Latest – Page 1260

  • News

    Meet The Spartans, Rambo lead North American box office

    2008-01-28T00:07:00Z

    Fox's comedy spoof Meet The Spartans starring Sean Maguire and Carmen Electra narrowly squeezed out Lionsgate/The Weinstein Company's (TWC) action saga Rambo to open top on an estimated $18.7m at the weekend.Rambo took $18.2m and sees Sylvester Stallone reprise his role as the die-hard former Green Beret who assembles a ...

  • News

    Sweeney Todd slays competition to lead international box office

    2008-01-27T23:28:00Z

    DreamWorks' blood soaked musical adaptation Sweeney Todd grossed knocked I Am Legend off its perch and grossed approximately $18.7m through Warner Bros Pictures International (WBPI) from 1,760 screens in 11 markets for an early $30m running total.Weekend business was boosted by a suitably red-blooded number one UK launch that generated ...

  • News

    Universal, Working Title seal two-picture deal with Joe Wright

    2008-01-25T19:29:00Z

    Universal Pictures and Working Title Films have signed a two-picture deal with Joe Wright, whose latest film Atonement was nominated for seven Oscars this week and is in the running for 14 BAFTA awards including best director.Separate from that two-picture agreement, Universal is partnering with Dreamworks and Working Title on ...

  • News

    Canada's NFB names Witten to top English language post

    2008-01-25T18:56:00Z

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has appointed Cindy Witten to the post of director general of NFB English Program. Witten was previously vice president of content at the Canadian specialty channel History Television. Before that she was vice president of original production at History as well as BBC ...

  • News

    Wild Bunch's EFM offerings include James Gray's Two Lovers

    2008-01-25T14:36:00Z

    Wild Bunch has addednew films from James Gray, Darren Aronofsky, Marco Tullio Giordana and Rintaro, among others, to its slate ahead of Berlin's European Film Market.Gray's Two Lovers reunites the director with Joaquin Phoenix and also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Vanessa Shaw and Isabella Rossellini. The romantic drama is produced by ...

  • News

    Locarno's Open Doors turns attention to Latin America

    2008-01-25T10:31:00Z

    Latin American cinema will be the focus of this year's Open Doors project platform at the Locarno International Film Festival (August 6-16).Particular attention will be paid to projects from countries with emerging film production such as Peru, Colombia, Uruguay and Costa Rica, although projects from other Latin American countries where ...

  • News

    Gilliam's Dr Parnassus put on hold following Ledger's death

    2008-01-25T03:30:00Z

    The death of Heath Ledger has brought a halt to production on Terry Gilliam's $30m The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus.The Australian actor, who was found dead in a New York apartment on Tuesday, had a lead role in the Canada-UK coproduction. It was on hiatus after recently wrapping the first ...

  • News

    Baumberger named president of Paramount Pictures Studio Group

    2008-01-25T03:27:00Z

    Paramount Pictures has named Randall Baumberger president of the Studio Group.Baumberger will report to Paramount COO Frederick Huntsberry and takes charge of the day-to-day management of Paramount's Studio Group, which includes environmental health and safety, facilities and plant operations, studio group finance, studio group legal, studio operations and technical services.Baumberger ...

  • News

    Sony Classics takes Sundance competition entry Frozen River

    2008-01-25T03:22:00Z

    Sony Pictures Classics has paid high six figures for domestic rights to Courtney Hunt's Dramatic Competition entry Frozen River.SPC had been in talks with William Morris Independent for two days and finally closed the deal at around 8pm on Wednesday night [Jan 23]. The upstate New York-set tale follows two ...

  • News

    WGA signs interim agreements with Lionsgate, Marvel Studios

    2008-01-25T03:16:00Z

    As expected the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) has signed an interim agreement with Lionsgate and with Marvel Studios.The agreement is similar to the deals the WGA struck recently announced with United Artists, Worldwide Pants, Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, Mandate Pictures and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.'We are pleased Lionsgate has ...

  • News

    Schlessel gets new role at Sony as president of worldwide affairs

    2008-01-24T08:59:00Z

    Peter Schlessel has been appointed president of worldwide affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment and will step down from his role as president of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG).A replacement president for SPWAG will be announced in due course although Schlessel will retain oversight of the Group.In his new role ...

  • News

    Award-winning We Are Together sells to Palm Pictures for North America

    2008-01-24T08:50:00Z

    Palm Pictures today has picked up North American rights to Paul Taylor's documentary We Are Together, which chronicles the lives of the Agape children in South Africa who use music to overcome loss.Palm's managing partner Jan Korbelin brokered the deal with Annie Roney, president of ro*co films international.Palm anticipates a ...

  • News

    Film Sales Company takes on sales to Derek Jarman doc Derek

    2008-01-24T08:47:00Z

    Andrew Herwitz's The Film Sales Company has acquired worldwide sales rights excluding the UK and US distribution rights to Isaac Julien's documentary Derek.The film received its world premiere here last Saturday and explores the life and work of the late UK artist and film-maker Derek Jarman. Tilda Swinton narrates the ...

  • News

    Keke Palmer joins Ice Cube in Dimension's Fred Durst project

    2008-01-24T08:32:00Z

    Keke Palmer has joined Ice Cube as a lead in Dimension Films' Untitled Ice Cube Project based on a true story that Fred Durst will direct from a script by Doug Atchison.Tasha Smith, Jill Marie Jones, Dash Mihok, Matt Craven, Garrett Morris and comedians Earthquake and Michael Colyar have also ...

  • News

    Paramount Vantage seals worldwide rights to American Teen

    2008-01-24T08:25:00Z

    The documentary form reclaimed pole position today [Jan 23] as Paramount Vantage paid approximately $1m for worldwide rights excluding the UK to Nanette Burstein's high school tale American Teen following days of intense interest.Paramount Vantage emerged top of the pack after the film's world premiere last Saturday also attracted attention ...

  • News

    Maja Zimmermann joins acquisitions team at Altadena

    2008-01-23T10:30:00Z

    Maja Zimmermann has joined the acquisitions team for UK-based sales company Altadena Films. She is currently attending Sundance.Zimmerman previously worked in development for Miramax TV and Strictly Films, and has also produced indepdent films and directed 12x12.'We are delighted to have someone with Maja's experience join the Altadena team. Maja ...

  • News

    Karynn Austin leaves TVA for Equinoxe Films

    2008-01-23T10:25:00Z

    Canadian distribution veteran Karynn Austin has left TVA Films to join Equinoxe Films as director of distribution and marketing. Based in the company's Toronto office, she will oversee all aspects of marketing Equinoxe's theatrical and home entertainment releases in English Canada. Austin has 20 years experience in the business including ...

  • News

    Bell Canada to launch new film download store

    2008-01-23T10:21:00Z

    Canadian telecom and internet service provider Bell Canada will launch a movie download service in April or May, ScreenDaily.com has learned.Similar in methodology to Apple's iTunes, the new service, called The Bell Video Store will offer Hollywood titles for rental or to own for use on up to three authorized ...

  • News

    IMAX signs to build two cinemas in Philippines

    2008-01-23T06:53:00Z

    IMAX Corp. and SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall operator in the Philippines, have signed a deal that will see two IMAX digital projection systems installed at shopping malls in the cities of Manila and Cebu. Both cinemas are expected to open by late 2009. SM already operates an IMAX ...

  • News

    Reactions from 2008 Academy Award nominees

    2008-01-23T06:44:00Z

    Labour unrest may have taken some of the sparkle out of this year's awards season but it did little to dampen the spirits of Oscar nominees around the world as they reacted to the Academy Awards nominations announcement. In Los Angeles, producer JoAnne Sellar said she and her partner (and ...