Large MPU – Page 2144
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News
Scala boards dialogue-free debut feature
The UK's Scala Productions has boarded Wounded, a dialogue-free feature from new UK production outfit Kaos Films.A contemporary thriller set in the wilds of North America, the film is produced by Arif Hussein and Piers Jackson, who was previously head of development and production at Screen Production Associates. "Basically, two ...
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News
Jeremy Thomas reveals cast of Bertolucci's Dreamers
Michael Pitt, Eva Green and Louis Garrel will star in Bernardo Bertolucci's next film, The Dreamers, producer Jeremy Thomas announced on Wednesday.Newcomers Green and Garrel play a brother and sister in Paris in 1968 who invite a young American played by Pitt to stay. Set against the turbulent political backdrop ...
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Ufa Theater faces the final curtain
Production, distribution and now exhibition - German cinema chain Ufa-Theater looks like becoming the latest in a growing list of insolvent German media companies.According to business daily newspaper Handelsblatt, a shortfall of Euros 4m could bring down the once dominant German exhibitor. Company shareholders have already spent weeks considering various ...
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News
The Tunnel's Teamworx team picks up producers' prize
German production company Teamworx's Nico Hofmann, Ariane Krampe, and Bettina Reitz, the team behind "event television" productions The Tunnel and Tanz Mit Dem Teufel - Die Entfuehrung Des Richard Oetker, have been awarded this year's Producers' Prize at the Cologne Conference. Picked up in January at the Rotterdam Film Festival ...
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News
Mexico City exhibitor Cinemex sold to Onex Corp and Oaktree
Onex Corp of Toronto and Los Angeles-based investment firm Oaktree Capital Management have acquired top Mexico City exhibitor Grupo Cinemex for approximately $295m. Cinemex co founder Matthew Heyman, who was closely involved in the transaction, has resigned from his post as co-chief executive officer. "I have ...
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News
Witherspoon hires Simpson at Type A
Jennifer Simpson has been appointed president of Reese Witherspoon's production company Type A Films which is based at Intermedia in Los Angeles. Simpson will oversee acquisition, development and production of all projects for the company and will report to Witherspoon, the actress with credits including Legally Blonde and The Importance ...
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News
Perrine Teze to head Miramax/TF1 French distribution arm
Perrine Teze, currently managing director of TF1's film financing and sales division TF1 International, is expected to be appointed managing director of the Miramax/TF1 joint French distribution venture.Teze, who came to TF1 from the Bouygues group (the broadcaster's main shareholder) to launch TF1 International's film co-financing and sales division, was ...
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News
Karlovy Vary reveals full competition line-up
Sean Connery will visit the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary for its 37th annual film festival this year (July 4-13), where he will receive an award for outstanding contribution to world cinema. Connery will be in the Czech Republic for the upcoming shoot of Fox's League Of Extraordinary Gentleman ...
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Reviews
The Hard Word
Dir: Scott Roberts. Australia. 2002. 103 mins.Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths, two Australian actors running hot in the States, return home to lend class to this lively but otherwise undistinguished gangster comedy-thriller. Screenwriter Scott Roberts' directorial debut has plenty of bloodthirsty violence shared between a strong cast of tough guys ...
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News
India's film industry counts the cost of Bolly-flops
Bollywood is facing a serious downturn this year, after a string of high-profile flops and not a single local box office success in the first six months of 2002. Inspired by 2001's hits including Lagaan and Gadar, a number of period films were launched this year. The two big ...
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News
German production community faces 90% reduction
The German production community is facing a crisis which could see the numbers of film and TV producers decimated by the end of next year, according to Stefan Arndt of X-Filme Creative Pool.Speaking at a discussion during Cologne's Medienforum on the future structure of the new German Film Law (FFG), ...
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News
Credit line saves RTV Family Entertainment
Animation production house RTV Family Entertainment has moved out of temporary insolvency after receiving a bridging credit line from its bank syndicate backed by a letter of credit from majority shareholder Ravernsburger AG. This step restores RTV to full financial solvency, but additional cash funds of Euros 4m will be ...
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News
Finnish cinema operator to build 14-screen site in Latvia
The Finnish multiplex operator Finnkino OY and local department store group Stockmann will invest $39m in a cinema and retail complex in the Latvian capital of Riga. Stockmann is providing $23m, while Finnkino will contribute $16.2m to the project.The six-storey building to be completed in the autumn of 2003, will ...
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News
Italy's Giffoni film festival to welcome Streep, Makhmalbaf
Meryl Streep and Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf will be among the guests at this year's Giffoni Film Festival, one of the premier festivals dedicated to youth-oriented cinema and the only one whose jury is entirely composed of international school children.Artistic director Claudio Gubitosi, who founded the festival 32 years ago, ...
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News
Sweden appoints Dane as film commissioner
After years of casting a covetous eye in the direction of booming Denmark, the Swedish Film Institute has appointed Per Nielsen, a Danish national, as its new Commissioner for feature film. The 45-year-old producer, scriptwriter and musician has previously been a Film Commissioner for the Danish Film Institute. For the ...
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News
Hamill, Struthers star in Pied Piper's thriller Constricted
Mark Hammill and Sally Struthers have taken the lead roles in independently financed psychological thriller Constricted which started shooting yesterday in the US. The film, being produced by Pied Piper Productions' Holly Mosher, is written and directed by Christian Otien (Lady In The Box). It also stars Brad Hunt, Majandra ...
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News
Empire, First Run team for US rights to Chabrol's Chocolat
Empire Pictures and First Run Features have pacted to buy US rights to Claude Chabrol's popular thriller Merci Pour Le Chocolat which premiered at the Venice Film Festival two years ago and won the Prix Louis Delluc in 2001.Empire will oversee the film's theatrical release this summer and First Run ...
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News
Myriad options Cannell bestseller Riding The Snake
Myriad Pictures has optioned the film rights to Stephen J Cannell's best-selling novel Riding The Snake, a conspiracy thriller set in the world of Chinese organized crime. The film will be produced by Kirk D'Amico, president of Myriad Pictures, alongside Doug Rosen, vice president of production at Cannell Studios, Lucas ...
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News
Blueprint for ottfilm/Telepool distribution deal
German theatrical distributor ottfilm and Munich-based Telepool have concluded a three-year first look deal for the international distribution of feature films.The first title under the arrangement will be Rolf Schuebel's Euros 4.5m Blueprint, starring Franka Potente (Run Lola Run), Sebastian Koch (Amen) and Hilmir Snaer Gudnason (101 Reykjavik), which begins ...
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Europeans proving faithful to Gere thriller
20th Century Fox's adult thriller Unfaithful is enjoying success as counter-programming to the chart storming blockbuster fare, Spider-Man and Star Wars: Episode II.Aimed at a more mature audience the film has enjoyed a host of strong openings and performances in Europe since debuting in Sweden on May 31. With an ...