All articles by Adam Minns – Page 57
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Start-up financier to pump $24m into new media
A group of UK film-makers and finance specialists have launched International Film One (IFO), a financing vehicle which aims to raise $23.6m (£15m) through UK tax breaks to invest in product targeted at new media platforms.Accountancy firm Hacker Young is assisting in raising the cash through the UK's Enterprise Investment ...
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Eagle soars with Intermedia trio
Newly-recapitalised Italian distributor Eagle Pictures is finalising the acquisition of three titles from Guy East and Nigel Sinclair's Intermedia Films in a deal that is expected to lead to a long-term distribution arrangement.Eagle co-founder and chief executive officer Stefano Dammicco confirmed that the companies are negotiating a multi-picture deal in ...
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Helkon, Redbus create pan-Euro buying alliance
UK distributor Redbus Film Distribution and Germany''s Helkon Media have formed a joint acquisition alliance.The companies are to pick up rights for their respective markets, but may also take pan-European rights, accounting for about 50% of a film''s budget between them and striking an output deal with a US studio ...
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Edinburgh festival to host Ophuels retrospective
Director Max Ophuels is the recipient of this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival retrospective, an extensive showcase of a film-maker's oeuvre that was dedicated to France's Robert Bresson last year.The German film-maker began his career as a stage actor and director in the roaring 20s before fleeing the country when ...
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Frankie's Comeback wins Pathe Production Prize
The first Pathe Production Prize has gone to Frankie's Comeback, a comedy that will now be produced through UK National Lottery franchise Pathe Pictures.The project, written by former theatre actor Bernard Wright, was selected from the three winners of the inaugural Orange Prize for Screenwriting. It follows a washed-up showman ...
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Metrodome secures $15m buying fund
In a deal the signals the emergence of a potent UK buying force, Metrodome Distribution and newly-launched UK financier Future Film Group have agreed to form a joint venture providing the distributor with a $15m acquisition fund.Metrodome has already picked up Behaviour Worldwide's $24m The Body, starring Antonio Banderas, through ...
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Caine to receive BAFTA fellowship award
Academy Award-winning actor Michael Caine is to receive this year's Fellowship Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).The award, last year bestowed upon actress Elizabeth Taylor, will be presented at the BAFTA film awards ceremony on April 9 at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.Caine, who won ...
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BBC, Indigo's Warriors racks up RTS nods
Warriors, by BBC Films and Single Drama and UK production outfit Deep Indigo Productions, has secured a clutch of nominations for the UK's annual Royal Television Society awards, including best single drama.The production for BBC1 about the war in the former Yugoslavia also secured nods for male actor, production team ...
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Smith appoints four to BFI board
UK culture secretary Chris Smith has appointed Jenny Abramsky, Terry Ilott, David Kustow and Nasreen Munni Kabir to the board of governors of film and TV body the British Film Institute (BFI).Abramsky was appointed director of BBC Radio last year, while Ilott is a film and media analyst with the ...
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Mother selected to kick off Istanbul fest
Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother has been selected to open the International Istanbul Film Festival (Apr 15-30), the region's premiere film event.The festival will close with Turkish-UK title Mozart In Turkey, while the UK is also represented by an eight-film spotlight including East Is East, The War Zone and ...
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Universal takes Winchester's Harry for Oz, UK
London-based entertainment company Winchester Films has sold UK romantic comedy Wild About Harry to Universal Pictures for the UK and Australia.Universal is also in talks to take the film, produced by Scala Pictures and BBC Films, for the US, Italy, Scandinavia and Benelux. The title has already gone to Senator ...
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Hamilton-Shaw to head development at Rocket
Elton John and David Furnish's London-based film production company Rocket Pictures has appointed Steven Hamilton-Shaw as head of development.Hamilton-Shaw will oversee the development of all Rocket films and source material and talent for the company. He has served stints at Fine Line Features, Lions Gate Films, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and ...
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Parallel seeks rebirth in Internet venture
Troubled UK production outfit Parallel Pictures is planning a rebirth as part of a new Internet group backed by Easynet co-founder Keith Young and Rank Group former director of treasury Clifford Perkins.Parallel, whose shares have been suspended since October, aims to raise £3m to push into business-to-business Internet activities. The ...
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Carlton acquires large-format film processor
UK media group Carlton Communications is pushing into giant-screen formats by acquiring US film processor Consolidated Film Industries (CFI), Carlton announced on Monday (March 6).Carlton's film processing subsidiary, Technicolor, acquired CFI from its parent Continental Graphics for $48m in cash. CFI specialises in giant-screen and large film formats including IMAX. ...
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AFM: IAC, Optimum walk with Lions in UK
UK-based sales and financing house IAC Films and Will Clarke's UK distributor Optimum Releasing are partnering on a UK release of IAC's To Walk With Lions.The two companies will give the picture a nationwide release in May with support from several promotional partners and charities. The film, the continuation of ...
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AFM: Winchester signs first UK producer pact
In the week that Winchester unveiled a string of Hollywood partnerships, the UK entertainment outfit has bolstered its British production presence with a long-term deal with Mark Thomas, producer of Up 'N' Under and Rancid Aluminium.Winchester will look to Thomas to source and produce commercially-oriented, $5m-$7m projects with strong marketing ...
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BBC confirms Redbus deal for UK
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK's public broadcasting empire and BBC Films, the Beeb's feature arm, have sealed an eight-picture output deal for the UK with distributor Redbus Film Distribution (RFD).RFD, owned by Redbus Film Group, will also handle video-on-demand rights for the eight titles, all of which ...
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AFM: Redbus takes Sidewalks for UK
Fast-moving UK distributor Redbus Film Distribution has pre-bought Ed Burns' Sidewalks Of New York from Buena Vista Film Sales.The romantic comedy, which has just started shooting, is written, directed, and produced by Burns, who also stars alongside Heather Graham and Stanley Tucci. Budgeted at under $10m, it follows the trials ...
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Kinowelt hatches plan for international network
Germany's Kinowelt Medien is advancing plans for a high-powered international distribution consortium to be fed by high-profile US pictures.Talks are already underway with leading independent distributors in France and Spain to complement Kinowelt's existing distribution outlets, which include Germany and Eastern Europe. Additionally, the UK and Canada will be covered ...
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AFM: Armstrong, Blanchett in talks for Charlotte
Gillian Armstong is in advanced talks to direct FilmFour's adaptation of Sebastian Faulks' best-selling novel, Charlotte Gray.John Madden was previously expected to direct the high-profile project but he is now attached to Working Title Films' Captain Corelli's Mandolin. As previously reported, Cate Blanchett, the Australian actress who starred in Armstrong's ...