestic pay-TV deal to 2008

    25-Apr-2000

    US pay TV operation Showtime Networks has extended a deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) for current and future theatrical output, certain library titles and a commitment to co-produce three new television series.The new deal, which builds on an existing arrangement between the two companies, will run through Dec 31, 2008. Showtime will have exclusive US pay TV rights to all MGM pictures theatrically released through Dec 31, 2008.Among the pictures included in the deal ...

  • Michael Silberman to run new US distributor IDP

    25-Apr-2000

    Michael Silberman has been named COO and president of distribution and marketing at IDP - Independent Distribution Partners - the newly formed North American distribution joint venture between CanWest Entertainment, Samuel Goldwyn Films and Stratosphere Releasing.Silberman was previously senior vice president of distribution at October Films where he was responsible for the theatrical releases of hit pictures including Secrets And Lies, The Apostle and Breaking The Waves. He ...

  • Randy Greenberg joins refinanced AlwaysI.com

    25-Apr-2000

    AlwaysI.com - an online full-length film distribution platform for independent film-makers - has closed a $5m round of financing, relocated from Cincinatti to San Francisco and hired former MGM international theatrical marketing executive Randy Greenberg as new head of marketing.Former Inktomi executive Anthony Soohoo has also joined the company as head of business development and strategic alliancesFormerly known as AlwaysIndependentFilms.com, the company has sourced ...

  • ShowBIZData.com appoints Wells, Kean, Hernandez

    19-Apr-2000

    ShowBIZData.com, the online industry database service, has made three new staff appointments. John T Wells has been named senior vice president, acquisitions and strategic partnerships, Jan Kean has been named senior vice president, publicity and media relations and Marc Hernandez has been named director of development.Wells comes to ShowBIZData having launched over 18 online stores for companies such as Viacom and NBC. He also founded Entertainment Media Inc, an on-screen advertising ...

  • Warner Int'l scores $14.6m weekend with Pokemon

    19-Apr-2000

    Warner Bros International's Pokemon: The First Movie had a record-breaking opening weekend in 11 international markets last weekend, grossing $14.6m and landing at number one in five markets - Germany, the UK, Spain, Israel and Finland. It also moved up to the number one position in Belgium, rising 59% from its first weekend and dropped 28% in its second weekend in France.

  • Miramax to download 12 films via SightSound.com

    19-Apr-2000

    SightSound.com has secured a deal with Miramax Films for 12 films to be made available for non-exclusive pay-per-view distribution on the internet. SightSound.com will encode and encrypt the selected, as yet undetermined films, although Miramax will operate the sites from which the films can be downloaded. SightSound will also process e-commerce transactions on Miramax's behalf.Sightsound, which was founded in 1995 by Scott Sander and Arthur Hair, clinched a wider ranging deal ...

  • Jon Anderson to leave Col TriStar after 20 years

    19-Apr-2000

    Although Spain has long considered Latin America a key secondary market, Latin American films do not generally do major business in Spain. Two recent Argentine films, both handled locally by Alta Films, have changed that: The Son Of The Bride (El Hijo De La Novia) and Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas), both starring Ricardo Darin.

  • Aussie distribution vet Geoff Jackson retires

    19-Apr-2000

    Australian film industry veteran Geoff Jackson, whose career has spanned 52 years, will retire on July 1, 2000.The announcement came from 20th Century Fox International yesterday that Jackson, who is currently regional print manager at Fox Asia/Pacific, would call it a day.He started his career in 1948 as an office junior and dispatch clerk at British Empire Films, the former distribution arm of Greater Union Organization. In 1953 he was promoted to customs manager responsible ...

  • Tully, Bounce win top awards at LA Indie Festival

    19-Apr-2000

    What Happened To Tully, a Nebsraska-set family drama directed by Hilary Birmingham, walked away with the Critics Prize and Bounce: Behind The Velvet Rope won the Audience Award at this year's Los Angeles Independent Film Festival (LAIFF) which finished yesterday.Some key domestic buyers were circling some of the films in the festival at close of play, especially the documentaries. Freestyle, for example, a documentary about hip-hop had evoked interest from ...

  • Lakeboat

    18-Apr-2000

  • Ed Russell retires from Columbia

    18-Apr-2000

    Ed Russell has announced that he will retire as executive vice president of worldwide publicity, promotions and field publicity at Columbia Pictures when his contract expires this year. He joined the studio in 1986 as vice president of publicity and his career in studio publicity spans nearly 30 years."After nearly 30 years of working many six- and seven-day weeks, including hundreds of premieres, junkets and film festivals, I want to spend more time with my family and pursue ...

  • Amritraj & Hoberman unveil Hyde Park's debut slate

    18-Apr-2000

    Ashok Amritraj and David Hoberman's Hyde Park Entertainment has unveiled its debut slate of pictures set up at its two alternate partner studios MGM and The Walt Disney Co, with one film placed with Sony Pictures' mid-budget range division Screen Gems. Among the stars already set for the pictures are Bruce Willis, Wesley Snipes, Cate Blanchett, Tim Robbins and Billy Bob Thornton.Hyde Park was launched last year teaming up Amritraj, a co-founder of Franchise Pictures, ...

  • 28 Days comes in second to Rules at US Box Office

    16-Apr-2000

    Paramount's high testosterone military drama Rules Of Engagement (pictured) topped the US box office for the second week in a row over the weekend with a $10.9m take on 3,190 screens, bringing its 10-day total to $30.6m. The film, sold in foreign territories by Seven Arts International, echoes the success of other solid Paramount thrillers from last year, The General's Daughter and Double Jeopardy, although it looks unlikely that it will top $100m as those films did.

  • Ice T, Slater, Arquette in all-star Graceland cast

    15-Apr-2000

    A strong supporting cast has been enlisted to star in Franchise Pictures' 3000 Miles To Graceland which is currently shooting in Vancouver. Arguably the most high profile film of the many put into production so far by Franchise, the action thriller toplines Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell and Courtney Cox Arquette.Joining them are Christian Slater, Kevin Pollak, David Arquette (Courtney Cox's husband), Jon Lovitz, Howie Long, Bokeem Woodbine and Ice T.The movie is ...

  • San Francisco Film Fest unveils 190-film lineup

    15-Apr-2000

    The San Francisco International Film Festival, which opens next Thursday (April 20) with Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides, has unveiled its lineup of 190 feature and short films that will be showcased over a two week period. The closing night film on May 4 is Michael Almerayda's Hamlet.Among the highlights in the programme is the North American premiere of One Day In The Life Of Andrei Arsenevich directed by Chris Marker (La Jetee), a screening ...

  • Lolafilms UK pacts with Endeavor for four films

    15-Apr-2000

    Lolafilms UK, the UK production and international sales arm of Spanish production powerhouse Lolafilms, has enlisted LA talent agency Endeavor to represent North American sales on four of its upcoming pictures.

  • Harvey Entertainment completes acquisition of PM

    14-Apr-2000

    The Harvey Entertainment Group has completed its acquisition of George Shamieh's PM Entertainment Group following the securing of a $25m, five year revolving credit facility from Chase Manhattan Bank.$15m of the funds have already been committed, enabling Harvey to complete the acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of PM, which has a library of over 150 films and 74 episodes of TV programming, for $10m. The purchase consisted of $6.5m in cash and $1.45m in Harvey Entertainment ...

  • Goodbye Casanova opens LA Italian Film Awards Week

    14-Apr-2000

    The second annual Los Angeles Italian Film Awards Week will open on April 25 with the world premiere of Mauro Borrelli's Italian/American comedy Goodbye Casanova starring Giancarlo Scandiuzzi, Yasmine Bleeth and Flea, the lead bassist from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.The event which runs April 25-29 is designed to introduce new film and film-makers from Italy to the Hollywood film community and the public, while also celebrating classic Italian cinema.Goodbye ...

  • Mitchell Galin resigns from New Amsterdam Ent.

    13-Apr-2000

    Mitchell Galin has resigned from his position as president and member of the board at New Amsterdam Entertainment. Richard P Rubinstein will now assume the position of president alongside his current roles as chairman and CEO.Galin, who has relocated to Nashville to set up his own production company On The Lam Inc, will now work with New Amsterdam on a project by project basis.Michael Messina has concurrently been promoted to director ofdevelopment at New Amsterdam.Rubinstein ...

  • Cuaron returns to Mexico with Good Machine

    12-Apr-2000

    Good Machine International (GMI) has acquired international sales rights outside North America, Spain and Latin America to Alfonso Cuaron's latest film Y Tu Mama Tambien which is currently shooting in Mexico.

  • Allen, DreamWorks seal three-pic deal

    12-Apr-2000

    Woody Allen has signed a domestic distribution deal with DreamWorks SKG for his next three untitled comedies.

  • Silver creates low-budget Zinc division

    12-Apr-2000

    Joel Silver's production outfit Silver Pictures is launching a new low-budget production division Zinc Pictures which will bow with the $5m thriller Proximity directed by Scott Ziehl, whose critically acclaimed first film Broken Vessels premiered at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival two years ago.

  • Hyde Park signs output deals in five territories

    12-Apr-2000

    Ashok Amritraj and David Hoberman's Hyde Park Entertainment has concluded a slew of output deals in smaller territories, sealing the patchwork of worldwide deals on its upcoming slate.Warner Nu Metro has signed a two-year, ten-picture deal with the company in South Africa; three-year deals have been closed in Israel with Forum Film, in the Middle East with Almassa Art, in Iceland with Samfilm and in Turkey with Pinema Prods.Each of the deals will kick off with Anti-Trust, ...

  • Dern, Koteas, Caan in cast of Artisan's Novocaine

    12-Apr-2000

    Laura Dern, Elias Koteas and Scott Caan have joined the cast of Artisan Entertainment's dark comedy Novocaine which began principal photography this week in Chicago.The film, which toplines Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter, is written and directed by David Atkins, previously best known as the screenwriter of Emir Kusturica's Arizona Dream.Martin plays an unassuming dentist with a beautiful fiance (Dern) and a wealthy lifestyle. However, everything is turned upside ...

  • Michael Stone joins sales team at Regent Int'l

    12-Apr-2000

    Michael Stone has joined Regent Entertainment as director of international sales and servicing as part of the expansion of the company's international sales division. Stone was most recently vice president worldwide distribution at Blue Rider Pictures and previously director of international servicing at Lakeshore International and Trans Atlantic Entertainment. He held positions at Turner Entertainment Company and Network Ten, Australia.He will work alongside Meggan Kimberley, ...

  • Kinowelt bags five-year deal with Gale Anne Hurd

    12-Apr-2000

    Kinowelt USA, the recently set-up US film production arm of German film giant Kinowelt, has signed its first major producer deal - with Gale Anne Hurd. Kinowelt and Hurd have entered into a multi-year, first-look development, production and distribution arrangement whereby Kinowelt USA will provide Hurd with financing to develop and produce pictures in the $20m-$80m range. Kinowelt will maintain financing and worldwide distribution rights to the films over the next five years, electing ...

  • Brockovich powers Columbia overseas

    11-Apr-2000

    Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) enjoyed a powerful weekend at the international box office, topping charts in nine territories as it unleashed US megahit Erin Brockovich and continued the rollout of family smash Stuart Little.

  • New Line Int'l pacts with newcomer Nexo in Italy

    5-Apr-2000

    New Line International (NLI) has closed a round of package deals on its upcoming product and is finalising a new partnership in Italy with start-up distribution company Nexo Pictures.Nexo, which was formed by cinema-owner Ernesto Di Sarro, contingent on the New Line deal, has taken eight pictures initially - Frequency, The Cell, Town And Country, 15 Minutes, Lost Souls, Final Destination, Knockaround Guys and Boiler Room. ...

  • Film Consortium leads backers on Manchevski's Dust

    4-Apr-2000

    Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski goes back behind the camera today, finally going into production in New York on Dust, his long-cherished "epic western" which was originally set up in 1995 as a co-production between Robert Redford's South Fork Pictures and Miramax Films.

  • A Paradise Under The Stars

    4-Apr-2000

  • Columbia TriStar boards New Zealand thriller

    4-Apr-2000

    Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group has boarded Scott Reynolds' New Zealand thriller Shearer's Breakfast and taken all distribution rights to the $2.1m film outside Germany and Australia.Starring Radha Mitchell (High Art, Pitch Black) as a young woman whose roadside diner is invaded by a host of menacing criminals, Shearer's Breakfast starts shooting in New Zealand this week. Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group executive vice presidents Clint Culpepper and Peter Schlessel ...

  • High Fidelity

    3-Apr-2000

  • Erin beats off DreamWorks' El Dorado

    3-Apr-2000

    Universal Pictures' Erin Brockovich starring Julia Roberts continued to reign atop the US box office this past weekend with a third weekend gross of $14.2m, a slight 23% drop from the previous weekend. Its 17-day total now stands at $76.2m.

  • Artisan promotes Greeman to development VP

    31-Mar-2000

    Cybelle Greeman has been promoted to vice president of development at Artisan Entertainment. She will now be responsible for the development of film scripts on the company's slate as well as tracking new material and up and coming talent. She will report to Artisan president Bill Block.

  • Warner launches Kubrick web-site

    31-Mar-2000

    Warner Home Video has launched a website - www.kubrickfilms.com - dedicated to the late film-maker Stanley Kubrick.

  • Canal Plus joins Paramount on Travolta comedy

    29-Mar-2000

    Canal Plus Image, the film production and distribution affiliate of European media giant Canal Plus, has partnered with Paramount Pictures to co-produce and co-finance big budget comedy Numbers starring John Travolta.Paramount will handle distribution in North America and Asia with Canal Plus Image handling theatrical, video, pay and free television in all other countries. In Latin America, Paramount handles theatrical and video distribution and Canal+ Image retains pay ...

  • Election scoops top Spirit Awards

    28-Mar-2000

  • Almodovar wins Foreign Language Film for Spain

    28-Mar-2000

    Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film last night, ending a triumphant year which began last April with the film's Spanish release.

  • American Beauty wins 5 Oscars including Picture

    28-Mar-2000

    As expected American Beauty won the major Oscars at the 72nd annual Academy Awards ceremony, winning in five categories - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography.

  • Asian veteran Sogabe leaves Columbia TriStar

    27-Mar-2000

    Kunikazu Sogabe has resigned from his post as vice president of FarEast/Asia for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI)to pursue other interests in the Asian region.Sogabe, who was appointed to his current post in Feb 1998, has been withCTFDI for 23 years. He joined in 1977 as an international departmentmanagement trainee, was transferred to Columbia Pictures' Japan branchin 1979 as assistant manager and was elevated to the position ofmanaging ...

  • Jean Prewitt appointed president of AFMA

    27-Mar-2000

    Jean M Prewitt has been named president of the American Film Marketing Association (AFMA), the LA-based organisation which represents the independent film industry in the same way the MPAA relates to the major studios. AFMA has 180 member companies.Prewitt was previously a principal with Podesta.com, a Washington-based lobbying and public relations firm. Prior to that she held positions as an official for US Department of Commerce and a senior vice president of United International ...

  • Warner Japan wins Government Trade Award

    27-Mar-2000

    Warner Bros Pictures Distribution, Japan, will receive Japan's Ministerof International Trade and Industry Award for Best Motion PictureImporter/Distributor of the Year in a ceremony to take place in Tokyo onApril 21. William Ireton, managing director, Warner Bros PicturesDistribution Japan, will accept the award on behalf of Warner Bros.The award is given for marketing excellence and innovation, and for acompany's contribution to the development of the Japanese ...

  • Wonder Boys

    27-Mar-2000

  • Erin Brockovich stays at top of US box

    27-Mar-2000

    Universal's Julia Roberts-starrer Erin Brockovich grossed $19m in its second weekend on general release to bring its ten-day total to $56.3m. Dropping about 32% from its opening, the Steven Soderbergh-directed film still scored a powerful screen average of $6,675.

  • Nicks signs on to direct Destination's Slackers

    22-Mar-2000

    Commercials and music video director Dewey Nicks has signed to direct Slackers which is being produced and distributed domestically by Destination Films.

  • AFMA launches production loan guarantee scheme

    20-Mar-2000

    The American Film Marketing Association (AFMA) has clinched a major new independent financing initiative, reaching agreement with Export-Import Bank Of The United States (Ex-Im) to furnish US AFMA members (producers and lenders) with film production loan guarantees.The agreement is revolutionary in that it guarantees the production loan and not the individual distributor contracts that make up the loan collateral, thus protecting lenders and producers against the vagaries of ...

  • Roberts smashes box office again

    20-Mar-2000

    Julia Roberts confirmed her place in the very highest pantheon of movie stars over the weekend with a spectacular $28.2m opening for her latest tour de force Erin Brockovich. The story of a real-life single mother who won a record settlement for victims of water contamination, the movie had won rave reviews and extraordinarily strong word-of-mouth in the lead-up to its release on Friday. Universal has domestic rights and Columbia TriStar international rights on the movie which ...

  • Seldin takes up production role at Top Cow

    17-Mar-2000

    Spike Seldin has been named president of production for the film and television division of comic book publisher Top Cow Productions. Seldin was formerly vice president of original programming for Turner Network Television (TNT) from 1996-99. Top Cow is the third largest publisher of American comic books worldwide and its film and TV division is already actively developing projects with TNT, Fox Kids, Fox Animation and both John Woo and Chris Lee.

  • Gilliam's Quixote saddles up with European backers

    17-Mar-2000

    After tilting in vain at so many financing windmills for the past year, Terry Gilliam has finally lined up a combination of European funding partners for his long-cherished The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

  • David Adamson rejoins ICM LA

    16-Mar-2000

    LA-based New Zealander David Adamson has rejoined International Creative Management (ICM) as a talent agent in the motion picture department. Adamson was most recently at Hoflund-Polone where his clients include Emily Mortimer, Kathy Baker, Judith Godreche, Alan Rickman and British comedy duo Armstrong & Miller.The announcement was made by Eddy Yablans, head of motion picture department at ICM.Adamson moved to the US in 1992 serving as a campaign consultant for Ross ...

  • Pogachefsky honoured at LA Indie Fest

    16-Mar-2000

    LA-based independent PR specialist Mark Pogachefsky and the Film Division of his mPRm Public Relations will receive the fifth annual Indie Supporter Award at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival which takes place April 13-18 in Los Angeles.The award, presented annually to individuals who have provided an extraordinary contribution to the independent film-making community, has previously been bestowed on, among others, exhibitors Robert and Greg Laemmle and actor Eric Stoltz.Pogachefsky ...

  • Spielberg to direct Kubrick's A.I. as next project

    16-Mar-2000

    Steven Spielberg has committed to directing two science fiction tales starting immediately with A.I. an epic about artificial intelligence that had been a long-gestating pet project of Stanley Kubrick''s before his death in 1999.

  • Sony Pictures launches new digital unit

    15-Mar-2000

    Sony Pictures Entertainment has formed a new business unit - Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment - which aims to align the studio's digital production activities with online content and game services.Yair Landau, previously executive vice president, corporate development and strategic planning, will be president of the new unit, reporting to SPE co-president Yuki Nozoe and SPE co-president and COO Mel Harris.The new unit will operate digital initiatives in three areas ...

  • Tsujihara to head up Warner Bros New Media Ops

    15-Mar-2000

    Kevin Tsujihara has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president, new media, at Warner Bros, signalling an attempt by the studio to bring all of its new media initiatives under one overseer. Tsujihara will coordinate all new media activities within Warner - including Warner Bros Online and Entertaindom - as well as serving as Warner's point person with Time Warner Digital Media and America Online.His first order of business will be to oversee ...

  • Eagle buys two-picture package from Summit

    14-Mar-2000

    Newly recapitalised Italian distributor Eagle Pictures has sealed a two picture deal with leading LA sales agent Summit Entertainment for horror picture The Calling and Artisan Entertainment comedy Novocaine starring Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter.Summit's Patrick Wachsberger implied that the deal would signal a longterm relationship with Eagle, which received a boost earlier this year when private equity financier B&S Private Equity Group took a 20% stake. Eagle is also ...

  • American Beauty dominates SAG, DGA Awards

    14-Mar-2000

    Hollywood's final round of awards ceremonies before the Oscars took place over the weekend, and they were almost totally dominated by American Beauty. The DreamWorks film now looks set for a sweep at the Academy Awards on March 26.The film's British director Sam Mendes continued his winning streak, taking top honours at the Directors Guild Of America (DGA) Awards on Saturday. Mendes, who also won the Golden Globe, is now the clear frontrunner to win the Oscar.And at ...

  • David Koh joins Palm as acquisitions chief

    14-Mar-2000

    David Koh has been named head of acquisitions and co-productions for Palm Pictures' theatrical and DVD/home video divisions. He will also work closely with sputnik7.com, an entertainment-based website also founded by Palm chief Chris Blackwell.Koh was previously an acquisitions and co-production executive at WinStar/Fox Lorber where he acquired film and TV programming for WinStar's domestic and international labels. Titles acquired included Ponette, Violent Cop, La Vie De Jesus ...

  • American Beauty passes $100m international mark

    13-Mar-2000

    DreamWorks SKG's American Beauty has crossed the $100m barrier at the overseas box office, eclipsing its domestic gross which currently stands at $93m.

  • ShoWest: Fox puts spotlight on five summer flicks

    13-Mar-2000

    20th Century Fox chose to focus just on its five summer movies at its luncheon today (Thursday) at Showest in Las Vegas.

  • Mission To Mars takes off with $23m

    13-Mar-2000

    Marking the first mega-budget blockbuster in the marketplace since Christmas, Buena Vista's $75m space epic Mission To Mars opened with a mighty $23.1m despite uniformly negative reviews across North America. Directed by Brian DePalma, the film, which is the story of a rescue mission to the red planet, beat a rival Mars project to the screen - Warner Bros/Village Roadshow Pictures' Red Planet will now open in November. It was launched on 3,054 screens for a strong screen ...

  • Wortmann makes US debut with Pleswin-backed comedy

    12-Mar-2000

    Sonke Wortmann, German director of Der Bewegte Mann, will make his US production debut with The Hollywood Sign which also marks the first US picture to be produced and financed by Dutch production outfit Pleswin Entertainment Group, a partnership between Eric Pleskow and Leon De Winter.

  • ShoWest: Sony 2000 film line-up dazzles exhibitors

    10-Mar-2000

    Sony Pictures Entertainment dazzled exhibitors at Showest today (Wednesday) with a lavish presentation of its movies in the year 2000 and a host of attending stars including Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Muhammad Ali and the Charlie's Angels themselves - Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu.

  • ShoWest: P&A costs down in 99, says Valenti

    9-Mar-2000

    The average cost of making and releasing a major studio picture was a massive $76m in 1999, but for the first time in several years, prints and advertising costs were down and for the second year in a row negative production costs were also down.

  • Warner gets new co-financier/supplier in Alcon

    8-Mar-2000

    Warner Bros Pictures has entered into an exclusive, long-term worldwide distribution agreement with Alcon Entertainment under which Warner will distribute a minimum of 10 films produced and financed by Alcon over the next five years. The agreement also allows Warner to co-finance certain films with Alcon.

  • Sightsound wins 35 Franchise films for internet

    8-Mar-2000

    Franchise Pictures, the prolific Hollywood production partnership between Elie Samaha and Andrew Stevens, has entered into an exclusive, five year, worldwide internet distribution deal with Sightsound.com, the internet company which has pioneered distribution of music and movies online. Franchise will concurrently become a shareholder in Sightsound.com.

  • The Next Best Thing

    7-Mar-2000

  • Dorff, Cleese star in first ever internet movie

    7-Mar-2000

    The first feature film produced exclusively for global internet distribution is set to go into production next week. Quantum Project will star Stephen Dorff, Fay Masterson and John Cleese and marks the directorial debut of Oscar winning production designer Eugenio Zenetti (What Dreams May Come, Restoration, Last Action Hero).Produced by SightSounds.com and Metafilmics, the film will premiere on www.sightsound.com at 12.01am on May 5, 2000. It will be available exclusively for ...

  • Franchise sells five to HBO Asia

    7-Mar-2000

    Franchise Pictures, the LA production powerhouse behind box office hit The Whole Nine Yards, has signed an exclusive five picture deal with HBO Asia.The films in the package are The Whole Nine Yards, Battlefield Earth starring John Travolta, The Pledge starring Jack Nicholson, Get Carter with Sylvester Stallone and The Art Of War with Wesley Snipes.Based in Singapore, HBO Asia is the pay TV service of HBO Pacific Partners, a joint venture of Time Warner Entertainment, ...

  • Searchlight appoints Gilula distribution president

    6-Mar-2000

    Stephen A. Gilula has been named president of distribution for Fox Searchlight Pictures.Gilula becomes one of a triad of presidents at the company alongside Peter Rice, president of production, and Nancy Utley, president of marketing. Gilula co-founded Landmark Theatres in 1974 and served as president and CEO of the company until its sale in 1998.

  • Next Best Thing is second best to Whole Nine Yards

    6-Mar-2000

    Despite four new releases in the marketplace, nothing could displace Warner Bros' comedy The Whole Nine Yards from the top position at the US box office. In its third weekend, the comedy directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry, grossed $7.3m on 2,793 screens, bringing its total take to $38.5m.

  • AFM: Primary's Kingdom includes Foster, Wang

    1-Mar-2000

    Gabriela Bacher's Primary Pictures, which this week announced its British gangster movie My Kingdom to star Richard Harris, has teamed up with a host of international talent on its development slate including Wayne Wang and Jodie Foster.

  • Trimark pays $1.65m for What's Cooking'

    1-Mar-2000

    Trimark Pictures has paid $1.65m for domestic rights to What's Cooking', the latest picture from Gurinder Chadha which opened this year's Sundance Film Festival.

  • AFM: Summit, Seven, Creek strike Benelux deals

    29-Feb-2000

    Seven Arts International, Summit Entertainment and Morgan Creek International have each concluded separate package deals with distributors for the Benelux.

  • AFM: Korea stumps up for Stallone, Costner

    29-Feb-2000

    Korea is back, at least for the kind of star-driven pictures which Franchise Pictures has been touting at the AFM.

  • Miramax cleans up at AFM

    29-Feb-2000

    Miramax International closed most of the world on its latest package of pictures at this year's AFM with many of its usual customers and a new one - recently floated Senator Film in Germany - for Juliette Binoche/Johnny Depp-starrer Chocolat.

  • AFM: Warner buys massive Franchise package

    28-Feb-2000

    In unquestionably the biggest deal of the AFM so far, Franchise Pictures has sold 26 pictures to Warner Bros for Latin America.

  • AFM: Intertainment sells Franchise pair to France

    28-Feb-2000

    Barrie Baeres' pan-European rights-broker Intertainment AG has sold two of its specialised Franchise Pictures titles - Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her and The Green Dragon - in France, signalling a move by Baeres to sell off select pictures in certain territories where appropriate. Lisa Wilson of Franchise Pictures sold the territories on Intertainment's behalf.

  • AtomFilms teams up with Forefront

    24-Feb-2000

    Seattle-based Internet distributor AtomFilms has boosted its catalogue through a partnership with off-line short film distributor Forefront Films.

  • AFM: Harlin tapped for Stallone's Champs

    24-Feb-2000

    Renny Harlin is in talks to direct Sylvester Stallone's long-cherished motor racing thriller for Franchise Pictures. Formerly titled Champs, the movie is now simply known as Untitled and will be executive produced by Franchise's Andrew Stevens.

  • AFM: Harrison Ford drops out of Traffic

    24-Feb-2000

    Harrison Ford has dropped out of Traffic, the highly publicised drug trafficking movie to which Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) bought international rights last week.

  • New Line locks down Japanese package deals

    24-Feb-2000

    New Line International (NLI) has sealed two high-profile package deals in Japan - with Nippon Herald for 15 Minutes starring Robert De Niro and ensemble piece Knockaround Guys, and with Gaga Communications for Jennifer Lopez-starrer The Cell, The Invisible Circus with Cameron Diaz and teen comedy Detroit Rock City.

  • Summit has Panic attack

    24-Feb-2000

    Summit Entertainment has acquired all international rights to Panic - the Sundance American Spectrum entry which was picked up by Artisan Entertainment for domestic release earlier this week.

  • AFM: Franchise, Mark Canton reteam for Six

    23-Feb-2000

    Elie Samaha's Franchise Pictures and Mark Canton's The Mark Canton Co - whose first collaboration Get Carter opens later this year and who are about to shoot Angel Eyes with Jennifer Lopez - have pacted to reteam for the third time on action thriller Six.

  • Hilltop debut slate boasts Miller, Leven

    23-Feb-2000

    In an attempt to become a new supplier of studio-level pictures, Hilltop Entertainment has unveiled a debut slate featuring Gone To Earth - the second film from director Rebecca Miller starring Oscar nominee Samantha Morton - and Lovers Liars And Thieves which marks the first feature from writer/director Jeremy Leven since Don Juan De Marco.Hilltop has also boarded Paul Sorvino's long-cherished modern update of King Lear to which MGM has acquired ...

  • AFM: Lion's Gate picks up Race To Space

    23-Feb-2000

    Lions Gate Films International has acquired foreign rights to Race To Space, a true story drama about the first chimpanzee in space, which stars James Woods, Alex Linz, Annabeth Gish and William Atherton.

  • Initial teams with Jodie Foster on Altar Boys

    22-Feb-2000

    In its third major acquisition of the week, Initial Entertainment Group (IEG) has boarded The Dangerous Lives Of Altar Boys, a project developed by Jodie Foster's Egg Pictures, which Foster will co-produce and take a supporting role in - as a one-legged nun.IEG will fully finance the $15m-$20m film which was originally set up with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (PFE) - and then Universal - under Egg's deal with PFE.Foster will produce alongside her Egg partner Meg LeFauve ...

  • Whole Nine Yards, Hanging Up tie for top place

    21-Feb-2000

    It was a healthy Presidents Day weekend at the North American box office with the three-day Friday-to-Sunday figures (final four-day figures will emerge on Tuesday) proclaiming $15m apiece for both SPE's Hanging Up and Warner Bros' The Whole Nine Yards (pictured).

  • First Look Pictures acquires The Opportunists

    21-Feb-2000

    First Look Pictures has acquired North American theatrical and TV rights to Sundance American Spectrum entry The Opportunists from the film's producers Prosperity Pictures and New Beginnings Media. First Look's parent company Overseas FilmGroup was the international sales agent on the film which stars Christopher Walken and Cyndi Lauper.As reported in screendaily last week, Blockbuster Entertainment had already bought domestic video rights to the film.World premiered ...

  • IEG to finance historical epic Smoke And Mirrors

    21-Feb-2000

    Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), which last week bought international rights to high profile Harrison Ford-starrer Traffic, has unveiled another acquisition - the rights to historical adventure Smoke And Mirrors, one of the most famous never-produced scripts in Hollywood in recent years. IEG will fully finance the film and handle worldwide rights. Catherine Zeta Jones, who'll also act in Traffic, is in talks to star in the movie, which is being produced by Joel Douglas and ...

  • Oederkerk hits AFM with high-concept comedies

    18-Feb-2000

    Steve Oedekerk, the writer of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Nutty Professor and the writer/director of Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Patch Adams, is entering the international marketplace with his company O Entertainment.

  • Newmarket, BVFS hold hands along Burns' Sidewalks

    17-Feb-2000

    Newmarket Capital Group and Buena Vista Film Sales (BVFS) have teamed up to back Sidewalks Of New York, the latest film from Ed Burns, who will write, direct, produce and star in the film alongside his girlfriend Heather Graham and Stanley Tucci.

  • Bronson named international chief at Universal

    17-Feb-2000

    Nadia Bronson, for years the lifeforce behind Universal Pictures' international marketing department, has been promoted to president, international theatrical marketing, distribution and operations at the studio.

  • American Beauty leads Oscars race

    16-Feb-2000

    As expected, Sam Mendes' American Beauty led the pack in the nominations for the 72nd annual Academy Awards with eight nominations including those for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay.

  • Almodovar adds Oscar nomination to glory list

    15-Feb-2000

    Pedro Almodovar's route to the Oscar podium came one step closer this morning as his All About My Mother ended a year of awards glory and won an Academy Award nomination for foreign language film of the year.

  • Jersey woos Franchise with Caveman's Valentine

    15-Feb-2000

    The increasingly prolific Franchise Pictures has teamed up with Jersey Films to co-produce and co-finance Caveman's Valentine, a psychological thriller starring Samuel L. Jackson which started shooting in Los Angeles this week.

  • Scream 3 keeps The Beach off top spot

    14-Feb-2000

    Miramax/Dimension Films' Scream 3 remained at the top of the US box office with a $16.4m gross over the three-day weekend at a phenomenal 3,467 theatres. That represents a steep drop of 58% from its first weekend opening, although Scream 2 suffered a similar drop-off in its second weekend and went on to gross over $100m. Scream 3's ten day total is $57m and it looks set to become the year's first $100m movie.

  • Bening named ShoWest Female Star Of The Year

    11-Feb-2000

    Annette Bening has been named ShoWest Female Star Of The Year, rounding out the roster of awards at this year's ShoWest 2000 Awards Night on March 9 in Las Vegas.

  • Artisan invests in education with Baby Einstein

    11-Feb-2000

    Artisan Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to a collection of developmental video products for children ages 0-4 from The Baby Einstein Company. Simultaneously, Artisan took a minority interest in the company and has signalled its intention to grow the brand into a household name a la Barney or Sesame Street.

  • Levinsohn promoted to head Fox pay-TV

    11-Feb-2000

    Peter Levinsohn has been promoted to executive vice president, worldwide pay-TV and pay-per-view, for 20th Century Fox.

  • The Broken Hearts Club

    10-Feb-2000

  • Oscar frontrunner Swank logs onto Porchlight slate

    10-Feb-2000

    Porchlight Entertainment, the LA-based sales and production outfit specialising in family programming, has acquired international theatrical, TV and video rights to Heartwood, a coming of age story starring Hilary Swank and Jason Robards.

  • Miramax stages Broadway version of Stoppard play

    10-Feb-2000

    First it was magazine publishing, now Miramax Films has extended its tentacles onto The Great White Way. The New York-based Disney-offshoot has signed a deal to co-finance the Broadway run of the hit London stage revival of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing.

  • Valenti enlists moguls to improve trade with China

    10-Feb-2000

    Jack Valenti, chairman and CEO of The Motion Picture Association, has enlisted a who's who of Hollywood's most influential power-brokers to pressure the US Congress into bolster trade relations with China.

  • Dudley-Smith expands WBITD role

    10-Feb-2000

    Malcolm Dudley-Smith has been promoted to senior vice president, sales and business development, at Warner Bros International Television Distribution where he will now oversee all sales activities in Latin America, Asia and Canada including pay, cable and free TV.

  • Canal Plus, Pathe embark on Mission To Mars

    9-Feb-2000

    C+P - the joint acquisition and distribution venture between French majors Canal Plus and Pathe - has acquired French rights to mammoth Disney sci-fi picture Mission To Mars from Spyglass Entertainment.

  • Artisan bets big on black entertainment

    9-Feb-2000

    Shrewd US distributor Artisan Entertainment is boosting its product supply once again, this time sealing an agreement this week to distribute 6-8 black-themed films across North America.

  • Hi-Def crime mockumentary plans Berlin heist

    8-Feb-2000

  • Scream 3

    7-Feb-2000

  • Scream 3 makes a killing at US box office

    7-Feb-2000

  • Village Roadshow extends Warner co-financing pact

    4-Feb-2000

    Australia's Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment (VRPE) and Warner Bros have expanded their two year-old co-financing and co-production agreement which called for 20 pictures between 1998 and 2002, by adding 20 more films over the next five years (2000-2005).

  • Pasolini's The Closer You Get opens US Comedy Fest

    4-Feb-2000

  • Artisan ups Jones to key marketing role

    2-Feb-2000

    Artisan Entertainment has promoted marketing executive Amorette Jones to the newly created position of executive vice president, worldwide marketing, Artisan Pictures.

  • AFM Premiere Screenings unveils line-up

    2-Feb-2000

    This year's AFM Premiere Screenings will include the world premieres of two high profile Kushner-Locke Co movies: Alfonso Arau's Picking Up The Pieces, starring Woody Allen with a cameo from Sharon Stone, and Burt Reynolds' directorial debut The Last Producer.

  • MGM roars back to financial health, reveals slate

    2-Feb-2000

    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has announced its strongest quarterly operating results in 12 years, signalling a financial turnaround at the company under its new management structure of Alex Yemenidjian and his second-in-command Chris McGurk

  • New Latin American combo goes on shopping spree

    2-Feb-2000

    A pan-Latin American buying consortium of independent distributors is gearing up for the American Film Market, having quietly launched late last year in reaction to the increasing appetite amongst Hollywood studios to buy all rights in the region.

  • Summit scores foreign sales on Chuck & Buck

    2-Feb-2000

    Summit Entertainment has lost little time concluding the first international sales on Miguel Arteta's Chuck & Buck, striking deals with theatrical distributors from Germany, France and South Africa within days of securing the international sales rights to the digital video feature at last week's Sundance Film Festival.

  • Paradise secures sales in Latin America, Europe

    1-Feb-2000

    Cuban-Spanish co-production A Paradise Under The Stars (pictured) has secured two major sales in the wake of its successful screenings in the World Cinema section of this year's Sundance Film Festival.

  • Paramount, SPC continue Sundance buying frenzy

    31-Jan-2000

  • Kusama, Lonergan films share Sundance jury prize

    30-Jan-2000

  • UK's Adler scoops Sundance/NHK award

    30-Jan-2000

    UK film-maker Carine Adler, who won critical raves for her first film Under The Skin, was the European winner of this year's Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award - presented at the Sundance Film Festival Awards Night on Saturday.

  • Winter Films launches with $25m investment

    30-Jan-2000

    A new New York-based production outfit - Winter Films - was launched at Sundance last week backed by a recently completed $25m equity investment. Formerly known as Ikahn Productions, the company is headed by Michael Kahn with a management team including British production veteran Steve Hodges and Erick Feitshans, who has held senior business affairs positions at Morgan Creek and Cinergi.

  • Showcase builds AFM slate with Falling, Eastside

    30-Jan-2000

    Showcase Entertainment has acquired two new pictures for its AFM slate - The Sky Is Falling and Eastside.

  • Bernstein named ShoWest 2000 Producer of the Year

    30-Jan-2000

    Armyan Bernstein, the producer-writer of The Hurricane and chairman of Beacon Communications, will receive the ShoWest 2000 Producer of the Year award at the US exhibition convention in Las Vegas on March 9.

  • Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her

    28-Jan-2000

  • Sony Pictures Classics promotes Leiner

    28-Jan-2000

    Dylan Leiner has been promoted to senior vice president of acquisitions and production at Sony Pictures Classics (SPC), reporting to company co-presidents Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Marcie Bloom.

  • Sundance to get 10-screen cinema complex

    28-Jan-2000

    Resort Theaters Of America (RTA) - the recently established cinema circuit which has to date bought, built or identified over 100 screens in US resorts - has teamed with The Sundance Film Festival to build the RTA Theater in Park City, Utah, home to the festival.

  • Village launches own brand UK cinema chain

    28-Jan-2000

    Village Roadshow Cinemas International has officially launched its own branded cinema chain in the UK with a market identity distinct from its existing joint venture with Warner Bros International Theatres (WBIT) - Warner Village Cinemas.

  • USA Films takes Romeo Brass

    28-Jan-2000

    USA Films has finally completed its US acquisition this week of Shane Meadows' critically acclaimed drama A Room For Romeo Brass, according to reports at the Sundance Film Festival. The deal was made between USA and the film's backer/producer Alliance Atlantis Communications.

  • Artisan, Intertainer join forces for digital film

    27-Jan-2000

    Artisan Entertainment has signed an agreement with broadband content provider Intertainer to jointly develop, produce and distribute five feature-length films to be shot and edited completely in the digital format.

  • Swank to be star at ShoWest

    27-Jan-2000

    Hilary Swank, the Golden Globe-winning actress who is leading the Oscar race for her portrayal of Brandon Teena, has been named "Female Star Of Tomorrow" at this year's ShoWest 2000.

  • International buyers step up at Sundance

    26-Jan-2000

    It's not just domestic buyers who are putting up millions for premiere pictures at Sundance anymore. Yesterday Lions Gate Films made its first ever worldwide acquisition - American Spectrum title Two Family House - while Fiona Mitchell of United Artists Films (UAF) was reportedly set to buy international rights to competition favourite Girlfight.

  • Whalley takes reins at Portman Film

    26-Jan-2000

    Tristan Whalley has been appointed managing director of Portman Film, the film division of Portman Entertainment, which is basking in yesterday's Sundance sale of North American rights to its $6m comedy Saving Grace to Fine Line Features for $4m.

  • Paramount bags more rights to Sunshine

    26-Jan-2000

    Paramount Classics has acquired rights in Japan, Australia and New Zealand to Istvan Szabo's epic drama Sunshine, following its US acquisition of the movie after its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last year.

  • Sony Classics gets in the Groove

    25-Jan-2000

    Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has paid $1.5m to buy worldwide rights to rave drama Groove, the directorial debut of editor Greg Harrison, which is playing in the American Spectrum section of this year's Sundance Film Festival.

  • MGM mulls restructure of United Artists Films

    25-Jan-2000

    In reaction to the increasingly problematic international sales landscape, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) is looking to strike long-term output arrangements in major territories for films from its United Artists specialty label. That means a major restructure at its London-based sales and acquisitions operation London-based United Artists Films (UAF), run by sales veterans Wendy Palmer and Fiona Mitchell, but talking at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, MGM worldwide distribution ...

  • Down To You, Next Friday top US box office

    24-Jan-2000

    Miramax Films' teen romance Down To You topped the US box office chart over the weekend with an estimated $8.3m, a small margin over last weekend's top film Next Friday, which came in this weekend with an estimated $8.2m.

  • Wajda to receive honorary Oscar

    24-Jan-2000

    Veteran Polish film-maker Andrzej Wajda will be presented with an honorary Oscar at this year's Academy Award ceremony which takes place in Los Angeles on March 26.

  • Artisan, Summit team up for Chuck And Buck

    24-Jan-2000

    Artisan Entertainment, which last year walked away from Sundance with micro-budget The Blair Witch Project, has done it again, teaming with its foreign sales partner Summit Entertainment to acquire worldwide rights to Chuck And Buck, a low budget comedy which is in dramatic competition at the festival.

  • American Beauty scores at Golden Globes

    24-Jan-2000

  • BAFTA, British Council team up for US screenings

    20-Jan-2000

    BAFTA LA and the British Council have teamed up to present a series of screenings of new British films in Los Angeles.

  • But I'm A Cheerleader

    20-Jan-2000

  • RKO teams with Bigel/Mailer for remakes

    19-Jan-2000

    RKO Pictures' independent arm Radio Pictures has signed a three picture deal with Bigel/Mailer Films to produce three remakes from the RKO library.

  • Law ducks Searchlight

    18-Jan-2000

    Lindsay Law is leaving his post as president of Fox Searchlight Pictures to take up a wide-ranging production deal with 20th Century Fox, kicking off with the stage musical of his biggest hit The Full Monty.

  • Limey, Election lead IFP race

    18-Jan-2000

    The nominations for the 15th annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards were announced last week, with Steven Soderbergh's The Limey and Alexander Payne's Election leading the field with five apiece.

  • Industry boards next project from Bui

    17-Jan-2000

    Tony Bui, whose debut feature Three Seasons won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at last year's Sundance Film Festival, has signed with LA-based Industry Entertainment to make his next film, The World I Made For Her.

  • Lions Gate picks up wrestling doc

    17-Jan-2000

    Lions Gate Films has acquired North American theatrical distribution rights to the wrestling documentary Beyond The Mat directed by Barry W Blaustein.
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