Screen
25 Nov 2010

View all stories from this issue.

Bardem to receive PSIFF International Star Award

Javier Bardem will receive the 22nd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival’s (PSIFF) International Star Award on January 8, 2011.
Bize’s The Life Of Fish opens 59th Mannheim-Heidelberg festival

The Chilean film-maker’s film will open the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival today (November 11) and runs until November 21.
Golmaal 3

Dir: Rohit Shetty. India. 2010. 142mins
Hot projects on Screenbase this week

An adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight‘s Children has been announced this week, as well as a host of other European co-productions including Le Sens De Nos Peines, What Use Is A Bear? (¿Para Qué Sirve Un Oso?) and Trap for Cindere
Memories In March (Asamapt)

Dir: Sanjoy Nag. India. 2010. 107mins
New pitching platform at Berlinale for Central European producers

Berlin’s Hungarian Institute (Collegium Hungaricum Berlin) is to host a new pitching platform, Pitch Stop, for producers from Central Europe as part of its “Cinema Total” initiative during the forthcoming Berlin Film Festival.
Riding The Dreams (Kanasemba Kudureyaneri)

Dir: Girish Kasaravalli. India. 2010. 110mins
The Horror, The Horror

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.
Tiny Furniture

Dir/scr: Lena Dunham. US. 2010. 98mins
World Exclusive

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
21st Stockholm International Film Festival

21st Stockholm International Film Festival, 17 - 28 November, 2010
21st Stockholm International Film Festival

Winners and attendees at the 21st Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden.
442 – Live With Honor, Die With Dignity

Dir/scr: Junichi Suzuki. Japan-US. 2010. 97mins
59th International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg, Germany, November 11 - 21

Winners and attendees at the 59th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg, Germany, November 11 - 21
A Cut above

In just two years, FineCut has established itself as a leading sales agent for hot South Korean and international titles. Jean Noh talks to company CEO Youngjoo Suh
A Distant Neighbourhood (Quartier Lontain)

Dir: Sam Garbarski. Bel-Fr-Lux. 2010. 99mins
A Liar And A Broken Girl

Dir/scr: Natsuki Seta. Japan. 2010. 110mins
A Quiet Life (Una Vita Tranquilla)

Dir: Claudio Cupellini. Italy/Germany/France. 2010. 103 mins
A Stone’s Throw Away (A Tiro de Piedra)

Dir: Sebastian Hiriart. Mexico. 2010. 94mins
Academy unveils 15 doc feature contenders

The Academy has announced the documentary hopefuls for awards consideration, with Charles Ferguson’s financial crisis investigation Inside Job, Shlomi Eldar’s human drama Precious Life and Davis Guggenheim’s education jeremiad Waiting For Superman (pictured) all in the mix.
ACE to launch co-production lab at next year's HAF

Ateliers du Cinema European (ACE) and consultancy Sinapses Asia will launch the first ACE Co-production Lab Hong Kong at this year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
Affinity International adds CBS Films romantic fantasy Beastly to slate

Affinity International has picked up international sales rights to CBS Films’ romantic fantasy Beastly starring Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen and Neil Patrick Harris.
AFI FEST unveils audience award and juried short film winners

AFI FEST organisers have announced four audience award winner and recipients of two juried short film prizes.
AFM buyers flock Across The Line for Maya Entertainment

Maya Entertainment has closed a raft of sales at AFM on its upcoming release Across The Line: The Exodus Of Charlie Wright.
Alan Arkin to receive BIFF career tribute

Top brass at the Bahamas International Film Festival have chosen Alan Arkin to receive the career achievement award.
Albarn, Losey to develop The Boy In The Oak into feature

Directed by Losey, from the illustrations by Jessica Albarn, the film is narrated by Jude Law with a soundtrack by Damon Albarn.
Alice Morrison steps down from regional agency Vision+Media

Alice Morrison has stepped down as chief executive of Manchester based regional screen agency Vision+Media.
Alternative content for exhibitors website launched

A new website has been launched promoting live alternative content to cinema exhibitors.
Anchor Bays sinks claws into The Howling reboot for English-language territories

Fast-rising distributor Anchor Bay Films has acquired all rights for English-speaking territories to The Howling: Reborn.
Arclight reports strong initial response to crime thriller The Courier

Arclight Films has completed sales in more than two dozen territories on its thriller The Courier starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mickey Rourke and Josie Ho.
Arclight to seduce AFM buyers with Heard thriller The Applicant

Amber Heard will star as a stalker student in Arclight Films’ thriller The Applicant, which the company is introducing to AFM buyers this week.
Arrietty (Kari-gurashi no Arrietty)

Dir: Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Japan. 2010. 94mins
Arrow snaps up titles to boost UK theatrical presence

The distributor has acquired a raft of new films at AFM that it plans to release theatrically.
Arsenal Pictures closes territories on Five Minarets In New York

Yarek Danielak’s Arsenal Pictures has closed several key deals here on new acquisition Five Minarets In New York starring Danny Glover.
Aung San Suu Kyi – Lady Of No Fear

Dir: Anne Gyrithe Bonne. Denmark. 2010. 60mins
Australia attracts more foreign shoots in 2010

Publication of annual production survey shows improvement in the number of foreign films shooting in Australia, although no US films have gone into production this year.
Autograph

Dir: Srijit Mukherji. India. 2010. 128mins
Awards season – key dates

A run-down of the key dates for the 2010-11 awards
Bahamas Int'l Film Festival brings back mentorship scheme

Organisers at the seventh annual Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) are bringing back the Filmmaker’s Residency Programme.
Baikonur

Shooting wrapped last week on Veit Helmer‘s fourth feature Baikonur in a ‘Zero-G’ Airbus A300 at the French Test Flight Centre in Bordeaux.
Baltic Event co-production market announces projects

Twelve projects from nine countries have been selected for this year’s Baltic Event co-production market, which will take place in Tallinn, Estonia (December 1-3).
BBC Trust says BBC Films is great value, but needs to build recognition

BBC Films should build greater audience recognition and impact, particularly through a “more consistent presence on BBC2”, a review by the BBC Trust has said.
Benelux eyes cuts

Production has been brisk but producers are bracing themselves for cuts. By Geoffrey Macnab
Bening in line for SBIFF American Riviera Award

Oscar contender Annette Bening will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s (SBIFF) American Riviera Award.
Bent Outta Shape, Mac Vision line up rom-com Ship Wreck'd

Bent Outta Shape Productions and Mac Vision Entertainment are assembling their upcoming rom-com Ship Wreck’d and have brought in Bentley Evans to serve as executive producer.
Bespalov’s Sunrise closes Russia deal for Father Of Invention

Sergei Bespalov’s Sunrise Entertainment has licensed all Russian rights to Art Pictures Media for its Kevin Spacey comedy Father Of Invention.
Beyond borders

As it expands into China, Japan and the US, CJ Entertainment’s Mike Suh tells Jean Noh about the company’s mission to become a global studio
BFI's Amanda Nevill: 'This is an organisation that does make money, unlike the Film Council'

After yesterday’s announcement that the BFI would be taking on a number of key activities formerly overseen by the Film Council, Screen’s Wendy Mitchell spoke to BFI Director Amanda Nevill about how the BFI would have to change moving forward.
Black & Blue board Brit comedy Loser

Dominic Burns’s London comedy How To Stop Being A Loser is being co-produced by Black & Blue Films.
Black & Blue's Loser finds a friend in Crabtree Films

UK distributor Crabtree Films has picked up Black & Blue Films’ London-set, low-budget comedy How to Stop Being a Loser.
Bleiberg Entertainment sells prestige doc Precious Life at AFM

The Los Angeles-based sales and financing company has closed a slew of territories at AFM on its slate including the documentary Precious Life that last week became one of 15 titles to make it on to the Academy’s shortlist.
Bona files to list shares on Nasdaq stock market

Chinese film distributor Bona Film Group has filed to list its shares on the NASDAQ stock market in New York, aiming to raise $80m in an initial public offering. It will be the first Chinese film company to be listed in the US.
Burlesque

Dir-scr: Steven Antin. US. 2010. 118mins
Carpenter joins Amazon horror Hell Within as executive producer

John Carpenter will serve as executive producer on Los Angeles-based Barry Films’ The Hell Within to be directed by Brazil’s Dennison Ramalho.
Cast confirmed for Horrid Henry, shoot underway in London

Theo Stevenson will play Horrid Henry, with Anjelica Huston, Richard E Grant and Parminder Nagra co-starring in Nick Moore’s comedy produced by Vertigo and Novel Entertainment.
Celestial signs output deal with Distribution Workshop

Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures, which operates the Celestial Movies channel, has signed an output deal with sales agent Distribution Workshop for first-run pay-TV rights of its upcoming slate of Chinese movies.
Celluloid Nightmares closes key sales on Atrocious, Greetings To The Devil

Celluloid Nightmares has closed a multi-picture theatrical deal with Revolver in the UK and Senator in Germany for Atrocious and Greetings To The Devil.
Celluloid Nightmares, Mongrel Media close three-film deal

Deals closed at AFM for Canadian rights to Jon Hewitt’s X, Fernando Barreda Luna’s Atrocious and The Orozco Brothers’ Greetings To The Devil. All three films are targeting festival premieres in early 2011.
Celsius continues sales on Freakonomics

Thierry Wase-Bailey’s sales outfit Celsius has been doing brisk business with its feature doc Freakonomics.
Chile's Silva writ large over Elephant Eye's AFM slate

Elephant Eye Films has announced its AFM slate and will seek to tempt buyers with Sebastian Silva’s Old Cats and Victoria Mahoney’s debut feature Yelling To The Sky, among others
Cinema Guild acquires Puiu's Romanian thriller Aurora for US

The Cinema Guild has acquired US rights to Aurora, Romanian auteur Cristi Puiu’s follow-up to his 2005 Un Certain Regard winner The Death Of Mr Lazarescu.
CMG to offer AFM buyers a taste of Africa

Edward Noeltner’s Beverly Hills-based international sales company Cinema Management Group is bringing two 3D animated films to the AFM: Zambezia and Khumba.
Coming to America

The number of deals at last year’s American Film Market heralded a thaw in the independent sales sector. Jeremy Kay assesses how the sales arena is looking ahead of this year’s AFM (Nov 3-10) while Screen writers profile a selection of English-language market debuts heading to Santa Monica
Constantin options Ahern novel Where Rainbows End

Constantin Film has optioned film rights to Where Rainbows End, the second novel by Irish besteller Cecelia Ahern.
Cool summer

Admissions are down in Korea so far this year, and exhibitors missed the local hits which made summer 2009 so successful. Jean Noh explores the territory’s appetite
Cortes unveils Red Lights vision to AFM buyers

Rodrigo Cortes outlined his vision for the psychological thriller Red Lights in a Friday morning [5] buyer presentation hosted by Lisa Wilson’s Parlay Films.
Creative England's jobs impact on regional agencies not yet known

Speculation is growing that the three major centres of the newly announced Creative England will be Bristol in the South, Manchester in the North and Birmingham in the Midlands.
Cross Creek, Vertebra team up with Roth for horror slate

Busy Cross Creek Pictures has partnered with Vertebra Films to fully finance two horror projects that Eli Roth will produce.
Cultivating partners in India

India has historically not been an active co-producer, but some European producers are finding ways to work with local talent. On the eve of the Film Bazaar co-production forum (Nov 23-26), Liz Shackleton explores the realities of co-producing international features in India
Danny Dyer shooting psychological thriller Deviation

Danny Dyer has signed on to play the lead in psychological thriller Deviation, which has begun shooting in London.
David Barron to develop feature version of Bulldog Drummond

The Harry Potter producer is teaming up with Australian company Fork Films to develop a feature based around fictional character Bulldog Drummond who apppeared in the novels by Herman Cyril McNeile.
David Parfitt named chair of Film London

British producer David Parfitt has been appointed as the new chair of Film London, replacing Sandy Lieberson who has held the post since 2004.
David Tennant, Dougray Scott to star in United

Jack O’Connell and Sam Claflin will also star in the BBC film, which is based on the story of Manchester United’s Busby Babes.
Day-Lewis to play Lincoln for Spielberg, DreamWorks

The announcement that Day-Lewis will play the 16th President of the US brings together the Oscar winning actor and director for the first time in their careers.
Deathly Hallows casts its spell on UK box office

The penultimate instalment in the blockbuster franchise plundered $29.1m (£18.3m) at the UK box office over the November 19 – 21 weekend.
Deathly Hallows continues to dominate UK box office

Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows dominated the UK box office in its second week, taking $12.9m (£8.3m) from 581 screens at a $22,459 (£14,363) average and $51.7m (£33.3m) running total.
Deathly Hallows launches on franchise record $125.1m in US

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 blew away the competition as it stormed to the top of the charts on an estimated record $125.1m from 4,125 theatres.
Deathly Hallows races to $50m worldwide by Friday

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 has already amassed $49.3m heading into the weekend.
Deathly Hallows takes over 18,000 screens in 91 markets

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 descends upon the world this weekend like a plague of Death Eaters in what is expected to become one of the biggest launches in history.
Deluxe in pact to acquire some Ascent Media businesses

Deluxe Entertainment Services Group has signed a deal with Ascent Media to acquire Ascent’s Creative Services and Media Services businesses.
Despicable Me tops overseas with $23m weekend haul

Another fine weekend for Universal’s popular animation saw it trump the double horror threat of Paranormal Activity 2 and Saw 3D and boost its running total to $235.4m. Lionsgate reported a preliminary $11.5m haul for Saw 3D from 22 territories
Dino De Laurentiis dies aged 91

The Italian producer was a key figure in his native country’s post-war cinema boom, but he also had US success.
'Dino was everyone's grande maestro' -- Aurelio de Laurentiis

Aurelio de Laurentiis spoke to ScreenDaily in Rome following the death of his uncle Dino on Wednesday [10] in Los Angeles.
Directors UK restructures to attract new members

The professional body is changing its membership structure to attract a more diverse range of directors.
Disney pick up Chico & Rita for Spain

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Spain have taken theatrical rights to Oscar winning Spanish director Fernando Trueba’s Spanish-UK animation feature Chico & Rita.
Disney plans to shoot 2-3 films per year in Russia

Disney is considering an active expansion in Russia in the coming years.
Disney shuffles up North American PR operation

Disney has realigned its North American public relations department and announced that Joe Quenqua and Julie Fontaine will coordinate the domestic media strategy for all titles.
Disney unveils distribution shake-up

The Walt Disney Studios has shuffled its distribution set-up and announced that Janice Marinelli, Lori MacPherson and Jason Brenek will be taking on expanded roles.
Dogwoof strikes deal for Client 9, The Oath, Blood In The Mobile

UK distributor Dogwoof has been on the prowl for feature-docs at this week’s IDFA.
Dominic Cooper, Irene Jacob join Marrakech jury

Dominic Cooper and Irene Jacob have joined the jury of the 10th Marrakech Film Festival, which kicks off on Friday (3 December).
Due Date arrives top at UK box office

Warner Bros.’ Due Date took the spoils at the UK box office over the Nov 5 - 7 weekend.
Due Date drums up $22m for Warner Bros overseas

Due Date dominated the Hollywood releases overseas thanks to an estimated $21.5m launch on 4,000 screens in 36 countries that went out day-and-date with North America.
Due Date holds on at top of UK box office

Warner Bros.’ comedy Due Date remained top of the UK box office over the Nov 12-14 weekend, taking $3m (£1.9m) from 452 screens for a week-high screen average of $6,745 (£4,200).
Eckhart takes CIA role in Essential Entertainment thriller

Aaron Eckhart is in talks to star in action thriller The Expatriate which Essential Entertainment is introducing to buyers here.
Eight projects selected in recent Sundance / Rawi Screenwriters Lab

Artists from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories and Saudi Arabia participated in the recent sixth annual Rawi Screenwriters Lab run by the Royal Film Commission in consultation with Sundance Institute.
Elite Squad 2 among IM Global's prestige Anthem local language slate

IM Global head Stuart Ford has unveiled the Anthem world sales division’s prestige AFM slate, led by Jose Padilha’s smash sequel to his Brazilian crime saga Elite Squad.
eOne acquires Killer Elite, Tomorrow When the War Began for Canada

eOne has completed a multi-picture deal with Inferno Entertainment, securing Canadian rights for the Jason Statham action film The Killer Elite and Australian hit Tomorrow When The War Began.
eOne acquires UK rights for Harlin's 5 Days Of August

eOne has won a bidding war at AFM for UK rights to Renny Harlin’s political drama and action film 5 Days Of August.
Estonia's Black Nights Festival announces line up

Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours and Mohamed Al-Daradji’s Son Of Babylon are amongst the films in competition.
Estoril set for Europa Distribution conference

The fourth Europa Distribution conference (Nov 12-14) gets underway this weekend in Estoril, Portugal, during the resort’s film festival.
Evohe Films to make doc about controversial boxing champion

Barcelona-based Evohe Films is to make 138 Seconds, a documentary feature about the controversial boxing champion Josep Girones, with Mexico’s Cacao Films.
Falling Stars?

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.
Faster

Dir: George Tillman, Jr. US. 2010. 98mins
Fifteen films to vie for animated feature Academy Award

The Academy has received 15 submissions for the animation feature category for the 83rd Academy Awards, paving the way for three nominations in January.
Film Agency for Wales invests $3.6m in Welsh film sector

According to chief executive Pauline Burt, 2009/2010 has been the agency’s “most productive year to date.”; The agency is now making the case to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to protect its funding going forward.
Film Bazaar’s fourth edition wraps with deals, awards

Umesh Kulkarni’s Temple (Deool), a Marathi-language satire set in rural India, took the Hubert Bals award at the close of the fourth edition of India’s Film Bazaar (Nov 23-26).
Film industry teams up with Childnet for anti piracy guide

Film body The Industry Trust for IP Awareness has partnered with the charity Childnet International to fund the free guide ‘Music, Films and the Internet,’ which aims to highlight the implications of children downloading illegal entertainment.
Film London takes on UK-wide inward investment, export role

Adrian Wootton says there will be a distinctly separate unit that will be UK-branded to work on UK-wide inward investment and export of British films.
Film Movement nets Uruguayan drama Bad Day To Go Fishing

Film Movement has acquired North American rights to Uruguay’s 2009 foreign language Oscar submission Bad Day To Go Fishing.
Film Sales Company acquires trio of docs for IDFA

The Film Sales Company president Andrew Herwitz has acquired sales rights to three documentaries ahead of their premieres at IDFA in Amsterdam this week.
FilmDistrict takes US rights to thriller Drive

FilmDistrict has swooped on US rights to the Ryan Gosling thriller, marking the fledgling company’s second acquisition and the first major domestic deal during AFM.
FilmDistrict, EuropaCorp close US deal for Guy Pearce genre film Lockout

FilmDistrict continues to assemble its inaugural slate and has acquired all US rights at AFM to EuropaCorp’s upcoming sci-fi action title Lockout to star Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace.
FilmDistrict, TriStar hit the waves with Soul Surfer

FilmDistrict is partnering with Sony on the true-life story Soul Surfer starring AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and Carrie Underwood in her feature debut.
FilmFestival Cottbus, Germany (Nov 2 - 7)

Winners and attendees at the 20th edition of FilmFestival Cottbus, Germany.
FilmNation closes first deals on Midnight's Children

FilmNation is handling international sales on Deepa Mehta’s screen adaptation of the acclaimed Salman Rushdie novel Midnight’s Children and has closed deals with eOne in the UK and UGC in France.
Focus Features, UTA sell out on Mike Mills' Toronto hit Beginners

Focus Features International (FFI) and UTA have virtually sold out on Mike Mills’ Toronto premiere Beginners starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer.
Fox hopes Denzel Washington thriller will be Unstoppable overseas

Fox International top brass unleash the runaway train thriller in around 40 territories this weekend and expect it to be the one to beat.
Fox, Aronofsky formalise relationship with two-year deal

Fox Filmed Entertainment has signed Darren Aronofsky and his production company Protozoa Pictures to a new two-year overall deal.
Future Shorts plans second global event ONE in 12 countries

Future Shorts ONE, a monthly global event showcasing the best in short film, live music and interactive design, will take place in 60 cities and 12 countries this Saturday.
Gareth Edwards

Gareth Edwards talks about the unique guerrilla style of filmmaking he used on his highly acclaimed debut feature Monsters, and about his next sci-fi film in the works.
Green Day goes multi-territory via satellite

Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown has become the first film to be distributed to multiple European territories simultaneously via satellite.
Group Sex, Homewrecker among new AWP quartet for AFM

Los Angeles-based American World Pictures (AWP) has added four acquisitions to add to the AFM line-up.
Grumbar, Dawson promoted at Icon

Hugo Grumbar and Ian Dawson have been promoted to joint managing directors at Icon.
Guzaarish

Dir: Sanjay Leela Bhansali. India. 2010. 135mins
Hannibal Classics, Freedom Films launch $55m fund and three films for AFM

Richard Rionda Del Castro’s rebranded Hannibal Classics and Freedom Films’ Brian Presley have announced a $55m fund and arrives at AFM with the first three features.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

Dir: David Yates. UK-US. 2010. 146mins
Hartnett to star for Joffe in Corsan's Singularity

Josh Hartnett has been set to star in Roland Joffe’s epic romantic adventure Singularity for Corsan as the film kicks off production today [8] in Australia.
Henry's Crime finds US home with Moving Pictures

Moving Pictures Film & TV (MPF&TV) will release the Keanu Reeves rom-com in North America after Maitland Primrose Group acquired rights in a deal brokered by CAA.
HFPA to present De Niro with Cecil B DeMille Award

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will present Robert De Niro with its Cecil B DeMille Award at the Golden Globes in January.
HFPA, Dick Clark Prodns go to war over broadcast contract

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the producer of the Golden Globes awards show Dick Clark Productions (DCP) are at war over an alleged breach of contract.
Hiatus goes On Tour in Hong Kong

Taiwanese distributor Hiatus Media has acquired all Hong Kong rights for Mathieu Amalric’s On Tour (Tournée).
High Fliers gets the point of Needle for UK as Lightning closes sales

Lightning Entertainment has sold John V Soto’s Australian horror film Needle to a raft of territories including the UK where High Fliers will distribute.
High prices, high ambition at bustling AFM 2010

A handful of marquee titles shone as sales agents and acquisitions teams offered differing views from a busy if not always hyper-productive market that saw the cautious return of Japanese buyers.
Hi-So

Dir/scr: Aditya Assarat. Thailand. 2010. 102mins
Hogg, Ballard to star in The Comedian

Edward Hogg and Jamie Ballard have signed on to star in Tom Schkolnik’s debut feature, The Comedian, which is due to start shooting in London next year.
Hollywood bids farewell to Kershner, Nielsen

Hollywood lost its second celebrated figure in two days as it emerged on Monday [29] that The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner had died.
Hollywood shows support for anti-piracy Bill in Congress

Congress is moving forward with an anti-piracy Bill the day after it emerged that the first 36 minutes of the latest Harry Potter episode had leaked online on the eve of its release.
Hollywood tries to bridge the gap between US-Japan content

Hollywood producers Don Murphy, Roy Lee (pictured) and Jason Hoffs gave advice on bridging the gap between the US and Japanese content industries at a seminar about adapting Japanese IP on Wednesday (November 3).The three producers all focus on turning Japanese and Asian manga, anime and other properties into Hollywood films. Lee’s Vertigo produced The Ring remake and is developing remakes such as Old Boy with Mandate Pictures. Murphy is a producer on the Transformers
Hot Potato

Writer/director/producer Tim Lewiston talks about shooting his debut feature Hot Potato, an Italian Job style comedy thriller starring Ray Winstone and Jack Huston, which has just wrapped in London.
Hot projects on Screenbase this week

A slate of new international co-productions has been added to Screenbase, with Dubai Flamingos, Michael Haneke’s latest film, Love and There Be Dragons among them.
HPI reports surge of sales on Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance 3D

Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park International has closed key territories on the supernatural action film Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance 3D to star Nicolas Cage.
Human Resources Manager secures North American berth through Film Movement

Film Movement has picked up North American rights to Israel’s foreign language Academy Award submission The Human Resources Manager.
Huw Davies becomes chairman of ContentFilm

ContentFilm has appointed Welsh industry veteran Huw Davies to its board as Non-Executive Chairman.
I Am Love director gears up for Corsica '72

I Am Love director Luca Guadagnino has signed on to direct Ruby Films’ upcoming mafia thriller Corsica ’72.
Ian Power and Macdara Kelleher

Director Ian Power and producer Macdara Kelleher (Fastnet Films) talk to Andreas Wiseman about their feature The Runway, which had its international premiere at the Rome Film Festival last week.
Ian Smith

The Nottingham based acting coach talks about discovering Samantha Morton and his ongoing collaboration with Shane Meadows.
Icon's Till reveals details of Weinstein partnership

The Icon boss has outlined more details of the distribution during at the American Film Market.
IFC Midnight snaps up North American rights to genre duo

Genre label IFC Midnight has picked up North American rights to Manuel Carballo’s supernatural tale Exorcismus and Miguel Angel Vivas’ home invasion tale Kidnapped.
IFC to release Holocaust doc Shoah on 25th anniversary

IFC Films has acquired US rights to the Holocaust documentary Shoah and will release it in New York on December 24 ahead of a nationwide roll-out.
IFC's YSL acquisition leads busy day of domestic deals

IFC Films led a flurry of domestic distribution deals announced today [23], taking US rights to Pierre Thorentton’s French documentary Yves Saint Laurent L’amour Fou.
IFP unveils Gotham Awards' inaugural Festival Genius prize

IFP’s 20th Anniversary Gotham Independent Film Awards will hand out the inaugural Festival Genius Audience Award on November 29 in New York.
IFTA Production Conference to explore digital marketplace

The 12th annual IFTA Production Conference will discuss strategies for monetising independent film in the digital marketplace on December 3 in Los Angeles.
Illumination’s bright vision

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
IM Global sells Walking With Dinosaurs 3D to Fox for US and select territories

In what is believed to be one of the biggest deals in AFM history, Fox has picked up US and remaining territories to IM Global’s marquee sales title at the market.
IM Global to commence sales on Walking With Dinosaurs 3D from BBC, Reliance

IM Global enters AFM this week with arguably the biggest English language project in the market after it emerged today [Nov 1] that BBC Earth and Reliance Big Entertainment are partnering on Walking With Dinosaurs 3D and two other films.
Image moves for US rights on Hammer's The Resident

Image Entertainment has closed a deal with Exclusive Media Group for US rights to the Hammer Films horror thriller The Resident starring Hilary Swank.Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Christopher Lee and Lee Pace also star in the story about a young doctor who moves into a new Brooklyn apartment and begins to believe someone is watching her.Antti Jokinen directed the film and Image plans a spring 2011 release. Exclusive Films International is handling foreign salesThe Hammer
IMAX Corp names Takaya general manager Japan

IMAX Corporation has appointed Kiyoto Takaya to the newly created position of general manager of Japan, effective from November 1.
India’s NFDC unveils 18 projects for Film Bazaar

India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has unveiled the 18 projects that will take part in this year’s Film Bazaar co-production market, including seven projects from other South Asian nations.
Indomina takes North America on Hark's Detective Dee

Indomina Releasing has picked up all North American rights from the Huayi Brothers to Tsui Hark’s Hong Kong martial arts box office hit Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame.
Indomina feeds The Pack into North American pipeline

Indomina Releasing has acquired all North American rights from Films Distribution to French horror project The Pack.
Indomina takes North America on Scottish horror Outcast

Indomina Releasing’s latest acquisition is the Scottish horror film Outcast following a North American deal with Bankside announced on Thursday [4].
Industry bids emotional farewell to Ronni Chasen

Hundreds of family, friends, associates and well-wishers attended the publicist’s Los Angeles funeral on Sunday [21].
Industry pays tribute to 'warm, smart' Ronni Chasen

Hollywood leading lights have paid tribute to Ronni Chasen, the beloved publicity maven whose violent death early on Tuesday morning [16] has rocked the industry.
Insight Fest announces panel for 2011

Gary Kurtz, David Weiss, Amanda Rice among jurors
International Hof Film Days, Germany (Oct 24 - 29)
Into Paradiso

Dir: Paola Randi. Italy. 2010. 101mins
Invincible takes North American rights to A Serbian Film

The distributor plans to release the controversial film in the US next year.
Italian box office, admissions register strong growth in 2010

The Italian box office is up year-on-year with admissions registering a 15.9% increase and $127m (€94.5m) box office rising 23.3% year on year with 2009. The figures were released in Rome today during the annual exhibitors convention and cover January 1- November 21.
Italy to get first IMAX screen near Milan

Italy will get its first IMAX screen, thanks to a joint venture between IMAX Corporation and the Odeon UCI Cinemas group for the Italian market.
Iwai Shunji

Japanese film-maker Iwai Shunji talks about his first English language film Vampire, starring Kevin Zegers and Keisha Castle-Hughes, currently in post production.
Jakimowksi to shoot English-language debut in spring

Casting is currently underway on Polish director Andrzej Jakimowski’s first English language feature Flying Blind, which is due to shoot in Lisbon in the spring.
Jeremy Thomas feted by AMPAS in London

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.
Jez Butterworth writes feature about The Clash for Ruby

Olivier Award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth is writing the script for a feature about legendary punk rock group The Clash, which is due to shoot in 2011.
Jinga snuggles up to Bedways

The UK sales company is handling Rolf Peter Kahl’s erotic thriller at AFM
Judy Cairo

US producer Judy Cairo talks to Screen about her latest project, Hysteria, a romantic comedy about the invention of the vibrator in Victorian London starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy.
Kaleidoscope appoints Adam Sergeant as marketing chief

The distributor brings in a marketing director role to support new titles coming to market.
Kaleidoscope picks up Ian Sharp’s Tracker

UK distribution outfit Kaleidoscope has picked up all UK rights from Independent.
Kevin Macdonald

Oscar winning director Kevin Macdonald takes time out from the edit suite to talk about his latest project, the youtube generated documentary Life In A Day which is being produced by Ridley Scott.
Kidman to receive SBIFF Cinema Vanguard Award

Nicole Kidman will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s (SBIFF) Cinema Vanguard Award at the 26th edition of the festival on February 5, 2011.
Kill Me Please

Dir: Olias Barco. Belgium. 2010. 92mins
Kodak Inside Film Awards, Sydney

Winners at the Kodak Inside Film Awards, Sydney.
Korea at the cutting edge

The production sector in Korea may be adjusting to the new economic reality with smaller budgets — but the territory’s films have impressed at major festivals in 2010. Jean Noh reports
Korea prospects

From English-language action comedies to local tentpoles and a remake of Ghost, Jean Noh profiles some of the hottest upcoming Korean productions
Korean Film Council chairman resigns

Cho Hee-moon forced to resign from KOFIC; Pretty Pictures raises transparency issues over The Housemaid.
LA Mayor Villaraigosa hails Hollywood-Bollywood pact

Hollywood and Bollywood will strengthen film industry ties following a meeting between representatives in Hollywood today [10].a
Left Bank plans Pink Floyd-inspired film

UK production company Left Bank Pictures is developing a feature based around Pink Floyd track Another Brick In The Wall, for BBC Films.
Leila

Dir: Audrey Estrougo. France. 2010. 87mins
Lightning strikes deals on ProdigyMovies slate

Michael Robertson’s ProdigyMovies and Lightning Entertainment plan to collaborate on a slate of Australian genre titles following the success at AFM of supernatural thriller Road Train.
Lightning strikes major territory deals on Kill The irishman

Lightning Entertainment has announced major territory deals on its anticipated crime thriller Kill The Irishman (formerly The Irishman) starring Ray Stevenson.
Lionsgate and Icahn set shareholder battle for Dec 14

If all that has taken place between Lionsgate and Carl Icahn were made into a film, this would be the nerve-shredding finale. After nearly two years of broadsides, intrigue and bitter reprisals, the corporate foes have set the annual shareholders meeting for December 14.
Lionsgate introduces Hunger Games, Silent Hill 2, Dibbuk Box for AFM

Lionsgate will commence sales at AFM on The Hunger Games, the young adult franchise and one of the most hotly anticipated titles on the market.
Little to sell titles from Accelerator deal with Fangoria

Robbie Little’s Accelerator has partnered with horror brand Fangoria Entertainment’s new Gravesend Film Enterprises to launch a slate of theatrical features.
LKFF moves to ICA, opens with The Man From Nowhere

The fifth edition of the London Korean Film Festival (Nov 5 - 14), which gets underway this Friday, will take place at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA).
Locarno’s Open Doors lab to focus on India in 2011

The Locarno Film Festival has announced that next year’s Open Doors co-production lab will focus on India. The announcement was made by Locarno artistic director Olivier Pere and Nadia Dresti, head of the festivals’ industry office, on the second day of Film Bazaar in Goa.
London Boulevard

Dir/scr: William Monahan. UK. 2010. 104mins
Lorber Films picks up US rights to Armadillo

Lorber Films has taken US rights to Danish director Janus Metz’ controversial documentary Armadillo.
Love Addiction wins top prize at Tokyo Filmex

Two projects awarded in Next Masters programme.
Lumiere strikes deals for Rabbit Hole, The Iron Lady

The distributor has been seeking bigger movies after securing extra financing
Magnet drawn to Thai action film BKO: Bangkok Knockout

Magnet Releasing has acquired US rights from Thai studio Sahamongkol to Panna Rittikrai’s martial arts film BKO: Bangkok Knockout.
Magnet Media Group's Monteith and Buerling broaden horizons

Magnet Media Group founding partners Maggie Monteith and Jeanette Buerling are splitting their respective business operations into two separate entities.
Mario Camus to receive honorary Goya award

The Spanish director will receive the award at a ceremony on February 13 2011.
Mario Monicelli dies at 95

Filmmaker Mario Monicelli, considered one of the fathers the famed ‘commedia Italiana’ genre died in Rome Monday night by suicide, Italian media widely reported. He was 95 years old.
Marrakech Film Festival reveals 15-strong competition line-up

Jack Goes Boating, A Quiet Life (Una Vita Tranquila) and Animal Kingdom are among 15 titles in competition at this year’s Marrakech Film Festival (Dec 3 – 10).The competition slate includes ten feature debuts and three sophomore productions, representing 15 different nationalities.It has already been reported that US romantic comedy Henry’s Crime will open this
Martin Scorsese to executive produce Argentine mentee's feature

Martin Scorsese has come on board to executive produce the next feature by young Argentine director Celina Murga.
Matador Pictures to become part of Regency Capital

The move will allow London based production company Matador Pictures to focus on developing in house projects.
McAvoy, Broadbent lead English cast on Aardman's 3D Arthur Christmas for Sony

James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Ashley Jensen have joined the voice cast of Aardman Animations’ 3D CG-animated family comedy ArthurChristmas for Sony Pictures Animation.
Media 8 unveils market trio led by Lethal Strike 3D

Media 8 Entertainment has acquired three new films for AFM – Lethal Strike 3D, The Hunters, and Son OfMorning.
Megamind

Dir: Tom McGrath. US. 2010. 95mins
Megamind still in charge in North America on $30m hold

DreamWorks Animation’s Megamind is racing towards the $100m and stayed top in its second weekend as an estimated 30.1m following a 35% slide boosted the tally to $89.8m.
Megamind takes over North America on $48m debut

Paramount’s super autumn continued as it launched DreamWorks Animation’s Megamind at the top on an estimated $47.7m.
MIFF appoints Spanish producer Manrique to industry role

The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) has hired Elena Manrique to spearhead the entertainment industry relations initiative and oversee the REEL Education seminar programme.
Mission tempts Santa Monica buyers with The Shunning

Mission Pictures International and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions division Affirm Films are introducing buyers at AFM to Beverly Lewis’ original Hallmark production The Shunning.
Molly Hassell assembles cast on The Giant Mechanical Man

Vamps producer Molly Hassell has assembled a strong young ensemble for rom-com The Giant Mechanical Man, set to commence production in Detroit later this month.
Momentum plans multi-platform UK release for Catfish

Momentum Pictures will release the documentary in cinemas and simultaneously on 17 December via Lovefilm, Sky Box Office, iTunes, Filmflex, blinkbox, Cool Room and other video-on-demand services.
Morning Glory

Dir: Roger Michell. US. 2010. 108mins
MPAA appoints David England evp and CFO

David F England has been named executive vice-president and CFO of the Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA).
Murphy joins Cortes' psycho-thriller Red Lights for Parlay

Cillian Murphy has joined Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro on Rodrigo Cortes’ psychological thriller Red Lights, a hot project that is stirring great interest at the market for Parlay Films.
Myriad boards Panettiere, Reed thriller Downers Grove at AFM

Hayden Panettiere, Nikki Reed and Rebecca De Mornay have joined the cast of thriller Downers Grove that Myriad Pictures is introducing to buyers at AFM.
Myriad reports roaring trade on marquee Kevin Spacey title Margin Call

Myriad Pictures president and CEO Kirk D’Amico has reported a successful market for the financial thriller, closing numerous territories such as Germany, Italy and Australia.
New Austrian incentive FISA backs 5 films with €1m

Peter Payer’s Where Is Little Manuela is one of five projects to be supported by Austria’s new film financing incentive Film Location Austria.
New film commission Film Link to be based out of Elstree

A new UK film commission is being launched in January to replace UK regional screen agency Screen East, which went into liquidation in October.
New film studio opens for business in Bristol

The Bottle Yard is the largest dedicated production facility in the South West region of the UK; the studio aims to attract overseas productions.
New Films Cinema to release Rose McGowan thriller Dead Awake in US

New Films Cinema has added the supernatural thriller Dead Awake starring Rose McGowan, Amy Smart and Nick Stahl to its North American distribution slate.
New Films to release ensemble comedy Burning Palms in US

New Films International (NFI) is venturing into domestic distribution as it emerged that stablemate New Films Cinema will mount a US theatrical release for the dark comedy Burning Palms.
New-look Sunrise adds Russian Oscar entry The Edge to AFM slate

Reconstituted production, financing and worldwide sales and distribution company Sunrise Entertainment will bring Alexey Uchitel’s Russian drama and official foreign language Oscar submission The Edge to AFM this week.
Nolan to collect inaugural VES Visionary Award

Christopher Nolan will receive the inaugural VES Visionary Award from at the Visual Effects Society’s 9th annual awards show on January 28, 2011 in Los Angeles.
NonStop takes The Trip, Let Me In and Barney's Version at AFM

Swedish distribution outfit NonStop Entertainment announces AFM acquisitions of The Trip, Let Me In and Barney’s Version.
ODG and Fox strike TVOD deal for Middle East and Southeast Europe

On Demand Group secures TVOD deal with Fox for Greece, Cyprus and Middle East
Open, Vampire Boys generate AFM interest for Ariztical

Ariztical Entertainment has broadened its international sales slate and is talking to buyers about a roster of titles led by this year’s Berlinale Teddy Jury Award winner Open.
Oxygen (Adem)

Dir: Hans Van Nuffel. Belgium-Netherlands. 2010. 98mins
Paladin acquires US rights to mystery Footsteps

Mark Urman’s boutique distributor has set exclusive engagements for New York and Los Angeles in March 2011.
Paladin falls for A Love Affair Of Sorts

Paladin has acquired US rights to David Guy Levy’s boy-meets-girl drama A Love Affair Of Sorts.
Palm Springs ShortFest announces 2011 dates

The Palm Springs International ShortFest, Short Film Festival & Film Market will run from June 21-27, 2011.
Patrik Eklund starts shooting debut feature Flimmer

Swedish director Patrik Eklund, whose shorts have been Oscar nominated and awarded in Cannes, has started his first feature, Flimmer, on locations at Luleå in northern Sweden.
Peter Weir to deliver BAFTA's David Lean lecture

The Oscar winning Australian director will speak at BAFTA headquarters on December 6.
PGA to honour Spider-Man producer Laura Ziskin

Laura Ziskin will receive the Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) 2011 Visionary Award at the 22nd Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony on January 22.
Phase 4 pre-buys martial arts thriller Breaking Point for North America

Phase 4 Films has pre-bought North American rights to martial arts thriller Breaking Point to be directed by Ham Tran.
Pitt eyes lead for Inferno crime caper Cogan's Trade

Brad Pitt is in talks to reunite with Andrew Dominik, his director on The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, on the comedic crime story.
Portman, Firth to receive Palm Springs acting honours

The 22nd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will present Natalie Portman and Colin Firth with Desert Palm Achievement Awards for acting.
Position Among The Stars (Stand van de sterren)

Dir: Leonard Retel Helmrich. Netherlands. 2010. 109mins
Position Among The Stars takes top awards at IDFA

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) announced its prize winners on Friday evening.
Post Card

Dir/scr: Kaneto Shindo. Japan. 2010. 114mins
Potter holds on to crown with $50.3m over Thanksgiving

An estimated $50.3m second session saw Harry Potter and chums narrowly beat a spirited debut by Rapunzel over a lucrative Thanksgiving Weekend.
Potter pure magic as $114m dominates overseas

An astonishing $114m propelled Warner Bros’ latest Harry Potter episode to within touching distance of $400m after little more than a week as the fantasy film smothered the competition.
Potter takes $205m overseas, record $330.1m globally

Harry Potter mania swept across the globe as the penultimate film in the series plundered an estimated $205m from 19,200 screens in 54 countries and 91 markets.
Prey (Proie)

Dir: Antoine Blossier. France. 2010. 82mins
Primary! (Primaria!)

Dir/Ed/Mus: Ivan Noel. Spain. 2010. 101mins
PSIFF offers $100,000 reward for lead in Chasen case

The Palm Springs International Awards Gala and Film Festival has issued a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murder of Ronni Chasen.
PSIFF to bestow career achievement award on Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall, in contention this season for his performance in Get Low, will receive the 22nd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival’s (PSIFF) career achievement award.
Raimo-Kouyate hired to head Sony Pictures Animation

The executive joins the Sony fold in the wake of Hannah Minghella’s appointment as president of production at Columbia.
Relativity sinks teeth into US rights on Untitled 3D Shark Thriller

Relativity Media has acquired US rights to Sierra Pictures and Incentive Filmed Entertainment’s Untitled 3D Shark Thriller for wide release in 2011.
Relativity taps into Bible Code adventure series

Relativity Media is betting Michael Drosnin’s bestselling Bible Code series will make a strong tentpole release and has acquired rights to the books The Bible Code, Bible Code II: The Countdown and Bible Code III: Saving The World.
Relativity, Tarsem Singh reteam on edgy Snow White project

Relativity Media has signed Tarsem Singh to direct its upcoming untitled Snow White feature based on the Brothers Grimm story.
Resistance

British producer Richard Holmes’s latest project is a war drama based on the novel by Owen Sheers and directed by first time feature film-maker Amit Gupta. The film stars Michael Sheen and Andrea Risborough and is currently shooting in Wales and Herefordshire, UK.
Richard Attenborough Film Awards to be announced next month

The awards are decided by regional film critics and cinema goers.
Rodriguez, Bold, OddLot launch Quick Draw

Robert Rodriguez has launched Quick Draw Productions in association with Gigi Pritzker’s OddLot Entertainment and Michel Litvak’s Bold Films.
Rome's New Cinema Network Awards announced

Nader Takmil Homayoun’s Director’s Cut and Miguel Angel Jimenez’s Chaika took the top prizes.
Roundtable turns to crowd funding for Yoga doc

UK production company Roundtable Films is using crowd funding to raise the budget for its latest project, Yoga For Unity, a documentary about the transformative effects of yoga in Kenya.
Rudin to receive PGA's David O Selznick Achievement Award

The Oscar winning producer of No Country For Old Men will collect the award at the annual PGA awards ceremony on January 22 in Los Angeles.
Russia set for $1bn moment

Russia’s box office crosses $1bn, thanks in part to 3D films; but local films remain mostly unprofitable. Analysis by Evgen Vorotnikov from Screen’s new Local Markets Report.
Samuel Goldwyn Foundation announces screenwriter winners

The winners of the 55th annual Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards were announced last night [Nov 1] by Samuel Goldwyn Jr, president of The Samuel Goldwyn Foundation.
Samuel Goldwyn takes US rights to The Whistleblower

Samuel Goldwyn Films has picked up all US rights to the Rachel Weisz thriller The Whistleblower following its recent world premiere in Toronto.
Sandrew Metronome's reorganisation includes closing of Danish theatrical business

Pan-Scandinavian distributor also cancels contract with Warner Bros for Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.
Sarah's Key to open Santa Barbara Int'l FF

The US premiere of Gilles Paquet-Brenner’s drama Sarah’s Key starring Kristin Scott Thomas will open the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Saw 3D

Dir: Kevin Greutert. US. 2010. 90mins
Saw 3D cuts a swathe at UK box office

Saw 3D, the seventh and final instalment in Lionsgate’s popular horror franchise, put the frighteners on the UK box office over the Halloween weekend for the sixth consecutive year.
Saw 3D dominates Halloween weekend on $22.5m

Lionsgate’s final instalment in the horror franchise ruled the roost in North America thanks to an estimated $22.5m debut.
Screen launches Local Markets Report

Territories include Russia, UK/Ireland, France, Italy, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and Benelux.
Screen Media takes North American ancillary rights to La Soga

7-57 Releasing has licensed North American ancillary rights to Screen Media Films for Josh Crook’s Dominican hit La Soga.
Shadow catches Silent Souls for North America

Shadow Distribution has acquired all North American rights from Memento Films International to Alexsei Fedorchenko’s Silent Souls.
Sheffield Doc/Fest kicks off with Joan Rivers

The documentary marks the start of the 17th edition of the festival and its final outing in its current timeslot.
Shooting begins on Glenio Bonder's Belle Du Seigneur

Stealth Media Group is handling international sales on the film adaptation of Albert Cohen’s French novel, which stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova.
Sierra licenses Endings to eOne for key markets

Nick Meyer and Marc Schaberg’s Sierra Pictures has licensed the comedy A Beginner’s Guide To Endings to eOne for the US, France, Australia, Germany and Scandinavia.
Sierra to commence sales on Rampart, Darling Companion

Sierra Pictures has acquired international rights to the crime thriller Rampart and comedy Darling Companion and is commencing sales at AFM.
Sketches Of Kaitan City

Dir: Kazuyoshi Kumakiri. Japan. 2010. 152mins
Skillset launches technical trainee placement scheme

Trainees will be given the chance to work on major UK productions.
Skyline

Dirs: The Brothers Strause. US. 2010. 92mins
Sony acquires US on Exclusive, Cross Creek's Ides Of March

Sony confirmed last night [Nov 1] that it had taken US rights to George Clooney’s upcoming political drama The Ides Of March.
South West Screen reveals first iNet projects

The $5.1m (£3.2m) scheme is aimed at supporting the creative sector in the South West of the UK.
Spain’s Pontas sells film rights to best selling Swedish comedy novel

Sweden’s Nice Entertainment and FLX Film have taken the film rights to Jonas Jonasson’s best-selling novel The Centenarian Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared.
Successful Tradition Of Noh

Dir: Chiseko Tanaka. Japan. 2010. 100mins
Summit reports roaring trade on Ledge, Musketeers

Summit International has reported a strong response to its market slate, virtually selling out the world on the Sam Worthington thriller Man On A Ledge and 3D adventure The Three Musketeers.
Summit takes US rights to Katherine Heigl romance Adaline

Summit Entertainment has taken Lakeshore and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment’s upcoming romantic drama off the shelf in a preemptive move heading into AFM.
Sundance Institute unveils Film Forward slate

The Sundance Institute announced the ten films selected to participate in the inaugural Film Forward: AdvancingCultural Dialogue initiative.
Sunrise to bring Turgenev play Fortune's Fool to big screen

Sergei Bespalov’s production, financing, worldwide sales and distribution company Sunrise Entertainment will adapt Ivan Turgenev’s play Fortune’s Fool into a feature.
Swing Me Again

Dir/scr: Toshi Shioya. Japan. 2010. 111mins
Tangled

Dirs: Byron Howard and Nathan Greno. US. 2010. 100mins
Tatum to star in Randall Wallace period adventure The Mercenary

Channing Tatum will star as a Virginia cavalryman who travels to the court of Catherine The Great on an undercover mission in Randall Wallace’s $65m adventure romance Love And Honor: The Mercenary.
Ten live action shorts to go forward in Oscar race

Voters will now select 3-5 nominees from among the titles.
The 5th Quarter gets US release through Rocky Mountain

The distributor will release Rick Bieber’s true-life drama starring Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn in March 2011.
The Animators to be directed by Ruairi Robinson

Director Ruairi Robinson will get his feature debut on Qwerty’s anticipated sci-fi-thriller The Animators, which is due to shoot in the first quarter of 2011.
The Bafta bounce

Exposure at the Orange British Academy Film Awards can bring real benefits at the UK box office for films released at the right time. Andreas Wiseman explores the effectiveness of the awards as a launchpad and looks at how the Baftas (Feb 13, 2011) are shaping up in a strong year for British film.
The Fighter

Dir: David O. Russell. US. 2010. 116mins
The Flowers of Kirkuk (Golakani Kirkuk)

Dir: Fariborz Kamkari. Italy-Switzerland-Iraq. 2010. 121mins
The Good Life

Dir: Eva Mulvad. Denmark. 2010. 83mins
The Greatest Showman On Earth

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 Impossible

Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona’s first English-language drama The Impossible is hotly anticipated thanks to its A-list stars, Ewan Mcgregor and Naomi Watts and the success of his debut feature The Orphanage.
The King's Speech to close Bahamas Int'l Film Festival

The King’s Speech starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter will close the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) in Nassau on December 5.
The Minister’s Speech

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.
The Monk among strong AFM sellers for Memento Int'l

Memento Films International has announced strong sales following the AFM.
The Next Three Days

Dir: Paul Haggis. US. 2010. 134mins
The Piano In A Factory

Dir/scr: Zhang Meng. China. 2010. 124mins
The Reef

Dir: Andrew Traucki. Australia. 2010. 94mins
The Runway

Dir/scr: Ian Power. Ireland-Spain-Luxembourg. 2010. 100mins
The Unfinished Letter (Iti Mrinalini)

Dir: Aparna Sen. India. 2010. 128mins
The Woman With A Broken Nose opens 20th edition of FilmFestival Cottbus

Culture Minister Neumann attending; Connecting Cottbus copro market convenes for 12th time.
Thessaloniki Film Festival celebrates Al-Daradji, Bier and Kędzierzawska

The 51st International Thessaloniki Film Festival (TIFF) kicks off Dec 3, and in addition to its competition and side sections, it offers three main tributes.
Thunder Soul strikes a chord for Roadside Attractions

Roadside Attractions has acquired North American rights to Mark Landsman’s music documentary Thunder Soul produced by Snoot Entertainment.
Tim Burton at TIFF Bell Light Box, Toronto (November 22)

Tim Burton at a book signing event at TIFF Bell Light Box (November 22), which is showing a retrospective of the director’s career.
Tim Firth to write screenplay for Working Title's Eurovision project

The Calendar Girls writer has replaced Dan Mazer on the project, which is being produced with Damian Jones.
Toei continues strong sales on Battle Royale 3D

Japanese studio Toei continues to close deals for the 3D reworking of Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale following its market debut at the AFM.
Tokyo International Film Festival (Oct 23 - 31)

Award winners at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Tomorrow, Animal Kingdom dominate Australia's IF Awards

Tomorrow, When The War Began won best film at the annual IF (Inside Film) Awards in Sydney at the weekend [14], reversing the recent trend of tough low-budget films taking the top prize.
Toth leaving Hungarian Film Foundation

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.
Treadaway, Jones to star in Cheerful Weather

Luke Treadaway and Felicity Jones lead the cast of Donald Rice’s debut feature.
Tribeca Film takes US rights to Bang Bang Club

Tribeca Film has taken the Apartheid drama off the shelf and will release theatrically in the second quarter of 2011 as well as on VOD and other platforms.
Tron: Legacy to close Dubai Film Festival

Disney’s 3D adventure film will round off the festival, which runs from 12-19 December.
Tuesday After Christmas wins at Leeds Film Festival

The film picked up the Golden Owl Jury Award at the festival, now in its 24th edition.
Turin reveals line-up for 28th edition

The Turin Film Festival has announced the line-up for the 28th edition of the festival, which runs November 28 – December 12.
Twin Co in deal for Fortune Star library

The exclusive deal will cover more than 300 library titles.
UK box office on track to pass £1bn in record time

UK box office receipts for 2010 are set to cross £1bn ($1.57bn) in record time, according to figures released by the Film Distributors’ Association.
UK industry mostly welcomes BFI move, but wants more detail quickly

There was a mostly bullish response from the industry to UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey’s new plans for the Government’s support of film.
Unified Pictures, Bron Studios strike three-film production and financing pact

Los Angeles-based Unified Pictures has signed a three-film co-production and financing deal with Vancouver’s production and finance group Bron Studios.
Unstoppable

Dir: Tony Scott. US. 2010. 98mins
Unstoppable lives up to name with $19.3m overseas debut

Fox International’s runaway train thriller launched day-and-date with North America in 39 territories and grossed $19.3m from 4,137 screens, the distributor confirmed on Monday [15]. It will enjoy a brief reign given that Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 arrives next week.
UPDATED: Vaizey puts BFI in charge of Government's film plans, Lottery funding

Vaizey says Lottery funding to increase to £43m/year, regional agencies move under Creative England, new Ministerial Film Forum to be launched in January.
Vaizey again calls for Sky to invest in British film production

At his speech outlining the UK Government’s plans for film, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey once again called on Sky to invest in British film production.
Vaizey puts BFI in charge with new government plan for film

Lottery funding to increase to £43m per year in 2014.
Vanguard strikes deal with Kung Fu Panda's John Stevenson

Vanguard Films CEO John Williams has closed an overall producing-directing deal with Kung Fu Panda co-director John Stevenson.
Vue cinema chain sold to Doughty Hanson

The third largest UK cinema chain has been bought for a reported $750m.
Warner Bros unveils $160m Leavesden expansion

Warner Bros. will announce on Wednesday [10 Nov] the completion of its purchase of UK-based Leavesden studios and unveil plans for a $160m (£100m) re-building and expansion programme.
Warner Bros, Atlas to reboot Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Warner Bros and Atlas Entertainment are relaunching Buffy The Vampire Slayer as a potential theatrical franchise.
Weekly international box office - Nov 26 - 28

Deathly Hallows conjured up $115.6m from 16,093 screens in 61 territories in its second weekend to remain top of the international chart.
Weekly international box office 29 - 31 Oct

Universal’s Despicable Me returned to the top of the international chart after being supplanted by Paranormal Activity 2 last week.
Weekly international box office Nov 12 -14

Unstoppable powered to the top of the international chart over the November 12-14 weekend, grossing $18.7m in 39 territories.
Weekly international box office Nov 19 - 21

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part One debuted on $193m ($205m including previews) from 15,506 screens in 53 territories for a screen average of $12,445.
Weekly International box office November 5 - 7

Warner Bros.’ Due Date debuted top on the international scene, easily seeing off nearest rival Despicable Me.
Weinsteins go to war over MPAA ratings for awards duo

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is preparing to lock horns with the MPAA over the ratings for its two top awards season contenders.
WFTV to honour Sheila Hancock

Sheila Hancock is to receive a lifetime achievement award at the 20th annual Women in Film and Television Awards, which will take place in London on Dec 3.
When We Leave wins top prize at Panorama of European Cinema

Feo Aladag’s When We leave (Die Fremde) from Germany has scooped the best film award at the 23rd Panorama of European Cinema in Athens.
White Irish Drinkers finds North American home at Screen Media

Screen Media Films has acquired North American rights to John Gray’s coming-of-age story White Irish Drinkers.
Wide signs raft of deals at autumn markets

The French sales company reveals deals on Laure Charpentier’s Gigola (pictured), René Féret’s Nannerl and more.
Winchester Capital starts new $250m fund

New fund to co-finance studio pictures is partnering with Toho-Towa, Kadokawa and RGM.
Winter's Bone claims top Gotham Awards honour

Debra Granik’s acclaimed drama scooped the best feature prize at last night’s [29] 20th Anniversary Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.
Winter's Bone wins top award at Stockholm

The 21st Stockhom International Film Festival wrapped this weekend with the Bronze Horse for best film going to Debra Granik’s Winter’s Bone.
Women In Film unveils finishing fund recipients

The Women In Film Foundation’s Film Finishing Fund co-chairs Betsy Pollock and Nancy Rae Stone announced the recipients of the 25th annual fund.
Wrekin Hill, Lionsgate form home entertainment pact

Chris Ball’s fledgling distributor Wrekin Hill Entertainment has signed an exclusive US home entertainment deal with Lionsgate.
Yershov's VolgaFilm closes key deals for Russia at AFM

Sergei Yershov’s recently renamed Russian distributor VolgaFilm has picked up several leading titles at the AFM.

Screen25 Nov 2010

Screen
25 Nov 2010