Latest – Page 808

  • News

    Metrodome, Rialto team for McKellan's King Lear

    2008-09-03T17:06:00Z

    Metrodome Distribution has taken UK, Ireland and Australia/New Zealand rights to Trevor Nunn and Chris Hunt's new adaptation of King Lear, starring Ian McKellen.The stage-to-screen Royal Shakespeare Company production was recorded in high definition at Pinewood Studios.The deal was negotiated between Metrodome CEO Peter Urie, general manager distribution Sara Frain ...

  • News

    Lee Brazier to head distribution and acquisitions at Cinescope

    2008-09-03T06:57:00Z

    Former FilmFour Creative Executive Lee Brazier has been appointed Head of Distribution and Acquisitions at new UK distribution outfit Cinescope Entertainment.He launches his wide-ranging plans with Chris Bell steroids documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster, picked up from Laird Adamson at Magnolia Pictures.Cinescope Entertainment will also release Auteur Giuseppe Tornatore's Donatello-winning The ...

  • News

    UK directors group signs agreement with trade union

    2008-09-02T22:08:00Z

    Therecently-formed Directors UKhave signed an agreement with 27,000 strong media workers trade union BECTU.The deal acknowledges each others rights to represent their members interests in negotiations with employers and agrees to areas of mutual support.Directors UK, formed in June, has 3,500 members in broadcasting and film.Chair of the group Charles ...

  • News

    Moore leaves Aardman for Abbey Home Media

    2008-09-01T16:50:00Z

    Stephen Moore is departing Aardman Animations to become a partner and shareholder of children's programming company Abbey Home Media.UK-based Abbey Home Media works on franchises including Horrid Henry, Sesame Street, Paddington Bear and The Magic Roundabout.Moore is also a veteran of 20th Century Fox.He said: 'Since coming back to London ...

  • News

    MercuryMedia takes on Toronto doc Sea Point Days

    2008-09-01T16:34:00Z

    UK-based documentary film sales company Mercury Media has acquired world rights (excluding North America) to Sea Point Days.The film is set to premiere at the forthcoming Toronto International Film Festival.The feature-length documentary is directed by South African film-maker Francois Verster. The film is about a seaside public pool area in ...

  • News

    Metrodome takes UK rights to Winterbottom's Genova

    2008-09-01T16:30:00Z

    Ahead of its premieres in Toronto and San Sebastian, the UK and Irish rights to Michael Winterbottom's latest film Genova have been snapped up by Metrodome Distribution.The deal was done directly with production company Revolution Films, founded by Winterbottom and his producer Andrew Eaton.The deal was negotiated between Metrodome CEO ...

  • News

    UK's Metrodome continues restructure after Media Pro takeover

    2008-08-29T20:05:00Z

    UK distributor Metrodome continues to restructure staff following Media Pro's acquisition of a 61.4% share in the company.James Brown takes on the newly created role of head of acquisitions, where he will work alongside Kate Edwards, who has been promoted and will be running the business affairs department. Brown formerly ...

  • News

    Lionsgate UK:Ready to roar

    2008-08-29T00:00:00Z

    It's a fascinating opportunity,' Zygi Kamasa says of his job as head of Lionsgate UK. He has the power (and financial backing) of a major US player while also having the autonomy to run the UK operation as a separate business. No wonder Kamasa has just signed a new three-year ...

  • News

    Sam Taylor-Wood to direct feature about John Lennon's early years

    2008-08-28T22:41:00Z

    Sam Taylor-Wood will direct Ecosse Films' Nowhere Boy recounting the story of John Lennon's early years and his first steps towards superstardom.Taylor-Wood, riding high after the Cannes screening of her debut short Love You More, plans a March 2009 shoot on location in Liverpool. Worldwide sales agent HanWay Films will ...

  • News

    Revolver and Metrodome sign deals for Film London micro-budget features

    2008-08-28T14:56:00Z

    Film London has announced that the first two completed features produced through its Microwave micro-budget film-making scheme have secured theatrical distribution. Metrodome has acquired Eran Creevy's Shifty for the UK, Ireland and Eastern Europe (Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, Slovak Republic and Slovenia). The urban thriller charts 24 hours ...

  • News

    UK Film Council awards distribution support to 13 films

    2008-08-28T11:39:00Z

    The UK Film Council's Prints and Advertising Fund has announced funding to support the distribution of 13 films. The P&A funding is aimed at promoting art-house, foreign and classic films to give audiences more choice.Revolver Films received $312,314 (£170,000) for The Wackness, Jonathan Levine's offbeat drama starring Ben Kingsley.The funding ...

  • News

    Pinewood Shepperton boasts big jump in half-year profits

    2008-08-28T09:26:00Z

    The UK's Pinewood Shepperton studios has recorded a 31% year-on-year increase in half-year pre-tax profitsto $6.7m ($3.8m).Revenues rose 19% to $39.9m (£21.7m) with revenues from film up 20% to $23.8m (£13m).The studios have hosted the 007 film Quantum Of Solace and other major shoots, including Richard Curtis's The Boat That ...

  • News

    Film Focus: The Descent 2

    2008-08-28T07:05:53Z

    Getting to the set of The Descent 2 somewhat surprisingly does not require a trip underground. Like the 2005 original, the sequel shot mostly in caves recreated on studio sets - this time for a 40-day shoot at London's Ealing Studios with some location work in England and Scotland (the ...

  • News

    Norrie leaves Capitol to become head of international at Salt

    2008-08-28T06:00:00Z

    The Salt Company has appointed James Norrie as head of international.Norrie was previously head of sales at Capitol Films and previously worked at Icon International.Salt, recently relaunched from the previous sales incarnation Lumina Films, is part of the International Film Collective.The company's directors and founders are Samantha Horley, Robert Bevan ...

  • News

    Ealing Studios sells St Trinian's in three key territories

    2008-08-26T14:17:00Z

    Ealing Studios International has announced that it has concludedanother three key deals for the distribution of UK box-office hit St Trinian's.The deals, announced Aug 26, have Neo Classics taking United States, Alliance taking Canada and Filmax taking Spain.Making the announcement, Barnaby Thompson, Head of Studio, EalingStudios said: 'We've had lots ...

  • News

    Scottish Screen increases slate funding to $2m over 2 years

    2008-08-26T06:00:00Z

    Scottish Screen has selected five production companies to receive substantial finance through the organisation's Slate Fund. Launched in March 2008, the Slate Fund was originally intend to offer a share of $741,325 (£400,000) to a maximum of four companies. The quantity and quality of the applications has led to the ...

  • News

    London animation fest to host UK premiere of Plympton's Idiots

    2008-08-22T12:39:00Z

    The fifth London International Animation Festival (LIAF) is taking place from Sept 1-7, with more than 220 animated films from 27 different countries being shown at various London venues.Films being screened at the festival include the UK premiere of Bill Plympton's graphic pencil-drawn style Idiots and Angels, the French animated ...

  • News

    Rushes' Sharon Hill named UK Screen Shining Star

    2008-08-22T10:44:00Z

    Trade group UK Screen has selected Sharon Hill as winner of its first Shining Star scheme.Hill is head of library services at Rushes.The new initiative seeks to recognise non-creative employees at UK Screen member companies.A new star will be named each month and all will be recognised at the Vision ...

  • News

    The Works takes on Belgian titles Unspoken and Loft

    2008-08-21T11:31:00Z

    Ahead of this year's Toronto film festival, London-based The Works International has picked up the world sales rights to a brace of Belgian films: Unspoken, written and directed by Fien Troch, and Erik Van Looy's Loft.Unspoken will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is scheduled ...

  • News

    Yume to release Nic Roeg's Puffball on DVD in September

    2008-08-20T15:41:00Z

    UK-based distributor Yume Pictures will handle the DVD release of Nic Roeg's Puffball.The DVD, out from Sept 22, includes extras such as interviews with Roeg and the film stars, a making-of featurette, trailer, podcast, photogallery and more.The supernatural drama is about a young woman who moves to a remote area ...