Large MPU – Page 475

  • News

    Russian box office surges over 40% in 2004

    2005-01-17T00:00:00Z

    The Russian box office grew by 41% to $268m lastyear, while admissions surged to 76.5m according to latest figures.The figures, relating to November 2003-November 2004, were announced by trade magazineKinobusiness. Topping the local box office was Russianproduced sci-fi hit Night Watch which broke all previous Russian boxoffice records with over ...

  • News

    French production levels dip in 2004

    2005-01-18T04:00:00Z

    French filmproduction levels dropped slightly in 2004 according to new figures from localindustry body the CNC.Last year, 203films were produced or co-produced of which 167 were co-productions of Frenchinitiative.This represents a4% drop from 2003 when 212 films were produced or co-produced with 183co-productions instigated by the French.However, 2004 was still ...

  • News

    Bread And Tulips sweeps Italy's Davids

    2000-04-20T12:38:00Z

    Silvio Soldini's Bread And Tulips (Pane E Tulipani) scooped nine prizes at Italy's leading awards ceremony - the David di Donatellos - last night, including best film, best director and best screenplay for Soldini and Doriana Leondeff.The film also bagged awards for best actress (Licia Maglietta), best actor (Bruno Ganz), ...

  • News

    UK's b.TWEEN festival unveils cross-platform development lab

    2005-01-17T00:00:00Z

    b.TWEEN the internationalFestival of Future Entertainment 2005, which celebrates interactive creativeprojects on TV, mobile, the web, DVD and video games, has announced this year'sconfirmed speakers and festival events.The festival, which runs14-18 February at Doncaster college in the UK, comprises a three-daycross-platform development lab and a two-day conference. The development lab ...

  • News

    Berlinale Co-Production Market shortlists 30 projects

    2005-01-17T00:00:00Z

    New feature films by David Mackenzie and SergeiBodrov are among 30 projects chosen from 230 entries to be presented at theBerlinale's second Co-Production Market over two days from February 13-14.The line-up of 30 official projects includesthree from this year's edition of Rotterdam's CineMart under the banner of the'Rotterdam-Berlinale Express' initiative ...

  • News

    Ladies In Lavender go Stateside via Roadside

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Roadside Attractions has picked up US rights to Charles Dance'sdirectorial debut Ladies In Lavender, with Sundance Channel Home Entertainment simultaneously acquiringhome video rights.Written by Dance from a short story by William Locke, the picturereceived its premiere at Toronto last autumn and stars Judi Dench and Maggie Smithas elderly sisters who ...

  • News

    International box office drives Alexander

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Alexander grossed an estimated $14.5m from approximately 3,600screens in 51 territories through IS Film Distribution and Warner Bros PicturesInternational at the weekend, driving its international cumulative total to$88m.The picture scored a pair ofstrong debuts through Warner International in Italy and Brazil (see separatereport), and opened top in Romania on $74,995 ...

  • News

    Laemmle and Zeller team up for new 'virtual' US distribution operation

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    California arthouse theatrecircuit Laemmle Theatres and marketing expert Steven Zeller of GS EntertainmentMarketing Group have joined forces on Laemmle/Zeller Films, a full-service"virtual" theatrical distributor based in Los Angeles.Without corporate offices,Laemmle/Zeller Films principals Greg Laemmle, who is president of LaemmleTheatres, and Zeller will work out of their respective headquarters, withLaemmle staff ...

  • Reviews

    Lila Says (Lila Dit Ca)

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Ziad Doueiri. Fr.2004. 89mins.Watching Lila Saysis like putting a watercolour painting instead of a photograph on the frontpage of a newspaper. Just conceivably, there are circumstances where, indefiance of expectations, the broad brush-strokes could work instead of thecrisp snapshot. And, directed by a French Muslim Ziad Doueiri as an ...

  • Reviews

    Changing Times (Les Temps Qui Changent)

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Andre Techine. Fr.2004. 98mins.The title of Andre Techine's new film has an ironicmeaning its makers certainly never intended: times indeed have changed when theFrench star system, as epitomised by the screen reunion of two of France'sbiggest motion picture icons - Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu - havelittle impact on ...

  • News

    ITALY 18 January

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Warner Bros's Alexanderstormed into to the Italian box office at number one, taking $3,708,917. TheColin Farrell vehicle was released on 446screens and took a strongaverage of $8,316 per screen. Bridget Jones: The EdgeOf Reason continued its strong run,earning a further $4,851,395 on its second weekend, which brings the romanticcomedy's running ...

  • News

    GERMANY 18 January

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Sony Pictures Releasingstarted the year well with Closer knocking Ocean's Twelve off thetop spot after four weeks with a screen average of $ 4,787 from 469 screens togross over $ 2.2m. But the weekend's highestscreen average was scored by the German arm of Turkish distributor MaxximumFilms with its latest release ...

  • News

    Jackson to direct Lovely Bones

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

  • News

    VCL issues shares for buying spree

    2000-04-20T12:55:00Z

    Germany's VCL Film+Medien is raising an estimated euros54m ($51.4m) through a placing with institutional investors today, which it intends to spend on purchasing "extensive film packages" and restarting its TV licensing business.The company is selling some 1.56 million new shares and increasing its capital by 10%. The new shares are ...

  • News

    UK study reveals Ethnic filmmakers facing barriers

    2005-01-19T04:00:00Z

    Minority ethnic led (MEL) UKindependent production companies face particular barriers to success in thefilm and television sector. This is the finding of new research conducted bythe Institute for Employment Studies (IES) for Pact and the UK Film Council. The study found the mostsignificant barriers for such companies included the initial ...

  • News

    European Film Promotion boosts Sales Support budget

    2005-01-19T04:00:00Z

    European Film Promotioninitiative Film Sales Support is entering its second year with increasedfunding and additional festivals.After a successful trialphase in 2004, the MEDIA Plus Programme increased the scheme's budget to Euros400,000 in 2005, giving the initiative extra clout to allow more salesrepresentatives to promote their films outside of Europe. Two ...

  • News

    Irish Film Board appoints new members

    2005-01-19T04:00:00Z

    Ireland's Minister for Arts,Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue has announced the appointment of the newmembers of the Irish Film Board, effective January 17, for a four-year term. Joining existing out-goingmembers, director Alan Gilsenan and academic Margaret McCarthy MacIntyre, areJames Morris (Chair), Lesley McKimm, Kevin Moriarty, Tristan Orpen Lynch, andKirsten Sheridan.Morris ...

  • News

    French journalists crown Rois Et Reine

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    France's Etoiles De LaPresse were handed out Monday evening in Paris with Arnaud Desplechin's RoisEt Reine taking prizes in four categories: best film, best director, andthe top acting awards for Emmanuelle Devos and Matheiu Amalric. The film wasalso recently given the Prix Louis Delluc.The Etoiles are voted on byscores of ...

  • News

    UK film starts fall 40% in 2004

    2005-01-19T04:00:00Z

    James Bond, Jude Law perioddrama Tulip Fever, and a big-screen adaptation of BridesheadRevisited all failed to get off the ground last year as UK productionlevels crashed.As the industry was hit bytougher tax laws and a scaling back at traditional sources of funding such asFilmFour, the number of indigenous UK films ...

  • News

    HUNGARY 18 January

    2005-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Despite five new and verydifferent films on offer last weekend for Hungarian cinema-goers, NationalTreasure was able to top the admissions chart for the second week and willeasily reach 100,000 admissions.Jude Law-starrer Alfiefailed to impress local audiences registering a mere 10,000 admissions with ascreen average of less than 1,000 admissions. Both ...