Large MPU – Page 1710
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News
Spain's Ministry of Culture awards funds to 15 new films
Spain's Ministry of Culture has announced that 15 films from new directors have been selected to receive subsidies totalling Euros 2.5m in 2003. The 15 projects, which have each been granted between Euros 60,000 and Euros 210,000, are unique in that they are all in the hands of new ...
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Summer film drought threatens Italian industry
Despite new data showing that ticket sales have remained virtually the same in the first half of 2003 compared to the same period last year, Walter Vacchino, head of national exhibitors union ANEC warned that there are "serious problems threatening the vitality of a large number of cinemas ...
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Korea's Mirovision takes world rights to Doppelganger
Korean independent group Mirovision has picked up world sales rights to Doppelganger, the next film by cult Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa.The film, which is being targeted for a world premiere at one of the major autumn festivals, is a sophisticated thriller with elements of comedy and black humour about a ...
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Germany's Splendid to divest its 80% holding in US subsidiary
Germany's Splendid Medien plans to divest itself of its 80% interest in the US subsidiary Splendid Pictures Holdings, Inc. (SPH), subject to approval at the annual general meeting.In statement, the group explained that the step was being taken "due to the currently difficult market environment surrounding the financing of US-American ...
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Chabrol thriller backed by Bavarian fund
Feature projects by veteran French director Claude Chabrol, newcomer director Marco Kreuzpaintner and Mostly Martha's Sandra Nettelbeck are among those receiving a total Euros 1.35m backing from Bavaria's regional public fund FFF Bayern.Over Euros 600,000 were awarded to Kreuzpaintner's coming of age tale Sommersturm, which will be produced by the ...
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French strike action causes la Villette fest cancellation
Following nearly two weeks of peace since striking French artists and technicians caused the cancellation of the Avignon theatre festival, the protesters are at it again. On Monday, it was announced that the 14th Festival du Cinema de Plein Air de la Villette in Paris would be cancelled as well.The ...
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Bronson named international chief at Universal
Nadia Bronson, for years the lifeforce behind Universal Pictures' international marketing department, has been promoted to president, international theatrical marketing, distribution and operations at the studio.Bronson who since 1997 has been president, international marketing, will now be responsible for international distribution and operations related to all feature film releases ...
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Maurice Jarre to receive award at Flanders film festival
Veteran French composer Maurice Jarre will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's World Soundtrack Awards during the Flanders International Film Festival (FIFF) in Ghent (October 7-18 2003).The composer of scores for such films as Doctor Zhivago, Dead Poets Society and Ghost will be presented the award "for his ...
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VCL Film + Medien reduces 2003 forecast
German home entertainment specialist/license trader VCL Film + Medien has reduced its sales forecast for the present fiscal year from the previously announced Euros 25m-30m to Euros 18m.In a statement, the company explained that this has been "due to the stagnating market development within the German home entertainment segment since ...
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Brazilian exhibitors facing bankruptcy
Brazilian exhibitors may face bankruptcy as a result of a 14-year battle they have waged with local authors rights society ECAD (Escritorio Central de Arrecadacao e Distribuicao). When ECAD raised its royalty charges from the original 0.5% to 2.5% over gross box office receipts more than a decade ago, both ...
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Italian film promotion body faces closure
Italian film promotion body Italia Cinema could be forced to close by the end of the year because of drastic cuts in government funding.Created five years ago by Italy's culture ministry, Italia Cinema is present at all major international film events, where it organises press conferences, provides promotional material for ...
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UK Film Council launches digital cinema initiative
The UK Film Council's distribution and exhibition fund has launched its much-anticipated initiative to co-fund a nationwide network of digital screens.The National Lottery-fund scheme will invest £13m in setting up 250 digital screens. The screens will be located in approximately 150 existing cinema sites around the country, over a quarter ...
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Boxer leaves Artisan for sales job at IFC Films
Mark Boxer has been nameddirector of national film sales at IFC Films as part of the ongoing expansionof the company, the distribution division of IFC Entertainment.Boxer will be responsiblefor negotiating and settling distribution deals for all IFC films releasedwithin the US and will direct new sales opportunities for IFC'sdistribution unit, ...
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Universal's Hulk brings in a further $9.3m
Universal's TheHulk did some smashing business asthe number three film at the international box office over the weekend,grossing $9.3m from 3,182 theatres in 29 countries to raise its total to$69.9m.In the distributor's10th biggest opening ever in the UK, the film placed first on $5.8m from 500sites, including paid previews. Universal ...
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Warner opens Reloaded to strong figures in China
The Matrix Reloaded raised its international running total to $431m overthe weekend thanks in part to a decent opening in China that is expected toyield around $1.5m (RMB 12m).Preliminary figures fromWarner Bros Pictures International included an estimated $230,000 (RMB 1.9m) inChinese previews.The distributor said theopening was on a par with ...
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Nolot's Porn Theatre, Mudge Boy win top prizes at LA Outfest
Michael Burke's TheMudge Boy won the OUTstandingAmerican Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award and Jacques Nolot's PornTheatre (La Chatte A Deux Tetes) took top honours for international feature at LAgay and lesbian film festival Outfest 2003, which closed last night with ascreening of Mambo Italiano.In other Grand Jury Awardwinners at Sunday's ...
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Bruce takes another $10.4m for BVI, Nemo, Pirates start to roll
Bruce Almighty continued its solid international run over theweekend, grossing $10.4m to raise its running total to $128.2m.Buena VistaInternationalís (BVI) opened the comedy at number one in Mexico, whereit took $2.9m from 490 screens and recorded the biggest ever bow for star JimCarrey.The film also opened numberone in Venezuela on ...
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DreamWorks sponsors Bristol animation fest
DreamWorks SKG, the US studio which recently struck a long-term deal with Bristol-based animation production house Aardman Animations, is sponsoring a new animation festival in the city. The event, titled Animated Encounters (May 19-21), will include preview scenes from Aardman's highly-anticipated June release, Chicken Run, which Pathe Distribution is handling ...
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Bruce takes another $10.4m for BVI, Nemo, Pirates start to roll
Bruce Almighty continued its solid international run over theweekend, grossing $10.4m to raise its running total to $128.2m.Buena VistaInternational (BVI) opened the comedy at number one in Mexico, whereit took $2.9m from 490 screens and recorded the biggest ever bow for star JimCarrey.The film also opened numberone in Venezuela on ...
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Fox's 28 Days Later crossed $50m worldwide gross mark
Fox International'shorror film 28 Days Later raisedits international running total to $21.1m over the weekend. With its domesticgross rising to $33.4m, the film comfortably crossed $50m in worldwide grosses.The chief highlight was a$1.4m number one opening on 242 screens in Spain.Danny Boyle's latestrelease has been released in 31 territories and ...