Screen
Staff writers

Screen International unveils its UK Stars Of Tomorrow

12-Jul-2007
Screen International has unveiled its 2007 UK Stars Of Tomorrow, a comprehensive round-up of the brightest new talent in the British film industry.
Government closes UK tax schemes

2-Mar-2007
The UK Treasury has pulled the plug on tax schemes expected to raise hundreds of millions of pounds of film finance this year.
Screenwriters festival launches script market

16-Feb-2007
This year's international Screen Writers Festival is to launch a speculative script market.
The Queen and King win royal flush at the Baftas

11-Feb-2007
The Queen's royal progress in this year's awards season was matched at this year's Orange British Academy awards by the grand success of Last King Of Scotland.
United 93 named best film by London critics

9-Feb-2007
United 93 has been named best film and Paul Greengrass best director by the London Film Critics' Circle.But it was The Queen which dominated, winning best British film, best British director for Stephen Frears, best screenwriter for Peter Morgan and best British actress for Dame Helen Mirren.
Chinese censors approve Lost In Beijing with major cuts

5-Feb-2007
Li Yu's Berlin competition title Lost In Beijing was finally passed by China's Film Reviewing Committee this afternoon. However the approved film is 15 minutes shorter than the original version according to the film's producer Fang Li.
Lost In Beijing producer awaits final decision from censors

5-Feb-2007
Fang Li, the producer of Berlin competition title Lost In Beijing, is having a final meeting with Chinese film censors today (Feb 5) in a last-ditch attempt to win approval for the film to participate in the festival.
UK exhibitors pull Museum in row over DVD release window

1-Feb-2007
Some of the UK's biggest exhibitors are pulling Fox's Night At The Museum this weekend in a row over a shortened 13-week window between theatrical and DVD release. Odeon and Vue cinemas are amongst those taking action - though none of the chains involved was making a statement tonight.It follows a similar row in Germany last week where the leading cinema chains forced Fox into concessions over the DVD release for
Aardman and Dreamworks finally part ways

31-Jan-2007
DreamWorks andAardman have formally announced the premature ending of their five-film exclusive partnership that dates back to 1999.
Chinese box office to double by 2010, says report

30-Jan-2007
Chinese box office revenues will almost double over the next three years, according to analyst Screen Digest and Nielsen NRG, from last year's $336m to $720m by 2010.The rapid box office growth that has been driven by the opening up of the Chinese market and the fast development of modern multiplexes looks set to continue.The report predicts an increase in modern, or silver screen cinemas from 2,940 in 2005 to 5,000 by 2010.But ...
Multi-million dollar boost for Irish film

25-Jan-2007
The Irish government has pledged $188m (Euros 145) to support the Irish Film Board's work until 2013.The investment forms part of the $238bn seven-year National Development Plan, details of which were revealed yesterday.It will be allocated to the Irish Film Board to support its work, and particularly to support international objectives, such as marketing Ireland as a film location through the recently-opened Los Angeles office.
Sundance Film Festival 2007

21-Jan-2007
Reviews (A-Z)
Bond and The Queen head BAFTA longlist

5-Jan-2007
Casino Royale and The Queen top the Orange British Academy Film Awards longlist with 14.
China bans Summer Palace director for five years

5-Sep-2006
Following months ofspeculation, Chinese authorities have finally made a statement aboutcontroversial Cannes competition entry Summer Palace, banning both the directorLou Ye and producer Nai An from making films in China for five years.
Breaking News: Venice Line-Up Announced

27-Jul-2006
IN COMPETITION
Volver tops Screen's Cannes critics poll

1-Jun-2006
Ken Loach'sThe Wind That Shakes TheBarley may have captured the Palme d'Or, but by a notable margin Screen International's juryof critics voted Pedro Almodovar's Volver as thebest film in Cannes competition.
Elena Anaya joins cast of The Floating World

26-May-2006
FilmFour gets on board for first Screenwriters Festival

8-May-2006
Triple triumph for Adam's Apple at Brussels Film Festival

27-Mar-2006
Adam'sApple, by Danish director Anders Thomas Jensen (Flickering Lights, The Green Butchers), was the big winner of the24th edition of the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festivalon Saturday. The film scooped the GoldenRaven (Grand Prize of the Festival), the Meliès d'Argent (Best European Fantastic Film)and the Pegasus (AudiencePrize).The International Jury made up of Chairman Michael Ironside,Philippe Nahon, Rob Schmidt and Matthew Robbinsdescribed ...
Pioneering launch of DVD quality human rights film on the Internet

20-Mar-2006
DerekWyatt MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Internet Committee, launched the firstever DVD quality human rights film on theInternet. The documentary film, Russia/Chechnya:Voices of Dissent, produced by Vanessa Redgraveand directed by Carlo Nero, was made in honour of Amnesty International.
The government link with creative industries for biggest ever UK crackdown on counterfeiting and benefit fraud

17-Mar-2006
The government and creative industries announced onMarch 16 the completion of the biggest crackdown on counterfeiters and benefitfraudsters ever seen in the UK.The operation was conducted by the Department forWork and Pensions (DWP) in conjunction with British record industry associationthe BPI, film industry anti-piracy body the Federation ...
Former President of UIP dies of a stroke

17-Mar-2006
Industryveteran, Pano Alafouzo,died of a stroke in London on March 10. Pano Alafouzowas born in Alexandria, Egypt, in ...
Sandrew Metronome picks up rights to Goodbye Bafana

9-Mar-2006
Sandrew Metronome has bought the rights and closed the deal, which coversall the Nordic countries Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland, ...
Senator offers digital cinema copies of new films to exhibitors

3-Mar-2006
German independent distributor Senator is to offer digital cinema copies of its new films to allcinemas equipped with DLP Cinema Projectors.
Sandrew Metronome acquires rights to five feature films

28-Feb-2006
Sandrew Metronome acquired Scandinavian rights to five newfeature films following the Berlin Film Festival. Winners of the Silver Bearfor Best Director documentary, Michael Winterbottomand Mat Whitecross', The Road to Guantanamo is part dram andpart documentary and tells the tale of a trio of British Muslims, known as theTipton Three who were held at Guantanamo Bay for twoyears before being released without ...
Horror film Reverb to commence shooting in London

24-Feb-2006
Horror film Reverb will start shooting on February27th. This London-set film is based in a recording studio and starsa clutch of young British actors, Leo Gregory (Stoned), Eva Birthistle (Breakfast on Pluto) and Margo Stilley (9 Songs). The ...
Elementary Particles heads NonStop Entertainment's Berlin acquisitions

17-Feb-2006
Swedish distributor, NonStop Entertainmentbought a slate of films from the Berlin Film Festival. Leading the line-up is Oskar Roehler's, The Elementary Particles, the tale oftwo half-brothers struggling against sexual frustration and self-destruction. Particles, was sold to 23 countriesstraight after its Berlinale premiere and is one ofthe favourites to win a Golden Bear.
Bangkok International Film Festival honours Fortissimo Films

17-Feb-2006
The Bangkok International Film Festival is to award Wouter Barendrecht and Michael J.Werner, co-chairmen of Fortissimo Films, with a Golden Kinnareefor their contribution to Asian Cinema at the black tie Awards Gala to be held onFebruary 24th .
M.Night Shyamalan named ShoWest Director of the Year

17-Feb-2006
M. Night Shyamalan has beenmade ShoWest Director of the Year it was announced byMitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the eventthat will be held in Las Vegas, March13-16. Shyamalanwill be presented with the award on the closing night ceremony at Bally's andParis Las Vegas.Shyamalan's next ...
Kenneth Maidment memorial today

17-Feb-2006
Kenneth L. Maidment, a former VPof Columbia Pictures and the former president of the British Film ProducersAssociation (the predecessor to Pact), passed away on February 1 at Frimley Park Hospital in the UK.
Universal Pictures signs production agreement with Aronofsky and Watson

17-Feb-2006
UniversalPictures has entered into a first look production arrangement withdirector/writer Darren Aronofsky and his producer Eric Watson and theircompany Protozoa Pictures. The duo will also develop and produce feature filmsfor Universal's sister companies Focus Features and Rogue Pictures.
Michael London launches Groundswell Productions

17-Feb-2006
Producer MichaelLondon has teamed up with two new equity-based film funds, Lexington FilmFunding and Crescendo Independent Film Fund to establish GroundswellProductions, an independent financing and production company that aims to makefive films a year under the $20 million range. The new entity has access to $55million and aims over the next six months to raise additonal funds of $100 million."The ...
Aardman animations morph into mobile phones

16-Feb-2006
One of the first characters created byanimation studio Aardman co-founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton is to reappear on mobile phones.
TLA Releasing buys rights to El Calentito

16-Feb-2006
TLA Releasingacquired Alberto Rodriguez's Seville-set teen drama, 7 Virgins from Sogepaq at the Berlin Film Festival for itsBritish label and has further added to its Spanish slate by buying Chus Gutierrez' comedy ElCalentito for its American DVD label.
David Puttnam to receive Academy Fellowship at BAFTA

16-Feb-2006
On Sunday 19 February 2006, Lord Puttnamwill receive the Academy Fellowship at BAFTA's annualawards ceremony. The Award presented by Lord Attenborough, President of theAcademy, will be for outstanding contribution to world cinema. Luminaries toreceive the Fellowship Award include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, SeanConnery and Stanley Kubrick. David ...
Cannes contenders queue up for the Croisette

16-Feb-2006
With the dust settling onthe Berlin line-up, all eyes are already on Cannes and films vying forselection there: Croisetteregulars such as David Lynch (InlandEmpire), Aki Karismauki (Lights In The Dusk), Ken Loach (TheWind That Shakes The Barley), Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Scream ofthe Ants) and Kim Ki-duk (Time) seem ripe to be joined by Francis Ford Coppola, going back toFrance and his indie days with Youth Without Youth.
The European Film Market rebooks 100% for 2007

15-Feb-2006
With foot traffic yesterday noticeably down on previous days,the European Film Market is winding down after five days of business whichproved more productive for international buyers than the UScontingent.
Muerer, Grosch to keynote European Film Finance Summit

7-Feb-2006
Jens Meurer, partner in Germany's Egoli Tossell Film, and Andy Grosch, CEO ofFilm &Entertainment VIP Medienfonds Geschaftsfuhrun willkeynote Screen International's annual European Film Finance Summit, to be heldWednesday (February 8) at the Ritz Carlton in Berlin.
Pioneering film competition to encourage use of new technologies

23-Jan-2006
Screen International is holding a pioneeringfilmmaking competition at its Cinema Next conference on February 3rd.Three filmmaking teams will take part in The Cinema Next Mini-Movie Competitionwhere they will use mobile phone cameras to produce short films which will be shot,edited and screened at this London-based conference. The teams will be allowed to start ...
Potente debut among dozen surprises in German sidebar

20-Jan-2006
Billed as "a surprise package of recent German cinema", the first films in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino programme include the directorial debut of Franka Potente, the German actress who became an international star on the back of Run Lola Run and The Bourne Identity and its sequel.
Concorde acquires distribution rights for Candy

19-Jan-2006
Fortissimo Filmshas closed a distribution deal for Candy with German distributor Concorde Filmverleih. The deal was brokered by Fortissimoco-chairman Wouter Barendrecht andConcorde Filmverleih's managing director MarkusZimmer."This marks a first-time collaboration between Fortissimo and Concorde,a distributor with a universal reputation for high ...
Disney in 'serious' takeover talks with Pixar

19-Jan-2006
Walt Disneyis in serious discussions about a potential takeover of Pixar, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
International Jury for the 56th Berlinale is decided

17-Jan-2006
The eight-member international jury under the presidency ofCharlotte Rampling was announced today, January 17th.For the first time in 56 years of the Berlin International Film Festival, thejury will announce the winners during the awards ceremony on February 18.
2006 Golden Globe winners

17-Jan-2006
2006 Golden Globe winners:Best Motion Picture - DramaBrokeback MountainBest Performance By An Actress In AMotion Picture - DramaFelicity Huffman - TransamericaBest Performance By An Actor In A MotionPicture - DramaPhilip Seymour Hoffman - CapoteBest Motion ...
The programme for Berlin's Kinderfilmfest and 14plus is finalised

12-Jan-2006
A diverse programme offilms has been finalised for Berlinale's Kinderfilmfest and 14plus. Of the twenty-one films chosen, fourwill have their world premieres. These include two German films Hänsel und Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) by director Anne Wild and GernotRoll's Der Räuber Hotzenplotz (The Robber Hotzenplotz) a film from India, Doodh ...
British Film Institute to refurbish its South Bank venue

22-Dec-2005
The British Film Institute (bfi)announced on Tuesday that a significantly refurbished and improved venue on theSouth Bank will open in Autumn 2006, intime for the Times bfi50th London Film Festival..
Transamerica is a big hit internationally for ContentFilm

20-Dec-2005
ContentFilm PLC announced a raft of sales for its newest acquisition, Transamerica, whose star, FelicityHuffman, received the nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Dramatic Actress, as did Dolly Parton for Best Original Song.
Korean film exports increase by 15%

20-Dec-2005
Korean film exportsincreased by 15% to $67m this year, according to a report from localinvestor/producer IM Pictures, with Japan a major buyer of star-powered Korean fare.
Typhoon set to hit North America through DreamWorks

20-Dec-2005
CJ Entertainment has announced thatK.T. Kwak's $14.5m action blockbuster Typhoon is set to hit North America throughDreamWorks' distribution network, marking the first Korean film to go through amajor distributor in the US."At a time when Korean films aregaining popularity around the globe, we are very excited to be able to expandthe market of high quality films such as ...
Breaking news: Golden Globe nominations

13-Dec-2005
Klaus Haro's film, Mother of Mine, wins Golden Pyramid

13-Dec-2005
Mother of Minewas awarded last weekend both at the 29th Cairo International FilmFestival and at the Tallinn Black Nights Festival (PÖFF). In Cairo the film won: bestdirection (Klaus Härö), best lead actress (Maria Lundqvist) and the Golden Pyramid, the main prize for bestfilm.
Moment To Remember breaks Japanese record

7-Dec-2005
A Moment to Remember has broken the recordfor highest grossing Korean film in Japan. Surpassing rival 'KoreanWave' film April Snow, the film grossed$22m (2.7 billion yen) as of December 4, according to international sales agentCJ Entertainment.
Korean box office on course to beat 2004 record

5-Dec-2005
Korean box office on course to beat 2004 record

5-Dec-2005
Korean box office admissionshit a ten-year high in November and are on course to set a new record byyear-end. In a monthly industry analysis report, multiplex chain CJ CGVprojects admissions for the year to total between 138 -141 million, up 3-4%from last year and bucking global trends.
Korean box office on course to beat 2004 record

5-Dec-2005
Sympathy wins best picture at Korea's Blue Dragon Awards

2-Dec-2005
Construction begins on film studio complex in Wales

21-Jul-2005
Work has begun on the construction on DragonInternational Studios - dubbed Valleywood - in Wales.
Cannes briefs: latest deals, announcements

17-May-2005
Shoreline Green with Coupland screenplay
Cannes briefs: latest deals, announcements

16-May-2005
Content spooks Aliens
Tax hope for UK Budget

16-Mar-2005
TheUK film industry is hoping the government will make an announcement today onthe future of tax incentives for productions.
UK Chancellor pledges new tax reliefs for film-makers

16-Mar-2005
Chancellor GordonBrown has said he will provide new tax relief for film-makers.
Warner ventures into Chinese DVD distribution

25-Feb-2005
Warner Bros has becomethe first US studio to establish an in-country DVD/VCD distribution andmarketing operation in China.Warner Home Videoannounced yesterday the formation of CAV Warner Home Entertainment Co., a jointventure with China Audio Video that is based in Shanghai and is nowoperational.The announcement followsextensive analysis by Warner Home Video of the dynamic Chinese home videomarket and its potential for continued growth. ...
Films Distribution scores sales on Berlin's Panorama opener

14-Feb-2005
INTERNATIONAL 3 February

3-Feb-2005
Napster mulls move into online film distribution

24-Jan-2005
Napster, the fast-growing US digital music service, isconsidering moving into films and video games in an ambitious drive to win newsubscribers.
UK's b.TWEEN festival unveils cross-platform development lab

17-Jan-2005
Tokyo toasts Whisky

1-Nov-2004
Uruguay jointdirectors Juan Pablo Rebella & Pablo Stoll's Whisky - a low-budget drama- won the Grand Prix at the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival,which wrapped Sunday. Mirella Pascual was awarded the Best Actress prize forher performance in Whisky
Beyond Films announces Cannes sales

24-May-2004
Beyond Films hasannounced sales as the Cannes Film Festival comes to an end.
Nexo takes on The Woodsman for Italy

19-May-2004
Nexo has taken Italian rights to The Woodsman, Nicole Kassell's directorial debut which is inDirectors Fortnight, from Lee Daniels Entertainment.The acquisition comes hard on the heels of Nexo's successwith Monster which has grossed over$2m after three weeks on release in Italy. Like Monster, The Woodsmanwill be distributed domestically in the last week of Dec by Newmarket Films.
UK/IRELAND 18 May

18-May-2004
Focus takes int'l on Cronicas

17-May-2004
Lord Of War cast rounds out

13-May-2004
Tarantino to screen 'Japanese edit' of Kill Bill

13-May-2004
Screen International's Review of the Year 2003

24-Dec-2003
2003 was the year that Old Europe, to steal from Donald Rumsfeld's war cry, took a reality check in preparation for the New. Local film support apparatuses were re-engineered, national boundaries questioned and distribution-led cinema more fully embraced. Vivendi finally surrendered Universal and with it Europe's ill-advised claim to studio status. It was Goodbye Lenin, but also hello to piracy after 770,000 counterfeit copies of Europe's best picture surfaced on Germany's streets ...
Leth parks bike doc in favour of opera opus

27-Nov-2003
Acclaimed Danish documentary maker and poet Joergen Leth, whose The Five Obstructions, his collaboration with Lars von Trier, is being shown as part of IDFA's special programme and which has been nominated for a European Film Award, has confirmed that he has put his Tour de France project on hold and will instead push ahead with a number of other projects, including one involving von Trier.
Dans Grozny Dans wins inaugural cph:dox

21-Nov-2003
Copenhagen's first international documentary film festival cph:dox, which wrapped this weekend, saw its major awards go to Jos de Putter's Dutch film Dans, Grozny, Dans and Jose Padilha's Brazilian Bus 174.
My Architect breaks theatrical record

21-Nov-2003
Growing evidence of the theatrical viability of documentary films came this week with the US performance of My Architect.
Killing Machine named as first EFA 2003 winner

19-Nov-2003
More US critics protest MPAA screener ban

5-Nov-2003
The Chicago Film CriticsAssociation have joined their Los Angeles counterparts is suspending theirend-of-year critics awards in protest over the decision by the Motion PictureAssociation of American to prevent screener tapes from being seen at home by anyoneexcept Oscar voters.
UK Film Council supports int'l co-productions

17-Oct-2003
The UK Film Council is investing a total of £1.7m from its New Cinema Fund in five international co-productions.
Film20 assesses EU-expansion in the film industry

15-Oct-2003
In advance of the second part of its Euro Expansion Conference, to be held in Berlin on October 20 - 21, Germany's Film20 producer lobby group held a press conference in Berlin to set the agenda.
Spun, Shottas get UK premieres through ICA, Amnesty

26-Sep-2003
Hitler's film-maker Riefenstahl dies at 101

9-Sep-2003
Leni Riefenstahl, the German filmmaker who became a favourite of Adolf Hitler, has died at the age of 101, the mayor of the town where she lived said on Tuesday.
2003 festival winners list

6-Sep-2003
Venice 2003 - MainCompetition (Venice 60), feature films
Venice 2003 festival winners list

6-Sep-2003
Venice 2003 - MainCompetition (Venice 60), feature films
Venice festival winners list

6-Sep-2003
Venice 2003 - MainCompetition (Venice 60), feature films
Six-hour epic emerges as surprise Italian hit

15-Jul-2003
A six-hour long epic about the lives of two brothers between 1966 and 2002 has become a surprise sleeper hit in Italy.
French admissions in March show weakness

16-Apr-2003
French cinemaadmissions in March hit 15.47 million, a gain of 3.4% compared with the samemonth last year.
Venice star Nadia Zandegiacomo dies, age 35

3-Mar-2003
Nadia Zandegiacomo of the Venice Film Festival died last week at the age of 35, having succumbed to the cancer that kept her away from the 2002 festival - the first time in ten years that she had not given her invaluable all to the event.
Talk To Her triumphs at Bangkok

22-Jan-2003
Pedro Almodovar's Talk To Her took both best film and best director prizes at the first competitive edition of the Bangkok international film festival.
UPI to launch video distribution arm in Mexico

3-Dec-2002
Universal Pictures International (UPI), the London-based international video distribution arm of Universal Pictures, has announced its plans to launch a wholly-owned video distribution operation in Mexico.
CineMart unveils 2003 projects

3-Dec-2002
The CineMart project market (Jan 26-30) held under the umbrella of the Rotterdam film festival, unveiled what its organisers claimed is one of its strongest ever line-ups.
Hong Kong film industry hammers out crisis proposals

19-Sep-2002
The creation of a Hong Kong Film Commission - centralising all of the territory's film support mechanisms - was one of the key proposals to emerge from a crisis conference held by the Hong Kong film industry yesterday (September 18).Conference delegates also suggested that the Hong Kong government underwrite bank loans for film production."We're not asking for subsidies or hand-outs," said John Sham, standing adviser to the Hong Kong Federation of Film Workers which ...
The Pornographer forced into double UK video release

17-Sep-2002
The UK's Tartan Video is to release Bertrand Bonello's The Pornographer on video in two different versions due to the restrictions of the British Video Recordings Act 1984.
Hong Kong's film industry appeals for government assistance

13-Sep-2002
Hong Kong's leading film organisations plan to appeal to the government for help following a sharp downturn in both production levels and box office for domestic films in the first eight months of the year.
Hong Kong exhibitors slash ticket prices

3-Sep-2002
Hong Kong cinemas are slashing ticket prices for the second time this year after a disappointing summer in which box office takings slumped by 36%
Deltamac is newest distributor to enter Hong Kong market

1-Sep-2002
Hong Kong's increasingly competitive distribution sector has a new player Deltamac (HK) Ltd, which will handle the Hong Kong theatrical release of The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers in January next year.
China Star consolidates ahead of rights issue

26-Aug-2002
Hong Kong producer-distributor China Star is planning a rights issue to raise around $12m (HK$95m), of which $9.6m (HK$75m) will be pumped into production.
DreamWorks threatens legal action over web domain name

23-Aug-2002
Hollywood entertainment studio DreamWorks is threatening an India internet design firm with the legal action for registering the domain name webdreamworks.com.
Iran acts on domestic film crisis

23-Aug-2002
The dire predicament of Iran's domestic film production and exhibition industry was highlighted this week when deputy minister of culture Hassan Pezeshk revealed a dramatic fall in domestic box-office which has reached such lows that Iranian citizens spent an average of just 40-minutes last year at the cinema.
Eschbach gets top sales job at TF1 International

23-Aug-2002
Didier Sapaut, TF1 International's chief executive has announced the appointment of Nicolas Eschbach as senior vice president, replacing Perrine Teze as top salesman at the French broadcast giant's film sales unit.
German pay-TV network attracts 20 takeover suitors

22-Aug-2002
Investment bank Morgan Stanley has sent out preliminary sales brochures on Premiere to over 20 as-yet-unnamed parties in a bid to secure take-over bids for the ailing German pay-TV platform.
Han Entertainment's The Touch shows eastern promise

22-Aug-2002
Despite stiff competition from Spider-Man, Han Entertainment's The Touch is continuing to perform strongly in China, where it has grossed $2.7m (RMB22m) after 18 days (August 1-18) from 162 screens.
AOL takes back full ownership of Warner Bros, HBO

21-Aug-2002
AOL Time Warner has taken full control of Time Warner Entertainment (TWE), the business that owns Warner Bros. studios and cable channels HBO, Court TV and Comedy Central, with a $9bn acquisition of the telecommunication giant AT&T's 27% stake.
Universal Studios faces merger with Malone's cable networks ahead of possible IPO

21-Aug-2002
John Malone's Liberty Media has reportedly begun exploratory talks with Vivendi Universal with a view to merging some of his cable TV interests with the US entertainment businesses of the beleagured French conglomerate. The combined operation, which would bring Universal Studios, Focus Films and USA Networks under the same roof as the Starz/Encore pay-TV group and the Discovery Channel, would then be spun off in a public float.
Canada's Telefilm announces management restructure

21-Aug-2002
Canada's film and television development agency Telefilm has appointed three new management executives as part of plans to improve its "decision-making, processes and overall performance" announced by executive director Richard Stursberg at Banff in June.
Veteran Indian film-maker appeals over 'ridiculous' censorship

20-Aug-2002
Indian documentary film-maker Anand Patwardhan is appealing to the country's Appellate Tribunal in a bid to overturn a decision by Indian censors that is insisting over 20 cuts be made to his anti-war film War and Peace before it can be shown in Indian cinemas.
PowerHouse/Steeple pact on The Sailmaker

20-Aug-2002
PowerHouse Studios has signed a deal with Steeple Distributions to co-produce two feature films in association with Arama/Zegna Pictures. Steeple will provide funding for the two projects via a $132m letter of credit issued by the Bank of New York.The first co-production will be Shimon Arama's The Sailmaker. To be directed by Sir Richard Attenborough it will star Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. Details of the second film are still under raps.
UK box office: best July for 31 years

19-Aug-2002
UK box office admissions in July were the highest for 31 years, according to the latest figures released by the Cinema Advertising Association.
Powerhouse, Steeple pact on The Sailmaker

19-Aug-2002
PowerHouse Studios has signed a deal with Steeple Distributions to co-produce two feature films in association with Arama/Zegna Pictures. Steeple will provide funding for the two projects via a $132m letter of credit issued by the Bank of New York.The first co-production will be Shimon Arama's The Sailmaker. To be directed by Sir Richard Attenborough it will star Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. Details of the second film are still under raps.
Japan plans $22m boost for local films

16-Aug-2002
The Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairs is asking the government to double its spend on local film this year in a bid to boost domestic film production.
Fox lifts otherwise mournful News Corp

15-Aug-2002
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation today reported widening full year losses of $6.26bn (2001: $445m) after the company was forced to write down the value of its stakes in ailing interactive TV company Gemstar, insolvent KirchMedia and Italian pay-TV broadcaster Stream.
Constantin exits Escape Artist deal

15-Aug-2002
Munich-based producer-distributor Constantin Film yesterday said it had prematurely terminated a two-year output deal with US producer Escape Artists as a result of changes to its product sourcing strategy.
Deauville announces line-up

13-Aug-2002
The Deauville Festival of American Film (Aug 30-Sept 8) unveiled a strong competition section of US independents and a starry line-up for its (French) premieres section.
San Sebastian announces line-up for Zabaltegi sidebar

12-Aug-2002
San Sebastian announces line-up for Zabaltegi sidebarCannes' Palme D'Or winner The Pianist and Berlin's Golden Bear success Bloody Sunday among 16 featured films for Festivals Top strandThe Donostia-San Sebastian Film festival has announced the line-up for this year's Festival's Top strand, part of its Zabaltegi sidebar.According to San Sebastian organisers, the Festivals' Top ...
Third consortium joins KirchMedia race

12-Aug-2002
A group that includes existing minority shareholders has become the third party to enter the bidding for the core assets of insolvent German media outfit KirchMedia.
Hong Kong's B&S to join growth enterprise market with 100 million shares

1-Aug-2002
Producer-distributor B&S Films has unveiled plans to join the long list of Hong Kong film companies listed on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM).
Geisler/Roberdeau option McCain POW memoir

15-Apr-2002
Bobby Geisler and JohnRoberdeau, the New York producing duo who were last involved in TerrenceMalick's The Thin Red Line, haveoptioned the movie rights to Faith Of My Fathers, the best-selling Vietnam prisoner of war memoirwritten by John McCain, the high-profile US Senator for Arizona.Written with Mark Salter,McCain's book is the story of what he learned from his grandfather andfather - both four-star admirals in the US Navy ...
Japanese debut wins Paris festival's top prize

11-Apr-2002
Microsoft readies new films on the net offensive

8-Apr-2002
Software giant Microsoft has set its sights on the movie and TV distribution business, backed by an enhanced version of its Windows Media Player that will allow feature films to be delivered via the internet.
EasyGroup promises price competition at UK BO

7-Apr-2002
Innovation in the form of price competition could be introduced to the UK theatrical market if Stellios Haji-Ioannou succeeds in expanding his Easy Group empire into cinema.
Losses pile up at fallen stars of Neuer Markt

28-Mar-2002
German companies' stars have waned with stunning speed in the last 12-18 months, making the Neuer Markt an ominous label today, when previously it was a badge that suggested dynamism and wealth.
Shaw to press on with Movie City studio project

27-Mar-2002
The venerable Shaw Brothers group is to press on with plans to build Movie City, a $109m (HK$850m) studio complex in Hong Kong's Tseung Kwan O district.
Middle East's Showtime buys package for PPV

27-Mar-2002
Middle Eastern pay-TV network Showtime has acquired a large package of Arabic films for broadcast on its new pay-per-view (PPV) channels.
Cannes, Positif to honour Alain Resnais

26-Mar-2002
The Cannes festival (May 15-25) is to honour one of its all time favourites and right a slight that dates back 34 years.
Nanni Moretti to give lecture at Cannes

18-Mar-2002
Last year's Palme d'Or winner, Nanni Moretti will return to the Croisette to give the Cinema Lesson (La Lecon Du Cinema) at this year's Cannes Festival.
A Rumor Of Angels

8-Feb-2002
Danes grab limelight at Berlin's Kinderfilmfest

18-Jan-2002
Denmark has a strong presence at next month's 25th anniversary edition of Kinderfilmfest at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Fantasporto festival unveils genre selection

18-Jan-2002
Jack the Ripper story From Hell, Angel de la Cruz's Spanish 3D computer animation El Bosque Animado and German hit Das Experiment are amongst the films in the official section at leading European fantasy and genre festival, Fantasporto.
David Lynch to head Cannes jury

11-Jan-2002
David Lynch, whose Mulholland Drive is just starting a successful European release, is to head the jury of this year's Cannes film festival (15-26 May).
Parker, Kingsley knighted in UK honours list

31-Dec-2001
Alan Parker, the veteran film director, and actor Ben Kingsley were named as Knights Bachelor in the UK's New Year's honours list.
UK BO climbs in Q3, despite terror, economy

11-Dec-2001
Ronny Yu's The 51st State opened to a strong reception from UK audiences over the weekend. But it was unable to dethrone reigning box office king, Harry Potter.
Shrek sells $110m in three-day home video frenzy

7-Nov-2001
EFA Watch: stars flock to Berlin award ceremony

6-Nov-2001
Stars newly confirmed to attend the European Film Awards in Berlin on December 1 include Germany's Maria Schrader whose latest film is Rosenstrasse; Maria Bonnevie (Sweden, I Am Dina, Dragonfly [aka Oyenstikker]); Joely Richardson (UK, The Affair Of The Necklace); Fabrizio Gifuni (Italy, L'Amore Probabilmente); Paul Rhys (UK, From Hell); Renee Soutendijk (Netherlands, Dial 9 For Love, With Great Joy [Met Grote Blijdschap]); Udo Kier ...
Pressman's ContentFilm hires Tulley, Roban

5-Nov-2001
Ed Pressman and John Schmidt's digital production and distribution outfit ContentFilm has hired Douglas Tulley as the company's chief financial officer and Michael Roban as head of business affairs.
Brenda Johns hired as Warner int'l distrib exec

5-Nov-2001
Brenda Johns has been named vice president, international distribution at Warner Bros Pictures.
UIP chiefs Oneile, Cripps sign for five more years

5-Nov-2001
United International Pictures (UIP) chairman Paul Oneile and president Andrew Cripps have both renewed their contracts with the company, taking them through to 2006.
Rave Macbeth shines for US' Constellation

5-Nov-2001
US indie distributor Constellation Entertainment has picked up Rave Macbeth, an all digital filming of Shakespeare's Macbeth transposed to the modern day rave dance scene.
BAFTA LA ceremony postponed five months

5-Nov-2001
Political events have caused the postponement of the BAFTA LA Britannia Awards until April 12.
Behind The Sun, Lagaan, Atanarjuat join Oscar race

5-Nov-2001
Walter Salles' Behind The Sun, Cannes Camera d'Or winner Atanarjuat The Fast Runner and epic cricketing film Lagaan have joined an increasingly promising line-up as India, Canada and four Latin American countries unveiled their Oscar hopefuls.
MIFED: UK's Film Company enjoys bumper sales

4-Nov-2001
Defying the economic and political gloom, UK foreign sales outfit The Film Company enjoyed a busy MIFED.
Film-makers protest Iran's treatment of Milani

4-Nov-2001
Film-makers' association Facets Multimedia, critics group FIPRESCI and dozens of film directors have voiced their support for jailed Iranian auteur Tahmineh Milani, who faces execution over her recent film The Hidden Half.
MIFED: Paradiso nets magnificent seven for Benelux

4-Nov-2001
Territories making themselves noticed this MIFED by the numbers and activity of their buyers included Benelux, Turkey and Russia. One company from Benelux was particularly busy.
Belgian Film Archive wins funding reprieve

8-Jun-2001
Belgium's federal government decided today to increase annual subsidies to the Royal Belgian Film Archives and Cinematheque by 70% to $1.7m (Euros2m). This comes into effect from 2002.
Canal Plus Group hires Parize, Jezequel

5-Jun-2001
Vivendi Universal subsidiary, Canal Plus Group has appointed Isabelle Parize as chief operating officer of Canal Plus Distribution and Jean-Francois Jezequel as senior vice president, technology.
Steve Golin files suit against Kinowelt

16-May-2001
A war of words has erupted between US producer Steve Golin and German powerhouse Kinowelt USA and Kinowelt Productions.
Cannes sales deals

15-May-2001
Skouras Films has picked up US rights to two pictures - Pavel Lounguine's The Wedding (La Noce) from Flach Pyramide International and Clara Law's The Goddess Of 1967 from Fortissimo Film Sales.
Cannes expands out-of-competition line-up

23-Apr-2001
Three more titles have been added to the Cannes festival sidebar Un Certain Regard while the organisers have also announced a special open-air screening of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie From Montmartre, which goes on French release tomorrow (Wed, April 25).
Nouvelle Vague meets New Vanguard on Croisette

19-Apr-2001
This year's Cannes Film Festival presents an intriguing clash between enfant terribles of world cinema past and present, as old guard auteurs take on a bevy of recent Croisette favourites plus a smattering of unknown quantities and the first ever Hollywood animation in competition.
Warner Bros. creates new position in marketing

2-Mar-2001
Diane Nelson has been promoted to senior vice president of family entertainment for Warner Bros. corporate marketing and planning. In her newly created position, she will report to Sandy Reisenbach, executive vice president of marketing and planning.
Zucker upped to senior exec VP at Columbia TriStar

2-Mar-2001
Mark Zucker has been promoted to senior executive vice president of distribution for Columbia TriStar Film Distributors Intl.
Village Cinemas Int'l appeals against ruling

1-Mar-2001
Cinema operator Village Cinemas International (VCI) is facing a possible multi-million dollar payout to Charles Wesoky, former consultant for the company in Europe for breach of contract, according to the Australian Associated Press.
Stolen Summer wins Damon and Affleck's Greenlight

1-Mar-2001
Dino De Laurentiis will be the chairman and keynote speaker at the Montreal World Film Festival's annual industry forum, the Film Market Conference.
UK cinema chain exploits uncertain climate

26-Feb-2001
Amid cinema consolidation in the US and a nine per-cent downturn in the UK television advertising market in the first seven weeks of 2001, UK exhibition giant Warner Village Cinemas has secured a proven vehicle for increasing brand awareness. The company has signed a $1,455,400 (£1m) deal to sponsor the London Weekend Television (LWT) regional weather slot for a 12 month campaign.
MARKET UPDATE

26-Feb-2001
SULLIVAN UNVEILS THREE PROJECTS FOR NEW FEATURE ARMToronto-based Sullivan Entertainment Group has put forward three projects,including an animated version of its Anne Of Green Gables franchise, for production through its newly-launched feature film division. The first project, the $8m Anne: The Animated Movie set for completion in September, is slated for a Christmas release this year or in 2002. Next up is Famous Last Words, based on the novel by Canadian author ...
Gladiator dominates Baftas, but Bell is best actor

25-Feb-2001
Jamie Bell, the young star of Stephen Daldry's featurefilm debut, Billy Elliot, has won the Bafta award for best leading actor- despite having been overlooked in the Oscar nominations.
Video keeps VCL profits on course

19-Feb-2001
While Germany's VCL Film + Medien has flagged ambitions to move into the UK, Benelux and Scandinavia and last year made a splash on the production finance scene, the company delivered on-target results powered by its German home entertainment business. Rated Germany's number two video distributor with a 12.2% market share, VCL saw its video and DVD grow 25% from Euros36.4m to Euros45.5m.
Additional Berlin Film Festival prizes

19-Feb-2001
Additional prizes at the 51st Berlin International Film Festival
Danny Boyle to speak at UK's Production Show

15-Feb-2001
Danny Boyle, whose credits include Trainspotting and The Beach and who is now editing two digital films for BBC2, will be discussing his career at the Production Show Movie Day on March 14 at London's Olympia.
Ozon rounds up femmes for next project

14-Feb-2001
Acclaimed French auteur Francois Ozon has unveiled a stellar cast for his next film Huit Femmes. Pitched as a femme whodunnit involving a murder committed on Christmas Eve, the film is set to star Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Beart, Virginie Ledoyen, Isabelle Huppert, Fanny Ardant, Danielle Darrieux, Vahina Goicante and Firmine Richard.
Vivendi Universal to withdraw from BSkyB board

29-Jan-2001
Vivendi Universal is reportedly planning to pull its board director from UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB next month, as the first move in a strategic exit from the company.
Belgian film to receive tax shelter boost

19-Jan-2001
Belgium's federal government will unveil plans next week for a tax shelter aimed at attracting private investors to participate in the production of feature films, documentaries and TV series. A press conference, during which Belgium's minister of finance Didier Reynders will outline the tax scheme, is scheduled for January 23.
European parliament to examine film policy

19-Jan-2001
Belgian MEP Luckas Vander Taelen has been assigned to draw up a parliamentary report looking at the European Union's policy towards film, as part of a broader debate on Europe's future audiovisual policy.
Ted Turner moves on stake in Russia's NTV station

10-Jan-2001
CNN founder Ted Turner has emerged as the front-runner to buy a stake in leading Russian independent TV station NTV after rival Rupert Murdoch decided not to pursue talks, according to wire reports on Wednesday.
Berlin Children's Festival readies global line-up

5-Jan-2001
Films from the US, Italy, Iran and Spain are understood to be joining titles from the UK and Scandinavia in next month’s Children’s Film Festival sidebar at the Berlin International Film Festival.
World-wide line-up set for Berlin's Panorama

3-Jan-2001
Films from Sweden, Germany, the UK, Thailand, Korea, Argentina and Switzerland are among the first titles understood to have been selected for the Panorama section of February's Berlin International Film Festival.
AOL, Time Warner merger faces regulatory delay

1-Jan-2001
AOL and Time Warner stocks slipped over the holiday period as investors tried to limit tax losses and the two would-be partners were left waiting for approval for their mega-merger from US regulators.
Tom Tykwer heads Brussels line-up

22-Dec-2000
Peter Mullan heads to Rotterdam's CineMart

22-Dec-2000
Peter Mullan's Magdalene will be one of the projects seeking financing partners at CineMart, the industry market at January's International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Iranian culture minister Mohajerani resigns

19-Dec-2000
Iran's culture minister, Ataollah Mohajerani, has resigned in a move which observers claim will have serious consequences for the country's freedom of expression.
Meet The Parents charms German box office

14-Dec-2000
UIP's Meet The Parents began its international roll-out by shooting straight to the top of the German box office chart, with a four-day gross of $2.51m (DM5.54m) from 356 screens. The film's healthy opening screen average of $7,064 is the third highest of the year in Germany behind Mission: Impossible 2 ($8,804) and American Pie ($8,655), although both films opened on more screens (893 and 615 respectively).
E-M-S New Media acquires stake in Advanced

12-Dec-2000
Rapidly-expanding German video and DVD distributor E-M-S New Media has secured a flow of top-flight US and European product by acquiring a 24.7% stake in film licence trader Advanced Medien, with an option to buy an additional 13%.
Ajax documentary withdrawn from Dutch cinemas

7-Dec-2000
Arthouse cinemas in the Dutch cities of The Hague, Groningen and Utrecht have pulled Roel van Dalen's feature-length documentary Ajax: Where They Heard Angels Sings off their screens following anonymous threats from football hooligans.
UPC's Chello abandons merger with Excite

6-Dec-2000
Broadband internet supplier Chello, owned by Dutch cable giant UPC, has called off its plans to merge with the international arm of similar US group Excite@Home.
United invests $30m in Creative Planet

5-Dec-2000
UK-based United News & Media has acquired a $30m stake in Creative Planet, a web-based entertainment industry resource backed by several high-profile venture capital firms.
Russia calls in Interpol to track down Gusinsky

4-Dec-2000
Russian authorities have reportedly asked Interpol to put embattled Media Most chief Vladimir Gusinsky, who is currently living abroad, on an international wanted list, in connection with fraud charges.
Crouching Tiger sweeps Golden Horse Awards

4-Dec-2000
Ang Lee's Oscar-tipped Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon walked away with six awards including best picture at the Golden Horse Awards - Taiwan's equivalent of the Oscars - on Saturday night.
Kirch in talks to buy majority stake in EM.TV

28-Nov-2000
Germany's Kirch Group is in negotiations to acquire a majority stake in local family entertainment rights trader EM.TV & Merchandising, which earlier this year swallowed The Jim Henson Company and 50% of Formula One motor racing company SLEC.
UK's Skillset launches new entrants scheme

28-Nov-2000
UK training body Skillset's one-year-old Skills Investment Fund (SIF) is backing a new scheme to support film industry trainees in the craft and technical fields.
First Film Foundation launches Feedback initiative

24-Nov-2000
The UK's First Film Foundation and the Jerwood Charitable Foundation are launching a screenwriting programme, entitled First Feedback, which will provide development support for 12 writers.
Culture ministers greenlight Media Plus budget

23-Nov-2000
EU culture ministers have voted unanimously to accept a budget of Euros400m for the European Commission's audiovisual programme MEDIA Plus.
Dutch drama All Stars shines at Int'l Emmys

21-Nov-2000
Dutch TV series All Stars was the surprise winner in the drama category at this year's International Emmys in New York on Monday night (Nov 20), beating hotly tipped UK mini-series Warriors, which has already clinched several major awards so far this year.
Saudi prince in talks for Sky Global stake

17-Nov-2000
Saudi financier Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal is in talks to invest in Rupert Murdoch's global satellite business, Sky Global Networks, according to the UK's Financial Times.
Taiwan's Eastern, Pacific team for digital TV

16-Nov-2000
A potent pay-TV rights buying force emerged in Taiwan this week after two of the country's most powerful communications groups announced they would combine to launch a $200m digital TV joint venture.
EIB set to unveil audiovisual fund

15-Nov-2000
Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture and Audiovisual Policy, has announced that the EU's European Investment Bank (EIB) will unveil details of a venture capital fund for film and TV production within the next two weeks.
Bertelsmann, EMI confirm merger talks

12-Nov-2000
Germany's Bertelsmann and UK music company EMI have confirmed that they are in talks about merging their music assets. Privately-owned Bertelsmann has reportedly proposed folding its music arm into EMI in return for a majority stake in the company, which is listed on London's Stock Exchange.
Contact 2000 co-production market unveils line-up

9-Nov-2000
Contact Europe 2000, a co-production market aiming to connect North American and European projects with potential financiers from both regions, has announced a line-up of 22 projects for its second edition, set to roll November 24-26 in Berlin.
Daldry renews pact with Working Title

7-Nov-2000
Hot UK director Stephen Daldry, whose debut Billy Elliot has become both a critical and box office sensation on home turf, has signed a three-year deal with Working Title Films to direct a minimum of two films.
Bertelsmann restructure prompts top execs to quit

5-Nov-2000
BMG Entertainment's top two executives - chairman Michael Dornemann and president and CEO Strauss Zelnick - are leaving their posts as part of a wide-ranging reorganisation of parent company Bertelsmann.
Blue Dolphin to reissue MGM library titles

3-Nov-2000
The UK's Blue Dolphin Film & Video is teaming up with Hollywood Classics and MGM to handle and distribute the MGM Library, which incorporates MGM/UA, Orion, PolyGram and Cannon for theatrical and non-theatrical distribution in the UK.
UK regulator appoints Morris as policy director

3-Nov-2000
The Independent Television Commission, which regulates private TV in the UK, has appointed Dominic Morris to the new position of director of policy. Morris has been controller, policy development at the BBC since 1996, where he was responsible for leading the corporate policy function of the public broadcaster covering both UK and European policy and new technologies.
Rosetta takes honours at Belgian Oscars

1-Nov-2000
Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne's Rosetta took four Joseph Plateau Awards for Belgian Cinema at this year's 16th edition of the Night Of Cinema Musica, dubbed the Belgian Oscars. The Palme d'Or winning film picked up the prizes for best actress, best director, best film and top grossing Belgian film. Meanwhile, Dominique Deruddere's Everybody Famous was selected as this year's Belgian entry for the foreign-language Oscars.
Microsoft in talks for Sky Global stake

30-Oct-2000
Microsoft is in talks to take a small minority stake in Rupert Murdoch's global satellite platform Sky Global Networks, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Amores Perros takes top prize at Flanders

26-Oct-2000
Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's Amores Perros took the Grand Prize of the Flemish Community at the 27th Flanders International Film Festival in Ghent.
ONdigital postpones float; doubles subscribers

17-Oct-2000
UK digital terrestrial broadcaster ONdigital has reportedly postponed its planned flotation until next spring, due to unfavourable market conditions and parent company Granada Media's recent share slide.
UPC in talks to buy Germany's Tele-Columbus

10-Oct-2000
Dutch cable giant UPC has confirmed that it is in talks with Deutsche Bank to acquire Germany's second-largest cable TV company, Tele-Columbus, in a deal worth about $1.3bn.
Lachlan Murdoch rises at News Corp

6-Oct-2000
Rupert Murdoch's eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, has been appointed deputy COO at News Corp, making him the company's third highest ranking executive behind his father and president and COO Peter Chernin.
Leak bags four Golden Calves at Netherlands fest

4-Oct-2000
Jean van de Velde's Leak (Lek) grabbed four top awards, including the Golden Calves for best feature and best director, at this year's 20th Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht (September 20-29).
Vivendi reports 67% rise in first-half profits

3-Oct-2000
France's Vivendi, currently awaiting approval from the European Commission (EC) for its proposed merger with Seagram, has reported a 67% rise in first-half profit to Euros1.4bn on turnover up 16% to Euros19.4bn. The growth came mostly from Vivendi's SFR mobile phones unit.
News Corp unveils Liberty Media tie-up

27-Sep-2000
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has confirmed that it plans to strengthen ties with John Malone's Liberty Media by acquiring its 21% stake in Gemstar-TV Guide.
AtomFilms links with Jonze, DiCaprio

27-Sep-2000
Director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) has joined the advisory board of on-line distributor AtomFilms and will create three original shorts for exclusive distribution by the company.
InternetStudios ups McKean; completes merger

27-Sep-2000
InternetStudios.com, the LA-based web-site for licensing film and TV distribution rights and tracking entertainment industry data, has promoted Alex McKean to the position of vice president of finance. He was formerly director of finance for the company.
SightSound.com cancels $50m float

27-Sep-2000
SightSound.com, which offers movies for download over high-speed internet connections, has reportedly cancelled its planned $50m initial public offering due to unfavourable market conditions.
Tokyo festival bolsters Asian cinema selection

14-Sep-2000
Only days after actor-director Takeshi Kitano launched a rival festival of Asian and indie cinema, the region's leading film event the Tokyo International Film Festival is upping its focus on local films.
Star TV buys 26% stake in Indian cable operator

14-Sep-2000
Rupert Murdoch's Star TV is strengthening its position as a programme provider in the competitive Indian market by buying a 26% stake in local cable TV operator Hathway Cable and Datacom Private, according to wire reports.
Tom Sherak joins Roth's Revolution

13-Sep-2000
Tom Sherak has resigned as chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment's US film group to join former Walt Disney Co film chief Joe Roth at Roth's start-up production outfit Revolution Studios.
Film Consortium confirmed as partner on 51st State

6-Sep-2000
Canada's Alliance Atlantis and the UK's Momentum Pictures have confirmed that UK studio franchise The Film Consortium has boarded their $28m action comedy 51st State (ScreenDaily, August 17).
UA Theatres files for bankruptcy protection

6-Sep-2000
United Artists Theatres Company has become the latest US exhibitor to run into financial trouble, filing for protection from creditors under US bankruptcy law while it reorganises to reduce debt and expenses.
Merger talks between Ifilm, Pop.com fizzle out

4-Sep-2000
On-line film company iFilm.com and long-delayed entertainment web-site Pop.com have reportedly ended their merger talks which were first revealed last week.
KirchPayTV offloads stake in BSkyB

1-Sep-2000
UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB's shares slid to a three-month low yesterday after Germany's KirchPayTV sold its remaining 3.1% stake in the company for $862m (£594.5m).
China reportedly to create cable TV giant

30-Aug-2000
China plans to merge its estimated 2,000 cable companies, which reach 90% of its 1.2bn population, into a singe entity according to a report in the China Daily newspaper.
Bleeder, Torowisko among Sarajevo winners

29-Aug-2000
Danish picture Bleeder, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, won the FIPRESCI prize at the Sarajevo Film Festival last week (August 18-26) while the Regional Programme jury gave their award to Poland's Urszula Urbaniak for Torowisko.
Fintage House to make InternetStudios e-safe

24-Aug-2000
UK-based Fintage House, which provides financial services to the entertainment industry, has reached an agreement with InternetStudios under which it will handle all financial transactions for the company's OnlineFilmSales web-site.
Goteborg fest launches fund for Bosnian producers

22-Aug-2000
The Goteborg Film Festival is playing a hand in rebuilding Bosnia-Herzegovina's film industry with the creation of the CineBosnia Film Fund, launched at this week's Sarajevo Film Festival (August 18-27).
German state of Hessen to launch production fund

21-Aug-2000
The German state of Hessen is planning to launch a $7m (DM15m) fund to support commercial film and television production in the region from next year.
Radcliffe revealed as the real Harry Potter

18-Aug-2000
UK actor Daniel Radcliffe has been cast as Harry Potter in Warner Bros' Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone, scotching rumours over the weekend that fellow Brit Gabriel Thomson had clinched the role.
Leipzig documentary fest to open with Happiness

17-Aug-2000
A gala screening of a restored print of Alexander Medvedkin's silent classic Happiness (Stschastje) from 1934 will open this year's International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animation Films (October 17-22).
UPC reports lower than expected losses

15-Aug-2000
Dutch cabler UPC's shares surged 11% today when it reported lower than expected second-quarter net losses of Euros368.2m against analysts' estimates of Euros440m. However the result was more than five times its losses of Euros72.9m in the same quarter last year.
Igel Media launches London-based sales arm

14-Aug-2000
German family entertainment rights trader Igel Media has opened a London-based international sales arm to be headed by current international sales chief Edward Galton.
News Corp set to acquire Chris-Craft

13-Aug-2000
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has outbid Viacom to acquire US TV station owner Chris-Craft Industries and its subsidiaries for $5.35bn.
Rotterdam ups den Hamer to co-director post

11-Aug-2000
Sandra den Hamer has been promoted to the position of co-director of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, alongside current director Simon Field.
AtomFilms taps Shields to head European expansion

10-Aug-2000
AtomFilms has appointed Mikael Shields to the newly created post of senior vice president of entertainment - Europe, based at the company's European headquarters in London.
Endemol sells stake in Spanish internet portal

3-Aug-2000
Dutch production outfit Endemol Entertainment is to sell its 25% stake in Spanish-language internet portal Telepolis.com to one of the company's major shareholders.
Tykwer makes it twice with Sony Classics

2-Aug-2000
Winstar acquires US rights to A One And A Two

1-Aug-2000
New York-based Winstar Communications has acquired North American rights to Edward Yang's A One And A Two (Yi Yi), which picked up the best director award at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Murdoch lines up Sky Global partners

31-Jul-2000
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is reportedly close to acquiring a minority stake in Kirch Media, raising speculation that the German media giant will in turn become a shareholder in Murdoch's proposed international pay-TV platform Sky Global Networks.
De Mol to remain Endemol chairman and CEO

25-Jul-2000
Endemol Entertainment chief John de Mol has decided to remain chairman and CEO of the Dutch production outfit alongside his new position as chief creative officer (CCO).
Crown Media launches Hallmark in Israel

25-Jul-2000
The US' Crown Media Holdings has launched 24-hour movie channel Hallmark Entertainment Network in Israel in partnership with local cablers Matav, Tevel and Golden Channels.
Locarno president Buffi dies suddenly

21-Jul-2000
Giuseppe Buffi, president of the Locarno International Film Festival and head of the local state government, has died of a heart attack. He was due to open this year's Locarno on August 2.
Vivendi, Seagram file merger for EC approval

19-Jul-2000
Vivendi, Canal Plus and Seagram have filed their planned merger for European Commission (EC) approval, an EC spokesperson confirmed today.
EC greenlights Telefonica's Endemol buy-out

12-Jul-2000
The European Commission has waved through Spanish telco Telefonica's proposed takeover of Dutch production company Endemol Entertainment which made headlines across Europe when it was first unveiled in March (Screendaily, March 20).
Messier threatens to veto Sky Global deal

7-Jul-2000
Vivendi chief Jean-Marie Messier is threatening not to contribute his 20% stake in UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB to Rupert Murdoch's planned digital distribution company Sky Global Networks, according to French reports.
Canal Plus shareholders oppose merger terms

27-Jun-2000
ADAM, a group of activists which lobby on behalf of minority shareholder rights in France, says it will oppose the three-way merger of Canal Plus, Vivendi and Seagram.
Shareholders back AOL, Time Warner merger

23-Jun-2000
America Online's merger with Time Warner took a step towards completion this autumn after shareholders at both companies voted on Friday in favour of the mega-deal.
Mechanic quits Fox

23-Jun-2000
Bill Mechanic, the veteran chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment who backed Titanic, has quit.
BT on the look-out for content companies

22-Jun-2000
UK telco British Telecommunications (BT) is mulling the possibility of acquiring media companies to supply its proposed broadband services, according to a report on Reuters.
Baker quits COO post at USA Networks

22-Jun-2000
Barry Baker has resigned from his post as president and COO of USA Networks. Baker joined the company in January 1999 to pull together its diverse assets, but said the time had come for him to run a company of his own.
Phoenix schedules float to fund expansion drive

21-Jun-2000
Chinese-language broadcaster Phoenix Satellite Television aims to raise up to $120m (HK$938m) from an initial public offering to fund ambitious expansion plans including the launch of three new channels, a new production base and an internet portal.
EM.TV completes Formula 1 offering

2-Jun-2000
German TV and rights group EM.TV & Merchandising has completed the secondary share offering it launched in connection with the acqusition of a 50% interest in Formula 1 (F1).
Karlovy Vary to feature Big Animal premiere

1-Jun-2000
Highlights in the international competition section for the 35th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 5-15) include the world premiere of Big Animal, directed by well-known Polish actor Jerzy Stuhr from the first script by the late Krzysztof Kieslowski.
James Murdoch to become chief of Star TV

31-May-2000
James Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch's youngest son, has been named chairman and chief executive of News Corp's Asian television platform Star TV.
Miller signs up for Dimension's Dracula

26-May-2000
Jonny Lee Miller has signed to star in Dimension Films' Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000, joining Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Esposito and singer Vitamin C in the latest re-telling of the Bram Stoker classic.
High Point, Film Company expand team

25-May-2000
The UK's High Point & The Film Company Group has appointed Chris Bluett to the position of film sales executicve. Bluett, who was previously a senior researcher for Celador Productions' Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, has been working with the the group's sales team for the past year.
Artifical Eye snags four Cannes titles

24-May-2000
The UK's Artificial Eye picked up four films at Cannes, including Jury Prize winner Blackboards by Iranian director Samira Makhmalbaf.
Metrodome, DBC launch Internet rights company

23-May-2000
The UK's Metrodome Group and pay-per-view broadcaster Digital Broadcasting Co (DBC) have teamed up to launch an Internet TV rights company called ProgramNet. Each of the partners will own 50% of the joint venture.
Gielgud dies aged 96

22-May-2000
Actor Sir John Gielgud, whose career spanned eight decades and roles as diverse as Lear and Hobson the butler in Arthur, died peacefully at his home in Buckinghamshire west of London yesterday. He was 96.
Fox trots with Roth again'

15-May-2000
The Fox Broadcasting network is believed to have acquired the US free TV rights to the package of studio-level films being put together by former Disney chief Joe Roth.
Endemol reports 36% increase in interim profits

19-Apr-2000
Dutch production giant Endemol Entertainment has reported an impressive 36.4% rise in profit, before extraordinary gains and losses, to $20.9m (NLG48.3m) in the first half of the 1999-2000 financial year, compared to $15.3m (NLG35.4m) in the corresponding period in 1998-1999.
Cannes competition tilts towards Asia

18-Apr-2000
Opening with Roland Joffe's French period drama Vatel and closing with Canadian Denys Arcand's highly-touted Stardom, this year's Cannes Film Festival line-up promises a cinematic showcase of truly international dimensions including an astonishing seven Palme D'Or contenders from the Far East.
MIP-TV: Japan's Tohokushinsha takes ITC classics

11-Apr-2000
UK-based TV distributor Carlton International Media (CIM) has sealed a $3m licensing deal with Japan's Tohokushinsha Film Corp covering broadcast, video and merchandising rights to a package of films and TV programming from the ITC library.
Schnedecker appointed to head up TCM France

10-Apr-2000
Turner Broadcasting-owned classic movies channel TCM Europe has appointed Eric Schnedecker as director of its French-language service, available in France, French-speaking Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Mauritius.
Telefonica delays media subsidiary float

7-Apr-2000
Juan Villalonga, president of Spanish multimedia giant Telefonica, announced at a shareholders meeting on Friday (April 7) that the company has postponed its planned flotation of audiovisual unit, Telefoncia Media, due to concerns over falling prices for media and Internet stock.
Jim Henson appoints Blake to US development post

7-Apr-2000
The Jim Henson Company, which was recently acquired by German powerhouse EM.TV, has appointed Juliet Blake as senior vice president, creative affairs at Jim Henson Television.
Pollock replaces Ashmore at UIP South-East Asia

6-Apr-2000
UIP has appointed Roger Pollock as vice president, sales for South-East Asia, replacing Steve Ashmore who left the company earlier this week - reportedly as part of a cost-cutting exercise following MGM's withdrawal from the joint distribution venture.
Bird swoops on top prize at Fribourg

6-Apr-2000
Disney ups Johnson as de Villiers resigns

6-Apr-2000
The Walt Disney Co. has promoted Michael Johnson to the post of president of Walt Disney International while the overseas outfit's European chief Etienne de Villiers has resigned.
NETHERLANDS: News In Brief

4-Apr-2000
Lyall named VP, Universal TV Australia

29-Mar-2000
Martin Lyall has been appointed vice president, Australasia, at Universal International Television.
Daily takes up Universal Video marketing post

29-Mar-2000
Universal Pictures International Video (UPIV) has appointed Mary Daily to the post of president of marketing.Daily will be based in London and report to UPIV president Peter Smith. She will be responsible for all marketing activity on Universal, DreamWorks and third-party acquisitions video product.Daily joins UPIV from 20th Century Fox where she was vice president, marketing for Europe. Previous to this she was marketing director for Fox Video's UK division.

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