Latest – Page 818

  • News

    Paulo Coelho recruits MySpace users for feature compilation

    2008-06-10T16:47:00Z

    Author Paulo Coelho is working with MySpace on the creation of his first feature film, The Experimental Witch.The project is inspired by Coelho's most recent book The Witch Of Portobello, and will use the concept of 'mash up' videos. MySpace users will submit original videos and music and then Coelho ...

  • News

    Skillset starts new trainee plan for Fund-paying productions

    2008-06-10T13:00:00Z

    UK training body Skillset has launched a new Film Trainee Scheme.The initiative was announced at a Skillset Connects networking lunch in London.The scheme will let newcomers work on productions shooting in the UK. Trainee positions will be heavily subsidised by Skillset, to help productions get suitable, diverse trainees and to ...

  • News

    European Commission studies VoD changes for 2009

    2008-06-10T12:10:00Z

    The European Commission is considering the methods it will use to monitor Video on Demand (VoD) content when the new Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is introduced in 2009.Specifically, it is looking at ways to monitor how European content is promoted by VoD services.Possible criteria could include:financial contributions to the ...

  • News

    UK prepares for French invasion

    2008-06-10T06:34:00Z

    This summer is gearing up to take on a decidedly French feel in the UK.Unifrance, France's film export body, reports that at least 10 French films will have their British debut in the coming weeks supported by a strong presence of French talent.On June 13, Priceless , starring Audrey Tautou ...

  • News

    UK line producers, production managers plan US visit

    2008-06-09T16:04:00Z

    The UK Film Council, in an effort to stimulate inward investment production in the UK, is taking eight UK line producers and unit production managers to Los Angeles next week to meet with US studios and independent productoin companies.British Film Commissioner Colin Brown is leading the trip, also organised with ...

  • News

    Edinburgh increases industry offerings

    2008-06-09T11:05:00Z

    The Edinburgh International Film Festival is ramping up its industry events this year, with a record number planned June 20-27. The festival runs June 18-29.The industry initiatives are helped by the festival's new three-year, $4m backing from the UK Film Council.Panels will discuss how to survive as an independent producer, ...

  • News

    EON Screenwriters Workshop signs up four new films

    2008-06-09T06:00:00Z

    The EON Screenwriters' Workshop (ESW), the initiative set up last year by James Bond production company EON Productions, has announced details of four new projects with new feature film writers.Christopher Hill's teen comedy Rules of the Game is about three teenage videogame designers who get the chance to go to ...

  • News

    UKFC gives $400,000+ to Pathe's release of Adulthood

    2008-06-08T19:27:00Z

    The UK Film Council's Prints & Advertising Fund has supported its latest round of film releases. The funds are awarded to UK distributors working on films that might otherwise have a limited distribution, to increase viewing choices for audiences.The latest distributors and films supported are:$413,680 (£210,000) to Pathe for Adulthood$393,980 ...

  • News

    Tom Stewart plans to leave Metrodome for High Fliers

    2008-06-08T19:11:00Z

    Tom Stewart will depart his post as general manager, home entertainment, at UK distributor Metrodome as of July 25 to become head of acquisitions for High Fliers. Stewart has been at Metrodome for five years, heading the home entertainment department for the past two and a half years. He had ...

  • News

    Kenworthy andMackintosh to produce remake ofMy Fair Lady

    2008-06-06T14:08:00Z

    Four Weddings And A Funeral producer Duncan Kenworthy andtheatre impresarioCameron Mackintosh are to produce a new Columbia Pictures version of the classic musical My Fair Lady.CBS Films, which owns the rights to the musical,will help develop the film which Sony will distribute. Keira Knightley is rumoured to be in talks ...

  • News

    Danny Huston to lead Edinburgh's Michael Powell jury

    2008-06-06T10:35:00Z

    The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), which kicks off its edition in June on the 18th, has announced the jury for the Michael Powell Award for best British film and the PPG Award for best performance in a British feature film.Actor Danny Huston will head the jury (he also stars ...

  • News

    New copyright agreement provides greater online access to film

    2008-06-05T17:04:00Z

    A new EU-wide copyright agreement has been signed to increase the number of films made available to the public online by cultural institutions.The films targeted are so-called 'orphan works,' where the true rights holders of films, music or books, are impossible to identify or locate. The problem means that rights ...

  • News

    iTunes opens 700-film UK film download store

    2008-06-05T13:36:00Z

    Confirming a move oft speculated in recent months, Apple has now launched its iTunes Movie Store in the UK.The UK store launches with about 700 feature films for rental or purchase. Content partners include 20th Century Fox, Disney, MGM, Sony Paramount, Warner Bros, and Lionsgate UK. Universal is not offering ...

  • News

    Diving Bell writer Harwood joins Screenwriters Festival

    2008-06-04T15:58:00Z

    The Screenwriters' Festival (July 1-3) continues to add high-profile speakes to its line-up. New to the programme is novelist/playwright/screenwriter Ronald Harwood, who will interviewed onstage by psychiatrist Raj Persaud. Harwood has worked on screenplays for Roman Polanski's The Pianist and Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell And The Butterfly.This presentation, sponsored ...

  • News

    Joe Pavlo joins post house Men From Mars

    2008-06-04T15:43:00Z

    Joe Pavlo has joined post-production company Men From Mars as senior VFX supervisor/head of 2D.He won an Emmy for BBC/HBO's Rome and has also worked on features including Batman Begins and The Da Vinci Code.In addition to on-set and in-house vfx supervision, Pavlo will spearhead the expansion of Men From ...

  • News

    Icon takes UK rights forKen Loach's Looking For Eric

    2008-06-04T11:38:00Z

    Icon Film Distribution has acquired UK theatrical and home entertainment rights to Ken Loach's new feature, Looking For Eric, shooting now on location in Manchester.Wild Bunch is selling the film, which came about through a series of conversations between Loach, writer Paul Laverty, footballer Eric Cantona and producer Rebecca O'Brien. ...

  • News

    Breakthrough Brits showcased at Hollywood Black Film Festival

    2008-06-03T21:35:00Z

    The UK Film Council's Breakthrough Brits awards reception will take place in association with the Hollywood Black Film Festival in Los Angeles on June 5.British television director and producer Nigel Lythgoe will host the culmination of the Breakthrough Brits programme, which offers film-makers a networking, creative and business platform in ...

  • News

    Odeon Sky Filmworks takes on The Stone Of Destiny

    2008-06-03T17:17:00Z

    Odeon Sky Filmworks has taken all UK rights to Charles Martin Smith's Stone Of Destiny from Arclight Films.Odeon Sky Filmworks head Tony Miller signed the deal with Arclight president Gary Hamilton.The comedy drama premieres at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 21.The cast features Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Robert ...

  • News

    European Commission softens stance on multi-territory licences

    2008-06-03T11:37:00Z

    The controversial debate on multi-territory licenses for distributing content online has taken a new turn as the European Commission tenders for a study into the possible economic and cultural impact of the scheme.The Commission's proposals for multi-territory licences have already met strong opposition from film industry bodies such as the ...

  • News

    Hellboy II to kick off Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House

    2008-06-03T11:30:00Z

    Film4 has announced the programme for its Summer Screen series at London's Somerset House.The people's premiere of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army kicks off this summer's programme on July 31.The series continues through Aug 9 with Pan's Labyrinth/The Exorcist/Peter And The Wolf (Aug 1); Brokeback Mountain (Aug ...