Screen
06 November 2009

View all stories from this issue.

Hypnose

Based on a real-life news story, set in 1865 in southern France. The daughter of a doctor falls under the spell of a mute vagrant
J'ai Gardé Les Anges

Director Phillippe Garrel Cast Monica Bellucci, Grégory Fitoussi, Louis Garrel Production Company Rectangle Productions Producer Edouard Weil Shooting dates March 2010 Location France
Le Bruit Des Glaçons

Production Company Thelma Films, Arte France Cinema (co-producer) Director Bertrand Blier Cast Jean Dujardin Location Nimes, France Budget $9 – 10 million Release date Autumn 2010 Contact Jerome Clement (Arte) 33 1 55 007 146
Sans Queue Ni Tête

Director Jeanne LabruneScreenplay Jeanne Labrune and Richard DebuisneProduction company Liaison CinematographiqueCo-producers: Artemis Productions (Belgium), Samsa Film (Luxembourg), Art Light Productions (France)Backers Canal +, Cinécinéma, SOFICA bankque postale image, Communauté Française de Belgique, Bruxelles Images, Fonds National de Soutien a la production audiovisuelle au LuxembourgDistributor (France): Rezo FilmsCast I
Steinberg joins Arts Alliance Media board

European digital provider Arts Alliance Media has appointed Bruce Steinberg to its board of directors.
1 Day

Dir/scr. Penny Woolcock. UK. 2009. 101 mins.
2012

Dir: Roland Emmerich. US. 2009. 150 mins.
44-Inch Chest

Dir. Malcolm Venville. UK. 2008. 91 mins.
6 Sales closes territories on UTV’s Ex Terminators

Spain’s 6 Sales has closed deals with Ascot Elite for Germany, Four Corners in Benelux and Horizon One in Australia for comedy Ex Terminators which stars Heather Graham, Jennifer Coolidge and Amber Heard as three women who meet in an anger management class.
A Christmas Carol

Dir: Robert Zemeckis. US. 2009.
A Prophet star Tahar Rahim joins The Eagle Of The Ninth

Tahar Rahim, riding high folloing his star turn in A Prophet, has joined the cast of Focus Features and Film4’s Roman Britain epic The Eagle Of The Ninth that is currently shooting in Scotland.
A Prophet wins inaugural London Film Festival best film award

Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet has scooped the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival’s inaugural Star Of London award for best film (October 28).
A Single Man, Parnassus among AFI FEST line-up

The US premiere of Tom Ford’s A Single Man starring Oscar contender Colin Firth and Julianne Moore will close the slimmed down 23rd AFI FEST on November 5.
Academy unveils 65 foreign language Oscar submissions

Sixty-five countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 82nd Academy Awards.
ACI boards Amy Adams romantic musical Moonlight Serenade for AFM

Looking to capitalse on the growing popularity of films such as Mamma Mia! and High School Musical 3, LA-based American Cinema International (ACI) has boarded foreign sales rights to the romantic musical Moonlight Serenade starring Amy Adams.
ACI boards second Polish Brothers film Smell Of Success ahead of AFM

American Cinema International (ACI) has secured the double set of most recent Polish Brothers films as it emerged that the LA-based company has added Smell Of Successto a roster that already features Stay Coolheading into AFM.
ACI brings Polish Brothers' Stay Cool to AFM

LA-based American Cinema International has added the Polish Brothers’ high school film Stay Cool starring Winona Ryder and Hilary Duff to its AFM roster.
AFI Awards expands best picture category

Six films have been nominated for best film at this year’s Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards, rather than the usual four, in acknowledgement of the large number of high-quality films in circulation.
AFI FEST switches The White Ribbon for A Prophet

AFI FEST has added Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or winner The White Ribbon to the line-up, replacing AProphet.
AFM Daily: News Digest

ScreenDaily brings you all of the stories from the AFM dailies.
AFM sellers down by 10%, but buyer numbers up

The number of exhibitors selling films at the American Film Market has dropped by 10% on last year – but the number of buyers attending the event has risen slightly, the market’s organiser said today.
Alain Goldman mounts French Holocaust epic with Gaumont

Producer Alain Goldman has reteamed with Gaumont for his latest production, La Rafle (The Roundup). The $29.5m (€20m) film, directed by Roselyne Bosch, is what Goldman calls “the French Schindler’s List.”
Alexandre Desplat named composer of the year at World Soundtrack Awards

Alexandre Desplat has picked up the film composer of the year award at the 9th World Soundtrack Awards on Saturday (October 17). The event closed the 36th Ghent International Film Festival.
Alexandre Franchi's The Wild Hunt nominated for Whistler's Borsos Competition

Alexandre Franchi’s Toronto winner The Wild Hunt is among the six films selected to compete for the Borsos Competition for best new Canadian feature at the forthcoming Whistler Film Festival.
Alice in Wonderland (3D)

Dir: Tim Burton. US. 2010.
Amelia

Dir: Mira Nair. US. 2009. 111 mins.
Amphibious 3D heats up with Celsius

London-based Celsius has taken international rights on Dutch-Belgian-Indonesian coproduction, Amphibious 3D. A promo of the film, which has just entered post-production, will be screening here at the AFM.
Ana Kokkinos' Blessed added to LFF programme

San Sebastian-winner Blessed, directed by Ana Kokkinos, has been added to the programme at The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival, which opened last week.
Antichrist gets Enlightened deal for home video in India

India’s Enlighten Film Society has bought home video rights to Lars von Trier’s Antichrist at the Reliance Big Entertainment-backed Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) which closed on Nov 5.
Aoyama’s Decadent Sisters takes top prize at PPP

The four-day Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) wrapped on Wednesday night, with the Pusan Award going to Japanese director Shinji Aoyama’s Decadent Sisters.
Asian film commissions to jointly develop incentives system

Seven film commissions and government bodies pledged to work together to develop production incentives and other schemes to create a film-friendly environment in Asia, at the close of the second edition of Film Policy Plus (FPP) on Wednesday night.
Asian Film Market still quiet but busier than last year

The Asian Film Market closed its four-day run today (Oct 14) with an increase in participants and a general consensus that the market was quiet but still important for setting up deals and networking.
Astro Boy

Dir: David Bowers. US. 2009. 93 mins.
At The End of Daybreak

Dir/scr: Ho Yuhang. Malaysia/HK/S Korea. 2009. 94 mins.
Austrian film-makers protest against Cruise film funding

James Mangold’s action comedy Knight & Day, starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, has become the target of protests from Austrian film-makers after receiving $448,455 (€300,000) in support from the Salzburg authorities.
B D Fox Independent secures P&A fund for distribution pipeline

B D Fox Independent president and CEO Brian D Fox has secured P&A funding for a slate of films and is looking to acquire three to four completed titles for US theatrical distribution.
Babelgum, Metacafe launch iPhone application

Web and mobile premium content platform Babelgum and video site Metacafe have launched the Metacafe iPhone application powered by Babelgum.
Barnes headlines Bono's Doppelganger for Salt

Finance has closed and pre-production begun on I Was Bono’s Doppelgänger, Nick Hamm’s Irish comedy based on Neil McCormick’s autobiography. The film is being sold at the AFM by London-based Salt.
Basement

Five people inadvertently enter an underground base and run into a nightmare scenario.
Battsek's Miramax departure chills specialty sector

In another sign that the US majors have little inclination for the specialty business, Daniel Battsek will depart his post as president of Miramax in January 2010.
Bavaria busy on Krabat, Liebe Mauer

Bavaria Film International has been racking up sales on its AFM slate. The company’s Thorsten Ritter reports that Australia’s Accent Film has picked up Marco Kreuzpaintner’s Krabat and Maren Ade’s Everyone Else.
Beaver, Red sell out for Summit International

Summit International has virtually sold out on two of its marquee titles here, Jodie Foster’s drama The Beaver starring Mel Gibson and the DC Comics adaptation Red.
Beta Cinema takes on sales rights to Stolz's Goethe!

Blue-chip German outfit Beta Cinema has taken on international rights to North Face director Philipp Stölz’s next feature film, Goethe!, which comes billed as a “modern pop fairytale” biopic of Germany’s most celebrated writer in the vein of Shakespeare In Love and Amadeus.
Bleiberg boards Chris Pine drama Small Town Saturday Night for AFM

Bleiberg Entertainment has acquired international rights to writer-director Ryan Craig’s Small Town Saturday Night starring Chris Pine and will launch the film at AFM.
Bollywood star Mallika Sherawat signs to Nuclear Mango's Love, Barack

Govind Menon and William Keenan’s US-India consultancy and production company Nuclear Mango has bought in New Jack City producer Doug McHenry to direct the romantic comedy Love, Barack. The company has cast Bollywood siren Mallika Sherawat.
Bondarchuk lines up Winter Queen, Stalingrad epic

Fedor Bondarchuk, director of Russian blockbuster Inhabited Island, is making his English language debut on Seven Arts Pictures’ Winter Queen and will follow that with a $30m epic about the battle of Stalingrad which will likely be shot in both Russian and English versions.
Bradley Cooper joins thriller Dark Fields for Relativity, Mandate Int'l

Mandate International has commenced talks with buyers here on Relativity Media’s thriller Dark Fields starring in-demand Bradley Cooper.
Bright Star shines in UK, France and Spain open The Box

ScreenDaily’s weekly round-up of the local and independent releases in key markets this week.
Brotherhood (Broderskab)

Dir: Nicolo Donato. Denmark. 2009. 102 mins.
Brotherhood, Helen Mirren, Giorgio Diritti triumph in Rome

The fourth edition of the International Rome Film Festival awarded the Golden Marc’Aurelio Award for best film to Danish-Italian Nicolo Donato’s feature directorial debut Brotherhood (Brotherskab).
Bunny And The Bull

Dir/scr Paul King. UK. 2009. 101 mins
Buyers jive with Protagonist's Streetdance

UK sales outfit Protagonist Pictures is enjoying a bumper crop of sales for its teen dance movie Streetdance 3D backed by Vertigo, BBC Films and the UK Film Council.
Buyers snap up rights to Arclight's Bait 3D

Arclight Films has closed multiple territory sales on its shark thriller Bait 3D that Russell Mulcahy is set to direct in Queensland in April 2010.
Caleb Deschanel to receive ASC Lifetime Achievement Award

Caleb Deschanel, ASC will receive the American Society Of Cinematographers Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards on February 27, 2010 in Los Angeles.
Cambodia, Japan film commissions come into focus

Recently-launched film commissions from two vastly different filmmaking cultures – Cambodia and Japan – were introduced at the BIFCOM locations showcase and Film Policy Plus (FPP) in Pusan this week.
Camelot Distribution Group to unveil slate at AFM

Camelot Entertainment Group has officially launched Universal City-based Camelot Distribution Group (CDG) headed by Jamie R Thompson.
Cameron's Avatar forces Chinese blockbusters to shift release dates

Four Chinese blockbusters have changed their January release dates to avoid competing with James Cameron’s Avatar, which will go out on January 1.
Canadian Film Centre North-South Marketplace to promote US ties

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) has launched the CFC North-South Marketplace, a series of initiatives over the next three years designed to support cross-border relationships for Canadian talent and create a more vibrant local industry.
Capitalism: A Love Story

Dir: Michael Moore.US.2009.
Carriers

Dir: Àlex Pastor, David Pastor. US. 2009.
Celluloid Dreams boards films from Gansel, Wiseman

Celluloid Dreams is entering the AFM with a pair of sexy new films. We Are The Night comes from The Wave director Dennis Gansel and Rat Pack Filmproduktion. The Berlin-based female vampire drama stars Karoline Herfurth, Nina Hoss, Jennifer Ulrich, Anna Fischer and Max Riemelt.
Chain Letter finds home at New Films International

New Films International has acquired worldwide rights to Deon Taylor’s horror film Chain Letter starring Nikki Reed and Brad Dourif.
Chameleon to launch 9th Hungarian Film Festival Of Los Angeles

The North American premiere of Hungary’s foreign-language Oscar submission Chameleon from Krisztina Goda will open the 9th Hungarian Film Festival Of Los Angeles, which runs from November 5-15.
Chan teams with monks on $30m action epic Shaolin

Jackie Chan, Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse will head the cast of $29.28m (RMB200m) action epic Shaolin, which marks the first time in 27 years that a film has been authorised to shoot in China’s legendary Shaolin temple.
Chow Yun-fat to star in Jiang Wen’s Let The Bullets Fly

Chow Yun-fat has joined mainland Chinese actor Ge You in the cast of Jiang Wen’s action comedy Let The Bullets Fly.
Christmas Carol not so merry on $31m as Precious stuns in limited release

Lionsgate’s extraordinary limited launch for the inner city drama Precious: Based On The Novel “Push” By Sapphire eclipsed the muted number one debut of Disney’s
Cinema Epoch takes US rights to L'Amour Cache

Cinema Epoch has acquired US rights to the Italian production L’Amour Cache (Hidden Love) starring Isabelle Huppert, Greta Scacchi and Melanie Laurent.
Cinemavault add Savage, Must Love Death to AFM roster

Cinemavault has bolstered its AFM slate by taking international rights to the Irish thriller Savage and the English-language German comedy-horror Must Love Death.
Cinemavault boards Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre for AFM

Cinemavault has acquired international sales rights to Julius Kemp’ English-language horror film Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre.
Cinemavault looks to score at AFM with football comedy Finding Lenny

Cinemavault has further bolstered its AFM slate as the market prepares to get underway this week with Neal Sundstrom’s South African football comedy Finding Lenny.
Cinemavault raises fear factor with The Disturbed and Yesterday

Toronto-based Cinemavault will be handling international sales here on two new titles, Conor McMahon’s Irish thriller The Disturbed and Robert Grant’s Canadian zombie film Yesterday.
Cinetic, Phase 4 tie up rights for Salute from Odin’s Eye

Odin’s Eye Entertainment has signed separate deals with Cinetic Media and Phase 4 for North American rights to award-winning documentary Salute, chronicling the story behind the iconic black power salute.
CJ sells Good Morning President to Japan

Korea’s CJ Entertainment has had a busy start to the AFM, scoring sales on new titles White Night and Killer Bride’s Perfect Crime and selling Good Morning President to SPO Entertainment for Japan.
CMG boosts AFM roster with Good Hair, The Collector

Edward Noeltner’s Cinema Management Group (CMG) will commence international sales at AFM next week on the Chris Rock documentary Good Hair and horror title The Collector.
Coach 14 to sell Castro’s Daughter from Moresco

Coach 14 has picked up foreign sales rights to Bobby Moresco’s Castro’s Daughter. The film is the true story of Alina Fernandez, who was the product of a love affair between Fidel Castro and Cuban socialite Naty Revuelta.
Colin Firth to receive Santa Barbara Festival honour

Colin Firth will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Outstanding Performance Of The Year Award for A Single Man on February 13, 2010.
ContentFilm International gets Heartless in run-up to AFM

ContentFilm International has boarded international rights excluding the UK, Portugal and the Middle East to Philip Ridley’s Heartless following hit screenings at Sitges in Spain and Frightfest in London.
ContentFilm's Ironclad slices up the world

Buyers are rallying to Ironclad, the historical action epic being sold by ContentFilm International at the AFM.
Cooper to play The Devil’s Double for Tamahori

Dominic Cooper will star and Ludivine Sagnier is in talks to join him in Corsan’s thriller The Devil’s Double based on the true story of Uday Hussein’s body double that is set to begin shooting in January in Malta.
Cory Monteith joins Myriad Pictures' Breaking The Girl

Cory Monteith from the television show Glee has joined Amanda Crew and Adrianne Palicki on Jamie Babbit’s thriller Breaking The Girl, which Myriad Pictures is pre-selling here.
CRM launches FilmBuff VOD service in UK

Cinetic Rights Management (CRM) will distribute digital content through its FilmBuff VOD channel in the UK after signing deals with Blinkbox, Joining The Docs, and LOVEFiLM.
Dadi seals Asian deals on $23m biopic Confucius

China’s Dadi Entertainment has wrapped up a string of Asian deals on its $23m biopic Confucius, including sales to Korea’s J.L. International, Thailand’s Sahamongkol and Singapore’s Cathay Keris Films.
Darclight to tempt buyers with Toronto winner The Wild Hunt

Arclight Films genre division Darclight Films will introduce buyers here to Alexandre Franchi’s thriller The Wild Hunt, fresh from its best Canadian first feature film win in Toronto.
Das, GreeneStreet hire Miguel Sapochnik to direct Contortionist's Handbook

Sriram Das’ Santa Monica-based Das Films and GreeneStreet Films have hired British film-maker Miguel Sapochnik to direct The Contortionist’s Handbook. Production is due to start in May next year.
David Borshell and Andy Reimer launch LA-based Inception Media Group

David Borshell and Andy Reimer have launched Inception Media Group, a Los Angeles-based venture that will acquire, produce and distribute features and other filmed entertainment across all media platforms.
Dead Cert gains Momentum for Moviehouse

On the eve of the AFM, UK distributor Momentum Pictures has acquired UK rights to vampire thriller Dead Cert from Moviehouse Entertainment.
Deepak Sharmaas named worldwide distribution chief at PVR

Indian company PVR Pictures has hired Deepak Sharmaas as head of worldwide distribution.
Dennis Maguire named global chief of Paramount Home Entertainment

Dennis Maguire has been appointed president of Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment Worldwide.
Der Mann der über Autos sprang

A young man believes that, by walking from Berlin to Stuttgart, he will be able to heal his best friend’s father who is suffering from a heart condition.
Desedo Films founders snap up the Babelgum Pixel Pitch Award

Michael Hastings-Black and Raafi Rivero of Desedo Films have won the £6,000 Babelgum Pixel prize with their urban teen project Heart Of The City.
Disney's A Christmas Carol

Dir Robert Zemeckis. US. 2009. 96 mins
Disney's Up looks to stay above the overseas pack

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International has another busy weekend to look forward to with Up scheduled to touch down in Italy, Sweden and several smaller markets.
Distribution Workshop adds Monga to AFM slate

Hong Kong’s Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights to Monga, an edgy gangster drama from Taiwanese actor turned director “Doze” Niu Chen-zer.
Dolan’s I Killed My Mother wins Zagreb

Xavier Dolan’s I Killed My Mother scooped the Golden Pram at the seventh Zagreb Film Festival after also picking up the CICAE and SADC prizes. The festival closed on Sunday (October 25).
Double Edge picks up Chu’s $15m Treasure Hunter

Taipei-based Double Edge Entertainment has picked up a slew of rights on Kevin Chu’s $15m Treasure Hunter, starring Taiwanese idol Jay Chou, and sealed a Chinese deal on sci-fi action film The King Of Fighters.
Double Edge scores raft of Korean deals at Pusan market

Taipei-based Double Edge Entertainment sealed a raft of deals during the Asian Film Market, including the sale of Hachiko, starring Richard Gere, and Smother, with Liv Tyler and Diane Keaton, to Korean distributor Cinaste.
E1 Entertainment promotes Dan Gurlitz to svp video

Dan Gurlitz has been promoted to senior vice-president of video at E1 Entertainment.
Edko Films opens China’s first arthouse cinema

Broadway Cinema, the cinema management brand of Hong Kong’s Edko Films, has opened the first arthouse cinema in China – Broadway Cinematheque MOMA – in Beijing’s MOMA residential compound.
Eminem returns to big screen in Shady Talez for John Davis, Dallas Jackson

Eminem will star in the 3D film Shady Talez, his first feature for seven years. The film will be produced by D.J. Classicz/Davis Entertainment, a genre partnership between I, Robot producer John Davis and writer-producer Dallas Jackson.
Emma Watts assumes sole leadership of Twentieth Century Fox production

Emma Watts has been named president of production for Twentieth Century Fox and signed a multi-year contract.
EMP adds Stool Pigeon to star-studded AFM slate

Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures has started shooting The Stool Pigeon, featuring the team behind last year’s sleeper hit The Beast Stalker, one of four high-profile action films on the company’s AFM slate.
Empire Of Silver, Petition take top awards at Hawaii fest

The 29th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) has awarded its Halekulani Golden Orchid for Narrative Feature to Yao Shuhua’s Empire Of Silver and its Golden Orchid for Documentary Feature to Zhao Liang’s Petition.
Encounters Short Film Festival to screen 150 films over five days

Andrea Arnold, Richard Williams, John Coates and Tony Grisoni will be among the special guests attending the 15th Encounters Short Film Festival, which opens tomorrow (November 17) in Bristol.
Enter Story Headline
Enter Story Headline
EON partners to speak at Cubby Broccoli tribute weekend

EON Productions partners Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will take part in a series of panel discussions in Los Angeles to celebrate the centenary of the birth of celebrated James Bond producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli.
Epic Pictures boards $10m action-adventure Vikingdom

Patrick Ewald’s Epic Pictures is introducing buyers at AFM to the $10m action-adventure Vikingdom pursuant to its $30m production deal with South-East Asia-based KRU Studios.
Everybody's Fine

Dir: Kirk Jones. US. 2009. 99 mins.
Exam gets UK deal with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has picked up UK rights to Stuart Hazeldine’s directorial debut, the UK thriller Exam, and is collaborating with the producers on a theatrical release for the film in January.
Fantastic Mr Fox

Dir: Wes Anderson. US, 2009. 87 mins.
FFI boards international sales on Redford's The Conspirator

Focus Features International (FFI) has got in league with Robert Redford’s high-calibre historical project The Conspirator, which started production this week in Savannah, Georgia.
Film industry should be more accessible, says Hope

Veteran independent film producer Ted Hope called for new film business models built on “access and transparency” in his keynote speech at the Power to the Pixel Cross-Media Forum, held in London today (October 14).
Film Movement takes North American rights to The Wind Journeys

Film Movement has acquired North American rights to Ciro Guerra’s Colombian foreign-language Oscar submission The Wind Journeys and has set a spring 2010 theatrical release.
Film Production Capital boosts financing clout with $50m deal

Will French’s tax credit-based financier Film Production Capital (FPC) has secured more than $50m for the financing and acquisition of tax incentives for US productions filming in tax incentive states. French is meeting with producers at AFM.
Film Sales Company acquires world on Good Fortune doc

Andrew Herwitz’s Film Sales Company has taken on worldwide sales rights to Landon van Soest and Jeremy Levine’s documentary Good Fortune.
Film Sales Company boards UN doc U.N.ME for IDFA

Andrew Herwitz’ Film Sales Company has added a fourth film to its International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) slate, the darkly comical U.N.ME.
Filming starts on Indian-themed rom-com When Harry Tries To Marry

Principal photography has begun in New York on the independent US romantic comedy When Harry Tries To Marry.
Filming underway in Vancouver on 30 Days Of Night: Dark Days

Principal photography has commenced in Vancouver, Canada, on Stage 6 Films and Ghost House Pictures’ vampire sequel 30 Days Of Night: Dark Days.
FilmNation secures prestige sales on 3D diving adventure Sanctum

Glen Basner’s New York-based FilmNation has completed key sales heading into AFM on Sanctum, the 3D deep sea diving adventure that James Cameron is producing.
Films Distribution closes US, Japan deals on The Horde

Films Distribution has sold French zombie movie The Horde to IFC Films in the US and to Showgate in Japan
FIND relocates 2010 Spirit Awards to downtown Los Angeles

FIND has announced that its 2010 Spirit Awards will relocate from its recent seaside berth in Santa Monica to the LA Live complex in downtown Los Angeles
Finecut sells A Brand New Life to Japan

Seoul-based sales company Finecut has sealed a Japanese deal on Ounie Lecomte’s A Brand New Life, selling the Korean-French co-production to Crest International.
Finecut unveils second collaboration with Trapero

Korea’s Finecut is co-producing and handling international sales on Argentinean director Pablo Trapero’s new film, tentatively titled Carancho, marking their second collaboration following Lion’s Den.
Fish Tank, Woman Without A Piano share AFI New Lights prize

Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank and Javier Rebello’s Woman Without A Piano have shared the first ever AFI FEST New Lights competition prize.
Former ICA chair Ivan Massow to direct Joan Collins in Banksy comedy

Producers’ representative Circus Road Films has acquired worldwide rights from August 8 to Banksy’s Coming To Dinner starring Joan Collins.
Former UIP exec Kurt Rieder joins Artisan Gateway

Kurt Rieder, who has headed UIP’s Asian operations for the past six years, has joined theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway as managing director, based in Singapore.
Fortissimo gets cutting edge with The Hairdresser

Fortissimo Films has made its first ever German acquisition, picking up worldwide rights outside Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Doris Dorrie’s The Hairdresser.
Fortissimo picks up Michelle Yeoh martial arts thriller

Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights to martial arts thriller Jianyu Jianghu (working title), starring Michelle Yeoh and produced by John Woo and Terence Chang’s Lion Rock Productions.
Fortissimo strikes up partnership with CJ Entertainment

Fortissimo Films has entered into a strategic partnership with Korea’s CJ Entertainment that covers co-production and library sales, and gives CJ a first-look deal for Fortissimo’s upcoming titles.
Fox to release Khan on Valentine’s weekend

Fox has announced that it will release My Name Is Khan, starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in more than 40 territories on February 12, 2010, to coincide with Valentine’s Day weekend.
From Time To Time

Dir/scr Julian Fellowes. UK. 2009. 95 mins
Fukuda to head home video and digital for WB Japan

Taichi Fukuda has been appointed as general manager for Warner Home Video (WHV) and Warner Bros Digital Distribution (WBDD) in Japan.
Gabriela Tagliavini boards Town Of Widows adaptation

Producer Anthony Moody has hired Gabriela Tagliavini to adapt and direct a film adaptation of Colombian novelist James Canon’s novel TalesFrom The Town Of Widows And Chronicles From The Land Of Men.
Gangster Exchange to get US release through Good New Movies

Gangster Exchange, the action comedy that is being sold overseas by Toronto-based Cinemavault, has been set for a December 3 US release on a minimum 200 screens through LA-based distributor Good New Movies.
Genius, Alliance take North American rights to Tell-Tale

In separate deals, Genius Products and Alliance Films have acquired US and Canadian rights to the thriller Tell-Tale starring Josh Lucas and produced by Ridley and Tony Scott.
Gerard Butler joins Ralph Fiennes' Coriolanus

Scottish star Gerard Butler is to beef up the cast of Ralph Fiennes’ directorial début Coriolanus.
Graham King switches from Warner Bros to Sony

Graham King has diverted his film-making priorities away from Warner Bros to Sony after signing a three-year, multi-film output deal with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group.
Gravitas Ventures expands VOD pipeline with slew of content deals

Digital entertainment content aggregator and distributor Gravitas Ventures has broadened its VOD pipeline through deals with The Film Sales Company, Submarine and others.
Green Lantern no longer shining on Sydney

Warner Bros has confirmed that it will not be filming Green Lantern in Sydney as originally planned, because of the increasing cost of locating footloose productions in Australia due to the rising Australian dollar.
Gwyneth Paltrow to star opposite Nicole Kidman in The Danish Girl

Gwyneth Paltrow will star opposite Nicole Kidman in The Danish Girl, the film of David Ebershoff’s novel about Danish painter Einar Wegener (Kidman) who became the first man to undergo a sex change operation in 1931.
Hachiko shows its pedigree

It is rare for a mid-level drama to strike gold at the Japanese box office, and Hachiko:A Dog’s Story is now using its success as the launch pad for international and domestic openings.
Haeundae pirates convicted by Korean court

In a landmark case for South Korea, Seoul Central District Court has convicted three people of pirating CJ Entertainment’s tsunami blockbuster Haeundae.
Handmade launches kids' production division

The UK’s Handmade PLC today announced it is going into partnership with the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, as it trains its focus increasingly on the children’s market.
HanWay Films lines up A Single Shot with Michael Fassbender

Hot off his star turn in Inglourious Basterds, rising UK star Michael Fassbender has joined Forest Whitaker, William H Macy and Thomas Hayden Church on the thriller A Single Shot.
Harvey Keitel cast as patriarch in A Beginner's Guide To Endings

Harvey Keitel has joined J K Simmons on the dark comedy A Beginner’s Guide To Endings, which began principal photography in Niagara Falls on November 4.
Headhunter

Dir/scr. Rumle Hammerich. Denmark, 2009. 100 mins.
HFF unveils Hollywood World Awards shortlist

A panel of international judges led by Screen editor Mike Goodridge has unveiled the shortlist for the Hollywood World Awards for the upcoming Hollywood Film Festival’s (HFF) awards gala on October 26.
Hilary Swank to receive HFF Hollywood Actress Award

Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank will be feted with the Hollywood Actress Award at the 13th Annual Hollywood Film Festival (HFF) and Hollywood Film Awards.
Hipsters, Persian Cats among MEIFF Black Pearl winners

Valery Todorovsky’s Russian entry Hipsters (Stilyagi) won the $100,000 narrative feature Black Pearl award as the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) came to a close at the weekend.
Huayi Brothers boards EMP’s Stool Pigeon

Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Media Corporation has boarded Dante Lam’s The Stool Pigeon, produced by Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP), as an equity partner.
Huayi share price doubles on stock market launch

Huayi Brothers Media became one of the hottest stocks on its first day of trading last Friday on China’s ChiNext stock market. Its opening-day price reached $10.37 (RMB70.81), more than double its launch price.
Hubert Bals Fund supports 27 projects with $571, 357

The Hubert Bals Fund, part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), is handing out $571, 357 (€385,000) to 27 film projects this autumn.
Hyde Park, Imagenation, MDA partner with Dave Stewart on Street Dancing

Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group and Imagenation Abu Dhabi have unveiled the first project under their strategic alliance with Singapore-based MDA, teaming up with songwriter Dave Stewart’s Weapons Of Mass Entertainment on Street Dancing.
I Come With The Rain

Dir/scr: Tran Anh Hung. France-UK-Spain-Ireland-HK. 2009. 115 mins.
ICAP Media broadens content search, launches LA office

ICAP Media, a division of film intermediary and content provider ICAP Plc, has opened offices in Los Angeles.
IFC acquires all US feature rights to Olivier Assayas' Carlos

IFC Films has picked up all US feature rights to Olivier Assayas’ Carlos, a mini-series about the terrorist Carlos The Jackal that will air on the Sundance Channel in spring 2010.
IFC takes US rights to Toronto Canadian feature winner Cairo Time

IFC Films has acquired US rights from E1 Entertainment International to the romance Cairo Time starring Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig.
IM Global sells out on alien sci-fi thriller Area 51

IM Global is close to selling out the alien thriller Area 51, Oren Peli’s follow-up to the micro-budget smash Paranormal Activity that stands on the cusp of $100m in North America.
Image takes domestic rights to Accidents Happen

Image Entertainment, Inc. has snapped up all North American rights to Bankside Films’ bittersweet drama Accidents Happen starring Geena Davis.
In the loop

At a time when the BBC’s prosperous film arm is one of the UK’s only stable ports of call for independent producers, its new creative director talks to Geoffrey Macnab about her editorial and commissioning strategy and her debut slate.
Inaugural Sundance Film Festival USA mini-tour to launch in January

The Sundance Film Festival will take eight film-makers and their films from the 2010 line-up on the road to eight cities under the Sundance Film Festival USA initiative.
Independent boards We Need To Talk About Kevin for AFM

Luc Roeg’s Independent Film Company has picked up international sales on Lynne Ramsay’s We Need To Talk About Kevin to star Tilda Swinton.
Intandem takes on Evie's Apple with Kurylenko

London-based film finance and international sales company Intandem Films has picked up worldwide rights to $8m romantic comedy Evie’sApple starring former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko.
Intandem takes worldwide on Ways To Live Forever

London-based film finance and international sales company Intandem Films has taken worldwide rights to family drama Ways to Live Forever.
Intandem to represent 13 Seven Arts titles

London based Intandem Films announced today that it has agreed to act as the sales agent and servicer for a slate of 13 completed films, formerly represented by Seven Arts International.The films, which have combined production budgets of over $100million, include the Keanu Reeves vehicle, Johnny Mnemonic, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead with Clive Owen and No Good Deed, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Milla Jovovich.Intandem’s sales and marketing directors,
Ironclad

Medieval battle drama
Istvan Szabo’s The Door lands at Bankside

London-based Bankside Films has taken worldwide rights to The Door, the new feature from Academy Award-winning director Istvan Szabo. It will star Helen Mirren.
ITV puts Carlton Screen Advertising contracts into liquidation

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has put its remaining interests in cinema advertising company, Carlton Screen Advertising (CSA), into voluntary liquidation. It appointed Grant Thornton to handle the process on October 26.
ITVS selects six doc projects for production support

The Independent Television Service (ITVS) has leant its support to six international documentary projects from its 2009 International Call, providing production funding and eventual US TV broadcast.
James Cameron to receive separate VES and Santa Barbara honours

James Cameron will receive the Visual Effects Society’s VES Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Annual VES Awards in Los Angeles on February 28, 2010.
Japan’s Nikkatsu to unleash Sushi Typhoon

Japanese studio Nikkatsu is launching an extreme gore label, Sushi Typhoon, to produce films from Japan’s leading cult directors including Takashi Miike (Yatterman) and Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police).
Japan’s Sedic enters international sales

Japanese production company Sedic International has launched a sales division at TIFFCOM, with films including Junji Sakamoto’s Zatoichi The Last and 3D erotic film The Perfect Education, Love In Akihabara.
Jeon to star in remake of The Housemaid

Cannes award-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon is set to star in Im Sang-soo’s remake of the Korean classic thriller The Housemaid.
John Lasseter first animated producer to receive Selznick honour

John Lasseter will receive the Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) 2010 David O Selznick Achievement Award In Motion Pictures.
Josh Berger named president and MD of Warner Bros Spain

Josh Berger has been appointed president and managing director of Warner Bros Entertainment Spain, effective December 1.
Julien Temple to direct F&ME’s Fake!

British director Julien Temple has joined forces with Film & Music Entertainment (F&ME), the London-based production company run by Mike Downey and Sam Taylor, to direct the company’s long-gestating $15 million art heist movie Fake!
K5 takes worldwide sales on Hideo Nakata's Voice From The Stone

Munich and London-based K5 International has boarded worldwide sales on Hideo Nakata’s supernatural thriller Voice From The Stone.
K5, PalmStar strike first-look, sales partnership

Munich and London-based K5 International has closed a first-look and partnership deal with New York and Los Angeles-based PalmStar Entertainment.
Karlovy Vary to pay tribute to Powell and Pressburger

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival reveals retrospective for 45th edition, including a rare screening of a restored classic.
Kay named US editor at Screen International

Jeremy Kay has been promoted to US editor of Screen International and ScreenDaily.com effective immediately.
Kevin Bacon joins British ensemble on Essential's Whole Lotta Sole

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Kevin Bacon, Sophie Okonedo and James Nesbitt will star in the comedy Whole LottaSole, which Essential Entertainment is selling here.
Kick Off, Trouble take New Currents Award at PIFF

The 14th Pusan International Film Festival closes today (Oct 16) with the top New Currents award going to Shawkat Amin Korki’s Kick Off and So Sang-min’s I’m In Trouble.
King of Pop reigns overseas as This Is It launches on $68.5m

The Michael Jackson tribute film This is It dominated the international market with the fifth biggest launch of the year thanks to a $68.5m weekend haul through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) from 9,200 screens in 108 markets.
KMI boards international sales on Soderbergh's Liberace

Kathy Morgan International has picked up Liberace, Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming project.
Korean sleeper hit Old Partner secures Japanese release

Korean sales company Indiestory has announced that sleeper hit documentary Old Partner is due to open in Japan this December.
Kwak to direct 3D live-action Battle Of Yellow Sea

Korean director Kwak Kyung-taek is set to direct a 3D live-action film, tentatively titled The Battle Of Yellow Sea, about the explosive naval engagement between North and South Korea on the second-to-last day of the 2002 World Cup.
La Tête En Friche

Reclusive, overweight Germain Chazes lives in a caravan at the bottom of his mother’s garden. An old woman introduces him to the world of books and his happy fool life changes forever.
LA-based Clandestine Service hires Robert Aaronson and Roy Bodner

LA-based feature and television international distribution and sales company Clandestine Service has hired Robert Aaronson as executive vice president of acquisitions and Roy Bodner as chief operations officer.
Lakeshore hires Brazil's Heitor Dhalia for spy tale April 23

Lakeshore Entertainment has signed Brazilian director Heitor Dhalia to direct the spy thriller April 23.
Lanthimos' Dogtooth wins at Montreal's Festival du Nouveau Cinema

Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dogtooth won the C$15,000 Louve D’Or at the 38th Montreal Festival du Nouveau Cinema at the weekend.
Large UK cast lines up alongside Giamatti, Purefoy in Ironclad

Jonathan English’s Ironclad has completed its casting and has now begun principal photography on location and at Dragon International Film Studios.
LA's Artist View agrees three-picture deal with producer Todd Slater

LA-based sales company Artist View Entertainment has struck a three-picture deal with producer Todd Slater and will be screening the trio of projects here.
Lebanon, White Ribbon, A Obra De Arte among 400-strong Sao Paulo roster

The Sao Paulo International Film Festival kicked off on October 22 with a guest-only screening of Ken Loach’s Looking For Eric as festival staff prepared to unveil more than 400 titles in the line-up, including new local films, festival favourites and world premieres.
Les Yeux De Sa Mere

Journalist and TV anchor Lena Weber is being pursued by a young writer who wants to publish an unauthorized biography of her life, and that of her famous dancer daughter.
Lightning bulks up AFM slate with Verso

Lightning Entertainment has acquired international sales rights excluding Switzerland to Tarantula Productions’ police thriller Verso.
Lorber Films takes US rights to Swiss Oscar hopeful Home

Lorber Films has acquired all US rights to the Swiss foreign-language Academy Awards submission Home, starring Isabelle Huppert .
Love the Beast

Dir: Eric Bana. Australia. 2009.
Madman takes Australia, NZ on Good Hair ahead of AFM from CMG

Madman Entertainment has acquired Australian and New Zealand rights from Cinema Management Group (CMG) to the Chris Rock documentary Good Hair.
Magic Lantern, TF2 Ventures sign $10m development deal

Magic Lantern Entertainment has concluded a $10m development funding deal with TF2 Ventures via its Innovation Entertainment label for up to 20 films over the next three to five years.
Magnolia takes US rights to The Good Heart

Magnolia Pictures has acquired US rights to Dagur Kari’s The Good Heart starring Brian Cox, Paul Dano and Isild Le Besco and plans a 2010 VOD platform release under its Ultra VOD label before the theatrical rollout.
M-appeal takes international distribution for Last Cowboy Standing

M-appeal, the Berlin-based sales company, has taken on the international distribution for Zaida Bergroth’s debut feature Last Cowboy Standing, which had its international premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival.
Margate House debuts with Indonesian epic

Jakarta-based production company Margate House is making its AFM debut to launch sales on Indonesia’s biggest ever production – $6m trilogy Merah Putih, about Indonesia’s fight for independence.
Mat Whitecross's Moving To Mars opens 16th Sheffield Doc/Fest

The 16th Sheffield International Documentary Festival opened last night (November 4) with the world premiere of Mat Whitecross’ film Moving To Mars.
Matrix stuntman to head cast of China Film’s Kung Fu Man

The Matrix series stuntman Tiger Hu Chen is set to star in a Chinese-language action drama Kung Fu Man, financed by China Film Group and Chinese private investor He Gang.
McGuigan signs to T Leaf for Quickfire, The Works

The Works International is partnering with James Atherton’s Quickfire Films on T Leaf, a rom-com caper movie about the aftermath of a heist gone wrong that will be directed by Paul McGuigan.
MDA unveils first project from International Film Fund

Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has announced the first project under its International Film Fund (IFF), a Singapore-China-Korea co-production, Neon Sign, to be directed by Korea’s Pil Gam-Sung.
Medem's Room In Rome finds US home with IFC

IFC has acquired US rights to Julio Medem’s Room In Rome from Wild Bunch. The film is a remake of Chilean film En La Cama which was that country’s foreign language Oscar submission for 2007.
Media 8 boards four further sales titles ahead of AFM

LA-based Media 8 Entertainment has bulked up its AFM slate with four additional titles including the road movie The Perfect Age Of Rock ‘N’ Roll starring Kevin Zegers, Jason Ritter and Peter Fonda.
Medusa names new exhibition chain The Space Cinema

Medusa Film, the company that took over the Warner Bros cinema with Alessandro Benetton’s 21 Investiment, has relaunched as The Space Cinema.
Metropolis, Timeless board six new films for sales at AFM

A slate of six titles for the AFM has been announced by the two newly formed international sales companies, Metropolis International Sales and Timeless Films.
Michael Haneke, Les Films du Losange plot White Ribbon follow-up

Following up this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or win for The White Ribbon, Michael Haneke is currently drafting his next project and has already set his two lead actors in 79 year-old French veteran Jean-Louis Trintingnant and Haneke regular Isabelle Huppert, who will play Trintingant’s daughter.The director is working on an untitled script about “humiliation and the physical deteriorati
Michael Jackson leads North American charts on $21.3m debut

Michael Jackson’s This Is It, the tribute film featuring rehearsal footage from the late entertainer as he prepared for a farewell UK residency at London’s 02 Arena, secured the number one spot with an estimated $21.3m through Sony.
Momentum, PPI strike up UK distribution alliance on six-film slate

UK independent distributor Momentum Pictures and Paramount Pictures International have struck a six-picture deal whereby Paramount will book the films and Momentum will handle marketing and publicity, as on their traditional releases.
MPAA chief Dan Glickman to step down in September 2010

Dan Glickman will relinquish his post as chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) when his contract expires in September 2010.
MRC gets behind next sci-fi film from District 9's Neill Blomkamp

Media Rights Capital (MRC) is getting into business with District 9 director Neill Blomkamp and will back an untitled sci-fi project from the in-demand South African.
Mugabe And The White African

Dirs. Lucy Bailey, Andrew Thompson. UK. 2009. 94 mins.
Mulligan in talks to board Ealing’s Effie

Carey Mulligan, the UK sensation who is being tipped for awards glory in An Education, is in advance discussions to star in the title role of Effie, being sold here by Ealing Studios.
Mumbai Film Festival reports a 70% boost in attendance for its 11th edition

Organisers say that this year’s event attracted more than 3,500 delegates and 100 industry professionals, including international and local producers, directors, actors and buyers.
Mumbai Film Festival to open with The Informant!

The 11th annual Mumbai Film Festival (Oct 29-Nov 5) will open with a screening of Steven Soderbergh’s The Informant! and close with The Dust Of Time, from Greek master Theo Angelopoulos.
Mummy producer Jim Jacks, Intandem line up spring shoot on Mortis Rex

US producer Jim Jacks, whose track record includes the Mummy franchise and A Simple Plan, has signed on to the supernatural action thriller Mortis Rex.
Myriad hires David Ducar to run legal and business

David Ducar has joined Myriad Pictures as senior vice-president of business and legal affairs.
National Schools Film Week attracts record attendees

This year’s National Schools Film Week (NSFW) attracted a record 450,000 attendees.
Nativity!

Dir/scr Debbie Isitt. UK. 2009. 105mins.
NETPAC members launch Asian cinema web-site

Members of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) have set up an English-language streaming website of award-winning films at AsiaPacificFilms.com.
New Video to handle Arthouse Films DVD output

New Video has signed a deal to act as the US DVD distributor for Arthouse Films, with the documentary Herb & Dorothy set to kick off the collaboration on December 15.
Nowhere Boy

Dir. Sam Taylor-Wood. UK. 2009. 97 mins.
Odd Lot, Bold unite on joint sales venture Affinity International

Bold Films and Odd Lot Entertainment’s international sales arms have merged as Affinity International and will officially launch at AFM next month.
Odd Lot, Lionsgate and Videocine go From Prada To Nada

Odd Lot Entertainment, Lionsgate and Mexican production and distribution company Videocine announced they are in pre-production on the English-language Mexican-US Jane Austen adaptation From Prada To Nada.
Optimism creeps back into AFM as market enters home stretch

After a brutal 12 months in the independent film business, a mood of cautious optimism is infusing business as AFM 2009 enters the home stretch.
Optimum expands production ambitions with Big Talk deal

Optimum Releasing has struck a two year co-financing and co-production agreement with Shaun Of The Dead production company Big Talk, as part of the its ongoing expansion into production.
Orange signs $120.2m deal with French film bodies

Orange, the France Telecom-owned mobile operator, has signed a deal with number of French film bodies to invest $120.2m (€80m) over the next three years in French and European cinema.
Oranges And Sunshine

The true story of one woman’s struggle to uncover one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the forced migration of children from the United Kingdom to Australia into hard labor camps.
ORPS and Yatzy win top children’s films prizes at the Nordic Film Days

Atle Knudsen’s ORPS - The Movie and Katja Eyde Jacobsen’s Yatzy won top prizes at the 51st Nordic Film Days in Lübeck, which wrapped up on November 8.
O-Scope picks up North America on The Exploding Girl

New York-based Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired North American rights to Bradley Rust Gray’s second feature The Exploding Girl.
Other Angle brings Five Brothers to buyers

After a strong start earlier this year, newcomer Other Angle has announced three fresh projects for the AFM. The first is a thriller directed and produced by Alexandre Arcady, Five Brothers.
Oz production spend reaches record $325m

Two big-budget foreign-financed animated films, Guardians of Ga’Hoole and Happy Feet 2, both involving Warner Bros and Village Roadshow Pictures, boosted the total spend on Australian films in the financial year ending June 30 to a record $325m (A$358m).
Paramount to release My Last Five Girlfriends in UK

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.The film, which is directed by Julian Kemp, had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, and was first screened in the UK at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June.The film is the first from Willing Pilowsky which is a partnership betwe
Paranormal Activity

Dir: Oren Peli. US. 2008. 85 mins.
Paranormal Activity lingers as Jackson reigns

Michael Jackson’s This Is It was the undisputed champion of the global box office this weekend (October 31 to November 1), grossing more than a $100m over a staggering 12,391 screens.
Paranormal Activity shreds Saw VI in US with $22m weekend

For the second year in a row the Saw franchise missed out on a number one launch as the remarkable Paranormal Activity beat Lionsgate’s annual horror update into second place.
Park Circus signs distribution deal with HanWay

Park Circus Films has signed a distribution deal with HanWay Films to theatrically represent a selection of its library titles.
Parlay Films Vamps it up at AFM with Amy Heckerling project

Lisa Wilson’s Parlay Films has acquired all international rights to the romantic comedy Vamps, which will be written and directed by Amy Heckerling.
Patrick Dempsey, Paul McGuigan unite on Foresight's heist rom-com

Patrick Dempsey will star in an untitled heist comedy for Paul McGuigan based on a screenplay by The Hangover writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.
Pattinson, Kidman board Bel Ami for Protagonist

In an intriguing star pairing, Twilight sensation Robert Pattinson is teaming with Nicole Kidman to star in Bel Ami, the film of Guy De Maupassant’s erotically charged story of ambition, power and seduction.
Peter Fonda boards I Ride Alone for Rock On! Films

New York-based Rock On! Films has cast Peter Fonda to star opposite Talia Shire in I Ride Alone and will commence sales at AFM.
Petit Nicolas sets sights on becoming biggest French hit of 2009

Laurent Tirard’s Petit Nicolas is poised to become the most successful French film of 2009.
Petzel launches production and sales entity Aura Film Partnership

Entrepreneur and former investment banker Christopher Petzel has launched production, distribution and worldwide sales venture The Aura Film Partnership backed by a $50m fund
Phase 4, Submarine complete US theatrical deal on Order Of Chaos

Phase 4 Films has acquired US theatrical rights from Submarine Entertainment to Vince Vieluf’s thriller Order Of Chaos.
Piracy, financing and DIY distribution on AFM seminar agenda

The state of the independent business, foreign investment, pitching and DIY distribution are among subjects up for discussion at the AFM seminars.
Playstation Video launches with Bruno, Transformers

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince and Bruno are among the films that will be available on the PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service before Christmas.
Ponyo and Disney's Princess to bookend London Children's film fest

Hayao Miyazaki’s animation Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea and first UK screening of Disney’s The Princess And The Frog will bookend the 5th London Children’s Film Festival (LCFF), which runs November 21 – 29.
Post-Paranormal IM Global rolls out theatrical genre arm

Red hot following the success of the micro-budget Paranormal Activity, Stuart Ford’s LA-based international sales company IM Global is unleashing its Octane genre label at AFM this week, kicking off with Brad Anderson thriller’s The Vanishing On 7th Street.
Potiche

Adapted from a play about Suzanne Pujol, the subordinate wife of a rich industrialist who takes charge during a factory workers strike.
Production underway in New Mexico on Overture and Exclusive's Let Me In

Production has begun in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Let Me In, Hammer Films’ English-language retelling of the Swedish vampire hit Let The Right One In that Overture Films will release in North America.
Radford walks off set of $10m Spanish civil war drama La Mula

The $10m (€6.8m) Spanish civil war drama La Mula has been left in turmoil after director Michael Radford walked off set due to a dispute between its co-producers.
Rainforest kicks off production on sequel Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming

Principal photography is underway in Atlanta, Georgia, on Rainforest Film’s Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming.
Raintree Pictures appoints Man as managing director

Man Shu Sum has left his position as CEO of Mark Burnett Productions’ Singapore-based Asian arm to join MediaCorp Raintree Pictures as managing director.
Raise Your Head (Alza la testa)

Dir: Alessandro Angelini. Italy. 2009. 87 mins.
Red Box Films and Passion Pictures launch co-production deal

Red Box Films, the UK company behind James Marsh’s Oscar winning feature documentary Man On Wire, has announced a co-production partnership deal with John Battsek’s Passion Pictures.
Reiko Bradley returns from illness to set up Eclipse International

Reiko Bradley has resurfaced following a near fatal stroke three years ago and arrives at AFM with her new LA-based international sales and distribution company Eclipse International.
Relativity invests further $300m into Universal slate through Beverly 2

Relativity Media is investing a further $300m into co-financing the Universal slate through wholly owned subsidiary Beverly Blvd 2 LLC (Beverly 2).
Ribbon, Prophet, Slumdog lead EFA Award nominations

Cannes favourites The White Ribbon and A Prophet and last year’s Oscar sensation
Roadside Attractions takes US rights to The Joneses

Roadside Attractions has acquired US theatrical rights to Derrick Borte’s satire The Joneses, the recent Toronto world premiere starring Demi Moore, David Duchovny and Amber Heard.
Roadside takes the world on The Good Guy

Roadside Attractions has acquired worldwide rights to Julio DePietro’s romance The Good Guy starring Alexis Bledel, Scott Porter, Anna Chlumsky and Bryan Greenberg.
Roxburgh, O’Connor star in UK-New Zealand co-production Ice

The UK’s Power and New Zealand’s Screentime, both predominantly television companies, have teamed to produce the disaster epic Ice, set in 2020.The film is based on the book by James Follett, directed by the UK’s Nick Copus (The Day Of the Triffids) and stars Australian actors Richard Roxburgh and Frances O’Connor as the scientists at the heart of the story.Other UK actors in the cast are Claire Forlani, Ben Cross, Simon Callow and Patrick Bergin. New Zealander
Rupert Friend heads cast on Renny Harlin's Georgia

Shooting is underway in the former Soviet state of Georgia on Renny Harlin’s contemporary drama Georgia starring Rupert Friend, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Andy Garcia and Val Kilmer.
SAG elects David P White chief negotiator

The Screen Actors Guild’s national board of directors has appointed David P White national executive director and chief negotiator.
Sales and co-production under the spotlight at TIFFCOM

The Japanese film industry grappled with how to sell films to the international market and collaborate with its neighbours in East Asia on the opening day of the TIFFCOM market in Tokyo (Oct 20-22).
Samuel Goldwyn acquires US rights on To Save A Life

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired US theatrical rights to California-based New Song Pictures’ faith-based coming-of-age drama To Save A Life.
Saw VI release in Spain postponed due to X rating

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s Spanish arm has had to postpone its nationwide release in Spain of the horror film Saw VI due to the film being given an X rating for extreme violence by the Spanish government’s film institute, the ICAA.
SC closes key Euro deals on Gunslinger

Simon Crowe’s ambitious new sales outfit SC Films closed a slew of deals on its Josh Hartnett vehicle Gunslinger ahead of AFM.
Schumacher's Twelve flies for Gaumont

Joel Schumacher’s new film Twelve is proving a hot seller for Gaumont based on a promo reel being screened in Santa Monica.
Scott Free appoints Channel 4 drama chief to lead European expansion

Scott Free, Ridley and Tony Scott’s production company, has appointed Channel 4 head of drama Liza Marshall to head its UK business as part of a European expansion.
Screen Media Films takes world on political thriller Formosa Betrayed

Screen Media Films has acquired worldwide rights in all media to the $8m political thriller Formosa Betrayed following its international premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival.
Secrets takes TPG award at close of busy TIFFCOM

Izuru Kumasaka’s Secrets On The Table took the Tokyo Project Gathering (TPG) award at the close of the four-day projects market, and a successful edition of accompanying contents market TIFFCOM.
Shooting underway on Basement with Danny Dyer

Principal photography is under way on psychological horror Basement, starring Danny Dyer, at Pinewood Studios.
Shoreline adds Easier With Practice, Clash to AFM roster

LA-based Shoreline Entertainment has brought two new titles into the fold heading into AFM and will be hoping to tempt buyers next week with Easier With Practice and Clash.
Shoreline boards sales on Victor Nunez drama Spoken Word

Morris Ruskin’s LA-based sales Shoreline Entertainment has acquired international sales rights to Victor Nunez’s drama Spoken Word.
Showbox picks up Japanese-Korean vampire thriller Higanjima

Korean sales outfit Showbox Mediaplex has picked up Kim Tae-kyun’s vampire action thriller Higanjima for worldwide sales excluding Korea and Japan.
Showbox sells Take Off to Japan’s Amuse Soft

Korea’s Showbox Mediplex has scored a Japanese deal on local box office smash Take Off, which was snapped up by Amuse Soft Entertainment.
Showcase boards Experimental Activity, Handsome Harry to AFM

Showcase Entertainment has picked up international sales rights for AFM to Experimental Activity starring Katie Featherstone from the US box office phenomenon Paranormal Activity.
Singapore’s Mega Media to co-finance Floating Life

Vietnam Media Corp has secured financing from Singapore’s Mega Media for its upcoming drama The Immense Floating Life, which is set to be one of Vietnam’s biggest productions in 2010.
Sobini Films boards Hemingway project with Hopkins, Garcia, Bening

Sobini Films has boarded international sales rights to Andy Garcia’s Hemingway & Fuentes, an account of Ernest Hemingway’s years in Cuba.
SODEC appoints Macerola as president and CEO

Quebec’s provincial government funding body Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) has named Francois Macerola as its new president and CEO.
Sony appoints David Kaminow worldwide strategic marketing chief

David Kaminow has been appointed to the newly created position of president of worldwide strategic marketing at Sony.
Sony boads classic Hasbro strategy game Risk

Sony hascquired film rights from Hasbro to the classic wartime strategy game Risk, which Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir and Overbrook Entertainment’s James Lassiter will develop and produce.
Soul Kitchen and Wild Grass to bookend 50th Thessaloniki film festival

Fatih Akin’s Soul Kitchen and Alain Resnais’ Wild Grass (Les Herbes Folles) will bookend the 50th International Thessaloniki Film Festival, which opens on November 13.
South Korea's CJ Entertainment boards family animation Dino Mom

South Korea’s CJ Entertainment has come on board as a co-financier and is planning a wide 2010 release in South Korea of the English-language animated feature film Dino Mom being sold by Myriad Pictures.
South West Screen and BBC Films launch digital film initiative

UK regional agency South West Screen and BBC Films have launched a new digital film initiative - iFeatures – which will see 3 full-length features being developed and shot in Bristol over the next eighteen months.
SPC acquires US rights to Mother And Child

Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has acquired US rights from WME Global to Rodrigo Garcia’s drama Mother And Child following its world premiere in Toronto.
Stars align for Abe Sylvia's Dirty Girl

Juno Temple, Sally Hawkins and Lisa Kudrow are joining William H Macy and newcomer Jeremy Dozier in Abe Sylvia’s debut feature Dirty Girl, which is being sold at AFM by Salt.
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to co-host 82nd Academy Awards

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will co-host the 82nd Academy Awards on March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
Stewart Till closes deal to buy Icon UK, Icon International

Stewart Till’s grand ambitions to establish an international distribution network have taken a big step forward with the news that the media arm of Len Blavatnik’s US-based industrial group Access Industries has finally closed its deal to buy the UK operations of Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey’s LA-based Icon Group.
Strategic bulks up market slate with Bangkok Adrenaline

Strategic Film Partners has bolstered its AFM slate headed by the martial arts action film Bangkok Adrenaline.
Summit to re-release Twilight for one day before New Moon

Summit Entertainment will re-release Twilight for one day on November 19, a day before the launch of the sequel, The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Taiwan’s Zeus set to produce triptych love story Juliet

Taiwanese producer Khan Lee is lining up a portmanteau love story, Juliet (working title), as the second installment in its Pushing Hands initiative, designed to support new talent.
Taylor-Wood's Nowhere Boy closes "highest profile" LFF

The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival closed last night with the world premiere of Sam Taylor Wood’s John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (October 29).
TF1 buys Media Asia’s Chen Zhen for France

Hong Kong’s Media Asia Distribution has sold The Legend Of Chen Zhen, directed by Andrew Lau and starring Donnie Yen, to France’s TF1.
The Arrivals scoops three awards at Leipzig doc festival

Claudine Bories and Patrice Chagnard’s The Arrivals (Les Arrivants) scooped three prizes at the 52nd International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film, which closed on Sunday (November 1).
The Assembly sweeps China’s Golden Rooster Awards

Feng Xiaogang’s war drama The Assemblywas the big winner at the 27th Golden Rooster Awards, mainland China’s top film honours (Oct 17), winning four prizes including best film and best director.
The Auteurs unveils membership, visits data

Online movie venture The Auteurs, a global VOD platform that bills itself as “a virtual cinematheque,” has revealed details of traffic and activity on its site. Its “executive summary,” published this month, indicates that the platform now has 145,000 registered members.Since its official launch, less than a year ago, 120,000 films have been watched through The Auteurs. Meanwhile, the site has received 1.5m unique visitors and has had 2.8m visits.The Auteurs, in partnership wit
The Box

Dir. Richard Kelly. US. 2009. 110 mins
The Concert (Le Concert)

Dir: Radu Mihaileanu. France-Romania-Belgium-Italy. 2009. 123 mins.
The Descent: Part 2

Dir: Jon Harris. UK. 2009.
The Front Line (La Primea Linea)

Dir: Renato De Maria. Italy/Belgium. 2009. 100 mins.
The Guard

An unorthodox Irish policeman joins forces with a straitlaced FBI agent to take on an international drug-smuggling gang.
The Hurt Locker, Big Fan lead IFP Gotham nominees

Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker (pictured) and Robert Siegel’s Big Fan lead the field of IFP’s Gotham nominees with three nominations apiece, followed by Sebastian Silva’s The Maid and Joel and Ethan Coens’ A Serious Man on two each.
The Last Station

Dir/scr. Michael Hoffman. Germany-Russia. 2009. 111 mins.
The Little Film Company picks up Aussie genre pic

US sales company The Little Film Company has picked up sales rights to The Clinic, a low-budget privately-financed debut thriller from Australian director James Rabbitts.
The Man Who Will Come (L'Uomo che verra)

Dir: Giorgio Diritti. Italy. 2009. 116 mins.
The Message (Feng Sheng)

Dirs. Chen Kuo-fu, Gao Qunshu. China. 2009. 117 mins.
The Road

Dir: John Hillcoat. US. 2009.
The Station agents

Berlin-based producer Egoli Tossell Film has comfortably ramped up its activities to focus on $10m-$22m international films, scoring initial success this autumn with Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station. Martin Blaney reports
The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Dir: Chris Weitz. US. 2009.
The Works International, Mann Made team on The Drought

The Works International is partnering with Mann Made Films on The Drought, an ecological action horror set in a terrifying post-apocalyptic world.
This Is It grosses more than $4.4m in under 24 hours in North America

Sony’s Michael Jackson tribute film This Is Ithas grossed more than $4.4m in less than 24 hours since opening last night (October 27) in North America.
This Is It heads into weekend as international box office favourite

Michael Jackson’s This Is It will dominate the international landscape this weekend if the $12.7m opening day gross through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) is anything to go by.
This Is It stays ahead of the pack overseas as $29m raises tally to $128.6m

This Is It continued to dominate the overseas market as a further $29m from 8,800 screens in 110 markets through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) raised the running total to $128.6m after two weekends.
Till’s Icon makes first acquisition with The Way

In one of its first acquisitions since Stewart Till’s takeover of the Icon Group was completed last week, Icon Entertainment International has confirmed that it will handle worldwide sales for The Way, the new film from director Emilio Estevez.
Toei pre-sells Memoirs to Hong Kong

Japanese studio Toei has pre-sold US-Japan co-production Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac to Hong Kong distributor Golden Scene.
Trent Haaga readies revenge thriller Chop for LA shoot

Deadgirl writer Trent Haaga will make his feature directorial debut on the revenge thriller Chop.
TWC's David Glasser to oversee foreign sales for The Film Dept

The Weinstein Company (TWC) international chief David Glasser has taken over foreign sales on Mark Gill and Neil Sacker’s The Film Department slate following the departure of Steve Bickel.
UK Film Council unveils 2009 Breakthrough Brits film-makers

The UK Film Council’s 2009 Breakthrough Brits programme will present 13 emerging black and Asian British film-makers and artists to Hollywood this autumn.
United, M-Line seal German, Asian deals on Woochi

South Korea’s United Pictures and M-Line Distribution have pre-sold $12m action fantasy Woochi to Splendid for Germany and Benelux and Viscom Suraya for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
Up In The Air

Dir: Jason Reitman. US. 2009.
Up retains the overseas crown as $19m boosts tally to $324m

Disney/Pixar’s Up dominated the Hollywood competition overseas for the third straight weekend thanks to an estimated $19m haul from 4,789 screens in 26 territories that propelled the running total to $324.2m.
Up sails past $300m, enters weekend as overseas champ

Up swept past $300m at the international box office on Thursday [October 22] and will be among the vanguard of Hollywood overseas releases this weekend.
UTV signs three-year deal with Anurag Kashyap

India’s UTV Motion Pictures has entered into an exclusive three-year deal with filmmaker Anurag Kashyap (Dev D, Black Friday).
Vendome, Mark Gordon cast Jake Gyllenhaal in thriller Source Code

Philippe Rousselet’s Vendome Pictures has announced its first project, teaming with Mark Gordon on the sci-fi thriller Source Code starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Summit International has already pre-sold rights to more than 15 territories at AFM.
Videocracy scoops first special jury prize at Sheffield Doc/Fest

Erik Gandini’s Videocracy has won the inaugural special jury award at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival.
Videograms Of A Revolution to open fourth Romanian Film Festival in New York

Corneliu Porumboiu’s Romanian foreign language Oscar submission Police, Adjective (pictured) will be among the line-up at the fourth annual Romanian Film Festival in New York City, called 4 Years, 3 Days And 2 Decades Later.
Vivendi Entertainment, IndieVest partner on home entertainment output deal

LA-based financier and distributor IndieVest Pictures has secured a home entertainment output deal with Vivendi Entertainment.
Voltage boards Milla Jovovich thriller Faces In The Crowd

Nicolas Chartier’s Voltage Pictures will commence sales at AFM next week on the Milla Jovovich psychological thriller Faces In The Crowd.Julien Magnat will direct Forecast Pictures, Radar Films and Minds Eye Entertainment’s tale of the survivor of an attack by a serial killer who loses the ability to recognise faces while the killer pursues her to finish off the job.Principal photography is set to commence in Canada in March 2010. The French-Canadian team of Jean-Charle
Voltage charged up by Val Kilmer superatural thriller Mr Nobody

Nicolas Chartier’s LA-based Voltage Pictures, here selling the Milla Jovovich psychological thriller Faces In The Crowd, has boarded sales on the supernatural thriller Mr Nobody starring Val Kilmer.
Walden acquires rights to family film Berenstain Bears

Walden Media has acquired film rights to the bestselling book series The Berenstain Bears.
Warner Bros Japan announce Chushingura as first local language production

A big budget adaptation of classic samurai tale Chushingura has been announced as Warner Brothers Japan’s first local language production.
Ways To Live Forever

A boy with leukaemia wants to live out all of his dreams before he dies.
WBITD names John Garcia svp and general manager of Latin America

John Garcia has been promoted to senior vice-president and general manager, Latin America, at Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD).
We Distribution sells Bodyguards to E1, CJ

Hong Kong’s We Distribution has sold Cinema Popular’s $23m action thriller Bodyguard & Assassins to E1 Entertainment for the UK and Canada, CJ Entertainment for Korea and Gulf Films for the Middle East.
Weaving Girl (Fang Zhi Gu Niang)

Dir/scr: Wang Quanan. China. 2009. 100 mins.
Welcome wins Heartland's best dramatic feature award

Philippe Lioret’s Welcome won the Heartland Film Festival’s $100,000 Grand Prize Award for best dramatic feature and P-Star Rising by Gabriel Noble took the $25,000 Award for best documentary feature.
WFE boards rom-com Bitter/Sweet for AFM

Worldwide Film Entertainment (WFE) will handle sales on Thailand-based producer Urs Brunner’ romantic comedy Bitter/Sweet starring Josh Brolin and Kip Pardue.
Where The Wild Things Are devours US competition with $32.5m launch

Warner Bros’ fantasy tale Where The Wild Things Are led the North American box office at the weekend courtesy of an estimated $32.5m launch.
White Lightnin' strikes US deal with Sundance Selects

Sundance Selects, a new label from Rainbow Media, has picked up US rights to Dominic Murphy’s White Lightnin’, a winner of the Hitchcock D’Or at the Dinard Film Festival and the winner this week of the international competition at the Mumbai Film Festival.
White Lightnin takes top prize at Mumbai Film Festival

UK director Dominic Murphy’s White Lightnin won the top prize in the international competition for first features at the 11th Mumbai Film Festival, organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI).
Wide Management embraces The Belgrade Phantom

Paris-based sales outfit Wide Management has snapped up rights to The Belgrade Phantom, the docufiction that is being described as the “Serbian Mesrine.”
Wild Bunch AFM roster boasts Tetro, Zhang Yimou, Gregg Araki

Wild Bunch is announcing three new projects heading into this week’s AFM as well as international sales for Francis Ford Coppola’s Tetro.
Wild Bunch takes Edge, Victoria from GK for Germany

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.
Woman On Fire Looks For Water

Dir/scr: Woo Ming-jin. Malaysia-South Korea. 2009. 97 mins.
Xavier Gens to direct action thriller The Fallout for ContentFilm

On the eve of the AFM, ContentFilm International has taken worldwide sales rights to action thriller The Fallout to be directed by Xavier Gens (Hitman). The film is due is due to start principal photography in Feb 2010 in Eastern Europe.
Yarek Danielak, Tax Credit Finance launch Mirabelle sales arm

Matthew Chausse and Anthony Gudas of Rhode Island-based Tax Credit Finance, LLC and Yarek Danielak of Arsenal Pictures have teamed up to launch the sales arm Mirabelle.
Youth production company seeks funding for first feature

A group of unemployed London youngsters have launched a film production company and are seeking funding from local people and businesses to fund their first project.

Screen06 November 2009

Screen
06 November 2009