Features
Fast Girls
Ealing Metro will be tempting buyers in Berlin with British athletics drama Fast Girls, produced by Damian Jones, directed by Regan Hall, and described by star Noel Clarke as “Rocky with girls in lycra”.
Berlin buzz: market titles
As Berlin’s European Film Market kicks off, Screen looks at the hottest market debuts — at all stages of production — being offered by US, UK and European sellers
Monsoon Shootout
Amit Kumar, director of award-winning short The Bypass, talks about his debut feature Monsoon Shootout, produced by the UK’s Trevor Ingman.
Berlin festival buzz: Competition
Screen writers profile the world premieres in Berlinale 2012 competition, including Christian Petzold’s Barbara [pictured].
Berlin festival buzz: Other sections
Screen profiles selected world premieres across other festival sections, including Berlinale Special selection I, Anna [pictured].
Berlin festival buzz: Panorama
Screen profiles the hottest world premieres in the Berlinale 2012 Panorama section, including Iron Sky [pictured].
Hope on home front
Overall home-entertainment spend was down in the US last year - but digital distribution and Blu-ray were among the bright spots as the market goes through a period of re-invention. And a look at the UK’s home entertainment sector.
A special place
At the Les Arcs European Film Festival in December, This Must Be The Place associate producer Carlotta Calori took part in an on-stage case study about the piecing together of the $28m European production. Andreas Wiseman reports from the presentation
Austenland
Twilight author Stephenie Meyer leaves the vampires behind to produce the UK-set Austenland, directed by Jerusha Hess [pictured] and adapted from Shannon Hale’s bestselling novel.
Exploring their world
Highlights of the HFPA foreign-language film symposium featuring Pedro Almodovar, the Dardenne brothers, Asghar Farhadi and Angelina Jolie.
The stage is set
EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros Studios Leavesden is set to become both a major production centre and a huge tourist attraction when it opens for business this year. Screen editor Mike Goodridge took an exclusive tour of the site and spoke to studio managing director Dan Dark and Warner Bros UK chief Josh Berger about the transformation of Leavesden into a world-class production facility for hire.
Coming up shorts
The shortlists for the live-action and animated shorts categories at the Oscars include a diverse mix of styles and subject matters from around the world. Laurence Boyce previews the titles in the running for the final nominations
The UK's high five
Buoyed by local hits, the UK box office rose 5% last year. Andreas Wiseman analyses the numbers.
Welcome To The Punch
How did the UK film-makers behind Welcome To The Punch attract an A-list cast, top financiers and Ridley Scott?
Rotterdam 2012 special
Screen presents our guide to Rotterdam 2012, including an interview with festival director Rutger Wolfson; profiles of the Tiger competitors and other hot world premieres across all IFFR sections; a CineMart preview with profiles of the hottest projects; and the latest from the Hubert Bals Fund.
Mr Morgan's Last Love
The German and French producers of Sandra Nettelbeck’s English-language Mr Morgan’s Last Love tell Melanie Goodfellow how they put together the complex pan-European project.
A kind of magic
After a decade, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ended the wizarding saga in impressive style with an epic battle for Hogwarts. The film-makers tell Leon Forde about going out with a bang
Hits out of the Park
How have the Sundance hits of the past few years fared at the global box office?
Winter's throne
As the pre-eminent showcase of independent film-making, the Sundance Film Festival (Jan 19-29) always sets the scene for the year ahead. Jeremy Kay talks to festival chiefs John Cooper and Trevor Groth about this year’s selection and its highlights.
Sundance 2012: key premieres
Screen profiles the hottest films across US Dramatic Competition, Documentary Competition, Premieres, World Cinema Competition and World Documentary Competition.
2012 preview: world cinema
Big name directors and some ambitious local productions are in full evidence at theatres and on the film festival circuit this year.
2012 preview: the prestige pictures
There is a wealth of high-prestige pictures set for release this year and a potentially classic end-of-year awards season featuring new movies by Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee, the Coen brothers, Terrence Malick, Quentin Tarantino, Baz Luhrmann, Paul Thomas Anderson, David O Russell, Tom Hooper and Kathryn Bigelow. Mike Goodridge and Leon Forde profile the movies being readied for the awards podium in 2013, both with US distribution in place and without.
2012 preview: tentpoles
Screen previews 30 studio tentpole pictures that hope to dominate screen space across the world in 2012.
2012 preview: Best of British
2011 saw a slew of UK movies connect with audiences at home and abroad, including The King’s Speech, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Senna and The Inbetweeners Movie. Which of this crop will do the same in 2012?
The Liability
Producer Richard Johns and director Craig Viveiros talk about shooting North East based road trip thriller The Liability starring Tim Roth and Peter Mullan.
International hits of 2011
What are the highest-grossing films of 2011 in the worldwide market? And which titles have fared better internationally than in North America? Louise Tutt crunches the numbers
2011's hits and rising stars
Screen highlights some of the new actors and directors from around the world who shone in 2011, while a selection of industry figures describe their stand-out films for the year.
Arthur Christmas dominates UK box office on Christmas weekend
Sony’s animation continues to impress on £2m, seeing off holdovers Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks
Serving The Help
When Kathryn Stockett’s novel started rocketing up the book charts, the film-makers working on an adaptation decided to take their project down the studio route.
The future in site
Advances in technology may transform the way the industry does business, as a new generation of websites tries to lure producers, distributors, sales companies, financiers and film-makers online. But can an industry built on personal contacts and face-to-face time change that much?
Online funding draws a crowd
How much impact can crowdfunding sites have on the $22bn global investment business? Colin Brown taps into the key sites
Restoring faith in Xmas
Marketing Christmas releases in international territories can prove a challenge for the US studios.
Where did it all go right?
How have film-makers from a country as tiny as Israel come to command such a huge presence on the international arthouse scene? Dan Fainaru gives a personal account of the support structure Israeli film-makers enjoy at home as well as the challenges they face to sustain it.
Bafta blooms in Covent Garden
How do the organisers of the Bafta film awards ensure each year is better than the last? Sarah Cooper reports on the plans for this year’s event.
Bafta opens up doc race
Bafta’s new documentary award has been welcomed by film-makers — and 2011 is a banner year for the form. Allan Hunter reports
Rich pickings
This year’s crop of UK films are so strong a number of home-grown titles could dominate all the major Bafta categories. Allan Hunter profiles the leading local contenders
The world on film
Pulling extracts from Screen reviews and giving a taste of the breadth of subjects and style on offer, Mike Goodridge looks at a selection of the foreign-language films submitted to the Academy this year. There’s a 3D documentary, an animated film and a 276-minute Taiwanese epic among them
India rises
Shooting in India is becoming much easier thanks to a group of savvy service companies helping foreign productions navigate the country’s notorious red tape. Meenakshi Shedde reports
China's newest stars
Village Roadshow’s Ellen Eliasoph and Greg Basser reveal the details of their United Artists-style production and distribution venture in China, which will see them working with talent including Zhang Ziyi, Stephen Chow, Chen Daming — and Keanu Reeves.
BIFA comes of age
Recognition from the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) is now taken very seriously by UK distributors. Sarah Cooper looks at how the awards, seen as an edgy, young event on the UK calendar, are maturing while striving to maintain a distinct identity
Europe's humour hits home in 2011
On the eve of the European Film Awards in Berlin on December 4, Screen looks at the European films that have triumphed at both the European and global box office in 2011
A touch of class
Quad, the French producer trio behind Heartbreaker and Intouchables, tell Melanie Goodfellow why they believe their projects enjoy popular and global appeal
The globe goes with Sandler
Adam Sandler is a comedy brand. As his latest film Jack And Jill gears up for its international release, Ian Sandwell analyses how well he translates outside North America
Steppe in a global direction
An exciting new Kazakh director is earning comparisons with Guy Ritchie and Timur Bekmambetov and has attracted an illustrious international team to shoot a coming-of-age film aimed at global audiences. Liz Shackleton reports
How much does crime pay?
The Nordic crime thriller boom has moved from page to screen and is opening up the mainstream global box office to other genres from the region. Andreas Wiseman reports
Up in the air
The airline rights business is soaring as on-demand in-flight systems introduce a wider range of independent and international films to discerning passengers. But rising fuel costs, fewer flights and the arrival of on-board internet access could signal turbulence ahead. John Hazelton reports
Singapore's French connection
Unifrance president and Mact producer Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre tells Melanie Goodfellow why the organisation is focusing on Singapore as it seeks to invest in new markets
Life in the fast frame
Peter Jackson is shooting The Hobbit at 48fps, and James Cameron is set to follow suit with Avatar 2. But what is the point if films cannot yet be projected at such a high spec? Adrian Pennington reports
All Things To All Men
Producer Pierre Mascolo and writer/director George Isaac talk family values, leading ladies and A-list actors on the set of their glossy London set thriller All Things To All Men.
Arthur Christmas tops UK chart in fourth week
Arthur Christmas holds off newcomers Happy Feet 2, Hugo and The Thing to top UK box office on $3m (£1.9m).
Scorsese goes digital
Martin Scorsese revisits the birth of cinema in Hugo and pushes the boundaries of digital 3D in the 21st century.
Breaking Dawn secures $7.1m (£4.6m) from second weekend in UK
Breaking Dawn easily on top, Arthur Christmas posts consecutive week-on-week increase.
Goa projects make their mark
Co-productions set up at Goa’s Film Bazaar are now gracing leading international festivals. Liz Shackleton reports
Flying Blind
Producer Alison Sterling, director Kasia Klimkiewicz and actress Helen McCrory talk about working on Bristol based love story/political thriller Flying Blind, the third film to come out of South West Screen’s microbudget scheme iFeatures.
Twilight breaks new ground in UK after $22m (£13.9m) launch
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn posts franchise best $22m (£13.9m) opening in UK from only three days.
Immortals pips Arthur Christmas at UK box office
Immortals and Arthur Christmas lead a number of underwhelming debuts at the UK box office.
The Healer
Brussels born, Italian raised director Giorgio Serafini is currently in post production on his supernatural thriller which shot in the woods of North Carolina
Canada's one-stop shop
Montreal-based Mediabiz — now reorganised into production arm Mediamax and financial products division Mediabiz Capital — is making an aggressive play in the international film business. Mike Goodridge spoke to group CEO Karine Martin
The one to watch
Fuelled by a multiplex boom, the UAE box office is much bigger than previously believed. But market peculiarities and demographic quirks mean not all films perform as elsewhere.
Asia Pacific hits the heights
How the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Nov 24) are helping to raise the global recognition of films from the region.
The fee furore
Is a solution to the virtual print fee problem any nearer for Europe’s indie distributors? Melanie Goodfellow listens in on the heated debate at Europa Distribution’s annual conference in Lyon
Excess all areas
Finding money is not a problem in China. Finding the right money, from astute investors who bring something more to the project than their present girlfriend, is vital.
Tunisia gets ready for its close-up
The North African country has long been popular with international directors shooting on location, but since this year’s revolution the local industry is looking to expand.
Driving force
Paul Walker is at the wheel in a thriller uniting South African talent and financing with international producers. Screen visits the set.
The remaking of MPCA
Brad Krevoy tells Jeremy Kay why he has rebooted his old company with a lively mix of Black List scripts, English-language versions of foreign hits and genre slam-dunks
A new approach to international
Why are some of the US studios closing or restructuring their international production and acquisitions departments? John Hazelton reports
AFM Buzz: US sellers
Hot projects from US sellers include Ron Howard’s Formula 1 film Rush from Exclusive; Woody Allen’s next film from Focus Features International; Hyde Park’s Iraq-set action thriller Thunder Run; and many more.
AFM buzz: UK sellers
From UK-based sales companies, Pathé brings Luke Evans-starrer No One Lives [pictured]; K5 has footage of Paul Walker in Vehicle 19; Goldcrest offers a new film from Penelope Spheeris; and Protagonist unveils 3D footage from hot sequel StreetDance 2, plus more buzzy projects.
Making it work in Rome
The International Rome Film Festival’s industry initiatives New Cinema Network and The Business Street are well-liked by producers and financiers; Screen also previews the NCN projects including Paddy Considine’s new film.
The spirit of Tokyo
The organisers of this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival are confident there is enough global goodwill towards Japan to attract international visitors to this year’s festival.
The TIFFCOM co-production market
Asian companies are out in force at TIFFCOM.
Can Doha strike gold?
As this year’s Doha Tribeca Film Festival gets underway, Geoffrey Macnab explores the strategy of the Doha Film Institute and looks at its impact on film-making in the region.
Perfect 10
In her decade as head of the BFI London Film Festival, Sandra Hebron has helped raise its international profile and made it an important showcase for films heading into the awards season.
Toronto: a festival with benefits
There were only a couple of all-night bidding wars at this year’s Toronto, but that didn’t mean buyers weren’t buying with confidence.
Tower Block
Severance writer James Moran’s latest project, directed by first-time feature directors Ronnie Thompson and James Nunn.
Lore
Producers Karsten Stöter, Liz Watts and Paul Welsh talk about working with acclaimed Australian director Cate Shortland on her German-language project Lore.
Barbara
Yella and Jerichow director Christian Petzold and producer Florian Koerner von Gustorf speak about their latest collaboration.
‘We want to be on every platform’
Jonathan Sehring tells Jeremy Kay why 10 years since the launch of IFC Films, its sister label Sundance Selects has become the destination for prestige cinema, while the former is now focusing on broader theatrical releases
The dating game
There is a fine art to matching 600 films a year with just 52 release slots. Geoffrey Macnab looks at the elaborate game of musical chairs that results when a big film suddenly changes its schedule
San Sebastian's golden touch
New films from Martin Scorsese, Julie Delpy and Kim Ki-duk suggest it may be a vintage year at San Sebastian (Sept 16-24).
Producers doing it for themselves
An increasing number of producers are choosing to bypass sales agents altogether and negotiate directly with international buyers. As a producer points out, it can make sense to sell your own film — but only in special cases.
Catch me if you can
Tom Hanks’ genial, engaging persona has made him one of the most successful film stars in the world. We examine the key territories for Hanks at the box office.
Headhunters and What A Man among strong international openers
Screen rounds up the biggest independent movers and shakers on the international scene.
Naked ambition
With all eyes on Scandinavia to find the next lucrative international franchise, Norway is stepping into the frame.
Haugesund’s hot tickets
The Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund (Aug 17-26) offers international attendees a window on some of the hottest new projects from the region. Jorn Rossing Jensen reports
Northern exposure
Some of the world’s most electric foreign-language titles are being made by Norwegian film-makers right now. Screen profiles a selection of new films and spotlights a trio of rising directors.
Welcome to the future
Norway is the first country in the world to have digitised all of its film theatres. Jorn Rossing Jensen looks at the impact it is having on cinema-going in the territory
The next chapter
As the number of Nordic crime film and TV adaptations increases, Mike Goodridge talks to two of the region’s most successful novelists, Jo Nesbo and Camilla Lackberg, about the process of bringing their hot properties to the screen.
Venice 2011: Competition profiles
Screen gears up for the Venice Film Festival’s 2011 edition, which promises to kickstart the annual awards season.
Kollywood's time to shine
Is Kollywood the new Bollywood? Hollywood certainly hopes so as the studios increase their local-language collaborations with the Tamil industry to tap into a homegrown audience of 70 million.
Run For Your Wife
Ray Cooney originally optioned his stage play to Fox and Columbia before deciding to take matters into his own hands. He is currently shooting in London.
Harry Potter approaches $900m as Korea continues to see big results
Screen looks at last weekend’s biggest international performers, including three impressive local titles in South Korea.
Cockneys Vs Zombies
The first feature to come out of James Harris and Mark Lane’s production outfit The Tea Shop & Film Company is a zombie comedy adventure which is being distributed in the UK by Optimum Releasing.
Song For Marion
London To Brighton and Cherry Tree Lane director Paul Andrew Williams talks about shooting his surprisingly upbeat fourth film which features pensioners body popping and singing about sex.
Locarno finds a new voice
This year’s Locarno Film Festival has a distinctly French flavour as the event stakes its claim to become the perfect stepping stone between Cannes and Venice.
The Sorcerer And The White Snake
Chinese producer Chui Po-chu talks to Screen about upcoming $25m fantasy drama The Sorcerer And The White Snake, starring Jet Li, which is being sold internationally by Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop.
Harry Potter climbing all-time international chart, Reliance’s Singham scores well
Potter becomes 17th biggest international film after second weekend as Korea and India see local successes.
Trap For Cinderella
British director Iain Softley tells Screen about his latest feature, a psychological thriller set in London and the South of France, starring upcoming Brit actresses Tuppence Middleton and Alexandra Roach which is being sold internationally by Ealing Metro.
